The Manual For Living

Apostle Grace Lubega

Proverbs 6:23 (AMP); For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching [of the law] is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life.

The Word of God is a manual for living.

Like our theme scripture reveals, “…the whole teaching [of the law] is light and reproofs of discipline are the WAY OF LIFE.”

Many of the mistakes we make are because we do not read the Word of God to understand what it says.

I assure you that the Word of God has an instruction for every decision you choose to make in this life.

There are people whose lives, when weighed against the standard of the Word, are bound to fail merely because they have frustrated every principle of the Word of God.

There are businesses some people start, marriages they enter into or careers they pursue in a manner that is contrary to the principles of the Word; it is always a matter of time, such people always fail.

That is why you must EXAMINE your life against the standard of the Word.

Never make major decisions and life changing steps when you have not shone the torch of the Word against those decisions.

Let the Word of God be your guide; to teach you how to build ministry or business; how to preserve a marriage; how to raise children; how to grow a career and how to maintain relationships. In essence, let the Word of God teach you how to live!!

FURTHER STUDY: Psalms 119:105, 2 Peter 1:19

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The Word of God is a manual for living. Let the Word of God be your guide; to teach you how to build ministry or business; how to preserve a marriage; how to raise children; how to grow a career and how to maintain relationships. In essence, let the Word of God teach you how to live!!

PRAYER: My God, I thank You for the gift of the Word. Thank You because its broadness has made me broad; its depth has made me deep and its height has caused me to soar to great heights in the spirit. I heed to Your Word as my Light, my Great Guide and my Manual for living. Every decision I make is a Word decision. In this wisdom, I will never fail. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Blessing Of A Father

Apostle Grace Lubega

Hebrews 11:20-21 (KJV); By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

I have known Christians who are always moving from one man or woman of God to the next seeking a word of prophecy. If a man of God does not prophecy over them, they assume that they cannot walk in the blessing of God upon their lives.

Prophecy and prophets are important and I do not mean to disqualify them in any way.

However, the blessing of your spiritual authority does not exist only in the prophetic office.

A man of God does not have to be in a specific office in order to pronounce a blessing over your life.

This is what our theme scripture reveals.

It says, “By FAITH Isaac BLESSED Jacob and Esau concerning things to come…By FAITH Jacob, when he was a dying, BLESSED both the sons of Joseph…”

Isaac did not receive a vision about his sons before he blessed them. Jacob did not first hear what God was saying about the sons of Joseph before he blessed them.

The scripture says, “By FAITH…”

The blessing of your spiritual authority is by faith, and we know how faith comes, by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

Your authority only needs to know the way of the Word to bless you.

Never despise the words of a man or woman of God simply because they are not prophetically spoken.

If he or she has enough of the Word of God in his or her spirit, that is enough authority to pronounce a blessing over your life.

Purpose to always be humble that you may receive as blessing even the most lightly spoken words. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 4:12, Isaiah 55:11

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The blessing of your spiritual authority is by faith, and we know how faith comes, by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Your authority only needs to know the way of the Word of God to bless you. If he or she has enough of the Word of God in his or her spirit, that is enough authority to pronounce a blessing over your life.

PRAYER: My precious Father, I thank You for this Word for today. Thank You for these instructions in the patterns of true blessing. I yield to the word that I hear from my spiritual authorities because therein is my blessing. My heart is responsive to every proclamation on the altar and in those priceless benedictions, I walk in glorious victory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Meditation Is A Gate

Apostle Grace Lubega

Acts 10:19 (AMP); And while Peter was earnestly revolving the vision in his mind and meditating on it, the [Holy] Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you!

As a Christian, you must deliberate to apply your thoughts to the Word of God.

This is because the Spirit of God is eager to speak to any man that takes keen thought on His Word.

Think about it; how often do you apply your thoughts to the Word of God?

Do you take time to think through a sermon after you have heard it?

The Bible assures us that when you do, the Spirit of the Lord will speak.

In Our theme scripture, Peter EARNESTLY REVOLVED the vision in his mind.

This means that he thought about it, pondered its implications,asked questions and the Spirit spoke.

Meditation makes us students of the Word and the Holy Spirit our ever willing teacher.

He says, “I will teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance”. (John 14:26).

Child of God; exercise your spirit to ponder and meditate on God’s Word always; you will be amazed at how much divine instruction you will hear from God! Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Joshua 1:8, Acts 10:9-21; Romans 10:17

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Meditation makes us students of the Word and the Holy Spirit our ever willing teacher.

PRAYER: My loving Father, I give You praise for this day. Thank You for the light cast on my spirit, to learn to deeply meditate on Your Word. Thank You Spirit of God because You are available to teach me. This day, I choose to set my mind on Your Word; to ponder, think through it and listen to Your voice as You launch me deeper into its truth. Out of the overflow of these meditations, my life finds shape and meaning. It is by this wisdom that I frame my world. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Of His Image And Inscription

Apostle Grace Lubega

Luke 20:25 (KJV); And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.

In our theme scripture, the Christ reveals to us a very deep wisdom of the Spirit.

In ancient Rome, the coin used in trade carried Caesar’s image and inscription.

It was the mode of exchange and by it, people would buy and sell whatsoever they needed. By it, purpose was executed, decisions made and influence extended.

You as a new creature in Christ bear the image of God and His inscription.

This means that you have great value and as such are able to execute what God intends on the earth.

Like Ceaser’s image had its influence; so do you as a child of God.

When demons see you, they flee because they see God.

When you lift your hands to calm storms, they cease because they hear God!

Creation submits to you because it sees God!

Choose to live your life in this consciousness and understanding; God has marked and branded you with His very Person; He is your identity.

Approach life with this mind, by this, you constantly walk in victory.

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 6:17; Colossians 3:10

GOLDEN NUGGET:
You as a new creature in Christ bear the image of God and His inscription. This means that you have great value and as such execute what God intends on the earth. Like Ceaser’s image had its influence; so do you as a child of God.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your precious Word. Thank You Lord because I am one spirit with You. What a truth! I have been renewed in knowledge after the image of You, my Creator. I bear Your image and inscription; things respond to me like they respond to You; kings come to my rising and gentiles come to my light because they see God in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

A Man Under God

Apostle Grace Lubega

James 4:7 (KJV); Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Our theme scripture gives us a pattern in divine warfare.

It is firstly submission to God and then resisting the devil.

You may resist the devil all your life and he will never flee simply because you have not mastered this pattern.

What then is submission to God?

This is the place of bending to the authority of God and His Word.

It is giving God and His Word the priority they deserve at all times, in all places and under all circumstances.

The result of such submission is that if you speak, it is not merely you speaking but God speaking.

When a man who is submitted to God rebukes illness, it is not him rebuking the illness but the God in him rebuking the illness.

When such a man casts out demons, it is not merely him casting out demons but God in him casting out demons.

The result of this is that circumstances do not hear that man speaking; they hear the voice of God.

Difficulties do not hear that man speaking, they hear the voice of God.

Submission to God makes you the voice of God to demons, storms and any form of attack of the enemy. That is why the devil flees. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 4:27; Luke 1:1-4

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Submission to God is the place of bending to the authority of God and His Word. The result of such submission is that if you speak, it is not merely you speaking but God speaking. Submission to God makes you the voice of God to demons, storms and any form of attack of the enemy.

PRAYER: My loving Father, I give You praise for this great day. I thank You because I am an instructed spirit. My life is ordered and patterned to the truth in Your Word. The devil has no part nor lot in what I do. I am submitted under You Lord, my life is a constant song of victory because I have understood this pattern. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Of Eternal Life

 Apostle Grace Lubega

John 17:3 (AMP); And this is eternal life: [it means] to know (to perceive, recognize, become acquainted with, and understand) You, the only true and real God, and [likewise] to know Him, Jesus [as the] Christ (the Anointed One, the Messiah), Whom You have sent.

Eternal life is not the life to come. It is the life now IN the revelation of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Like our theme scripture says, eternal life is the knowledge of God.

This means that it is eternal to know God.

What makes it eternal is not merely the fact that it is an endless lifetime that is not subject to the dictates of time.

Rather, it is eternal because of the limitlessness of the knowledge of God.

The Bible calls them the deep and bottomless things of God (1 Corinthians 2:10 AMP).

So, eternal life is not eternal life simply because it will last forever; it is eternal life because there can never be an end to the knowledge of God.

The fullness of this life depends on how deep you launch in this knowledge.

We are as eternal as our knowledge of God.

That is why you must INVEST IN KNOWLEDGE. It is the greatest gift by God–to know Him! Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 John 5:11, 1 Corinthians 2:10 (AMP).

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Eternal life is not eternal life simply because it will last forever; it is eternal life because there can never be an end to the knowledge of God. That is why you must invest in knowledge. It is the greatest gift by God–to know Him!

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for this Word. I have received eternal life and walk in the manifestation of this life every day. I launch deeper and deeper in the knowledge of You and as I walk in the depths of eternal truth, I manifest the God-life to the glory of Your name. Amen.

Touch Not His Anointed

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Chronicles 16:21-22(KJV); He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

The Lord sternly instructs us not to touch His anointed.

Touching His anointed is not simply about doing them physical harm. There are those who do so with their tongues; through gossip, slander, malicious talk and erroneously judging them.

When He says “touch not My anointed” He means that you have to leave them to Him. It is He who will deal with them when they are at fault.

King David gives us a clear example of one who had this wisdom.

He had an opportunity to kill King Saul. One might argue that he even had the moral right to end the life of his mortal enemy. But look at what David said in the face of temptation. He said, “FOR WHO CAN STRETCH FORTH HIS HAND AGAINST THE LORD’S ANOINTED, AND BE GUILTLESS? … AS THE LORD LIVETH, THE LORD SHALL SMITE HIM; OR HIS DAY SHALL COME TO DIE; OR HE SHALL DESCEND INTO BATTLE, AND PERISH.” (1 Samuel 26:9-10).

Imagine the language! “The Lord shall smite him or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle and perish…”

In David’s mind, this was purely between God and the man He had anointed as king. He [David] had no part in it; God would deal with Saul in His own good time.

That is wisdom!

In the same vein, Paul asks, “Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls (Romans 14.4).

The servants of the Lord stand or fall before Him; you have no authority to judge them, only God does.

That is why I have learned to stay away from any negative talk about men and women of God. I dare not touch the anointed of God.

In whatsoever you do, DO NOT TOUCH the Lord’s anointed.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 14:4, Isaiah 54:17

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The servants of the Lord stand or fall before Him; you have no authority to judge them, only God does. In whatsoever you do, do not touch the Lord’s anointed.

PRAYER: My loving Father, I thank You for Your Word. I receive this wisdom with meekness and humility. I choose to honour the anointing in all that I say and do and regard with esteem those You have anointed. I walk in this pattern because these truths preserve and make ministers and in them, I am established every day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hearing Precedes Judgement

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 5:30 (KJV); I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Our Lord and master Jesus said, “As I hear, I judge”.

Church history records an interesting account of what it means to hear before one judges.

In his Book, God’s Generals, Roberts Liardon gives an account of how William Branham, called to be a prophet of God, had ventured into the teaching ministry with dire consequences.

His teachings attracted great criticism from many in the church of Christ. He was ridiculed, judged and condemned by several people.

It is recorded that the young minister, Kenneth Hagin, received a prophecy from the Lord and made a pronouncement that on a particular date, the Lord was calling his servant William Branham home. This prophecy was fulfilled.

Kenneth Hagin heard before he judged.

How about in the New Testament teachings; when Ananias and Sapphire lied to the apostles, Peter said, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” At that moment she fell down at his feet and died (Acts 5:9-10).

He heard before he spoke.
Such divine judgment is always in line with the voice of God.

Understand that it is not an opportunity for a man or woman of God to prove his or her power and boast over the fact that what he or she says comes to pass.

It is a place of authority for men with a divine mandate and assignment to set things right in the house of God.

This authority is always exercised in LOVE.

When a man judges without first hearing the voice of God, what he says are “idle words.”

They are idle because they are void of the divine authority that pronounces judgment in any situation.

For these idle words, the Bible says, you will have to give account to God (Matthew 12:36).

Beloved saint, make it a point to hear God before you judge another man because this is the wisdom of those that are mature in God.

FURTHER STUDY: James 4:12; Hebrews 7:25

GOLDEN NUGGET:

When a man judges without first hearing the voice of God, what he says are “idle words.” They are idle because they are void of the divine authority that pronounces judgment in any situation.

PRAYER: Loving Father I am grateful for your Word. Thank you for this wisdom that leads me to pray rather than judge fellow sisters and brothers. My God, you are love and they that do not love do not know You. I choose to love men and not judge them. Thank you for reminding me that even in any one’s weakness, You are able to uphold them and keep them from falling! This wisdom works in me, to the glory of Your name. Amen.

Accord Him No Place

Apostle Grace Lubega

Ephesians 4:27 (KJV); Neither give place to the devil.

Every manifestation of evil in the life of a Christian is because that Christian gave place to the devil.

This is why our theme scripture warns us not give a PLACE to the devil.

The Greek word for “place” is “topos” which is translated to mean opportunity, power, ability or permission to act.

In the divine will and plan of God, the devil has no power or authority to act in your life.

It is you who gives him this opportunity and permission when you disregard the divine principles of preservation.

The devil only acts based on your terms and conditions and he does so to the extent that you allow him.

Giving no place to the devil is the refusal to give him any opportunity or permission to act in your life.

In fact, when we speak of giving him an opportunity, his greatest opportunities in the life of the believer are the believer’s THOUGHTS and the believer’s WORDS.

This is why you must have mastery over both your thoughts and the confession of your lips.

ALIGN THEM TO THE WORD OF GOD because therein is your victory. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: James 4:7, Philemon 1:6, John 14:30 (AMP)

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The devil’s greatest opportunities in the life of the believer are the believer’s THOUGHTS and the believer’s WORDS. This is why you must have mastery over both your thoughts and the confession of your lips. Align them to the Word of God because therein is your victory.

PRAYER: My Father, I am grateful for today’s Word. I thank You because the prince of this world has nothing in me. Regardless of what may come my way, I choose to behold You. I do not observe lying vanities and can never forsake my mercies. My soul is anchored in You and it’s only You Lord that holds the place, power and full control over my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Folly In Judging Others

 Apostle Grace Lubega

Galatians 6:1 (AMP); Brethren, If any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.

It is possible to fall into temptation for the same thing you have judged a sister or brother.

This is why our theme scripture requires that you “restore and reinstate him WITHOUT ANY SENSE OF SUPERIORITY…LEST YOU SHOULD BE TEMPTED ALSO.”

It is a good thing to seek to restore a fellow brother or sister but the Bible has set out clear principles and patterns for doing so and our theme scripture presents one of these patterns and principles.

Sometimes, fellow Christians criticise, ridicule and openly condemn fellow brethren in the name of restoration.

They do so with a sense of superiority as mentioned in our theme scripture.

I have learnt that people only feel morally superior because their faults are not public.

The fact is that we are all a work in progress and as such, none of us is perfect in the flesh.

If you treat sisters and brothers like they are lesser than you simply because they did something wrong, the Bible warns that you too will be tempted.

It means that you may find yourself entangled by the same weakness or something worse.

Restoration requires maturity and this maturity is grounded in love.

So, beloved saint, make the choice to love above judgment for this is the way of they that understand the bond of Christian brotherhood.

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 14:4; Luke 6:37

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Restoration of the brethren requires maturity and this maturity is grounded in love

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I give You praise for this day. Thank You for this instruction on the perfect and excellent way of love. There are many choices that present themselves to us every day; things we might do because we think we are justified or because we have been hurt, but in all, I choose love and will choose it over and over again. I make the choice this day never to judge my brethren but to be constrained by the love that covers a multitude of sins. To the glory of Your name. Amen.

The Tyranny Of Traditions

Apostle Grace Lubega

Acts 10:12-14 (KJV); Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.

Our Lord and master Jesus Christ appeared to Apostle Peter with a divine instruction for him to “kill and eat” certain creatures that had appeared on a white sheet from heaven.

Peter, stuck in the traditions of his forefathers, boldly told the master, “Not so, Lord.”

This was repeated three times! Peter refused!(Acts 10:16).

Because of tradition, Peter frustrated a spiritual experience.

This was a new dispensation that God was introducing him to.

Sadly, he refused to heed to the voice of the Spirit.

Tradition can lock you out of the new experiences and revelations that God has purposed for your life.

In Peter’s case, it blinded him from the fact that it was the Christ who was asking him to do as instructed.

At this point, tradition was more important to Peter than the relationship he had with his Lord.

Beloved saint, always be ready to progress past what you think you know and have been taught over the years.

Allow the Spirit of God to launch you into new and fresh experiences of His person.

His name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Titus 1:14, Mark 7:13

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Always be ready to progress past what you think you know and have been taught over the years. Allow the Spirit of God to launch you into new and fresh experiences of His person.

PRAYER: Most excellent Lord, I give You praise for this day. Thank You for the wisdom to behold You as You truly are. I thank You Father because Your Word fills my heart. I live in the newness of revelation and the daily experiences of the Spirit. I yield to divine instruction and the depths that You launch me into daily. In Jesus name. Amen.

The Believer

 Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 1:18 (MSG); The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hell bent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense…..

For long, believers have been considered as “good” people who are wonderful parents, attend church faithfully and are commendable employees or employers.

Christianity has been tagged to moral uprightness as its qualifier. Morality is a very good thing but there is more to being a believer in Christ Jesus than simply having good morals.

Sadly, this has also defined the pattern of the sermons and teachings in the Church of Christ. In certain places, Christians are only being encouraged to be good people.

There is more. There is a crazy side to the believer.
The scriptures say, “The message of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing…” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

It’s high time we started to preach a full gospel, even though it may sound like foolishness to those of this world.

Let the men of this world hear deeper words of this life come off from our pulpits and wonder; then we will be preaching.

Let the boundaries of our faith stretch to the point which is seen as impossible by the world, then we will be preaching!

Let our words come with the weight of the revelation of what no eye has seen, no ear has heard and what has not been imagined by men.
Then we will be preaching!

FURTHER STUDY: John 11:40, Mark 11:23

GOLDEN NUGGET:

We ought to preach a gospel that sounds like foolishness to those of this world. Let the men of this world hear deeper words of this life come off from our pulpits and wonder; then we will be preaching. Let the boundaries of our faith stretch to the point which is seen as impossible by the world, then we will be preaching!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You because I walk in this wisdom every day of my life. I am a distinctive believer! The words from my spirit are great words; the earth cannot contain them because they can only take a God to perform. Wisdom is upon my lips and puts to shame the wisdom of this world. I refuse to speak like an ordinary man. My life is a stream of endless possibilities! In Jesus’ name. Amen.