The Power Of Vision – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega

Revelation 2:7(KJV); He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the TREE OF LIFE, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

When the evil one came to Eve in the Garden of Eden, he gave her a vision that caused her to behold certain things about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

The Bible says that she saw that the tree was good for food; she saw that the tree was pleasant to the eyes; she saw that it could make one wise (Genesis 3:6).

If there was a vision cast with effect to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, there is undoubtedly a vision to see when one beholds the TREE OF LIFE.

This was Christ’s mandate in the New Testament. His part is to give you a vision of what happens when you eat of the TREE OF LIFE.

The Bible says that the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).

When you eat of the tree of life, you are an answer to the nations; when you eat of the tree of life, you are a solution to this world. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Revelations 22:2, Revelation 22:14

GOLDEN NUGGET:

When you eat of the tree of life, you are an answer to the nations; when you eat of the tree of life, you are a solution to this world

PRAYER: Dear God, I thank you for this Word. I am a carrier of life because I partook Christ, the tree of life. My fruit changes the world around me; my fruit is an answer to my nation; my fruit is healing to what I touch. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Power Of Vision – 1

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 3:6(KJV); And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The temptation of Eve was not merely an enticement by the evil one for her to eat the forbidden fruit.

When he spoke, the devil did not merely outline the pros of eating the fruit; what he actually did was that he gave Eve a vision.

She saw what he wanted her to see; she saw that the tree was good for food; she saw that it was pleasant to the eyes; she saw that it could make one wise.

When she received the vision, she ate the fruit and gave her husband who was with her and he also ate.

Adam neither hesitated nor questioned why he was being given the fruit; in that moment he seemed to have forgotten that God had commanded them never to touch that tree; he forgot that the penalty for his action was death.

Why?

Eve had received the vision, from the enemy but he did not. Adam did not have the power to say no because the power of the woman who saw captivated the will of the man who did not see.

The underlying principle here is that the one that has the vision commands the one without it.

This was the power of a vision received from the Words of the enemy; how much more that from the Words of God?

For every Word of God you receive, you must also receive the vision of it because you need a vision to command your workplace; you need a vision to command your family; you need a vision to command your nation. You must see!

FURTHER STUDY: Revelation 2:7, Revelation 22:2

GOLDEN NUGGET:

He that has the vision commands the one without it. You need a vision to command your workplace; you need a vision to command your family; you need a vision to command your nation. You must see!

PRAYER: My loving God, I thank you for this great Word. This knowledge is priceless and I walk in its understanding every day; you are my vision and it is you that I behold in all that I do; as I see you, I command everything around me, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Of His Yoke And Burden

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 11:28-30(KJV); Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

The yoke of Christ is easy and His burden is light.

What makes serving God easy is when we serve under the yoke and burden of Christ.

What makes prayer easy is when we pray under the yoke and burden of Christ.

What makes building ministry easy is when we do so under the yoke and burden of Christ.

Every time you find yourself struggling under a difficult yoke and a heavy burden, ask yourself if it is the yoke or burden of Christ.

The Bible speaks of a stone being heavy (Proverbs 27:3).

The stone is a spiritual representation of the ministry of the law.

When you serve, pray or minister under the law, you will feel overly burdened; service to God will feel heavy, prayer will feel heavy and all other areas of ministry will feel heavy.

The yoke and burden of Christ is a yoke and burden of grace; it is light because it is not you at work but God is at work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).

Paul laboured more abundantly than all his brethren because he laboured under the burden and yoke of grace (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Child of God, Christ has called you to take His yoke; this means embrace His grace.

His great name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Psalms 116:7, 1John 5:3Amp.

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The yoke and burden of Christ is a yoke and burden of grace; it is light because it is not you at work but God is at work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure.

PRAYER: My Lord, I thank you for this great day. I thank you for the grace to labor and minister out of rest. My strength is renewed daily. I run and never grow weary. I walk and never faint. I serve and labor out of an abundant overflow of grace. In Jesus Name. Amen.

The Faithful Minister

Apostle Grace Lubega

Luke 16:10(KJV); He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

God rewards faithfulness; not merely the office in which one is appointed.

A high spiritual office does not mean that God will reward its holder more; for the office only represents greater responsibility on the part of its holder.

Even if your part is to do the most menial task in the ministry, do so with the greatest joy because you know that you are serving in the house of God.

As long as you are faithful in the little, God will reward you for it.

Faithfulness has two elements to it: COMMITMENT and AVAILABILITY.

Some people are committed but they are not available. Others are available but they are not committed.

A committed Christian undertakes his duty with diligence and his heart is fully invested in what he does.

An available Christian is ready to meet a need and stand in the gap as and when it arises.

Purpose not only to commit your heart to the work of the gospel but to also be ever ready to serve whenever you are required to do so.

FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 25:21, 1 Corinthians 4:2

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Faithfulness has two elements to it: COMMITMENT and AVAILABILITY. A committed Christian undertakes his duty with diligence and his heart is fully invested in what he does. An available Christian is ready to meet a need and stand in the gap as and when it arises.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for today. I thank you for this Word that has instructed me in a great principle of ministry. I choose to serve with the knowledge that I am not serving men but the living God. I am available and committed to the work of the gospel. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Treasure In Our Hearts

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Corinthians 4:7(AMP),“However, we possess this precious treasure [THE DIVINE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

We have treasure in earthen vessels.

The Bible has defined this treasure in our theme scripture; it is the DIVINE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL.

Where one’s treasure is, so is their heart also (Matthew 6:21).

Men go treasure hunting, experience all sorts of difficulties and face up against all sorts of odds while at it because their hearts are panting after treasure. Hearts follow treasure, treasure does not follow the heart.

If the treasure is the divine light of the gospel, then your heart ought to follow the gospel.

Our heart is in the gospel because it is the power of God unto Salvation for all that believe (Romans 1:16).

Our heart is in the gospel because the preaching of the cross is the power of God unto us who are saved (1 Corinthians 1:18).

When your heart is in the gospel, the inevitable result is that through you, God demonstrates the exceeding greatness of His power.

FURTHER STUDY: Psalms 45:1, Matthew 6:21

GOLDEN NUGGET:

If the treasure is the divine light of the gospel, then your heart ought to follow the gospel.

PRAYER: My heavenly master, I give you praise for this day. Thank you for this great Word. Today, I choose to live life with my heart fully invested in the gospel. Like a man following after treasure, I follow after it. Your power is demonstrated through me everywhere and every time. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Selfless Living; A Shepherd’s Call

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 10:11(AMP); I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.

Every good shepherd risks and lays down his own life for the sheep; he lives selflessly for the good of the flock.

Moses was a man with a shepherd’s heart. While pleading the cause of Israel before God, he said, “Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”(Exodus 32:31-32).

Paul the Apostle is also another pattern in the ministry of a shepherd to the sheep. In Romans 9:3, he says, “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.”

Christ the ultimate pattern gave up His life for His sheep at the cross.

Moses had a rebellious Israel to deal with but he was willing to have his name removed from God’s book for their sake; Paul had religious and legalistic brethren to deal with but he could readily bear a curse for their sake if it meant their salvation; the Christ went so has as to die for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:6).

The people you lead may not be perfect; they may be difficult, demanding and sometimes excessively entitled but God requires us to live selflessly in our service to them.

The heart of the shepherd is one that is ready to be a substitute in the face of punishment; like Moses was to the Jews; like Paul was to Israel and like Christ was to us.

This attribute of the shepherd’s heart is the foundation of the ministry of love that always seeks to cover a multitude of sins(1 Peter 4:8).

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:6MSG, John 10:11-14

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The heart of the shepherd is one that is ready to be a substitute in the face of punishment; like Moses was to the Jews; like Paul was to Israel and like Christ was to us. This heart is the foundation of the ministry of love that always seeks to cover a multitude of sins.

PRAYER: My God, I thank you for this Word for today. The Word makes a minister of me in my circumference of influence. I carry the shepherd’s heart for those you have placed under my influence. I serve you Lord in the beauty of sacrificial living for their sake; Like the Apostle Paul, I am alive for the sake of men, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Of The Voice Of God

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 12:28-30(MSG); I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.'” A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”The listening crowd said, “Thunder!” Others said, “An angel spoke to him!” Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you.

In John 12:28, the Almighty God spoke to Christ and told him, “I have glorified your name and will glorify it again.”

The Christ told the people around Him that the voice came for them and not for Him. It means that God’s communication was for their benefit and not Christ’s benefit.

But did they hear what God said? No!

There are those who heard thunder. There are those who assumed it was an angel speaking, only Christ heard the very words of the father.

The men who heard thunder were indifferent to the lines of communication in the realm of the spirit; when communication from the spirit came to them, they could only attribute it to a work of nature and weather.

The men who assumed it was the voice of an angel are those who have an understanding of communication in the realm of the spirit but lack the wisdom to distinguish voices in that realm.

Men who hear the voice, like Christ did are those that are deeply acquainted with communication in the realm of the spirit and because they are, they receive the instruction with which the voice comes.

The voice of God is distinctive. He wants you to hear it like Christ did. He does not want you to be barbaric to His voice because to be barbaric to the voice of God is to be barbaric to divine purpose and instruction.

Cultivate a relationship with God enough to know the meaning of His Voice, because with the voice of God comes instruction for your next level of ministry, business and family.

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 14:7-11, Revelation 3:20(AMP).

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Cultivate a relationship with God enough to know the meaning of His Voice, because with the Voice of God comes instruction for your next level of ministry, business and family.

PRAYER: My Lord I thank you for the clarity of your voice in my life. I thank you for the divine instructions imparted in my Spirit with the understanding of your voice. I can never stray off my course of destiny. I live a life patterned after divine instruction and as such I manifest the life of God everywhere I go. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

What Do You See?

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 17:1-3(KJV); And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. And Abram fell on his face…

When God sends forth His Word, His Word comes with the vision of what we ought to behold.

This was the experience that Abraham received in our theme scripture.

The Bible says that when the Lord spoke to him and told him that He would multiply him exceedingly, Abraham fell on his face.

Think about it.

What can possibly provoke this reaction simply because one heard a word from God?

Abraham did not just hear the words spoken by God, he received a vision of these very words.

When God said, “I will multiply thee exceedingly,” Abraham saw his seed multiplied greatly across the nations of the world.

The effect of what he beheld was so great! He fell to his face!

Because he saw, Abraham did not remain a normal man—he became the father of nations.

So, child of God, what do you see when the Word says you are blessed going in and going out?

What do you see when the Word says you will lend and not borrow?

What do you see when the Word says you are more than a conqueror through Christ who strengthens us?

What do you see when the Word says, thanks be to God who always causes us to triumph? What do you see?!

Receive the Word in this understanding, it will not leave you a normal person.

Receive the Word in this understanding and you will move things in the realm of the spirit because such is the power of vision.

FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 29:18, Habakkuk 2:3

GOLDEN NUGGET:

When God sends forth his Word, His Word comes with the vision of what we ought to behold.

PRAYER: My loving father, I thank you for this knowledge. Lord, I do not merely receive the Word, I see. I see greatness, I see increase, I see multiplication, I see favor, I see your hand upon my life in all that I do. I am shining with the glory of God; I am shining with the wisdom of heaven; as I behold what is in the Word, I become. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Not Ashamed Of The Gospel

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 1:16(KJV); For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

The gospel is a great source of pride for us as believers.

For this reason, Paul boldly says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.”

History gives an account of one bold spirit. One day, the female revivalist Aimee Semple McPherson stood up on chair at a public square, closed her eyes and raised her hands like a marble statue.

When she perceived that a number of people had gathered to spectate, she jumped off the chair and ordered them to follow her to the Victory Mission Church and amazingly they did.

She had gained an audience and she preached to them the Gospel.

To some people, her actions may be misinterpreted as extreme.

But it was out of her deliberate hunger to see men come to the saving knowledge of our Lord, even when it cost her, her dignity.

Her method is not a standard but her spirit in it is exemplary.

Nothing pronounces pride in the gospel like public expression and proclamation.

There are faiths in this world that are very public about their belief, why not you too dear Christian?

When you walk into your office, speak a tongue. If someone asks you what that means, you just gained a pulpit, preach the gospel.

If they ask you how your night was, respond with the Word, “He loads me with benefits every morning.” If they ask you what that means, you just gained a pulpit, preach.

If as a lady, men on the street make cat calls at you, turn that into a pulpit. Preach to them!

This gospel is our life, be proud of it child of God.

FURTHER STUDY: John 3:16-17, 2Timothy 4:5NLT

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Nothing pronounces pride in the gospel like public expression and proclamation.

PRAYER: My loving Savior, I thank you for Calvary. What a great sacrifice. What a gift to humanity! Today, I stand in the boldness of the wise who win souls, in the pride of those that understand the precious sacrifice of Christ. Today, the world knows that I wear my truth like a badge of honour, to the glory of your name. Amen!

The Ultimate Bondage

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 8:32-33(KJV); And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

The religious leaders of Christ’s day claimed to be Abraham’s seed and that they were never in bondage to any man.

Abraham is the biblical representation of the ministry of faith. These men claimed to be the seed of faith and that they were free.

But how could they claim such freedom when they could not believe on the person of the Christ?

They ridiculed His miracles because they did not believe; that was bondage.

They killed the person of the Word because they did not believe; that was bondage.

Faith is a liberty of the spirit. The extent of any man’s bondage is the extent of his unbelief.

A Christian who rejects the miraculous yet claims to be a seed of Abraham is bound.

A Christian who denies the power of God yet claims to be the seed of Abraham is bound.

You are Abraham’s seed; your freedom is demonstrated every time you launch out in faith.

When you lay hands on the sick, that is freedom. When you demonstrate the Spirit, give sight to the blind and make the lame to walk, that is freedom.

Praise God!

FURTHER STUDY: John 8:36, Galatians 5:1(AMP).

GOLDEN NUGGET.

You are Abraham’s seed; your freedom is demonstrated every time you launch out in faith.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank you for the Truth that has made me free. Thank you for liberty of faith in which I walk every day. I am free to heal the sick, free to give sight to the blind, free to make the lame walk. I declare that I serve as a free person and as such the world is changed by the truth I carry in my spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Wisdom In Warfare: The Battle Field Of The Mind

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Corinthians 10:4-5; For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

It is one thing to know the weapons of our warfare. It is another to know how to war.

The weapons may be available but the wisdom to war might be absent.

The scriptures are insistent on the wisdom of warfare. They remind us that wisdom is better than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:18). They also tell us that it is God who teaches us to war (Psalms 144:1).

This means that God is very interested in instructing us in the patterns of warfare.

Look at David before Goliath. The weapons were available as given to him by King Saul. But he lay aside the weapons in favour of the wisdom of warfare (1 Samuel 17:38-39). For David, the wisdom of warfare was in fighting by covenant.

Our theme scripture teaches us another wisdom in warfare which is to understand that the mind is the battlefield.

Strongholds are in the mind.

The Apostle Paul paints this pattern of truth through our theme scripture. He speaks of “casting down IMAGINATIONS”, “everything thing that exalts itself against THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD,” “bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT.”

Imaginations, knowledge and thoughts have their seat in the mind.

It is warfare to renew the mind (Romans 12:2); it is warfare to set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2); it is warfare to understand that God keeps in perfect peace those whose minds are stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3).

Know your battlefield, child of Faith–it is wisdom to do so. When you do, you will employ the right weapons of war.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 12:2(AMP); Ephesians 6:17(MSG), Romans 8:6(NIV).

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Know your battlefield, child of Faith–it is wisdom to do so. When you do, you will employ the right weapons of war.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father I thank for the gift of your Word. I thank you because the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but they are mighty in you Lord. You are the God who teaches me to war and this day, I walk in the understanding of my battlefield. My thoughts are pure, my mind is sound. With wisdom, I have overcome and walk in victory every day to the glory of your name. Amen.

The God We Know

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Chronicles 16:7-9(KJV); And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.

The Lord God is our ever present help in time of need (Psalms 46:1).

But oh, how quickly some people forget that. Some oscillate between relying on God and relying on the arm of flesh.

So was King Asa.

When the Ethiopians and Lubims attacked him, his dependence was solely on God. When Israel attacked him, he forgot the victory the Lord had given him against the Ethiopians and instead sought the help of the king of Syria.

When he did so, God, through His prophet Hanani rebuked him for it.

Think about it for a moment. What was victory to Asa was not victory to God.

The lesson here is that you must be careful from whom you seek help.

Chances are, the things that seem like help today will eventually become mightier than you because you give them a place of authority over your life. For Asa, the Lord told him that because of his actions, the King of Syria had escaped out of his hands. He would never know victory against Syria.

You may seek for help from the men of this world and find yourself a slave to those very men.

You may seek for help from the institutions of this world and find yourself as the victim of those institutions.

When you trust in the arm of flesh, it shall surely fail you.

You have God! He has promised, He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Look to Him. Ignore the alternatives. Trust God!

FURTHER STUDY: Jeremiah 17:5-9, Psalms 46:1

GOLDEN NUGGET:
When you trust in the arm of flesh, it shall surely fail you. You have God. He has promised, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Look to Him. Ignore the alternatives. Trust God.

PRAYER: My God, I thank you for this Word. Lord I trust in you with all my heart, strength and mind. I do not lean on my own understanding but on your promise that stands true through all the ages, that you will never leave me nor forsake me, that you will never permit men to do me wrong, that you are my shield and buckler, the Lord of Sabaoth, my protector and my strong tower. I look to you God, in the perfect knowledge that I am hedged and protected by the Almighty God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.