God’s Faithfulness To The Sinner – 1

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Timothy 1:16(KJV); Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”

Paul’s life is a pattern of the long suffering and patience of God toward us.

In Galatians 1:13, Paul says, ‘For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it.’

He was a bitter enemy of the Church of Christ, a man who ordered arrests and condoned the stoning of Christians to death.

But God overlooked all that, met him on a journey to Damascus, which journey, Paul had planned for the further destruction of the church and saved him.

Paul indeed is the example that God can use anyone. He has a way of working with some of the worst people in this world, people that have done all sorts of unimaginable things, and using them too.

It doesn’t matter what you have done or where you have been. The Lord’s arms are open. He says, ‘I want to change you and to use you.’

Forget the past and look to Him. His love is all-embracing and is from ever lasting to ever lasting.

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 2:4, Hebrews 7:25

GOLDEN NUGGET:

It doesn’t matter what you have done or where you have been. The Lord’s arms are open. He says, ‘I want to change you and to use you.’

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for your love. It knows no boundaries and no end. It is high enough and broad enough to embrace even the worst of all men and of all sins. It is beyond comprehension! I receive this love today knowing that you are patient toward me, dealing with me and perfecting all that concerns me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Grace Encounter

Apostle Grace Lubega 

Acts 9:10-12(KJV); And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

It is absolutely essential that every new convert in Christ firstly encounters the grace of God. It is the first doctrine that everyone must understand if they should live a full life of salvation.

This is why Ananias is the first face that Paul sees when God gives him spiritual sight. He is also the first face Paul sees when his physical sight is restored.

The name Ananias is translated to mean, ‘whom Jehovah has graciously given.’ He is a representation of the generosity of God’s grace and it’s unlimited abundance.

In this walk of salvation, I have seen new converts being firstly plunged into legalistic teaching. Oftentimes this leads to their falling off the path claiming that salvation is hard. This is because they were not pointed to grace.

It is by grace that we are saved(Ephesians 2:8). Every new believer must understand this. It is why the first principle of the doctrine of Christ is repentance from dead works(Hebrews 6:1). 
It is why Paul says that it is important that a heart be established by grace (Hebrews 13:9). 

A man who starts in grace finishes in grace. Like the great John Newton sung, “grace brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home.”

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 6:1, Ephesians 2:8

GOLDEN NUGGET:

 The first thing every new convert in Christ must encounter is the grace of God. 

PRAYER: Great and loving Father, I thank you for the gift of grace. Thank you because it is you who works and wills in me according to your good pleasure. I receive your grace and yield to the power of your Spirit, my counsellor, comforter, strength, joy and peace. Grace brought me to this life of salvation and grace keeps me to the end. I believe it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Enlarged In The Waiting

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 8:24-25(MSG); That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

In this life, there may be things that you have waited for, for a long time. You may have waited for a disease to leave your body for years. You may have believed God to intervene in your marriage for years. You may have asked God to deliver your drug addicted son for years.

Don’t give up.

The Lord says that waiting does not diminish us and we are enlarged in our waiting. The longer we wait, the larger we become.

Yes, that issue in your life may have lasted for years but even in that waiting, you are enlarged, made stronger, more enduring and more stable in God.

If you sense a delay in any answer, may it stir in you a sense of expectancy in the knowledge that you must bring forth fruit.

Waiting shouldn’t discourage you, it should excite you because you know God is putting together many things for your sake. Your miracle is bigger than you anticipate! That is the attitude of a believer!

You are closer to your miracle than you think. Believe God.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:17, Romans 5:3-5

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Waiting shouldn’t discourage you, it should excite you because you know God is putting together many things for your sake. Your miracle is bigger than you anticipate! That is the attitude of a believer!

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this knowledge. I know that you are faithful to the end. No matter what I go through and where I am, you are the author and finisher of my faith. I rejoice in you no matter what comes my way because I see the end. I am enlarged, strong and victorious. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Of Windows And Doors

Apostle Grace Lubega

Ecclesiastes 12:3(KJV); In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,”

At all times, you must be able to see through the windows of the Spirit. Sadly, there are those who cannot look through these windows anymore because their sight is darkened. This is the spiritual state that our theme scripture refers to.

Windows represent revelation in the spirit realm. If windows are darkened, this means that a man is closed to revelation. 

Because windows define and predict doors, darkened windows translate into closed doors.

If you ever find yourself facing many closed doors in your life, whether it’s in your finances, career, ministry or business, always question what is wrong with your windows.

Paul prayed for the Church at Ephesus and said, ‘By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones)'(Ephesians 1:18 AMP). He also speaks in Ephesians 3:9 that it was his desire ‘to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery.’

It is the portion of every believer to have their eyes flooded with light. This means that the Spirit of revelation must be constantly alive in you. 

Revelation is a Spirit and not a gift. Yield to Him, understand Him and allow Him to launch you into realms of understanding that are beyond the ordinary. When you do, doors will open to you constantly with the greatest ease.

FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 1:18AMP, 2 Corinthians 4:6

GOLDEN NUGGET: 

At all times, you must be able to see through the windows of the Spirit, which windows represent revelation. Revelation is a Spirit and not a gift. Yield to Him, understand Him and allow Him to launch you into realms of understanding that are beyond the ordinary.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for your Word in my spirit. You have shined in my heart and have given to me the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of revelation is working mightily in me. I see in the word more than ever before. To the glory of your name, Amen.

The Things That Invite Us

Apostle Grace Lubega

Acts 16:9(KJV); And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.

In this life, there are things that invite us. These things are the function of prevenient grace and the divine plan of God for our individual lives.

It is wisdom to take heed of these things. 

Take the example of Paul in our theme scripture. He had not planned to go to Macedonia but he had a vision of a man inviting him to minister there. 

In the Book of Corinthians, Paul bears testimony of the people in Macedonia and says, “For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily, Begging us most insistently for the favor and the fellowship of contributing in this ministration for [the relief and support of] the saints [in Jerusalem]. Nor [was this gift of theirs merely the contribution] that we expected, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His agents] by the will of God [entirely disregarding their personal interests, they gave as much as they possibly could, having put themselves at our disposal to be directed by the will of God]”(2 Corinthians 8:3-5).

When things invite you, providence and favour follows you. When things invite you, it doesn’t matter how hard a circumstance is, rest assured that God is on your side. 

There is a reason you have the desires that you have; a reason you met the people that you met.

Embrace life in this understanding because in the things that invite you is divine purpose.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 8:3-5, Romans 8:28

GOLDEN NUGGET:
In this life, there are things that invite us. These things are the function of prevenient grace and the divine plan of God for our individual lives. It is wisdom to take heed of these things. 

PRAYER: Loving Father, your Word is true and your promises are sure. Thank you because you order my steps. I am in the right place at the right time every day of my life. I am conscious of the things that invite me and yield in faith to the course you have set before me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Spirit Of Hope

Apostle Grace Lubega

Psalm 27: 13(KJV); I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

In this life, there are people who give up so easily. At the slightest discouragement, they lose their trust and confidence in God. But the life of king David is a lesson in endurance.

He was the least in his household, a child who grew up without the approval and attention of his father. When he eventually found a father figure in Saul, he was hated and almost killed by this same Saul. 

He was on the run and in hiding even after he had been anointed as king. When he got into kingship, his son won the hearts of the people and ousted him from his throne. When he reclaimed his kingdom, he instructed Joab to ensure that his son wasn’t killed, but nonetheless he was killed. 

We see trial after trial in the life of this man that had been anointed by God. 

And yet David still said, ‘I had fainted unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living’. That is the Spirit of hope.

He gives us strength when the storms of life are blowing and fills us with Joy when the world thinks we should be weeping; He makes us say ‘it is well’ even when our backs are against the wall.

No matter how harsh the situation, believe to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. He is faithful! He always comes through. He will not disappoint you. Do not give up! Do not give in! God is on your side!

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 4:16, Psalm 42:5

GOLDEN NUGGET:
No matter how harsh the situation, believe to see the goodness of God in the land of the living. He is faithful! He always comes through. He will not disappoint you. Do not give up! Do not give in! God is on your side!

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for the hope that I have in you. You are my defender, my strength and my strong tower. I trust in you God because you are the lifter of my head. I know that victory is mine! To the glory of your name, Amen.

In The Abundance Of Grace

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 21:19(KJV); And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.

When you are preoccupied with what you must do to please God, you are blinded to the availability of the abundance of grace.

This was the experience of Hagar in our theme scripture. 

In Galatians 4:23-24, the Bible says, “But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.”

Hagar is a representation of the works of the law. It was to Hagar that Abraham turned after he had waited too long for God to give him a child. She is an analogy of human effort to fulfill divine promises.

The Bible says that God opened her eyes to see the well. It was there, she just hadn’t seen it.

When we are too occupied with what we must do to please God(the works of the law), we miss out on the wells of the Spirit that are available to revive, replenish and rejuvenate us.

There are wells of strength around us. There are wells of wisdom and understanding around us. There are wells of abundant provision all around us.

There is sufficient strength for you to pray and seek God. There is sufficient wisdom for you to make the greatest decisions of your life. There is sufficient favour for you to be pursued by those who you need.

All you have to do is yield to what is available by faith.

Glory to God. 

FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 4:23-24, Romans 4:16

GOLDEN NUGGET: There are wells of strength around us. There are wells of wisdom and understanding around us. There are wells of abundant provision all around us. All you have to do is yield to what is available by faith.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. I thank you because you have made all grace to abound toward me. I have sufficiency unto every good work. I am diligent in everything that I do because I am yielded to your grace which is ever ready and available. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Responsibility Of Open Doors

Apostle Grace Lubega 

Luke 12:48 (KJV); But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Every door is a responsibility. Doors do not open for us for personal gratification and fulfillment. To whom much is given, much is required.

No one can claim open doors and ignore the fact that these doors place a demand and a requirement upon their spirit.

Paul made statements as bold as ‘A great and effectual door is opened unto me'(1 Corinthians 16:9).

But this door did not open without a consequent responsibility. In this understanding, Paul declared, 
‘Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel!’ (1 Corinthians 9:16).

You did not get that job merely for your sake. You were not posted to another nation by mistake. That opportunity did not come to you randomly.

God is deliberate about every door that He opens for us. 

This is why you must find purpose in every opportunity. You must be diligent to inquire why some doors were opened to you; why you got into a certain circle of people; why you met certain men and women. 

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 9:16, 1 Corinthians 16:9

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Every door is a responsibility. Doors do not open for us for personal gratification and fulfillment. To whom much is given, much is required.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this Word. Thank you for the opportunities that you have blessed me with. The nations that are open and the people that you have brought into my life. I am conscious of the responsibility of open doors and alive to the divine purpose in the things that I must do. I can never get off the course set for me because I have understood this wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christ The Door – 3

Apostle Grace Lubega 

John 10:9(KJV); Iam the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture

We live in a beautiful time of history. The knowledge of God is increasing. God has blessed us with revelation and we are privileged to receive the great and marvelous mysteries of the kingdom.

More than ever before, the Word of God is opened unto us. It is the door. The Bible says in John 1 that in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God. Christ the Word became flesh and dwelt among men. 

There are some Christians who are praying night and day for opportunity but they are doing so in ignorance because they do not pray in the revelation of where they must be and what they must become.

The Word of God unlocks opportunities, it opens the nations and it softens the hearts of kings in your favour.

You cannot escape the Word. It will bring you what you seek, it will cause you to shine bright enough for men to look for you.

Invest in the Word, child of God. Study the scriptures diligently, search out truth, buy it with all that you have and never sell it. (Proverbs 23:23). When you do, doors will open to you and this world will open to you. 

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: John 1:1-5, Colossians 3:16

GOLDEN NUGGET:
The Word of God unlocks opportunities, it opens the nations and it softens the hearts of kings in your favour.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you because the Word dwells richly in me. I search out the scriptures with readiness of mind, zeal and diligence. The Word has effect in my life. Whatever I ask is yes and Amen. Results follow me because I am invested, immersed and consumed by your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Christ The Door – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 10:9(KJV); Iam the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

There are many doors that will open to you in this life. Before these doors open, you must first understand the ultimate and primary door of the spirit.

In our theme scripture, Christ says He is the door. He is that door which defines all other doors and the opportunity that shapes all other opportunities.

When you gave your life to Christ and received Him as the Lord and Saviour of your life, you received the door that leads to all doors.

The doors of the Spirit are by default supposed to open to a believer because you have the greatest door that was ever opened for mankind.

If you ever find yourself stranded, if you struggle with access, remember this door. If you ever find yourself disadvantaged, remind yourself that the first door you walked through when you professed Christ gave you all that you need.

This is why a believer can confidently say, ‘I have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.‘ Ephesians 1:3 Christ the door is the reason we can boldly declare that ‘All things are ours.‘ 1 Corinthians 3:22

Great platforms are yours because of Christ. The world stage is yours because of Christ. The round tables of policy making are yours because of Christ.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 10:9, 1 Corinthians 3:21

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Christ is the door which defines all other doors and the opportunity that shapes all other opportunities.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this Word. Thank you for the access I have because I believed in you and received you. I am persuaded of the things that accompany salvation. Because I am Born Again, favour follows me. Because I am Born Again, nations call me. Because I am Born Again, kings seek my counsel. Because I am Born Again, systems of this world bow for me. In Jesus name, Amen.

The Experience Of Epignosis – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 2:9(KJV); But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

The scriptures reveal two kinds of knowledge, EPIGNOSIS and GNOSKO.

Gnosko is progressive knowledge, that which one acquires gradually with their study of the Word while epignosis is the advanced, complete and perfect knowledge in and of God.

Epignosis does not come by gnosko. This means that you can never study the Word of God enough to have the complete knowledge of God.

Rather, gnosko seeks to lead you to the experience of epignosis. Some people study the Word with only the satisfaction of gnosko. All they need is the word for the now; what can help them get a job? What can help them heal their body? What can help them grow their business?

Some sermons are taught for the now. They minister to the present needs of men and seek to give them things that are done with their doing.

The Word of God is deeper than that.

There are those who read the scriptures in the understanding that these scriptures are opening them to the experience of epignosis. Sermons must be preached with the end of opening men to the experience of the advanced, complete and perfect Knowledge of God- epignosis.

The Church must embrace epignosis. It is what makes us heads and not tails; why the gates of hell shall fail to prevail against us; it is how we overcome the world.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 2:20, Psalm 119:96

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The Church must embrace the complete and perfect knowledge in God. It is what makes us heads and not tails; why the gates of hell shall fail to prevail against us; it is how we overcome the world.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this day. I thank you for access to the depths in you and to insights into the mysteries of eternity and of who you are. I refuse to scratch the surface in understanding who you are. I embrace epignosis and the responsibility it places upon my life. In this wisdom, my prayer life changes, my service to you changes and my worship to you changes. I seek you in the experience of epignosis. To the glory of your name, Amen.

Open Doors

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 16:9(KJV); For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

It is one thing to open doors and it is another for doors to open unto you.

In our theme scripture, Paul does not say that he opened a great and effectual door. Rather, he says that this door opened unto him.

Some people are looking for connections to open doors for them. They are submitting themselves to the favour of men to gain access to the things they need or to places they desire to go. They are pleading with other men to be given a platform to be heard or to express their gifts and crafts.

That is not how God works for the Christian. God has placed the inherent ability in the doors themselves to open up to a man who is prepared!

He wants you to function under such a grace.

Everything you turn to opens. You attract what you need, success follows you, favour follows you, people need you and nations look for you. Indeed, goodness and mercy follow you all the days of your life.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Psalm 2:8, Psalm 23:6

GOLDEN NUGGET:
God has placed the inherent ability in the doors themselves, to open up to a man who is prepared!

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. Thank you for the things that seek me. Opportunity is my friend, bringing who I need, what I need and when I need it. I never struggle in ministry or my labours in the gospel. I never struggle with business, career or studies because doors open for me. To the glory of your name, Amen.