Honor the Giver of the Gifts

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Giver of the gifts is more important than the gift. The Giver of the gifts know when it is necessary to use the gifts, how to use the gifts, where to use the gifts, and to what purpose to put the gifts. Besides, He knows best what measure of the gifts to administer at each point in time. Gifts serve specific purposes and after the specific purposes, they may not be necessary or relevant again until God wants them used again.

However, we all need the Giver of the gifts; that is God at all times and at every point in time in our lives. Without Him, the gifts really would not be effective and we would not be any different from unbelievers who use their gifts for purposes that do not glorify God, do not honor or acknowledge God as the Giver of the gifts and do not use the gifts for His purposes. Unbelievers celebrate their gifts and believe that the gifts are more important than God; and a relationship with God. They therefore boast about their exploits from the use of the gifts and believe that their achievements are based on their own power. They do not give the honor to God, do not allow God to direct them on the use of the gift and therefore use it at will and for purposes that do not glorify God. They then behave like Sennecherib who boasted about his conquests thinking he conquered those lands in his own might and like Nebuchadnezzar who learnt the hard way.

Unfortunately, we are experiencing the same challenges in the Church today. Genuine spirit filled believers, ministers of the gospel who commenced ministry fully yielded to God progressively ignore God and His directions to them and begin to emphasize the gifts of God and ministry in them rather than God who called them and gave them the gifts. That is where some believers and ministers miss it. It is great to seek the gifts but is best and greatest to seek and honor the giver of the gifts. This is because in reality the gifts do not really function outside the Giver of the gifts. So if you focus on the gifts at the expense of the Giver of the gifts, you may lose the power and consequently seek power from other sources if you do not make a quick return to the Giver of the gifts.

The Sacrifice of Praise for Healing the Nations 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Do not take what belongs to God and use for yourself. Praise belongs to God and should be given to God alone. He deserves all our praise. The praise due to God should not be given to anyone else. Please see Psalm 47 verses 6 to 7, 69 verse 30.  Praising God goes beyond singing to sharing testimonies of God’s goodness. Your utterances should also glorify God. Praise shortens your journey to the top. If you are not praising God, you are not fulfilling the purpose for which God created you. Carefully choose songs of praise and minister quality praise to God.

God created us to be agents of praise. God is looking for people that will glorify Him. God does not share His glory with anyone, Praise goes directly to God. Intermediaries are not required. Praise should come from the depths of your heart to God.

Why Praise God?

He is the Creator, He commands and they are created, He establishes them forever – Psalm 148 verses 5 to 6; God is good and His name is pleasant– Psalm 135 verse 3; God is worthy to be praised – Psalm 18 verse 3, 48 verse 1; He does wonderful things - Isaiah Chapter 25 verses 1 to 4; He gives rain for the earth so that food grows for all of creation ; His merciful kindness – Psalm 117 verse 2; His mighty acts and greatness – Psalm 150 verse 2; His truth endures forever – Psalm 117 verse 2; Answered prayers – Psalm 118 verse 21; His name is good – Psalm 54 verse 6 ; He strengthened the bars of the gates of Jerusalem and blessed the children – Psalm 147 verses 12 to 13; Praise is good and beautiful – Psalm 147 verse 1, 7 to 8, ; He gives righteous judgments – psalm 119 verse 164.

God inhabits the praises of His people.  Please see 2^nd Chronicles Chapter 5 verses 12 to 14, 20 verses 19 to 25. Besides, praise is a good weapon of warfare. `

The Place of Praise in the Healing of the Nations

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Praise unlocks divine blessings. Divine blessings are myriad and diverse. You can unlock divine blessings through praise; I mean quality, genuine and glorious praise of God and to God. The praise to God and for God flows from your heart in appreciation of who God is to God and for God. Such praise is not designed for showmanship that you are the best singer or the one who knows how best to praise God. No. such praise is your acknowledgment of God’s supremacy, sovereignty, Lordship and headship over you, that He is your Creator and you are grateful to Him for who He is. In essence, you celebrate God for who He is and not necessarily for what He did or what He will do for you. You celebrate Him because He is God.

God appreciates such praise and inhabits such praises – meaning that if you always praise God, you will always be filed with the indwelling presence of God. Please see Psalm 22 verse 3.

Praise is also a worthy sacrifice to God (Psalm 50 verse, Jeremiah Chapter 33 verse 11 and Hebrews Chapter 13 verse 15) and if offered from the depths of the heart with genuine and best intent, praise becomes a precious seed (Psalm 126 verses 5 to 6) that always yields bountiful harvests of joy, peace, increase, salvation, deliverance, abundance, protection, celebration, victories and promotions (Psalm 67 verses 1 to 7).