The Effectual Working Of The Word

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV); For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

In our theme scripture we understand that the church at Thessalonica, at the time the Gospel was preached unto them, did not receive the Word of God as preached by Paul as though it were the words of a mere man. But they received it as the Word of God in truth.

For this reason, the Word which Thessalonica received worked effectually in them that did believe it.

The Greek word that is used to translate the words “effectually worketh” in our opening scripture is “energeō” which means to put forth power.

The Word of God you believe has a definite effect in your spirit. The moment you believe it, it starts to put forth power to make things around you respond to it.

Child of God, what does the Word of God say about you? Believe it and speak it upon your life.

Paul admonished us in his letter to Philemon, teaching us that ‘the communication of your faith is made effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing that is in you’ (Philemon 1:6).

Learn to communicate the Word of God with your mouth. Speak it upon your life. As you believe and speak it, it releases the power to cause results. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Philemon 1:6, Mark 9:23

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The Word of God you believe has a definite effect in your spirit. The moment you believe it, it starts to put forth power to make things around you respond to it.

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for this great assurance. I thank you because all things are possible to him that believes. I live a life that demonstrates the miraculous. I abound in faith and I am fruitful in every good work, bearing results in my ministry, in my education, in my business, at my workplace, in my health and in my family life. I see your Word work in my life! Hallelujah!

The Revealed Things

Apostle Grace Lubega

Deuteronomy‬ ‭29:29 ‬(‭KJV);‬ The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.‬‬‬‬‬‬ God has made truth available to every man but only the truth revealed to you sets you free.

The Bible says “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John‬ ‭8:32‬).‬ ‬‬‬

Truth that is hidden from you will not benefit you.

From our theme scripture, the Bible says that the revealed things belong to us and our children.

This means that we have the grace to preserve posterity when things are revealed to us.

The scriptures tell us about all the things that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ purchased for us.

But it’s only until these things are revealed to us that they are truly ours.

Our responsibility as children of God is to seek revelation of the same. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Daniel 2:22, Amos 3:7

GOLDEN NUGGET:
God has made truth available to every man but only the truth revealed to you sets you free.

PRAYER: Father in the name of Jesus, I thank you for your word. I thank you Lord for the Spirit of revelation that is working in me. By it, I walk in the fulfillment of your promises. This Word works effectually in me and I see results in every area of my life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

A Divine Paradox

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Chronicles 25:1-2(KJV); Amaziah [was] twenty and five years old [when] he began to reign, and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. And he did that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

God can do anything in any man because He [God] is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

There are many across the world who call unto God to be used of Him. They fast, pray, give and make many sacrifices but never seem to see God work mightily through them.

Some have made themselves available vessels for any task at hand but have still not been used by God in the ways He wishes to.

The reason for this is because many never EXAMINE the STATE of their hearts with regard to what they are asking for.

Our theme scripture tells a story of a one Amaziah who did what was right in the sight of God. Sadly however, even if he did what was right, it was not with a perfect heart.

What a paradox!

Sadly again, even today, many are like this; they give big, pray hard, fast for long but not with a perfect heart.

Why do you attend service every day? Why do you serve in the ministry? Why do you want a big church? Why do you want the anointing? Why do you want to heal?

Beloved, why are you asking for what you asking for from God?

It might be all right and good in the sight of God but it also has to be with a PERFECT HEART.

This perfect heart is a pure heart that pants after what God desires, seeks to see what God wishes to establish and yearns for the fulfilment of the will of the Father.

FURTHER STUDY: Psalms 139:23, 1 Samuel 16:7

GOLDEN NUGGET:
The perfect heart is a pure heart that pants after what God desires, seeks to see what God wishes to establish and yearns for the fulfilment of the will of the Father.

PRAYER: My heavenly father, I thank you for the word for today. It is nourishment to my soul and by it I grow. This day, search my heart oh Lord. Shine your light on those things that must change, that my true desires will be your desires. Cause me to minister out of a purity of spirit and not selfishness of personal gain. Help me and deal with me Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Meekness Of Wisdom

Apostle Grace Lubega

James 3:13 (KJV); Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

Wisdom is humble and the Spirit of it comes with peace.

If a person is proud, it means that they are lacking in certain aspects of wisdom.

One facet of this wisdom is demonstrated in how you respond to authority; your boss, pastor or parents.

I have met Christians who claim that Christ was made their wisdom but they talk back at authority in a way that disqualifies them from among the wise.

Wisdom causes you to shine but this lack of humility dims your star.

Even when you are insulted, respond with humility because that is the meekness of the wise. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Daniel 12:3, 1 Corinthians 1:30

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Wisdom is humble and the Spirit of it comes with peace.

PRAYER: My Father, I thank you for the crown of wisdom that you have bestowed upon my head. In my sphere of influence, people call me wise because I carry the very meekness of the wise. I know when to speak and how to speak. By this, I distinguish myself with the excellent character of the Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Yoke Of The Master

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV); 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

Every man under the face of the earth is under a yoke of some kind.

Our Lord tells us to take His yoke. He adds and says, “Learn of me.”

When he says, ‘take my yoke,’ he is telling us to learn from him.

Child of God, the burden you carry for the gospel must come because of a certain knowledge that you have of God.

If you have a burden which is not a result of the CONVICTIONS, INSTRUCTIONS and TEACHINGS of Christ, then you are like those whom Paul says have zeal without knowledge.

They preach every day, give to the ministry, fast and pray but look like they are struggling under a yoke that is not of Christ.

Any man who has not been taught of Christ and learnt from Him is not carrying the yoke of the master.

FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 4:20-21, Romans 10:2

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The burden you carry for the gospel must come because of a certain knowledge that you have of God.

PRAYER: My gracious Lord, I thank you for this word for today. I know that I am taught of you and everything I do in the gospel has its affirmation in the Word. I spend and I am spent because I know and have tasted of the wonderful treasures of Christ. I took your yoke and by it I found rest.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lives Equal To Blood

Apostle Grace Lubega

Acts 20:26-27 (KJV); Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Every man’s life is equated to blood.

When we as ministers of the gospel take responsibility for the lives of men, it is responsibility for their blood.

I am accountable for the blood of men when I do not receive the full revelation of the counsel of God.

Understand that as a minister of the gospel, your ignorance kills many. That is why the Bible in Hosea 4:6 speaks of people perishing because the priests have rejected knowledge.

For everything that you do not know, there is a life that is lost and that is blood on your hands.

I have seen men of God that put a lot of effort and money into drawing numbers and crowds instead of SETTING their hearts on KNOWING God.

Do not ask God to use you if you do not have the faith to receive the fullness of His wisdom.

The purification of any man of God to minister in the sanctuary begins by the revelation of the mystery of His [God’s] will and the understanding that to whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48).

In the covenant that you have with God, He reveals to you His counsel that men may not die by your ignorance.

FURTHER STUDY: Hosea 4:6, Philippians 3:8

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The purification of any man of God to minister in the sanctuary begins by the revelation of the mystery of His [God’s] will and the understanding that to whom much is given much is required (Luke 12:48).

PRAYER: My father, I thank you because of the great times in which we are living. You have stirred us to hunger and knowledge has been poured out in equal measure. I yield to the Spirit in the understanding that knowledge is coming to us like mighty rivers from above. From this abundance and overflow, I minister to multitudes. To the glory of your name. Amen.

Things That Make Ministers: Never Beg

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 9:11-12 (AMP): If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits? If others share in this rightful claim upon you, do not we [have a still better and greater claim]? However, we have never exercised this right, but we endure everything rather than put a hindrance in the way [of the spread] of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ.

I have counselled several Christians who came to me disturbed by men of God who had told them that God had said that the Christian should give them a certain sum of money.

A lady once confessed that her pastor had said that God wanted her to pay school fees for his children. That is not right!

A true man of God should never beg from his congregation.

More importantly, NEVER CAUSE GOD TO SPEAK where HE obviously has not; that is SPIRITUAL ABUSE, and like our theme scripture reveals, it puts a hindrance in the way of the spread of the gospel of Christ.

Never put people in a place where they feel coerced to give to you because you used the voice of God to manipulate them.

Know who you are and stand in the constant assurance that God is your portion. Praise Him.

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 9:18, Deuteronomy 18:1-2

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Never put people in a place where they feel coerced to give to you because you used the voice of God to manipulate them. Know who you are and stand in the constant assurance that God is your portion.

PRAYER: Father God, I know that when you call a man, you sustain him. When you call a man, you equip him for the work of ministry. When you call a man, you never put him in a place where he has to beg. This wisdom sits firmly in my spirit and causes me to regard you as my source. I never beg because to do so would be to show that you who called me is not sufficient. You are my portion and always will be. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lessons In Virtue: ‘cover Your Head’

  Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 11:5(KJV); But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

Every wife must know how to ‘cover her head’.

I have counselled women in ministry whose marriages are struggling because they do not understand the principle of a woman ‘covering her head’.

Some of these are great prophetesses who never listen to anyone except God and the Holy Spirit.

If you are a woman in ministry, it is important that you listen to your husband and submit to him even the things that you have heard from God as instructions.

The Bible says a woman must cover her head.

And by the way, a woman’s hair represents her glory. (1 Corinthians 11:15). It does not in any way lessen her glory or make her less anointed.

In fact, it allows the angels assigned to her to minister more freely to her (1 Corinthians 11:10).

If God has instructed you to go and minister somewhere, first submit it to your husband. Don’t just storm out of the house because you heard God.

If you are not submitted in your house, you have no right to stand and speak on God’s pulpit.

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 11:15, 1 Corinthians 11:10

GOLDEN NUGGET:
A woman must know how to cover her glory. This she does by submitting to her husband. It does not in any way lessen her glory or make her less anointed. In fact, it allows the angels assigned to her to minister more freely to her.

PRAYER: My Lord, I thank you for your Word. With this great knowledge, my marriage is a success. I understand the strength in submission and the wisdom of covering my head. In my marriage, I am a pattern to many, to the glory of your name. Amen.

Buy Without Money

Apostle Grace Lubega

Acts 8:18-19 (KJV): And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money…Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

Sometimes bitterness in one’s spirit camouflages as a desire for the things of the Spirit.

Look at the case of Simon the sorcerer. He wanted the Holy Spirit but in his heart was bitterness.

It is a good thing to desire the things of God. It is good to want the anointing, the increase in ministry, the multiplication of the grace of revelation, the depth in the Word or the demonstration of the power of God.

However, when a Christian with the gall of bitterness lusts after spiritual things, he will always be indifferent to the principle by which we attract these things.

The principle is that we buy without money (Isaiah 55:1). And this is what Simon the sorcerer did not know.

Deeper than this, when we buy, we are NOT supposed to sell these things (Proverbs 23:23).

Buy truth and sell it not, but when you buy, it is without money.

When you attempt to buy the gift of God with money, it is inevitable that you will also sell it at a monetary price: prophecy will come at a price, healing will come at a price and the power of God demonstrated through you will come at a price.

But freely we have received and freely we must give! Hallelujah! (Matthew 10:8).

FURTHER STUDY: Isaiah 55:1, Proverbs 23:23

GOLDEN NUGGET:

When you attempt to buy the gift of God with money, it is inevitable that you will also sell it at a monetary price: prophecy will come at a price, healing will come at a price and the power of God demonstrated through you will come at a price.

PRAYER: My great God, I thank you for this word for today. I thank you for this priceless wisdom by which we hold as sacred the things of the Spirit. It is by this very knowledge that I learn never to play with the holy things, to keep the altar pure and to deeply respect the anointing. I receive what you have availed by faith and never sell it with money. This preserves me as a minister. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Wisdom Of Sons

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 9:18 (MSG); So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message at no cost to you. You don’t even have to pay my expenses!

It is maturity never to attach a price to your service in the gospel.

When you charge for the gospel, it demonstrates a lack of the wisdom in your sonship.

Sons do not require wages, sons understand that their portion is the INHERITANCE.

I have seen worshippers who will not minister at a conference until they are paid money; for them it is money before service.

I know Christians who cannot play instruments in church services unless they are paid for it; I know pastors who will not preach until they are paid for it.

Never seek to serve a man of God simply because of a pay cheque.

Serve with the purity of heart that knows that God is your TRUE REWARD.

Inheritance comes to such as these because they can be trusted with the household; they will not destroy those given to their care because in them, there is often no grain of selfishness.

FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 10:8, 2 Corinthians 12:15

GOLDE NUGGET:
Sons do not require wages, sons understand that their portion is the INHERITANCE.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this wisdom. These great truths build in me the character of a true minister of the gospel. My Lord, I understand that freely I have received and thus I freely give. My heart is in this gospel Lord, I can never seek for money as a reward. I serve with the joy of knowing that you and you alone are my portion.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

To Stay With The Lord

Apostle Grace Lubega

Genesis 13:10-11 (KJV); And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

When the children of Israel were delivered from Egyptian captivity, they started to grumble for the things they used to enjoy while in Egypt.

They cried for their “cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlick.”(Numbers 11:5). To them, these defined a level of freedom, even though in fact it was bondage.

You would rather live in a ‘wilderness of freedom’ than an ‘oasis of bondage’ because it does not matter how beautiful the plains are, judgment upon an oasis that has no God can fall at any time.

This is what Lot, in our theme scripture did not understand. When he separated from Abraham, he chose the plain of Jordan, which looked beautiful and was well watered everywhere.

He did not know that this would be the very place upon which God would rain fire and brimstone. (Genesis 19).

Abraham on the other hand, did not look at the beauty of his surroundings. The important thing is that the LORD STAYED WITH HIM.

Our freedom is not in the things that satisfy our flesh or the lust of our eyes.

Our freedom is in the knowledge that regardless of where we are, WE HAVE GOD and are walking in accordance to HIS PERFECT WILL.

FURTHER STUDY: Numbers 11:5, Isaiah 35:1

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Our freedom is not in the things that satisfy our flesh or the lust of our eyes. Our freedom is in the knowledge that regardless of where we are, WE HAVE GOD and are walking in accordance to HIS PERFECT WILL.

PRAYER: My loving father, I thank you for this Word. I am eternally grateful for the freedom that I have in you. It does not matter where I am Lord, I stand in the blessed assurance that it is enough to have you. My wilderness blossoms and my deserts run with rivers of water because you, the giver of life is with me.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

To See Good Days

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Peter 3:10 (KJV); For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile

If you wish to enjoy your life and see good days, you ought to refrain your tongue from evil, and your lips from guile.

The Message Bible version of our theme scripture says, “Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do: SAY NOTHING EVIL or hurtful.”

Evil in this case includes that which is CONTRARY to the WORD OF GOD.

You create the good in your days by the words you speak!

The Word of God tells us that, “A man shall eat good by the FRUIT OF HIS MOUTH: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.”(Proverbs 13:2).

Hannah understood this principle when she prayed to the Lord in 1 Samuel 2:1.

She said, “My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: MY MOUTH IS ENLARGED over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.”

Hannah knew how to speak big! Learn to SPEAK the Word of God over your life every day!

Even in the face of adversity, “ENLARGE YOUR MOUTH”.

Never let your confessions succumb to the provoking wiles of the devil because to keep your mouth from speaking evil is to guard your life. Glory to God!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 10:39, 1 Peter 4:11

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Learn to speak the Word of God over your life every day! Even in the face of adversity, “ENLARGE YOUR MOUTH”. Never succumb your confessions to the provoking wiles of the devil because to keep your mouth from speaking evil is to guard your life.

PRAYER: Heavenly father, I thank you for this word. It is working in my life. I thank you because my mouth speaks truth. I refuse to speak corruption in the name of Jesus. My mouth ministers grace to all my hearers and is purified by the word of your grace. I rehearse every good thing that I know of you. I praise you God because by this wisdom, I shall enjoy goodness all the days of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.