HOW TO BRING THE BEST IN YOU

HOW TO BRING OUT THE BEST IN OTHERS 

June 30, 2023

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

Ephesians 4:16 AMP "For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love."

        The  Christian community functions like the human body with each part adapted to specialized functions and yet working in harmony as one homogeneous entity.  The scriptures says in 1 Corinthians 12:20 AMP "And now there are [certainly] many limbs and organs, but a single body".  The Holy Spirit is the life giving source of the church of Christ; also referred to as heirs of the  kingdom of God .

        John 3:5 says" ... Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."  the body of Christ is not ordinary like the human flesh, it is spiritual, the scriptures says in John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. " We are spirits and driven by the laws of the spirit. These laws are different from earthly laws .  Earthly laws are based on physical evidence and are limited by human intellect. It is for this reason that Christians guided by earthly laws easily give up on life. Human wisdom is extremely limited compared to God's wisdom.

           Relationships founded on the world's wisdom are devoid of substance and full of insecurities ,the scriptures describes the texture of the relationship built on biblical wisdom  in  (James 3:17 AMP) it  is pure, peace-loving, courteous, considerate, gentle, willing to yield to reason,full of compassion and good results, it is straightforward and responds wholeheartedly, it is impartial, free from doubts,does not waver  and sincere.

       The recognition and commitment to improve on our neighbours' or partner's weaknesses is what brings out our true potentials as master -builders : so while the world seeks for safer grounds we boldly confront the challenges of bringing out the masterpiece in our partners  . It starts with the rededication of our lives and a commitment to live for Christ and the baptism in the Holy Ghost .This is where the power for change lies ( Acts1:8). The world is quick to jettison the weak for quick relief but Jesus Christ says, "we are in this together " and just as neglecting to clean the anus leads to the stench of the entire body likewise we are to invest more on the least appealing members of the body of Christ. God’s wisdom says in 1 Corinthians 12:23-24 NLT "And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity." therefore that weak member of our community ,sickly and unemployed husband or wife desires more honor and care than the so called well - to -do members of our social class. There are no non- entities in the house of God.

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you. I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation and I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and wisdom for strong and productive  relationships in Jesus name. .

Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

GOD NEVER REJECTS A REPENTANT SINNER June 29 , 2023

 GOD NEVER REJECTS A REPENTANT SINNER

June 29 , 2023

Rev Michael Benson Ajayi

John 6:37 AMP "All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me]."

      The price for the salvation of mankind was paid in full through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and all that is needed to be saved from the eternal damnation of the sinner is that we receive the free gift of salvation through  faith.

       The lord will never turn a sinner seeking for salvation away, the scriptures says in Romans 10:13 AMP "For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. [Joel 2:32.]" Therefore,  today, if you hear His voice,  don't harden your heart against Him. He speaks to us everyday through the media,  dreams, .visions and our subconscious . The Holy Spirit always speaks to the sinner, the scriptures says in Hebrews 3:7-9 AMP "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as [happened] in the rebellion [of Israel] and their provocation and embitterment [of Me] in the day of testing in the wilderness, Where your fathers tried [My patience] and tested [My forbearance] and found I stood their test, and they saw My works for forty years."

       Putting off the day of salvation is very dangerous because nobody has guarantees of seeing the next day. We should respond to His call while we are yet alive  Isaiah 55:6-7 AMP says "Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon."

  Sin destroys its victim ,it is the worst disease in existence and the blood of Jesus Christ is the only cure for sin. The only solution to sin is forgiveness, since nobody can atone for their sin. Those who acknowledge the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross are automatically pardoned and sealed eternally in God's kingdom. It requires that we respond in the affirmative to His call for  repentance, the scriptures says in Mark 1:14-15 AMP "Now after John was arrested and put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God, And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel)." Repentance is likened to passing through a narrow gate because it is not popular, it's like going against the tide and definitely elicits opposition and rejection, The bible says in Matthew 7:13-14 AMP "Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it." [Deut. 30:19; Jer. 21:8.]

        The weary and overburdened  find rest in Christ, He says in Matthew 11:28-30 AMP "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. [Jer. 6:16.] For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.".

     No other spiritual exercise  gives satisfaction like the life in Christ because it is an adventure built on faith that is emotional, volitional and intellectual. The pursuit of religion outside a personal relationship with Christ results in uncertainty with regards to the salvation of one's soul. Religion cannot make a person righteous .Jesus is calling to those who are thirsty for an undeniable , robust spiritual adventure to come to Him , salvation in Christ is free.  All we need do is to repent of our sins and ask Him to be our lord and saviour (Rom 10::9) Receive the free gift of salvation.

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you, I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation, I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace to overcome guilt and condemnation  in Jesus name.

   Free  Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com 

RISE IN THE DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL

 RISE IN THE DEFENCE OF THE GOSPEL

June 28,, 2023

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

"Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age. But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent. Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice."Job 32:2‭-‬3‭, ‬7‭-‬9 NLT

  Truth is always plain to see and objective but humans are usually not . An argument could be perfectly rational and valid but will be met and received with prejudice , misunderstanding , sentiments, ideology or misconception . This was the case with Job and his three friends  Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar . They were preaching the gospel out of context thus creating a grave misconception of God in the hearts of the hearers. 

  Frustration for not having answers to life's questions from the church is demonstrated by a claim of self righteousness, outright hatred for God and the claim that he does not exist by many persons. God gets angry whenever the gospel is under attack and we do not defend the gospel with superior arguments based on irrefutable logic.

  Most beliefs are born out of a choice not to believe and not necessarily because of logic . 

There are things that truly exist but we cannot prove they do but some persons have chosen not to believe they exist , an example is 'true love ' many persons out of past hurtful experiences have chosen not to believe in the existence of true love . 

   It took the teaching ministry of Elihu to save Job from self destruction . Satan was responsible for Job's woes but he blamed God for his misfortunes. Satan comes to kill , steal and destroy but Jesus Christ has come to give us life but he needs our cooperation. That's what faith is. 

    Christian maturity requires being always ready to defend the gospel . The Scriptures says " Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it." 1 Peter 3:15 NLT Refusal to defend the gospel opens our hearts to Satan's lies and a fall in grace and faith.

 We should support through prayers and material support those who are committed to defending the gospel , the Bible says "So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News." Philippians 1:7 NLT Bible 

   These persons occupy a special place in God's heart and enjoy uncommon favour before God and men.

Prayer: Heavenly father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power to preach the gospel with signs and wonders following.

+2348035536911, +2348098536911 e-mail michaelbensonajayi @gmail.com 

YOU ARE A LIVING PROOF OF GOD'S WORD

 YOU ARE THE EMBODIMENT OF THE WORD OF GOD

June 27, 2023

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi

1corinthians 11:1" Be ye followers of me, even as I also  am of Christ."

     The Christian influence is the impression we create in the minds of those who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. We epitomize the Christ-like nature and are the embodiment ; a proof of the functionality of the scriptures. We also influence heaven through our worship of the almighty Father.

           The scriptures describes the church as the light of the world ; illuminating the minds and hearts of men  to be more conscious of the consequences of human actions .This aids in making right choices in life. The church is also described as the salt of the earth (Mathew 5:13-14). We give flavour to the dreams and aspirations of men. Salt is a food seasoning that harmonizes the various tastes, preserves food and eliminates nausea. This is a summary of our impact in the lives of men. We are peacemakers and help people reconcile with God through the proclamation and demonstration of the life -changing power of the gospel.

 We are the bible the world sees. We are to show the world godly examples of the efficacy of the gospel, the scriptures says in   1Tim.4:12" Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example  of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith,  in purity." more exemplary living  is demanded of church leaders : bishops,pastors,evangelists etc 1 Peter 5:2-4 says " Feed the flock of God which is among you,  taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for  filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over  God’s  heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief  Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth  not away." Preachers are enjoined not to allow the quest for material wealth be their motivation for serving God. Whenever preachers measure God's blessing by material possession , it results in covetousness ,social imbalance and general moral decay in society. Such preachers are synonymous with endless conferences because of money gotten from such gatherings from the merchandising of the gospel. They often claim a monopoly of certain spiritual virtues. Such a preaching is not of God and we should avoid such preachers 1Tim.6:5  says "Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself." No christian or church is more blessed than another (Ephesian1:3).

  Societal reformation starts from preachers,they determine the texture of the moral fabric of society. Apostle Paul’s leadership example and high moral standard changed the sociopolitical landscape of Macedonia and Asia. Till this day, these regions of the world are known for hard work and development .The scriptures speaks of apostle Paul’s inputs in 1 Thessalonians.1:5-7" For our gospel came not unto you in  word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much  assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for  your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having  received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So  that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. " Our doctrines forms the building block that make up the prevailing culture in our communities ,thus, institutionalized corruption ,poverty, racism, starts from and ends in the church.

    We should be bold enough to say 'imitate me' like Paul did in1Cor.4:15-16, he said in 1Cor.11: 1 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also  am of Christ." and in 2Thess 3:7 he said "...you ought to follow our examples ". Our Christian practice should not become a stumbling block to others. Knowledge is both liberating and intimidating, and if not properly managed  could cause more harm than good. Liberty without restraints is counter-productive resulting in bondage  ,it brings shame to the church ( 1Cor.8:1-13, Romans 14:1-21.) Jesus warns us never to set a bad example and cause others to live in error ( Matthew 5:19, Matthew 18:6) He said in Luke 17:1-3 "  Then said he unto the disciples,  It is impossible but that offences  will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!   It were  better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he  cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

   Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you, I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation, I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace to be a shining role model for Christian discipleship in Jesus name .

Free prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

A REMNANT SHALL BE SAVED

     A REMNANT SHALL BE SAVED 

June 26  2023

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi.

 .Rev Michael Benson Ajayi.

Gen.4: 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord."

      The process of the redemption of the human race began from the garden of Eden . By virtue of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the devil is well aware of his impending doom and seeks to carry as many persons as possible along with him . As a strategy, he seeks to dilute and pollute the message of the gospel and kill as many unsaved persons as possible .

      God always makes sure that there's a remnant who will continue with the process of the propagation of the gospel in fulfillment of prophesies. The enemy is opposed to this and seeks to destroy the carriers of the genuine message of the kingdom. When Moses was born, an  order was given for  every male child to be killed but God spared Moses as the remnant  of an entire generation, likewise when Jesus was born the enemy ordered for the death of all male children of a particular age but Jesus escaped as the remnant of that generation.

          Adam's sin  against God triggered the beginning of a generation of rebels against God and despite this there was a remnant of that generation in the person of Seth, he loved God in the midst of the open display of arrogance against God. That generation progressed to a point of total lawlessness and God sanitized the system by sending a flood that destroyed all except the remnant Noah and his family . The scriptures says in Gen.6:17-19" And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood  of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath  of life, from under heaven; and every thing that  is in the earth shall  die.  But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt  come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’  wives with thee.  And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every   sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep  them alive with thee; they  shall be male and female."

         Sin is a disease of the heart that can only be cured through a messiah and since there was none before now sin multiplied in the hearts of  Noah's sons and their offspring until  God found a remnant in Abram  (Genesis 12:1) . In Abraham God reveals to us the qualities of the remnant :they will not withhold anything from God (Gen.22:12). Abraham gave birth to Isaac who fathered Esau and Jacob, and Jacob's children conspired to sell their brother Joseph in to slavery who was God's remnant for the fulfillment of prophesy the fulfillment of prophesy (Gen.15:13). Joseph became the prime minister in Egypt and was used to save Israel from death during a famine ( Gen.50:19 -21)

        God always has a remnant, these are a people who are uncompromisingly righteous, they may not be popular but are well known  (2Corinthians 6:9)  they are indispensable in the implementation of God’s will on earth.(Am3:3) . The knowledge  that we are not alone in the adventure of faith encourages the weak. Elijah did not know this and ended his ministry prematurely but God reminded him of 7000 remnants in 1Kings19:18 "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." Those of the Nicolaitan church would have us believe that all ministers of the gospel are unreliable: this is aimed at discouraging and making us compromise in our walk of faith in the lord .  They'll say "we are all sinners, therefore relax, God understands " This is contrary to the scriptures in Amos 6:1 "woe to them that are at ease in Zion and depend on the mountain of Samaria.". Samaria is symbolic of a corrupt world system. .      The scriptures says in Rom.9:27 "Esaias also crieth  concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as  the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:" and in Matthew 7:13-15"Enter ye in at the strait  gate: for wide is the gate, and broad  is the way, that leadeth to  destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait   is the gate, and narrow  is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few  there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you  in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Do not be misled by the crowd, hold on to God's righteous hands for therein lies the guarantee for salvation ,peace and joy in the Holy Ghost

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you, I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation. I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace for stability in faith in the face of trials and temptations in Jesus name.

Prayer /counseling +2348098536911 ,+2348035536911 email: michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

BREAKING THE CYCLE OF STAGNATION AND CONFUSION

 BREAKING THE CYCLE OF STAGNATION AND CONFUSION

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi

  25/6/23

   2 Sam 5:23 NKJV “Therefore David inquired of the Lord, and He said, "You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees.”

              In 2Sam.5:19, king David had obtained the best military strategists to draw up a battle plan against his enemies : the Philistines , he committed his plans to God for success and got the lord's approval to engage the enemy and was victorious. However, in 2 Sam 5:23. when faced with the same challenge, he consulted God and was instructed to jettison his military strategy: God had another plan. A plan which involved using trees to fight the enemy. The scriptures say in 2 Sam 5:24 NKJV “it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance .."  Victory is achieved as a result of responding to specific instructions and God is not bound by any particular way of achieving a desired result. God’s answers to our prayers are either “yes”,“no” , “not yet” or “I have a better plan" 

         The desire for individual freedom and adventure in a rapidly changing world has made patience a scarce commodity. Patience is needed to know God’s plan for us. Most motivational speakers encourage us to ‘press on until we get it, life is there for the taking’ without recourse to whether it is God’s plan or not. They say "do not take ‘No’ for an answer" and impatience is celebrated as a virtue. Modern preachers call it  'walking in God's speed'.

        This way of reasoning was  behind apostle Peter's desire to walk on water as a proof of the integrity of God’s word (Matt 14: 27-33). No sooner has he left the boat to meet Jesus did he began to sink .God will not alter divine principles of faith because of our impatience. You could be moving in circles maritally , financially and in your ministry like David was (2Sam.5:23) and  Joshua ( Josh 6: 1-5)  momentarily but you are making progress with God ;yet, the world may see you as a failure, 

      Impatience leads to unsustainable progress .There is need for spiritual discipline to sustain progress .We frustrate and endanger ourselves whenever we embark on ventures which may not be in tandem with God’s plan while living Him with no options to do His will. Samson did the same by  his desire to get married to Delilah at all cost (Judges 14:1-3). The lord fulfilled His greater purpose of saving Israel from the enemy through Samson’s presumptuous attitude (verse 4) but it cost Samson his life. We should not be ashamed to retrace our steps in the face of imminent disaster, the scripture says in Prov 14:16 TLB “A wise man is cautious and avoids danger; a fool plunges ahead with great confidence .”  A simple prayer before marriage should be 'Dear lord,  if this union will not lead to a lifetime of peace, joy and righteousness, do not allow me marry (name) no matter how much I try . The same applies to businesses and relationships. 

         The absence of perfect peace is an indicator that God does not approve of a particular venture even if there are noticeable temporal benefits. Let peace be your guide and not only a prophet or prophetess , they could be in error (1kings 22:6-38) . We are guided by God’s peace ,the scripture in Isaiah 26:3 AMP Bible says “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.” 

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace for sound judgment and deliverance from stagnation in Jesus name.  

Free prayer/counseling  +234 80355356911, +234 8098536911  

email :michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

BE POSITIONED TO FIND HELP

BE POSITIONED TO RECEIVE HELP 

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi 

1 Samuel 25:6-7

"And thus shall ye say to him that liveth in prosperity, Peace be both to thee, and peace be to thine house, and peace be unto all that thou hast.

 And now I have heard that thou hast shearers: now thy shepherds which were with us, we hurt them not, neither was there ought missing unto them, all the while they were in Carmel."

"After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;  And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers. "Acts 18:1-3 

  The word 'wrought ' in Acts 18;3 is the Greek word  'ergazomai' it means  to toil (as a task occupation etc.) (by implication) effect be engaged in or with etc.: - commit do labor for minister about trade (by) work.. This describes Paul's engagement as part of his missionary journey . He was involved in the business of tent making.. It was very tedious involving processing animals and removing the skins and scraping the hairs off , Stitching the skins to get the desired size and shape of the tent and drying under very hot weather conditions .  It was a manual process and yet this anointed man of God joyfully engaged in it to help his hosts in their business and make it easier for them to take care of his welfare and those of his companions. Imagine what the newspapers will say in Nigeria if one of our megalomaniac preachers was seen preparing hides and skin or as a vulcanizer or carpenter. Many may say that the anointing is no more upon them. It is this type of thinking that has created a very high level of unemployment and poverty amongst God's people . 

   Our preachers have made parishioners believe that hard work and toiling is a sign that a person did not have the ' anointing of favour or 'grace for sweatless success'. These are misleading terms used to defraud the gullible and frustrates enterprise . Apostle Paul must have sweated a lot , he was  businessman  and his inputs   reduced the cost of production thereby increasing the profit margin of his host's business

  Paul instructed that preachers without a meaningful source of income outside offerings should be avoided as they were a bad influence on society ( Read 2 Thess 3:6-11) . The modern African church has abandoned the customs of our ancestors as exemplified by Apostle Paul and king David. 

 This is the reason for the increase in hunger and poverty as they spend over 70% of their income on food. This should not be. Imagine if every church in Nigeria had a farm, that will result in a reduction in food prices drastically. 

  Always , seek for ways on how to add value to the businesses of friends , relations and other believers by so doing it becomes easy to find help in times of distress. Be ready to work for free like apostle Paul and king David. 

Its difficult to harvest from were you have not planted or watered . Proverbs 6:10 says "A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,  a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." Poverty is no respecter of persons. 

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and receive grace for extraordinary help

+2348035536911, +2348098536911 e-mail michaelbensonajayi @gmail.com

DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE AND BE FULFILLED

 DISCOVER YOUR PURPOSE AND BE FULFILLED

June 23, 2023

Rev Michael Benson Ajayi

 Matt 16:20 KJV “Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ”

       It was expected that the disciples would have been encouraged to make Jesus Christ known while He was yet with them  but the contrary was the case as revealed in the above scripture. There are two major reasons behind this . First, it was to fulfill the prophecy in John 1:10-11 KJV “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.”

           Value is a function of the cost expended in the pursuit of an ideal. We only place value on objects that cost us something to acquire. Adam was freely given wisdom in the Garden of Eden which he never truly valued rather, it was that which cost him his relationship with God that he had more value for (Gen3:4-7) Naturally , scarcity increases value . 

           Secondly, Jesus' instruction to keep his identity secret was a military strategy to disguise himself as an ordinary human being before Satan and his cohorts. Satan legally obtained our rights to free determination when he deceived Eve our ancestor in Eden. He came disguising himself as a harmless serpent, likewise Jesus the Son of God came disguising himself as mortal man. He made every effort to conceal His identity during His healing ministry; he often told them not to reveal His identity (Matt 8:4, Luke 8:56).

      The disciples were also instructed not to reveal His identity until He was raised from the dead (Mark 9:9). The reason being that if Satan was privy to God’s plan for the redemption of man, he would not have crucified Jesus Christ (1Cor2:8). The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a necessary event; it is what makes Christianity different from other religions. It is the only course with a logical explanation for the cure for sin through a vicarious universal atonement.  In Christ we are eternally free from God’s judgment.  None of the other religious leaders dared to die for their followers but Jesus Christ did to atone for our sins (religious rituals cannot atone for sins, psalm49:7) and through death He demonstrated the extent of His love for us.    

             Between 701-681 BC, the prophet Isaiah prophesied about the messiah (Jesus Christ) in Isaiah 53:5-8. He prophesied that Jesus will take our punishment upon himself. Therefore, no other sacrifice is needed for our salvation (Roman5:6, 8, 2Cor.5:21).  The born again Christian has been given the responsibility to let the world know about this , this is our life purpose (John15:16).We are ministers of a new covenant, empowered and mandated to show the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness in to His marvelous light. This is what the preaching of the gospel is all about and fulfillment comes from being committed to this purpose as the scriptures say in Matt 5:6 Msg Bible "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.” No material object can give the pleasure and satisfaction that comes from being committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the primary purpose for your salvation and reason for living .

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace for purposeful living in Jesus name. 

Free prayer/counseling +234 8035536911, +234 8098536911email. michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

OVERCOME FLATTERY AND THE FEAR OF BEING REJECTED

 OVERCOME FLATTERY AND THE FEAR OF BEING REJECTED

June 22, 2023

  By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

Mark 7:11 AMP “But [as for you] you say, A man is exempt if he tells [his] father or [his] mother, What you would otherwise have gained from me [everything I have that would have been of use to you] is Corban, that is, is a gift [already given as an offering to God],”

        Most of  the religious leaders of Jesus’ time often used flattery to exploit their followers. They disregarded the importance of the care for the elderly ,insisting that provisions meant for them be given as offerings to the temple thereby encouraging the neglect of the weak and elderly. The Pharisees profited from this act of the dishonor of one’s parents. In some churches members are told to give money meant for medical care of a sick parent as 'miracle seeds' for their healing. Claiming it is more profiting to give to a church building project than care for one's sick parents. This is contrary to God's commands in Ex 20:12 AMP“Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.”. Those who honour their parents are rewarded with prosperity , well-being and longevity. God cares for the elderly , they should not be rejected..

          The message of grace is not a license to be hypocritical in worship. Jesus specifically rebuked the Pharisees in Mark 7:6 where He said “,….. Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me." The grace of God opens our eyes to areas of our lives that need change and if concealed it hampers the miraculous power of God from bringing about the desired breakthrough we wish for. Flattering in the church is counterproductive to the development of the Christian spirit. It is behind the confusion among many believers who are quick to say “I have done all that I was told to do yet no result” The scriptures say in Prov 28:13 TLB “A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” Flattery leads to bitterness and rejection.  

          Most believers struggle with the fear of rejection by spouse, friends, congregation etc ; a battle one must overcome in other to teach the truth of the gospel. Jesus Christ was rejected by over 65% of His followers for His uncompromising righteousness (John 6:66).

 It is only when preachers are not afraid to teach the truth of the gospel that societal reforms can truly take place. Most preachers for fear of losing members preach a corrupted version of the bible that appeals to the lower sinful nature, it promotes greed , intolerance , tribalism , dishonesty, impatience , hatred for relatives  , destroying families in the process. They love and promote flattery and neglect wholesome Christlike character .    

      Truth is the cure for all family and national crisis. God does not bless falsehood. 1Tim4:2-5 instructs us to correct, rebuke and encourage one another in love whenever necessary. Flattery does more harm than good and unfortunately a lot of persons see it as a quality of the spirit of grace. The opposite is the case. At one time Jesus overturned the money changers tables in the temple while accusing them of turning the house of God into a den of thieves. Monetary contributions (miracle seeds) are no substitute for genuine repentance: Psalm (50:7-15).

        The scriptures teaches that if we see our brother or sister in error and refuse to correct them, it shows that we do not truly love them (Lev.19:17,1 John5:16,1 John2:11). We should not take offense when corrected by a spouse or a family member. God corrects those He loves .A sound marriage is that where partners take no offense in being corrected. It is an indicator of healthy parental upbringing. Flattering one's children could result in their struggling with rejection and bitterness in their marriage . Children should be made to concentrate more on the benefits of being corrected than the pains involved in the process.  Prov 28:23TLB “In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery.” 

Prayer: Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace to overcome rejection in Jesus name.

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YOUR SITUATION IS NOT HOPELESS

 YOUR SITUATION IS NOT HOPELESS

June 21 , 2023 

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

Psalm42:5-6" Why  art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?  hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his  countenance. O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore  will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites,  from the hill Mizar." 

   The word 'Jordan' is a word in the Hebrew which means to descend , to go downwards, to fall , and  Hermonites means 'Peaks '  and Mizar is a word which means petty in size or number.  These three words are an expression of the three phases in human life, namely,  the peak of a person's progress , the period of a downturn or downsizing and when there is little progress. We may not be able to stop these circumstances  from taking place but we can control how we respond to them.

      The Christian life is full of ups and downs by virtue of the fact that as humans our carnal nature often interferes with God's will resulting in very unpleasant experiences. God always makes provisions for the difficult times ahead but unfortunately we sometimes get consumed with the pleasures of the moment and throw a deaf ear to His warnings.  This happens to the best of us. King David was a man referred to as a man after God’s heart. He became king of Israel and Judah by divine providence after a supernatural victory over Goliath (1Sam.17:55,2Sam.2:4) . At the peak of his carrier as a king he fell in love with his servant's wife and impregnated  her and eventually murdered her husband (2Sam.11:3-26). He was eventually deposed as king by his son Absalom .Despite  these crisis he repented of his actions and God restored him back to the throne . It was during this period that he wrote psalm42.

            The principle to being hopeful in the midst of crisis  is the ability to remember what God says about whatever situation we might have found ourselves in. As complicated as they may seem, God has the solutions to our problems. The scriptures says in 1Cor.10:13  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that  ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape,  that ye may be able to bear it." He is ever so faithful that He won't abandon you to your problems (Lamentations 3:20) .He will not only save you but make you an instrument through which many will find salvation. He is able to do more than we ask for (Ephesians 3:20)

        We have a living hope with Jesus as our high priest ,the scriptures says in 1Peter 1:3 "Blessed   be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to  his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the  resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," therefore, we are reassured that if Christ could be raised from the dead, we too can experience a recovery from the worst of life's crisis. Our hope is not tied to a nonliving thing, it is alive.

        Trusting in God is the beginning of peace and joy with a living hope Romans 15:13 says " Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that  ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." We should ask the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with joy and peace in hope on a daily basis. Hope gives birth to endurance and perseverance which is most treasured in the sustenance of  marriages and relationships. The scriptures says in 1Thessalonians1: 3 "Remembering without ceasing your  work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord  Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;"

         Regular interactions with mature students  of the scriptures and our pastors is one sure way of receiving hope in the time of crisis. The scriptures says in Ecclesiastes 9:4" For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion." It is hard to trust God when constantly being bombarded with the negativity from the world's media. Hope is transferable likewise  hopelessness, cynicism and pessimism .

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace for overflowing peace , joy and hope in Jesus' name.

Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

FREEDOM FROM ANCESTRAL CURSES

 FREEDOM FROM ANCESTRAL CURSES

June 20 

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi   

 2kings 14:5-6 "And it came to pass,  as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his  servants which had slain the king his father. But the children of the  murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the  book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The  fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be  put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for  his own sin."

          The theology that says God places curses on children because of the sins of their parents and ancestors is unfounded . This theology is derived from a misinterpretation of Exodus 34:7 "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. "

The context of this verse of scriptures is the magnanimity of  God’s grace in dealing with the effect of the errors of parents upon their offspring or descendants . In the light of this, the word 'visiting' is the Hebrew word 'Paquad' which means: to care for, bestow,oversee, deposit. There are two words that were added by the translators of the bible from Hebrew to English and they are distinguished from the original text by being italicized, they are 'generation' and 'the guilty' .    Therefore, the verse of scripture without these additions from the translators reads "Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means ; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth . " What this means is that God cares for and makes provisions for children who are victims of the sins of the parents ; sins such as in the case of a pregnant drug addict whose unborn children  are born with hard drugs in their blood stream , or children of terrorists who could be endangered by the activities of their parents.

   The era of the laws of Moses had no provision for forgiveness of sins that's what the scriptures means by the clause 'no means clear' , and the consequences of sin was death. Sin is not transferable from parents to children ,the scriptures says in Ezekiel 18: 20 "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. " Under God’s grace through Jesus the effect of the sins of parents on their children could be cured.  God made provisions for the children of rebellious parents to enjoy the benefits of the blessed life regardless of the sins of the parents , an example is the case in 2Kings 14:5-6 . Amaziah had lost his father Joash through a palace coup in 2Kings 12:20 and when he assumed office as king he set out on a revenge mission by executing the coup plotters but spared their children.  This was God's grace in effect in the old testament era.

     Under the dispensation of grace which we live in, all sins are forgiven , unlike in the old testament were sins could not be cleared. Through Jesus Christ we have redemption of our sins, which means Jesus bought our sins and the era of the laws of Moses had no provision for forgiveness of sins that's what the scriptures means by the clause 'no means clear' , and the consequences of sin was death. Sin is not transferable from parents to children ,the scriptures says in Ezekiel 18: 20 "The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him. " Under God’s grace through Jesus the effect of the sins of parents on their children could be cured.  God made provisions for the children of rebellious parents to enjoy the benefits of the blessed life regardless of the sins of the parents , an example is the case in 2Kings 14:5-6 . Amaziah had lost his father Joash through a palace coup in 2Kings 12:20 and when he assumed office as king he set out on a revenge mission by executing the coup plotters but spared their children.  This was God's grace in effect in the old testament era.

       Under the dispensation of grace which we live in, all sins are forgiven , unlike in the old testament were sins could not be cleared. Through Jesus Christ we have redemption of our sins, which means Jesus bought our sins and those of our great grand parents up to Adam with His blood and took our place of punishment on the cross. The scriptures says in Ephesians 1:7" In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" he took every curse upon himself including future curses and has been made our curse- breaker or neutralizer as the scriptures says in Galatians 3: 13 "Christ hath  redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for  it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: " therefore, there are no impediments to the fulfillment of your destiny .Your prosperity is guaranteed through the blood of Jesus Christ.

  Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you, I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation, I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace to overturn every evil prophesy over my family in Jesus name.

Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

PRAYER AND THE BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD (2)

 PRAYER AND BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD (2)

Ecclesiastes 9 :2-3

"The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. Good people receive the same treatment as sinners, and people who make promises to God are treated like people who don’t.

  It seems so wrong that everyone under the sun suffers the same fate. Already twisted by evil, people choose their own mad course, for they have no hope. There is nothing ahead but death anyway."

     The above scripture has been misinterpreted to mean the same destiny awaits all mankind whether godly or ungodly , therefore, of what use is trying to be godly when we shall all end alike. This is the reason why some persons have chosen to live recklessly against the laws of God. 

  This is the devil's trap to get as many person's as possible in to hell .The scriptures says we shall give account before God immediately we take out last breath on earth 

 Hebrews 9 :27 "And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,". God's judgment is instant at the point of death 

   The scriptures says " Ecclesiastes 9 :10/

Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom."  this is further proof that a person's life does not improve by way of prayers being made by the living for the dead. 

   What about  baptism for the dead . ? The Corinthians to whom Paul addressed had a tradition where sacrifices and baptism where made for the dead , this is still being practiced in parts of Asia and south America. 1 Cor. 15:29 says "Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?”  Paul alluded to the fact that the people's belief in the resurrection of the dead but was careful not to endorse the practice of baptism for the dead. This is seen in the use of the third person pronoun  'They ' and not 'we ' .or 'us'.

   He employed the use of the logical argument form known as argumentum ad hominem—an argument premised upon what men were doing at that time and with which the readers would relate to,  based on the prevailing culture .

 Scripturally, the baptism of the dead metaphorically is in reference to the apostles being dead to sin according to the old sinful nature ( Romans 6:6-7)  The word baptism used contextually by apostle Paul refers to the sufferings preachers have to go through in spreading the gospel ( Matthew 20:22, Mark 10:38-39, Luke 12:50, Acts 9:16, and 1 Corinthians 4:9,)

   The second word 'Dead' is referring to those who are yet to be born again. They are described in scriptures as being spiritually dead (Mathew 8:22) 

   Paul was saying that if the dead were not raised then Christianity was a failure and hopeless venture , and given that the resurrection is coming we should not continue to live in sin like those without a hope of salvation.  Ecclesiastes 12 :13-14 "That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad."

  Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and power for stability . 

+2348035536911 , +2348035536911 e-mail michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com 

   

PRAYERS AND BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD ( Pt 1)

BAPTISM AND PRAYERS  FOR THE DEAD  (Pt 1)

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi

1 Corinthians 15:29 "Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

Ecclesiastes 9:5 "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten."

   Is it possible that people who are alive on the earth can be baptized for and  prayers be made for the dead and is there any  efficacy of these baptisms or prayers in the lives of those who already have died and are in the spirit realm ? 

   The scriptures eliminates this possibility and here are some of them ,  "When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength." Proverbs 11:7 NLT the dead do not have any expectations of anything on earth . You cannot add or subtract from the dead. 

  The story of Lazarus and the rich man who both died and were taken to the great beyond is proof that once dead a person's life cannot be influenced by the prayers or baptism of the living on earth . “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet. The rich man also died and was buried, and he went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there. " Luke 16:22‭-‬23‭, ‬26 NLT the is a great chasm ( Greek : Chasma meaning impassable interval ) prayers can't pass in or out .

    On whether it is possible for a sinner to become righteous after death,  Jesus Christ said to the unrepentant sinner who think that their religion will guarantee their salvation ."That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.”

John 8:24 NLT  Religion cannot guarantee a person  salvation in the present and  the after life. 

   Man deserved the full punishment for breaking the 613 laws of Moses but Jesus Christ took the punishment for humanity and in exchange gave us his righteousness . For those who reject this offer the bible says "For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body." 2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT

  This is a confirmation that sins are not forgiven after a person dies through the prayers or baptism of the living . Satan does not want people to repent before death so they can fall into the trap of hell fire like he did to the rich religious man in Luke 16.

  Prayer : Heavenly father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I  receive him as lord and saviour and  receive faith for the miraculous . Amen 

+2348035536911, +2348098536911 e-mail . michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com 

   

   

  

CURSE OF THE FIRST BORN : MYTH OR FACT

 

CURSE OF THE FIRST BORN : MYTH OR FACT

June 17 2023

 Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

Genesis. 49:3 -4 "Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:Unstable as water, thou shalt not  excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst  thou it: he went up to my couch. "

        The theology that says the first-born child going through  life's  difficulties is a victim of the curse of the firstborn is unfounded in scripture and counter-productive. Those who teach this often make reference to Gen.49:3-4 to buttress their claim. For there to be a curse, there has to be a justifiable cause for it. It is important that a clear distinction be made between a curse and the trials of life. The word  'curse' is the Hebrew word 'Arar' which means to be: hated ,despised as in Genesis 12:3" ..and curse him that curseth thee:.... "  God does not hate the first-born child but loves them (John3:16). When and how a child is born and nurtured  is not determined by the child .God instructs parents  to train  children in the way of the lord and when they grow, they shall not depart from it.

             As part of the human formative process, we are placed under tutors or mentors and they play a significant role in our promotion .  The scriptures says in Galatians 4:1-2  "Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and  governors until the time appointed of the father. " This means there is an appointed time for the manifestation of our blessings : to everything, there is a time and a season . This is determined by the heavenly father and it differs from person to person; no two persons have the same destiny but we have the same end whether rich or poor , we shall all die someday . 

       God requires that we abide by the rules of the laws of life, Rom.8:2 says " For the  law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law  of sin and death. " this means there are two laws that governs life, the law of sin and death and the law of life in Christ Jesus. Before the advent of the dispensation of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ ,the world was under the law of sin and death.  Under this law , curses were placed on persons who violated societal laws. These laws were divided into two,  divine laws and traditional laws. The divine laws includes the ten commandments given to Moses.  Traditional laws were subjective in nature as society evolved ; these laws had divine backing in order to maintain law and order.  The scriptures says in Romans 2: 14-15 "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law,  do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the  law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law  written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and  their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one  another;). "

           For a person to be cursed he or she must have broken the laws of the land and for Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, his crime was that of dishonouring his father . Genesis 35:22 says "And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:" There was a cause for this curse, a curse needs a justifiable reason to go into effect (Prov.26:2) .This judgment was for Reuben and not all firstborn. Curses and blessings are backed by God and enforced by angels.

        The born again Christian has been redeemed from the curse of the Laws and traditions of Moses, and we are under the law of grace which transcends every law and custom . 1cor.6:12 "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." Thus we are not obligated to follow any law and custom that runs contrary to the laws of grace therefore we cannot be under any curse for refusing to disobey God's laws in the old testament . There are negative consequences for rebelling against one's parents in the lord (Eph.6. 1-3) that does not mean one gets cursed by God for it. Jesus has redeemed us from all curses by receiving upon himself all the hatred God had for humanity (Galatians.3:13).That does not mean that if we placed our hands on a hot stove we would not get burnt.

         Most firstborn were not given the same opportunities like their siblings because they were born during the struggling years of their parents, unlike siblings who were born with better opportunities. This is the reason behind the gap between the first-born from struggling families and their siblings. Parents expect too much from most firstborn thus they do not  feel loved and it affects their performers in skill development.  There are many firstborns from wealthy and non-christian families who are making a headway in life therefore it will be untrue to say all first-born are under a curse. The blessing of Jesus Christ upon the born-again Christian  includes protection against curses (Ephesians 1:3-4,Col.1:12-13) therefore, the firstborn is blessed in Jesus Christ.

 Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you, i believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation ,I receive Him as lord and saviour and  receive the Holy Spirit and grace to overturn every evil prophesy over my life in Jesus name.  

Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

CLAIM YOUR VICTORY OVER SIN

 

YOUR VICTORY OVER SIN

June 16,, 2023

By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

Psalm 32:2 "Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

      The word 'imputeth'  used in this scripture is the Hebrew word 'Chashab ' and it means; to plait or interpenetrate ,to weave or fabricate, to make account of,esteem, count,conceive.  These words explains the process through which a person is made right with God outside the dictate of the laws of Moses or any other religious laws and status.

        The scriptures speaks of Abraham who is credited to be the spiritual father of the three main religions in the world namely Islam,Christianity and Judaism, it says in Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the Lord; and he  counted it to him for righteousness." These religions acknowledge Abraham as  being righteous before God, Jesus also spoke of him in a parable about heaven and hell in Luke 16:22-28,  an acknowledgement of Abraham's piety and approval before God. Against the backdrop of the religious demands for salvation,  the following questions arises with respect to Abraham's salvation, 1) was he a member of any religious organization?  The answer is No. 2) Did he observe any religious duty such as pilgrimages, fasting, sacrifices,  gathering with faithfuls before he was declared righteous? The answer again is No.3) Was he an observer of the laws of Moses? The answer is No. Moses was not yet born, it was four hundred and thirty years later that the law was introduced and it cannot nullify the covenants made before it or else all that transpired between God and Adam, Eve, and Satan in the garden  would also be nullified .

            From the above questions and answers it is obvious that Abraham: an imperfect man, was admitted into heaven; the domain of a perfect God without observing any religious creed or good deed . That means,  it is possible for an imperfect person to become righteous (Romans.3:21) Kind David spoke of this in Psalm32:2.  This process is known as righteousness by imputation  ,where God unilaterally counts a person as worthy of heaven haven accounted for his sins and fabricated him or her to fit into a perfect heavenly domain just as a hair dresser weaves strands of hair with each one interpenetrating the other. .Such a person is esteemed righteous. This is known as salvation by grace through faith.

     Punishment for sins is a necessity for justice to be satisfied , therefore, what happened to Abraham's sins.? It must have been paid for through propitiation or else God would be accused of being unjust to have chosen only Abraham out of the millions of persons in his time . Abraham was the beneficiary of the grace of God through substitutionary sacrifice , he was able to see Jesus Christ sacrificed for the sins of humanity on the cross through the eyes of faith and rejoiced. Jesus speaking to the Jews over three thousand years later said in John 8:56 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. " Abraham got saved by grace through the revelation of Christ received through the holy Spirit before he was declared righteous in Genesis.15:16 God promised Abraham in Genesis.14:15" For all  the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for  ever."Abraham caught the revelation in the last statement "for ever" , a phrase which means eternal life in the land of the living (psalm 116:9).

        God confirmed the principle of propitiation when he asked for the sacrifice of Isaac whose life was replaced with that of the lamb of God (Genesis.22:1-13). The ram did not sin but died for the sinner. John the baptist  described Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of mankind (John1:36).

       By our sinful nature we are at enmity with God (Romans.8:7-8) and by nature we have lost all sense of purpose and become objects of

God’s punishment. (Ephesians.2:1-5). The only way by which we can be saved is through a divine rebirth,  remember one of the meanings of the word 'imputeth' is to conceive or get pregnant.  We are saved through a rebirth process (Titus.3:4-7) in which we are reckoned to have died and resurrected with Christ spiritually therefore our sins are canceled before God because of Jesus Christ. We are saved only by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9) All who receive Christ by faith like faithful Abraham shall be saved (John1:12) Christ died for undeserving sinners like you and I (Romans.5:8, 2Corinthians.5:21,1John4:9-10) We are forgiven, justified and cleared of guilt and condemnation by our faith in Jesus Christ (Romans .5:1,Romans .3:21-24)  

       Romans.8:1 says "THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. [John 3:18.]" AMP Bible.

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation, I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace for victorious living in Jesus name.

Free prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

THE CURE FOR SIN (2)

 

THE CURE FOR SIN (2)

l

 By Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

 Isaiah 64:6 KJV " But we are  all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses  are as filthy  rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind,  have taken us away."

     Attempting to achieve righteousness through self effort does more harm than good : it requires denying the need for God's saving power which works through  love . Self righteousness is the driving force behind the hatred, intolerance in society and religious extremism through terrorism the world over , it promotes selfishness .The scriptures compares self righteousness to filthy rags. The word 'filthy' is the Hebrew word 'ed' which means 'menstrual flux' and the word 'rag' is the word 'beged' which means :a covering, i.e. clothing; very (treacherously), a wardrobe, self -righteousness makes a person appear as having menstrual flux with a wardrobe malfunction.

    Religious bigotry destroys nations ; credibility is often lacking where self-righteousness thrives. The self righteous fellow makes God's word appear inconsistent and lives in self-deception ( 1John 1:8-10). If one claims to be righteous than others, it therefore follows that all acts aimed at spiritual excellence should have ceased to be practiced  and such a person should be in a perpetual state of peace with self and the universe and become as God .The scriptures says in Hebrews 4:10 " For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." But this is contrary to what is observed in the lives of so-called mystics and religious folks the world over ,they are all engrossed in acts aimed at making them appear more righteous. They are caught up in the vicious circle of fear , uncertainties with no guarantees for salvation, the scriptures describes this in 2Tim.3:13" But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being receiver." The word 'seducers ' is the Greek word 'goes' and it means a wizard or mystic. Self-righteousness is deceptive and followers of those who teach this theology are victims of a grand fraudulent scheme and have fallen from grace .
      Apart from God's grace, the human heart is exceedingly deceitful beyond cure. (Jer.17:9) and in the light of God's righteous standard, we are very sinful (Isaiah 6:1-5) and salvation starts from the point of the acknowledgement of one's sins.
    Sin results in fear , unhappiness and bondage (2Pet.2:19) and only a sinless (saviour ) can make us free (John.8:31-36) Sin alienates us from God and outside the grace of Jesus Christ, we are at odds with God and hopeless (Ephesians.2:12-13,Col.1:21-22).
       The attempt to be righteous through the laws of Moses only makes matters worse because the law increases sin consciousness and guilt  (Rom.3:20 )The law was given to help us identify with sin  (Rom.7:7) it is a spiritual diagnostic tool for sin . God's laws are centered on love for God and one's neighbour (Matt.22:37-40) and they are expressed in the ten commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
       For justice to be satisfied,  punishment must be meted against sinners, therefore, God in His justice punishes sinners (Gen.2:16-17) and the punishment for sin is death (alienation from God)(Rom.5:12,6:33).The sinful nature of man brought curses upon humanity that must be taken away for one to enter heaven (Gal.3:10) the proof of the operation of the curse is the overwhelming fear,absence of peace and the sense of guilt in the heart of man.  Jesus Christ took away our curses and gave us his righteousness. (Gal.3:13)

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation, I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace to overcome shameful satanic addictions in Jesus name.  .Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com 

THE TRUE CURE FOR SIN (1)

 THE TRUE CURE FOR SIN (1)

June14, 2023

Rev.Michael Benson Ajayi

Psalms 51:5 NLT "For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me."

 This scripture teaches that the human sperm cell : the seed that grows into a human being in the womb of a woman is tainted  with the sin virus. The sin virus induces an inclination to rebel against God's laws . Humanity got infected by the virus when our first parents (Adam and Eve ) ate the forbidden fruit (symbol of God's authority) thus  paving the way for idol worship  : man-made  religion. They turned a tree into their god. Sins creates a sense of disconnection from God that's why people go long distances to worship objects (Isaiah 59:1) God is everywhere and never sleeps . We are born with sinful tendencies.

      Ever since that unfortunate incidence in the garden of Eden of Adam's sin against God,  the human gene pool became corrupted. Nobody learns how to sin, we sin by default. The first lie we ever told as children and the selfish tendencies are the effects of the sin nature. It is for this reason that the scriptures says in Ecclesiastes 7:20 NLT "Not a single person on earth is always good and never sins." The so-called "holy master", prophet or prophetess, oracle,mystic  is much of a sinner as their neighbour. They have simply perfected the art of concealing sins , that's the reason for pilgrimages , fastings and other religious rituals.

     We are sinners and like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6) it is not in us to obey anyone, rebellion is the order of the day because of the nature of Satan in the heart of man (Ephesians.2:2) Sin is the worst kind of sickness, it is likened to insanity. It hinders us from doing what is right.  Romans 7:14-15, 17 NLT says "So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it." This means we do not even have the capacity to keep God's laws. The fellow who says he or she does not fornicate or covet what belongs to others but has the appetite for these sins is as guilty as the person who physically engages in such. 

         The scriptures says in Romans 2:1-3 NLT "You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things?" No one is exempted, Jews  (religious) and gentiles( non-religious) alike are sinners before God (Rom.3:9-12,22-24)There is no difference, for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s holy and glorious standards ." Physical involvement in a sin is the same as mental involvement in the same sin; Matthew 5:28 NLT says "But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

      What is often taught as righteousness by mystics and religious schools is physical restrain . If physical restrain is righteousness then the most righteous persons on earth should be those with total body paralysis . While the religious man looks at the physical manifestation ,God sees and judges the evil imaginations of our hearts, 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT says "But the lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart.” therefore , as long as there is the appetite for sin  in the heart of man ,  he remains guilty before God.

       We were born with the appetite for sin and it cannot be cured by engaging in transcendental meditation , pilgrimages, fastings  or any other so-called spiritual exercises that many  engage in to become righteous. If these spiritual therapies were effective then there should not be repeated  sacrifices for sins such as fasting, praying ,meditations, incantations , pilgrimages etc,  The presence of these activities is proof that  the consciousness of sin abides in us and if heaven (the highest level of spiritual enlightenment ) is pure with no room for sin then no mystic or religious person has any hope of entering heaven given that breaking one of God's law is tantamount to breaking all of His laws ,the scriptures say in James 2:10 NLT "For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws."

     Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me for my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation ,I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Spirit and grace to overcome the works of unrighteousness in Jesus' name.

Free Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911(whatsapp) + 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

DO NOT BE SILENCED

 DO NOT BE SILENCED

June 13, 2023

By Rev Michael Benson Ajayi

Mark 10:49 NIV “Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you."

            The world’s belief system runs contrary to God’s principles of faith and it thrives on rebellion , selfishness and oppression. It celebrates those who make a mockery of the sacred and vilifies defenders of the Christian faith. God's kind of Faith is volitional, intellectual and emotional ; expressed through positive emotional outbursts like the blind man in Mark 10:43-48.The world considers this offensive. 

          The life of  faith in Christ is laterally inverted and diametrically opposed to popular worldview (Eph2:2) It is like running against the crowd in a marathon race. A lot of people have missed out on their purpose and the reward of a fulfilled life by trying to please the crowd: such persons would rather serve God secretly while depriving themselves of the benefits of living a victorious Christ-like life. They would rather remain blind than offend the crowd with their expression of faith. However, without faith, it is impossible to please God: faith without works is dead.  The blind man, demonstrated his faith by shouting and would not let the crowd shut him down and he was rewarded with healing. To live a victorious life in Christ requires a refusal to conform to the social norm or popular opinion, choosing to be a God- pleaser rather than a celebrity in the arena of unbelievers.

        The dilution and pollution of the gospel gives Satan the advantage. This is shown in playing down on the message of holiness and faithfulness as virtues in a Christian's life. Without holiness it is impossible to see God ( Heb.12:14) . Holiness is a precondition to receive revelations from God's word. The believer in Christ shares in God's holiness (Heb12:10) and the opposite is describes as ‘giving one’s pearls to swine’ Matt 6:34 (Message bible )"Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege”. In a bid to be trendy and appealing to popular world view, many have stripped the teachings of the holy scriptures off its  healing miraculous power, truth and integrity(2Tim3:5). Diluted truth is no truth. God has to be sought wholeheartedly, then can there be a divine intervention in our lives (Heb 11:6, Jer 29:13).

   Refusal to defend the faith in the face of negative popular opinion deprives one of the life-changing power of the gospel; Jesus demonstrated this in (John11:43) when He raised Lazarus from the dead with a shout: it was a public display of the glory of the Father. We have to be vocal in our demand for the miraculous (James4:2). Prophet Job was a man of extraordinary faith who understood the importance of being vocal about one’s faith against all odds. Job 13:19 KJV says ”Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost.” Silent faith is an invitation to disaster. Be silent no more. It is time to let your light shine with the overwhelming light of God’s word .

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive grace and boldness to declare my faith for  victorious living in Jesus name.  

Free prayer /counseling +234 8035536911, +234 8098536911

email: michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com

LAY ASIDE YOUR BURDEN

 LAY ASIDE YOUR BURDEN

June 12, , 2023

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

Matt 11:30  KJV  ” For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

         The Greek word for “burden” is the word ‘phortion’  and it means “an invoice” (as part of freight), figuratively: “a task or service”: Jesus Christ is saying to the disciples that His service is light or easy. Whenever the lord gives an assignment, He foots the bills; all invoices are easily taken care of. There, are those who believe that serving God is a sentence to a life of penury and perpetual misery based on what they have observed in the lives of some believers. But contrary to this view, the truth still remains that God’s work is easy. It is what it is: God’s work,  not man’s work. It becomes difficult when it becomes your work. It is like a surfer surfing the waves, the surfer simply rides the waves, it is not his responsibility to create waves. Most preachers teach church members to create waves and this is against biblical principles. Followers are made to undergo all manner of rigorous rituals in a bid to create waves in society and this has placed so much negative pressure on families as most spouses seldom have time to interact with each other due to these endless church activities that do nothing but massage the leader's ego  .True church growth is not in the number of persons in our auditoriums but the prevalence of righteousness in the society.

       Excessive religious devotions does more harm than good. It is one of the reasons behind so many failed marriages and businesses due to the fact that families are spending lesser time together and businesses left unattended to. . The scriptures condemns this way of reasoning . In Colossians 2:20-23 AMP Bible says “ If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world's crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations? — such as] Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines. [Isa 29:13.]  Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honour God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]” Excessive religious duties promotes immorality among Christians. This is one of the major reason behind the rise in scandals among church  leaders .There is time for everything and there should be a balance in whatever we do.

     When we set personal ego aside, God will use us as He desires , He empowers those He uses. Phil 2:13 AMP says " [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” God does not need your help, just as a glass cup does not add to the taste of wine poured into it. We are like wine bottles and cups in God’s hands.

        We are to also bear each other’s burdens as a demonstration of obedience to the lord. Problems appear enormous when we try to solve them by ourselves. Someone has been assigned to be of help to us only if we would get off our high horses and ask for help .We fulfill Christ’s law by bearing each other’s burden. Gal 6:2 AMP says” Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and  troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]” A loaf of bread given to a starving family can go a long way to making life better . You are to complete what is missing in another person’s life. Spouses are expected to make up for their partner's deficiencies and not mock each other. Cast your burdens upon the Lord, he cares for you. 

 Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation I receive him as lord and saviour and receive the Holy Ghost and grace to be helper of the needy  in  Jesus name. 

Prayer / Counseling

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THE NEED FOR THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT

 

THE NEED FOR THE MINISTRY OF ENCOURAGEMENT

June 11/6/.23

By Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi

Proverbs 12:25 NKJV “ Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.”  

        Encouragement is the act of giving someone support, confidence or hope , it is the persuasion to do or to continue something it is also the act of trying to stimulate the development of an activity , state or belief  . The opposite of this is discouragement , the world is full of discouragers and that makes the ministry of encouragement of necessity in the body of Christ.

      God does not give an assignment he has not empowered us to carry out but it is usually the activities of discouragers that seem to make such tasks often seem too difficult or impossible. This was what the exiled Jews felt when they began to rebuild the broken walls under the leadership of prophet Nehemiah in Neh 4:1-5 “Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews,  saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, "What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they're doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?" Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, "That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!" Then I prayed, "Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of the builders." Nehemiah was an encourager and through his leadership the project was completed .

      There are many uncompleted projects in our lives lying dormant requiring the service of an encourager to be accomplished. Encouragers impact our lives positively in so many ways . Words from an encourager results in healing , the scriptures says in Proverbs 16:24 TLB  “ Kind words are like honey-enjoyable and healthful. There words are a source of joy to their audience 1 John 1:4 says NKJV “And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. “The joy of the lord is the source of health to the emotionally , financially  and physically ill . The joy of the lord is our strength .

     Sometimes all that we need is to know there is someone who will always be there whenever we need them . Proverbs 17:17 NLT Says “A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.” Encouragers are always there to share words of love comfort and appreciation during our low moments.  The believer in Jesus Christ is called in to the ministry of encouragement

   He or She is an optimist : we are to encourage one another in our faith-walk 1 Thessalonians 4:18 NIV says “ Therefore encourage each other with these words.” Make a commitment to the lord to be an encourager for good while trusting the Holy Spirit to work miracles through you . Intentionally, choose to see good prospects in people regardless of their situation .

Prayer : Heavenly Father forgive me of my sins against you , I believe Jesus Christ died and was raised again for my salvation , I receive him as lord and savior and receive the Holy Spirit and grace to be a source of strength to the weak to the praise of your name. Amen.

+2348035536911, +2348098536911 email:michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com