Overcoming Life’s Challenges through Jesus Christ

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The World is tough but we can be victors. it is indisputable fact that the world can offer anyone except troubles. There are challenges include pain, both physical and emotional; fear, frustration, disappointment, discouragement, natural or man-made disasters, disease and death, Christian or not.  Troubles are a universal language. “No one is without troubles, without personal hardships and genuine challenges.  That fact may not be obvious because most people don't advertise their woes and heartaches.  But nobody, not even the purest heart, escapes life without suffering battle scars” -Richelle E. Goodrich. Our life’s challenges are either temptations, or persecutions, or afflictions. However, they are meant to shape us and mold us into the divine agenda.  If achieving goals were easy, everyone would do it quickly and without difficulty. Even if your vision is clear and you can articulate a detailed destiny, there are always obstacles in the path. Those who succumb to their life’s challenges are crushed and have no fulfillment.

• I declare to you today, the challenges you see today shall bow before you in the name of Jesus Christ. 

• The Lord shall lift up your head and anoint you with fresh oil in the name of Jesus Christ. Psalm 92: 10

The Lord won’t give us more than we can handle. The basic truth is God knows every detail about our life. He knows the good things, and He knows the ugly things. No part of you is hidden from His presence. He knows your genuineness as a Christian or otherwise. The word of God says. “And there is no creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and lay open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”  Hebrew 4: 13. He will not give you more than you can handle. His abiding presence will see us through. He says, “19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” 

• You shall rejoice again in Jesus name

• Stop bowing to your situations and challenges, the Lord shall silent your storm in Jesus name

Conclusion 

In difficult times, man is tempted to employ human weapons but they cannot stand the heat and fiery shorts of the Devil. Satan rules the world system against people of God. So it is of no use going to people of the world for help. All you need to do is to pray:

 Lord Jesus, I agree that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. You suffered and died for my sake. I am ready today to forsake my sinful life. I invite you into my heart today. Save me and be my Lord for the rest of my life. I will always serve my God in fellowship with other believers in Christ. Thank you for saving me. 

The Power of God through the Cross of Christ

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Text: - “The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”

The Truths about Christianity:

1. Christianity is not all about denomination

2. Christianity is not all about education

3. Christianity is about crucification, resurrection and redemption

Considering verses 12&13 of 1 Corinthians 1, Apostle Paul rebuked the church in Corinth for religious segregation. Such chasm was bone out of complexity.  “Now this I mean, that each one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas;  and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized into the name of Paul?” It is high time the body of Christ stop denominational barriers for Christ did not suffer and die for that. The focus of any denomination should be on Christ crucified which is the power and wisdom of God for the salvation of the world. “18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God.”  

Secondly, Christianity is not all about certificates or degrees in education. Philosophy and sciences are limited in their efforts to give everything man requires. “Jews ask for signs, and Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 but we preach Christ crucified, unto Jews a stumbling block, and unto Gentiles foolishness; 24 but unto them that are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Knowledge is good. The Lord gives mankind intellect, instinct not to dispute Him but to demonstrate His glory. Every effort to explain and prove the works of God out of ordinary common sense ends in foolishness.

What is the cross all about? It is the cross that tells us that we are not gambling with our faith. It is the cross that tells us that the stakes are real. Prophet Isaiah says, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

The cross of Christ is significant to Christian faith. Through the cross, God offered His only begotten Son as sacrifice for the entire world for all our sins and its consequences. 

Coming with sin are sorrow, griefs, moral decadence and bodily afflictions. 

The cross makes knowing God personal, not merely personal for us but for God. He sent his Son to die! He paid the price that no human father or mother would ever pay for the sake of anyone. His Son Jesus gave up glory itself for the purpose of dying for us. 

Therefore you can trust Him for remission, provision, satisfaction and redemption. 

You can just approach the throne of grace with your desires as you pray:

Lord Jesus I thank you for taken my griefs and sorrows that I may be free.

By the power in the bloodshed on the cross of Christ Jesus, every evil covenant against my destiny is canceled in Jesus name.

Giving to God: Turning the Tide

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“13 Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him [a]on foot from the cities. They said to Him, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish. He said, Bring them here to Me. Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people." Matthew 14:17-19

Observe: -
1. When your attention is on what you don’t have you will put yourself under unnecessary tension.

 Reverend G. S. Adeyemo

2. If we will just give God what we have, God will use it and give us back more than we had.
3. If God could do it then, He can do it now and He will do it.
Revelations: -

1. When your attention is on what you don’t have, you put yourself under unnecessary tension. Our biggest mistake in life is focusing on what we don't have. The past failure or lacks should not determine your mood. Let your focus be on what God has for you in the future and position yourself for it. When your location is right, your allocation will locate you. 

      In verse 13 of the passage above, the Bible says, “Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him on foot from the cities” Jesus withdrew to the desert and people followed him from cities to that desert. 

     What a paradox; moving from cities to desert. However, Jesus was in the desert at the time and the people were there with Him. Are you where Jesus can be located when you lack? If yes, definitely you don’t need to worry about what you do not have. 

2. If we will just give God what we have, God will use what you give to give back more than we had need. Beloved, when life’s demands are too demanding, what you need to do is giving what you have to God. You are the one feeling what you have is too small. However, God is able to amplify whatever you offer Him and give back to you. 

Life brings its twist and turns through financial marital pressure, people persecuting and intimidating you.  Job says, “Yet man is born to trouble,

As the sparks fly upward” Job 5: 7. God is always ready to turn the tide in your favour. Our Lord and the Disciples were facing challenge of paucity of food for the crowd. They said, “Said to Him, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”   But “He said, Bring them here to Me.:” Do not withhold what you have no matter how small, bring it to Jesus. Luke 6: 38. There is danger in overestimating your poverty. It is very easy to overstate our poverty due to life and think that all hope is lost. During the recession in the land of Israel, the widow of Zarephath faced such embarrassing situation. “12 And she said, As Jehovah thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in the jar, and a little oil in the cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.” 1 Kings 17: 12-13.

3. If God could do it then, He can do it now and He will do it. He is God yesterday today and forever. The Lord says, I am the Lord I changeth not. The Psalmist says, “I said, ‘O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days; Thy years are throughout all generations. Of old Thou didst lay the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. Even they will perish, but Thou dost endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing Thou wilts change them, and they will be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years will not come to an end.” Psalm 102:24-27. Situations change. People and principle, Government changes. There is nothing here on earth that cannot change. The unchanging God changes all. Your situation will change for better. 

The God who provided for the widow of Zarephath will meet you at your points of needs. He did it for the five thousand followers in the New Testament as recorded by Matthew; He will do it in your life. He will do it our nation and businesses. 

Insights to Live By

1. Be at the right place. You can only find divine intervention when you are on the Lord’s side

2. Give what you have. Be ready to part with the little you have and turn your attention to God for your sufficiency

3. God can be trusted. Cast your cares on the Lord Jesus Christ for cares for you and can be trusted at all time.

Prayer Points

I declare you free from the terror of poverty in Jesus name

All devourers over your business is consumed by fire in Jesus name

I stand on your behalf to renounce the covenant you made with the spirit of failure and retrogressions in Jesus name 

The demonic seed that has been afflicting your family is consumed by fire in Jesus name

You shall prosper and never diminish in Jesus name. go and enlarge in the presence of God. You are free from debt in Jesus name

The voice of the devil in your ears that wants you commits suicide is silent in Jesus n