Keep And Ponder

Apostle Grace Lubega

Luke 2:16-19(KJV); And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it WONDERED at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary KEPT all these things, and PONDERED them in her heart.

Revelation creates excitement in our spirits the moment we receive its lights because it carries the sweetness of wisdom.

Sadly though, to some, excitement is all there is to their reception of the Word.

For a while, they may marvel at it but with the passage of time, they forget and never seek to apply it in their lives.

So it was with the people that had the privilege to witness the birth of our LORD and master.

They “wondered” at the things that were told them by the shepherds. BUT we see a pensive Mary “keep and ponder” these things in her heart.

She meditated on these words, thoughtfully considered their implications, weighed their strengths, distilled their effects and painted their realities in her mind until they took on a life of their own.

They were not another event to marvel about, they were a reality to be grabbed and held onto.

Such a response to the Word is never wasted. It will guarantee results in your life.

It is not a mere coincidence that Mary prompted the first miracle by the Christ as recorded in the scriptures.

It is not by mistake that this miracle was performed by Jesus before his time (John 2:3-5).

When you receive the Word, don’t just marvel, keep and ponder on it. When you hear a testimony on the power, yes shout “glory, hallelujah!” but keep and ponder on it.

Reflect on it, dissect its truths, seek its clarity, incline and apply your heart and mind to understanding it until it comes alive in your spirit. Glory to GOD!

FURTHER STUDY: Joshua 1:8, Colossians 3:16

GOLDEN NUGGET: 

When you receive the Word, don’t just marvel, keep and ponder. Reflect on it, dissect its truths, seek its clarity, incline and apply your heart and mind to understanding it until it comes alive in your Spirit

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for your Word. I stand in the assurance that it never fails. I meditate on it daily. I know it never goes out and returns to you void. Thank you that out of the overflow of my meditations, I see results: the lame walk, the blind see and the bound are delivered. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Apôtre Grace Lubega

GARDEZ ET MÉDITEZ

Luc 2:16-19(KJV) Et ils vinrent avec hâte, et trouvèrent Marie, et Joseph, et le bébé couché dans une mangeoire. Et quand ils l’ont vu, ils ont fait connaître à l’étranger la parole qui leur avait été dite concernant cet enfant. Et tous ceux qui l’entendaient SE DEMANDAIENT ce que les bergers leur disaient. Mais Marie GARDA toutes ces choses, et les PLAÇA dans son cœur.

Reflect on it, dissect its truths, seek its clarity, incline and apply your heart and mind to understanding it until it comes alive in your spirit. Glory to GOD!

La révélation crée de l’excitation dans nos esprits au moment où nous recevons ses lumières parce qu’elle porte la douceur de la sagesse.

Malheureusement, pour certains, l’excitation est tout ce qu’il y a à leur réception de la Parole.

Pendant un certain temps, ils peuvent l’admirer mais avec le temps, ils oublient et ne cherchent jamais à l’appliquer dans leur vie.

C’est donc avec le peuple que nous avons eu le privilège d’assister à la naissance de notre SEIGNEUR et maître.

Ils se « demandaient » ce que les bergers leur disaient. MAIS nous voyons une Marie pensive « garder et méditer » ces choses dans son coeur.

Elle méditait sur ces mots, réfléchissait à leurs implications, pesait leurs forces, distillait leurs effets et peignait leurs réalités dans leur esprit jusqu’à ce qu’ils aient leur propre vie.

Il n’y avait pas un autre événement à admirer, ils étaient une réalité à saisir et à retenir.

Une telle réponse à la Parole n’est jamais gaspillée. Cela garantira des résultats dans votre vie.

Ce n’est pas une simple coïncidence que Marie a incité le premier miracle par le Christ tel qu’il est consigné dans les écritures.

Ce n’est pas par erreur que ce miracle a été accompli par Jésus avant son temps (Jean 2:3-5).

Lorsque vous recevez la Parole, ne vous émerveillez pas, gardez et méditez-la. Quand vous entendez un témoignage sur le pouvoir, oui, criez « gloire, alléluia ! » mais gardez et méditez dessus.

Réfléchis-y, dissèquez ses vérités, cherchez sa clarté, inclinez et appliquez votre cœur et votre esprit à la comprendre jusqu’à ce qu’elle soit vivante dans votre esprit. Gloire à DIEU !

ÉTUDE COMPLÉMENTAIRE : Josuée 1:8, Colossiens 3:16

PÉPITE D’OR : Lorsque vous recevez la Parole, ne vous émerveillez pas, gardez et méditez-la. Réfléchis-y, dissèquez ses vérités, cherchez sa clarté, inclinez et appliquez votre cœur et votre esprit à la comprendre jusqu’à ce qu’elle soit vivante dans votre esprit.

PRIÈRE: Père, je te remercie pour ta Parole. Je suis convaincu que cela ne faillit jamais. Je médite dessus tous les jours. Je sais que ça ne sort jamais et retourne à toi vide. Merci par le débordement de mes méditations, je voie des résultats : la marche boiteuse, la vue aveugle et la limite sont délivrées. Au nom de Jésus. Amen.

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It Must Work

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 2:3-5(KJV); And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

Mary did not merely carry a boy-child, she carried the Word.

An angel appeared to her and said, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35).

The angel called it a holy thing—He was the Word in flesh. For, in the beginning was the Word, the Word was with GOD, the Word was GOD and He became flesh (John 1).

For nine months, Mary was pregnant with the WORD; she went through all the hormonal changes of an expectant mother in expectation of the WORD; she travailed in labour and brought forth the WORD; she breastfed Him; bathed Him, and dressed Him. She nursed him from being a babe to a full grown man. Him—the WORD.

Here she was, at a wedding and they were out of wine.

In answer to her request, the Word told her, “Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.”

Her response was directed to the servants, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.”

Regardless of his previous response, Jesus turned water into wine.

It was not a case of a son meekly responding to a mother’s bidding. It was the integrity of the Word responding to a woman of faith in what Jehovah could do.

You have received the Word, you have kept it in your heart, you have meditated upon it; you have spoken it, thought it, cried and laughed with it. It cannot fail to work, child of GOD.

It doesn’t matter whether it is not yet “time” for your miracle. It doesn’t matter that circumstances do not favour your testimony. It doesn’t matter that you are too young for that promotion.

When you place a demand on the Word, it must work. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Timothy 4:15

GOLDEN NUGGET:
You have received the Word, you have kept it in your heart, you have meditated upon it; you have spoken it, thought it, cried and laughed with it. It cannot fail to work, when you place a demand on it.

PRAYER: Father, today I am joyful in spirit and my lips proclaim your goodness because of who you are, my helper, my strength, my comforter and my power. I thank you for your Word. It is supernatural, eternal, inexpressible in value, infinite in scope and regenerative in value. By your word, you have done me great all these days, I can count my blessings one by one and know you are good. Even today Lord, I live with the assurance that it has consumed every fibre of my life and it is working to the glory of your name. You sent it out and it cannot return to you void. I received it and it prospers in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Building with Mastery

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 Corinthians 3:10 (KJV); According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

Paul was the wise master builder who laid the foundation of the gospel. He built with mastery because it is a key requirement in raising the church of Christ.

He cautions us to take heed how we build. It means that not everyone is qualified to build.

That is why in the scriptures, we have instructions like not appointing a novice to office (1 Timothy 3:6). Why? Because novices break what has been built and build what has been broken. This is transgression and it keeps the church in a vicious cycle of breaking the things it has built and building the things it has broken (Galatians 2:18).

What makes a master? 1 Corinthians 9:25; “Every man that strives for mastery must be temperate in all things.” This temperance is in understanding the patterns by which we must build.

The church of Christ is not established on mediocrity. If you are a teacher, don’t just teach, be a master at teaching. If you are an apostle, seek to be a master in the apostolic graces. If you are a prophet, don’t just prophecy, seek mastery in the prophetic office.

In this way, when your works are tested by fire to see what kind they are, they will stand because you built with mastery (1 Corinthians 3:13). Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 3:13, Galatians 2:18

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The church of Christ is not established on mediocrity. If you are a teacher, don’t just teach, be a master at teaching. If you are an apostle, seek to be a master in the apostolic graces. If you are a prophet, don’t just prophecy, seek mastery in the prophetic office.

PRAYER: My God, I thank you. You have not called me to mediocrity but to mastery; to temperance in all things; to understanding the patterns and rules by which church and ministry are built. Thank you because you sharpen me for greatness. I am more than just a prophet, teacher, apostle, preacher or evangelist. I am a master in the call you have placed upon my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Bigger Picture

Apostle Grace Lubega

Luke 22:31-32 (KJV); And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

There are circumstances and situations you may go through in this life but they are for the benefit of others.

Sometimes, we selfishly focus on our pain and afflictions and forget that in the eternal scheme of things, it is important that we endure these things.

The Lord informed Simon that Satan desired to afflict him. However, he did not pray to avert what would befall Simon. He only prayed that his faith would stand.

Simon’s trial and his endurance of it was to become a source of strength for his brethren.

Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers; thrown into prison for an act he had not committed and forgotten by Pharaoh’s chief butler even after he interpreted his dream.

But we see Joseph’s maturity when he eventually meets his brothers. He said, “Be not aggrieved nor angry with yourselves that you sold me here: for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:5).

Joseph, at this point of his life was not only an answer to the nation of Egypt but to the world.

Sometimes you have to take your eyes off what you are going through and behold the end; see those who are strengthened because they observed your faith; see those who are drawn to Christ because they can see by the testimony of your life that he never leaves us nor forsakes us; see those who shall be restored because they studied your patterns and realized that no man can fall too low to be restored. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Genesis 45:5, Romans 8:28

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Sometimes you have to take your eyes off what you are going through and behold the end; see those who are strengthened because they observed your faith; see those who are drawn to Christ because they can see by the testimony of your life that he never leaves us nor forsakes us; see those who shall be restored because they studied your patterns and realized that no man can fall too low to be restored.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this wonderful word. Lord it does not matter what I may be going through, I walk in the understanding that all things work together for good. Today, I turn my eyes upon you as the things around me grow strangely deem. Like the apostle Paul says, because we have this ministry, we do not faint. I see the bigger picture and know that I am a pattern to many. They stand because I stand; they believe because I believe; they endure because I endure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The State of your Heart

Apostle Grace Lubega

Acts 8:18-21 (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. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. 

Before God ever trusts you with great responsibility, He first fashions a character of the Spirit in you.

This is why your heart is the first thing that you give to God.

Simon the sorcerer’s problem was the state of his heart.

When his heart was weighed he was found to have a gall of bitterness and as such, he had no part nor lot in what he sought to partake.

The gall of bitterness brings an eagerness to access the things of the Spirit without understanding the responsibility that comes with those things.

Why are you asking God for a healing anointing? Is it so you can walk about as a proud man who knows that he can heal the sick? Why are you believing for a big ministry? Is it so you surround yourself with guards and slaves like the powers of this present world?

If your heart is not right before God, then you do not have any part nor lot in the ministry.

FURTHER STUDY: Psalms 139:23-24, Proverbs 21:2

GOLDEN NUGGET: 

If your heart is not right before God, then you do not have any part nor lot in the ministry.

PRAYER: Father, like the Psalmist, I stand before you today and ask that you search my heart and deal with me. Break, humble and bend me God that my desires are after your heartbeat and not just my own selfish desires. I desire that I be used of you, not so men can see what I can do, but so they understand what you can do because my ultimate need is to point men to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Living on the Edge

Apostle Grace Lubega

Mark 2:2-5 (KJV); And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee

Have you ever taken time to reflect on the absolute faith of these four men?

They simply heard that Jesus was in Capernaum and determined that no barrier was going to keep them away from the healing of their sick friend.

There were no questions of whose house that was; it was a matter they would have to deal with later.

There were no questions of how many people witnessed them do this in broad day light; the opinions of men were a small thing compared to their determined focus to see this man healed.

That is faith! Jesus saw their faith. This means that faith is visible by the provisions that we make for it.

Faith does not stop at the point where you agree in your heart that you are healed.

Faith is when you walk off that bed even when the report says you will remain bedridden for years.

Faith is not when you agree that you have the job. It is waking up every morning, smartly dressed for the office and walking out your door with the pure confidence that you are employed.

Faith is not when you believe you will get married next month. It is drawing up a budget and buying a wedding dress!

Faith requires that you stretch the limits of convention and propriety. It demands that you learn to live on the edge because if you never learn to live on the edge, you can never see glory. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Matthew 19:26, Hebrews 11

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Faith requires that you stretch the limits of convention and propriety. It demands that you learn to live on the edge because if you never learn to live on the edge, you can never see glory.

PRAYER: My father, thank you for this word. The eyes of my understanding are enlightened to see the endless possibilities that are in you. What can’t you do God? Nothing is impossible with you. Today, I step out in faith, with the absolute knowledge that your word is sure and it is true, that the instruction from you is simple, to only believe. I do great and mighty things through your power working in me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Apôtre Grace Lubega

VIVRE SUR LE BORD

Marc 2:2-5 (KJV) Et aussitôt plusieurs se rassemblèrent, de sorte qu’il n’y avait pas de place pour les recevoir, non, pas tant que pour la porte : et il leur prêcha la parole. Et ils vinrent à lui, apportant un malade de la paralysie, qui était né de quatre ans. Et quand ils ne pouvaient pas s’approcher de lui pour la presse, ils découvraient le toit où il était : et quand ils l’avaient brisé, ils laissaient tomber le lit où gisaient les malades de la paralysie. Quand Jésus vit leur foi, il dit au paralytique, Fils, que tes péchés te soient pardonnés

Avez-vous déjà pris le temps de réfléchir à la foi absolue de ces quatre hommes ?

Ils ont simplement entendu que Jésus était à Capharnaüm et ont déterminé qu’aucune barrière n’allait les éloigner de la guérison de leur ami malade.

Il n’y avait pas de questions sur la maison de qui c’était ; c’était une question à traiter plus tard.

Il n’y avait pas de questions sur le nombre de personnes qui les ont vu faire cela en plein jour ; les opinions des hommes étaient une petite chose par rapport à leur détermination à voir cet homme guéri.

C’est la foi ! Jésus a vu leur foi. Cela signifie que la foi est visible par les provisions que nous lui faisons.

La foi ne s’arrête pas au point où vous êtes d’accord dans votre cœur que vous êtes guéri.

La foi est quand vous sortez de ce lit même lorsque le rapport dit que vous resterez alité pendant des années.

La foi n’est pas quand vous acceptez que vous avez le travail. Il se réveille tous les matins, élégamment habillé pour le bureau et sort à votre porte avec la pure confiance que vous êtes employé.

La foi n’est pas quand tu crois que tu vas te marier le mois prochain. Il prépare un budget et achète une robe de mariée !

La foi exige que vous étiriez les limites de la convention et de la bienséance. Il exige que vous appreniez à vivre sur le bord parce que si vous n’apprendrez jamais à vivre sur le bord, vous ne pouvez jamais voir la gloire. Alléluia !

ÉTUDE COMPLÉMENTAIRE : Matthieu 19:26, Hébreux 11

PÉPITE D’OR : La foi exige que vous étiriez les limites de la convention et de la bienséance. Il exige que vous appreniez à vivre sur le bord parce que si vous n’apprendrez jamais à vivre sur le bord, vous ne pouvez jamais voir la gloire.

PRIÈRE : Mon père, merci pour cette parole. Les yeux de ma compréhension sont éclairés pour voir les possibilités infinies qui sont en toi. Que ne peux-tu pas faire Dieu ? Rien n’est impossible avec toi. Aujourd’hui, je sors dans la foi, avec la certitude absolue que ta parole est sûre et qu’elle est vraie, que ton instruction est simple, de croire seulement. Je fais des choses grandes et puissantes grâce à ton pouvoir qui travaille en moi. Au nom de Jésus. Amen.

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The Choice To Grow

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Corinthians 13:5 (KJV); Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Growth in the things of the Spirit is a choice.

As a Christian, you must learn to go back and ask yourself, what have I done thus far? How am I progressing?

You ought to have a personal score card by which you weigh yourself against the scriptures.

One of the most important aspects that will cause you to grow, is the understanding that you are alive primarily to serve divine purpose.

If this fact does not settle in your spirit, you may provide for the wrong things, the lengths you will go to achieve success will be misdirected and misinformed.

If souls are not at the center of what you do, how will you ever number your days? How will you redeem time because the days are evil? How will you go into the world and make disciples of nations?

You might not stand on a pulpit to preach but there ought to be things you do to contribute to the great cause of expanding the kingdom of God.

At the end of your life, it ought to be testified that you had your part in it(the gospel) and it had its part in you. Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 12:15, Philippians 1:23-24

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Growth in the things of the Spirit, is a choice.

PRAYER: My loving father, I thank you for these deep convictions that explain to me the true purpose of life. I know that it is one thing to know you but it is another to know your heartbeat and dance to its rhythm every day. Today I choose to walk in perfect tune to your deepest desires, to preach, to reach out, to spend and be spent for the sake of the kingdom. Thank you that this is not by my own power or strength but by your Spirit. He labors in me to contribute my part to the fullest, nothing wanting and nothing held back. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

At The Mountaintop

Apostle Grace Lubega

Revelation 11:12 (KJV); And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

Every child of God is required to have a “mountain top” view of things pertaining to the gospel and God’s plan for their lives. We are called to see from the top.

This is why in our theme scripture, the instruction is, “come up thither.”

A man at the mountaintop inspires the visions of the men in the valley and is thus qualified enough to call them to “come up thither.”

Never let the circumstances of your life cause you to think that you will never get there.

For you, it should never be a case of “I have been to the mountaintop. I have seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you…”

If you let circumstances colour your prospects of success, you will be as those whom the Bible says beheld the promises of God from afar but still died in faith (Hebrews 11:13).

It is NOT God’s desire to give you a vision whose fulfillment you never live to see.

He wants you live to see His goodness in the land of the living.

Walk by faith. Always live as a man on the mountaintop! Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 12:22-23, 2 Corinthians 5:7

GOLDEN NUGGET: 

It is not God’s desire to give you a vision whose fulfillment you never live to see. He wants you live to see His goodness in the land of the living.

PRAYER: Father, I am most grateful for your great word. I see from above and this shapes my understanding of life and every step I take towards the milestones you have set for my life. Today, more than ever, I see with clarity the great plans that you have laid before me, the nations and multitudes of people I must change by your power working though me. I know that I will finish well. In Jesus’ name.

Apôtre Grace Lubega

AU SOMMENT DE LA MONTAGNE

Apocalypse 11:12 (KJV) Et ils entendirent du ciel une voix qui leur disait: Montez ici! Et ils montèrent au ciel dans la nuée ; et leurs ennemis les virent.

Chaque enfant de Dieu est tenu d’avoir une vision « de montagne » des choses concernant l’évangile et le plan de Dieu pour leurs vies. Nous sommes appelés à voir de haut.

C’est pourquoi dans notre écriture, l’instruction est : « Viens là-haut ».

Un homme au sommet de la montagne inspire les visions des hommes de la vallée et est ainsi assez qualifié pour les appeler à « venir là-haut ».

Ne laissez jamais les circonstances de votre vie vous faire croire que vous n’y arriverez jamais.

Pour vous, il ne devrait jamais être un cas de « J’ai été au sommet de la montagne. J’ai vu la Terre Promise. Je ne serais peut-être pas avec vous… »

Si vous laissez les circonstances colorer vos chances de succès, vous serez comme ceux qui selon la Bible ont vu de loin les promesses de Dieu mais sont encore morts dans la foi (Hébreux 11:13).

Ce n’est pas le désir de Dieu de vous donner une vision dont vous ne vivez jamais pour voir.

Il veut que vous viviez pour voir sa bonté sur la terre des vivants.

Marcher par la foi. Vivez toujours comme un homme au sommet de la montagne ! Alléluia !

ÉTUDE COMPLÉMENTAIRE : Hébreux 12:22-23, 2 Corinthiens 5:7

PÉPITE D’OR : Ce n’est pas le désir de Dieu de vous donner une vision dont vous ne vivez jamais pour voir. Il veut que vous viviez pour voir sa bonté sur la terre des vivants.

PRIÈRE : Père, je te suis très reconnaissant pour ta grande parole. Je vois d’en haut et cela façonne ma compréhension de la vie et chaque pas que je fais vers les étapes que tu as définies pour ma vie. Aujourd’hui, plus que jamais, je vois avec clarté les grands projets que tu m’as présentés, les nations et les multitudes de personnes que je dois changer par ton pouvoir en travaillant à travers moi. Je sais que je vais bien finir. Au nom de Jésus.