In His Presence: Liberty Versus Vice

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 10:23(AMP); All things are legitimate [permissible–and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome. All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life].

We live in a generation where the liberty we have in Christ has been grossly abused. There are Christians whose only interest in going to Church is to “catch up” with friends.

I attended church services where once the praise session was done, to some of the congregants, so was the service. I once observed a young man reading newspapers when it came to the time of the Word. How heart breaking!

What is in the mind of a man who thinks it is fine to start conversing and gossiping in Church? What is in the spirit of a woman who thinks church service is the time to send Facebook and WhatsApp messages?

When the Bible speaks of all things being legitimate, that is, “we are free to do anything we please” you must be careful to ensure that there is no vice in your liberties.

Sometimes what is freedom to a man is vice to the Spirit, in the same way that freedom to some men is bondage to God. You must have THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

The presence of God is the tangibility of His reality. It is Him saying, “I am real; feel me, see me, touch me.”

His presence is an opportunity for you to delve into His bottomless depths. How can you take it lightly?

Until you understand that the presence of God is one of the greatest liberties of the Spirit, you may never explore certain depths in Him.

Learn to treat His presence with the reverence it deserves lest your liberty be found to be with vice.

FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Learn to treat God’s presence with the reverence it deserves lest your liberty be found to be with vice.

PRAYER: Most excellent Father, I thank you for the abundance of the supply of your Spirit with whom I enjoy all the liberties in Christ. Thank you that He directs my footsteps in the right way I should go. I can never use my liberties for vice because I deeply honour and reverence your presence. I walk in this understanding every day and as I do, my spirit is opened to deeper places in you. To the glory of your name. Amen.

Faultlessness In The Liberties

Apostle Grace Lubega

James 1:25 (AMP); But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

The law of liberty gives us the ability to function in all dimensions of the Spirit. Some translations call this the law of free men or the law that sets us free.

The scriptures have called it a FAULTLESS LAW because in its inherent nature, it does not find fault with and in men, that is, it gives no room for weakness or limitation. Understand that fault in this case, is not necessarily moral failure but rather the lack of faith to explore the “impossible.”

However, in speaking of the Mosaic Law, the Bible says, “For if that first covenant had been FAULTLESS, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah”(Hebrews 8:7-8).

This law of liberty is founded on grace because it does not see you at fault; it does not behold inability in you. The Spirit of grace beholds the ability of God in men and never the ability of men in themselves.

This law opens you to the possibilities of whatsoever you ask (John 14:13); the possibilities of you can do all things (Philippians 4:13); the possibilities of all things are yours (1 Corinthians 3:21).

Persevere in looking into it, continuously behold the strength of God in you; never look at yourself as lacking in sufficiency to do anything; live by the testimony that you are not just a conqueror but more than a conqueror. Hallelujah! (Romans 8:37).

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 8:2-3, 1 Peter 2:16

GOLDEN NUGGET:
The law of liberty is founded on grace because it does not see you at fault; it does not behold inability in you. The Spirit of grace beholds the ability of God in men and never the ability of men in themselves.

PRAYER: My heavenly master, thank you for these liberties of the Spirit. I submit my mind, my will, my desires to you dear Lord. I refuse to be a normal Christian. Today I purpose to sore higher in the God life. I walk in the fullness of the person you have predestined me to be. With this freedom of the Spirit, I do great exploits for the kingdom; to the glory of your Holy Name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Instructed Giver

Apostle Grace Lubega

Philippians 4:12 (KJV); I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

It is important that when it comes to giving to the things of God, you do so as one who is instructed by God. Paul in our theme scripture reveals that in all things he is instructed, both to be full and to be hungry, to abound and to suffer need.

There are people who have given! They have practically emptied themselves at the hands of manipulative ministers of the gospel all for nothing.

As a result, they have this sense of frustration regarding giving to the work of God.

But here is a principle many neglect: giving ought to be instructed by God and Spirit led.

It is not the outside display of generosity that may provoke people to say, “Oh, she is very kind and loves God.” Never confuse this for divine instruction.

When you are not instructed in your giving you will end up planting in places where you should never have planted because not all ground is good ground.
Child of God, you cannot fail in the seed principle and expect success in the fruit principle.

A lack of understanding of these principles (seed and fruit) will give you thorns in the place of grapes and thistles in the place of figs (Matthew 7:16).

This means that you may never see the results of your giving, leading you to constantly question why you see lack where there should be increase and depreciation where there should be multiplication.

Purpose to live a life of the INSTRUCTED giver.

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 9:7 (AMP), 2 Corinthians 8:12

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Giving ought to be instructed and Spirit led. When you are not instructed in your giving you will end up planting in places you should never have planted because not all ground is good ground.

PRAYER: Father God, I thank you for this Word. I thank you for divine instruction in my giving. This wisdom has taught me to anticipate need and meet it even before hand, hallelujah! As I grow in this knowledge, my finances blossom and increase. To the glory of your name. Amen.

The Wisdom Of The Ant

 Apostle Grace Lubega

Proverbs 6:6-8 (KJV); Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

In the scriptures, we are asked to consider the wisdom of the ant because the way it operates ensures that it never runs out.

What is this wisdom of the ant?

From our theme scripture, we understand that the ant PROVIDES TO GATHER as opposed to GATHERING TO PROVIDE: it provides meat in the summer and gathers food in the harvest.

From this analogy, God is pointing you to the operations of FAITH as a principle of divine providence.

Gathering to provide is when one waits to receive from God and only gives out of what he has received.

Providing to gather is the wisdom of the man who even having not received, gives of what he has not seen because he knows he already has it by FAITH.
He doesn’t wait to first gather before he provides, he firstly provides then he gathers.

It is in the law for you to give out of the fruit of your increase but it is faith to give even before you see the manifestation of your increase.
Live with the understanding that you have received all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
Learn to give to the work of the kingdom in faith because that is the wisdom to provide before you gather.

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 9:10, 2 Peter 1:3

GOLDEN NUGGET:

It is in the law for you to give out of the fruit of your increase but it is faith to give even before you see the manifestation of your increase. Learn to give to the work of the kingdom in faith because that is the wisdom to provide before you gather.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for your wonderful Word. I receive this principle of divine providence and walk diligently to its dictates. Faith defines my giving; I provide to gather, and not gather to provide. As I exercise myself in this wisdom, multiplication comes to my finances and every other area of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Understanding Wealth God’s Way

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 22: 20-21(KJV); And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

As a Christian, you ought to give to Ceaser what belongs to Ceaser. However, if you are to give to Ceaser, you must understand that Ceaser is NOT your source.

Firstly, all things are yours, including what Ceaser has (1 Corinthians 3:21-22).

To give to Ceaser, Christ sent Peter to the mouth of a fish (Matthew 17:27). He gave to Ceaser from an entirely different economy.

People who “steal from Ceaser” do so because they have not understood this principle.

It is YOU WHO BLESSES the nation, the nation does not bless you. That is why our mandate as children of God, is to lend to nations (Deuteronomy 15:6). You cannot lend to what you consider as your source.

This wisdom and grace was at work in Joseph, the Patriach’s life.

In Genesis 41:35-36, when he interpreted the dream of Pharoah, he said, “And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and lay up grain under the direction and authority of Pharaoh, and let them retain food [in fortified granaries] in the cities. And that food shall be put in store for the country against the seven years of hunger and famine that are to come upon the land of Egypt, SO THAT THE LAND MAY NOT BE RUINED AND CUT OFF BY THE FAMINE.”

It was the result of Joseph’s wisdom that the entire land of Egypt did not perish. Imagine it! The survival of an entire nation was dependent on the wisdom of one man!

As a child of God, this grace is at work in you. It does not only give you that which is enough for yourself, it enables you to sustain entire nations.

Choose to walk in the consciousness of one who knows that the government or the job is not your primary source.

Live life firstly from the perspective of abundance and the fact that your supply is heaven’s limitless economy. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Deuteronomy 15:6, 1 Corinthians 3:21-22

GOLDEN NUGGET:

If a Christian is to give to Ceaser, he or she must understand that Ceaser is not his or her source.

PRAYER: My father, what a truth! What a blessing to live by the economy of heaven. What a liberty to walk in its limitless supply. Today, I walk in this knowledge because I understand the mandate of divine providence which is for the good of all mankind. I am not wealthy for myself, I am wealthy for the sake of the orphans, the widows and the disadvantaged whom I must bless because it is your heart for me to do so. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Audacity Of The Circumcised

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Samuel 17:25-26(KJV); And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? Surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father’s house free in Israel. And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

The scriptures give us an account of how Goliath had spent days mocking Israel.

He had continuously and boldly declared, “I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.”(1 Samuel 17:10).

As a result of his continuous taunts, Saul and the whole of Israel were literally “shaking in their boots”(1 Samuel 17:11).

Here, Goliath is an example of men in this world who have challenged children of the covenant and demanded that they prove themselves.

I have heard men say, “If you are Born Again, I dare you to do this and we will see who has more power.”

Beloved child of God, you are not supposed to be shaken in the face of such men like Israel did. No!

You must have the boldness of David. He called Goliath an “uncircumcised Philistine” and went out to fight him with the boldness of the “CIRCUMCISED.”

The uncircumcised here referred to one who did not have a covenant with God while the circumcised had a covenant with God (Genesis 17:11-13).

One day, witches and wizards all over the world decided to hold their first international conference in Benin. The chief host boldly said, “Not even God can stop it. We know the power we carry.”

When Archbishop Benson Idahosa heard this, he said, “‘Yes he is correct…That is why I am here, God does not need to waste his time considering matters as trivial as stopping the conference of witches’.

As a result of the Archbishop’s audacity, the conference was cancelled!

Such boldness!

Like David, you should be able to boldy say, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.”(1 Samuel 17:45).

When they try to unleash fire, unleash hotter fire. If they try to demonstrate power, like Elijah, lock any door of access that allows them to call down fire.

Have the boldness of the CIRCUMCISED. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 19:26, Romans 8:31

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Have the boldness of the CIRCUMCISED. When they (the uncircumcised) try to unleash fire, unleash hotter fire. If they try to demonstrate power, like Elijah, lock any door of access that allows them to call down fire.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. Thank you because I am a victor, above and not beneath and more than a conqueror through Christ who strengthens me. I am a child of the covenant, a demonstrator of the Spirit and power of God. I walk in this boldness every day. I am not intimidated by those of the false light. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Our Lives On The Altar

Apostle Grace Lubega

Psalms 5:3 (MSG); Every morning you’ll hear me at it again. Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.

In our theme scripture the Psalmist prays to God and says, “Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.”

What a prayer!

It was his desire that God consume every area of his life entirely; so daily, he laid the pieces of his life on God’s altar and watched for the fire to descend.

Some people are on the altar but not ALL the pieces of their lives have been laid out.

Others are on the altar only to convince themselves that they are yielded to God but they are not ready for the fire.

God does not want just bits of the sacrifice, He wants the whole of you; your thoughts, heart, body, finances, marriage, job, business, everything!

Beloved saint, if you desire to see certain places in God, you must die at His altar. The Fire of His Spirit must consume every area of your life until there is nothing left but the testimony that you are all of Him.

Praise Him!

FURTHER STUDY: Luke 17:33, John 3:30

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Beloved saint, if you desire to see certain places in God, you must die at His altar. The Fire of His Spirit must consume every area of your life until there is nothing left but the testimony that you are all of Him.

PRAYER: My loving father, I thank you for this Word. My Lord I am most grateful for your work in me. I decrease that you may increase.
I yield my heart, body and soul to the fires of the Spirit. You consume me until I am no more and you are; that the testimony of my life is truly that I am dead and yet I live. In Jesus name Amen.

The Good Fight Of Faith

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Timothy 6:12 (KJV); Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

Faith is our true fight, meaning that in any circumstance, we always FIGHT TO BELIEVE.

The Greek Word for good in our theme scripture is kalos which is translated to mean, “beautiful to look at, admirable, commendable.”

God wants you to fight a fight that is beautiful to look at!

Don’t go through issues grumbling about how unlucky you are! That is not a commendable fight!

Don’t hear bad news and lament about how dead you are. That is not an admirable fight.

The Bible has examples of how to fight the good fight.

When Paul and Silas were thrown in jail, they simply worshipped God
(Acts 16:25-29). That is an admirable fight.

When the children of Moab and Ammon waged war against Jehoshaphat, he and the children of Israel sang praises to God
(2 Chronicles 20).

When the Shunamite woman was asked if all was well with her son, she declared, “It is well” despite the fact that the child was dead
(2 Kings 4:26).

The good fight is of the man who hears the doctor’s negative report and laughs.

The good fight is of the man who is attacked by his enemies and dances in victory.

The good fight is of the woman whose child is at the brink of death but she lifts her hands in worship to the God of all truth.

You fight beautifully because your victory in Christ is already assured. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Chronicles 20, 2 Kings 4:26

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The good fight is of the man who hears the doctor’s negative report and laughs. The good fight is of the man who is attacked by his enemies and dances in victory. The good fight is of the woman whose child is at the brink of death but she lifts her hands in worship to the God of all truth.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. What a blessed assurance to know that I have constant victory in you. I am above all powers and principalities and have overcome this world. I function from the eternal plane and understand that I can never fail. In this truth, I rejoice in all situations. I look to the eternal weight of glory that follows any light afflictions.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Set Your Eyes On The Eternal

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (KJV); For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Salvation is very easy, you simply ought to make up your mind to enjoy it.

The Bible says that with Joy we draw from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). It means that it is possible to be happy all the days of your life.

This does not mean that bad reports will not come your way, they will. Some days you may be pressed against the wall and feel overwhelmed but God has showed us how to remain victors through it all.

The Bible says, “We look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen”

Instead of looking at your empty wallet, look at your glorious riches in Christ.

Instead of looking at your diseased body, look at the incorruptible life of God in you.

Instead of listening to everything that declares that you have failed, look at Christ who has made you an eternal excellence and always causes you to triumph.

Choose!

Evil days may come, but sail through them as one who has an understanding of eternal things. There ought to be a difference between how you respond to trouble and how a non-believer responds to trouble.

Enjoy your journey of break through.

Enjoy your journey of overcoming that sickness.

Enjoy your journey of growing above your weaknesses!

God be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Jonah 2:8, Colossians 3:2

GOLDEN NUGGET:
We look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen. Instead of looking at your empty wallet, look at your glorious riches in Christ. Instead of looking at the diseased body, look at the incorruptible life of God in you. Instead of listening to everything that declares that you have failed, look at Christ who has made you an eternal excellence and always causes you to triumph.

PRAYER: My loving father, I thank you for this wonderful knowledge. I live and walk with spiritual sight and not physical carnal sight. My eyes are set on you my Lord and to the things that you have done to assure my victory. I refuse to regard any negative circumstances but to look to you the author and finisher of my faith. I shall never fail, I prevail in all things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Heart Of The Minister

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Corinthians 12:14 (AMP); Now for the third time I am ready to come to [visit] you. And I will not burden you [financially], for it is not your [money] that I want but you; for children are not duty bound to lay up store for their parents, but parents for their children.

The heart of every minister ought to beat for the lives of men.

It should never be about what you can receive from them but what God must do in their lives through you.

Look at Paul, a man who understood the patterns of the gospel and of authentic ministry; In our theme scripture, he says, “I will not burden you financially, for it is not your money that I want but you.”

The King James Version of this scripture says, “I seek not yours but you.”

What a heart!

This is why he worked with his own hands because his eyes were never set on what the people could give him (Acts 20:34).

It is for this very reason that in the subsequent verse he says, “But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls”(2 Corinthians 12:15).

The heart of the minister understands that his true reward is men.

Ministry is about the lives of men and the satisfaction of every minister ought to be that they do their part in what God purposes for the lives of those to whom they minister.

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 9:2, Phillipians 1:23-24

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The heart of the minister understands that his true reward is men.

PRAYER: My loving father, I thank you for the great privilege of ministry. What an honour to serve the living God! What an opportunity to Labour in the greatest of all causes, to stand at the centre of divine will in drawing men to the kingdom. Lord, thank you! I know that a life well lived can only be after this pattern and I walk in this understanding every day of my life. To the glory of your name. Amen

Quiet From The Fear Of Evil

Apostle Grace Lubega

Proverbs 1:33(KJV); But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

When you learn to truly listen to God, you become quiet from the fear of evil.

Every time someone narrates their problems, worries or fears, it is because that person does not really hear God.

Job had this problem.
He says in Job 3:25-26; “For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me. I was not or am not at ease, nor had I or have I rest, nor was I or am I quiet, yet trouble came and still comes [upon me].”

He was never at ease or at rest; he constantly thought and spoke about his fears.

This is why, in his final confrontation with God, the Lord asks him, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?”(Job 38:2).
The Lord also told him to listen to Him (Job 42:4).

Job was listening to everything else except God.

The voice of God quietens our spirits from any form of anxiety.

If you ever find yourself beset by circumstances, purpose to listen to the voice of God. It is the calm in the midst of the storm.
Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 3:15, Job 42:4

GOLDEN NUGGET:
If you ever find yourself beset by circumstances, purpose to listen to the voice of God. It is the calm in the midst of the storm. When you learn to truly listen to God, you become quiet from the fear of evil.

PRAYER: My father, I thank you for who you are to me. Your voice is precious and priceless. This day I heed to it because it is what sweeps fears away. I refuse to be anxious, I hear the God of heaven and earth who speaks blessed assurance to my heart all the days of my life.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Voice Of Christ’s Blood

Apostle Grace Lubega

Hebrews 12:24 (KJV); And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The blood of Abel speaks vengeance. It speaks retribution for an evil act.

On the other hand, the blood of Jesus speaks forgiveness, love and reconciliation.

That is why as Christians, we ought not to be vengeful. We ought to understand the blood that purchased our eternal salvation.

It is not in our nature to revenge, to revile when we are reviled or to fight back when we are fought.

Never have the mentality, “I will get back at you.” I have seen some Christians go on radio, television and social media to revenge against fellow Christians. That is not the Spirit of Christ!

Child of God, understand that it is very expensive to keep anger; if you do, you will die very easily.

People might hurt you terribly that you feel it is impossible to forgive them, but God still insists that you do.

For the sake of your health, your wealth and your soul, don’t keep anger in your spirit.

Forgive and let go.

FURTHER STUDY: Ephesians 4:26, Romans 5:5

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The blood of Jesus speaks forgiveness, love and reconciliation. It is not in our nature to revenge, to revile when we are reviled or to fight back when we are fought.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. You my Lord are my comfort, consolation and my balm. Of the many things you could have been, Lord you chose to be love.
I am begotten in that very nature and live by its pattern every day.
I understand the voice of the blood of Christ and this same voice echoes in every thing I do; to forgive, to turn the other cheek and to give my life to love men because you did.
By this, the world knows that I am truly yours. In Jesus’ name. Amen.