Scripture References:

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness- by whose stripes you were healed.” I Peter 2:24 NKJV.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

Sometimes Christians want to provide a comfortable explanation for 1 Peter 2:24, it’s wisdom to be careful with doing that. Scripture should not be interpreted in the light of one’s feelings, emotions or experience. If someone tried to apply the Word on healing to themselves but failed, this shouldn’t make for a twisted interpretation of scripture. God’s word is the Truth, the Way and the Life. God’s Word doesn’t change with circumstances but remains the same yesterday, today and forever.

I ventured on a “Christian” blog not too long ago where there was a heated debate on the meaning of ‘healed‘ in ‘By His stripes you were (are) healed‘ as seen in our reference scriptures. A good number of persons supported the idea that these scriptures speaks only of a spiritual healing experience with no physical manifestation. Their assertion as I understand it, stems from their understanding that healing and salvation come as one package. They further infer that since salvation is spiritual (referring to man’s spiritual rebirth necessitated by the fall of Adam) then the healing mentioned in 1 Peter 2:24 is also spiritual.

I agree/disagree.

I agree, as recorded in Genesis chapter 3, that as a result of Adam’s sin, sin and death were introduced into the world and sadly, both spread to all men (Romans 5:12).

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12 NLT.

The good news however is that in Jesus Christ, God made provision for every spiritually dead descendant of Adam to become spiritually alive (1 Corinthians 15:22).

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
I Corinthians 15:22 NKJV

This is the spiritual rebirth spoken of by Jesus to Nicodemus in John 3: 1-17. As soon as someone becomes born again by confessing Jesus as Lord and Saviour, he becomes a brand new creation, a new spirit is birthed and the old sinful nature done away with.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
II Corinthians 5:17 NKJV

The argument for ‘1 Peter 2:24 healing’ being spiritual (and not physical) is often posited to support the fact that in Christ we have been healed from the illness of sin. Again, I agree that we have been delivered from sin (and its consequent death), but I disagree that ‘1 Peter 2:24’ is only spiritual. Sin was not an illness but a part of the curse. The curse (sin, sickness and death) came through Adam.

Below, I share my thoughts on 1 Peter 2:24 by working through a few questions.

Question #1 : Did God only plan a spiritual healing for man? Has He no interest in man being physically healed?

Let’s see some scriptures below;

“Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health (physically) just as (I know) your soul prospers (spiritually).” 3 John 1:2. AMP.

“..for they are life to those who find them and healing and health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:22 AMP.

“when evening came, they brought to Him under the power of demons; and He cast out the evil spirits with a word, and restored to health all those who were sick (exhibiting His authority as Messiah).” Matthew 8:16

So from 3 John 1:2; we should enjoy good health physically, from Proverbs 4:22; God made a provision for healing (through His word), and from Matthew 8:16; Jesus healed all that came to Him with phy sickness.

God is interested in having His children stay physically healed and He made adequate provision for that. God’s Word is health to All our flesh.

Question #2 :Is salvation really only a spiritual event?

The newbirth is a spiritual experience. The day you got born again, there was no obvious change in your physical appearance. Your skin color didn’t change, there was no change in any part of your body. However, you received a brand new spirit; you received the nature of God- you are a creation, you are righteous, you are holy, you received all the attributes of the Spirit in your spirit. You were born of the Spirit of God. And when you get receive the baptism of the Spirit, you become filled with the Holy Spirit.

As the mind is renewed continually with the Word, physical expressions of the fruit of the Spirit are experienced and expressed.

I am yet to see an event and experience that so powerfully transforms, remolds, and positively changes a life as a daily walk with Jesus Christ. That’s why people could tell that the disciples have been with Jesus post resurrection.

Divine healing is divine! It is first spiritual (you have to see it, believe it and receive it) then it becomes evident in your physical body.

So, yes! salvation and healing came as one package, both are spiritual encounters and surely both manifest physically to be appreciated by others.

Please join me again soon in the next part.

My love always.

Welcome to this blogpost series; In His Image. I am confident that it is going to be enlightening as well as a blessing. Like many of my blogposts, I am really excited to be doing this at this time. And if you have been following me on the blog of late, God has been faithfully pointing me to my identity in Him. I am a son of God, I have the God-status, I have beautiful rights and privileges and now He’s saying; ‘Grace (your name), I made you in my image’. Hallelujah!

Our focal scripture is Genesis 1: 26-27;

“Then 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”. So God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:2

Starting off to write this article, I had no clear idea what direction to go. I knew for sure that The Lord has given a topic to explore, but there was no content for many days. I am thankful that the more I turned the topic over in my mind, the Lord faithfully (as always) began to download the contents to me by His Spirit. So to thoroughly distill insights from Genesis 1:26-27 relevant for this study, I’ll be adopting a very detailed approach to sharing my thoughts. Every step is important. Stay with me 🙂

A. What is an image?

An image is “a representation of the external form of a person or thing in art”.

Note the words in bold- external form (as against internal). The external of a thing describes the part of the thing that can be connected to easily by the senses. It is the outer surface or substance of a thing. So, an image is a reflection of how a thing or person appears physically. For example, my image reflects my physical expression, how I appear, how I am seen.

Therefore the image of God is an expression of how God appears in His ‘physical’ form, how He relates with the physical world. How the world ‘feels’ or ‘sees’ God.

I am carefully choosing the words to describe Image, especially as it relates to God. And that’s important because God Is a Spirit. A spirit does not have a physical image. So ‘God’s image’ would not be referring to His spiritual nature. And so, when the Bible says God created man in His image, that would mean God created man to be just as He (God) interacts with the physical world {these are my thoughts on this portion of scripture}.

Another word used for image in our focal scripture is ‘Likeness’ , and I looked up it’s meaning as well ?….

Likeness means the semblance, guise or outward appearance of something or someone.

Some synonyms of likeness are; appearance, character, shape, form, outward form.

It is quite instructive for me that the verses of scripture immediately following Genesis 1:26-27 begins to enumerate how God wanted man to relate with the world around him….think about that for a bit..

B. What are the features of the Image of God-how does God relate with mankind?

1. God reigns in dominion.

When we think of God, we think of a supreme or sovereign being,….. that’s exactly how God expresses Himself. Not as an aggressive or arrogant display of dominance or control but in calm, confident dominion. He is God all by Himself. Sovereign and Self-sufficient.

Again, here are some interesting synonyms for dominion; supremacy, dominance, preeminence, authority, command, control, rule, sovereignty.

Now, look at Genesis 1 again, and notice that God transferred to man His dominion character….

“Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our Likeness, let them have dominion….”

There is a link between ‘let us make man in our image’ and the ‘let them have dominion‘. You can’t have one without the other. To have dominion requires a ‘being made in the image of God’ and being made in the image of God confers dominion on you.

God gave man dominion over everything that He created, to rule, dominate, control, command, have authority. And God was careful to spell out Adam’s sphere of influence….over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, over every living thing that moves on the earth. In addition, man can have any herb that yields seed and every fruit with seed as food.

If you are thinking ….’did God really give man dominion over mere animals, birds, fishes, etc?’, yes He did! I noted that too. What am I going to do with dominion over these creatures? ?… Why didn’t he say to the first blessed man; ‘I give you dominion over all other humans after you?’

Learning point here for me is; it is useless indulging in rivalry and competition with other humans. I should apply my dominion in calling forth answers to my needs from the world around me. Amen!

I love dominion 🙂 Have you ever considered the opposite of dominion?……..

How do we reign in dominion? We take charge or control of the world around us. We speak, we decree, we believe, we walk by faith, we call things that be not as though they were, we wield authority through the name of Jesus Christ. We RULE.

2. In relating with the world, God sets in motion a system with a multiplier effect for productivity and fruitfulness.

One Adam- many humans, One Begotten Son- many other sons, One set of animal kind- many generations of same kind.

How does God achieve that? – He puts the blessing on the first specie! The blessing sets off a system of multiplication.

Oh! Adam could have had a generation of blessed descendants not requiring the coming and death of a Saviour because the blessing was placed on him. But the reverse was the case. A blessed Adam sinned, became cursed (Genesis 3:17-19) from then onward, could only reproduce cursed and sinful descendants. We see the same principle put in place for salvation (Romans 5: 12-21).

How did 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish feed over 5,000 men with remnants (Matthew 14: 19)? Because Jesus blessed and broke it! (selah).

So when I confess that I am blessed, that means I have potential for limitless productivity, fruitfulness and multiplication. And Yes! I am blessed, ….right from the beginning;

“Then God blessed them, and God said to them, ‘be fruitful and multiply..” Genesis 1:28

That is what the blessing does for you- makes you fruitful and gives you the ability to multiply. Hallelujah!

Therefore no child of God should live in poverty (selah).

Maybe someone is saying ‘Grace, what about the effect of the fall of Adam? Do we still have the blessing? YES! Jesus Christ made sure (Galatians 3:13-14).
So then, if we were to operate in the likeness of God, how do we cause the land, the sea, the livestock, etc to yield an exponential output for us?

Question: How did God bless man? How did Jesus bless the loaves and fish?

We will provide answers to this question in the next part.

Thank you so much for studying with me 🙂

“Do not say to your neighbor, ‘go and come back, and maybe tomorrow I will give it’, when you have it with you” Proverbs 3:28 NKJV. 

Hi there,

Trust you are doing great…

My name is Grace Obomanu and I am glad to meet you today… 🙂 

I am a Christian, Wife, Mother of 3, a Christian Blogger & Counselor. I got born again in 1993, stayed that way until sometime around my early years in College (1996-1997) when things got a bit messy and cloudy around my Christianity, but thank God He got me back on my feet again and from then till now, I have been consistent with my Christian walk. I am happily married (for 15+years now) and I have a teenage son and 2 adorable preteen daughters 🙂 

I trained as a Medical Doctor in Nigeria and have been in active practice in the public health area. Today, I won’t be talking to you about medicine, sorry.

The question we want to answer here is ‘Why Grace Obomanu’s Foundation?’ 🙂 ……………………….

In 2014, I had a nudge in my spirit to start a counselling group; ‘Talk with Grace Obomanu’. That thought dropped on my heart suddenly, meaning it wasn’t premeditated and I am certain, it wasn’t a brainwave or a fluke.  I have to say I was really thrown off a bit at the thought because I would not describe myself as being exceptionally friendly. So I didn’t see how anyone would want to talk to me about their issues. So you can understand my hesitancy and delay as the Talk Group didn’t kick off until about a year later, sometime in 2015. 

Talk with Grace Obomanu went live on Facebook in early 2015, and since then I have been talking!  🙂

People write in from different parts of the world with all kinds of issues-marriage issues, relationship issues, career issues, parents having challenges coping with juvenile tendencies of their teenagers, you just name it….At Talk with Grace Obomanu, I and my Team, (had to put a Team together) provide simple, practical, bible-based (most times) counsel to people online. And this is absolutely free. We don’t charge anyone. And God has been faithful with great outpouring of His grace, wisdom and strength.

Many times, people just need a listening ear, someone to just listen to them bare their mind. Sometimes,people actually think they have a big problem that they cannot fix themselves,but interestingly, just as they find a listening ear, the solution they’ve been seeking flow right outta their mouths. A few other times, people are actually headed in the wrong direction and need to be redirected 🙂 

Having run my Talk Group for sometime now, one thing has become quite obvious, not everyone just wants talk or brilliant ideas about how best to fix their problems, some people have needs,genuine needs that they’ll be thankful to have someone help them meet. I have many times transferred funds to people I’ve never physically met, meeting a need and relieving burdens. Putting a smile on people’s faces. 

This is why I am starting the Grace Obomanu’s Foundation.

About 3 months ago, a lady was referred to me for counselling concerning her marriage. She’s been married for almost 17 years, blessed with 3 children. The first few years though great,right now seems like an experience of a very short-lived bliss. Her husband seemed to have transformed into someone else overnight. He is insecure, abusive and lazy. He’s found it difficult sustaining a job and so has often been in and out of job. Worst still, he is intimidated by her strong personality, personal drive and hardworking nature. He stopped her from working. So her children have gotten used to high-lows (more of lows) as far as meeting basic needs are concerned. According to her, she’s given the marriage her best shot, but it seemed her best wasn’t good enough.

Interesting thing about this lady is; she wasn’t really interested in ending her marriage, she was willing to do things differently if they’d help. And she did. After the first 2 sessions of counselling, she gained sufficient self-motivation to start over again. She identified her weaknesses and areas she needed to make changes in and she also identified her husband’s strengths (areas she can leverage on to bring out the best in him). In no time she was sharing praise report with me about the improvements they were both making in their marriage. Her husband started seeking a new job and encouraged her to do same. She moved from sharing room with her children back to the room she once shared with her husband. Their intimacy was sky-high, their prayer and bible reading life also improved. She particularly reconnected back to God and her relationship with God  was sweet again. Everybody was happy (including me ), except…. 

Her husband grew up in a family setting where fetish practice is common. He’d often glide in/out of conspiracy theories and thoughts of people trying to harm him. Diabolism isn’t always too far in setups such as this. Sometimes really, He’d group her as one of such persons-trying to kill him!

I must say at this point that one of the drawbacks with doing online counselling on marriages is- you may not have the couple together seeking help. So one person writes or calls you and is ready to make the marriage better, but you do not have access to the other partner. This can be really a challenge in situations where the 2 will be required to make personal changes towards a better marriage (and this is often the case).

Back to my story…… about 2 weeks ago one of her parent in-law became critically ill and guess who he pointed accusing fingers at this time? Her! And he didn’t stop there, he asked her for a divorce. So as I speak with you now, this woman has moved out to stay with a friend, being the go-gotter that she is, she’s secured a job already (which she applied for when her husband lifted the embargo on her working), she’s also developed some articles for children which she’s forwarded for review prior to publishing (by the way, this young woman writes really well). Right now, she’s awaiting feedback from the publishers. Problem? She doesn’t have a computer. How did she develop the original draft? With her husband’s laptop….he didn’t let her keep one.

Should she still try to make something out of her marriage? She’ll decide. Right now, she needs to balance, blossom and bounce, for herself and for her children. 

This may not seem like an emergency or life threatening situation, right, but probably typing away on her laptop would keep this lady busy, productive, hopeful and focused.

And so I was thinking to myself,how do I get this lady a laptop? Apparently she’s not someone with a dependent mentality. She’s hardworking and I would really love to encourage her keep identifying and reaching full potentials. That’s when I realized and said to myself, hey,Grace, you cannot possibly fix everybody’s problem. There are certainly people out there who are passionate about God and passionate about people. There are people who’d like to support in this kind of a situation. There are people who can buy a laptop, or partly or fully fund the purchase one.

I recognize that there’s a lot of abuse doing this kind of thing, abuse in coordinating or executing them, and there can be abuse from those seeking help! One thing you can be assured of is that funds/materials provided will be used as intended.

Some years ago, I and a group of friends (Belema, Egwuma, Kalaina) came together with an initiative, ‘Beautiful Feet’.We would seek and gather household stuffs (food, clothes, utensils, etc) that we really didn’t need around our home, then locate a group of persons living in a poor setting, and distribute these things to them. That was a very rewarding initiative, recipients were always in my opinion, overly excited and very thankful.

Grace Obomanu’s Foundation is here to pool resources from willing hearts to meet needs.

So I ask you today? Can you provide a laptop for my lady? Would you want to become a member of my Foundation? 🙂 

Full payment, part payment or a laptop will be appreciated and sent to her in your name (except you ask for anonymity). 

Wondering how you can send a laptop over to us from where you are? Courier 🙂 or we can arrange a pick up if you are anywhere in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. 

Join me make a difference in someone’s life today, because The Lord has need of it (Luke 19: 30-35).  Write me via my email (graceobomanu@gmail.com) or drop a message on any of my social media platforms;

• Talk with Grace Obomanu(Facebook)
• Grace Obomanu (Dr.)(Instagram).
• Grace Obomanu (Google+)
• And do visit my blog @ https//:www.graceobomanu.com for a great lot of resources on Christian Living.

Thanks so much for your time and God bless 🙂 

Grace Obomanu’s Foundation– Love. Hope. Possibilities.  Helping people balance, blossom and bounce. 

 “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it? ’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’…..”
Luke 19:30‭-‬35 NKJV

Probably the most terrifying kind of fear for anyone to have is the fear of death. Nobody really wants to die with unrealized dreams and ambitions. Unfortunately, we hear news about death every time and everywhere. Whether resulting from terminal health conditions or ocuuring suddenly from accidents or unknown causes, death always leaves a kind of vacuum and void that people are generally unprepared for, either for themselves or for their loved ones. 

I found it interesting that God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, faced death several times, people constantly conspired on how best to get Him off the scene and possibly control the disruptions His teachings brought to their existing belief system.  Even more interesting to me was His attitude towards death at all times.  He’d practically ignore or dismiss it, choosing instead to confess that His Time hasn’t yet come.  Such disposition and confident disregard for what many tremble at it’s thought is worth exploring in my opinion. Why did Jesus often display nonchalance to the thought of dying? 

I looked up a few scriptures that came to mind as I meditated on this blog post….

“Now some of them from Jerusalem said, “Is this not He whom they seek to kill? But look! He speaks boldly, and they say nothing to Him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is truly the Christ?”
John 7:25‭-‬26 NKJV

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.”
Mark 14:48‭-‬49 NKJV

From John 7:25-26 and Mark 14:48-49, Jesus seemed to know something about His death that others didn’t know;

1. There was an appointed time for His death.
2. Those plotting His death were under a restraint, they were restrained by the appointed time. Jehovah had fixed the time for His ministry and death and no man could change it. 
3. Death lost it’s grip and tormenting effect in Christ Jesus. 

But then, it was not an endless living for Christ, He came as a Man on a mission. And so when the appointed time came, He willing walked up to death and surrendered Himself. 

“Then He came the third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
Mark 14:41 NKJV

Now brethren,  that’s a good time to die; when you’ve accomplished your mission on Earth and you know it. When you’ve fulfilled the purpose for which you were created. When you can say ‘ I have fought a good night and now I am ready for my crown’. 

Remember beloved that Jesus Christ was the first born… everyone in Christ Jesus, is a son of God sent on an heavenly mission to Earth. 

There’s an appointed time to live and die. That time was not set by Satan or Death. No! Both Death and the Thief are RESTRAINED BY THE HOUR. 

Like Jesus Christ, I’ll not go home until my work on Earth is done….in Jesus Christ name. Amen! 

The Rains….the former and the latter Rains, coming in abundance. And bringing with them, growth, productivity, life & fruitfulness. The Rains will cause green vegetations all around. They’ll bring grain, oil and wine. They’ll bring seed, bread, fresh insights and anointing for great exploits and manifestations of covenant promises, outpouring of God’s goodness in overwhelming measures.

Life happens! Happens to everyone. You lose a loved one, you have a bad business experience, your spouse cheats on you, your courtship ended unceremoniously, life is too hard on you, your many efforts don’t seem to be yielding corresponding results, etc, etc, Happens to everyone. 

Problem with unsavory life experiences is not that they happen, it is the heartache, hurt, pains, dejection and depression they come with. While many people easily shake these off, bounce back to everyday living, others move from dejection to severe depression. Feelings of persistent sadness, disinterest in activities once loved, worthlessness, and not finding meaning in life. 
It is usually not long after someone starts thinking living is useless  than they start harboring suicidal thoughts. 
Thanks to science and medicine, mental health professionals now provide therapy and medication for depression. Help can be sought. Mental Health Practitioners can be reached in your neighborhood or via the internet. 

 Here I share my thoughts on trading feelings of depression for a more meaningful, productive and impactful life. 

Isaiah 61:1-3

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor, he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord……to console those who mourn in Zion, to give beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness….” 

Beautiful prophecy from Isaiah about the Christ. As I read the good news in Isaiah 63, I am excited because I’ve got the Spirit of Christ in me, and so do you {if you’ve made Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior}. I can therefore categorically brag that the Spirit of The Lord is upon me  🙂  And where the Spirit of the Lord dwells, the joy of the Lord flows, and where the joy of The Lord flows, there’s no room for depression. 

Trade those feelings of depression and dejection today;

1. Be conscious, at all times, of the presence of the Holy Spirit in you. Pray always in the Spirit, make melody in your heart, sing songs and hymns in the Spirit. Enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit. 
2. Be Purpose-Driven. It is not okay to just walk through life without discovering purpose. God created you for a specific purpose. Find it {with God’s Help}. Ask Him. 
3. Be People-oriented. Invest time, energy, money, talents in people. Give to people, help people, comfort people, support people, console people.  Give people reasons to smile, to praise God, to enjoy their righteousness, etc, etc Move the attention from yourself to others. Don’t thrive in self-pity. Certainly do not call a pity-party for yourself. Appreciate that you can make a difference in someone’s life. That makes you ‘super-productive’.   🙂 
4. Be thankful for little things. Appreciate the air you breathe in, marvel in it. Appreciate the sun, moon and stars, the trees of the garden, and all beautifully created things all around you. Appreciate yourself; Realize that God made you carefully, wonderfully and beautifully. 
5. Be intentionally joyful. Choose joy over sadness, shake off the garment of heaviness. Make new friends. Indulge in new games, sports etc, Join a different department/group in Church, etc, etc. 

Reinvent yourself. For where the Spirit of The Lord is,
the joy of the Lord flows, and where the joy of The Lord flows, there’s no room for depression

I got Good news for you today….You Got the Holy Ghost! 

My love always…………..

What is a Miracle?
Anita grew up admiring her mother. Her mom was pretty, smart, industrious and most importantly served God. She never missed weekdays or Sunday service days. And she made sure Anita and her 3 siblings attended all services as well.

As a young girl, Anita hoped to be exactly like her mom when she has her own home. Not until she watched her parents’ marriage crumble for simple misunderstandings she thought her mom could have contained. Why couldn’t her mother forgive her dad? Why was it her mom that moved out of the home? What happened with all the Bible she carried and taught them to live by? Didn’t she remember anything about forgiveness at all?

Anger, bitterness and resentment grew in Anita. As far as she was concerned, there was no point carrying on with this Christianity talk. If a devoted Christian like her mom couldn’t forgive, it was pointless continuing to profess being a Follower of Christ.

Anita wasn’t going to fool herself and other people like her mother did. She decided she was done with everything Church, so she tossed her Bible aside.

The Lord directed Anita to one of Talk with Grace Obomanu’s Counsellors. Talking and counselling with Anita made her see why she cannot put her Christianity and love for God in ‘Parking’ simply because her mother slipped. With a few sessions of talking with the TWGO Team, Anita once more appreciated the importance of a personal relationship with God.

Today, Anita is glad that she had someone to talk to, she’s fast rebuilding her relationship with God. And more importantly, she’s excited that things are going to be different this time because she’s going to know God for herself.

Praise God!

When a young man is ready to marry, he wants everything to be right, especially the relationship between his mom and his bride-to-be.  Most young men are apprehensive if they sense any tension between the 2 important women in their lives. That’s  exactly how Joe felt.

As an only son, his case seemed more sensitive. 
His mother had kept him by her side most of his childhood and teenage years.
All Joe really wants now is that his bride-to-be can manage the strong bond between him and his mom, but he didn’t know if she could. And it’s kind of unfair to pressure her into it.

Joe needed guidance. What would be the best strategy to bring these 2 women together? 
God led Joe to TWGO where he got an answer of peace.

When mothers worry about their son getting married it is because they’re afraid of losing their son’s love, attention and commitment.
Mothers tend to share strong bonds with their sons, more so if they have only one son.
Such fear, is most times taken away if the bride-to-be makes added effort to accommodate and accept the mother-in-law to be as she would her own Mom. She would need to lavish her with love, gifts and attention, without necessarily putting too much pressure on herself. These actions are important because they  assure the older woman that  her son won’t be lost, rather she can gain another love …from her daughter-in-law. 
Joe encouraged his bride-to-be to go the extra mile to accommodate his mom a bit. 

Few months ago, they were successfully married.  Joe’s  testimonies and joy have been  awesome. His mom and his fiancee, now wife, have become  best friends to the point that they sometimes forget Joe is around the house as they indulge  in their ‘womanly gists’  His mom also gave his wife a special pet name.

Praise God!

Why do the heathen rage? Why does a dead man think he can threaten the living, threathen the one with God’s life in him? 

Who is the one who dares to make a pronouncement over God’s Chosen one? Who dares to speak when the Righteous One hasn’t spoken? 

Hold your peace Child, for their roar is empty. 

Hold your peace Child, for I am the One who chose a vineyard and planted you in it. 

Hold your peace Child, for your flourishing is in the place where I have planted you. Nobody dares to uproot where I Jehovah plants. 

Hold your peace, because these Egyptians you see today will be no more. These walls you see today will be no more. 

I am your Father and your God, I will defend you and uphold you with my right hand. 

Haven’t I said to you, that you are light, a reflection of my glory? I ask you, can I save light in a vessel to be hidden? 

Your rising is appearing and like light, it cannot be hidden. Because in you I have great treasure to reach many with my goodness. 

So hold your peace Child. Go to sleep. I am the One who personally fights your battles. Have you ever heard that I went to the battlefield and lost? 

I always win. And you always win in me. 

Welcome back!

This is the 6th part of this blogpost series.

We have been looking at the composite parts of the Whole Armour of God as seen in Ephesians 6:11, 13-19;

“Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace, above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”  NKJV.

In the preceding parts, we have discussed; the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation,gird your waist with the truth and shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

Today, we’ll conclude this session of this series {that is ‘His Armour‘} by looking at the remaining 2 components;  the Shield of Faith and the Sword of the Spirit. In subsequent parts, we’ll look at ‘The Warfare‘ and ‘Our Weapons‘.

Take on the Shield of Faith

What does a Soldier need a shield for?……………

A soldier’s shield protects him by deflecting or intercepting missiles thrown at him. The shield is usually held in the hand or mounted on the wrist or forearm. So most shields are positioned in front of a soldier so as to provide good cover.

The dictionary defines ‘faith‘ as;  ‘a complete trust in someone or something‘. The Bible definition of faith as seen in Hebrews 11:1 is however different, it goes beyond trust and confidence and gives tangibility to faith. It tells us faith is a ‘substance‘ and an ‘evidence‘.

The way I understand it, an evidence substantiates a belief or claim. Therefore, the Bible is saying that faith is the physical reality of the Christian belief.

How so?…..

I gave my life to Jesus Christ several years ago, precisely, in 1993, just after graduation from high school. A few weeks ago I remembered some terrible ‘unchristian’ experiences I had in college, the kind of memories that make you sad.  Thank God for the Holy Spirit, He fixed me up, and reminded me those experiences weren’t in vain.  I am thankful for the strength and loss of innocence they’ve brought.

As I did the throwback on my Christian walk, one thing remained clear to me; it’s been a ‘faith-walk’ through and through. Everything I know about God is by faith. Everything I have accessed in God is by faith. Every miracle I’ve experienced in God has been birthed through faith. I got back up from my fallen state, by faith and I have lived victoriously everyday after, by faith.

That’s what faith is. Faith is the substance of our belief. Faith is living. Faith is Evidence! Faith is Seeing! Faith is Now!

I believe I am born again by confessing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour,….. by faith, and everyday I see a new me manifesting. I believe in the baptism of the Holy Ghost,…. by faith, and as I ask the Father to pour His Spirit on me, I open my mouth and find I am actually speaking in other tongues. I believe I have been healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ,….. by faith, and as I maintain my confession and walk by the spirit of God, my healing manifests.

So how do we use faith as a shield?

Probably the best approach to answering this question is for us to remind ourselves; how it all started. How did we become born again and filled with the Holy Ghost? The last time we accessed divine healing for a health condition, how did it happen?

Notice anything peculiar to the kind of faith we’re discussing here? ….

There is always a preexisting undesirable situation or circumstance! 

You know, God displayed what I believe is the highest kind of faith in The Beginning {Genesis 1:1-3}.

A previously empty, chaotic, formless and dark earth, received light and became filled with beautiful forms through a magnificent display of faith by God! 

God simply spoke what He wanted into existence and changed the status quo for ever!

That’s how simple faith is.

Yes, I hear your question, ‘Grace, do you really mean that?’ Yes.

By simply saying what God says about a situation rather than what we feel about it. By proclaiming and maintain our Godly desires about a situation rather than what we see. By speaking, confessing and maintaining the truth of our belief irrespective of present or prevailing circumstances.

The truth always prevails. Halleluyah!

So it doesn’t really matter what missiles, darts, arrows the enemy throws at us {and they don’t stop coming}. What matters is how we react – accept it or knock it off (or quench it) by faith?

That’s how to use faith as a shield.

When I feel weak, I confess that I am strong. When there is no money in my pocket, I confess that I am rich. When strange symptoms pop up in my body, I confess that I am healed.  And I maintain my confession until my faith becomes tangible, a substance and an evidence. A reality!

Praise God.

The Sword of the Spirit

To help us fully appreciate this component of the Whole Armour of God, first, we must answer the question of; what a sword is to a soldier?

A sword is a bladed weapon intended for slashing or thrusting. A sword is usually, long, straight or slightly curved with sharp edge (s). A good soldier would have swordsmanship- proper use and handling of the sword, and maneuver it so as to slash or thrust as the need arises.

What is the Sword of the Spirit?

Well, Ephesians 6:17-18  tells us to use the Sword of the Spirit, tells us what the Sword of the Spirit is, and how to use it.

“…and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints…”  (NKJV).

And according to Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is sharper than any known sword….

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”       NKJV

As we see, the Word of God is both a part of the Whole Armour of God (as the Sword of the Spirit) as well as a Weapon of Warfare {we’ll be discussing this further}. The word can slash, thrust and reach deeper than any known sword.

But of what use is the Word of God if we don’t use it? And how do we use the Sword of the Spirit?……….

By basing our Prayer and Supplication on the Word. By praying always in the Spirit, in patience and perseverance.

Friends and brethren, as we conclude our study on the Whole Armour of God, it is very obvious that the purpose for the Whole Armour of God is to make us prepared, immovable and victorious in the day of trouble. Therefore to successfully resist and stand our ground in time of danger, we must proactively and consciously be kitted in this armour always.

Let us always remember that our citizenship is of Heaven, we are born of God, we have His genes and our experiences should reflect same as we live in the awareness of our rights and privileges. We are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ, sin has no power over us and where there is no sin, there is no charge or penalty. Let us stay reminded that God’s word is the truth over our affairs. And so let us always proclaim this truth, testify of this truth so as to gain victory at all times.

Thank you so much for staying with me to the end of this session of the series. I appreciate all your feedback and thank God for the opportunity to share His word. It’s been quite refreshing and a tremendous blessing doing this study 🙂

Shalom and my love always.