Category: Relationship

CIRCLES OF INTIMACY — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Intimacy, Prophetic Teaching, Relationship

Among His early followers Jesus chose seventy and sent them out two by two to preach for Him.

He chose a circle of twelve after a night of prayer, to be with Him to learn of His ways and absorb His Spirit.

Within those twelve, there emerged an inner circle of three: Peter, James, John with whom Jesus became more intimate, closer to Him than any of the others.

Now within the circle of three, there was one, John who received a special place at Jesus’ breast.

Wonder which group would we be found – Seventy, twelve, three, or one?

The deciding factor is that each of His disciples could be as close to Jesus as he chose to be. Because, Jesus the Son of God had no favorites. John 3: 25

It is recorded that on four special occasions, his inner circle of three learnt valuable lessons from their experiences with him.

On one occasion they had a foretaste of the Lord’s mastery over death in the raising of Jairus’ daughter back to life. Luke 8: 51.

On another occasion at the mount of transfiguration, they gained clearer insight into His impending death, and a preview of His glory and majesty Mattew 17: 1; Luke 18: 34. John 1: 14; 2 Peter 1: 16.

On the Mount of Olives, He shared with them the coming future, divine purposes and some secrets of God. Mark 13: 3

In the Garden of Gethsemane, they witnessed in part His sufferings, His agony, the cost of their salvation; although they were unable understand fully. Matthew 26: 37.

Why couldn’t any of the twelve be in that favored inner circle since there is no favoritism with Him?

The only reason could be the result of their own choice. The three were deeply intimate with Jesus because of their deep response to His love and training. They understood that intimacy with Him was a privilege which carried responsibility. He had told them that “whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.” We too are as close to Christ as we choose to be. Mark 3:35.

Jesus loved all his disciples. Beyond this inner circle we find John alone got the title “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

If Jesus loved John more, it was because John loved Him more!

Mutual love and confidence are the keys to intimacy.

If we wish to enter the inner circle of intimacy with God, we must first and foremost have a deep desire to be in that circle and secondly sacrifice our all for intimacy.

We can only be as intimate with God as we choose to be.

Fellowship — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Faith, Prophetic Teaching, Relationship

Fellowship is a place of ‘invitation,’ ‘birthing,’ involvement,’ and ‘testing.’

INVITATION: The Gospel invites to people to become friends in close fellowship with God and his people Christ gave us the ‘Ministry of Reconciliation’ to bring into friendship and fellowship with God and his people.

And friends do share things in common speaks about the day of Pentecost the fiftieth day after Passover when they were in ‘one accord’ in close harmony, unity, agreement and fellowship.  1 Corinthians 1: 9; 1 John 1: 3; 2 Corinthians 13: 14; 2 Corinthians 5: 18; Acts 2: 1

BIRTHING PLACE: Fellowship has always been the ‘birthing place’ for God’s Plans – a principle also employed in the secular world, marriage, business, prayer and so on. What was the result of the close ‘one accord’ fellowship of
believers?’ The Church was born on Pentecost day!

INVOLVEMENT: When people are good friends and in close fellowship good things often begin to happen as a result as they get involved. Let us see what happened to the Church then.

The believers regularly attended the fellowship, teaching sessions of the apostles, communion & prayer services. There was a deep sense of awe and the apostles worked many miracles. All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other, selling their possessions and dividing with those in need. They worshipped together regularly in the Temple daily and met in small groups in homes for communion and shared their meals with great joy and thankfulness, praising God. The whole city was favorable to them and God daily added to them all who were being saved. Acts 2: 42-47

What was the result? – Miracles; sharing; caring; bearing each other’s burdens; meeting needs of people; joy, thankfulness, praise and worship; favor of God and people; salvation; additions to the Church.

TESTING: Fellowship is also a place of testing. For example, David in 1 Samuel 17: 40 chose and picked five smooth stones from the brook.’ Surely there must have been some jostling among the stones so will there be among believers. A friendly discussion is as stimulating as sparks that fly when iron strikes iron. Fellowship is a place of testing – ‘jostling.’ No Fellowship, No Brook; God can’t pick and choose you – he can’t find you. So welcome testing, you are sharpened! Proverbs 27: 17.

YOUR RESPONSE? – WALK IN THE LIGHT – 1 John 1: 6-7.
‘‘If we say we are his friends but go on living in spiritual darkness and sin, we are lying. But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ does, then we have wonderful fellowship with joy with each other, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from every sin.”

John 3: 19-21 “They are condemned because light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their deeds were evil. They hated the heavenly light because they wanted to sin in the darkness. They stayed away from that light for fear their sins would be exposed and they would be punished. Those doing right come gladly to the light to let everyone see that they are doing what God wants them to do.”

‘Avoiding Fellowship is ‘Walking in Darkness’ – sinfulness with evil deeds.

‘Out of Fellowship is really being Out of Light.’

No light – No Protection by the Blood of Jesus! Knowing him does not save us. We are saved because he knows us. “I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from me, workers of iniquity!” Matthew 7: 21-22.

Hebrews 10: 24-25 “In response to all he has done for us let us outdo each other in being helpful and kind to each other and in doing good. Let us not neglect our church meetings as some people do.”

Let us walk in the light doing what is right, being involved, helpful and kind to each other doing good, sharing; caring; bearing each other’s burdens; meeting needs of people with joy, thankfulness, praise and worship; having the favor of God and the people; not neglecting church meetings; welcoming testing because He always causes us to triumph; sharing things in common as friends in close fellowship with God and his people. We will then birth God’s plans, see miracles; salvation; additions to the Church like the first disciples.

The Manifestation of the Sons of God — Shane Picardo

by evsopiadmin, posted in Encouragement, Prophetic Teaching, Relationship

“For all creation waits in eager expectation for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (Romans 8:19)

Not everyone who calls themselves as a ‘child of God’ here on earth are truly recognized in heaven as a son or daughter of God. I believe there’s a difference between boasting- “I know God” and knowing that- “He knows you”. So as His child, He probably looks at you, beckons one of the angels and says, “See, that’s my beloved son/daughter there.” Because the Lord knows those that are His children.

Let me tell you a story:

Many years ago, a well-known ‘man of God’ went to visit a king. He managed to make it to the castle and reach the throne room. The king being busy with some work gave this man of God 10 minutes to speak. Meanwhile his 5-year-old son, whom he loved the most, just walks in with tear filled eyes holding a toy in his hand- “Daddy my favorite toy just broke while I was playing. Can you fix it?” The king then picks up his son, puts him on his lap and starts fixing the toy by putting its parts in order. After it was done, his son gave him a kiss & went to his room rejoicing.

The king looking at the clock, told the man of God, “You have 5 minutes left. My son took the other 5 minutes”.

If this scenario could be true with the king and his son, how much more would our Heavenly Father do for us as His children when we cry out “Abba! My Father!” It is the same when you walk in relationship with God. When you gaze upon the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3:23 onwards, at the end you see it being stated that Adam was the son of God. In Matthew 6:9 and Matthew 23:9, Jesus Himself urges us to address God as “Father”.

Even though many of us believers have been prodigal, He has drawn us back to Him through His Son Jesus Christ. We should never forget that Jesus is not only our Lord and Saviour but also our big brother, seated at the right hand of Daddy, interceding and praying for us.

Daughters of God like Wendy Alec, Heidi Baker, late Kathryn Kuhlman and so on, have impacted the world through television and great revivals, healings, signs, wonders, and miracles by virtue of their relationship with God with no backup of titles.

Let me give an example. The great revivalist Kathryn Kuhlman stunned the world by mighty works of healings, signs wonders, and miracles, performed by God through her. Stadiums were jam packed with people just to hear her preach and experience the tangible presence of God she carried. And yet humble enough, to state: “I am neither a Prophet nor some Apostle.” God needs “yielded vessels.” She knew who she was in Christ. You too should let the world know you as a son or daughter of the Most-High God.
“And if we are His children then we are His heirs also; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17)

Your rights and privileges as heirs of God:

• Knowing that God is your Father, you have direct access to visit His throne and to spend time with Him.
• You are qualified to do the things Jesus did, and even greater works…John 14:12
• As the Father’s prince or princess, you have been given power and authority as co-builders with Christ to expand and build His Kingdom on earth. 1 Corinthians 3:9
• In prayer, to exercise dominion and take over uncharted territories of the enemy here on earth and to uproot and tear down all that the enemy has planted against God’s Kingdom.
• Unlimited access to heaven’s resources.

So how do you walk in authority and exercise your rights as a son of God?

Here is the key- “For all those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14). To be totally led by the Holy Spirit requires being continually filled with Him. Peter who was ‘filled with the Holy Spirit’ preached to onlookers at the day of Pentecost and saved 3000 people (Acts 2:41). He was able to perform the instant healing of a lame beggar at the temple gate (Acts 3:1-10).

Another instance to cite is where people used to wait on the streets for Peter to pass by in the hope that his shadow would fall on them and they would be healed. (Acts 5:15) The same Holy Spirit who anointed Peter, John, Paul is also available to us!

The scripture in Romans 8:19 says that ‘creation awaits eagerly’ for the sons of God to be manifested. This is because the creation has been under the curse, bondage, death, and witnessed a lot of evil from the kingdom of darkness since the fall of Adam. It silently moans and wails for the Kingdom of God to be made manifest through the sons and daughters of God.

The scripture states, “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:20-21)

“Having canceled the record of charges against us, which stood against us and condemned us; has taken it away nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:14-15)

Satan’s status today: Defeated, Disarmed, Deprived of his authority.

To the reader of my article, I just want to ask you, how is your relationship with God?

In prayer, do you use words like- “Dad I love you.” “You’re special.” “I’m blessed to have you in my life.” “Let’s spend some time together in fellowship.” “I want to sit with you.” “Wrap your arms around me.” “I want to know what’s in your heart.” “I want to be like you.” “Let’s talk” and so on or do you always keep on asking, asking and asking for God to fulfill your every wish?

The scripture is very clear, “Delight yourself in the Lord & He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4)

If you have Him, you have everything, but without Him, you are nothing.

When you know your Father is smiling at you, you can face the world! And it’s time to face the world. It’s time to walk in the power and authority given to us by the Most High! It’s time to reveal heaven on earth. Revival begins with you. So are you ready? Put down religion, put down traditions, put down rituals and start having a relationship with Daddy. I’m telling you, it will be worth it!

Stay Blessed!

– Shane Picardo