Steps to Mission Expansion

Pass through, pass through the gates!
Prepare the way for the people.
Build up, build up the highway!
Remove the stones.
Raise a banner for the nations
                   -Isaiah 62: 10

The passage we are considering here gives us the steps for mission expansion. The focal point in the text is the need for us to make the path easier for converts and disciples who are following us no matter how difficult.

In those days, our fathers through communal efforts gathered very early in the morning with various farm implements. They would go through the wet grasses and spiral narrow road clearing, channeling and constructing local bridges with bamboos, trunks of trees and palm trees. All these efforts were geared towards making ways for the young, women and those who would be plying the route to have easy trip while bringing home the farm produce. Sometimes they did that because of an important indigene or visitor who would be returning to the village. There are people who will not want to go to the village where they were raised because of the impassable roads. Also, there are people who will never come to the Lord except believers with one accord take the steps highlighted by Prophet Isaiah.

 Pass through, pass through the gates! The first action statement is for the believers to make a transit, going across the hurdles. A gate is a point of entry or exit. A gate is an access to a space. Sometimes gates are mounted to restrict movement. Some references to gates in the Bible shows the negation to expansion and establishment of the people of God. “Now Jericho was tightly shut up because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in…At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: "Cursed before the Lord is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho: "At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest will he set up its gates."” Joshua 6: 1,26. Other references are, Psalm 24: 7a; Isaiah 45: 2; Matthew 16: 18; Gen. 24: 60; Deut 3: 5;

Every gate mounted on your way to enlargement shall break down in Jesus name. believers must defy all odds that stand as gates against the expansion of the church and march into victory, possessing their possessions and make the kingdoms of this world the kingdom of our Lord Jesus. Whatever may be the challenges, the power of God and His grace will see us through in Jesus name.

Don’t allow happenings around us to weigh us down. There wars, rumours of wars, pestilences, economic woes and recession, corruption in high places and desecration of the holy sanctuaries. All these are gates of hell. They shall not overcome us in Jesus name. be courageous and strong in the Lord. Be strong in prayers, bible study and mission works. You shall get to your promised land in Jesus name.

Covenant of Favour

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7: 9

 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth.  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: (KJV) Psalm  105: 6-10.

As we enter the last four months in the year 2014, the Lord is going to lead us through in mercy backed by covenant. His covenant and mercy are inseparable. He covenanted with the patriachs not because of any sacrifice but in mercy. The Word of God says, "Noah found grace in the sight of God..." That is why he was not destroyed in the flood.  

There is but one covenant between God and men through which God in sovereign fashion dispenses His grace to men and fulfills His promises to them, a variety of occasions is mentioned in the Old Testament, and the precise character of the grace bestowed and of the promise given differs according to the circumstances. Abraham was favoued among the family members. God called him out of his kindred blessed with an everlasting covenant. Till today Abraham remains a blessing to mankind. 

The Lord is faithful to those in covenant relationship with him. He is not like us humans. We make our promises and we cannot always stand behind them. God is not like us at all! What He says He will do, He will do, because He cannot lie. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? ” Numbers 23:19. He remembers his covenants forever. That promise concerning your health or wealth shall come to pass in Jesus name. Did you have a good dream? God is faithful; he will bring it to pass in Jesus name. 

You are a seed of Abraham, not by birth or politics but by the mercy of God. Apostle Paul says, "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting  me into the ministry; Who was before a  blasphemer, and a persecutor, and  injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I  did it ignorantly in unbelief.   And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." 1Timothy 1: 12-14 The same favour shall fall on you and grant you deliverance from the power of Satan, sin and demons in Jesus name. 

In 2Thesalonians 3: 1-3, it is obvious that God can be trusted in terms of his promises and covenant.  “ God is faithful ,” He can be counted on the stand by His Word. Paul reminds the people in Thessalonica that God “ will stablish you and keep you from evil .”The word “ stablish ” has the idea of “ making stable, placing firmly, setting fast.” It means that God will “ strengthen them and cause them to become constant in their lives and confirmed in their mind.” everything needed to be stable in life shall be given to the people of God. It shall be given to you.

You must trust him for your miracle and do those terms of the covenant. Offer him a unique offering as Noah, Abraham, David and Jesis did. You shall be richly blessed in Jesus name. 

Many people believe ember months as we call the last four months of every year are dangerous. But i can assure you of the mercy of God to go through without any regret. The blood of Jesus Christ is a token of covenant of peace, life and prosperity. You are secured by the blood of Jesus. No evil will come near you in Jesus name.

The Cry for Miracles

The topic we are considering this day is what God is expecting from us to get out of the wood. Every one of us has to get to the point when we need to cry for miracles. You don’t need to pretend all is well when there is depression, pain, and struggle without reward. There is mixed ups, confusion and desperation under your cloth.  It is my prayer that you will experience your relief in Jesus name. 

The Word of God says, “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.  He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven.” Psalm 107: 28-30.  To cry means sobbing, scream, shriek, to call loudly for a remedy and action. This is what God is expecting you to do for your miracles to surface today. It is an attribute of prayers from a sincere heart. It is time for a strong desire for a change from the valley of life to the mountain of life. I decree that you are lifted from that position of despondency to the mountain of unprecedented celebration of miracles in Jesus name. 

We need to cry for miracles in our nation at this crucial moment of security challenge. The situations around us are beyond the national security apparatus. The only key to salvage our lives and property from wanton destruction is the cry of the people of God for divine intervention. Do not leave everything to the leaders and security agents. Every one of us has a role to play in order to bring peace and unity to our dear country. Let us stop the blame game and let us harness all resources to fight the various scourges that are plaguing the coexistence of our country. The Lord gives us a condition for this miracle in the Bible, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” 2Chronicles 7: 14

While Jesus was passing through Jericho, there was a man by the roadside with ears hearing of shout of joy and testimonies. Lots of news making the round about Jesus Christ but he was wallowing in abject poverty and gloominess even by the roadside. He took an unusual step that caught the attention of the crowd and Jesus. “Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" Mark 10: 46-47. The man had been begging for alms before Jesus arrived his vicinity, when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he shouted and Jesus stopped at his shout to attend to his needs.

“Pass me not o gentle Saviour

Hear my humble cry,

While on others Thou art calling

Do not pass me by

Savior, Savour, hear my humble cry

While on others Thou art calling

Do not pass me by”

It is time to cry for salvation. It is time for cry for deliverance. It is time to cry for breakthrough. It is time to cry for divine intervention. No matter what you are passing through, if you will cry to Him today He is ready to listen and intervene in that situation.  “…and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me." Psalm 50: 15. 

If you are ready to cry to God now, let us pray together and say, Lord Jesus, I have seen my inadequacy and know that you alone is able to save me. Have mercy on me and deliver me from the grip of sin satan and flesh. I confess you as my Lord and Saviour. Thank you for coming ibto my heart and life.