Do Not Grieve The Holy Spirit Of God
There is something profound and precious in our fellowship with the Holy Spirit, especially considering His place and work in the triune Godhead. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A mystery only grasped by those born again and dead to self but alive in Christ. The illustration below is probably the best one I have seen describing this state of God.
There are many arguments about the Trinity, but I reduce it to one simple thing: by definition we say an entity qualifies to be called a god if it has at the very least the following attributes – Omnipotence, Omniscience and Omnipresence. Anything short of that really will struggle to be called a ‘god’.
In the case of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we see these attributes and the encounters of the people of Israel from the time their ancestor Abraham leaves what is now present day Iraq and moves by faith to a promised land which his descendants eventually inherit by supernatural intervention to present day where history foretold is unfolding in present day Israel.
There is an interesting sequence of encounters between man from when he is created as per the description in Genesis chapter one, a book attributed to Moses, who had close encounters of the godly kind, that is face to face. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The Hebrew word for God there is pronounced El-O-Heem, which is plural and not singular so the English translation does not do it justice. It then adds credence to the assertion that there is a plurality of this one God.
“Let us make them in our likeness” ring a bell? So we too, having been formed from the dust have the attributes of Elohim – godliness, humanity and a spirit that make our full character and being. It is often taught to simplify this comparison that the triune nature of man is body, soul and spirit.
After the fall of man we see God the Father trying to reconnect back with mankind through His first direct encounter with the Israelites at the mountain in the desert. It didn’t go too well, for the form which He took as the Father in all His fullness and holiness was terrifying to say the least. So much for that encounter. The Israelites had prepared themselves but when a cloud covering a whole mountain kilometers wide with peals and rumblings, thunder and flashes of lightning and earthquakes descended they told Moses to go meet with ‘his buddy’, for they were scared out of their wits.
Fast forward to the next encounter which God organized and promised in Isaiah 9: 6,7(NIV) –
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Lets remind ourselves of step one where God the Father in all His fullness, power and glory comes to meet with men and it is scary. So He decides to come as the Son. A man, only one born of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Spirit moved over the waters, the Holy Spirit came upon a simple woman who said yes to being the one to carry the helpless child and bear Him supernaturally. The Holy Spirit came over her and she conceived. The Hebrew word for ‘moved, hovered, brooded’ is the word ‘rachaph’ which is only used 3 times in the Bible – Genesis 1:2, Jeremiah 23:9 and Deuteronomy 32:11. The word indicates a high degree of care, concern similar to a mother brooding over her newly hatched eggs or just about to be hatched eggs. The amazing thing is that the Holy Spirit somehow seems to be the power arm of God yet is the most concerned and gentle and even flutters over that which he is charged to look after.
Again this encounter produces mixed results to the human eye but not according to God, because by sending the son whom we can relate to and fully God, we have the opportunity to encounter God without fear because He is like us and we are like Him.
1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, a we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3:1,2 (NIV)
When Jesus is then ready to leave He talks of a ‘helper’ to His disciples.
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.
25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. – John 14:15-25 (NIV).
The Son asks the father to send the Spirit so that we are not left alone but have a ‘Counselor’ or advocate. It makes one ponder why someone who is appointed to us as a legal representative and lives in us? Amazing! The same Spirit that rachaphs over us is now in us revealing the Father and the Son! Oh how we need to you Holy Spirit! An advocate because only He knows the law and the heart of the judge, because HE IS the heart of the judge, and knows the heart of the judge!
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. – Romans 8:26,27 (NIV)
It is the Holy Spirit that knows God’s heart and prays through us according to His will. Little wonder Jesus says blasphemy against the Holy is the unforgivable sin. So do not grieve the Holy Spirit for He knows God’s heart and mind.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin” d : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Brothers and sisters in this season of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit tap into the final pouring of oil into our lamps before the Bridegroom comes in that day as a thief – unexpectedly. Be blessed!!!
These are the Days of Miracles and Wonders.
Post 1 of 12 in a series of insights in 2023.
Number 1.
As promised here is the first of a series of posts summarizing my impressions of the days ahead and the likely outcomes based upon what I sense God is speaking to the nations. There will be 12 such posts culminating with the final one on my birthday in December which is on the 12th day (12/12). No significance in the numbers but easier to break down the download into 12 chunks rather than all at once.
This year has seen an acceleration in the speed and intensity of “incidents and accidents, hints and allegations”. Indeed “these are the days of miracles and wonders”. Paul Simon’s Graceland album released in 1986 may have been one of the most prophetic works of art of our generation. Watch as the increase in natural and supernatural phenomena takes place from this point on and increases in 2023. As a matter of fact I am compelled to call 2023 the year of “Miracles and Wonders”.
Miracles because it will take a miracle for many to get through the year and we will find ourselves bidding some of those close to us farewell. Should they have made peace with their maker it should be cause to rejoice, for they will be escaping the coming whirlwind of events that many will not be able to withstand. We will here of even suicides by loved ones and be watchful especially of your children and learn to catch the tell-tale signs. These are just the beginnings of birth pains. Be not afraid for you have been forewarned. Abide in the shadow of the Almighty and it will be well with you.
Wonders because in the midst of everything there will also be extraordinary incidents that will only be able to be attributed to God. The Bridegroom is at the door. Fill your lamps with oil. Wonders because many will ‘wonder’ how you and your family made it through 2023. Even if you are somewhat financially secure at the moment or just barely making ends meet, make this Christmas a different one by refraining from the usual holiday spending especially on credit. Far better you spend Christmas with your family and friends with a meal and thanksgiving than pulling out the stops with ‘gifts’ that you either cannot pay cash for or will be paying for for a long time. Some of you will have financial stress from possible job cuts. Some will see income dwindle. You have been warned so be smart.
As Joseph told Pharaoh to store grain, please consider keeping away at least 6 months living expenses if you can and then spend what you wish to spend after. Preferably spend on feeding the poor and helping those in need rather than buying that expensive gadget that you will have to sell at half price to make it through the coming financial storm. God will keep you and see you through and ensure that you will have plenty if you do (Psalm 91).
Stay tuned for Number 2 of this series coming shortly. Love and blessings to you all!!
Open The Eyes Of My Heart
Over a period of time I have longed to see the Lord face to face, an experience that a few of our brothers and sisters in the Lord have had. At times I have prayed hard beseeching the Lord to allow me to experience viewing His actual appearance even at the very least in a dream.
I would even quote scriptures to the Lord including Matthew 7:7:
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. – NIV
Yesterday I was riding my bike to run an errand and on the way I saw a kitten in distress. It looked like it was separated from its litter and was emaciated and in danger of being run over or crushed on the dirt road in my neighborhood. I passed it and I felt an intense sense of compassion so I picked it up and put it safely to the side determined that if I returned and found it there I would take it home. Lo and behold there it was and so somehow a few meters ahead I saw a cat with kittens sucking on it and concluded it could be the mother. Sure enough I put the cat there with its siblings and hopefully ‘Champ’ will have survived with its mom. I then realised that even it this little creature that God lovingly brought to birth was the expression of His presence in a small way.
To this very day I have not had that experience that I so long for, so I await the wedding feast of the Lamb and bridegroom, if I do not fall asleep before that day. Having said this, I must confess that I have experienced the manifest presence of God and have had one dream where I experienced an upward pull and flight towards an amazing and brilliant white light and when I woke up I knew it was the Lord and can only assume it was a picture of the rapture. I can remember the intense feeling of joy that I felt and woke up with. I must also confess that at one time in deep prayer I know the Lord spoke to me saying that I would not see Him for my awareness of Him was sufficient and He even gave me a scripture saying I was even more blessed because of this.
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20: 24-29, NIV
As you can see here, it is more about faith than sight, and there is no better illustration of this principle than 2 Corinthians 5: 7: For we live by faith, not by sight.
It is my prayer that you experience the manifest presence of God, and that Christ Jesus grants you the grace to see Him face to face in the land of the living but it is more so my prayer that you learn to walk by faith and not by sight, knowing that He promised He would never leave us nor forsake us. he is Emmanuel, God among us. the Alpha and Omega. Jehovah our salvation. Prince of Peace. Lord of Lords. Be blessed! Be of faith! Believe!
Kasarani Kesha Daniel Fast 21 Days – Day 9
(Moto Kwenye Madhabahu Mfungo wa Siku 21 Mkesha wa Kasarani – Siku Ya Tisa)
As Daniel did when he fasted for 21 days, you are encouraged to abstain from choice foods and to earnestly petition before God for the nation of Kenya and the purposes of God for the nations beyond that Kenya will touch. At the very least remove all refined and processed sugar foods and drinks from your diet and not only will you be blessed spiritually but your body will thank you for it.
The prayer point of the day is:
Isaiah 42:10-13 NIV
10 Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
you islands, and all who live in them.
11 Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;
let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
let them shout from the mountaintops.
12 Let them give glory to the Lord
and proclaim his praise in the islands.
13 The Lord will march out like a champion,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
Something amazing happens when we sing and give praise to the Lord. In this excerpt there is a call to sing and rejoice but look carefully at the reason in verse 13. Had those being encouraged to sing been the recipients of some great act of God of redemption or provision, the verse would have read ‘The Lord HAS marched out like a champion,…’. Instead it reads he WILL march out like a champion, like a warrior! They were called to give praise and sing a new song before the Lord would fight for them! This is why we give thanks and praise BEFORE God does great things for us! On the 24th June, 2022 at midnight, there will be a shout and blowing of the shofar and the Lord will triumph over his enemies in Kenya that would like to bring calamity, bloodshed and tear the country apart for their own gains and for the kingdom of darkness! Hallelujah!
Pray that the Lord would quicken the hearts of those whom he has chosen to contribute towards the 20 million Kshs budget needed to carry out the event so that praise will be lifted up as the altar of God is built of united Praise and Worship of millions of Kenyans and others on the 24th and his enemies are brought down. Pray that he provides you with the grace to be a part of this great move of God that will go beyond Kenya’s borders spearheaded by ordinary people who believe in an extraordinary God.
Kasarani Kesha Daniel Fast 21 Days – Day 8
(Moto Kwenye Madhabahu Mfungo wa Siku 21 Mkesha wa Kasarani – Siku Ya Nane)
As Daniel did when he fasted for 21 days, you are encouraged to abstain from choice foods and to earnestly petition before God for the nation of Kenya and the purposes of God for the nations beyond that Kenya will touch. At the very least remove all refined and processed sugar foods and drinks from your diet and not only will you be blessed spiritually but your body will thank you for it.
The prayer point of the day is:
Isaiah 62:6-7 NIV
6 I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
and makes her the praise of the earth.
Isaiah 62 is a promise made to Zion by the Lord in this prophecy that He would eventually delight in her and would not leave her desolate and abandoned. Isaiah starts off by declaring he would not remain silent, but would speak out until he saw the salvation of Zion appear like a blazing torch for all to see. In verse 5 we are given the picture of a bridegroom rejoicing over the bride, an amazing prophetic pointer towards the bridegroom rejoicing over the bride he is about to marry, which is the return of Jesus in this last hour of the world’s history. We can take this same promise for our nations if we stand in the gap as watchmen on the walls, and do not remain silent until we see the light of revival in Kenya and nations beyond!
Pray that the Lord would make us watchmen on the walls of the nation and that all would give themselves no rest until God establishes Kenya and makes her among the nations that are a praise of the earth. Let it be said that the Lord has taken delight over Kenya and has called the nation Sought After and its cities a sanctuary of the Lord.
Consecrate Yourselves For The Lord Will Come Down
Exodus 19: 10 – 20 NKJV
10 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their clothes. 11 And let them be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves that you do not go up to the mountain or touch its base. Whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 Not a hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot with an arrow; whether man or beast, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds long, they shall come near the mountain.”
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.”
16 Then it came to pass on the third day, in the morning, that there were thunderings and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain; and the sound of the trumpet was very loud, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and [c]the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Before there was access to the throne of mercy by the blood of the Lamb, it was a terrifying sight to be in the manifest presence of God. Today we have direct access to our Father, through the Son and helped by the Holy Spirit. Blessed indeed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! Be blessed as you answer the call of the Father and Son to dwell in us and in our midst!
Kasarani Kesha Daniel Fast 21 Days – Day 7
(Moto Kwenye Madhabahu Mfungo wa Siku 21 Mkesha wa Kasarani – Siku Ya Saba)
As Daniel did when he fasted for 21 days, you are encouraged to abstain from choice foods and to earnestly petition before God for the nation of Kenya and the purposes of God for the nations beyond that Kenya will touch. At the very least remove all refined and processed sugar foods and drinks from your diet and not only will you be blessed spiritually but your body will thank you for it.
The prayer point of the day is:
Matthew 9:35-38 NIV
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
In this chapter of the book of Matthew, that is chapter 9, we see a host of miracles that Jesus performed. These included healing and forgiving the sins of a paralyzed man laying on a mat and raising a dead girl as well as having the woman touch his garment and be healed. From this we can clearly see that His mission, and ultimately ours, is to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God and demonstrate it by attending to the issues of those with needs in the area of physical health.
Indeed He also tasked His disciples to do the same, promising them that signs and wonders would follow believers. Healing is not an optional part of the life of the believer, especially if we pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. I would take a very wild guess and declare that there is no one with any kind of sickness in heaven, and that is what God would like here on earth as well. The enemy has lied to us that continual sickness and disease are from God to keep us in our place and so we remain humble. That is far from the truth and contradicts the Lord’s prayer. It is not that we will be denied entry to heaven if we cannot grasp this and choose to remain with our spirits of infirmity tormenting us. Not at all! What will be made clear to us is that it is not God’s perfect will that mankind would walk around and carry out His will in a diseased or infirm state. Our bodies are the temple of the Lord, and should be an example of the same to encourage others. Healing is for everyone!
Pray that on the 24th of June, as the nation of Kenya lifts up a sacrifice of praise to The Lord, He will release healing to ALL who hear the Praise and Worship whether at the stadium or in their homes and where they are. Pray that Jesus will release the gifts of healing to all believers in these last days and that the Lord will raise up hundreds of thousands of servants from the nation of Kenya for the end time harvest worldwide.
Kasarani Kesha Daniel Fast 21 Days – Day 6
(Moto Kwenye Madhabahu Mfungo wa Siku 21 Mkesha wa Kasarani – Siku Ya Sita)
As Daniel did when he fasted for 21 days, you are encouraged to abstain from choice foods and to earnestly petition before God for the nation of Kenya and the purposes of God for the nations beyond that Kenya will touch. At the very least remove all refined and processed sugar foods and drinks from your diet and not only will you be blessed spiritually but your body will thank you for it.
The prayer point of the day is:
Matthew 21:14-16 NIV
14The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16“Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“ ‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’ g ?”
When Jesus entered the temple courts he was greeted by a chorus of children shouting praises to Him. This upset the religious order quite a bit and they indignantly pointed out that fact to Jesus. He responds by quoting to them Psalm 8 as you can read above, yet it is easy to miss the powerful significance of this action by the children if you do not refer to the whole Psalm as opposed to just the quoted verse:
1Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
in the heavens.
2Through the praise of children and infants
you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
3When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
4what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
human beings that you care for them? c
5You have made them d a little lower than the angels e
and crowned them f with glory and honor.
6You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their g feet:
7all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
8the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
9Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! Psalm 8: 1-9, NIV
A closer examination of verse 2 explains it all. The purpose of praise in our mouths as His children is to have God establish a stronghold against His enemies (who are our enemies) and to silence the foe and avenger! Praise thus is a means of spiritual warfare against the enemy, and especially when done with childlike abandon and joy.
Pray that on the 24th of June, as the nation of Kenya lifts up a sacrifice of praise to The Lord, He will establish a stronghold against the enemies of Kenya both within and without. Pray that He clothes Kenya with a garment of praise instead of a spirit of heaviness that the foe will be silenced as well as the avenger.
Kasarani Kesha Daniel Fast 21 Days – Day 5
(Moto Kwenye Madhabahu Mfungo wa Siku 21 Mkesha wa Kasarani – Siku Ya Tano)
As Daniel did when he fasted for 21 days, you are encouraged to abstain from choice foods and to earnestly petition before God for the nation of Kenya and the purposes of God for the nations beyond that Kenya will touch. At the very least remove all refined and processed sugar foods and drinks from your diet and not only will you be blessed spiritually but your body will thank you for it.
The prayer point of the day is:
Acts 1:1-7 NIV
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with a water, but in a few days you will be baptized with b the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
In the beginning of the account narrated by presumably Luke and commonly known as the book of Acts, the writer starts off by talking of how Jesus was with his disciples for a period of forty days after his death and resurrection. During this time Jesus reminds them of the promise of the baptism of fire by the Holy Spirit. The Greek word Baptizo means to immerse, submerge or make fully wet. The Holy Spirit is not just a power or mysterious force, but it is one of the triune natures of God in person. By pouring out His spirit, God is giving us an opportunity to become completely immersed in Him and by doing so become empowered to become His witnesses by demonstrating that very power.
Notice here the disciples ask when the kingdom will be restored to Israel and Jesus tells them that this information is exclusively known to God alone. This clearly reinforces the premise that the kingdom of God that Christ said had come upon men was not a political one, but a spiritual one that exerted its authority in the physical realm by demonstrations of power through miracles, signs and wonders.
Pray that you too would be immersed by the presence of God and receive power to become a witness of His goodness in Kenya and beyond. Pray that the Lord would once more pour out His Spirit on all flesh in this last great move of God before Jesus returns for His bride.
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