TRIUMPHANTLY REIGN IN LIFE THROUGH AGAPE LOVE 

“Achievers Excellent Course To Be ‘A More Than CONQUERORS”

Romans 5:17 ‘’For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall REIGN IN LIFE  by one, Jesus Christ.)’’

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but Faith which worketh by Love.”

John 17:1-3 “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

1 John 5:11-12 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

2 Corithians 2:14 ‘’Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place’’

Shalom! Kingdom greetings!! I gracefully welcome you into this month of LOVE and LIFE in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, praying that His grace, peace, love and mercy might take hold of you with all things under your feet according to the Holy Scriptures, amen. I hope that in this month – FEBRUARY 2010 – where many are crazy for the VALENTINE kind of love that is temporal and passes away without an eternal effect in their life, you will be overwhelmed by God’s kind of Love – AGAPE – that is eternal and permanent to affect your life in every perspective – 2Corinthian 4:18. And by his agape kind of love, you will do life and have the might and reason to celebrate God, reigning and doing life triumphantly on a daily basis by FAITH and with all things under your control by Christ Jesus, in the fullness of His grace towards you. Amen.

1 John 5:4-5 “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith. “Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Revelation 5:9-10 ‘’And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth’’

AFD FEBRUARY 2010 Edition

To some, the year – 2010 – is still young and tender, while some on the other hand are waiting for some special news or announcement to be made by an accorded Business tycoon, Political guru, Financial and Economic titan, a Religious magician, an Absolute leader – you name it – to enable them know how to pilot their life in the dawn year.

At the moment of drafting this – February 2010 Edition – another of the ‘World Economic Forum’ – DAVOS 2010’ was having major economic plans to shape the world economy in Switzerland, and in attendance are major FINANCE MINISTERS of nations. Most nations in attendance will leave that convention with an economic ideology that will formulate their national economy which invariably will have an impact on all nationwide and probably in a collective sense globally. Based on that, business entrepreneurs, career negotiators, financial institutions, political leaders, family institutions, ordinary individuals and others will begin to chart the pathway to their wellbeing in the year. Does that relate to you today! Have you thought, that you are about to step into another month without accounting for the month just ending. It’s for this cause, that the Achievers’ FAITH Digest is being made available for your enthronement –Doing Life Triumphantly.

Beloved, in my New Year ‘January 2010 edition’, I did acclaim to us that it’s a year of “A More Than Conqueror”. This means that it’s a year in which you can do life triumphantly as God’s children in every circumstance, just as Joshua experiences with God from the time He was told of God in Joshua 1:1-9. But this act of experiences is a matter of choice for the people of God. God gives His people His WORD(s) of Life, it is His people’s obligation to do life with those words as others have done and experienced in the bible days as seen again in the Apostles acts of accomplishment by the word given to them in Mark 16:16-20. Our God will not enforce His will on us but He loves His people to obediently and willingly put their Faith upon His Word in order for them to receive His goodness – Isaiah 1:19; 1 Cor. 1:9. Know full well that colourful living and doing life in Christ Jesus is a choice to be made in an individual basis. And this can only be enhanced and demonstrated by FAITH through the avenue of genuine bible love – AGAPE – the God kind of love.

Receive – Inspiration, Revelation & Empowerment

Romans 1:11 ‘’For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be ESTABLISHED’’

2 Chronicle 20:20 ‘’ . . . Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his PROPHETS, so shall ye PROSPER’’

Hosea 12:13 ‘’And by a PROPHET the LORD brought Israel OUT OF EGYPT, and by a PROPHET was he PRESERVED’’

Dearly beloved Achiever, I am constrained in my spirit by the reason of the grace given to me by the Lord in this edition to help awaken the consciousness of God that is already in you so that by it, you can triumphantly reign in life today. I mean the God kind of consciousness that was imparted into your spirit or subconscious-man in Faith by the reason of being born of God in Christ Jesus.

God’s intention through the ministry gifting of His called servant as indicated in the examples found in the Holy writ of Romans 1:11, 2 Chronicle 20:20 and Hosea 12:13; is that you might find reasons to live and enjoy the fullness of what Christ has done in you, for you and by identification with you.

I hereby proclaim that it’s high time God’s children woke up and fully arose to the God given mandate and consciousness for a daily inspiration, revelation and empowerment in order to triumphantly reign in life. This will enable us to deal with the daily affairs of life and also to become and achieve what you are born to be in Christ. Many believers put their value of INSPIRATION, REVELATION AND EMPOWERMENT in what they have in their possessions – Job, position, family, finance, material wealth etc – that if any of it is temporarily or permanently tempered with, their world would crash as if that is their LIFE, which contravenes their Faith as in the scripture – Luke 12:15 “ And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s LIFE consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

For when you live in God’s consciousness you get inspirations, you receive revelations and empowerment to fulfil your God given duty in life as to – family, business, career, leadership and many others (name it). ‘’When you are inspired (by God’s consciousness), you will aspire and will not expire. When you live by revelation knowledge you will make wise decisions, not foolish or costly mistakes with unforgiveable, unforgettable regrets. When you are empowered by impartation of God’s grace, you will make an impact in life and live a sweat-less and stress-less lifestyle’’.

Triumphant reigning in life is the consciousness of God’s grace upon our life as a result of inspiration, revelation and empowerment we daily receive in Christ to accomplish the plans, purpose of God we seek to pursue in our life.

Triumphant Reign – Accorded To Everyone And In Every Place

2 Corinthians 2:14 ‘’Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to TRIUMPH in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us IN EVERY PLACE’’

Romans 5:17 ‘’For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more THEY which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall REIGN in LIFE by one, Jesus Christ.)’’

2 Corinthians 2:14 and Romans 5:17 indicate that there is a place of triumph and a place to reign in life for every child of God irrespective of gender, race and generation. And this is a place all of us most come into: a place of full grace experience and God’s consciousness to enable us to actualise our God given rights and privileges in the kingdom, as in the scriptures.

To triumph is a feeling, condition and state of great happiness as a result of being victorious, having a major achievement and success in an endeavour of life. While to Reign indicates to be and hold a position of sovereignty, dominate and being in control. The life of triumph and to reign is what Christ has done for us and in us that is why we don’t just come to give our life to Christ but to have Christ in our life. We lost our place of reign and triumphant in Adam but find it in Christ. It’s not a state of the mind but life reality for all God’s children born into the kingdom to fully actualise in them if they must live above the rudiments and detects of this worldly control system.

This is not an ‘if’ condition or a place to experience or enter when we get to heaven or in the next millennium, but a call for today, even now. We are called of God to reign in life on earth by Christ Jesus – every one that has received the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness – Romans 5:17. The Church in the wilderness (Old Testament) led by Moses was a kingdom based on condition ‘if’ before they could reign as royals – Exodus 19:5-7. Unlike Moses kind of Church, the Church of the New Testament led by Christ is not with an ‘if’ condition, but based on the done work of Christ Jesus our Lord. We are made into it. We are engrafted into it as a result of being born of God – 1Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:5-6; 5:9-10; 1 John 5:4-5. Yours is to claim it by faith, lay hold of it and live in the consciousness, that, it does not depend on your effort but on the done work of Christ in every place of life and for all things of life.

Diverse Kinds of Life – A Personal choice to make

Romans 5:17 ‘’For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)’’

Revelation 5:9-10 ‘’And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth’’

James 3:14-15 ‘’ But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from ABOVE, but is EARTHY, SENSUAL, DEVILISH. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from ABOVE is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy’’

The scriptures in Romans 5:17 and Revelation 5:9-10 indicate that we have been made (note that it has already happened) and empowered to reign in Life. What sort of life? Besides, is that true, real or one of those Bible statements of faith – one may ask? Whatever question it is, one thing is very sure and that is, the act of doing life is real and real to all man born under the sun. God wants us to reign in life, but what kind of life and how can one reign in life with all the credit crunch and world economy meltdown, stale and pains in virtually all family under the sun you may ask. It all depends on the kind or nature of life you are living.

There are four major ‘Greek’ translated word for ‘Life’ I want us to consider three of them, probably that will help you weigh in your spirit man – subconscious person – what kind of life you’ve been living and how to consider what is expected of you to make you reign in life in all things and over all circumstances as an achiever in Christ Jesus. I know this by reason of grace in the Lord, will help you to tend towards God and will also enable and empower you to reign in life.

• · Zoe (Grk) – The God kind of life

John 10:10 ‘’The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly’’

1 John 5:11-12 ‘’And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son; He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life’’

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 ‘’Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh‘’

The Zoe Life – God kind of life – speaks of the nature and person of God. The kind of life that God offers, embedded in us through Christ Jesus when we are born into the kingdom which will invariably affect the way we speak, what we say, how we act and how we do things, view things and conclude on things. The way we make choices and decisions in life depend on this God given kind of life if we must actual reign in life. It is the life in the realm of the Spirit – empowered Spirit of God. This is the life that you receive – eternal life – when you get born of God, it is the consciousness of what you have received and have in Christ that set a new pedestal for your lifestyle in the kingdom. This life is base on inspiration, revelation and empowerment knowledge of God.

• Psuche (Grk) – The Soulish (sense) Kind of life

Hebrews 5:14 ‘’But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil’’

Romans 12:1-2 ‘’I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God’’

Romans 8:5-9 ‘’For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his’’

The Psuche life – Soulish kind of life – is the life that is lived within the five senses of man – Feeling or Touching, Taste, Hearing, Seeing and smelling. This is a kind of life based on sense knowledge which sometimes constrains us to a laboratory and scientific test and some gimmicks approval for it to be live by. This is the life that multitudes want to live on and still expect God to bless it. Hence the scriptures indicate how much we need to have our senses sensitizes by the word of God if we may find the chance of obtaining God’s will to enhance us reigning in life as in Romans12:1-2, Hebrews 5:14 and Romans 8:5-9.

The life of the senses is the life that is completely ruled by our emotions, circumstances and detects of our environment. Here carnality operates, we walk by sight as the Holy writ says and those in this realm can’t please God and can’t reign in life by God. Those who live by sense knowledge are people who live by the direction of their mind, their intellect, their emotion – the human or natural influence. God wants us to have a sanctified, transformed and renewed mind which permits His word to enable us to reign in life.

• Bioe or Bios (Grk) – The Biological kind of life

Acts 17:22-29 ‘’Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device’’

James 3:15 ‘’But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from ABOVE, but is EARTHY, SENSUAL, DEVILISH. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from ABOVE is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy’’

The Bioe or Bios – Biological life – speaks of livelihood or manner of life or behaviour. There are lots of people today who by the way they live, just exist rather than having and enjoying a life at all. Their life can be equated to the life of plants, animals or other created creatures. The Bioe life is a life built on mere human existence with their sub consciousness and soul –mind, emotion etc – not being involved in making decisions in their day to day activities.

In this realm of biological kind of life, anything comes and anything goes with no value attached to it. It’s for this reason of a mere life as Bioe that makes people not to have instincts of God but seek other means of living life as in idolatry, magic, necromancy, etc since they can’t fathom God. In life, even in Church life also, people are being modelled on how to live, talk, behave, answer questions, and make decisions without individual wills involvement. How can such a person reign in life? Know today that a mere ‘manner of life or behaviour in life’ doesn’t determine a man’s destiny but eternal life – God kind of life – in a person is what determines his destiny.

This biological kind of life is where people equate their life to that of their pet. I have heard people say how they have more faith in their pet than in their spouse. As unbelievable as this may sound, it happens.

You’re Redeemed – To Reign as Royal

Revelation 5:9-10 ’’And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth’’

Revelation 1:5-6 ‘’And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen’’

1 Peter 2:9-10 ’’ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy’’

Beloved Achiever, what we lost in Adam, Christ has restored back to us in redemption. The scriptures in Revelation 5:9-10, Revelation 1:5-6 and 1 Peter 2:9-10 like many others indicate absolutely that we have been redeemed and made to reign as royals. This is not an act of revolution, it’s not refurbishment or renewal; this is the REDEMPTIVE act of God in Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. A complete transformation or translation as a result of what God has done in Christ  – Colossians 1:13-14; Galatians 3:13-14).

The believer is redeemed to reign as royal; born into the kingdom of king-hood and priesthood, crowned with royalty mandate. God’s intention is for us to reign on earth. Kings reign in authority and dominion – not as overlords on people – but over life challenges, circumstances, principalities and powers and over the domains of satan and his cohort that intend to resist the eternal plans and purposes of God for our wellbeing and comforts. Reigning to set the captives free and all those whose lives are oppressed and in bondage not only by demons but also in their minds – ruled and controlled against their will by their thought life.

This spirit of grace given to us to reign in life is not wishful thinking or a mere ideology but a true reality of what God has promised and has done in Christ Jesus for us to celebrate and live on in this life. If you know this and live in the consciousness of God’s grace and the gift of righteousness, you will be able to reign over all things that have limited you and rob you of becoming what God has made you to be – REIGN IN LIFE AS ROYAL!

When kings reign, all things are brought under control and under obedience to Christ. Its time to arise by faith in Christ and put an end to all the fear-alleluia, poverty-alleluia, sickness-alleluia and complain-alleluia which you may not be saying or confessing, but may be acting – knowingly or unknowingly. And this attitude can have an adverse effect, thereby affecting your life goals and pursuits. Know full well and be engross that you are redeemed to reign in life as royal, begin it today and start to live in it now – Hebrews 3:15.

You’re Empowered – To Reign in Life

Romans 5:17 ‘’For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)’’

2 Peter 1:1-4 ‘’ . . . to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust’.

John 1:12 ‘’But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name’’

Ephesians 1:19-22 ‘’And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all’’

The scriptures above show that we have been empowered graciously to reign in life over all things, all flesh and circumstances that have limited us. Kingdom achievers’ are empowered by the grace of God to deal with life victoriously and triumphantly in every place – not only in some areas or places– of their life. It’s irrelevant what or how people feel or think about it, God’s word cannot be bound. It’s irrevocable and it’s authentic even as it is written in the Holy writ.

You are empowered, therefore arise, go to the mirror if you have one and speak into your being what God has made you to be and begin to reign with the God kind of life – Zoe. The scriptures say that we shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ – Rom. 5:17. It’s for you to take your place in Christ. It’s a choice; you are the one who determines the pace of your life and not God. You take your place and reign or merely talk it, assume it and not actualising it, letting the events of life take their course against you. This is what Adam did to let the devil take charge and we all have to pay the price of one man not taking His place in God.

Romans 5:1-2, 17, 21 ‘’Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God . . . For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) . . . That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord’’

2 Corinthians 5:21 ‘’For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’’

2 Corinthians 2:14 ‘’Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of his knowledge by us in every place’’

In these three scriptures above, we can deduce two principal empowerments bestowed upon all who have received – born into – Christ and Christ into them to make them reign in life:

• The Abundance of grace and
• The Gift of righteousness

These ingredients are already engrafted and embedded into our life when we were born of God – received Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour. God extended His life – Zoe, eternal life, the unlimited life – to our limited life so that we can live and reign in life by Christ Jesus. We lost it in Eden, we can live on it today – It is a fully paid bill by our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen. You can live guilty free and stand boldly before the lord without shame, inferiority complex or fear in your daily life schedule  – Hebrew 4:14-16

Hear this, when you make an effort to appropriate the God kind of life – Zoe – and live with that consciousness, an ability to reign in life becomes natural. This will enable you to dominate all that has hindered you in making all things become possible. You can then be able to reign in life as undermentioned:

• · Express genuine Love and Faith.
• · Operate in revelation knowledge, understanding and wisdom
• · Walk in integrity and prudence
• · Live in righteousness, Holiness and sanctification
• · Make sacrifice of Consecration and commitment
• · Practice a life style of giving and receiving
• · Live in Hope and complete assurance of God’s ability.
• · Live in Patience, endurance and temperance
• · Triumph over every trials and temptations
• · Overcome acts of sinful living and such-like
• · Overcome the habitual anger and bitterness
• · Overcome the detects of satan, demonic powers and principalities
• · Overcome unsanctified thoughts and imagination that works – in and through -our minds
• · . . . and in many other kingdom life demands

 The Vitality of – Reigning Through Agape-LOVE

1 Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity (LOVE), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (Love).”

As we examine the vitality and essence of reigning in life through Love, what comes to mind is the place of Faith in the expression of love. By Faith we take a stand to live in all areas of our lives, yet the Bible says that it takes love to ensure that our faith for living is efficient – effectual and effective. Being efficient – effectual – is to do things well; while being effective is to do the right things well and produce results, that is, to bring forth fruit in due season according to the working of God.

Reigning in life triumphantly by an act of love affects every aspect of our Faith life in Christ Jesus. Whether it be in your career and business development, family life, personal growth and development which may be spiritual or physical, raising godly children in a turbulent world, overcoming financial setbacks, strengthening and restoring broken relationships. Also in reaching out to the hurt, wounded and unloved, pursuing a journey to restore and obtain favour with God and many others, as befit your yearnings and aspirations. Knowing full well that in Christ Jesus as an Achiever what is vital and prominent is not just about who you are – circumcised or uncircumcised – but how you reign to become who you are – Faith working through Love.

Three Vital Elements of our LIFE: Hope, Faith and Love.

1Corinthians 13:13 “And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”

The above scripture helps to indicate three vital elements that give worth to life which just as they are spiritual are legal and vital to the achievers’ lifestyle of living triumphantly. They are hope, faith and love.

• HOPE – Sets life goals
• FAITH – Brings life set goals to pass.
• LOVE – Lubricates and sustains and strengthens our hope and faith to make life worth living.

These ingredients that make life worth living are so vital if we must have lively achievers’ wellbeing. However, in this edition we will be considering just two of them – faith and love. Seeing how vital they are and how they work together in making us become what we are born to be and in achieving our set goals and aspirations in life.

The Vitality of Faith

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but Faith which worketh by Love.”

Hebrews11:6 “But without Faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

Romans 14:23 “And he that doubteth is damned if he eats, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

I have come to know in life and in the course of my pastoral responsibility that people everywhere who live with unfulfilled life dreams could end up in frustration and destruction watching their aspirations, hopes and faith being shattered. It’s horrible and painful to see people earnest desire dreams and destiny come to delusion.

For these the Bible has great input to say about the vitality of our FAITH if we must achieve our goals in life and become what we ought to be. Let’s consider these scriptures then:-

• Hebrews 11:6 – says that you cannot Please God without Faith. (Deut 32:20, Luke 18:8)

• Romans 14:23 – Says that anything Done without Faith is sin.
• 2Corinthians 5:7 – Says that we Walk by Faith and not by sight.

• Habakkuk 2:4 – Says that the just shall Live by Faith

• Ephesians 2:8 – Says that by Faith we are Saved by God’s grace.

• Testimonies of countless people healed by our Lord Jesus Christ were as a result of their Faith. Luke 7:9; Matthew 9:29; Matthew 5:28 etc.

 FAITH is spiritual, legal and vital to our Christian walk and is important in becoming that which God intended us to be. Faith is of God. It is a product of the Spirit and comes from the Word of God – John 6:63; Romans 10:17. Meaning that FAITH can come and go when attention is not given to generate and sustain it through the Word of God. There is no single being that has walked on the face of the earth with meaningful and achievable kingdom results that has nothing to show from a life of Faith. The reason is because Faith is the Victory by which life warfare can be overcome in every level of life – 1John 5:4-5. Faith is bringing the unseen to the seen – 2 Cor. 4:13, 18

We can therefore sum up the vitality of faith by the scriptural truth of Hebrews chapter eleven.

• Vs 1– Faith gives substance(flesh) to our hopes and aspirations

• Vs 1 – Faith is evidence – legal tender, assurance and confidence.

• Vs 3 – Faith gives understanding

• Vs 4 – Faith offers an excellent and better sacrifice.

• Vs 5 – Faith translates and transfigures.

• Vs 6 – Faith pleases God.

• Vs 7 – Faith gives warning of coming danger

• Vs 8 – Faith receives an inheritance.

• Vs 9 – Faith gives or creates patience

• Vs 11 – Faith gives strength.

• Vs 12 – 40 – Faith produces and makes the heroes of faith.

Yet as vital and as this essence of Faith is, it’s not workable says the Word of God except it allows LOVE to be the main stream or river course in which it flows and operate to achieve life goals.

The Vitality of Love

1 John 5:1–5 “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that Loveth him that begat Loveth him also that is begotten of him.  By this we know that we Love the children of God, when we Love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the Love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.   For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our Faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Romans 5:5, 8 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. . . But God commendeth his Love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Rev 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first Love.”

1 John 4:7–10 “Beloved, let us Love one another: for Love is of God; and every one that Loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that Loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love. In this was manifested the Love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is Love, not that we Loved God, but that he Loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Just like Faith, Love is a product of the Spirit. God is love. God is a Spirit and those who worship Him do it in Spirit and in Truth; Love is of the Spirit. Genuine Bible love is spiritual not natural. Neither is it devilish nor creation of man. God is love and anyone whose intention is to know, understand and manifest a genuine kind of love needs to connect to God’s DNA of love.

Love is an attitude, a deliberate choice, an exercise of the will, a choice of life and is not a feeling, it is an expression of the nature of God. God is love – 1 John 4:7–10. Let’s consider love in diversity for a clearer understanding of the kind of love being implied in this edition

There are three kinds of love:

1. Phileo Grk (of the soul) – Love relationship in family – between parent and child. The Family kind of love. It means to be fond of; it is based on feelings and not on principle. It’s never used of man’s love to or for God. This is human or natural kind of love. Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Genesis 8:19;Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21. This kind of love is however essential and crucial for a family wellbein
2. Eros Grk (of the Physical body) – Sexual love; purely reserved for the married – within the bond of marriage. It’s neither for fornication nor adultery. Lust and immoral desires have gotten some into it. Heb 13:4
3. Agape Grk (of the spirit) – God kind of love; unconditional, limitless, divine, spiritual. It transcends race, gender, generation, culture, family, physical, personal (self) etc. 1 Corinthians 13. Agape love even helps to ensure, strengthen and maintain the Phileo and Eros kind of love in all life endeavours. Agape love is based on principle – be it towards things or people.

Note: The Phileo or Eros kinds of Love need to be controlled by Agape kind of love or else it will hinder our fellowship with God and leads to sin. E.g. Eros – 1 Cor. 7:5; Phileo – 1 Samuel 2:22-36.

 Love is a fruit and not a gift. Fruits are grown while gifts are imparted. Genuine Bible love – Agape – is born and is a product of the Spirit. Considering our subject of discussion, let us come to the light in examining some characteristics of Agape kind of love as vital to enhance the working of Faith.

• John 3:16 – Love gives power of initiative, is a giver, sacrificial.

• James 2:8 – Love is the royal law for the redeemed who are a  royal priesthood – kings & priests unto God

• Romans 13:8, 10 – Love works no ill to self or others and it’s the fulfilment of all God’s commands.

• Romans 12:9 –11; Philippians 2:3-4 – There is no hypocrisy or dissemination in love. It sees people through in life and not through people

• John 4:17–18 – No fear in love.

• 1 Corinthians 13:13 – Love is the greatest gift in ranking.

• 1 Peter 4:7–9 – Love is the end of all commandments and above all things.

• Col 3:12–14 – Love is above all things.

• 1 Corinthians 2:31 – 13:1-13 – Love is the excellent way to enhance spiritual gifts

• Galatians 6:1; John 8:1-11; John 4 – Love restores the weak ones back to Faith not an accuser

• 1 Corinthians 12:31 – The most excellent way to excel and have overflowing life.

• John 15:13 – Love is considerate.

• 1 Corinthians 13 – Love is patient, kind, not boastful or arrogant, not selfish and keeps record of no wrong.

• Psalm 119:165 – Love forgives and does not offend.

• 1 Corinthians 8:1–3 – Love edifies and builds.

• Proverbs 10:12, 1 Peter 4:8, John 3:16 – Love overlooks a multitude of sins

• . . . And many more in searching the scriptures.

Your regard, respect and value for Love determines how you reign in it and the virtues that get back to your life. When one walks in love one is then prepared to live through life as God’s instrument of grace on the pathway to achieve and become.

Love is the hallmark of the New Testament Christian Faith for any great achiever or one intending to become such in God. Hence its vitality was strongly Commanded – not an advice – by our Lord Jesus Christ as in

 John 13:34–35 “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

And upon this unity of purpose born from the spirit of love that God’s commanded blessings are made manifest in believers life and ministry as expressed in –

Psalm 133 “. . . Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”

Christ Jesus – Reigned as the son of Man on Earth

Acts 2:22 ‘’Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know’’

John 13:1-3 “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”

Hebrew 5:7-10 ’’Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek’’

Dearly Beloved Achiever, Year 2010 is here already. God wants you to triumph and reign in life through love. The days of mere wishful way of existence to deal with the affairs of life is over for all those who are born of God and want to let the word of God have a root in them. We live in challenging times and every child of God must as a matter of reality live by what they are made to be in order to authenticate their faith in God – made to be kings and priests.

You need to take your stand in Christ in that which affects and opposes your faith to enable you to triumphantly reign in life through love in matters of – business entrepreneurship, marital relationship, career instability, general life relationship, health, finance, you just name it – This becomes the key over all that have limited you and questioned the integrity of your Faith in God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the days of his life in the flesh – humanity “as son of man” – reigned in life through Love by the abundance of all things as supplied of the Father God towards him even as we have received of Him. He reigned and dominated principalities and powers, overcame temptations and trials, uprooted bitterness, envy and every works of the flesh as depicted in Galatians 5:19-21 etc. His love knows no bounds hence He reigned in life on earth in His humanity in the midst of all odds. He had a choice to either give in or be in charge and in control, and He chose to reign that He might give us an assurance of hope and to let us know that it’s all possible again to reign in life on earth until He comes to have us home – 1 John 4:17. For as a son of man in humanity, He reigns triumphantly in life through love in this wise undermentioned:

• * Over all flesh – John 17:1-2
• *Over Temptations and trials – Matthew 4:1- 11; Luke 4:1-13
• *Over all things – Philippians 2:21-22; John 14:30
• *Over principalities and powers – Ephesians 1:20-22; John 14:30
• * Over the detects of hell and death – Rev. 1:18-19; Heb. 2:14-15
• *With all authority and powers – Matt. 28:18
• * Over all the works of the flesh – Galatians 5:19-21; John 14:30
• * . . . And many over’s as in the Holy writ.

Let’s arise, put an end to living in our own strength and skills and on life that is based on our intellect. Let’s begin to live life to the full, taking charge and reigning in life as a triumphant, victorious and more than a conqueror people of God and not as cowards (not spoken but acted). Human life is limited, is more than a mere accumulation of wealth or being physically strong. You can’t measure God’s endowment with physical prosperity. Let’s begin to exercise ourselves unto the Zoe kind of life and Agape kind of Love we shall live well on this side of heaven and here after.

Luke 12:15 ‘’And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth’’

1 Timothy 4:7-8 ‘’But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come’’

GRAND FINALE: Agape-Love & Faith In Triumph

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but Faith which worketh by Love.”

Ephesians 3:17, 19 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, . . .   And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 4:1 – 3 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, FAITH, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law”

Faith and Love are an expression of obedience to God. Obeying God is as a result of the revelation knowledge of God and His Word. It is not dogmatic or an act of religious know-how, tradition and conscience of any source. Faith and Love are both fruit of the Spirit.

Verse 17 and 19 of Ephesians 3 shows that our faith should be rooted and grounded (established) in the love of Christ. Matt 5:23–26 (for illustration)

Ephesians 4:1–3 indicates that if we must love, we need to make an effort. Make everything possible to love to enable our faith in God to be effective and effectual – efficient. To love is to be gentle and humble – complete humility and patience in bearing with each other as a way to love.

Galatians 5:6 indicates that in Christ Jesus nothing has value except Faith expressing itself in Love. Faith works by love when we take God’s Word as it is without argument. This we can see in the following biblical expressions and hallmark of Love:

Faith is the hand – legal tender – that takes the things we need from God and delivers them into our hand. Everything that Jesus purchased (Redeemed) for us on Calvary can be obtained by FAITH (Eph.1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3-5; Col. 1:13-14; John 10:0; 3John 2 etc.). Faith is acting corresponding to the Word of God – Belief in Action

One of the reasons why FAITH is not working for some of the Believing Achievers as they lay claim to be people of Faith is simply because they do not have understanding of what the Word of God says – Faith that works by Love. This is what will measure up to all of the principles and stands set down in the Word of God. When we are Love-conscious and not Sin-conscious, our Faith will bring us to our place of triumph to reign in life.

Rev 2:1 – 7 “. . .Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love”.

 

Mark 11:20-24 “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them”.

Beloved you are destined not only to have good success and triumphantly reign but to become in life as an ACHIEVER through love. We can deduce from the foregone illustrations that in our exercising of Faith through our natural instinct or as a fruit or spiritual gift – we need the element of love to authenticate its viability to make life worth living. This will bring forth the desire you long for and anticipated for your spouse, children, parents, family members, in-laws, relationship, your neighbour, career, business, friendship, church etc.

I therefore urge you to create a desire that enables love to enhance your faith. This becomes the pathway to all the open doors that you desire. Love is the mother of unity and unity receives and enhances blessings from the Lord – Psalm 133; Matthew 5:23-25. I therefore present you the biblical FOOD FOR THOUGHT as to:

1. Where is your faith LIFE? Luke 18:8; Deut 32:20; 2 Thess 3:12
2. Where is your love LIFE? Rev 2:4, Galatians 6:5

Faith and Love produce an effectual and effective achievers’ life. There is a promise of grace for all who operate under God or in God’s name through the urgency of LOVE in their Faith endeavours.

I pray that God will give you understanding and revelation knowledge. And I therefore make bold to say that the excellent way to be effective and effectual in life, ministry, family, relationship, career etc is by our FAITH working through the pin-hole of LOVE

I sincerely pray for you that in this month wherein most people are considering and marking Valentine’s day in various ways, God will awaken your spirit by this FEBRUARY EDITION so that you can begin to reign in life in full by God’s kind of love -Agape. Your prosperity is very certain and is today, this day; this month can be the beginning of the beginning. Desiring for you, God’s grace and abundant blessings in all you do through the month, amen.

Dare To Triumphantly Reign in Life . . . Demonstrate AGAPE Love

 In His World for His Glory

 Revd Chukie MORSI

Note: All scriptures in King James Version except otherwise indicated.