Be Sensitive to the Holy Spirit 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Holy Spirit is key to fruitfulness and multiplication and increase because He is the One Who gives divine direction which leads to fruitfulness. One of the ways to labor for profit is to walk in divine direction – obey the instructions of the Holy Spirit (Genesis Chapter 26, Psalm 127 verse 1, Proverbs Chapter 23 verse 4, Isaiah Chapters 45 verses 13 to 14, 48 verse 17, 58 verses 11 to 12. Fruitfulness, multiplication and increase come by the Holy Spirit. Please see Isaiah Chapter 63 verse 23, Ezekiel Chapter 29 verses 18 to 20.

It is quite instructive that because Paul and his team members were sensitive to the Holy Spirit and also obeyed the Holy Spirit, much result oriented work was done where the Holy Spirit directed them to, a field ready for harvest. Significantly, it buttresses the fact that it is not by might nor by power (Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 6). Paul and his colleagues wanted to go and preach in Asia (preaching the word of God is doing the work of the kingdom and this should gladden the heart of God); yet they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach in Asia, including Bithynia. This was because God had a different location for them; a place where souls ripe for harvest were waiting to hear the gospel but unfortunately no one was preaching the gospel there and then. Fortunately, Paul and his team members obeyed the Holy Spirit and allowed their steps to be ordered of God to Macedonia in response to the Macedonian call. Lydia and her household were harvested into the kingdom. Additionally, the girl with spirit of divination was set free.

Be Sensitive to the Holy Spirit 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man  join himself to them: but the people magnified them.  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)  Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid [them] on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude [out] of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. Acts Chapter 5 verses 12 to 16.

Anytime the Holy Spirit is allowed to move freely, victory is always guaranteed through abundant harvests, healing, deliverance, divine guidance that leads to prosperity. Please see Luke Chapter 4 verses 1 to 19, John Chapter 4 verses 1 to 43, Acts Chapter 2 verses 41, 47, 4 verse 31, 6 verse 7. The great prosperity of the early Church was hinged on sensitivity to and obedience to the Holy Spirit.

It is good to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit but that good should progress to better through loving and willing obedience; and best through prompt obedience. Sensitivity without obedience does not bring about results. It is no use asking for the infilling of the Holy Spirit if a person has no intention of obeying the Holy Spirit. Consistent obedience to the Holy Spirit leads to fruitfulness and fruitfulness leads to multiplication. The early Church was exceedingly fruitful in all aspects of ministry such as evangelism, soul harvests, intercession, finances and financing, miracles, care of the vulnerable and needy, you name it and multiplied greatly despite persecutions and other challenges because the leadership and members of the early Church were subject to the leadership of the Holy Spirit and obeyed the instructions of the Holy Spirit promptly.

Be Sensitive to the Holy Spirit 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the Spirit of the Living God which explains why He is referred to as the Spirit of God. Please see Acts Chapter 2 verses 17, Joel Chapter 2 verses 28 to 29, 1^st Corinthians Chapter 12 verse 3, 3 verse 16, 2 verses 11 and 14, Romans Chapter 8 verses 9 and 14, 1^st John Chapter 4 verse 2, Matthew Chapter 1 verse 28, 2^nd Chronicles Chapter 24 verse 20, 15 verse 1, 1^st Samuel Chapter 19 verse 20, 23, Exodus Chapter 31 verse 3, 35 verse 31 and Isaiah Chapter 48 verse 16. This implies that The Holy Spirit is not a physical person. The Holy Spirit is a person and not a wind, a force or a thing. He is the third person of the Trinity. Please read 1^st John Chapter 5 verse 7, John Chapter 16 verse 13. The wind and fire are evidences of the presence of the Holy Spirit. Please read Acts Chapter 2 verses 14 to 21, 1^st Corinthians Chapter 14 verse 2, Romans Chapter 8 verses 26 to 27. 

Praise Heals Peoples and Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation Chapter 4 verse 11.

Praise to God is always a sweet smelling savor, a worthy sacrifice which God always delights in and responds to. God is great and worthy to be praised. He deserves your praises and the praises of the peoples of the earth and the nations of the earth. To start with, God created you, the peoples of the nations and the nations of the earth as well as everything that resides in the earth. He did all of these for His pleasure. Please Revelation Chapter 4 verse 11.

Therefore, one of the great gifts you can give to God at all times is to praise Him. Give God praise in whatever situation, place or position you find yourself in.  Do not allow the circumstances overwhelm you; rather overwhelm and overcome the circumstances through praise and the undiluted word of God. The Psalmist noted that he would praise the Lord at all times and that the praise of God would always dwell in His mouth. Beloved, to praise God does not require and attract any monetary cost. Therefore there is no reason why anyone should not praise God. Every ingredient required to praise God is embedded in you – your voice, your mouth, your thought processes and imagination. All you need do is PRAISE.

God Heals 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke Chapter 4 verses 18 to 19.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah Chapter 61 verses 1 to 3.

Some ailments are satanically inflicted to torment, humiliate and oppress people; even animal, lands and natural resources in order to place limits on them. Please see Acts Chapter 5 verse 16 where the Bible records that the people who were tormented by unclean spirits received their healing. Please see also Matthew Chapter 9 verses 20 to 22, Luke Chapter 8 verses 43 to 48, Mark Chapter 5 verses 25 to 34, , 1 to 20; the woman with the issue of blood and the Gadarene demoniac, the epileptic boy, Mark Chapter 9 verses 17 to 27, Luke Chapter 13 verses 11 to 16 and the woman who was bent over for eighteen years in Luke Chapter 13 verses 10 to 16. Some of the ways through which God heals include:

Through His spoken word - The Bible records in Psalm 107 verse 20 that He sent His word and healed their diseases. Please see also Exodus Chapter 15 verse 26, Isaiah Chapters 53 verses 4 to 5; 54 verses 14 to 17, Acts Chapter 5 verse 16, Matthew Chapter 8 verse 17 and 1^st Peter Chapter 2 verse 24.

You Can Call the Shots 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.  Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, [and whatsoever] passeth through the paths of the seas. O LORD our Lord, how excellent [is] thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8 verses 1 to 9, 

Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. Job Chapter 22 verses 27 to 28.

The early Church called the shots severally. They refused to be silenced despite several harassments, threats to life and intimidation by the religious leaders of the day. As they chose to obey God rather than men (Acts Chapter 4 verses 18 to 31); the Church grew, the word of God multiplied and the believers were strengthened and comforted; and God worked many miracles by the hands of the Apostles.

Additionally, the early Church called the shots by rebuking sin, particularly the sin of deception and falsehood. The consequences of the sin of deception and falsehood by Ananias and Sapphira was enough warning and deterrent against sin as the Bible records that great fear came upon the Church and all those who heard the story. Please read Acts Chapter 5 verses 1 to 11 for details.

King Herod dared to stretch out his hand against the early Church. He took the Church unawares and killed James the brother of John. When Herod saw that his evil act against the Church pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter. However, the Church successfully called the shots against Herod’s harassment of the Church through constant prayer for the deliverance of the Apostle Peter from the unjust death sentence by King Herod.  Though Peter was already sentenced and imprisoned; bound with two chains between two soldiers and surrounded by several other guards, about to be killed; the Church kept praying, praying without ceasing.

God Heals

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

He said, "If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you." Exodus Chapter 15 verse 26 NIV.

But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. Malachi Chapter 4 verse 2 KJV.

Jesus Christ healed the numerous sick people that He came in contact with. He responded to the pain, shame, humiliation and stigma that had come upon them as a result of the ailments they suffered. Please see Luke Chapter 14 verses 1 to 5. Jesus did not consider the spiritual, social and economic standing of the sick people. Rather, He simply addressed what was causing pain, shame and humiliation in their lives. The man with dropsy for instance was not at the synagogue or one of the preaching outposts of Jesus. The man was at the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees that Jesus had lunch with on a Sabbath day. Jesus addressed the health issue of the man with dropsy and he was healed; outside of the Church. 

The dead son of the widow of Nain was not anywhere near the Synagogue or the preaching outposts of Jesus. He was being carried out of the city of Nain in a coffin to be buried. Close to the city gate, Jesus met them; saw the widowed mother of the dead young man and had compassion on her. Subsequently, Jesus raised the young man back to life. There were no offerings, no special miracle or redemption of first born offerings collected. Rather, Jesus presented the young man to his mother. The mother was happy, the people glorified God, acknowledging Jesus Christ as a great prophet who had risen among the people and gladly proclaimed that God had visited His people.