Authority Transferred!

Matthew 28:18

18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

When God created man, He gave man authority to have dominion over everything on earth. (Genesis 1:26) But when Adam sinned, he gave this authority to Satan. And when man’s authority was transferred to Satan, Satan brought in diseases, poverty, strife, bitterness, pain, loss and death. He messed up everything on earth for man.
“Pastor Prince, why didn’t God just grab the devil by the neck and just throw him out of the garden?”
God didn’t do that because He is a judicial God. It was a man who gave away his authority to Satan. So it had to be a man who would legally take it back. And God has done this through a Man. His name is Jesus!
By His death on the cross, Jesus righteously restored all that Adam had lost. That is why, just before He went back to heaven, He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore…” (Matthew 28:18–19) Those words tell us that He has transferred His authority to us. The same authority that He had over the storm, evil spirits, sicknesses, diseases and even death is now ours to use.
So when there are reports of a flu epidemic in the media and of young children falling sick, know that you have dominion over the epidemic. Declare, “By the authority given to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, this flu virus will not come near my children. I plead the blood of Jesus over them.”
If you have been told that your family has a history of heart disease, take dominion and declare, “By the authority given to me in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I destroy every form, manifestation and hereditary cause of this disease. By His blood, my family has been redeemed from this and every curse.”
The authority which has been restored to us is not just the authority on earth which Adam had before his fall, but Jesus’ unquestionable and complete authority in heaven and on earth!

Your Problem Must Bow To Jesus' Name

Philippians 2:9–10

9Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth.

Whatever is troubling you, if it has a name, it must bow to the name of Jesus! Cancer must bow to the name of Jesus! Poverty must bow! Shame must bow! The Bible tells us that God has highly exalted Jesus and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow!

That is exactly what happened when a severely demon-possessed man saw Jesus. The demons in him — called Legion for there were many of them — not only got down on their knees, begging Jesus not to torment them, but they also fled when Jesus commanded them to go. The man was left whole, healed and in his right mind. (Luke 8:26–35)

My father was similarly delivered from his drinking addiction of many years. I remember how he was in a drunken stupor one day. I prayed over him in Jesus’ name for him to be to loosed from his addiction to alcohol. He threw up violently soon after that, and from that moment on, he never touched the bottle again!

Beloved, if your child is sick, lay hands on him and say, “In Jesus’ name, coughing, stop. Fever, go in Jesus’ name. Wellness flows in his body in Jesus’ name!” If there is strife and confusion at home, say, “You, spirit of strife and rebellion, who is causing my family to quarrel, I bind you and command you to get out of my house in Jesus’ name!” I have used the name of Jesus as I prayed for a couple who were quarrelling in a hawker centre. It was amazing. All the strife between them seemed to melt away and they started to talk calmly after that.

That is the power of the name of Jesus because that is the name of the one who died for you, who rose again and today is at the right hand of God, for you! That is the name which is above every name, at which every knee must and will bow!

Never Alone, Always Cared For

1 Peter 5:7

… 7casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

It does not matter how tightly knit our families are or how many close friends we have. When we go through a difficult time or trial, many a time, we still feel all alone and that no one really cares or understands.

Martha knew that feeling. She had on one occasion cried out to Jesus, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?...” (Luke 10:40) Jesus’ disciples also knew what it was like to feel small, alone and in trouble. They cried out, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” when they were swept up in a terrifying storm. (Mark 4:38)

Today, maybe the cry of your heart is also, “Lord, do You not care that I am left all alone… that I am going under… that I am perishing?”

My friend, the Lord does care for you. He loves you so much that He wants you to cast all your cares upon Him — not just half but all your cares. He wants both your big and small cares. There is nothing too small or big for Him. If it is a care in your heart, He wants you to cast it upon Him.

When the apostle Peter wrote “casting all your care upon Him”, he was talking about the continuous act of casting all your cares upon the Lord. As a care comes, God wants you to cast it to Him. That is the lifestyle He wants you to adopt. Why? The verse gives us the reason — “for He cares for you”. You are casting all your cares upon the One who loves you, and who left all of heaven to come and die for you. That is who you are casting your cares to. It is not just any person, but it is the One who gave His Life for you!

When you are going through a difficult time, God wants you to believe that you are never alone because He Himself has said that He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) As the object of His care, He will take care of you for the rest of your life. You are never alone and always cared for!

Practising God's Presence

Matthew 1:23

23“… and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated “God with us.”

God has promised you His constant presence (Hebrews 13:5), but are you conscious of His presence daily? When you are conscious of His presence every day, you will experience a peace that gives you rest, great joy in your spirit and a power nothing in this world can offer. In fact, you will begin to be peaceful and powerful like Jesus. You will speak like Jesus and behave like Jesus. This is because you cannot be in God’s presence without His beauty, love, peace, power and glory rubbing off on you.
So how do you practise being conscious of God’s presence? Start by seeing God with you in what you do and wherever you are. For example, at your board meeting, while deliberating on issues, see the Lord there in the boardroom with you, guiding you in your thinking. And you can be sure that His presence will bring clarity of thought and wisdom to you. You will find yourself flowing with great and sound ideas.
If you are going for an interview, see the Lord there in the interview room with you, putting answers in your mouth. Your nervousness will melt away as you see His favour on you bringing on smiles and approving nods from the interviewers.
Perhaps you are going for surgery. Well, see the Lord in the operating theatre with you, guiding the hands of the surgeons. Your worries will dissipate because nothing can go wrong in the Lord’s presence.
If you are in the middle of an argument, see the Lord standing within earshot. Your words will change and your body language will become more reconciliatory as you see the Lord right there with you and the grace He extends to you. Somehow, supernaturally, there will be a restraint which is not borne of willpower, but which comes supernaturally by knowing that the One who loves you and watches over you is with you.
Beloved, when you become conscious of God’s presence in your life, worries and fears have no foothold in your mind. You will see Him maximising your joy and fun, and prospering you in what you say and do!

The Lord With You Equals Success

Genesis 39:2

2The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man…

You may have no qualifications, position or wealth — nothing in the natural. But when the Lord is with you, you will end up with everything because He will cause you to be successful.
Joseph had nothing when his Egyptian master, Potiphar, bought him from the slave market. Yet, even then, it was said of him, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man…” Joseph, the slave, a successful man?
He was a nobody with nothing, not even a shirt on his back, not a dime to his name, no family members with him and no friends to turn to. All he had was the presence of the Lord. But it was because of this that he became successful, rising later to be the most powerful man in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, who set him over all the land of Egypt. Joseph was given power, authority and riches. (Genesis 41:40–44) This happened because the Lord was with him.
A junior college student worshipping in our church experienced good success in his examination results for the same reason. The first to admit that throughout his student life, he had only scored mediocre grades, he obtained his first ever straight As for all his subjects when he sat for the Singapore-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) Examination simply believing that he would be successful because the Lord was with him!
Another church member, who was a fresh university graduate, believed that because the Lord was with her, she would be successful in the workforce. Even though she had no work experience and was faced with a gloomy job market, she succeeded in getting her first job in a short period of time and which gave her a salary beyond her expectations. Then, in spite of a directive from the parent company to freeze the wages of all employees, she received a pay increment as well as a company scholarship for further education!
Beloved, it does not matter if you are a nobody with nothing in the natural. When the Lord is with you, you will end up with everything because He will empower you to succeed, prosper and live the abundant life. Indeed, you will end up enjoying His favour, goodness and grace!

God Sees Glorious Things In You!

1 Samuel 16:7

7… For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

Picture David when he was a shepherd boy. Many who knew young David in his pre-Goliath days would very likely have seen just an ordinary youth — one who lived at home with his parents and siblings, enjoyed the outdoors and loved music. But where others saw a typical teenager, God saw a king in young David. He saw David’s name being uttered in honour forever, for even the Lord Jesus is called the Son of David!
Picture Moses after he had settled down comfortably in the desert with a beautiful wife, lovely children and loving in-laws. He might have seen himself happily retiring in the near future. But God had bigger plans for Moses. God had big dreams for him. God saw the Red Sea opening before him and an entire Egyptian army being wiped out in his presence. God saw in him the deliverer of His people.
Now, step back a little less far in time with me. See a little boy standing alone during play time. Nobody wants him on their team because he is scrawny and seen as a weakling. As he grows into his teens, he suffers from an inferiority complex. He stammers and stutters so much that all his friends laugh at him. But today, he is the senior pastor of New Creation Church. Several times each week, he stands in front of a crowd of more than 13,000 people to preach. And he receives invitations worldwide to speak in churches and pastors’ conferences. There was no way I could have ever conceived in my mind what God saw in me in those early years and the dreams that He had for me.
Beloved, God does not see as man sees. God saw in fearful Gideon a mighty man of valour and called him so even when he was hiding from his enemies in fear. (Judges 6:12) God saw in young David a king and anointed him as one. (1 Samuel 16:10–13) God saw in meek Moses a deliverer and drew him from obscurity. (Exodus 3) Today, God looks beyond what man sees and says about you, and He has dreams for you that are bigger than you can imagine!

See As God Sees

Psalm 1:3

3He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

When darkness covered the face of the earth, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. (Genesis 1:3). When a certain man paralysed for 38 years lay helpless at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk,” and immediately, the man was healed, took up his bed and walked. (John 5:8–9)
You don’t say such words unless you see something others don’t. God does not see the way man sees. Man, however, must see the way God sees. We must see the vision of the Almighty.
The prophet Balaam saw the vision of the Almighty when the Spirit of God fell on him. As he looked down from a mountain at the camp of the Israelites, he found himself saying, “How lovely are your tents, O Jacob! Your dwellings, O Israel! Like valleys that stretch out, like gardens by the riverside, like aloes planted by the Lord, like cedars beside the waters.” (Numbers 24:5–6)
Balaam would not have said this unless he saw Israel not in the natural, but as God saw it. At that time, the Israelites were a discontented lot, always murmuring and complaining in the wilderness. But when God looked at them, He saw them like flourishing gardens planted by the rivers — fruitful and prosperous.
Beloved, God wants you to see yourself the way He sees you — “like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper”. So see yourself like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in your season. See yourself as one who will not wither, whose health will not fail. See whatever you do prospering!
See the vision of the Almighty. That vision is always a good vision. Whenever you see your situation through the eyes of God, you will find that your situation will change because when you see as He sees, you allow Him to work as the Almighty in your life!

'What Is That In Your Hand?'

Exodus 4:2–3

2So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” 3And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

God wants to take the natural things in your life and make them supernaturally blessed. He does this by asking you to give to Him what you already have in the natural, and He will do the supernatural.
That is why the Lord told Moses to cast his rod on the ground. And when Moses cast his rod on the ground, which represents him giving the rod to the Lord, that same rod became the rod of God. With that rod, the Red Sea opened. (Exodus 14:16) And when that rod was used to hit a rock, water flowed out of the rock. (Exodus 17:5–6) It was no more a natural rod, but the supernatural rod of God.
But why did the rod become a serpent when Moses cast it to the ground? Moses never realised that there was a "snake" in his rod. You see, because of the fall of Man, there is a touch of the curse — a “snake” — in every natural thing, including your career, natural strength, talents and ministry.
So how do you deal with the “snake” in all things natural in your life? First, cast it to the Lord. Then, do what the Lord told Moses next: “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail”. (Exodus 4:4)
Now, it could be fatal to take a snake by its tail because it can easily turn its head around and bite you. So why did God say that?
When you take it by the tail, He will take the head! He wants you to let Him handle the head, and not grab it or hold on to it tightly in fear or self-effort. That is how you see your career, strength, talents and ministry supernaturally blessed.
Beloved, there is a “snake”, a touch of the curse, in everything in the natural. But give what is natural to the Lord and see the touch of the curse replaced with the touch of the supernatural!

You Have A Measure Of Faith

Romans 12:3

3… God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

As children of God, we should never say, “I don’t have faith.” To say this is to say that God is a liar because the Bible already tells us that “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith”.
Why then does the faith of some seem to be stronger than others? Well, faith is like muscles. We are all born with a measure of muscles. But some of us develop our muscles more than others. Bodybuilders, for example, exercise their muscles very regularly to make them grow bigger and stronger.
Likewise, your measure of faith grows when you feed and use it. Each time you hear or read God’s Word, you are feeding your faith. When you confess God’s Word and expect good things to happen to you, you are using it. And the more you use it, the more your faith grows.
So use your faith. You could start with headaches. When you have a headache, instead of taking a painkiller, use your faith. Ask God for healing, and trust and thank Him for the healing.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with taking medicine. And if you have to go to the doctor, don’t feel condemned either. Just start using your faith at a level you are comfortable with. If you need to go to the doctor, then go in faith, praying, “Abba Father, I am going to the doctor. I am asking You in Jesus’ name to give the doctor wisdom to give me an accurate diagnosis. My trust is not in him but in You.” And when you take your medicine, don’t just swallow the pills. In faith, say, “Lord, sanctify this medicine,” because some medicine may have negative side effects. When you ask God to sanctify it, He blesses that medicine. And what will be developing in you, growing bigger and possessing your body until it is too widespread and too late to stop it is divine health!
Beloved, you have been given a measure of faith. Start using it, believing that it is this measure of your faith that causes you to draw from the inexhaustible power of a faithful and loving God towards you!

Feed On God's Word Every Day

Matthew 4:4

4But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

The Bible tells us that God breathed into man and he became a living being. (Genesis 2:7) It also tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed. (2 Timothy 3:16, NIV) This means that when you read the Bible or listen to God’s Word preached, you are imbibing the very breath of God which gives you life.
That is why there may have been times you walked into church feeling tired at first, but left at the end of the service feeling refreshed and energised — God’s Word had breathed life into your body! I have also seen many of our church members becoming healthier, stronger and even younger-looking because they spend time in God’s Word.
It is no wonder that Proverbs 4:22 tells us that God’s words are “life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh”. So if you are under the weather or if symptoms are attacking your body, double up on God’s medicine. Simply feed on God’s Word even more, and you will find life and health flowing through your body again.
Jesus said that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. If it is important to eat our meals every day, how much more feeding on God’s Word. Jesus tells us that we need God’s Word even more than our daily “bread”. He made us, so He knows best what our bodies need daily.
So whatever you do, remember to get your daily feeding of God’s Word. Read your Bible in the comfort of your home or in the office during your lunch break. Play sermon CDs while driving to work or doing household chores. If you prefer something more visual, watch DVDs on the preaching of His Word. Choose whichever form you prefer, but get His Word into you!
Beloved, you cannot live when you stop breathing. In the same way, you cannot live without the Word because it is the very breath of God which gives you life and health!

Do You Know The Jesus Of The Bible?

John 14:7

7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”

Someone once told me that just because you ask God for something does not mean that He will give it to you. Quoting 1 John 5:14–15, he said that we first have to ask according to His will before He hears and gives us what we ask of Him.

Of course, we do not ask for things that are against God’s will or Word. But what is normally implied in the previous statement is that we don’t always know what God’s will is for us — “what will be, will be”. But didn’t Jesus say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father”? (John 14:9) This means that if you want to know what the Father’s will, mind, heart or attitude towards you and your family is, just look at Jesus in the gospel stories.

So if your child is sick, is it God’s will to heal him? Well, look at Jesus and see how He ministered to children who were sick — the Syro-Phoenician’s daughter who was demon-possessed (Mark 7:24–30), Jairus’ daughter who was dead (Mark 5:22–24, 35–43), and the widow of Nain’s only son who had died and was on his way to be buried. (Luke 7:12–15) Jesus cast out the demon. He raised the dead. He healed them all!

Beloved, don’t say, “We can never know God’s will. Sometimes He heals, sometimes He does not. He may prosper us, but He may also take away our prosperity.” The Jesus of the Bible never made anyone sick. He never made anyone poor. He made the little become much with 12 baskets full of leftovers. (Matthew 14:20) He gave a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish to fishermen. (Luke 5:6–7)

The Jesus of the Bible is always feeding, healing, delivering, prospering, providing and loving. This Jesus “is the same yesterday, today, and forever”. (Hebrews 13:8) And he says to you today, “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” You can know God’s will for you. You can see what He will do for you when you know the Jesus of the Bible and what He did.

Born Again To Have Dominion

Genesis 1:26

26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

When God made man, He gave man dominion over everything on earth. To have an idea of the kind of dominion that man would have had had he not sinned, let’s look at the perfect Man, our Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus wanted to pay taxes, He only needed to command a fish to bring the money to Him. (Matthew 17:24–27) When He wanted to feed a multitude, He only needed to multiply five loaves and two fish in His hands. (Mark 6:34–44) When a storm threatened the lives of His disciples, He only had to speak to the storm and there was perfect calm. (Mark 4:35–41) And every sick person who was brought to Him went away healed. He even brought the dead back to life because He had dominion over death!
Today, you have the same dominion that Jesus exercised because Christ is in you. (Colossians 1:27)
“Pastor Prince, forget about having dominion over the sea, air and earth. I only want dominion over my backache which has robbed me of my time with my children. I want dominion over my financial situation."
My friend, because God’s purpose for you is to have dominion on earth, He will keep you healthy. After all, it is hard to rule the earth lying on your bed sick. And God will prosper you because it is hard to want to do things when you are poor.
We need to understand that since God’s greater purpose is for man to have dominion on the earth, it would include the lesser — health and prosperity. Then, we will see ourselves as God sees us, walking in dominion, and we will walk in victory over our negative circumstances in the natural realm.
Beloved, you have been born again of the Spirit, born to rule and have dominion over everything on earth!

God Knows You Intimately

Matthew 10:30

30“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

As much as I love my wife and daughter, I have never bothered to count the number of hairs on their heads. I don’t have the time to do so and I doubt I will ever want to.
Every day, your hair drops. Yet, God knows how many hairs are left on your head. And He also knows how many are growing back! He knows because He bothers to count them again. When it comes to you, He always has time for every little thing about you.
So when Jesus said, “But the very hairs of your head are all numbered,” He was not exaggerating. He never exaggerates. He means what He says and He says what He means. So for the Lord to say that the very hairs of your head are all numbered means that He wants you to know that He is very absorbed in you and has intimate knowledge about you — your body, family, finances, relationships… everything in your life!
He knows the pain you have been having in your body. He is aware of the financial concerns which you have been keeping from your family. He sees how your rebellious son is treating you. He understands the hurts you have been keeping in your heart. He hears your heart’s cry for a miracle baby.
Your heavenly Father wants you to know that He pays attention to everything concerning you. He does not overlook it as long as it concerns you, even if it is your pet, as a church member found out. She panicked when she first discovered that her pet terrapin had gone blind. Then, remembering my messages on confessing healing for our bodies, she did the same for her pet. Three months later, the terrapin’s eyes were wide open and seeing!
God knows you intimately. He knows every small problem that you are worried about and every single burden that you have. And when you approach Him for help, He has all the time for you as if no one else exists. That is how valuable you are to Him and how absorbed He is in you!

You Are Of More Value Than Many Sparrows

Matthew 6:26

26“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”

Perched on a tree branch, two birds were observing passers-by rushing from one place to another. Looking at their faces, one bird asked the other, “Why is man so full of worries and cares?” The other bird answered, “Maybe they don’t have a heavenly Father like we do.”

I believe that the Lord made birds to tell us that we are of more value than many birds put together. Jesus clearly tells us that. In Matthew 10:29, He said, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?...” Then, in Luke 12:6, He said, “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins?...” What this means is that these sparrows are so cheap that you can buy four of them for two copper coins, and you get one thrown in for free!

Sparrows are numerous, common creatures in Israel. Yet, not even one of these cheap, common birds falls to the ground without the Father’s knowledge. Not one of them is forgotten before Him. So will He forget you who are of more value than all these birds put together? Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them…” If God feeds the birds of the air, how much more will He feed you, His precious, beloved child!

“Why don’t I see the supply then?” you may ask.

The answer is worry. That is why Jesus also said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” (Matthew 6:31–32)

Beloved, if God cares for cheap, common birds, and feeds and supplies them every day, how much more will He care for you, His dear, precious child! Let your heart be at rest as you hear Him say to you, “Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31)

Your Next Stop - A Place Of Abundance

Psalm 66:12
12… we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out to rich fulfilment.

Are you in a situation where people are stepping all over you and they seem to have the upper hand? You feel as if the challenge you are facing is so big that you are going through fire. And you are so overwhelmed by everything that is happening around you that you feel as if you are drowning.

My friend, I want you to know that your heavenly Father hears your cry for help and He will rescue you. The psalmist says, “… we went through fire and through water, but You brought us out to rich fulfilment.” If you have been through the fire and water, then your next stop is a place of rich fulfilment or abundance!

This place of abundance was indeed the next stop for a church member who had suddenly found himself facing allegations involving some money laundering activities within the bank where he was one of the top executives. Investigations later exonerated him, but because of the bad vibes caused by the incident, he was asked to resign.

He was then aged 52. Friends told him to retire and relax, but retirement was far from his mind. This brother believed that if God had allowed this to happen, it must be that He was leading him to a better place, one of rich fulfilment. And indeed, soon after this difficult experience, one of the top banks offered him a handsome salary to join them in one of their top positions.

Four years later, at age 56, he was headhunted by one of the biggest public-listed companies to start a new division. He accepted the offer and was paid double what he had been earning.

Beloved, your heavenly Father does not lie when He tells you that He will bring you out to rich fulfilment if you are going through a difficult time. Trust Him and you will find yourself stepping into your place of abundance!

You Are Next!

Psalm 50:10

10For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.

Suppose you have just heard of someone whose financial debts have been miraculously cleared. Or your elated friend has just told you that despite being an average student in school, he scored straight As in all his papers in his examinations. Perhaps on Sunday, you heard a couple share about how they had become proud owners of a condominium which was the grand prize in a supermarket lucky draw, or how a once-childless couple is now expecting their miracle child.
When you see others being blessed, do you ever wonder when it will be your turn? Or do you even find yourself saying, “Oh, he got blessed with the very thing that I have been praying for. There goes my blessing.”
Now, just because man’s economy operates on the principle of shortage, it does not mean that God operates in the same manner. So the next time somebody gets blessed, tell yourself, “I won’t be disheartened. I won’t be jealous. I am the next one to be blessed!”
Always remember that God does not have to bless anyone at your expense. Nor does He have to bless you at anyone’s expense. We do not have to be jealous of each other. There is a portion that God gives to you which no man can touch because it has your name on it — “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven”. (John 3:27)
Our God is a rich God. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He has contacts and blessings you do not know of and which are reserved just for you! There is more than enough for everybody with leftovers in abundance. In fact, you will not be able to take it all because when the blessings start coming in, they will come in a net-breaking, boat-sinking style — you will have to call for your friends in the other boats to come and help you! (Luke 5:1­­–7) That is the kind of blessings that our God gives. So get ready for your blessings — and your overflowing abundance!

Thank Your Way To Peace

Philippians 4:6

6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Would you like to know how to apply this verse in your everyday life? Let me give you an illustration to help you.
Let’s say that you are one of those in your company eligible for a promotion, and you will know tomorrow whether you get it. You want the promotion badly because it means more income for your family. So you lie in bed at night tossing and turning. You pray, “Father, please take away all my worries about this promotion. Give me faith.” One hour later, you are more anxious than ever. It seems like God is not answering your prayer!
How come? Because you are not doing it God’s way.
Pray like this instead: “Father, I cast all my worries about the promotion into Your loving hands because You care for me and love me.” The Bible tells us to cast all our cares upon the Lord for He cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) Then, say, “Father, I would like to have the promotion.” It is okay to ask that. Now, here comes the most powerful part — thanksgiving. Finish off with thanksgiving. Thank God for His faithfulness.
Say something like, “Father, whether I get the promotion or not, I thank You that You will always provide for my family with more than enough. You who feed the birds of the air and clothe the lilies of the field will take care of us. I thank You that You are faithful to supply all our needs. So I am not going to worry about the promotion. You are the source of all my blessings.” (Matthew 6:30, Philippians 4:19)
When you pray like this, all of a sudden, you are no longer held hostage by the promotion. I call this the “thank You” therapy. The more you know God’s Word, the more you can thank Him. The more you thank Him, the more His peace reigns in your heart. And many a times, before you know it, it is morning! You don’t even remember falling asleep. The peace of God reigns like that.
My friend, whatever your concern is, bring it to your Father in prayer and thank your way to peace!

Jesus, Your Kinsman-Redeemer

Jeremiah 50:34

34Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Ruth, a young, poor and childless widow in the Old Testament, lay at the feet of Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer. (Ruth 3:7) As a close relative of her in-laws and her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz could redeem her from her plight.

Ruth was simply obeying Naomi, her mother-in-law, who had told her to go and lie down at Boaz’ feet. In the Jewish custom of those days, this was a posture which said, “Please help me. You are my kinsman-redeemer.” Notice Boaz’s response to Ruth: “And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you all that you request…” (Ruth 3:11)

Beloved, Boaz is a picture of Jesus who is our kinsman-redeemer. He is our kinsman, having been born into this world as one like us. And He is our Redeemer because He redeemed us at a great price when He shed His blood for us on the cross.

As your Redeemer, not only is Jesus willing, but He also has the power to restore to you all that you have lost. That is why you can go to Him and say, “I blew it and now my family is suffering. My finances are dwindling fast. But I come to You, my kinsman-redeemer…” And you will find that He will redeem you because your Redeemer is strong. The Lord of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead your case, causing only blessings of deliverance, restoration, prosperity and liberty to come out of your situation!

Just as Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet, the feet of Jesus is the place of redemption and blessings. Both Jairus, the synagogue ruler (Mark 5:22), and the Syro-Phoenician woman (Mark 7:25–26), fell at Jesus’ feet. And there at His feet, they received healing for their sick daughters.

When you take your place at Jesus’ feet, looking to Him for help, expect to receive His blessings. There is nothing to fear knowing that as Boaz did for Ruth, Jesus, your heavenly kinsman-redeemer, will do for you all that you have requested!

God Abundantly Supplies Your Every Need

Philippians 4:19

19And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

According to this verse, you are rich. You are not trying to be rich. It does not matter how much you have in your bank account or how much you are earning. You are rich because as your need arises, God’s supply will be there for you.
This was the case for a church member who worked as a consultant. For months, he did not secure any major deals. But while attending a church camp held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he received a word on financial prosperity. After the camp, he extended his stay in Kuala Lumpur and bumped into an old friend who gave him a big project that paid a huge sum! He needed a major breakthrough and God abundantly supplied his need.
In the Bible, there is an account of a couple who faced a dire need on their wedding day. They had run out of wine. Now, you would expect every wedding couple to know how many guests to expect on their wedding day and to plan for their needs accordingly. But perhaps this couple did not have the money to buy enough wine. Whatever the reason was, Jesus saved them from embarrassment. He saved the day when He supplied their need by miraculously turning six pots of water into superior wine. (John 2:1–10) Our Lord Jesus abundantly supplied the need of that couple on their big day.
Beloved, whatever needs you have, God wants you to know that His supply will be there for you. You have His Word for it. He promises that He will supply all your need, not just some. And He will supply all your need according to, not out of His riches. This means that He lines up from A to Z all His riches for your supply — all His riches are yours!
My friend, rejoice that you are rich “according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. This is far greater and surer than the temporal riches that you have in any earthly source!

Jesus' Blood Speaks Better Things

Hebrews 12:24

… 24to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.

Today, forensic science tells us that blood has a voice. DNA can be extracted from just one swab of the murderer’s blood and the results used in court as evidence.

So blood in a sense can speak. And when it is the blood of Jesus, it speaks better things than that of Abel. Abel’s blood cried out, “Vengeance! Vengeance!” after his brother Cain murdered him. (Genesis 4:8–11) But Jesus’ blood cries out forgiveness for our sins, healing for our bodies, and peace and soundness for our minds. It cries out protection for our coming-ins and going-outs, prosperity for the works of our hands, the righteousness of Christ as our acceptance before God and much more!

In the Bible, Jesus’ blood speaking of “better things” is found in the context of the last days when things are being shaken, so that the things that cannot be shaken will remain. (Hebrews 12:27) God wants you to know that you will not be shaken when you put your faith in Jesus’ blood, which speaks for you. That is why God wants you to see Jesus’ blood shed for you in every area that causes your heart to tremble and your confidence to be shaken.

For example, if you are afraid of losing your job, speak the blood of Jesus over your job. His blood cries out, “Prosperity!” for you. It says, “Favour with his boss!” And in these days when you are shaken by fears that terrorism may strike anyone, anywhere, anytime, plead the blood of Jesus which cries out, “Protection and deliverance!” When fear rises in your heart as the doctor gives you his prognosis, plead the blood of Jesus over your body. His blood cries out, “Healing and wholeness!”

The blood of Jesus, which speaks better things, will never lose its power. Beloved, see that you do not refuse Him who speaks. (Hebrews 12:25) See that you keep hearing the voice of grace, good news and better things, which speaks salvation, righteousness, protection, deliverance, prosperity and healing over your life!

Nothing Is Hard For God

Jeremiah 32:17

17Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

Our minds tend to see our problems as big or small. Even when we pray for the sick, we say things like, “You have a headache? No problem. Let’s pray for your healing.” But when it is cancer, we say, “Oh, let’s tell the senior pastor about it. It would be better if he prayed for you.” We think of headaches as small problems, but cancers as big ones.

But that is not the way God, the one who made the heavens and the earth, thinks. There is nothing too hard for Him! With God, there is no such thing as a “big” problem. In fact, the “bigger” the problem, the “easier” it is for Him! In the feeding of the 5,000, it took only five loaves to feed the multitude. (Matthew 14:15–21) But in the feeding of the smaller multitude of 4,000, it took seven loaves. (Matthew 15:32–38)

In man’s scheme of things, it should take more loaves to feed more people. But it is not so with God. It took fewer loaves to feed more people. This is God’s way of telling us, “The ‘bigger’ the problem, the ‘easier’ it is for Me.” I am not saying that small problems are hard for God. But it is so encouraging to think that it is “easier” for God to heal cancer than a headache!

Imagine coming to God with a big problem. “So, what is your problem?” God asks. You say, “Father, it is a huge financial debt — not thousands but millions.” He says, “Easy. It is already cancelled.”

In another scenario, God asks, “So, what is your problem?” You say, “Father, I have been retrenched and I can’t find a job. I am already in my fifties and I don’t have the necessary qualifications.” He says, “No problem. Consider yourself employed. And in this new job, you won’t just have a job, you will have a position.”

Beloved, with God, there is never a problem because there is nothing too hard for Him!

Divinely Arranged And Beautifully Timed

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11He has made everything beautiful in its time…

Nothing happens to you by accident. Even a “chance” meeting with someone is part of God’s plan to set in motion His blessings in your life.

Such was the divinely arranged meeting of the Shunammite woman and Prophet Elisha. It led to the prophet pronouncing over her the blessing of a miracle child even though she was barren and her husband was old. (2 Kings 4:8–17) A few years later, it was this friendship with the man of God which saw her through a crisis when her son fell seriously ill and died. Elisha raised her son back to life. (2 Kings 4:18–37)

When God is the one orchestrating the events in your life, neither lack nor danger nor destruction can affect you. When famine hit the land, the Shunammite woman’s family did not suffer because God had through Elisha told them to leave the land. They went to the land of the Philistines and dwelt there throughout the seven years of famine. (2 Kings 8:1–2)

God can place you at the right place at the right time, even through your daily decision-making. The Shunammite woman decided to return to Shunem after the famine ended. She then decided to appeal to the king of Israel for help to regain her house and land, which had been illegally acquired by others in her absence. This decision brought her before the king on the same day that Elisha’s servant Gehazi was in audience with the king, who wanted to hear all about the miracles performed by Elisha.

This gave the Shunammite woman the opportunity to share first-hand with the king how Elisha had raised her son from the dead. The thrilled king then ordered the restoration of her house and land, including all the proceeds of the field from the day that she had left until then. (2 Kings 8:3–6) The Lord had timed and set up everything beautifully for her!

Beloved, God has also made everything beautiful in its time for you. As you involve Him in your daily life and trust His love for you, you too will see Him lead and place you at the right place at the right time to enjoy His blessings.

Prayers Unlimited

1 Corinthians 14:14

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

God has given us a powerful prayer gift — praying in tongues, which is not limited by distance or time. When you pray in tongues, you could be praying for your future or even a loved one overseas. It is not limited by what you know or don’t know in your head.
When you pray in tongues, you won’t know what you are praying unless God tells you. This is because when you pray in the Spirit, your understanding is unfruitful — your mind is not involved.
“But Pastor Prince, I must know what I am praying!”
Sometimes, it is better not to know what you are praying. In 1993, I had a long season of praying in the Spirit. If I had known then everything that I was praying in tongues, I would have freaked out!
For example, I would have been afraid if I had known that the Holy Spirit was praying, “Father God, in the year 2002, anoint Joseph Prince to preach six messages every week to more than 10,000 people.” That has come to pass, but at that time, one service was enough to tire me out!
So I thank God that I don’t know what I am praying when I pray in tongues. I simply trust His goodness and pray in tongues for everything that He has planned for me to come to pass in His perfect time.
Beloved, don’t stop praying in tongues just because you don’t know what you are praying. You could be praying for the safety of a loved one in a life and death situation. Especially when you feel an urge to pray because you sense danger, pray! Pray until the burden is lifted. The Holy Spirit will know exactly what is going on, who is in danger and how to pray for deliverance. (Romans 8:27)
You may say, “Well, I can just pray in English.” You can, but your prayers will be very limited because you won’t know what to pray. It is better to pray in tongues because the Spirit knows all things. You don’t belong to that realm where all things are limited. You belong to God who is unlimited! So pray in tongues, and see great things happening for you and through you.

Righteousness And Not Sin Imputed To You

Romans 4:8

8“Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

You are blessed today because all your sins are forgiven in Christ. God does not count your sins against you. Instead, He counts you righteous in Christ. That is why you are the blessed man to whom the Lord does not and will not impute sin!

What happens to such a man? Let’s look at the story of Jacob to find out.

The Bible records how Jacob had deceived his father and cheated his elder brother Esau of his firstborn blessing. (Genesis 27:1–41) Yet, in spite of his sin of deception, God chose to speak to Jacob. And no, God did not say to this cheat, “You terrible sinner! How can you deceive your own father? You are cursed!”

No, to deceitful Jacob, God said, “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants… Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (Genesis 28:13–15). Here was a man to whom God did not impute sin!

God did not rebuke Jacob at all. Instead, we hear Him telling Jacob, “I will give to you… I am with you… I will keep you… I will bring you back… I will not leave you…” Jacob certainly did not deserve these blessings. This is one man who walked in the truth of “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin”!

Jacob was not living under the new covenant. Yet, he was so blessed, how much more you and I today, who are under the new covenant of grace established by the blood of Jesus. How much more is our blessedness because Jesus has put away all our sins at the cross!

Today, because of Jesus’ finished work, God does not and will not impute sin to you. What He does impute to you is righteousness without works. And because you are righteous, get ready for His blessings! (Proverbs 10:6)

God Makes Everything Work Together For Good

Romans 8:28

28And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

In this verse, “all things” is literally all things — the good, the bad and the ugly! Now, it does not mean that all things are from God. Some things, such as accidents, sicknesses, broken relationships and divorces are not from God. They are from the devil or just part of the fallen world that we live in. What this verse does tell us is that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose”. That is our inheritance as God’s beloved children.

Do the people of the world have this inheritance? No. When bad things happen to them, they are what they are — bad things. But when bad things happen to the children of God, it does not end there. God can make those bad things work together for good. In other words, the devil may throw lemons at you, but God can take those lemons and make refreshing lemonade for you!

For example, if you have been retrenched, believe that God, who makes all things work together for good, has a better job for you. Indeed, we have received testimonies from church members who have ended up with better jobs and higher salaries after they were retrenched.

It is important that you remember that God is not behind anything that is bad and ugly. But when those things happen, know that He is able to make all things work together for good. And don’t let anyone tell you that all things will work together for good only if you love God and are called according to His purpose. These two things are not conditions but descriptions of believers. Believers are those who love God because they know that God first loved them. (1 John 4:19) And they are called according to His purpose for they have been born again.

And because you have been born again, all things in your life will work together for good. This is your inheritance as a beloved child of God!

Launch Out Into The Deep

Luke 5:4

4When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

God wants to bless you — big-time! It was for this reason that He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

The deep is where you would find a whole lot of fish. You won’t find them near the shore in shallow waters. So to launch out into the deep is to thrust forth from the comfort of the shoreline.

God wants you to break away from your comfort zone and step out in faith to do what He has put in your heart. It may be something that you have never done before or only dreamt of, like attending a care group. A church member did just that, and found love in her care group. Today, she is happily married.

Now, our Lord Jesus who said, “Launch out into the deep…” also said, “… let down your nets for a catch.” Notice that He used the plural “nets” and not the singular “net”. Beloved, God wants to give you more than what you need. His dream for you is bigger than anything that you can ever dream of. Think of the biggest dream and God will exceed that because He delights in giving you exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)

A church member who was formerly working for someone else had wanted to start his own company. When praying with him, I received a word from the Lord for him to launch out on his own. When he did that, he made a handsome profit at the end of the first month alone! Today, he has more than one company and his business is flourishing. God is blessing him beyond his wildest dreams!

God can also bless you beyond your wildest dreams. He did it for Simon who was astonished at the catch of fish. (Luke 5:9) But it was not until Simon launched out into the deep that he ended up with that net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish. (Luke 5:6–7) You, too, will be astonished at your catch when you step out of your comfort zone and launch out into the deep with the Lord!

Forgiveness Is For The Undeserving

Matthew 18:21

21… “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

The Lord’s answer to Peter was simple: Up to seventy times seven. (Matthew 18:22) In other words, all the time!

“Well, Pastor Prince, he does not deserve my forgiveness.”

Neither did you deserve God’s. Listen, there is not a single person alive or dead who did not break all 10 of God’s commandments. There is no such thing as a “partial sinner” or “great sinner”. All of us were great sinners when Jesus saved us! And we need to have that revelation because if we know that we are forgiven much, we will love much. (Luke 7:47)

“Pastor Prince, how can you say that I have broken all 10 commandments? I have not committed adultery. I have been true to my wife since the day we married.”

My friend, Jesus said, “If you lust after a woman in your heart, you have already committed adultery with her.” (Matthew 5:28) That is God’s standard. Man looks outward, but God looks inward. God sees the heart. So everyone has broken all 10 commandments. Everyone is a great sinner.

Now, you are no longer a sinner if you have received Christ as your Saviour — you are now a new creation. But you were a sinner and God forgave all your sins through the death of His Son. You owed God big time, but God forgave you through His Son’s death your huge debt.

So if someone has wronged you, say this: “I did not deserve God’s forgiveness, but God forgave me through Christ. So I forgive this person also in Jesus’ name.” If you say something like, “He does not deserve it,” it makes no sense. Forgiveness is not for people who deserve it. If they deserve something, then it is punishment. No, forgiveness means that you extend grace. Grace means undeserved favour, like how God extends undeserved favour to you.

If you choose to hold on to bitterness, no one suffers but you. You lose your peace, health and sometimes even your life. It is not worth it! God says to you, “Let go. Forgive them their debts, just as I have forgiven you yours.” Don’t try to do it on your own. Bring the cross of Christ into the situation and you will find the grace to forgive!

God Can Turn Your Evil Day Into Good Days

Esther 9:22

22… rest from their enemies… sorrow to joy… mourning to a holiday…

Today, many Jews are celebrating the feast of Purim. The name Purim is derived from “the lot” which a Gentile, Haman, cast concerning the fate of the Jews when they were in Persia under King Ahasuerus.

Haman, the villain in this story in the book of Esther, hated the Jews and sought to exterminate them. He got King Ahasuerus to allow him to issue a decree to annihilate all the Jews in one day — on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar. But God used Queen Esther and her uncle Mordecai, both Jews, to turn the tables on Haman and save the Jews.

Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had constructed for Mordecai! Then, the king allowed Queen Esther and Mordecai to issue a counter-decree to allow all the Jews to defend themselves and destroy their enemies in one day — on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month of Adar!

So instead of the Jews being exterminated on that fateful day, their enemies were destroyed! God turned an evil day for the Jews into good days. He turned their mourning into rejoicing and gave them victory over their enemies.

My friend, God can do the same for you today. He only wants you to remain in your position of rest in Christ. You see, because of Jesus’ finished work at the cross, you are seated in heavenly places in Christ, far above every principality, and evil assault the devil can throw at you. (Ephesians 2:6) Just as Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, and refused to stand up and bow to Haman, let’s not “bow” to the devil by allowing him to move us out of our position of rest in Christ. Don’t allow him to get you worried, frantic and doing things to save yourself.

Queen Esther was also in a position of rest before Haman was executed. She was seated on a couch as Haman pleaded before her for his life. While doing so, he accidentally fell over the couch where the queen was. The king, thinking that Haman was assaulting his queen, sent him to the gallows!

Beloved, remain at rest in Christ’s finished work, and He will turn your evil day into days of rejoicing and feasting!

The God Of More-Than-Enough

Luke 5:9

9For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken.

As a young Christian, I grew up hearing preachers say that God only supplies our needs, not our wants. Yet, in the Bible, God clearly shows us that He wants to meet not just our needs, but also our wants.
For example, the famous “shepherd psalm” begins with “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”. (Psalm 23:1) Another psalm says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:9–10)
One of the names of God is Jehovah-Jireh, which means “the all-providing One”, who provides more than enough. The God of more-than-enough came in the flesh and walked among His people. And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He would not give His disciples small blessings. That is why He said to Peter, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets [plural] for a catch,” (Luke 5:4) and not “let down your net [singular]”. And what a catch it turned out to be — a boat-sinking, net-breaking catch! It was such a big and unexpected blessing that Peter and all who were with him were “astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken”.
Beloved, see God’s heart for you today. He wants to prosper you greatly. Don’t settle for less, thinking that He only supplies your needs and not your wants. If you need a job, know that He wants you to pray not just for a job, but for a position. When you have a position, you have influence and you are able to impact lives. Maybe what you need is a pay increment. Then, pray not just for that, but also to be in a position to give increments!
You may start out poor when you follow God. But you cannot remain poor when you follow the God of more-than-enough. In fact, like Peter, you too will be astonished that the God of more-than-enough supplies more than what you need and beyond what you have asked!

Asking In Jesus' Name

John 16:23

23… Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.

Do you always end your prayers with “in Jesus’ name. Amen!”? Maybe your Sunday school teacher taught you to do this, or maybe you have heard church leaders and other believers utter it at the end of their prayers.
I used to say, “In Jesus’ name. Amen!” very quickly as if those were magic words that would get my prayers answered. Then, one day, I heard the Lord asking me why I was doing that.
God wanted me to realise that whenever I pray and say, “In Jesus’ name,” I am putting my entire faith for my prayer to be answered not in who I am, nor in what I have done, but on the person and name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and what He has done at the cross!
Whenever we ask anything in Jesus’ name, Jesus says to us, “… Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” This means that in your prayer for healing, when you say, “In Jesus’ name,” healing comes over your sick body and disease leaves the bodies of your loved ones because it is by His stripes that we are healed. (1 Peter 2:24) In your prayer for protection, when you say, “In Jesus’ name,” safety covers your family because the blood of Jesus protects and delivers from evil. (Exodus 12:13)
Beloved, the good name of your family cannot save you. Your pastor’s name cannot save you. Even the name of the latest medical breakthrough cannot save you. Only one name under heaven can save you — Jesus! And the good news is that in that name is salvation — healing, preservation, wholeness, wellness, provision, prosperity, safety and deliverance for you and your family!
So these days, whenever I pray, I slow down at the end of my prayer and say, “Father, I ask all this not based on what I have or have not done, but based on Jesus and His finished work at the cross. I ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen!”

Not Satisified With Just Being Saved

Genesis 12:7

7Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” And there he built an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.

I don’t know about you, but I am not satisfied with just knowing that I am righteous by faith. I also want to get to know the One who made me righteous. I want to have an intimate relationship with my Saviour!
Abraham was such a man. He was righteous by faith, but he also had a close walk with God and was blessed by God in all things. (Genesis 24:1) His nephew Lot, on the other hand, although righteous too (2 Peter 2:7–8), had no heart for God. He ended up losing a lot when Sodom, the city he dwelt in, was destroyed along with Gomorrah. He was saved by the skin of his teeth!
My friend, do you want to be a righteous-but-defeated Christian like Lot, or do you want to be a righteous-and-blessed Christian like Abraham? Then, like Abraham, have a heart for God.
From place to place, Abraham would build an altar to the Lord. And in between altars, he grew very rich! (Genesis 13:2) There is no record, however, of Lot ever building an altar to the Lord.
What is an “altar” in today’s context? It is a place where you know that you have a relationship with God. For example, when my late father was in the hospital, I was worried and did not know what to do. I remember driving down the road and crying. After a while, I just threw my cares to the Lord. When I reached the hospital, I just laid my hands on my father and said, “Be healed in Jesus’ name.” And he was healed! There was no need for surgery.
Till today, I can remember the place where I had cast my cares to the Lord. That is my “altar”. And it is not the only one.
We have got to have this kind of relationship with God, one full of “altars” that remind us of His love, goodness and faithfulness. Let’s not live the Christian life like Lot, saved by the skin of our teeth. Let’s walk closely with God as Abraham did, and be richly blessed in every area of our life!