PREPARING OURSELVES FOR A SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Pastor Jacqueline Makgato

Understanding Intercession

Pastor Jacqueline Makgato

“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

An intercessor is someone who has a special spiritual burden from the Lord to pray for a particular situation that threatens the order and stability in persons, families, communities or nations. The burden/anxiety he/she feels comes from his/her spiritual sensitivity to what others are feeling. 

Intercession focuses on other people’s needs. This is known as “the burden of the Lord.” The burden is a real distress on the intercessor which will not lift till he/she has prayed the matter through. Only then will great peace be experienced. Because of its selfless nature, this is God’s cherished prayer type.

Intercessors work directly with God to pray for His will to be done on earth and plead for His Kingdom to come. Intercessors are mediators between God and man; pleading with the Holy God for a sinful man. The plea is mostly repentance on behalf of sinners who attract God’s wrath on themselves; either deliberately or out of ignorance. It is praying God’s mercy to avert judgement on deserving sinners.

Although intercession is not mentioned among the five-fold ministries, the need for mediators to stand in the gab is expressed throughout the Scripture; the purpose being to avert God’s painful judgement on His wayward children. A vivid example is found in Genesis 18:16-32 where Abraham pleaded for God’s mercy over Sodom and Gomorrah, (two very wicked cities of that time) and God almost spared them. Moses pleaded for the rebellious Israelites several times on their way to the Promised Land. God heard his pleas and relented.

Intercessory prayer is a command from God to allow people to work as a unit in order to meet His standard. The following Scripture verses guide us to this need; Jeremiah 9:17-20; Isaiah 59:12-17; Isaiah 62:1-5; Ezekiel 22:30. 

In some instances intercessors are known as watchmen who give warning to kings, rulers, and nations of a looming danger or disaster. In Isaiah watchmen are said to position themselves on the walls of cities to see any danger as it approaches from a distance and to take the right steps to reverse that. 

At other times intercessors are referred to as prayer warriors who are guided by the Holy Spirit to wage spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness. They ensure that the angels of war invade the enemy camp to put a stop on satan’s operations in particular areas. Intercessors are called by God and endowed with a passionate spirit of prayer. They have a spiritual authority which is acquired through intensive training in the field of prayer and warfare.

Effective intercession is ignited up by the following;

1. Deep knowledge of the Word of God 
2. Meditation  (Joshua 1:8)
3. Regular communion with God until one is passionate about prayer 
4. Total reliance on the Holy Spirit for guidance (He is The Teacher, Guide, Counsellor, Advocate, Helper, etc.)
5. Consecration to holy living as is reflected in the Scriptures e.g. Galatians 5:22-24. (The fruit of the Holy Spirit are manifestations of obedience and submission)  
6. Walking by faith and vigilance

MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MISS YOUR SEASON

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

"Ask, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

Seek within your season. Seek also within the season of the thing you are looking for. Each one of us have a season. There is also a season for everything we are looking for.  Make sure you don't miss the season. “There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 MSG)

There is an appropriate time to do certain things in life. Farmers know this better. They never grow their crop out of season. It does not matter how experienced the farmer might be; he will wait until the turn of the season. He knows pretty well that, working against God’s natural setting, will only lead to crop failure. 

The same is true in life. Life has times and seasons. There is a time and a season to empower yourself with education and there is time to establish yourself in a career.    There is time to marry and raise a family, and there is time to consolidate your investments and prepare yourself for a financial independence. 

When you cooperate with the season you are in, you increase your chances to succeed in your endeavor. But the opposite is also true. When you disregard your season you minimize your chances of success. God “…has made everything beautiful in its time” (Ecclesiastes 1: 11) You can only flourish in your season. 

I think, some of you will concur with me when I say, it is hard to go back to school when you have a family to raise, and a career to pursue. I am not saying it is impossible. I am also not saying it is improper; please don't get me wrong. I know there are people who will always hear what you are not saying. I went through the same route myself. I was married and had a family and a career to follow in the insurance industry when I enrolled at a Bible College. I am not discouraging those who, due to reasons beyond their control, could not get the education they aspired at their time and, as such, had to go back to school. There are people I know personally who went back to school and made greats. All I am saying is, it is difficult for a family man or woman to pursue studies out of season. Many marriages ended up in a divorce court because of this. It is good when one achieves all his academic aspirations while raising a family; but it could have been much better when that was done at the right time and without casualties.

There are three things that affects our pursuits in life. One; when we pursue something ahead of time, two; when we pursue something behind time, and three; when we pursue something on time. You may be seeking something relevant but not get it because your petition is ahead of time or late. For example; a ten year old boy may ask God to grow him some beard. Will his petition be granted? No! Why? He is asking ahead of time. On the other hand; a seventy year old man may have heard the preacher preaching one Sunday quoting the same Scripture that when you seek you will find. In trying to practice the verse, the old man is now seeking a place in the national soccer team. 

Have you realize how difficult it is to get married when you have missed your time? First; almost all your age group is no longer available. So, the pool of prospects have shrunk. Second; due to your experience in life, you make unrealistic demands. No one can meet such ridiculous demands, not even yourself.

Jesus said; “seek and you will find.” Indeed you will find when you seek; especially when you seek at the right time and season. Be careful not to be ahead or behind time. Results come rolling when you are spot on time.

Here is another thing to note; seasons are not permanent. They are a passing stage. Grab them with both hands while it is time. Do everything you need to do in season. Why waste time and play when you could be putting things together in your season. How hard it is to plough when it has not rained.

There is a time and a season to be born again, and, if you miss it; you may never be saved in your entire life. Some people heard the gospel at their season and were ready to be saved. However; due to unknown reasons; they put it off and not respond to the call. They postpone, and miss their season. Because they were so close and yet did not act; the devil hardens their hearts and blinds their eyes that they may not see the gospel in the same light again. The Spirit declares through Paul; “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

When you hear the gospel and it appeals to you; know that it is your season. It is your time to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It will be a fatal mistake, the worst mistake of your life to let the time pass by. Of course preachers will preach again but you will never understand it the way you did that day until God gives you another grace. Friend! Do not let your season pass by.

SEEK ACCORDING TO HOW YOU HAVE BEEN WIRED

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

"Ask, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

Each and every one of us is wired in a particular way. By the way, I first heard of this expression “how you have been wired” from Rick Warren. When I learned that, like vehicles, people are also wired, I got impressed. 

Jesus declared; “Seek and you will find.” To help us seek in order to find, we need to know how we have been wired. We need to know how we have been capacitated to function. The way we are wired is the way we are talented. 

Who wires people? I think, since we have been created by God, it must be God who wired us. No one can wire himself or others. You can influence others, alright? But as for wiring, only God does the job. God, in His sovereignty, decides who and how every one of us is wired. We can learn skills but talents, we are born with. Of course, talents are perfected through skill but you cannot produce talent through skill. Talents, we are born with. You cannot cut and paste talent.

We are all wired with particular talents to enable us to carry out certain roles. God has given each man some natural abilities to be able to do specific activities. Jubal, the descendant of Cain was the father of “all those who played the harp and flute.” (Genesis 4:21) 

Do not try to do everything

I have realized that hands can be trained to master a variety of skills. Hands can learn almost anything. Many people have acquired some skills and are making a living out of that. They are not making tremendous success; they are just getting by. They will work and retire that way because they are not operating according to how they have been wired. On the other hand, a 23 year old boy is making millions just by kicking the ball. 

Although we may be skilled to do many things, we cannot do everything. So, when we set out to seek, we need to know what to seek. We should not chase after everything just because it glitters. Certainty to find what we seek comes from a focussed effort. 

How can one do that? Follow your PASSION. Passion is the fire that keeps burning from within.  This is the fire that  gives you energy to KEEP SEEKING. Those without passion will be the first to stop when things don't work as expected. They burn out far ahead of their time. 

Many people set up businesses to try their luck in the commercial world. But, ultimately, the business ends up trying them. It ends up testing their passion for business. If you don't have business inside, don't try to put it there. Before you start any business, it must already be inside there. This is the fire that is going to keep you going when your business is in the lowest valley. 

Seek what is already inside. You have been wired to achieve what is already inside of you. You see, when you seek something; you are in fact looking for an opportunity to manifest what is already inside of you. You are looking for a bill board upon which you can exhibit the hidden talent in your heart. 

To seek in order to find what you seek, you must follow your talent; follow your passion. This is how you have been wired to function.

REACH MY GOALS? BUT WHERE DO I START

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

"Ask, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

When you don’t find what you are looking for, it might be that you are looking at a wrong place. Or, you did not look for it enough. You did not seek enough. Look for it until you find it. When you pursue it with all your heart you will find it. Seek, and you will find.

I know, it’s easy to say; “look for it until you find it,” as my father used to say to me. But when you have tried and have not succeeded, it’s really frustrating. 

The secret of finding what you want in life is to first seek One who created what you are looking for. First, look for one who knows where it is that you are looking for. It is more frustrating to seek and keep on seeking in the dark. But, once you find the light; once you find someone to guide you, life becomes easy. Someone somewhere knows where to find what you are looking for. 

There is a powerful statement which was uttered by Jesus one day when He taught the multitudes.  I believe this will share more light to our discussion. Matthew captured it and recorded it in chapter six, verse thirty-three. Here it goes; “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Listen to how it is phrased in the Amplified Version; “But seek, aim at and strive after, first of all His kingdom and His righteousness, His way of doing and being right, and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.”

Seek God first

God is the creator of everything, seen and unseen. He created the heavens and the earth. “For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels—everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him.” (Colossians 1:16) He knows where to find what we are looking for and how best we can do that. He profile tells it all. 

Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him. Will it not also be true that the shortest route to our goals in life starts with Him. 

Once we establish a relationship with Him, He will teach us all things. He will lead us into all truth for He is the way and the truth. The starting point and the finishing post of every plan and pursuit must be Him. Every one of our goals must start in Him, He must be the reason we are doing what we are doing, and finally, He must be the reason to believe we have arrived. He must be the One to announce as we touch the finishing line. "Well done, good and faithful servant!"

Seek the way He does things

God has His way of doing things. Amazingly, His ways differ three hundred and sixty degrees with our ways. Without God, man is moving in an opposite direction with God, and without help, he is heading for destruction.

Hear what God says;

“I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” 

(Isaiah 55:8 MSG)

It has always been God’s desire for His children to study the Bible so that they can understand His ways. We always get into all sorts of trouble when we ignore His way of doing things and pursue our own. Most of the problems we have in life today are as a results of man disregarding God’s ways? 

Throughout the Bible God graciously reveals His ways to mankind. With stories and examples, teaching “precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.” (Isaiah 28:10)

“People who don’t know God and the way He works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works.” (Matthew 6:33 MSG) 

HEAR OH MORTAL MAN! YOU CAN’T DO IT ON YOUR OWN!

LOOK FOR IT UNTIL YOU FIND IT

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

"Ask, and it will be given to you; SEEK, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

I like it in the Amplified Version. It says; “Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.” The key word is ‘keep on.’ You find what you keep on looking for.

I remember what my late father would usually say to me when I grew up. Whenever he sends me to get him something; for instance, a tin of polish or a hammer or something else and I come back saying; I can’t find it; he would send me back saying; “look for it until you find it.” As a young boy, I did not learn anything out of that. But now; after all these years, I am beginning to see some nuggets in it. Go, “look for it until you find it” 

Today, whenever I look for something and maybe I don't find it, I would always say to myself; “you didn’t look for it enough. Go and look for it until you find it.” I would go back and earnestly look for it. When I do; I ultimately end up finding it. I now know that if you are really looking for something; you will find it if you keep on looking for it. I have developed a habit out of it. Each time I don't find what I am looking for, I would remind myself; “you did not look for it enough”

Many of our failures are as a result of half-heartedness in whatever we do. How many times have we set our minds to seek something but when we don't find it we just give up and say I can’t find it. We do just enough to justify our failure; just enough to ease the burden on our conscience. We do just enough to quieten our inner voice. I wonder why we get so comfortable when we can’t find what we initially set ourselves out to do. God sent Jeremiah to Judah to teach the same lesson we are learning today. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Friend, your life is not like shelves or reels in the shop where merchandize is lined up for you to pick any size whenever you like. Nothing of real value is found on the surface. You are going to have to dig, hunt and search a little more. Fish is not caught in shallow waters; you have to launch out into the deep for a real catch. Frogs and crabs are found in shallow waters but deep water hake in deep oceans. 

Today is the 5th day of November. We are approaching December month; the 31st in particular. Once more we are going to make some new year resolutions. But, before we do that, may we check how far we have gone. May we evaluate our progress please? Are we winning? Are we keeping up with the plan? Some are, but, some are not. What went wrong? Is it the plan that was wrong or the year that was too short perhaps? 

Where did we miss it? I think that should not be the question. The question should be;  DID WE SEEK AND KEEP ON SEEKING? The Bible says; “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” 

If you don't find what you are looking for, it might be that you did not look for it diligently. When you seek, seek like, indeed, you want to find the answer. Seek like your life depends on what you are looking for. Seek with all your heart. God reveals His plans to those who are committed to His ways. 

WHAT DO YOU WANT IN LIFE?

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)

In one of His greatest teachings, Jesus taught how we can have what we desire. He gave us three promises as recorded in the above Scripture. He said we should ASK, SEEK and KNOCK. For the next three days we will be discussing these promises.

When Paul closed his famous chapter (1Corinthians chapter 13) he wrote these words in verse thirteen; “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love,” I also want to say; and now ASK, SEEK, KNOCK, this three; but the greatest of them is ASK. 

If you can pay a little attention you will see that the word ASK is an acronym of ask, seek and knock. ASK summarizes the three and binds them together. All three operate together through ASK. When you seek you ask and when you knock you ask. 

A - ASK

S - SEEK

K - KNOCK

Jesus said when we lack something; we should ask for it. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, James added; “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5)

This is the promise that Heaven is eagerly waiting to see Christians take advantage of. God is a good God. He does not change. Above all; He keeps His promises. The Bible is the book of His promises and examples of their fulfillment. So then, if God is a Promise Keeper; how come we go around in life lacking all that He said we should have?

The problem is we don't ask. Even if we do, we don't do it the right way. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss,” (James 4:3) There is the right way of doing everything. Things are easier when you use the right method. It’s easy to reach the North Pole if you travel north. But if you travel south hoping to reach the same destination, you will have to travel twice the distance before you arrive. Have anyone shifted the finishing post? No, you took the wrong route. 

Well, if there is a wrong way of asking or praying, then there should be the right way to do the same. Here is the right way to ask from God

Ask in faith. 

“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive…” (Matthew 21:22)

This means we should ask completely convinced that what we ask for shall be given to us. The Bible teaches us that; in fact we have already received our petition. Jesus said we should  believe when we ask. We don't ask and wait to see IF what we asked for will be given to us; no; we believe while we are asking or praying. We believe that we already have what we asked for. We may not have the manifestation as we stand there praying, but, in the spirit our petition has been granted and dispatch already. We don't have to see anything to believe it is so. Things in the natural world are determined by five senses; what we see, what we hear, smell, taste and touch. Hence the statement; seeing is believing. But what about if you are only seeing an impression? However; in the spirit the opposite is true: believing is seeing. We don’t walk by sight; we walk by faith.

Ask according to God’s will 

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” (1John 5:14,15)

God laid down some promises in the Bible which He expect us to follow when we deal with Him. To ask according to God’s will is to ask according to God’s promises. In simple terms; to ask according to God’s will is to ask according to the Bible. For instance; you don't just wake up the next morning and say; “God, I want so and so’s wife. Give her to me.” How can He give you so and so’s wife when He has already said in the Bible; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife and commit adultery? Will it still be in order if someone asks God for your wife? No, my friend; God is the God of order. He is not the author of confusion.

Will this not be one of the reasons some prayers go unanswered? Pray or ask according to God’s will and wait in faith and see if God will not answer your prayer.

Ask in Jesus’ Name

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:23,24)

We don't ask from Jesus. We don't pray to Jesus - we pray to God. Many times we find ourselves praying or asking from Jesus. This is not according to God’s will. Jesus, Himself says; “in that day you will ask Me nothing.” Jesus was referring to this days we are living in. We might as well read it this way; “in this day we will ask Him nothing” Remember; the key point in prayer is “according to His will” and we said the Bible is His will. 

We do not ask from Jesus. We ask from the Father in Jesus’ Name for “God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus) and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) This is God’s arrangement and if you want to get your prayers answered, if you want your petitions granted; you better pray or ask according to the arrangement.

What to do after “Amen”

It is always after you have said, ‘amen’ at the end of that beautiful and powerful prayer that the pendulum begins to swing backward and forward. From faith to doubt. Feelings begin to alter your faith. So what do you do then? 

You wait. This is the testing station where every prayer is evaluated. Many answers are aborted here. Let us not forget that, when Jesus said, “Ask and you shall receive” He did not fix the promise to any time frame. Time should not determine how long we should wait until the prayer is answered. Our faith in the promise should be the determining factor. We should not validate God’s promises by how quick He answers our prayers. He is God when He delays our answers; He is God when He is spot on and He is still God when He answers our prayers while the prayer is still in our mouth. 

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

(Isaiah 40:31)

God answers prayers. We have all the reasons to believe that our prayers will be answered "for everyone who asks receives…” Matthew 7:8

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT YOUR PRAYERS AND PETITIONS ARE RECEIVING ATTENTION

HOW TO DEAL WITH YOUR FEAR TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Here's where you should start

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

Have you been to church today? Do you remember what your pastor preached about? Go out to your friends at work, at school or around where you live and share what you heard today. This is what God said to you today. He said it through his servant - the preacher. The pastor preached the message and now you go and share it. If they record sermons at your church, buy one  - especially today's message and give it to someone. This is how to share the gospel. You share what you have heard or seen. This makes you a witness. 

Suppose through reasons beyond your control you could not be at the worship centre today. Well, take the messages that you read from this website and share with others. The important thing is that you share what you've heard. Why do it with bad stories and never with good ones?

Also get into a habit of sharing what you have read about in the Bible. Every time you read the Bible, God shares some truths into your heart. This is what you need to share with others. When God reveals something to you through His word, He is making you the prophet of the moment. 

Jesus said in Acts 1:8; "but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth." We are being saved and filled with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to what Jesus has done to us and for us. 

You don't have to be a preacher. Not all are called to preach. But all of us are called to be witnesses to people around us. There was a young man who was born blind. He did not know Jesus. But Jesus healed him and his sight was restored. When the Jews  questioned the young man about Him he said; I don't know him, "but I know one thing for sure: I was blind . . . I now see.” John 9:25 MSG His testimony was nothing but what Jesus did for him. "Once I was blind, but now I can see. What did Jesus do for you? This is your testimony - share it with others.

FEAR TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

"But Moses protested again, 'What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?'” Exodus 4:1

How many times have you felt inside that people will not believe you when you share with them what you believe God is urging you to do so? How many times have you called yourself to order and said; "it's just me?" 

Each time you say its just me; deep in your heart you know it's not just your thoughts. You know it is something bigger than your thoughts. It is God wanting to speak to someone though you. God wants to reach out to someone through you. God wants you to be the prophet of the moment today.

"What if they won't believe me or listen to me?" See how Moses extended his list of excuses when God sent him to king Pharaoh? God met with him at the burning bush when Moses was shepherding his father-in-law's sheep at the slopes of Mount Sinai. Then the Lord told him, "I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering.... Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”" Exodus 3:7,10

Although Moses was convinced it was God who was speaking to Him, nonetheless, due to fear he advances one excuse after the other. But God was patient with Moses. He handled every objection; from "who am I" to "who are you:" from "I can't speak well" to "what if they won't believe."

Haven't you realize how hard it is to satisfy someone who has a hidden problem? When you thought you have remove the main obstacle, he comes up with another. If fact, he does not have any obstacle; he puts obstacles in his way by himself. So was Moses.

The actual reason Moses was reluctant to go back to Egypt was that he was afraid. I don't know whether he was afraid of the pending murder case that led him to exile or the whistle blower among his own people who saw him commit the very act. But Moses was afraid.

For all the years I have been a Christian and have read through the Bible several times, I was shocked to see this verse in the same chapter. Verse 31 says "and the people believed and when they heard that the Lord visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped." And the people believed. People are ready to believe - especially when they are afflicted. This is why if they do not get the truth they will believe a lie. 

When God impresses upon you to share the good news with someone; instead of thinking about what the person's reaction will be, think about what God's reaction will be if you won't. Let what the person might say weigh less than what God said. God will never change His mind about what He said to you but he (the person God wants you to speak to) may change his mind. 

It does not matter how fearsome someone looks like. If God sends you to him with the gospel do so and do not be afraid - go ahead. His response is not what directs your course. You see God is different from people. With Him the outcome is not as important as OBEDIENCE. May the same be true with us today. As servants, we are called to carry orders with complete obedience and the outcomes we leave to God. Good day

YOUR SEASON HAS COME

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

Behold this is the time of refreshment. Barren women will conceive way beyond menopause. Sons will be born to old men who are well advanced in age. This will indeed happen for with God nothing will be impossible. The time is now. Lift up your eyes and see, trees are blossoming. New leaves will soon cover the tree - the crown is forming. Behold, the promise is ready. Look at Abraham and Sarah; Zachariah and Elizabeth; Mary and Joseph and believe that it will also happening in your life.

Churches will begin to take shape and become a reality in the area God has planted them. Men of God who have been discouraged will find strength to rise up and do great exploit in the kingdom of God whose King is Jesus of Nazareth. Businesses will begin to prosper and yield four hundred, six hundred and others hundred fold in the same year. Health will be restored to the sick while many who have been wondering in the wilderness of uncertainty, lost in the sea of troubled waters will anchor and be back in their right mind. Clap your hands and leap for joy for your season has started. You are highly favored to be living in this season. Rejoice and be glad for the Lord has spoken.

DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

- Pastor Maselo Mosomane

I was in a Christian book shop one Saturday to buy myself a new bible. My old bible is old indeed. It is falling apart. Sometimes this happens when I am on the podium preaching. I have always been putting this off but this time I gathered my courage and held my neck tight and straight and walked into the book shop. When I was at the counter finalizing the transaction; I saw a young man right there behind the counter. I asked him this question; ‘Do you know Jesus?’ He hesitated a little and answered; “Yes.” I quickly made a follow up and asked; ‘where is He?’ Before he could utter a word his eyes grew bigger and rolled three times faster. He looked confused by my question. After much consideration he attempted to give it a shot. He struggled through it like a multiple choice question in an exam room. Finally said; “in heaven.”

The next Sunday I asked five ladies the same question. We had a feeding scheme at our church at that time. After every service on Sunday we would gather at the public park and feed the hungry. These five ladies pitched up too. My wife and other ladies in the church served them food. While they were seated and enjoying the meal, I asked them the same question I asked the young man at the bookshop. ‘Do you know Jesus?’ All of them openly confessed that they do not know Him. I shared the Word with them and when I asked if they wanted to know Him, all of them raised their hand. I prayed with them and they received Him. They received Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

Let’s come back to our friend at the book shop I visited that Saturday. He pretended to know Jesus. When I asked him where Jesus is he got confused and said this through his confusion; “in heaven.”

There are many people who when confronted with this simple question would not know what to say. Some would try to sound good and say “yes” though in their heart they know they don’t know Him. Some would show a religious boldness and say, yes! But my friend, in reality, the answer is not in the mouth. The answer is in the heart and comes through the mouth. The bible says; “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” Romans 10:8. The answer to this question should not only be in your mouth; it’s got to be in your mouth and in your heart too. It’s not good enough to know what to say or what answers to give when asked. The answer must come from your heart. The answer must first be in your heart and then in your mouth. What does this mean? It means you believe and then speak. Even in the natural, good and honest answers are not those that fly out of the mouth but those that flow from the heart and out through the mouth. This is what the Spirit meant in 2 Corinthians 4:13; “I believed and therefore I spoke.” We also believe and therefore speak.

The guy at the book shop spoke before he believed. It does not work that way. It’s like you are putting a card in front of the horse. If you speak without believing or before you believe; your words lack power to manifest what you say. The power of the word is in your heart and your heart is where believing takes place. You believe with your heart; not with your mouth. We don’t believe with our mouths.

Jesus only comes into your life when the mouth and the heart cooperate and work in harmony. How? Heart first; then mouth. Believing first; then talking. It does not matter how much or how long you speak; as long as what you say does not come from what you believe in your heart; no matter how correct your words may be, the power of the word will not be released. Words are spoken across the human lips but power is released from the heart. Unless this sequence is followed, your words will always be powerless. How many words do you speak per day? How much power do you release every time you speak? Think about it. Unless what you say comes from what you believe in your heart; you are like a sounding cymbal.

Why did this guy at the book shop hesitated before He could give the answer? He hesitated because he did not have the answer in his heart and he first had to formulate it in his mind. Remember; the word is not said to be in the mind and in the mouth. The Scripture does not say the word is in the mouth and in the mind. It has nothing to do with the mind. He said when he answered me; “yes, I know Jesus” When I asked him where He is he said; “in heaven.” It is true, He is in heaven. But when you come to know Him, He comes and stay in your heart. When you believe in Him as Saviour, He comes and stay in your heart. He comes and become Lord in your heart and also in your life. You don’t know Him until He is in your heart. You may give good, intelligent answers; I agree, but as long as He is not in your heart, you don’t know Him.

The five ladies at the public park did not hide anything; they came out open and said; “No, we do not know Jesus.” When I shared the Word with them, they believed in their hearts. I shared the Word about Jesus; who He is and what He can do for them. When they heard that Jesus could save their lives and forgive their sins, they believed in their hearts. They demonstrated their faith (i.e. they believed what I said Jesus is able to do for them) When I asked them to pray with me, they were ready to speak with their mouths what they believe in their hearts. Jesus revealed Himself to them by coming into their hearts and saved them from their sins.

Friend; how long have you been dodging this question? Sometimes this question would be asked by people who preach the gospel like me; sometimes by a silent question in your heart. DO YOU KNOW JESUS? I am not talking about belonging to a church; I am talking about knowing Jesus. DO YOU KNOW JESUS?

It’s time you stop sticking your head in the sand of arguments or hiding in fox holes of tradition and answer this question with all honesty. You may be like that guy in the book shop and pretend you know Him, but that silent voice inside will not keep quiet until you tell him the truth. Or you can be like those five ladies at the public park and tell it like it is and admit; “No.” You see, it is only when you give an honest answer that Jesus would introduce Himself to you.

If you insist that you know Him when you have never met Him and He has never introduced Himself to you; you are deceiving yourself. You might have heard others say He is Jesus but you don’t know Him personally. You only depend on what others say. But if you can open up to Him and say; “Jesus, I don’t know you. I want to know you. May you please introduce yourself to me?” He will sure introduce Himself to you.

How do you do that? First be honest to admit that you don’t know Him. Second; listen to what the Word says about Him. This is going to come by preachers who will tell you about Him. Third; believe what they tell you about Him. Fourth; confess what you believe in your heart about Him. What does this mean? Simple; say out with your mouth what you believe in your heart about who Jesus is. You may probably need someone to help you. Humble yourself and have someone who knows Him lead you into His presence. If you follow these steps; my friend you will come to know who Jesus is.

Would you pray this short prayer with me?

Today I admit that I do not know Jesus

I have heard about Him, but

I have never known Him personally

As I have just finished reading this article

I choose to believe all that was said about Him

I now confess with my mouth that

Jesus is Lord

I believe He died on the cross to save me

He was buried in a tomb

But after three days God raised Him from the dead

I put my trust in Him today

And now believe I am saved

Thank you.

Amen.

THE MUSTARD SEED SIZE OF FAITH

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

“And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” So the Lord said, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” Luke 17:5, 6. 

When the disciples saw what Jesus did; the miracles He performed and the healing crusades He conducted, they marveled. When they heard the messages He was preaching and saw the crowds He pulled they were speechless. I mean they have just heard Him teach about Lazarus and the rich man followed by the principle of forgiveness and that was just enough to move them.

They wanted to be like their Master; but it seemed He was always walking faster than they could. They remembered what He said in John 14:12 when He said; “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” They thought to themselves; “the key is in believing – the key is in faith.” They so wanted to have this power they could not wait. And they made a move. They said to Jesus; Lord, “increase our faith.”

Is this not what we’ve always been crying for? “If God could just increase my faith, I would do great exploits” We always push the responsibility away from us. “It is not that I am not willing: I am still waiting for the Lord to increase my faith”

In response to their request Jesus taught them another lesson. “So then the Lord said, ‘if you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you’” Yesterday on my way from church I got into Spar Shopping Center at The Orchards and among other things, I bought a small 100g plastic bag of mustard seeds. I didn’t open the plastic bag but just by the look of eyes the little container may be containing more than 1000 tiny seeds. Then I thought about what Jesus said to His disciples in the opening verses. I was impressed by the size of these tiny seeds. I compared them with an avocado seed and said wow! What a difference! Avos have big seeds!

There are two important lessons we can learn from this conversation;

Lesson No. 1

Just like an avocado seed (which is almost a million times the size of a mustard seed) a tiny mustard seed is able to grow a big tree. It does not require a big seed to grow a big tree. Even a tiny seed like a mustard seed can grow a big tree. It is not about the size – it is not the size of the seed that counts. You don’t buy a big seed in order to grow a big tree; it does not always work like that. The size of the seed has nothing to do with the size of the tree.

What Jesus was saying to His disciples differs completely with what we are used to. You see in the world big is beautiful. Big is best. We like big cars. Due to high oil prize automobile manufacturers are these days manufacturing small cars. Because the world system has branded in our minds that big is equivalent to success; people cut an ordinary car in the middle and extend it to a bigger car and call it a Limousine. We like big houses. Everything we buy must be big. Big has turned into a brand name. Most women like tall and broad-shouldered guys who towers over them when they walk around together. Many have lost their marriage opportunities just because they are still waiting for the tall, broad-shouldered guy to show up. It’s not in the height my sister; it’s not in the shoulders; it’s not in what he has. It’s instead in who he is.

But Jesus taught something different. He taught that value is not measured by size. It is measured by the capacity and properties in the product. When the disciples asked for Jesus to increase their faith He said something else. When they thought with big faith they could do the works of Christ; He said something else. When they bargained for more He said ‘list’ will still do. He said to them; “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” In Matthew 17:20 He says “…if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘move… and it will do just that.

It’s not about the size; it’s about the hidden abilities in the seed. One guy once said; “it’s not the size of the dog that counts in the fight; it is the size of the fight in a dog that counts.” Don’t be deceived by measurements. Your faith, which in your eyes is small, is able to accomplish whatever your need may be. Quit judging your faith on the ‘big and small’ measurements because in the spirit sizes does not count.

Lesson No.2

Let me tell you what makes the difference. Action! All you need is to act on your faith no matter how little it might count on your weighing scale. Faith does not have to be big before it can work. Jesus said like a mustard seed, your small faith is capable of producing as much as an avocado seed size of faith; if you can just apply it. Every seed - every faith is able to release what is packed in it when it is sown.

Look into your life and check how many times you’ve been holding yourself back simply because you thought your faith was not big enough. I encourage you today; step out by faith and let your small faith do big works. Throw away the tape measure; throw away the weighing scale and release that mustard seed size of faith and leave it all to God.
(Message first published on the 9th December 2012 under the title: WHAT MAKES FAITH WORK by the same author)

TWO LETTERS FROM BABYLON

Pastor Maselo Mosomane

Daniel 3:28-30

“Then Nebuchadnezzar said,

Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego!

He sent his angel to rescue His servants who trusted in Him.

They defied the king’s command and were willing to die

Rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

Therefore, I make this decree:

If any people, whatever their race or nation or language,

Speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,

They will be torn limb from limb,

And their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble.

There is no other god who can rescue like this!”

Daniel 6:25-27

“The King Darius wrote:

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you.

I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom

Men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel

For He is the living God, and steadfast forever;

His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and

His dominion shall endure to the end.

He delivers and rescues, and

He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth,

Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.

These two letters come from Babylon and are addressed to specific audience; namely, “all people, race, nations, languages that dwell in all the earth.” They are addressed to people and governments – worship communities included. They are written to individuals walking down the streets of world class city and sewerage-soaked narrow streets in the ghettos and townships at the doorsteps of cities and towns alike. They are written to poverty-stricken individuals down the meandering dusty roads of insignificant villages all over the face of the earth.

Though the letters are two, the message is one. Though the authors are two, the message remains one. Empires and eras may differ but the message does not. Though the audience may change and differ from yesterday, today and tomorrow; the message still seek audience from every generation. It has been packaged and interpreted in almost all the know languages of the world. It is spoken across the planet through airwaves and every modern form of communication system or media network.

OH NATIONS OF THE WORLD; HEAR THE MESSAGE!

God is one - there is no other god. People may be numerous, nations may be many but God is one. Nations may have their own deity and nickname them gods but that will not make them God. There is no other god. It doesn’t matter how or what you believe. There is only one God. He ordered that people should all come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. He said that day when John baptized Jesus; “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Mister little “g” god, you are not God. There is only one God; His name is Jehovah and His Son is Jesus Christ.

God is the living God - He is not dead. Though nations may have their own divinities; they are not alive but dead. For instance; ancestors are playing a significant role in African religion; I know. But they are dead and not alive. That’s why they are worshiped at the graveyard. Graveyards are places of the dead all over the world; this is common knowledge no one pays for. If ancestors were gods; let them rise up and live.

Jesus rose again and took upon His body and lived again. Yes, He took upon His body. That’s why He said to Thomas; “reach your finger here, and look at My hands, and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” John 20:27 Jesus took up His body and lived again. He was not a ghost or just an imaginary presence.  He rose from the dead and, for forty days He was seen by many. He was finally seen by more than five hundred people at a time. Hence we confess with our mouths the LORD JESUS and believe in our hearts that GOD HAS RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD. Jesus is alive!

Fear God – the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. In order to be democratically aligned and ballot friendly, governments come up with policies that propagate inclusivity. They defy the only True God and bringing Him to the same table with idols. When they celebrate or inaugurate something, they call upon all the deities of the world – God included. They neither fear God nor revere Him. They promote all sorts of abominations in the name of CULTURE. We all know that every nation has its own culture, but, with the same breath, let it be known that all cultures of the world are man-made. Man made them and man changes them when it suits him. But God is not man-made and He does not change. GOD IS SELF-EXISTENT

Oh people of the world know that you were created in the image of God. You were fearfully and wonderfully made; God made you upright. Why do you sought for many ways to destroy yourself? Why do you despise God

Fear the Lord;

a.    Do not speak a word against God

b.   For His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed

c.    His dominion shall endure to the end

d.   He delivers and rescue

e.   He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth