Things That Make Ministers: Self Mastery

Apostle Grace Lubega

Deuteronomy 3: 23-26(KJV); And I besought the Lord at that time, saying…I pray thee, let me go over and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter.

A minister of the gospel can be disqualified from the race before he accomplishes God’s plan and purpose for his life.

It is what happened to Moses. He was disqualified early. He was still strong but the Lord refused him to enter into the Promised Land. He pleaded with God and begged for it but God said no.

It is a very sad thing when you still have the strength to minister but have been disqualified.

Paul saw this kind of end for some ministers and cautioned them thus, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”(1 Corinthians 9:27).

The things that disqualify a minister may seem very simple, as they hinge on one’s failure at self-mastery: mastery of emotions, mastery of appetites, mastery of time and mastery over many other facets of personal life. For this reason, Paul speaks of bringing the body to subjection.

For Moses, it was his temper. For Solomon, it was his indiscriminate love for women. For Demas, it was his love for the present world.

God wants you to finish well. Understand the laws of mastery by which men rule their spirits and tame their bodies.

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 9:27, 2 Timothy 2:5

GOLDEN NUGGET:

God wants you to finish well. Understand the laws of mastery by which men rule their spirits and tame their bodies.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this wisdom. I have a ruled spirit and exercise mastery in all things. My body is disciplined and subject to my spirit. You have dealt with and in me Lord, to bend, to break and to kill anything that is not of you. I know that I will finish well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Fruit Of Love

Apostle Grace Lubega

Galatians 5:22-23(KJV); But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The first fruit of the spirit is love.

That is the divine order as seen from our theme scripture. Joy is not the first fruit of the spirit; peace is not the first fruit of the spirit. Faith, meekness or temperance are not the first fruits of the spirit, LOVE is.

For any man whose spirit is regenerated in Christ, the first thing that comes out of such a man is love.

Our Born Again experience is an encounter with love because when a man meets God, the first thing He teaches him is love.

Love is the evidence that we have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

In the New Testament dispensation, it is our chief commandment(John 13:34). The scriptures call it the royal law(James 2:8)

It is royalty to love.

Love is manifest in and through you because it is not merely a seed but a fruit.

FURTHER STUDY: John 13:34, James 2:8

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Our Born Again experience is an encounter with love because when a man meets God, the first thing He teaches him is love.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. Thank you because your love has been shed abroad in my heart. It is in my nature to love because I am begotten of it. The Word says that by love the world will know that I am your disciple. I choose this love walk in all things and under all circumstances. To the glory of your name. Amen.

Men Of Understanding

Apostle Grace Lubega

Daniel 10:12(KJV); Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.

Heaven honours and responds to men of understanding.

In our theme scripture, the angel told Daniel that from the day he set his heart to UNDERSTAND, his words were heard.

It means that from the moment he started to seek understanding, he got heaven’s attention.

We see a similar pattern in the life of King Solomon. The immense blessing upon his life came because he sought understanding.

The Lord said unto him, “Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;
Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.”(1 Kings 3:11-12).

Men of understanding have the divine qualification to discern judgment. Heaven trusts them to execute divine purpose on the earth because they understand the judgments of God.

It is a good thing to desire knowledge. It is a great thing to seek wisdom, but like Proverbs 4:7 says, ‘with all thy getting, get understanding.’

As a child of the new covenant, the good news is that Christ has given you understanding( 1 John 5:20) You possess it and it is an inherent part of your nature.

Walk and live life in the consciousness of one who has understanding.

God’s name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Proverbs 4:7, 1 John 5:20

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Heaven honours and responds to men of understanding.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this Word. I thank you because I have understanding and this same understanding has established me in the things of the spirit. I walk in the authority of one who understands divine judgment, to discern the hearts of men and execute your will. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Church Is The Answer

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 42:1-3(KJV); Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

In the times of Joseph, there was corn in Egypt and famine in Canaan.

This is in all aspects a reversal of the divine order.

The order is that there ought to be corn in Canaan and famine in Egypt.

As long as there is famine in Canaan and corn in Egypt, the church will always look to the world for answers.

However, when there is famine in Egypt and corn in Canaan, the world will always look to the church for answers.

We are meant to draw the world to the Church through the abundance of the Word of God and not for the world to draw children of God to it through the answers it avails in knowledge.

This is why we invest in the Word; it makes us answers to the world instead of the world being an answer to us.

God’s name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Hosea 4:6, Matthew 5:13-26

GOLDEN NUGGET:

We are meant to draw the world to the Church through the abundance of the Word of God and not for the world to draw children of God to it through the answers it avails in knowledge.

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank you for these great times in which we live. This is a dispensation of broadness, times of knowledge and of revelation. Because I understand these times, I invest in the Word, study it, and live every moment of my life through its precepts. I have the bread of life and for this, I feed the world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Consequence In A Name

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 41:51(KJV); And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.

Naming is a liberty of the spirit to any man that has been given power and authority.

People who do not see naming as liberty easily offend in the spirit.

Examine this privilege in the life of Adam. The Bible says of him in Genesis 2:19, “And out of the ground the Lord God formed every [wild] beast and living creature of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name.”

Naming was part of how Adam was to dominate the earth. Naming was part of the power God had given him to subdue the earth.

The ability to correctly name the things that must submit to you is one of the principles of dominion.

However, Joseph, as seen from our theme scripture did not understand this.

In his mind, by naming his firstborn son ‘Mannaseh’, he meant that God had made him forget his toil and all his father’s house. In the realm of the spirit, it marked Manasseh as the forgotten one. This cost Manasseh a certain position in the spirit and gave Ephraim the advantage over him (Genesis 48:13-19).

Understand the power of naming and seek to do it from the point of victory but not victimisation.

Remember that in naming we subdue what is around us. In naming, we dominate circumstances.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Revelation 2:17, Genesis 2:19

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Understand the power of naming and seek to do it from the point of victory but not victimisation. In naming, we subdue what is around us. In naming, we dominate circumstances.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this knowledge. What great liberty! I receive its understanding and walk in its manifestation. I look at life through the lens of victory and mark the milestones of my life with the testimony of goodness. In this wisdom, I influence and dominate my world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Nation Preserved

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 41:35-36(KJV); And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.  And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

A nation can perish because of the absence of the Word of God.

In our theme scripture, the Bible speaks of a time when famine was to come to Egypt. Joseph told Pharoah that it was important to store up bread for the time to come lest the nation PERISH THROUGH THE FAMINE.

Understand this as more than a physical famine. There is such a thing as a famine of the Word of God.

When there is no Word[bread] in a land, it can be destroyed.

Look at Israel in the time of Samuel. The Bible says that in those days, the Word of the Lord was scarce and there was no open vision(1 Samuel 3:1)

What was the fate of a nation in such spiritual depravity?

The scriptures reveal that even the covenant box that was the representation of the presence of God could not save them against their enemies.

In those days of the scarcity/famine of the Word, when they dared to take the covenant box out of Shiloh to the battle against the Philistines, the children of Israel fell in great numbers(1 Samuel 4).

A nation without the Word of God, that frustrates the gospel, that disregards the truth of the scriptures, that outlaws Bibles and prayer in schools, that points at biblical truth as intolerance can never lay a claim to the full manifestation of God’s presence.

They may hold national breakfasts to intercede for the nation, they may call non-denominational alliances to plead the cause of the Lord to God but in the absence of the abundance of the Word and its free course in a land, all they will have is a covenant box without the presence of God; buildings without the Person of the Holy Spirit; institutions without power.

FURTHER STUDY: Hosea 4:6,1 Samuel 3:1

GOLDEN NUGGET:

A nation without the Word of God, that frustrates the gospel, that disregards the truth of the scriptures, that outlaws Bibles and prayer in schools, that points at biblical truth as intolerance can never lay a claim to the full manifestation of God’s presence.

PRAYER: Most loving Father, I thank you for the immeasurable gift of your Word. It is what preserves men and what preserves nations. It is the DNA of success and the foundation of growth. I look to it in all things because you have exalted it above your very name. By your Word, I change my nation and the whole world, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Our True Fight

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 16:18(KJV); And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The advancement of the church of Christ is against the gates of hell.

Our advance on them is an advance of knowledge and revelation.

It is for this reason that Christ’s declaration about our ordained victory came after Peter received the revelation from the father about who Christ is( Matthew 16:16).

Paul bore this testimony in his life of ministry. The Bible reveals that there were beasts at Ephesus(1 Corinthians 15:32). This means that there was all manner of demonic activity.

However, the Bible says that while he was there, the Word mightily grew and they prevailed.

As the body of Christ is built and grows in the revelation of the Christ, the gates of hell will not be able to withstand its advance.

By knowledge, the church is reclaiming territory that has been overtaken by the enemy through the paradigm of ignorance.

We are occupying political territory, financial territory, media territory and all other territories to the glory of God.

FURTHER STUDY: Acts 19:20, Luke 19:13

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The advancement of the church of Christ is against the gates of hell. Our advance on them is an advance of knowledge and revelation.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I am thankful for this great Word. Greater is He that is in me than the devil in the world. I am more than a conqueror through Christ who strengthens me. I stand in the confidence that my victory against the gates of hell is guaranteed because I am immersed in the revelation of Christ and the knowledge of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Glory Of The New Creature

Apostle Grace Lubega

Isaiah 43:19(KJV); Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The new creature, created in Christ, is something beyond what human language can fully articulate. Paul could not classify this creation as a man or a woman. He could not give it a name and simply called it a new creature.

In our theme scripture, when God speaks of the new thing that He was to do, this new creature in Christ was that thing.

He asks, ‘Shall you not know it?’ In 2 Corinthians 5:17, He says, “…behold, all things are new.” It means that you have to see it.

This glory reveals possibilities where men see impossibility; limitlessness where men see limitation and unpredictability where men see a status quo.

This is what He means when He says “I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

He has given you the ability to create doors where men see walls and pave paths where men see impenetrable barriers.

Everything about you subscribes to newness. You are not a business as usual entity. You don’t go with the norm. You invent where men see no new perspectives. You innovate where men think they have exhausted all ideas.

Glory to God.

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Corinthians 2:9

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The glory of the new creature reveals possibilities where men see impossibility; limitlessness where men see limitation and unpredictability where men see a status quo.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this Word. I know who I am and what you have done in me. I live in the boldness of this understanding. Everything about me is new, for the old things have passed and I behold that all things are new. I am full of new ideas, new inventions, new perspectives and new strategies. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Greatness Of Faith

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 8:8-10(KJV); The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed… When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

When the Roman Centurion asked the Lord to only ‘’send a word’, Christ called it great faith.

The greatness of faith will always be hinged to the liberties of the Word when we understand its limitlessness.

There are those who seek the hand of God by seeking to touch the hem of His garment. That is faith but it is not great faith.

There are those who seek deliverance by the laying on of hands. That too is faith but it is not great faith.

There are those who seek healing through long prayers and fasting. That too is an exercise of faith but there is a higher dimension.

Great faith is the deliberate attitude to provoke the power of God to operate beyond any human limitations to receiving.

It is the knowledge that the Word knows no boundaries; that merely speaking it can bring an answer; that thinking on it can bring an answer.

It is the consciousness that ALL scripture is profitable. That Genesis 1:1 can bring healing even though it is not a scripture on healing; that Malachi 3:10 can cast out demons even if it is not a scripture on deliverance; that Revelation 3:10 can bring you a job even if it is not about finances.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 119:96

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Great faith is the deliberate attitude to provoke the power of God to operate beyond any human limitations to receiving.

PRAYER: God, I thank you for this day. I thank you because the faith in my spirit is grounded in knowledge. Thank you for the liberties of your Word. If it is unlimited, I am unlimited. If it is unstoppable, I am unstoppable. If it breaks boundaries of limitation, I break boundaries of limitation. To the glory of your name. Amen.

The Name By Which He Calls

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 46:2-3(KJV); And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Throughout the scriptures, God is deliberate in His use of the name Jacob and the name Israel.

In our theme scripture, He speaks to Jacob and says, “Jacob, Jacob…”

In Genesis 32:27-28, the Bible says, “And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

The question is, why would God call him Jacob when he had renamed him Israel?

The reason is that God was dealing with an aspect of the flesh which was fear. Jacob was capable of fear. Israel was not.

The name by which God has called you is not one you identify with when operating under the dictates of the flesh.

He said I will give you a name that no man knows save he that receives it(Revelation2:17).

You can only heed to this name when you walk in the boldness of who you are in the spirit; when you refuse to be shaken in the midst of storms; when you continually make the choice never to drawback.

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Revelation 2:17, Genesis 32:27-28

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The name by which God has called you is not one you identify with when operating under the dictates of the flesh.

PRAYER: Loving God, thank you for this knowledge. You know me by name. I hear and know your voice with clarity. When you call me by that name, I know when to stand, when to walk, when to run, when to speak and when to keep silent. I listen and heed to you in the boldness of who I am in the spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

When The Son Prayed

Apostle Grace Lubega

Luke 5:16(NIV); But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Christ was a man of prayer. Our theme scripture reveals that He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

But what was the substance of His prayer?

When some people speak of the prayer life of Christ, they refer to what has been termed as the “Lord’s prayer” and imply that this is how Christ prayed.

That is not so child of God. Christ never went to God to ask him to give him daily bread. When faced with the need for food for the thousands that followed Him, the Bible says He simply lifted up His hands and simply gave thanks.

Christ did not go to God and ask that He not be led into temptation. He did not ask for forgiveness of sins because He was without sin.

We have a glimpse into Christ’s language of prayer from John 17. He speaks of the glorification of the son and the father; He declares how He has been given power over all flesh that He might bring eternal life to many; He speaks of how He has manifested the name of God to men; He speaks of oneness with God.

Christ’s prayer demonstrates His understanding of who He was. There was no self-pity in His prayer. There was no begging in His prayer. There was no self-condemnation in His prayer.

By this pattern, we learn to pray.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: John 17, Matthew 6:9-13

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Christ’s prayer demonstrates His understanding of who He was. There was no self-pity in His prayer. There was no begging in His prayer. There was no self-condemnation in His prayer. By this pattern, we learn to pray.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for this instruction in prayer. Truth defines my patterns of prayer. I pray with boldness, understanding and knowledge. I speak forth those things that are consonant with your Word. I speak with the wisdom of one aligned to eternal purpose. To the glory of your name. Amen.

Of Forgiveness

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 18:21-22(KJV); Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

As a new creature in Christ, forgiveness is a default setting.

You are born of love. Because you are, you cannot struggle with forgiveness.

Struggling with forgiveness means that you have not understood what you have been born of.

God Himself has set the pattern for us.

He has cast our sins as far as the East is from the West. He said that though our sins were as red as crimson, He washed them as white as snow.

What about Christ at Calvary? The Bible says that even in the midst of the pain, the beatings and the insults, He cried: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

In Micah 7:18, the Bible says “Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy.”

God DELIGHTS in mercy. It means that He does not keep grudges. In fact, for His children, He does not want the sun to go down on their anger.

Anger and bitterness are not your portions in Christ.

You may think that letting go of that person who hurt you and ill-treated you is the hardest thing to do but that is not so, child of God.

It is a part of your nature to forgive because you are the fruit of love.

Forgive and let go.

FURTHER STUDY: Micah 7:18, Luke 23:34

GOLDEN NUGGET:

As a new creature in Christ, forgiveness is a default setting.

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank you so much for this day. Thank you for your Word. It works effectually in me. I am begotten of love and choose to forgive, to turn the other cheek because your love constrains me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.