Manifestation: On Earth as it is in Heaven

Manifestation: On Earth as it is in Heaven

Mathew 6:10, 1 John 3:8, Ps 119:89

Where God is present, there is evidence of grace. Evidence of His presence, power and ability must be seen or experienced. Electricity in a circuit is not evident until a connection is switched on to an electric gadget.  A TV signal is already in the atmosphere but requires an antennae and a system that produces evidence of a picture. The nature of picture and its quality is as good as the receptor system. Similarly, everything that we say God is doing, or should do, is really a mere manifestation of what God has already settled by his word in the spirit.  We only need to make the conditions for manifestation, such as proper positioning, obedience, and faith, joy, and expectation, right. Human vocabulary alone is not enough to manifest God. He has to appear.

The psalmist noted, ‘forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven’ (Ps 119:89).   This verse means the word is finalized and nothing is still owing, or remaining. When God spoke, the tills in heaven rang. Now is time to collect what is already paid for the way you collect a parcel or gift someone else paid for you in full. The challenge is for you to make real what has already been established in heaven. The Lord Jesus said pray ‘thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.’ This prayer is for manifestation of what is already in existence to be seen in the natural. It is a prayer for the translation of potential to power. A prayer for the coming to pass of God’s promise. Revelation is seeing in the spirit what has not yet manifest. Manifestation is seeing its reality with physical senses. What is divinely ordinary becomes the humanly extraordinary. What is spiritually natural becomes the humanly supernatural. The transcendent becomes immanent. What was hoped becomes a reality. What was a promise becomes a possession. What was heavenly title becomes earthly possession. The issue is how to reduce/deduce spiritual truth to something tangible you can see, experience and relate with.

Jesus, the Word from the beginning, was manifested to destroy the works of the evil one (John 1:1; 1 John 3:8; John 4:4).  The Holy Spirit has been sent to manifest Christ and show you all things freely given. Jesus came to grant you title, a right, and permit to all that God has settled (John 1:12). The Holy Spirit also manifests the sons of God. The whole earth is now looking out for the manifestation of the sons of God. The sons of man with human limitations are already known. The world now wants to see the sons of God with divine nature and evidence.

The Bible is overflowing with examples of manifestations that occur from full obedience to God’s word based on confidence that it is already settled.  Elijah trusted God for rain and was patient as Gehaz checked seven times when there was a delay. A cloud manifested and turned to heavy rain (I Kings 18:53). Naaman even with reluctance obeyed the already settled word of God by dipping in the Jordan river seven times and saw his cleansing from leprosy manifest (II Kings 5:13). Peter trusted God’s word and walked on water (Mathew 14:29) but shifted from obedience and began to sink. What do you need to obey in full to see manifestation in your life?

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Earnest Prayer and Worship

Earnest Prayer and Worship

Acts 12: 6-8

May be you have never been told that you can do it, you can change, you can make it. Every person needs to here that things don't have to remain the same enough to believe and act on it until things change. Gods word was given in the Bible to accomplish that in every person's life. You need to hear it often until you believe and do what it says. Being born again guarantees eternal life but does no guarantee you success in this life. Success comes from keeping the word in heart, mouth and hand/feet. In other words store and meditate on it, sing and speak it and apply it.

Prayer is a subject on which a lot is said yet most neglected. the Bible says man ought to always pray (Luke 18:1). God says call unto me to see great and mighty things (Jeremiah 33:3). James wrote that the fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16, 17). Prayer is talking with God. It involves talking and listening. It should be done by individuals in private and also in groups.  You are as strong spiritually as your prayer life. You can't grow beyond your prayer life.

A church is also as strong spiritually as it's prayer life. A church is as big as attendance at it's prayer meetings. Corporate prayer is incredibly powerful (Acts 4:24; 12:6-8).  People who pray together stay together. There is a sense of awareness of God only experienced when believers pray together.

WORSHIP

Our only appropriate response to who God is and what he has done is to worship him. Every positive response to God by humanity is a form of worship, but what would you do if you lived in a world with no needs? Heaven is such a place and all they do is worship. What you need and seek in such a world is just God. That is the highest level of worship. Worship is one thing God cannot do for himself. God can do all things but cannot worship himself. The greatest thing you can do in this life is to worship God. When you take time to focus on God's face and not  his hand. When you adore him and seek him for who he is not what he can give. When you acknowledge who he is  and what he has done. True worship is not for our enjoyment but for His pleasure. It has God, not man, at the centre. Focus is not on you but on him.

Worship is something nobody can do for you. Worship is personal – each person must worship for themselves. You become like your object of worship. Worship is an attitude of deeply loving God as the only creator, source, sustenance and sufficiency (Mathew 22:38).  It is being still and know him – listening, lingering, not being in a hurry but giving God his chance to direct things. In Genesis 22:5, when Abraham was going to sacrifice his dearest and best, his only son, he said he was going  to worship. Worship is laying all on the altar.

Only God deserves worship. By worshipping you are demonstrating that satan is already defeated. That’s what he tried to stop/steal from God when he was cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14; Exodus 34:14). You can not worship without humility. You have to 'die' so he can live through you. He died so you can live through him. Let God be God in your life.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Expectation II: Strength to Bring Forth

Expectation: Strength to Bring Forth

Isaiah 37:3

'… This day is a day of trouble … for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth'.

Next engines to thrust us into more of Gods grace have come alive. We have a great future. We will see fruit in areas we experienced barrenness in 2011. God is able to do what he said he would do. The more He is able to work in us the more He can work through us. He works in us to develop inner strength so that we are able to wait (Hebrews 6:12), to have/ bring forth (Isaiah 37) and to hold/keep. We keep what we receive by walking in the Spirit. Sin saps spiritual strength (Judges 16:6; 1 John 1:9). Effectiveness in Christ relies on inner strength to believe God.

This message is about gaining strength to bring forth (Isaiah 37:3) - Strength to PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) to avoid crises of expectation. Lack of inner strength can result in loss of the baby. Before there is birth, there is a carrying and expecting. Travailing comes before birthing. Things do not happen only as you expect but as you execute. To execute is to apply power. Power is ability to make things happen. Jeremiah prophesied that the nation of Israel would be in captivity for seventy years. So they expected to return  some day to their land. However, seventy years later they were still in captivity until Daniel learnt about Jeremiah’s prophecy from the books (Daniel 1:1-2). He did something about bringing forth the reality of the promise. He sought God in prayer. The woman who was healed from an issue of blood (Mark 5:25-34) was among many others with needs,  hoping to find miraculous solutions from Jesus. She received her miracle not only by expecting – or  by thinking ‘if I only touch his clothes I will be healed’, but by taking action. She pressed through the crowd to touch the helm of Jesus’ garment to bring forth her miracle. Mental imagination of a desired result is not enough. She acted out her expectation. Hanna, also, prayed and acted on her expectation (1 Samuel 1:11). She received Samuel as a result.

Faith is action (James 2:17). Faith begins as an attitude of confident expectation based on God’s Word and character, and is completed by a practical expression. Action brings forth the fruit of faith. You have to do something to show your faith. They that know their God shall do exploits. Heroes of faith were noted for things they did (Hebrews 11). Action begins with prayer. The heart of prayer is listening. Prayer leads to further action of obedience. Obedience can take various forms. It can be more praying, sowing, fishing, laying of hands, giving, forgiving, act of love/serving, or speaking.  

Nothing is too hard for God (Luke 1:37; Jeremiah 32:17, 19, 27). Sing oh barren woman (Isaiah 54:1-3).  Sometimes seasons of barrenness create a positive desperation. The quality of prayer tends to improve with desperation.  The babies born out of barren and impossible situations are born for special assignments (Isaac, Joseph, Samuel, John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, etc). They are a product of faith, patience, prayer, perseverance, waiting, desperation and travail. Our harvest of souls is great and is like these babies, born for a special assignment.

The current season of prayer is part of strength building and travailing in faith to bring forth what we are carrying. Our travail socked in praise will culminate in more praise. When God speaks, faith comes and travailing turns to praise. Things are getting better.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

The Hill is not Enough

The Hill is Not Enough for Us

Joshua 14:11-12; 17:3-4, 14-16

God leads you little by little. Each little has more than little returns and leads to more and more. Before long, the accumulation of the little steps becomes something so amazing and beautiful that you are inspired to keep taking the little steps. You become so excited and curious because you suddenly realize that the little steps he takes with you do not mean that he is a little God. You wonder how much more there is out there in God.

We are in a season when God is distributing portions of grace to do great things to his people.  Our season is like the time of the Children of Israel after they had crossed the river Jordan into the promised land. When they conquered the kings who were in the land Joshua allocated portions of land to the various tribes by lot. We can draw lessons from three examples of people who defied odds in making claims to portions of land.

1. Caleb remembered God’s ability and faithfulness (Joshua 14:11, 12). Even though he was now advanced in age he refused to be overlooked. It seemed he was over the hill, a spend force only to be honored for past heroic achievements. It seemed his season was over but he knew God was also a God of the off-season blessing. He remembered that his past exploits had never been based on his personal strength but his divine strength.  Divine strength  does not wane with time. God never changes. If he restored in the past he still does today. If he gave victory then he still does today. Joshua declared that he was as strong as he had been 40 years back when Moses sent them to spy the promised land (Numbers 13).  He said ‘I am not out yet. I am ready for war to go out and to come in. Give me the difficult mountain of Hebron also called the city of Arba to overcome. Arba was a great man among the Anakims and sometimes called the father of Anak. The mountain was in a narrow valley surrounded by rocky hills. Through him, God restored Hebron to the children of Israel.

2. The daughters of Zelophahad were also able to get their portion against the odds (Joshua 17:3-4).  According to Jewish culture the inheritance went to the sons. But since their father did not have sons they had appealed to Moses and to God and were promised their father’s inheritance (Numbers 27:1-7). Therefore, they also refused to be left out. They remembered the word of God and demanded to be counted in. They remembered that God kept his promise. He watched over his word to fulfill it. They went to Joshua and claimed their inheritance and were given their portion. Jesus has died for you to eliminate all the conditions that would disqualify you. His word is able to give you the inheritance. Rise up and make your claim.

3. The children of Joseph knew who they were (Joshua 17:1, 14, 16). They had already received portions but were not satisfied. They went to Joshua and demanded more. They said the hill they had received was not enough because they were a great people and that they had hitherto been blessed (Genesis 48:19,20). They deserved more. They knew who they were as a blessed people with certain privileges. They were not willing to let go of their privileges. They were not the greatest in number or seniority but had been blessed. Being blessed is to be marked for God’s favor. Favor tracks down and locates the blessed like a heat seeking missile does its target. Joshua agreed they were great and deserved more. He challenged them  to use their greatness and blessedness to extend their portion  by cutting down the forests and conquering the Canaanites restricting them

This is our season of harvest overflow because our God is able. He is looking for those with something inside them that is calling for something more. People who stand up for what is theirs. People who refuse to be overlooked. People who disrespect and shatter limitations.

Note Also:
http://bible.com/1/jos.15.17-19.kjv And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.  And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?  Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.
Judges 1:15 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/jdg.1.15.KJV

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Looking to God

Looking to God

Numbers 21:4 – 9

Becoming a Christian and continuing as a fulfilled one, is an ‘I was blind and now I see’ experience. As in the song, ‘Open the eyes of my heart Lord. I want to see you. To see you high and lifted up...’ Being able to see God is the key to passionately loving and trusting Him. When you fix your eyes on him, you gain an awareness and assurance of his presence (Hebrews 11:2; 2 Kings 6:17).

Knowing God is humanly impossible. Unless He shows Himself to the human heart, He remains unknown to the human mind. God being the creator has to show himself (Mathew 16:17). The unveiling of God to humanity is revelation. Revelation is an unveiling that enables you to see or hear his voice. You can position yourself in prayer, the word and the Holy Spirit for revelation to locate you. Before John received revelation, the angel invited him to ‘come up here and I will show you…’ (Revelation 4:1). Do you sometimes put yourself into places where you are unreachable to God’s signal?

The Bible is the complete primary revelation of God to humanity. The entrance of God’s word brings light (Psalm 119:130). In cherishing, meditating and obeying its message, God illuminates the primary revelation to a particular person, issue, or area of life.   The illumination can be viewed as secondary revelation for life.  The righteous shall live by faith. Faith comes by hearing the word (Romans 10:17). In other words, faith comes by receiving ‘revelation’.  Paul prayed that the Ephesians church would be filled with the spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). You also need to constantly ask for wisdom and revelation (James 1:5). Revelation without wisdom can be destructive when misapplied.

Numbers is an account of how the children of Israel wandered for forty years and lost a whole generation in the wilderness. They oscillated between spiritual highs and lows. The root of this instability was failure to sustain God’s revelation. The revelation of God or from God always brings a promise. That promise creates an expectation. The challenge comes on how to migrate from the place of revelation to the place of  its fulfillment (expectation).  Beginning has excitement but the test lies in being able to continue and to finish the race. Finishing gives the ultimate joy. God grant you grace not to look back until you cross the finish line.

The people of Israel were murmuring and spoke against Moses and against God (Numbers 21:5). They accused both, of bringing them to a place with no water and no meat to kill them. They spoke discontentedly of what God had done for them, and distrustfully of what he would do.

They wished they could go back to Egypt where they had food but they forgot the slavery and hard labor. They forgot both the goodness of God and the badness of  Egypt.  As  a result, God sent poisonous/fiery serpents (Numbers 21:6). The truth is there is nothing to go back for in a godless past life. Never be deceived, things outside God will never improve they will only get worse.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Expectation I: Hold on to Your Confidence

Expectation: Hold on to your Confidence
Isaiah 36:4-5; Hebrews 10:35; 2 Kings 2:9

We are living in the last days. Experts on Bible prophecy are watching closely peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. A peace between the two parties could mark a significant point in end time prophecy.  Non faith experts are also concerned with world developments and recently the Doomsday clock  that is an indicator of the vulnerability of the world to some catastrophe such as from climatic change or nuclear weapons, have moved the clock to five minutes to midnight. Midnight being an imagery of the end. In the past many have predicted dates of the end and have been wrong. Time is coming when false predictors will be wrong for the last time.  Those without Christ are expecting doom but we are not afraid. We are positively expectant. We look forward to the coming back of our Lord Jesus and to us joining with him to reign.

In Isaiah 36:4-5 Senachrib’s servant kept asking, ‘What is the source of your confidence?’ Our hope is pinned in the character and ability of God. To have hope you have to have confidence in something. Faith is confidence in something.  Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward (Heb 10:35, 1 John 3:21; 5:14; 2:28).  Hope is a positive expectation. It is anticipation something good will happen. In our lives and even when we gather lets expect God to work. Lets expect the Lord to be evidently present and people getting saved, healed and filled with the Holy Ghost.  Expectation precedes everything else in faith dynamics (Hebrew 11: 1-2).

Expectation founded on a credible basis  gives hope. God can be trusted. He is able and faithful to fulfill his word. He has the ability to occupy, defend and develop. Expectation without credible basis is deception, ignorance or madness. When  a credible  basis such as our God is not matched with high enough expectation,  it becomes a case of  lost opportunity.  May you not be guilty of this sin.

A challenge often encountered is one of crisis of expectation. That happens when the actual constantly falls short of expectations resulting in loss of confidence. Why are many in crisis of expectation? One reason is that the expectations match God’s ability but the inner/spirit man is too weak to deliver (Isaiah 37:3). Its like a child crying to  lift a 100kg weight because the father has such a weight. But because the child is small they can not lift the weight even if granted. God has given his grace lavishly. The limitation is our faith or the capacity of  the spirit man to handle his grace.  God in us works to the size of our spirit man. A large tree in a pot will not grow big. The territory has been provided for  you. Now you need to ask God to enlarge you for the territory. You can not remain a spiritual baby and expect great things (Heb 5:12). You need spiritual muscle and stamina. You  need spiritual rank that comes from disciplines such as meditating on God’s word, praying and fasting.  Allow the small challenges you face to build your spirit man as you respond in faith. Enlarge your spirit or develop the muscles of the spirit so you can handle the greater things of God. The greater  the works you expect from God the greater the work God wants to do in you. A tall building requires a deep foundation. The foundation of the future you expect is being dug in you. Often we want God, circumstance etc to change in our favour but everything hinges on you changing to God’s likeness.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

Revelation: Life at its Best

REVELATION: Life at its Best

John 10:10,   Luke 7:1-17

Luke 7:1-17 has two stories that show the powerful results of a relationship with Christ. Both stories demonstrate that Jesus can turn around any situation. In one story, he simply used his word to heal a centurion’s servant. Today we have the same word to restore our situations. We need to put our trust in God’s word. Religious credentials of building the synagogue and loving Jews did not save the servant but simple faith in Christ. His word believed is life and as good as his physical presence.

The other story shows how God restores the worst of situations. For the widow who had lost his only son all hope was lost. To the widow, the son was a source of comfort, pride,  esteem and love. His death was loss of a close person, loss of an expected legacy, lost investment, lost hope, lost support, etc. She had many sympathizers around her but no solution. She was crying but Jesus said to her ‘Don’t cry’, in other words trust me. The Lord Jesus restored the son to her (Luke 7:15). Maybe you are at the city gate – going to bury your dead hope. Jesus has appeared for you today. He has compassion and is saying, ‘don’t cry, receive your hope back’.

How can you live life at its best - as desired, designed and delivered by God? You begin your relationship with Christ through revelation knowledge of him as your savior from sin and its penalty (Romans 6:23). The source of abundant life (John 10:10) is revelation of Christ. The life in Christ (zoe) is also sustained by revelation. Zoe comes from walking close to him and being led by him. Christ came to give you life through reestablishing your relationship with God. He wants you to be led by his Spirit, and to enjoy his presence (Romans 8:14).

One of the most lethal weapons used by satan to keep you from the genuine or full life in Christ is a religious spirit. Religion was in the world before Christ came but he had to come because religion was not enough to save. Of all the forces Christ battled with during his life on earth and continues to battle is religion. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God or earn God’s favor. Christianity is God reaching to man. Religion is following rules and ceremonies. Christianity is receiving and living the life of Christ. Religion is doing good works to earn acceptance by God. Christianity is being accepted in Christ by grace and therefore living a life of one accepted. 

The enemy of abundant life is religion. Zoe life comes from following revelation. Religion is following tradition. As Christians, we also must watch out for and overcome religious tendencies. When sincerely wanting to serve God a tragedy is being left with a religious activity void of the real thing. Revelation/relationship gives life and religion kills. It moves you from the hands of God to the hands of man. Jesus died at the hands of religion so that you do not die from it.

Religion is a heavy burden – Jesus said my yoke is easy (Matthew 11:29).  

Religion is bondage. Jesus said you should be free indeed. (John 8:36, Romans 8:2)

Religion is human/carnality. Zoe is being partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

Religion is the letter of the law. Life in Christ is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:6).

Religion is manipulation, control and intimidation. Life in Christ is a conviction (Acts 2:37).

Religion conforms from outside. Life in Christ transforms from inside (Romans 12:2)

Religion is a form of godliness with no power. Zoe receives power (2 Timothy 3:5; Acts 1:8).

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa