You Can Call the Shots 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Genesis Chapter 1 verse 28.

To call the shots means to be in charge, to exercise dominion at all times regardless of what the situation or circumstance is and who or what is involved. This means that you do not cave in to fear or intimidation or barricades. You simply maneuver the challenges and stay on top of your game. To call the shots, you must stand on the solid ground that never gives way no matter the pressures you are experiencing. That solid ground is God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Also, you have to learn the diplomacy and language for always calling the shots.

Prior to becoming King in Israel, David always called the shots by daring to stand up against the wild beasts which came after the family flock he tended. Please see 1^st Samuel Chapter 17 verses 34 to 37 and psalm 78 verses 70 to 72. David ensured that none of the family flock was lost to bears and lions. He went after the animals, killed them and rescued the family flock no matter how young the sheep that was taken. These acts of courage that were based on trust in God and His power to always deliver Him energized David to call the shots against Goliath. David refused to be intimidated by both threats and size of Goliath. He went after Goliath and to the surprise of everyone; including Goliath, David brought Goliath down. Please read the entire chapter, 1^st Samuel 17 for details.

You Can Call the Shots

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Daniel always called the shots despite being employed by non Jewish Kings in non Jewish kingdoms. For three years, Daniel and his three Jewish friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah did not partake of the defiling delicacies of King Nebuchadnezzar’s table. No court trainee was allowed to do that as it would incur great wrath from the King not only to on the trainee but on the stewards assigned to the trainee.

Yet, Daniel and his three friends were able to do this for three years. They successfully sidestepped the laws of the land; called the shots in their favor and to their advantage. Did they achieve this daring feat through outright personal disobedience, civil disobedience  such as inciting other trainees to act against the laws of the land; threats, intimidation and blackmail?

Not at all! Daniel was unusually gifted with soft skills. He was a diplomat, divinely endowed with very strong negotiating skills. The Bible records that Daniel went to the chief of the eunuchs assigned to him and his friends and respectfully requested that they should be exempted from the defiling delicacies of the King’s table. Quite instructive and significant is the fact that Daniel did not refer to the King’s delicacies as defiling when he spoke with the chief of the eunuchs. He simply begged to be exempted; requesting that a ten days trial should be given to them after which the chief of eunuchs could decide on what to do with them depending on the outcome of the trial. Daniel was strategic in his choice of words, He referred to himself and his three friends as the servants of the chief eunuch meaning they were subject to his authority. The implication is that they had no intention to be rebellious to his authority or that of the King. The Bible records that the chief of eunuchs consented to Daniel’s plea and thereafter the ten days trail, the steward took away their portion of the King’s delicacies and for three years, Daniel and his friends were not defiled by the King’s delicacies.

ARISE

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Life on earth is an opportunity for eternity. So invest time for eternity by accomplishing purpose. You are born again for a purpose to rewrite history. 

Prophet Jeremiah thought he was a mere youth and so could not take on the divine task and responsibility of being a prophet; not only to the nation of Israel but to several nations. Beloved, God exceeded the expectations of Jeremiah as he obediently obeyed God and deployed the divine gift of God in him to the benefit of the nations. Jeremiah served Kings and nations as a prophet; rooting out and pulling down, to destroy and to throw down every planting that was not of God. What exactly should be uprooted and destroyed? Matthew Chapter 15 verses 1 to 13 gives a clear picture of what should be uprooted and destroyed – anything that is not of God; that is contrary to the truth of God, His word, His Person, His Holy Spirit. Please see also 2nd Corinthians Chapter 10 verses 3 to 6 and 1st Timothy Chapter 1 verses 3 to 20. Jeremiah was also building and planting the righteousness and works of God in the nations. Please see Jeremiah Chapter 1 verses 1 to 10. Jeremiah did this through prophetic utterances guided by the Holy Spirit. He spoke to leaders of nations as directed by the Holy Spirit. Not once did Jeremiah dilute the truth of the word of God that He prophesied to bring about healing and restoration to the nations. Significantly and quite instructive is the fact that the Biblical Daniel picked up from where Jeremiah stopped. Daniel came across the prophecy by Jeremiah that God would restore Israel to their homeland after seventy years. Daniel took up fervent intercession for Israel. Not quite long, Israel was released from Babylonian captivity. Please see Jeremiah Chapter 29 and Daniel Chapter 9. 

Daniel arose in prayers and birthed the release of Israel in the realm of the spirit. Subsequent actions by King Cyrus as well as other Kings who favored the rebuilding of the temple coupled with the restoration of Jerusalem’s walls through Ezra and Nehemiah were physical manifestations of Daniel’s prayers occasioned by the prophecy of Jeremiah, documented and safeguarded for future generations that included Daniel. Beloved, are you a prophet called to bring about God’s healing and restoration to the peoples and nations of the world through prophecy? Then ARISE and speak as God would have you speak. God Who gives you the words knows how to bring about the manifestation. He also knows His prepared vessels who will eventually run with the prophecies and bring about speedy and relevant manifestation of the words. Your task and responsibility is to speak the healing words into existence. God will always perform what you speak by His Spirit in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

Guaranteed Deliverance 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Beloved, I am neither massaging your emotions nor telling you stories because I have nothing to do. I am sharing you with you what God wants you to know so that you can turn the seemingly dead or impossible situation around. God wants to intervene in your personal life as well as your nation. But you must do something by rising up to what God wants you to do. How He wants you to act to regain your freedom may be entirely different from mine but He wants to intervene in your situation. Besides, your situation differs from mine just as that of your nation differs from mine.

The lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple was lame from birth; had grown into a man who could not fend for himself. In point of fact, he could in no way help himself as he had to be carried, probably on a daily basis to the gate of the temple, referred to as Beautiful where he daily asked for alms from those who entered the temple. A down trodden man at a beautiful gate; life can be quite ironical. What could be more indignifying, possibly hopeless! After all, he had been that way from birth and as far as he was concerned; that was probably his lot in life. So why not cope with it and stick to begging for alms.

But unknown to him, God had a different plan for him; a plan that would save him the daily embarrassment of being an inconvenience to people around him. Also, quite fortunately for him, he was at the gate when God came visiting in the form of Peter and John who were about to go into the temples. Significantly and quite instructive, the lame man asked for the usual pittance he got as alms. Please forgive the choice of the word pittance as I am only being realistic. This is because if he got anything substantial, he would not be there on a daily basis. How do I know he was there on a daily basis? Everyone who came to the temple knew him because at one time or the other he had stretched out his hands for alms. But God had something greater than alms for him on that day.   

Guaranteed Deliverance

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

There is guaranteed deliverance for you and your nation; not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord. Please see Zechariah Chapter 4 verse 6. Therefore, do not give up; do not lose hope because the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut short. Your hopes concerning your nation may have been dashed severally; your personal dreams and aspirations have also been put on hold on account of what is going on in your nation; you have failed for the umpteenth time in business, academics, relationships and you have given up completely that things can never work out again; or perhaps you are on the verge of giving up completely or you have become pessimistic. Beloved, there is hope for you and your nation as God assures you of His guaranteed deliverance by His Spirit.

The valley of dry bones described in Ezekiel Chapter 37 verses 1 to 14 best describes the hopelessness, despair in the land of Israel. The people had given up hope describing their hope as lost. Please see verse 11. Yet at the instance of the Lord, life, strength and hope returned to the people as the prophet Ezekiel prophesied the words of God into the seemingly hopeless situation. Beloved, the miraculous transformation proves that nothing is too difficult for God to do. Please see Jeremiah Chapter 3 verses 27, 17 to 19 and Genesis Chapter 18 verses 13 to 14.

Sarah and Abraham were old and well past child bearing age yet because God had spoken the Bible records that they received strength to bear Isaac. The couple who had been childless for so many years and probably mocked; even written off as incapable of having their own biological children birthed Isaac, laughter. Please see Romans Chapter 4 verses 17 to 20, and Hebrews Chapter 11 verses 11 to 12. Beloved, you can also receive divine strength by the Spirit of God to receive guaranteed deliverance in your personal life and nation today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. That seemingly dead or impossible situation can and will receive life by the Spirit of God to become flourishing streams of life, divine health, economic prosperity, academic excellence, etc that will bring you global honor, fame ad desirability in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

The Place of Justice in Healing the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

King Solomon was feared and respected in the land of Israel because he administered justice in the land. It is significant to note that King Solomon’s ability to administer justice in the land was on account of the wisdom of God in him. On his own, Solomon would not have been able to administer justice in the land. But because Solomon had earlier on asked God for wisdom; an understanding heart to judge the people of God so that he would be able to discern between good and evil; he was able to administer justice in the land. The Bible records that the request of Solomon pleased the Lord and God Who always exceeds the expectations of His loved ones gave Solomon additional blessings. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 3 verses 1 to 28, take note of verses 9 to 14, 27 to 28 and Ephesians Chapter 3 verse 20.

Beloved, the administration of justice in any land; even in families, corporations, institutions and communities is to a large extent pivotal to peace and economic prosperity in any land. The land of Israel experienced and enjoyed peace and economic prosperity during the reign of Solomon. Please see 1^st Kings Chapters 4 verses 24 to 34, take note of verses 24 to 25; 5 verse 12; 10 verses 24 to 29, take note of verse 27 and 2^nd Chronicles Chapter 9 verses 22 to 28. The land also enjoyed sustainable development, great international trade, fame ad human capacity development. A good number of Israelites were trained in Tyre to cut timber and prepare for building. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 5 verses 13 to 14.

The example of Solomon implies that the administration of justice in any land is pivotal and therefore a critical factor of peace, economic prosperity, infrastructural and human capacity development in the land. That explains why the mother of King Lemuel counseled King Lemuel to avoid promiscuity and intoxicating drink so that he would give prime attention to the law; he would not forget the law and pervert justice in the land. She further counseled him to speak for the speechless, the voiceless and vulnerable in the society; judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy in the land. Please see Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 1 to 9. This counsel is very significant for anyone who aspires to lead over people. This is because justice is a firm ladder for leading successfully and living a legacy of peace, economic prosperity and happiness in the land.

Your Tongue can be a Healing Stream

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The wise use of the tongue can ensure that your tongue becomes a healing stream. Please see Proverbs Chapter 15 verses 7, 23, 28, 14, 40, 4; 10 verses 11, 13, 20 to 21, 31 to 32; 12 verse 18, 16 verses 20 to 24; 15 verse 30.

One of the most pressing problems in the world today is the way people use their tongues. Hate speech is pervasive in spite of laws that have been enacted globally against the trend. People enjoy cursing; using four letter words, invectives at the slightest provocation. Unfortunately, this trend is fast becoming pervasive among Christians as some Christians are quick to use their tongues to make negative pronouncements against people who hurt them and abuse people who misbehave or are rude to them. This worrisome trend has assumed frightful dimensions as even some ordained Ministers of the gospel pronounce curses on people who offend or hurt them, use invectives against other people even from the pulpit. Beloved, this is not right.  The Scriptures do not permit such behavior. Please see Numbers Chapter 16 verses 12 to 35, 17 verses 1 to 7.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ consistently and always used His tongue as a healing stream just as God ordained for Him to do. Please Luke Chapter 4 verse 18 to 19, Isaiah Chapter 61 verses 1 to 3, John Chapter 6 verse 63. Severally, Jesus Christ used His tongue to bring healing, comfort, hope, life, deliverance and freedom from all kinds of oppression to great multitudes. Please see Acts Chapter 10 verse 38, Mark Chapter verses 17 to 27, Luke Chapter 9 verses 38 to 43 for details of His ministration to the epileptic boy; Luke Chapter 13 verses 11 to 16 for details of His ministry to the woman who was bent over for eighteen years; Matthew Chapter 9 verses 20 to 22, Luke Chapter 8 verses 43 to 48, Mark Chapter 5 verses 25 to 34 for details of the kind words He spoke to the woman with the issue of blood; Mark Chapter 5 for His ministry to the Gadarene demoniac. A number of other examples can be found in the gospels, Matthew through to John.