The Boldness Of Spirit

Apostle Grace Lubega

Hebrews 4:16 (KJV); Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Christians that are bold in spirit are men and women of the Presence.

When a man leaves the Presence for any reason, whether because of crisis or from a sense of condemnation, that man lacks boldness in his spirit.

In our theme scripture, the Lord calls upon us to come to Him boldly.

Boldness is not merely the ability to face up to situations that might otherwise make you afraid; boldness is also the grace to stand on the love of God and seek His face regardless of how you feel.

In this life, there are many things that may happen whose intention is to keep you away from the presence of God.

They may want to keep you away from prayer and communion.

They may want to keep you away from fellowship with the saints and gathering with men of like spirit.

But the Lord calls upon you to be bold.

Bold people are people of prayer. Bold people are people who will never leave the presence of God no matter what happens to them.

Choose to be bold!

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 10:25, Psalms 92:13

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Christians that are bold in spirit are men and women of the Presence.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you because you have not given me a spirit of fear but of love, power and of a sound mind; my spirit does not cower from your presence because I have understood the love by which you draw and call me to you. I value your presence above all else and continuously keep in prayer because of this understanding. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Boldness In Crisis

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 4:18(KJV); There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

A man perfected in the love of God is bold regardless of the circumstance he finds himself in.

The Bible says in 1 John 4:17, “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”

How does a bold man behave? Like our theme scripture says, perfect love casts out fear.

This means that a bold Christian is a fearless Christian.

The proof that you are perfected in the love of God is when you don’t walk in fear.

The bold one leans on the love of God when he receives a bad report from the doctor; he leans on that love when the economy is bad; he leans on the love of God when he loses a job; he leans on the love of God when everything around him seems to imply that God has left him.

Such a one assures himself that what he faces is not the end of his ministry, his career, his marriage or his life.

The Bible says in Psalms 91:5 that you shall not be afraid of the terror by night nor the arrow that flies by day.
That kind of Christian does not draw back because the love of God that he has embraced leaves no room for fear.

Refuse to be afraid of anything no matter how terrible it might seem because you know who loves you and whose you are.
Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Psalms 91:5, 1 John 4:17

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The proof that you are perfected in the love of God is when you don’t walk in fear.

PRAYER: Loving father, I thank you for this Word. I receive it with great gladness of heart. Today I stand in the boldness of one who knows she is loved by the Lord; one who has understood that nothing can separate me from the love that I have in you. Nothing shakes or moves me because I know that I am yours and that you will never allow destruction to come near me; you will never suffer me to see corruption. This is the liberty with which I live my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The God-project

Apostle Grace Lubega

Philippians 1:6(KJV); Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

You are the work of God.

Because He began you, He will finish you.

Child of God, it doesn’t matter what you know about yourself. The God who began the work in you will SURELY bring it to accomplishment.

He completes what He starts because He fully counted the cost of this work (Luke 14:28). That cost was the very blood of Christ at the cross at Calvary.

Of this blood, the Bible says that it saves to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).

What this means is that God finishes whatever concerns you completely and utterly.

If it is healing, He heals completely.

If it is salvation, He saves completely.

If it is increase, He increases you completely.

There might be some people who will attempt to interrupt His work mid-way, to try and end you because they do not understand His operation.

Do not despair. There is a reason why you are still alive today, God is at work.

In time, you will look back and realise that the things you struggled with are no more.

His name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 7:25, John 19:30

GOLDEN NUGGET:

God finishes whatever concerns you completely and utterly. If it is healing, He heals completely. If it is salvation, He saves completely. If it is increase, He increases you completely.

PRAYER: My great Lord, I thank you for who you are to me. I stand in the confidence that you are at work in me. You are healing in me; you are dealing with weakness in me; you are perfecting me every day for your work and your glory. I am confident that I am better today than I was yesterday, I will be better tomorrow than I am today because my path shines brighter and brighter unto a perfect day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Love Deeper Than The Past

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 8:38-39(KJV); For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love does not dwell on the past.

In our theme scripture, the Bible speaks of the love of God and that nothing can separate us from it.

He speaks of death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth or any creature.

The language of the scriptures is deliberate. He speaks of things present and things to come but does not mention the past.

This is because to Him, it is inconsequential.

God does not look at you, the new creature in Christ through the lens of what you did yesterday, last week, last month or ten years ago.

That’s why His mercies are new every morning.

There are people who are stuck in their past and believe that it has withheld the hand of God from their lives. Other people are stuck in other people’s past and treat them based on the standard of what they did years ago.

That is not the way of God. You have a future and it is solid in agapé.

FURTHER STUDY: Lamentations 3:22-23, Ephesians 3:18

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Love does not dwell on the past.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for your never ending love toward me. I thank you because I am a new creature in Christ, old things are passed away and I behold the fact that all things are new. These new things I behold are of God; everything about me is of you; my thoughts, desires, aspirations and inclinations are of you. I rejoice in this reality every day of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Beyond Condemnation

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 4:17(KJV); Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

The Greek Word for judgment in our theme scripture, ‘Krisis’ is translated to mean among other things, ‘condemnation.’

Thus, herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of condemnation because as he is, so are we in this world.

The question is, “Are you bold in the day of condemnation?”

The accuser of the brethren is always ready to point to our faults, to show us how far we have fallen short of God’s standards, but are you bold?

If God forbid, you yield to any weakness of the flesh, do you stop going to church because of a guilty conscience?

If that is so, then you have not been perfected in the love of God.

A man who is perfected in the love of God knows that sin does not define him. He is not proud of his mistake but he also understands that God does not expect him to kill himself because of it.

Boldness is not the absence of godly sorrow but it is the acknowledgement of who you are in Christ for as He is, so are you in this world.

So, what do you do in the day of condemnation?

Become bolder, receive mercy, believe God to help you out of that sin or weakness.

Confess that you are the righteousness of God in Christ.

Remember that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Walk in the confidence that you are dead to sin and it is dead to you.

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8:1

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Boldness is not the absence of godly sorrow but it is the acknowledgement of who you are in Christ for as He is, so are you in this world.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this truth. I stand in the blessed assurance that I have been cleansed by the blood of Christ and all my sins have been washed away. The devil has nothing in me and sin speaks a dead language to me. I face life with this boldness and embrace the imputed righteousness of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

By Love, We Live

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 5:5(KJV); 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.

When you walk out of love, you will die.

This is because to live outside the love walk is to live carnally. The Bible says of carnality that to be carnally minded is death (Romans 8:6).

Because some men do not love, they attract the death of their relationships, businesses or ministries.

The great news is that when you received the Holy Spirit, as our theme scripture reveals, you received agapé and became a lover of both God and man.

In Ephesians 3:19(AMP), the Bible says, “and [that you may really come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].”

The understanding of the love of God is what fills you with the fullness of God and allows you to enjoy the richest experience of His presence in your life that you are completely filled and flooded with God Himself.

Agapé will cause everything about you to be saturated by the presence of God; it will infuse life in your career, your ministry, your marriage and your business.

Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 3:17-19, Romans 8:6

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Agapé will cause everything about you to be saturated by the presence of God; it will infuse life in your career, your ministry, your marriage and your business.

PRAYER: My loving Father, thank you for the revelation of your love. I thank you for your Spirit that causes me to love you and fellow people as I ought. This same love breathes life into everything around me. Whatsoever I touch thrives because love has given it life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Cycle Of Love

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 4:10(KJV); Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Love begins with God.  Itflows from God to man, man to God and then man to man; this is the cycle of love.

God loves us, we respond to His love and it is that very love that flows from us to fellow men.

As such, our theme scripture has revealed that the true beginning of love is not that we loved God but that He loved us.

The life of the spirit is not about how much love you express toward God but how much you respond to His love toward you.

You can never love God like He ought to be loved until you understand the place from which love begins.

More so, you can never love men like they ought to be loved until you understand that it firstly begins with God.

That is why there are those who give their bodies to be burned but are found wanting when weighed against the standard of love because their love did not begin from the place of responding to God’s love( 1 Corinthians 13:3).

That is why there are those who give away all they have to the poor but are also found wanting in love because that love did not start from responding to God’s love (1 Corinthians 13:3).

When you respond to God’s love, you will love the brethren like you ought (Phileo).

When you respond to God’s love, you will love your spouse like you ought (Eros)

When you respond to God’s love, you will love your parents or children like you ought (Storge).

FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Love begins with God. It flows from God to man, man to God and then man to man; this is the cycle of love.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for this Word. Love began from you and saved the world, love began from you and found me when I was lost. Love began from you and showed me mercy when I was condemned. Today I choose to walk in the understanding of the place from which love begins, and as I respond to your love for me, it flows through me to my brethren and the world around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Instruction Of Agape – 3

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 2:5(KJV); But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”

In John 21:15-17, our Lord twice asked Peter whether Peter loved him. The word for love that the master used was ‘agapé.’ For each of those times, Peter said he loved him.

However, the word for love used in reference to Peter’s answers was ‘Phileo.’ The third and last time, the Lord asked Peter, ‘Do you
Phileo me?’ and Peter responded, “Yes, I Phileo thee.”

By insisting on whether Peter ‘agapéd’ him, the Lord wanted to issue an instruction based on agape. Unfortunately, Peter did not understand and as such only received an instruction based on Phileo which was ‘feed my sheep.’

What then is the instruction of a man who understands agape?

John the man who understood agape received the instruction.

In our theme scripture, the Bible says, “Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.”

A man who is perfected in the love [agapé] of God keeps His word while a man who only understands Phileo keeps His sheep because Phileo concerns brotherly love.

In this, God is not watering down the responsibility of loving one another or of reaching out for souls in love.

However, He knows that when you understand agapé, Phileo becomes obvious. Loving the brethren and winning souls is easier when you embrace agapé.

You might win souls and not esteem His word; that is not agapé.

You might take care of your fellow brethren and take the Word for granted, that is not agapé

When you understand agapé, the Word of God becomes more necessary than food.

When you understand agapé, your responses to all manner of situations are framed around the Word of God.

When you understand agapé, the Word takes priority in everything you do. You give it the attention it deserves; you study it; think on it and act on it.
Glory to God.

FURTHER STUDY: Job 23:12, John 14:21-23

GOLDEN NUGGET:

When you understand agapé, the Word becomes more necessary than food. When you understand agapé, your responses to all manner of situations are framed around the Word of God. When you understand agapé, the Word takes priority in everything you do. You give it the attention it deserves; you study it; think on it and act on it.

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank you for this knowledge. I receive the instruction of agapé and honour your Word above all else. I know that you have exalted your Word above your very name. I give it the honour and attention that it is due. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Instruction Of Agape – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 13:23 (KJV); Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.

Throughout the gospel of John, the apostle calls himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Neither Matthew, Luke nor Mark say it.

The word used therein for love is agapé. This agapé is the highest form of love and is the very love with which God loves man.

Therefore, John had a revelation of the master’s love for him.

What was the result?

At the cross, Jesus hands the responsibility for his mother to John and not to any of the other disciples or even his brothers. This was because he understood agapé (John 19:26-27).

When Christ was raised from the dead and the disciples were told this news, the Bible says that Peter and John ran to the tomb but John outrun him (John 20:3-5).

This is because agapé quickens any man who has understood God in that revelation.

It is no wonder that in his subsequent books, John writes deeply on love; it is he that reveals that God is love (1 John 4:8).

It is also of little wonder that it is he who writes the book of revelation because God is most revealed to us in agapé.

When you understand agapé, hidden manna, deeper revelations and insights into the person of God become your portion.

Grow in the consciousness of God’s unconditional love for you; respond to this very love because in responding to love, you respond to Him.

FURTHER STUDY: John 20:3-5, John 19:26-27

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Grow in the consciousness of God’s unconditional love for you; respond to this very love because in responding to love, you respond to Him.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for your boundless love toward me. I know that nothing can separate me from that love, not things present and not things to come. I stand in the boldness of one who is accepted in the beloved of the Lord and confident that this love is the reason I stand. I receive and respond to it every day and choose to bask in it every moment of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Instruction Of Agape – 1

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 21:15-17(KJV); So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

The Greek language has four different ways in which the word love is used: agapé, éros, phileo and storgé.

Agape is the unconditional love of God for man; Eros is used for sexual passion, Phileo is friendship or brotherly love and Storge is love and affection especially between parents and children.

In our theme scripture, Jesus and Peter have an interesting conversation that is very significant in the understanding of love.

Read from the original Greek text, the Lord asked Peter, “Simon Peter, son of Jonas, AGAPÉ thou me more than these? Peter answered, “Yea Lord; thou knowest that I PHILEO you.”
He said to him again the second time, “Simon Son of Jonas, AGAPÉ thou me?” He answered, “Yea Lord, thou knowest that I PHILEO thee.” He asked again the third time, “Simon son of Jonas, PHILEO thou me?” Peter answered, “Thou knowest that I PHILEO thee.”

The first two times, Christ was deliberate in His use of agapé yet Simon Peter was persistent in his use of Phileo.

When the Lord saw that Simon had not understood His intention, He came down to Peter’s level of “Phileo.”
Peter thus missed an instruction based on agape and instead got one based on Phileo.

If he had told the Lord that he ‘agapés’ him, the instruction would have been different.

Phileo can cause a man to fight for you, as Peter did for the Christ. It can cause a man to wait on you and serve you as Peter did.

However, it is limited in revelation and deters a man from the full instruction of the father.

God has called the Church, not to Phileo Him but to agapé Him. Agapé begins with Him because He is agapé; it is not an act, it is His person.

If you have not understood agapé, you cannot fully know Him.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 5:5, 1 John 4:8,

GOLDEN NUGGET:

God has called the Church, not to Phileo Him but to agapé Him. Agapé begins with Him because He is agapé; it is not an act, it is His person. If you have not understood agapé, you cannot fully know Him.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for the revelation of your love. This love has been shed abroad in my heart by the Spirit. I yield and respond to it every day and as I do, it flows to the world around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Understanding The Foundation: Revelation

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matt 16:13-18(KJV); When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Who do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But who say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 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 world has several ideas about who Jesus Christ is. Some call Him a good man, a saint, a distant father they cannot embrace or a mystery.

As was in His day, some called him Elias, others Jeremiah while others called him one of the prophets.

However, the Christ was interested in who His disciples thought He was. So He asked, “But who say ye that I am?”

The world may call Him what it thinks but it is important that the Church knows Him for who He is.

When Peter got it right, the Lord made a profound statement, “Thou art Peter and upon this rock, I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

The foundation of the Church is the revelation by the Father of the person of Jesus Christ.

As the Church grows in the revelation of the Christ, the gates of hell give way.

As the Church of Christ advances in the knowledge of God, the powers of darkness bow to it.

Desire revelation, child of truth. It is not for you to define the Christ in the same manner that the world does.

Jesus to us is more than a mere story in the books of history; He is a Revelation.

FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 1:11-12, Ephesians 1:17

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The foundation of the Church is the revelation by the Father of the person of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this word. I am grateful for the truth of who you are. You have given unto me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you. It is in this knowledge that I grow and increase every day. I see and understand you deeper. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Step Out In Faith

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 14:25-29(KJV); And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit, and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

Often time, the focus is placed on the fact that Peter started to sink when he attempted to walk on water.

However, the fact is that there are steps that he took towards our Lord and master; Peter WALKED on water!

He did better than those that remained in the boat!
He demonstrated the sort of attitude that our Lord and Master expects from the church; that is the constant willingness to step out in faith.

God has called us to a crazy life of faith. It is not for us to seek the safety of the boat!

Peter’s failure teaches us not to look at the waves while we are at it but his boldness tells us that it is possible as long as we step out in faith!

And God is encouraging us and compelling us to this life.

He says, “Come.” That is enough. His Word is the solid ground on which we must tread.

He has stamped His approval on any man who will step out of the comfort zone into the realm of faith.

Child of God, learn to practice this life of faith.
If it is healing, look for those that need it and lay your hands on them. If it is prophecy, step out and do it in faith. If it is the ability to decree things that they are established, do so until you see the manifestation.

Live the faith life!

FURTHER STUDY: Mark 9:23, Hebrews 10:38

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Learn to practice this life of faith. If it is healing, look for those that need it and lay your hands on them. If it is prophecy, step out and do it in faith. If it is the ability to decree things that they are established, do so until you see the manifestation. Live the faith life!

PRAYER: Lord I thank you because you have called me to a life of faith. You have not called me to be ordinary but exceptional, peculiar and different. Those that are born of the spirit are like wind and blow where they will. I am unpredictable; I am a fountain of possibilities. I do things that shock the world and every known law on the earth because you are in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.