Did God truly give us a brain so we won’t disturb Him anymore?
It’s so common to hear these days … “Use common sense bro!”, “common sense is not common”,
laying emphasis on why you should apply common sense to resolve day to day life’s issues.
One of the things I discovered from the study of psychology was the contrast between some “common sense” facts vis-à-vis reality from both scientific and social research point of view.
Some popular common sense beliefs have been proven to be wrong! The fact that certain things are the norms (belonging to the pool of common sense) does not make them right. Sometimes our common sense prevents us from doing critical thinking about some issues.
“Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen.” Albert Einstein, Physicist.
“Common sense is a very tricky instrument; it is as deceptive as it is indispensable.” Susanne, K. Langer, Philosopher.
Below are few examples of some common sense that were proven wrong based on research (culled from Social Psychology textbook by Saul Kassin & Colleagues)
Common sense: “Children do not tend to show biases based on race; it is only after they become adolescents that they learn to respond to people differently based on race”. Whereas research has shown that “Children learn about social categories quite early and use stereotypes when they are very young. Children show biases in favor of the racial in-group on both explicit and implicit measures”
Common sense: “People brainstorming as a group come up with a greater number of better ideas than the same number of people working individually” Whereas research has shown that “groups in which members interact face-to-face produce fewer creative ideas when brainstorming than the same number of people brainstorming alone”
Common sense: “People will cheer louder when they cheer as part of a group than when they cheer alone” Whereas research has shown that “people tend to put less effort into collective tasks. Such as group cheering than into tasks when their individual performance can be identified and evaluated”
Common sense: “When it comes to romantic relationships, opposites attract [behavior]” Whereas research has shown that “consistently, people are attracted to others who are similar”.
Common sense: “In an emergency, a person who needs help has a much better chance of getting it if three other people [or more] are present than if only one other person is present” Whereas research has shown that “in several ways, the presence of others inhibits helping” [it’s called the bystander’s effect]
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying all common sense is wrong, but the fact is that not all common sense is right as shown from the research above. You’ve got to engage critical thinking and analysis before taking a decision. To just take a decision by following the common trend can be a recipe for disaster!
Now let’s look at it from a different dimension, from the biblical and Christian point of view, I’ve heard so many people say that the reason why God gave us the brain is so that we shouldn’t bother Him (that again is another common sense)… before I go further on that, please note that “there is no matter too small to discuss with God and there is no matter too big to discuss with Him”, I’m not saying that you should ask if you should visit the toilet or not when you are pressed to do so…of course if you ask, God will not be angry at you…just that you may not get an answer” but the point I’m making is that when it comes to certain life’s decisions which you know that the result is consequential, even though you can think through it, you can’t boldly say: “let me not bother God with this, or I can handle it all by myself” what many of us don’t even know or we fail to realize is that some of the things we assume are coming from our brains are actually the Voice of God speaking to us… The bible says “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us” Ephesians 3:20… If you are a Christian, at that time you are thinking about a solution, be aware that the Holy Spirit dwells in you and can influence your decision processes (the power that works within us), so when you come up with a very plausible idea, don’t acclaim the result to your ability to think or your ability to use your head, rather praise God for giving you such an idea… The bible again says “You shall remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day” – Deuteronomy 8:18
So you now see that as a Christian (genuinely born again), your thinking is as powerful as your prayers (that does not mean you won’t talk to God anymore and the only thing you do is think….), If you understand what fellowship with God is all about then you will know that if you are in His presence you can discuss anything with Him. If you walk with the Holy Spirit then you will realize that He is ever with you, at school, work, field, anywhere and He is more than willing to help you on everything you are doing (even when designing a website or planning a business trip).
The case of Joseph was a clear case of how God can really help our intelligence, After Joseph interpreted the dream of Pharaoh, he also gave pharaoh the solution to the problem, of course, that wisdom transcends common sense! It was God at work in his life. There was no way Joseph could on his own power think it through!
Like I said earlier, I’m not saying you should switch off your brain cells when making decisions, neither I’m I condemning common sense, of course you know it makes good sense to sleep early if you don’t want to wake up late. what I’m saying is that know that there is a God factor even when you are using your brain… so don’t ascribe your success or great ideas to yourself (it will amount to PRIDE)… no wonder the bible says: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths (proverbs 3: 5-6) … It again says I know, O LORD, that a man’s way is not in himself, nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps (Jeremiah 10:23).
So in conclusion, learn to depend on God when taken decisions in life, use common sense where applicable but don’t lean on common sense, don’t lean on your own understanding, DON’T MAKE COMMON SENSE YOUR SENSE BY DEFAULT rather, lean on God. Lean on the wisdom of God.
When you begin to use more of God’s wisdom rather than the wisdom of men in taking financial decisions, business decisions, choice of spouse, choice of career etc…You will realize that God can begin to give you great ideas that defeat the norms of our days… come to think of it, Elisha told the woman that was already in serious debt, to go and borrow vessels not a few… don’t you think the people might think what’s this woman up to again?….wants to borrow our vessels so she could sell and make money?… I’m sure you remember the story, she became an oil distributor! No human sense could deliver that woman from the bondage of debt except God’s divine intervention (2 Kings 4: 1-6)
Unfortunately, in our days we lay more emphasis on “OUR ABILITY” than “GOD’S ABILITY” we rather believe in ourselves than we believe in God to help us! Solomon in his wisdom concluded: “Again, I observed this on the earth: the race is not always won by the swiftest, the battle is not always won by the strongest; prosperity does not always belong to those who are the wisest, wealth does not always belong to those who are the most discerning, nor does success always come to those with the most knowledge–for time and chance may overcome them all” Ecclesiastes 9:11 (NET Bible). Again the bible says “those that wait on the Lord shall renew their strengths” Apostle Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Philippians 4:3
We need to acknowledge the Grace of God that gives us wisdom and strength! Many are smarter than we are and are nowhere to be found today!
We often fail to see the invisible forces behind our visible world! May God open our eyes to see beyond what the common man can see!
Let’s yield our whole life to God! And begin to acknowledge God in all that we do!
That songwriter says: Take my life and let it be, consecrated Lord to thee…
Today you can accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior if you have not already done so.
God bless you!
Written by:
Paul Ojomu
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IMPARTATION SERVICE – 21ST OCTOBER 2018 ANCHOR SCRIPTURE(S): JAMES 5:13-16 MESSAGE TOPIC: RECEIVING DIVINE HEALING
SERVICE OBJECTIVE: Understanding how to receive Divine Healing or be restored back to health
Divine healing is available as a provision of God for His people (Jer. 30:17; 3John 1:2; Ex. 15:26; Ps. 103:1-3; Isa. 30:26)
The best way to live is living in Divine health
WHERE HEALTH IS CHALLENGED, WHAT DO YOU DO TO BE RESTORED?
1. Receiving the sent Word (Ps. 107:20; Luke 5:15; 6:17)
LEVELS OF WORD TO CONNECT WITH FOR HEALING:
1a. Connecting the written Word in the area of health and healing
1b. Listening to healing Scriptures
1c. Listening to the preached Word on the subjects of faith, Divine healing and Divine health
i. The Word of God is pregnant with healing virtue (Prov. 4:20-22)
ii. The Word of God imparts faith and faith makes whole (Rom. 10:8, 17; Matt. 9:22)
iii. The Word of God transmits the life of God (John 6:63)
2. Speaking to the mountain (Mark 11:23-24; Joel 3:10; Num. 14:28)
WHAT SPEAKING TO THE MOUNTAIN IN THE NAME OF THE LORD REFERS TO:
2a. Speaking to the challenge, problem or affliction in the name of the Lord and ordering according to desired expectation (Mk. 11:23)
2b. Rebuking the spirit or the root of the challenge or affliction in the Name of the Lord (Luke 4:38-39)
IMPACT OF SPEAKING TO THE MOUNTAIN IN THE NAME OF THE LORD:
i. The earth is wired to respond to the Word of the Lord (Jer. 22:29)
ii. The powers of the enemy have been programmed to submit to the authority of God’s Word and the Name of Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11)
3. Receiving the prayer of faith (Jam. 5:14-15; Matt. 18:19-20)
WHAT THE PRAYER OF FAITH REFERS TO:
3a. The prayer of faith is prayer that is offered on the behalf of others on the basis of conviction and confidence in both God and His Word (Jam. 5:15)
3b. The prayer of faith is the prayer that is offered in the unity or agreement of conviction by the brethren on any issue (Matt. 18:19-20)
IMPACT OF THE PRAYER OF FAITH:
i. Faith is the switch of power; God’s power is switched into operation when faith is at work (Heb. 11:6; Mark 5:30-34)
ii. God honours the agreement of faith with answers; He responds to the agreement of faith with results (Matt. 18:19-20)
4. Connecting the power of the Oil (Mark 6:12-13; James 5:14-15)
HOW THE POWER OF THE OIL IS ADMINISTERED:
4a. Through the agency of higher spiritual authority (James 5:14)
4b. By self-administration (Prov. 6:5)
IMPACT OF THE OIL:
i. The anointing oil is God’s healing balm that directly communicates healing virtue (Luke 10:33- 34)
ii. The anointing oil transmits the Spirit of God and the Spirit of God is creative in power (1Sam. 16:13; Gen. 1:1-2)
iii. The anointing oil transmits the yoke-destroying, burden-removing power of God (Isa. 10:27)
5. Connecting the power of the Communion (John 6:55-57; Exo. 12:11-13; 1Cor. 5:7; Ps. 105:37)
HOW TO ADMINISTER THE COMMUNION:
5a. Through congregational administration (1Cor. 10:16)
5b. Through personal administration (1 Cor. 11:26)
IMPACT OF THE COMMUNION:
i. The communion communicates the Passover mystery (Exo. 12:11-13)
ii. The communion transmits into us the very sick-less life of God (John 6:55-56)
iii. The communion grants victory over the enemy and his forces (Rev. 12:11)
6. Receiving the Ministry of healing (1Cor. 12:9)
HOW TO CONNECT AND RECEIVE THE GIFT AND MINISTRY OF HEALING:
6a. By being in the vicinity of the manifestation of that gift and healing (Acts 5:14-16)
6b. By connecting points of contact from the lives of carriers of that gift (Acts 19:11-12)
HOW THE MINISTRY OF HEALING WORKS:
i. The healing gift and ministry creates an atmosphere or climate of healing where those who come into the proximity of that climate receive their healing effortlessly (Luke 6:19)
ii. The healing gift or ministry is the release of God’s mercy on the afflicted far beyond their faith or qualification for it (Mic. 7:18)
REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING DIVINE HEALING:
1. Sins must be forgiven (Ps. 103:1-3; Ps. 119:67; 107:17; Jam. 5:16; Mark 2:3-5)
You cannot be praying for healing on top of unconfessed sin and be taken seriously
Guilt is the enemy of both health and faith
2. Forgiveness must be released (Jam. 5:16; Mark 11:25)
Forgiveness does not mean that you become the friend of everybody
Until forgiveness is released, healing is not received
Bitterness is a sustainer of sickness
3. Fear must be refused (Job 3:25; 1John 4:18)
The fear of death or disease attracts the death and disease you fear
Fear cannot co-exist with faith or with healing
4. Vision must be in place (Gen. 13:14-15; Prov. 29:18; Jer. 1:11-12; Prov. 23:7)
If you can’t see your future, you don’t have a future!
If you can’t see your future, you don’t have a future!
The tomorrow you cannot see does not exist
If you can see the ultimate, you will survive the immediate; no devil can kill you in today if you can see tomorrow!
When you can see the future, you can seize the future
If you have no reason to live, you die like a chicken but a reason for living keeps you alive
PRAYERS
Father, thank You for Your Word to me today. To You be all the glory in Jesus’ Name!
Lord Jesus, I come before You today to surrender my life to You. I connect with this healing Word today and I speak to every mountain around my life, they are uprooted now in Jesus’ Name! I receive the ministry of healing at work in this Commission, and I connect with the power in the Oil and the Communion, in Jesus’ Name.
PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
– Receive help and mercy from above!
– Whatever my Father in Heaven has not planted in your life, that the enemy has planted, I declare it is uprooted!
– By the Word of Divine health and healing preached today, your health and healing is restored!
– Every sick business, destiny, career and marriage, today they are made whole!
– Before this month is over, all that is yours shall enter your hands
– This month, systems are put under pressure, to release to you all that is yours!
– October is not permitted to end until everything that is your enters into your hands!
– Before this week is out, you will have a testimony to share!
– God is releasing you into your next realm that you’ve been yearning for!
– That devil that can kill you before your time does not exist!
– The picture of your future that you have must come to pass!
– Whatever is in your life that is contrary to Divine blueprint is cursed to its roots now!
– You will not leave here empty-handed. God shall change your story in Jesus’ Name
– You are shifting levels from this day onward
– Whatever the enemy took from you is restored
– This day, you shall receive the help of God; the burden is lifted from off your neck and the yoke is destroyed!
– This week is your week of testimonies
– You are a record breaker! What others could not achieve in your family, you will be the first to achieve it in Jesus’ Name!
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On Tithing: Lets recollect previous post and remember that Abraham was the first to pay tithe. And he did it after seeing the price Jesus paid( ie the bread and wine). There was no account of Isaac paying tithe. Until Jacob when running from His brother got to Bethel and saw that vision and he made a vow, that if God would bring him back to his family, he will pay tithe. Note: 1. Tithe is a personal covenant. You don’t pay tithe because others pay. As for Jacob, he had his personal reason for tithe. 2. Jacob saw Jesus. Jesus spoke to the disciples that soon they will see angels ascending and descending upon the son of man, so Jesus was that ladder. Jacob’s tithe was a product of a picture. 3. It wasn’t traditional until Moses made it a law. Why we are having so much ado about tithe in the body of Christ is because of those who think it is a tradition. Who don’t see it as a worthy “payment” for a sacrifice of Jesus to combat sin on the earth.
Tithe was only spoken about by Malachi because after the return of Israel from Captivity, many priest went to farm and so Malachi called Israel to bring tithe so the priest can be focused. Hear it…bring ye all the tithe that there may be meat…” Hear this Now, tithing is not a key to opening your heaven, offerings and others can open your heaven. But only until your tithe becomes an offering and sacrifice can it do that work. Tithe is not a deadline. It’s just a seed God seeks from you in other to add to your blessing. You are blessed with or without tithe. God is too big to shut your heaven because of your default. You see the church of today was given tithe as a tool for prosperity because of the affection God demands from His people. The heartbeat of God in tithe payment is “so there will be meat”. This meat means resources. God will not bless you because you pay tithe, he will because you contributed to the meat. In other words God doesn’t bless tithe, he blesses your affection.
Please finish up and kindly share!
This message was written by Stanley Obioha Ministries (#SOM)
I was privileged to give this teaching last Sunday and I will love you to read with an open mind.
Firstly I want to point out that Jesus ran the wealthiest ministry without a church, pulpit, no synagogue without any one paying or asked for tithe. Infact he was paying tithe to the poor. Paul and other apostles had no account of asking anyone in the churches for tithe and yet they had all they needed.
In the new testament, it is not your tithe payment that opens your heaven, I want to affirm many hearts and those of the fold who are deceived. We have made an idol of tithe.
GOD’S PLAN
God gave Adam a mandate and ministry to dominate and multiply. He gave Adam one tool: the seed. God did ask Adam for tithe, he asked for seeds! A seed is a necessary representation of the edifice to you desire to see manifest. In other words, if the church needs house, my seed is a necessary raw material for the house project! I say here, that for many, their tithe is not a seed!
If God “eternal package” was in tithe, he should have sent 10% of His angels to redeem mankind. He instead sent a SEED. Your tithe is only useful in the new testament when it is a seed yo effect a progress you have in mind in the kingdom of God! Many people don’t have a vision for their tithe…No farmer throws a seed into the ground without a picture of desired growth and harvest. If your tithe is not done this way, it is like a farmer throwing seeds away, you are just being RELIGIOUS!!!
TO BE CONTINUED
Please finish up and kindly share!
This message was written by Stanley Obioha Ministries (#SOM)
Welcome to the last teaching for the month! I hope you were blessed by the teaching of last week. Today, we shall focus on: Unveiling the Triggers for Success!
From scriptures, we discover that God has made a master plan of success for us in all aspects of life (Joshua1:8). That is, it is His divine will for us to be successful in life. He is interested in the ultimate realisation of our success. However, it is sad that most Christians have not come to the knowledge of this truth. They see themselves as never-do-well and good-for nothing. They therefore yield to the oppressive lies of the devil and the world that they should not and cannot make it here on earth. Therefore, it is important to know that success is not a gift but a choice. While it is the birthright of all saints, the individual’s choice determines his/her portion. So, our choice to succeed generates in us the force to succeed.
However, success cannot be achieved in isolation. There are triggers which will land us right into it.
What then, are the Triggers for Success?
Opportunity: There are two closely related words –opportune and fortune. The dictionary defines ‘opportune’ to mean happening at the time that is most convenient for someone or most likely to lead to success. ‘Fortune’ or ‘good fortune’ is defined as good luck, success or good experiences. Therefore, I define a fortunate person as an ‘oppor-tunate’ person. That is, he is smart enough to grab a productive idea and put it to work; he is smart enough to know what will work and how to make it work. As it is written: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7, see also 20:6). Opportunity therefore is a discovered avenue for profiting. It is locating what will work and making it to work. Many people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and it looks like work. There are ways of locating and utilising opportunities.
– By a search.
– By creating opportunities.
– By catching opportunities.
– By utilising opportunities.
Creativity: This is the ability to create. Every event in life is invented. God is the Master Creator. Solomon said: The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew (Proverbs 3:19-20; see also Psalm 104:24). God’s creative secret is in His wisdom. That is, inside the Word of God is God’s creative ability and this is loaded in a person called Christ. Therefore, as joint-heirs with Christ, it means that we share in His nature. If He carries creative abilities, it also means that we too carry creative abilities. The Bible says: For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). This connotes that we have the creative mind of Christ.
Ability: It is from the root word ‘able.’ The ability to do something is the quality or skill that we have which makes it possible for us to do it. We need the trigger of ability to succeed because as long as we see ourselves as being unable to succeed, we will never have the ability to. In numbers 13, twelve people were sent out on a mission to spy out Canaan. Ten of them came back with a report of Israel’s inability to possess the land. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight (Numbers 13:31-33). But Joshua and Caleb saw it differently. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it (Numbers 13:30). They saw their ability to possess the land and they actually did, while the men who brought the evil report all died in the wilderness. Success has eluded many today because they see it as an impossible feat that cannot be attained. If we can’t see our ability to do a job or to succeed, we will never be able to succeed.
Responsibility: Another word for responsibility is self discipline. That is, bringing ourselves under rules and laws in order to attain our ultimate goals in life. Responsibility requires that one positively responds to the demands of life or scriptures. To be outstandingly successful, we must positively apply ourselves to certain demands of life and Scriptures. The Bible says: For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me (1 Corinthians 9:16-17). Necessity was laid upon Paul to preach the gospel, not by God, but by himself. Why? He wanted to be a successful preacher and soul winner.
In conclusion, we can never be in control of the affairs of life without self-control. It is what puts us in charge. So, if we are striving for mastery (success), then we must exercise self control. There is no greatness without responsibility; so let’s be responsible. Thus, in order to fully utilise the triggers for success, you must be born again. Are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!” For further reading, please get my books: Ruling your World, Exploring the Secrets of Success, Success Strategies and Success Systems.
I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: feedback@lfcww.org; Face book: www.facebook.com/davidoyedepoministries/; Twitter: @DavidOyedepoMin
David O. Oyedepo is a Nigerian Christian author, architect, preacher, and the founder and presiding bishop of the mega church, Living Faith Church Worldwide, also known as Winners’ Chapel
You don’t have to be intimidated by trouble and trials any longer; God is right there with you through any challenge. His favor is going to make things happen that you didn’t see coming. It’s easy to believe we have favor when good things are happening, but Joel wants to show you how we have favor even in the challenge. God will cause you to succeed in the middle of trouble. He’s not limited by our conditions; He’s limited by our thinking. When you believe, all things are possible.
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