Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Make room for your blessing- 1 Chronicles 4.10
Most people today are familiar with the Prayer of Jabez and how he dared to ask God to bless him indeed. Many of us may have memorized and even recited Jabez’s prayer in hopes that God would likewise respond to our prayers and bless us in a like manner.
However, I believe one of the major reasons many of our prayers have not been answered is because we have forgotten or simply do not understand a principle that Jabez understood. This principle is: “God blesses those who have prepared themselves to be blessed”.
When Jabez asked God to bless him indeed, he was asking God do something He nor anyone around him had experienced. He asked for something out of the ordinary and supernatural. Recognizing he did not have the capacity to handle such a blessing, He petitioned God to provide him with the necessary capacity by expanding his borders. Jabez said, God bless me indeed, but don’t forget to correspondingly increase my ability to handle what You are going to do. This is the key to experiencing God’s abundance in your life.
Many of us have asked God to do something extra ordinary in our lives but we don’t have the capacity to handle or properly manage what we’ve asked for. We’ve asked God to pour out rivers of blessing upon us but only have a cups capacity. If God were to give us what we’ve asked for much of it would be wasted. God will never give us something that we are not ready for.
There may even be some who have been preparing themselves for expansion but have forgotten God in their preparation. You can’t build a barn big enough to hold what God can pour out. Only God knows the measure and integrity of the container needed to possess His blessings.
When God called Abraham and told him that he was going to multiply and bless him abundantly the first thing He told him was to move. God told him to move from his family and go to a place that He would show him. God told Abraham to move for two reasons:
(1) It would remove him from the pagan influences of his family and society, and(2) to make room for the blessing that He had planned to give him.
Abraham disobeyed God by bring his nephew Lot with him and the first recorded quarrel they had was not over money or theological differences – but space. God had blessed Abraham to the point that the land could not hold both of them. The reason the land could not hold both of them was because the land was given in proportion to Abraham’s blessing. God blessed Abraham but also gave him the means and ability to possess and care for his blessing.
What have you asked God to do in your life? Do you believe that God will answer you? Are your preparations adequate and in line with what you’ve asked Him for? Have you included God in your preparations? I believe if Jabez were here to share with us the key to experiencing abundance in our lives he would say: First, believe that God will bless you, and second, you must be prepared for your blessing before it will comes.
Have you made room for your blessing?
However, I believe one of the major reasons many of our prayers have not been answered is because we have forgotten or simply do not understand a principle that Jabez understood. This principle is: “God blesses those who have prepared themselves to be blessed”.
When Jabez asked God to bless him indeed, he was asking God do something He nor anyone around him had experienced. He asked for something out of the ordinary and supernatural. Recognizing he did not have the capacity to handle such a blessing, He petitioned God to provide him with the necessary capacity by expanding his borders. Jabez said, God bless me indeed, but don’t forget to correspondingly increase my ability to handle what You are going to do. This is the key to experiencing God’s abundance in your life.
Many of us have asked God to do something extra ordinary in our lives but we don’t have the capacity to handle or properly manage what we’ve asked for. We’ve asked God to pour out rivers of blessing upon us but only have a cups capacity. If God were to give us what we’ve asked for much of it would be wasted. God will never give us something that we are not ready for.
There may even be some who have been preparing themselves for expansion but have forgotten God in their preparation. You can’t build a barn big enough to hold what God can pour out. Only God knows the measure and integrity of the container needed to possess His blessings.
When God called Abraham and told him that he was going to multiply and bless him abundantly the first thing He told him was to move. God told him to move from his family and go to a place that He would show him. God told Abraham to move for two reasons:
(1) It would remove him from the pagan influences of his family and society, and(2) to make room for the blessing that He had planned to give him.
Abraham disobeyed God by bring his nephew Lot with him and the first recorded quarrel they had was not over money or theological differences – but space. God had blessed Abraham to the point that the land could not hold both of them. The reason the land could not hold both of them was because the land was given in proportion to Abraham’s blessing. God blessed Abraham but also gave him the means and ability to possess and care for his blessing.
What have you asked God to do in your life? Do you believe that God will answer you? Are your preparations adequate and in line with what you’ve asked Him for? Have you included God in your preparations? I believe if Jabez were here to share with us the key to experiencing abundance in our lives he would say: First, believe that God will bless you, and second, you must be prepared for your blessing before it will comes.
Have you made room for your blessing?
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
The First shall be last(Mt 20.16)
So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen."
The familiar story of the hare and the tortoise strongly illustrates the truth of this verse. One afternoon, Hare challenged Tortoise to a race he was sure he would win. Hare was so proud of his speed and despised the slow pace of Tortoise.
At order ‘Go’, Hare bolted out of sight before Tortoise took his first step. The crowd cheered for Hare whilst Tortoise inched forward.
Hare was so far ahead and put so much effort into his sprint that he ran out of steam and had to make an unplanned stop along the route. He was confident that he had so outpaced Tortoise that Tortoise would never catch up with him, let alone overtake him.
Whilst taking a rest on the soft green grass he overslept. Suddenly he heard the crowd cheering, “Go Tortoise, go! You can do it. You are almost there!” Tortoise was two steps from the finish line! Hare got up and dashed for the finish line yelling at Tortoise that he would win the race. But it was too late. Tortoise crossed the finish line and won.
The first shall be last: In God’s dealings with us, He does not keep tabs on who took the lead at the start of the race but on who finished the race that is set before him. It is good to start but it is better to finish well. Even if you have great natural, abilities, be humble. ‘Many are called but few are chosen’: In the celebrated marathon races of our time, many thousands start the race with great enthusiasm and set off beautifully but only a few receive medals in the end.
To be part of the chosen at the end of the race, we have to stay focused, maintain disciple and overcome all temporary setbacks. Have you started on your race, your endeavours, your goal or project, dont give up, even if you seem to be trailing behind all others.
The good book says in Ecc 9:11,
'I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all' (NIV)
'I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all' (NIV)
Beloved follower, this is your time, your chance and your day to make it to your dream. It's your season to make it to the top, the bottom is crowded. Make small steps to it, and you will find yourself there.
Go for it Son and Daughter of Zion, Go for it! O my God, the annointing to motivate you to your dream is all over me. Go for it! In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Give me feedback when you have hit the finishing line, and you have defeated the enemy!
____________________________________________________________________
Come and pray your way through for your race this weekend at the Prayer Convention at Reversby Hall, this Friday 11 June-Sun 13th, times, 10am -1130pm daily, Sun, 930am-1pm. Saturday nite, Holy Spirit Baptism Service. Dont miss this!. Love you Loads,
Pastor Richardson
Thursday, May 27, 2010
A historical account of my mentor & spiritual father, Apostle Ezekiel H.Guti
- Happy Birthday Dad, and thanks for keeping the fire burning for so many years.
- Happy 50th Anniversary ZAOGA Forward In Faith Ministries International, Celebrations will be hosted in Zimbabwe, Africa on 19-22 August 2010.
History gives account of a young boy by the name Ezekiel Handinawangu Guti (Founder and President of ZAOGA Forward in Faith Ministries International) born in the remote eastern districts of Zimbabwe who heard his mother talking about the Lord Jesus Christ after she had heard a man preaching about a place called hell.
Filled with much fear, the boy began to wander and weep under the tree talking to the creator whom he knew was there but did not know how to reach him. One day he met a simple man who explained clearly to him the way of salvation. He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and was eventually baptised in the Holy Spirit.
Ten years later, Ezekiel felt the call of God to preach the Good News of the Lord Jesus Christ to the people. The Lord subsequently revealed himself to him in many ways. He started with a few people who increased to eighty (80) churches with a membership of 43 000 born again Christians. He was Pastor at Highfield Revival Centre for 15 years where many miracles happened. The fame drove many from distances afar to seek the Lord and his healing power.
Today, fifty years after its humble beginnings, Forward in Faith Church has grown to be the fastest growing Pentecostal church in Southern Africa and has touched over seventy nations throughout the world including Europe, Southern Africa, parts of West & East Africa, USA, India, Germany, Australia etc, with the saving gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The church has over 5000 Pastors who serve God in this great church. The ministry has got 4 million members in Zimbabwe. Truly, this humble man of God has unmistakable marks of apostleship upon him. (1 Corinthians 9. 1-3). "This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in our sight.” (Matthew 21.42). For more info about Forward In Faith Ministries International & it’s Founder, visit our global website, www.fifmi.org. You may also watch our television on Ezekiel TV on line through the same site.
The mouse story with a moral
A few years ago, I read the following story from a book which I had bought from second hand bookshop which really made an impact upon me then and even now, about the significance of friends. Here is the story for your nourishment.
The mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain ?'The mouse wondered - - -he was devastated to discover it was a mouse trap. Retreating to the farmyard to alert his peers, the mouse proclaimed the warning : There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mouse trap in the house!' The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, 'Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.'
The mouse turned to the pig and told him,'There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mouse trap in the house!' The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr.Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.' The mouse turned to the cow and said 'There is a mousetrap in the house!There is a mousetrap in the house!' The cow said, 'Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose.'
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap . . alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife.
The farmer rushed her to the hospital, and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.
To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.The farmer's wife did not get well;
she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.
So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember ----when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
We are all involved in this journey called life. REMEMBER. . . . . . EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY; OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON. One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a FRIEND. And look out for the traps!!!
Kingdom Blessings
Pastor Richardson
'Committed to excellence in communicating biblical truth & it's application'
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)