“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)  

Psalm 9:2, “I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to your name, O most High.” Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy…” Proverbs 8:30, “…I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.” All of the above quotations testifies to the truth, without joy no man is accessible to God. The Apostle Paul articulates this perfectly when he states, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) The Apostle Paul’s call for joy was expressed with clarity, emphasis and with a shout!
MEETING WITH GOD
Children of God must go before the Lord with joy, when they meet with God. By this virtue, coming before God is celebrating in joy. Let it be clear that the evil one never shy away from where there is joy. His agenda is to convert joy to sadness. However, our calling is to maintain our joy regardless of challenges. Remember Job? Job 1:6-7, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Job 1:6-7) Satan’s interruption was and is always with bad intention. He is empowered to go to and fro looking for one to devour. He was able to secure his wish against Job. He initiated pain for Job where the sons of God are gathering in His presence. It is written in Job 1:11-12, “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.”” Can you imaginehow in the place of celebration, joy is being tampered with? The wicked one, at his coming out of the place of joy and celebration delivered every form of affliction on Job. In between and through it all, Job did not complain nor did he condemn God. Job cried to God and he eventually received more blessings after his time of testing, than when he first started to enjoy the blessings of God.
REMEMBER TO MAINTAIN JOY
The children of Israel came out of the bondage of over four hundred years. They were able to witness the awesome power in the hand of God that brought them out. In the course of their journey, the hand of God did not withdraw upon their life as they witnessed the hand of God, through Moses, dividing the Red Sea while giving them passage on a dry land in between divided sea. They celebrated a great deal in the presence of God while Moses and Miriam the prophetess (sister of Moses) led them in songs of joy and praise. The echoes of celebration must have been hanging in the air and around them when they travelled three days. While they became thirsty, the water they came across was bitter. With thirst, their story changed, “And the people complained against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet…” (Exodus 15:24-25) The children of Israel soon forgot what the Lord had done for them when he parted the red sea. The point here is if Job did not forget all the goodness of God, but remained in the thought and memory of God’s goodness; we too should not be quick to forget too soon as did the Children of Israel. Job cried unto God as did Moses, but neither of them complained. Job’s wife attempted to sway Job into sinning with his lips, “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:9-10) Always remember that in midst of every Godly celebration, Satan wants to gain attention. Fail to attend to Satan and he will flee. Do not forget too soon, cry unto Him and prayer will turn bitterness into sweetness.

FAITH CAPSULE:
Let it be clear that the evil one never shy away from where there is joy.
Always remember that in midst of every Godly celebration, Satan wants to gain attention.
Tunde

               The vehicle of transportation for His calling is continuity.
 
CONTINUITY
Whom He calls, He will always send. He has a clear and defined purpose in His calling and sending out. In every of His calling, regardless of the magnitude of the assignment, there should be in place a vehicle that will carry the called through. The vehicle of transportation for His calling is continuity. Answering God’s call will not be established in the life of the called if there is no continuity. Continuity is to be constant and consistent in focusing on God. The journey of life is like racing towards a mark, and the rule of the race is continuity. Having a purposeful mind is the officiator. When God called on Isaiah, he responded and there was no record of Isaiah falling short in continuing to answer the Lord. “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”” (Isaiah 6:8) From the time of Isaiah’s calling to the end, there was no record of discontinuity recorded against Isaiah. Daniel, despite the challenges of being held captive at a young age, was never recorded against him any iota of complaining against his God. There was no excuse for him to discontinue in serving the Lord; rather, he continued serving the Lord with his heart, and serving God became an identifiable custom in the life of Daniel. In Daniel’s life, it is clear that as a captive, continuity was carrying him and a purposeful heart became an officiator in the life of Daniel. Have you in anyway received the calling of God or you have decided to call yourself? God is not a failure and He will never fail.
POWER IN SALVATION
When He places His call on any of His creation, He will back it up with power. He alone called the children of Israel out of the bondage of over four hundred years. The Lord chose Moses to lead them out of Egypt. God frustrated the plan of Pharaoh with plagues upon plagues before Pharaoh could let them go. When it was time for the children of Israel to be released and go forward to the land that has been promised to them, they left with boldness. “And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness.” (Exodus 14:8) Despite the threat of Pharaoh the children of Israel entered into the calling of salvation and deliverance of over four hundred years with boldness. Indeed, the Old Testament is a shadow of the New Testament. Just as the children of Israel received salvation from bondage so we have received salvation from bondage of the devil and the world of wickedness. At the time of salvation we entered into His calling with boldness.
BOLDNESS AND CHARACTER
Every new believer always starts the race with boldness that is rooted in the word of His promise. However, in the course of the journey, different scenes start to unfold. The children of Israel left with boldness but it did not take long before it evaporated and fear became incorporated in the life of the children of Israel. The Bible recorded in Exodus 14:10, “And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD.” Boldness turned into fear. When He places His calling, it has to be answered with boldness and character. The children of Israel believed, but they could not behave what they believed. The word that took them–the word that brought us–to the saving knowledge of God is with power and it generates boldness. However, when there is a failure to be living the word, there will be no character of the word in place in the life of the believer. Boldness and character are the winning combination. Complaint is the root of rebellion and the substitute of disobedience. The children of Israel had boldness and complaint instead of boldness and character. They could not hold on to the victory the Lord placed in their hand. As a result, they became lost as a nation. God said to them, “The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.” (Numbers 14:29) Without any doubt, the race is for those that finish it. If you have received the grace of His calling, continuity is the rule of the game; a purposeful heart is the officiator. Run the race with boldness and character and you shall become a winner to the glory of God. He will back you up if you will not back yourself out of the race. 

Continuity is to be constant and consistent in focusing on God.
Complaint is the root of rebellion and the substitute of disobedience.
Tunde

“In righteousness you shall be established…” (Isaiah 54:14)

Reading through the word of God can be compared to skimming through the surface of a ground that is treasure inhabited. While studying the word is like doing what it takes to discover inhabited treasure. Everything we do in the Lord with a lack of understanding will result to a lack of transformation. Psalm 47:7 stated, “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding.” If praise worship requires understanding, every other area like studying the word of God surely requires understanding.
The Bible states, “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory now and forever…” (2Peter 3:18) One can understand that through studying the word of God there will be growth in the knowledge of God. However, there is no amount of studying that will help directly in the growth of grace. Also, growth in grace cannot be separated from growth in knowledge because they both go hand in hand. How then can we grow in grace and knowledge of God?
GROWING IN GRACE:
The Bible did not speak in tongue or any language to make it difficult for every believer or non-believer that read through about what it takes to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. It is written, “You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:17-18) Clearly, without further need or any interpretation, it is clear that to be Steadfast in the Lord is what makes a believer to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and savior.
WHAT IS STEADFSASTNESS?
Steadfastness is to be fixed in direction; firm in purpose, unwavering, firmly established or firmly fixed in faith. When you have a purpose in life then you will be fixed in taking a deliberate walk in the direction of your purpose. Daniel a young captive in the hand of king Nebuchadnezzar had a purpose to live for God. When he was offered the best food and wine which the king had, he declined and requested to eat vegetables and drink water instead, so that it would not defy his purpose. It was recorded of him, “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the King’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.” (Daniel 1:8) Daniel’s steadfastness could not be compromised with the king’s offer. Also, Daniel could not compromise when his life was on line for death sentence. At the time when he was about to be sentenced for praying, he would not deny His God when he went and prayed with his windows opened toward Jerusalem three times a day in the face of his persecutors. (Daniel 6:10-11) Daniel was steadfast and the grace of God that was upon his life had no bounds or limitation. With steadfastness Daniel was established in righteousness.
ESTABLISH IN RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Isaiah 54:14 commanded, “In righteousness you shall be established…” After this required command, the blessings that will make a believer of the word of God prevail were mentioned. Among such blessings are, “…You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assemble, but not because of Me. Whoever assembles against you shall fall for your sake. (Isaiah 54:14-15) “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn…” (Isaiah 54:17) The blessing of God that is packaged in being established in righteousness goes beyond imagination. Jesus Christ is our righteousness (2Corinthians 5:21). He came for each and everyone, but not all will accept Him. Anyone that claims to have accepted Jesus and not be established in Him is running a risk in life like the itinerant Jewish exorcists who took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches. The Bible recorded, “…the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”” (Acts 19:15-17)
To be established in righteousness is to be steadfast in every moment of our walk in the Lord. With steadfastness, grace will grow and knowledge will not fail. It will take loving God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength to be established in His righteousness.

Everything we do in the Lord with a lack of understanding will result to a lack of transformation.
When you have a purpose in life then you will be fixed in taking a deliberate walk in the direction of your purpose.
Tunde

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” Revelation 12:11,

If there is any ground a believer needs to be standing on during the challenging days that are here, it should be on an overcoming ground. The Bible helps us realize that there are two major overcoming powers that are in place for every believer that will take the position of an overcomer. Revelation 12:11, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” Two overcoming powers that can be identified here are: Blood of the Lamb and word of testimony.
Blood of the Lamb:
Jesus is the Lamb of God that shed His blood on the Calvary for those who will receive and believe in Him. John the Baptist referred to Him, “…Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is He of whom I said, ‘after me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” (John 1:29-30) Have you received Jesus and believe in Him as your Lord and Savior? Truly as lamb, He shed His blood on the Calvary and that is the reason why He stated, “…I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10) If you will get yourself in the flow of His blood, you will be set for overcoming.
Word of Testimony:
Testimony can be defined as an open declaration or profession. As a believer, what are your open declarations concerning the greatness and might of God? In most cases, whatever you declare is what will decorate you. The Word states that they overcame by the word of their testimony. As a believer, when your testimony to great and good things He has done and those that He is doing becomes consistent in the word of your mouth and your meditation, great and good things will become your decoration. Inhabited in every testimony is positive or negative confession. Through the pages of the Bible, there is evidence of what positive or negative testimonies delivered into the lives of the testifiers.
Evidence of Positive Testimony:
King David, by the word of his testimonies, had a great and mighty deliverance when he overcame Goliath. In his attempt to go and fight Goliath, King Saul was discouraging when he said to David, “…You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” (1 Samuel 17:33) David refused to be discouraged, but gave account of what he was able to do as he responded to King Saul. “…Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.” (1 Samuel 17:34-35) David was not intimated by the confronting challenge that was posed by Goliath neither was he slowed down. Instead, David dwelt on what The Lord his God had enabled him to do in the past and he gave a testimony, “The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37) David, by the word of his testimony, was able to overcome the giant challenge of Goliath that was before him. 
Evidence of Negative Testimony:
The children of Israel experienced the great miracle when they were coming out of their bondage of over four hundred years and passing through the Red Sea on a dry land. However, by the word of their testimonies, they shut down their Promised Land. In responding to the spy’s negative report after investigation of the Promised Land, they had no better testimony but to confess, “…If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness! Why has the LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? So they said to one another, ‘Let us select a leader and return to Egypt.’” (Numbers 14: 2-4) God distinctively heard the children of Israel’s request of death in the wilderness and He responded by sending Moses, “Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.’” (Numbers 14:28) In truth, entire numbers from twenty years old and up except Caleb and Joshua, failed in getting down to the Promised Land because of their negative testimony.
What are your testimonies? Which words are being produce in you and being released by your tongue as testimony? Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of tongue…” David saw challenges, he testified to the power of God and he overcame. The children of Israel saw challenges, however, confessed negative and could not have life. In facing your challenges ahead, think of the great testimonies in His Word and the ones in your life. Meditate, confess and you shall have life and overcome.

In most cases, whatever you declare is what will decorate you.
Which words are being produce in you and being released by your tongue as testimony?
Tunde

“Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6)

WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING AND KNOWLEDGE
The Word of God states, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8) The Word of God is wisdom. Wisdom is instruction, understanding is attention and knowledge is the application of wisdom. It is one thing to have the Word of God and it is another to apply it. When it is applied, it becomes wisdom. However, to apply it requires attention to understanding. Wisdom, knowledge and understanding are very important and one must also have virtue in order to make a head way in the world of challenges. Indeed, they are the only guidance that we have and will build the fear of God inside of us. The importance of wisdom cannot be emphasized enough than in Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.” This verse is often quoted but not often rated in how we respond to it. The importance of wisdom is way more than the attention we attach to it in our daily life. Without any doubt wisdom through the Word of God is what we need to have a stable life in the world that is constantly and consistently unstable. Isaiah confirmed the importance of wisdom and knowledge as the source of having a stable life when he stated, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure.” (Isaiah 33:6) Does this statement add up for you? To be trouble free by maintaining stability in this world of challenges, one has to be wisdom and knowledge full. Men who operated wisdom and knowledge through Scripture maintained stability and once they failed to maintain operating in wisdom and knowledge, they retained instability.
KING DAVID AND WISDOM
King David is a vivid example of one that maintained stability when wisdom and knowledge was his associate. Also, he is a good example of one that maintained instability when he parted with wisdom and knowledge. The Bible was not talking in parable neither was it speaking in fable when it stated that King David was a man after God’s own heart. (1 Samuel 13:14) David was a man that sought God with all his heart because he would not make moves without seeking God for wisdom through His Word. David repeatedly behaved wisely because he was seeking God and it was constantly mentioned, “David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.” (1 Samuel 18:5) David’s life was constantly stable when operating wisdom. Also as king, David regularly inquired from God before making any of his moves. Many times, he repeatedly went before God for re-confirmation of the word or wisdom before making moves against his enemy. (1 Samuel 23:2) All the time that he was operating wisdom, stability of time was his portion. The moment David failed and entered into instability of times was when he failed to inquire the wisdom of God.
UNWISE MOVE AND KING DAVID
Once during his stable times, he saw a beautiful woman bathing, but inquired outside of God. It is written that, “David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her…” (2 Samuel 11:3-4) God was not his source of his enquiry, but ‘someone’ else was. The result of his move made a lifetime mark of instability in King David’s life. David’s action did not settle well with God and God made it known to David through Prophet Nathan, “…if that had been too little, I also would have given much more…” (2 Samuel 12:8) God never runs out of mercy except when we choose to run out of His mercy by failure to operate wisdom and knowledge. Truly our times are in the hand of God. God will not deny you regarding how you choose to use your time that is deposited in His hand because He is not a slave master but rather is a Saving Master. Also, God is not a dictator but our Deliverer. He has put in place what it takes to live a stable life. His word of wisdom and knowledge is all we have to take to ourselves. David in one of his psalms prayed, “My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.”(Psalm 31:5) Though our times are in His hand, every time we violate Him we allow the hand of enemies to operate.

The importance of wisdom is way more than the attention we attach to it in our daily life.
To be trouble free by maintaining stability in this world of challenges, one has to be wisdom and knowledge full.
Tunde