I will give you the keys to God’s kingdom. When you speak judgment here on earth, that judgment will be God’s judgment. When you promise forgiveness here on earth, that forgiveness will be God’s forgiveness.”
Matthew 16:19 ERV

Hi there,

Have you seen today’s Bible Study post: “5 Tests on the Way to Greatness“? 🙂

Three nights ago, the Holy Spirit woke me up to write this article and within 30 minutes the main content was ready. Only a little fleshing-out was required to get it ready for publishing today. So please make out some time for it. 🙂

Below is a short introductory video on the study that’s been going on the blog for sometime now: 3 Essential Elements of Victorious Christian Living.

https://youtu.be/ClA7sLzI1HM

We all need to experience victory in different areas of our lives; marriage, job, home, study, health, provision, ministry, etc. Victory in these areas (and also against devilish forces) are first won in the spirit before a physical manifestation.

This is a very important study and I wouldn’t want you (or any member of the Body of Christ), to miss any part of it. Here are parts 1 and 2.

Kindly share this video with your believing friends, colleagues, relatives. In order that they do not miss out on any part at all, also get them to subscribe here. This ensures that all parts of this study is delivered directly to their mailboxes. They are free to unsubscribe at the end of the study if they so wish 🙂

God bless you as we work together in making known the knowledge of God and His Word.

Love Always

Grace

To live victoriously is to always overcome, always conquer, to always prevail, to triumph always, to win all the time. A life of perpetual victory is possible and expected for a Christian because of the finished work of Christ.

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.

The weapon may be formed, but it won’t prosper
When the darkness falls, it won’t prevail
‘Cause the God I serve knows only how to triumph
My God will never fail
Oh, my God will never failI’m gonna see a victory

I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You,

There’s power in the mighty name of Jesus
Every war He wages He will win
I’m not backing down from any giant
‘Cause I know how this story ends
Yes, I know how this story endsI’m gonna see a victory

I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You,

Lord am gonna worship my way through this battle
Gonna worship my way through.

You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good
You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good
You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good
You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good
You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good
You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for goodI’m gonna see a victory

I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You, Lord
I’m gonna see a victory
I’m gonna see a victory
For the battle belongs to You,

Lord You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good
You’re turning it around
You take what the enemy meant for evil
And You turn it for good
You turn it for good,

Songwriters: Ben Fielding / Christopher Joel Brown / Jason Ingram / Steven Furtick

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Colossians 1:27 NKJV

Every victory, manifestation, revealing or glory we experience (or will ever experience) as Christians happens because Christ is in us.

Christ is in us; so we have hope of glory, ….inevitable glory.

Therefore, since the assurance of glory/manifestation is Christ in Us, then we can always have victory when we function fully from the inside …from the Spirit. If the Spirit at work in you is the Spirit of Christ, then victory is assured.

What spirit is at work in you?

If you are a Child of God then rejoice because God ensured you have the winning spirit….the spirit of love, power and of a sound mind.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
II Timothy 1:7 NKJV

This new or recreated spirit in us is set up to win always through faith…

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
I John 5:4 NKJV

In addition to giving us a recreated spirit, God also anoints us with the Holy Spirit…the Exhibitor of the power of Christ. The Holy Spirit is none other but God Himself in us.

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”
I John 5:7 NKJV

So we have the spirit of love, power and a sound mind to win always through faith by operating in the Holy Spirit. Faith comes through the Word, impressed upon our hearts by the Spirit.

Sometimes when we read 1 John 4:4, we think of a great God in us, who has overcome the world (and every evil in it) ….on our behalf. Like a big brother thing…..That’s absolutely correct. But then, Christ won His victory several years ago, so that we can have victory today. Christ’s victory is our victory. We already won.

“But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
1 John 4:4 NLT

The Spirit living in us is greater, so we are greater than every situation, challenge or adversity.

Christ is in you…..Halleluyah! You already overcame. Don’t give up, don’t give in. Stand in your victory. You already won. Halleluyah!!!

What Is Prayer?

Prayer is conversation, communication and fellowship with God borne out of love and with a consciousness of what God has already done in the sacrifice of His son Jesus.

It is important we understand that the effectiveness or efficacy of prayer doesn’t have much to do with it’s length, how often we pray, or the intensity of our shout but rather it is our faith in God and His word that matters (Hebrews 11:6). Importantly effective prayers must be in line with God’s will, plan and purpose for us.

Talking about length of Prayer, Jesus was a bit disappointed that Peter, and the other 2 disciples couldn’t pray with Him for at least an hour(Matthew 26:40). While this doesn’t in anyway mean that God doesn’t have ears for shorter prayers, it might guide minimum time spent in prayer.

And ofcourse we remember Jesus’ story of the widow who wearied a king with repeated request for same thing (Luke 18:5). So praying about one thing over and over may not guarantee it will receive the expected response, but praying without ceasing is an admonition from scripture we don’t want to forget in a hurry (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Below are five guides for effective prayer.

Prayer Guide #1

• Pray and ask in faith.
  Praying in faith means our expectations are based on God’s Word and trust that we will have them. It involves making request to God and speaking to circumstances in order to make them conform to our desires, without doubts in our heart (Mark11: 22-23). A prayer of faith is backed up by actions (works) and also followed with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving here is an affirmation that we believe we’ve received answers to our prayers.

Prayer Guide #2

• Ask according to the will of God.
  I John 5:14-15 gives us the exclusive privilege that God hears us always when we pray according to His will (His written word). It also means He answers us if we pray according to His stipulated pattern. For example James 5:16b talks about an effectual fervent (heartfelt, specific in purpose, filled with zeal (energy) and fervency, continuous) prayer. Isaiah 43:26 says bring forth your strong reasons. Some prayers require a petition, an agreement, a command or an intercession etc.

Prayer Guide #3

• Pray in the name of Jesus. In John 16:23-24 Jesus said ‘whatever you ask the Father in my name He will give you’. We can alter circumstances, cast out demons and demand for something due us by the authority we have in the name of Jesus.

Prayer Guide #4

• Pray prophetic prayers.
  This refers to the prayer in which you speak the will (mind) and purpose of God into being by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. An example is Jonah’s prayer to God when he was in the belly of the fish. (Jonah 2:1-4). As the Bible says; you shall decree a thing and it shall be established.

Prayer Guide #5

• Offer praise and thanksgiving.
  We activate the power of God at work in us when we praise God and offer thanksgiving to Him. For example, King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:14-19, Paul and Silas in Acts 16:22-26.

“praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints”
Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

Summarily, we have a Father who is willing and able to meet all our requests. This is our confidence.

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
I John 5:14 NKJV

…….

Thank you so much Ada for your article. Indeed, prayer is a life saving skill every Christian should learn. As you rightly pointed out effective prayers are those prayed in the Spirit and according to the Word offered with thanksgiving and in the name of Jesus.

God bless you Ada.

Friends, a few years ago, someone wrote us on Talk With Grace Obomanu, my online Christian Counseling platform on Facebook asking why God hasn’t answered his prayers. Our response to him is shared here …….Why Hasn’t God Answered Me? Be blessed.

Remember you can now publish on Grace Obomanu Blog (under the Christian Life Saving Skills Category). Simply email your articles to graceobomanu@gmail.com. Together we are making known the Beauty and Benefits of our Belief, thereby giving others the opportunity to believe too. That is what the Father’s Business is all about.

Love Always

Grace Obomanu. 

See, all 4 kinds of soil were exposed to the Word. The Seed located a soil as soon as it left the Sower’ hand. Thus giving every soil type an opportunity to do something with the Seed it received. The Word dropped in each heart, say, as a gift. They all heard the Word. Apart from the Wayside heart, the Word seemed promising and full of potential to the other soil types. However, the only soil type (heart) that valued the Word enough and therefore guided it, kept it, protected it (from unbelief, temptations and distractions) was the Good Soil. In addition to protecting the seed-gift, the Good Soil believed the Word, put the Word to work (acting upon it and confessing it) continuously and patiently until the Seed yielded the expected outcome.

The Communion offers us both the blood (that overcomes) and an opportunity to testify of our faith in the finished work of Christ.

The Communion offers us both the blood (that overcomes) and an opportunity to testify of our faith in the finished work of Christ.