– WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE? Pt. 1 By Pastor Salem Maigeri (Resident Pastor)

Prophetic Focus: WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE? – Exodus 32:26.

By: Pastor Salem Maigeri (Resident Pastor).

The same you consciously plan your money and how you spend it, the same way we must be conscious of time and how we utilize it. Everyone has the same allocation of time for the year 2024 and the twelve months of the year are months of possibilities and opportunities. How you use this allocation determines what you experience in the year. Some people will experience an unusual spiritual breakthrough in God, as you would finally have victory over the sins you have been struggling with for years. Financially, for someone, this year will be the best year so far. Also, the best year in one’s career.

It can however also end as a year of anxiety depending on one’s approach to the year. There are always two sides to life, and the area we encounter is a function of how one approaches life Psa. 139:14. By divine design, you are wired to engage in infinite number of possibilities. One can decide to stop smoking this year or to achieve academic excellence. It all depends on how one uses the capacity that one is already wired with.

THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ENGAGING IN FASTING AND PRAYER

To make the most of the year, there are certain things one must be mindful about, and one of it is taking responsibility for the time one has. Responsibility talks about the price to pay in order to enjoy something. There is no free meal in life. You must ask yourself what you need to do to make the year a glorious one. One area that one must take responsibility in is in the area of fasting and prayer Matt. 6:16-17. This fasting is not a religious exercise and one that one would engage in to get the praise and commendation of men, but to encounter God in a better way.

1. When fasting is done right, your level will experience a positive change for a much better life Isa. 58:6, Isa. 10:27. This is what is referred to as fresh oil in Psa. 92:10. The oil of last year is no more sufficient to take you through this year

2. This fasting brings about ‘enfired’ love for God and fellow men in your heart Isa. 58:7. One way to truly express love is to shed every “council of I”, where all your decisions are about you, rather you have impulses to take care of others and not just yourself 2 Cor. 5:14. This kind of love brings one into the realm of blessings that eyes have not seen, nor ears heard 1 Cor. 2:9.

3. It brings about the breaking forth of light and dispels every sort of confusion and uncertainties on what and how to go about life’s endeavours Isa. 58:8. Every blessing that comes without revelation results in pride and will end up resulting in one not giving glory to God, and eventually it will; work against you.

4. It brings about health and vitality. Your body is supernaturally strengthened when you are in a fast and appear continually before Him Isa. 58:8, Psa. 84:7. Even physically, fasting helps to detoxify the body system.

5. Fasting brings about establishment in righteousness and brings one into the corridors of answered prayers Isa. 58:8-9.

6. Fasting results in one having the blessing of divine guidance Isa. 58:11. You need guidance because you have never been through the year 2024 before, and it is wise to seek guidance when taking a new step or passing a path one has not passed before.

7. Fasting also brings us into the realm of prosperity and satisfaction with God’s blessings Isa. 58:11-13.

8. Fasting brings about promotion Isa. 58:14.

All that has been talked about above simply refer to a repositioning in life. There are many sides in life, but what you experience in life is a function of whose side you are on per time. When we talk about who is on the Lord’s side, we are talking about having an alignment with God.

1. Joseph attributed his fear of God as the secret of his deep insight Gen. 42:18.

2. Job feared God and moved away from evil and God prospered Him Job 1:1-3.

3. Daniel turned away from strange gods and served God in a strange land and God gave him an excellent spirit that made him to occupy high office in that land Dan. 1:8, Dan. 6:1-3.

Greatness in God’s kingdom is premised on your spirituality. Every high flyer in life knows you cannot sustain your great height by just physical strength. There is level you will get t in life that agents of darkness and cultism will begin to approach you to join one group or the other. This usually tests your strength and resolve as regards where you stand in life – either with God on with the devil. Your spirituality is a key determinant of how you fare in life, and that is why satan attacks the spiritual life of men Psa. 11:3. This is what results in some believers becoming unable to study their bible or to pray. Just a little time of word study or prayer, the fall asleep, but they can spend hours watching a movie or browsing social media without falling asleep.

Many of us are only in church because we want to use God for what He will bless us with or we are afraid of what evil people will do to us. This is why many that go to countries where things work better than in Nigeria, some of them fall away from God permanently. Those are the category of persons that want to use God for material gains. This may be the reason why they have not had such opportunities. Mind your spirituality this year Isa. 3:10. It is the only way to prove that you are on the Lord’s side Amos 3:3.

When we talk about spirituality, we are talking about that which is the custodian of every great destiny in this kingdom 2 Tim. 2:19-21. The quality of your walk with God is what determine your ultimate worth on earth as believers and it also determines our place in eternity. Therefore, everyone is charged to walk in the spirit, which is profitable for us and let us take the required responsibility to operate in the spirit Jn. 6:63, Gal. 5:16. Spirituality is a necessity of destiny because it is avital key for the activation and realization of God’s plan for the redeemed Jn. 3:6, Jn. 4:24.

Sometimes, you may experience uneasiness and restlessness that you cannot interpret. This is a signal that you should move closer to God. You cannot never find fulfilment in life until you draw close to God. There are levels to the closeness that one can have with God. No one can be more fulfilled than his/her commitment to spirituality 1 Tim. 4:7-8. No one can flourish in hard times beyond the weight of his/her spirituality. Your spiritual weight determines where you stand and what you can withstand when the wind begins to blow and the rains begin to fail Prov. 24:10.

Some see it as a confession, such as bless you, amen, it is well, praise God. Some see is as a mode of appearance. It is deeper than that. However, it affects your confession and appearance, but it is triggered on the inside of you. It is hinged on your experience with God and the principles that guide your life. Some people’s principles have been cultured by home movies they have watched over the years and become suspicious of everybody. Others imbibe principles form their favourite stars, especially young people, and this reflects in the indecent ways in which they dress. Let your principles be aligned with God; that is spirituality.

THE WORTH AND VALUE OF SPIRITUALITY

1. You experience ever triumphant lifestyle Rev. 12:8-9, Rom. 8:31. Whatever the devil could not succeed to do in heaven, he cannot do in your life on earth.

2. You experience protection and safety against every assault of the enemy Psa. 91:1-5. Abraham was on God’s side for 100 years (Gen. 25:7-8) and he experienced all-round blessings and fulfilment and this is the blessing that Jesus came to connect us to Isa. 51:2, Gal. 3:24.

1. Beware of lusting after evil things 1 Cor. 10:16, James 1:13-15. Being tempted is not a sin, it is when you fall to the temptation that it becomes a sin.

2. Beware of idolatry. Idolatry is substituting God with other things in your life. God is either number one or nothing in your life. Whatever has a stringer voice or influence in your life has become an idol Exo. 32:26-28, Exo. 20:4-5. Yu cannot serve God and the devil at the same time. Do not cover it up by saying it is culture. Culture will torture you if you are not careful.

3. Cultivate righteousness consciousness. This is having a heart for God in all things. You are always conscious of being on God’s side and not offending Him.

DANGERS OF MISALIGNMENT WITH GOD

1. Blockade to answered prayers Psa. 66:18, Isa. 59:1.

2. It blocks access to revelation Psa. 25:14, Gen. 41:38-44.

3. It dethrones a believer as in the case of Saul 1 Sam. 15:23.

One may miss it in his/her walk with God, but no one is permitted to remain in a state of misalignment with God. For one to be restored when he/she misses alignment with God, he must genuinely repent 1 Jn. 1:8-9. Take note, that the communion today is to energize us to embark on the fast this year and to strengthen us for the journey of 2024 ahead. New strength will hit your body as you partake of the communion.

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