Tag: Bible verses

A Word From The Prophet’s Pen – December 2022 (Dose of Prophecy)

by evsopiadmin, posted in Daily Prophecy, Prophecy, Prophetic Teaching

Greetings in the name of Jesus the Name above all names!

In our fifth portal, we covered speaking in Tongues. We continue on the topic of portals. Our sixth in the series ‘Portal Time Traveller,’ will be the Portal – ‘RUDDER.’

The Tongue is like the Rudder of a ship.

In James 3:4-5, the Bible compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship.

“Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue…”

Even when a massive ship is facing strong winds and massive waves, the direction the rudder is positioned holds more power over the ship than the winds.

The tongue is like the rudder of a ship powerful enough to steer a person’s life amidst fierce trials, tribulations, circumstances and situations.  When it seems as though all circumstances are against you, your tongue holds more power than the circumstances. You can position your words in the way you want to go, just like a rudder does. In fact, even the power of life and death are in the tongue

God is Spirit. He designed humans, made them in His likeness and image to be speaking spirits like Him. As He is, so are we in this world., to be His spokesman. We use our tongue in the same way God does- to set things in motion. 

God said – Let there be light and there was light. Genesis 1:3

While reflecting on Genesis 1, we understand that God created the universe and everything in it including the earth, with His words. He spoke forth and saw it come to pass.

Isaiah 55:11. “…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” 

We can use our words the same way. Even though you may not like your past, you can’t change who you’ve been, but you can choose who you want to be with the words of your mouth. Identity is a decision, not a destiny. You can change your world by changing your words.

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” 

The tongue has the power of life and death. Our words are very powerful. 

They can either speak life, or death. Our words, can build others up, or tear them down.

Your tongue can steer you in the direction you want to go.

Slowly but surely as you begin to speak of where you want to go, you will get there. This is the way you are designed to function. This is how faith works.

Believe it in your heart, and confess it with your mouth. Mark 11:23-24. Romans 10:9-10.

Do you want to change the direction where your life is headed? Change the words you speak! God has given us the ability to steer our life in the direction we want it to go by using our tongues.

Words can make us or break us. They heal us or make us sick. According to the Bible, words destroy us or make our lives full of life, happiness and health. The words we spoke yesterday – make life what it is today. What you say is what you get. You can change your world by changing your words! Mark 11:23.

You may read my book “Change Your World” specially designed with power-packed dynamic words to program your potential for success on this website.  Realise how important this portal is -the Rudder

It is written: “I believed; therefore, I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 2 Corinthians 4:13

If you want to change your circumstances, change the words coming out of your mouth. If you want to see good days, learn to choose carefully the words you speak that are in line with your aspirations. 

But you also need to exert caution! This is a principle that can work for or against you. If you constantly say things like I’m always broke, sick and disgusted with life, nothing good happens to me, and so on, then you are likely to see these things become a reality in your life. 

Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Psalm 34: 12-13

The book of James also compares the tongue to a bit in a horse’s mouth. 

For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths, so that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. James 3:2-3

This verse is saying that just as a horse is bridled by the bit in the mouth allowing the rider to control its direction, so can our entire bodies be bridled by our tongue. We will go in the direction our words go. 

Mark 11:23 “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

Words have power to affect our bodies, emotions, and actions. Our bodies are designed to respond to the words of our mouth. The mountain symbolizes our problem, be it sickness, lack, confusion, contrary circumstances or whatever we want removed. We are to speak to it. Everything responds to faith-filled words. 

Most people speak to God about their problems. This verse is saying we need to speak directly to our problems. Jesus is our model. As He is, so are we in this world. He spoke to bodies, sickness, trees, winds, demons, and even to dead bodies and they came alive! So must we.

Psalm 107:2. “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” 

We should say things like –  In the Name of Jesus – “Sickness, leave my body” “Body, you be strong and healthy.”  We are supposed to use the authority Jesus gave us through our words and command the problem to be removed. And when you take the place of a Commander, blessings shall come upon you and others as well.

You create an atmosphere of blessing or cursing with your words. Christians should control their tongues. 

But is that possible?

No one can conquer their words on their own. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can! Without being filled with the Holy Spirit, tongues are evil and full of poison. James3:8

Jesus taught us the power of our words. He said that people who believe that the words they say will come to pass, without doubting in their hearts, will have what they say Mark 11:23.  

“…you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. Proverbs 6:2

When it comes time to rebuke sickness or command healing in some people, their bodies don’t respond. Why?  Because they are constantly saying wrong words, not understanding the power of words. So they train their bodies not to believe or take their words seriously. However, there is hope. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can train our tongue to only speak words of truth and life. Then, we will begin to see our lives go in the direction of our words. 

“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7.

When you think wrong, you believe wrong. When you believe wrong, you speak and act wrong. Wrong thinking causes you to make wrong choices. Deliverance from these things only comes from the knowledge of God and His Word.

Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips” – 

Prophets and those who are prophetically oriented especially should ask for wisdom and take heed to this scripture.

We can begin to control our tongues by speaking the word of God aloud. This will in turn train our heart and tongue to speak truth, even in opposing circumstances. We need to start thinking about the words we speak. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us speak only words that line up with His truth. Then you will begin to see the promises of God become a reality in your life!

Proverbs 4:23. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” 

And your heart connects with your mouth, the tongue, the portal – Rudder of life. For what you say is what you get.

Hope you have been blessed with the commentary of the Portal – The Rudder.

Much love in Jesus!

Jesus Calms The Storm — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Encouragement, Faith, Prophetic Teaching

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Matthew 8: 23 to 27Luke 8: 22- 25 One day He and His disciples got in a boat. “Let’s cross the lake,” He said. And off they went. It was smooth sailing, and He fell asleep. A terrific storm came up suddenly on the lake. Water poured in, and they were about to capsize.

They woke Jesus: “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

Getting to His feet, He told the wind, “Silence!” and the waves, “Quiet down!” They did it. The lake became smooth as glass.

Then He said to his disciples, “Why can’t you trust me?”

They were in absolute awe, staggered and stammering, “Who is this, anyway?

He calls out to the winds and sea, and they do what He tells them!”

Whether saved or unsaved, everyone encounters storms in life on this sin-cursed earth. No one is immune from storms.

The Question is – Is Jesus in Your Boat? Make sure He is!

What kind 0f Storms Do We Face in Life?
Stock market, property problems, in-law, tax problems; health issues, job loss, financial lack; children out of control; divorce…Perhaps your marriage is crashing. Or, you lost someone close to you, a health problem or addiction…

Just because we’re followers of Jesus doesn’t mean we Will Not have storms in lives.

“In this world you will have tribulation…

“Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble Job 14:1.

There is a miracle in the storm and beyond!

Jesus has a purpose and a strategy in every storm. He wants us to get into the boat where He is, to go to the other side.

If you don’t set sail, you’ll never know what treasures lie beyond on the other side.

It might look difficult nay impossible.

But there’s an answer awaiting you on the other side.

There is a miracle on the other side of the mess you are in.

The miracle happens when you turn the page and enter a new, unfamiliar chapter.

Believe that and push forward.

It may be that God has directed us right into the middle of the storm, which is right where He wants us along our life journey.

You holler! Where are You, God? You just don’t care – He does! He is in our boat! He says I am with you all the days of your life.

He is the Stiller of the Storm! He works in every storm for our good if we trust Him and praise Him Romans 8: 28! – Praise is accepting the present as part of His overall plan for us which is for good and not for evil, to give us the future we hope for.

The Question is – Is Jesus in Your Boat? Make sure He is!

Three specific places for us to ponder over – Before the Storm; During the Storm and After the Storm.

Before The Storm

Four Things to Remember:

  1. Make Sure Jesus Is in Your Boat The disciples survived because Jesus was in the boat with them. He will never leave you once He is in your boat.
  1. Make Sure 0f Your Calling and Election Are you saved, sins forgiven, possess eternal life; Is Jesus your Lord & Saviour?
  1. Make Sure to Call 0n Him Call on Me and I will answer you… He who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be Saved, Healed, Delivered.
  1. Make Sure You Have the God-kind 0f Faith – faith in your words Mark11: 22-23 When Jesus said, “Let us cross over to the other side,” – He believed His words. The disciples expected to go to the other side too.

Jesus slept peacefully without anxiety. He knew they were going to the other side no matter what.… So should we – As He is, so are we, in this world…We will go to the other side!

Unfortunately, the disciples expected to go to the other side without opposition. When the storm arose, they became fearful, don’t we? That is our plight too.

We can’t focus on Jesus thinking about waves and storms around us. That is what the devil wants. He comes to kill, steal and destroy us John 10: 10. The devil is the storm-maker, Lord Jesus is the storm-silencer. No matter how stormy the seas, rough the winds in our lives He will never leave us He does not jump out of our boat whenever we face a storm.

During the Storm

When we are in the midst of a storm, some of us look to family and friends, intellect, ability, money to discover that we are not equipped to handle these storms and change our situation. But there is 0ne and 0nly – Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit who is able to do exceeding, abundantly above … Ephesians 3: 20.

Four Lessons to Learn from Jesus Calming the Storm.

  1. Follow Jesus The Disciples Followed Jesus when He got into the boat. Followers 0f Jesus had problems so would we. But in the midst of problems we will have peace following Jesus. Following Jesus faithfully not only helps us stop worrying, but gets us to heaven!
  2. Focus 0n Jesus If we focus on the storm, we’ll empower doubt. If we focus on Jesus, we’ll empower our faith. We are given divine power to shift our focus. Ephesians 3: 20
  1. Fear Not! He was asleep in the boat, but in control of the situation. We are not to panic even If Jesus Is Silent or it seems He has deserted you. Fear not, He is right beside you!
  2. Cry Out for Help The disciples asked Jesus to help them. Worry is useless, prayer is always effective. We will get what we need. Don’t jump ship when the storm whips.

If you want to make it through the storm, then you need to take God at His Word.”

It takes a storm to know that God is healer, deliverer, refuge and strength.

It takes a storm to answer the question about who God really is.

You already have inside you what you need to handle any storm – the Greater One.

After The Storm

Psalms 107: 29 He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.

One Lesson to Learn.
Testify – Look What the Lord Has Done!

After Jesus calmed the storm, “the men marvelled” Matthew 8: 27

Recall the many times Jesus helped you.

That will increase your faith and help you deal with future problems.

Imitating the disciples at sea is a great idea.

Let us give it a try and see what happens!

 

SONG
 He can turn the tides and calm the angry sea
He alone decides who writes a symphony

He lights every star that makes our darkness bright
He keeps watch all through each long and lonely night

He still finds the time to hear a child’s first prayer
Saint or sinner call and always find Him there

And though it makes Him sad to see the way we live
He’ll always say, “I forgive”.

He can grant a wish or make a dream come true.
He can paint the clouds and turn the grey to blue.

He alone knows where to find the rainbow’s end.
He alone can see what lies beyond the bend.
He can touch a tree and turn the leaves to gold.
He knows every lie that you and I have told.

Though it makes him sad to see the way we live.
He’ll always say, “I forgive.”

The McGuire Sisters / Richard Mullen / Jack Richard

Is Jesus in your boat – then fear not!
There is a miracle awaiting you on either sides of the other side.
May Christ within you now rebuke the winds and the waves and bring great calm.

In the matchless Name of Jesus Christ, the Storm-Stiller!

Household Salvation — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Prophetic Teaching, Salvation

There is only one way to salvation and that is through faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation only comes through an individual believing in Christ. It is not something a father can do for his son or daughter. There is no guarantee that if one member of a family believes the rest will do so. Matthew 7:13-14; John 6:67-68; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:8.

Jesus Himself indicates that the Gospel often divides families. Also, God elects individuals to salvation and the elect believe and are saved. This indicates that both ‘election and salvation’ are more individual in nature than corporate although God does have a family plan. Matthew 10:34-36; 24:24,31; Mark 13:20; Romans 9:16-18.

If salvation is an individual action, how are we to understand passages in the Bible that seem to promise of household salvation? Let us consider a few examples.

Cornelius’ Household
Acts 10: 33; 11: 14-18; Romans 1: 16

A promise was given to Cornelius that his household would be saved. This does not mean it applies universally to all households. It was a specific promise to a specific person at a specific time.

Cornelius and his household gathered to hear Peter commanded by the Lord speak. They were in a position to hear the Gospel which “is the power of God to salvation.”

Hearing Peter preach the Gospel Cornelius’s entire household believed and were baptized. So, they were saved was according to God’s plan of salvation, the preaching of the Gospel. They were saved because they believed not because Cornelius did.

The Philippian Jailer
Acts 16:30-33

The jailer asks “Sirs what must I do to be saved.” Paul and Silas responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household.” Again this promise is given to a specific individual in specific context yet universal in nature unlike the promise to Cornelius. The promise is not one of household salvation but is entirely consistent with every other verse in the Bible that speaks of salvation – believe in the Lord Jesus “you shall be saved.”

Again we see that salvation came as the result of hearing the Word of God and responding in faith which is also consistent with every other verse in the Bible concerning salvation. They were not saved because they were part of the jailers household, instead they were saved because they believed the Gospel message and responded in faith. – Individual people hear the gospel, respond in faith and are saved.

However, God’s plan is also a family plan. All of the beautiful ties of home and family are meant to be eternal. We may not understand how God can accomplish a family relationship in heaven. His desire is that none should perish but all be saved. It is impossible to understand his methods. Romans 11:33

Rahab saved the spies who went into Jericho. The spies, inspired by God, said, asked Rahab, to bring her family here into the house and they would all be saved. Rahab did so and her family was saved. Joshua 6:17-25

God showed his keen interest in families by forming the home before he made the church. He wants that same wonderful unity, and recognition of himself, which people expect to feel in the church, to also be in the home.

Many Christians have been praying for the unsaved loved ones in their families. “Does this mean they are already ALL saved?” “No, God will not violate the free will, but it means that he is going to do everything necessary to bring people to the point where it will be easy for them to make the choice to serve him. And yet they could reject his offer.

If you have laid your loved ones before him in sincerity and in faith you can start praising God right now. He is on the job, and has released forces to bring about circumstances which would make it hard for these people to resist God. The Holy Spirit is preaching to them along with his angels on errands. God desires none to perish but all to be saved. He really loves people!

The Lord Who Heals (Jehovah Rapha) – Pastor Lynette Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Encouragement, Healing, Wisdom

Throughout the Bible, God presents Himself with different names. Each name reveals something important about God. One of the names of God is Jehovah Rapha. “The Lord who heals.”

In the Old Testament times, a name was not only an identity but many times a special meaning was attached to the name. In the Old Testament, Jehovah – Rapha – The Lord that heals is used 1st time in Exodus 15:26.

Now let’s see what this specific Name of God – Jehovah Rapha means and what it signifies about the character of God in the finished work of Christ.

Jehovah Rapha – The Lord who heals –which means ‘I am Jehovah who heals you both in body and soul.

In the body by preserving from and curing diseases. And in soul, by pardoning iniquities.

Isaiah 53:4-5 points to Jesus who came to heal us from the wounds of sin, restoring us to our true identity as sons and daughters in Christ.

How many of you know that “sin is a disease?”

Let’s go to Psalms 103:3 – It shows the characteristic of God to pardon sin.

It is the 1st of the “benefits” which is received from God or the 1st thing in importance among God’s acts or His dealings with His people which calls for praise unto God.

This verse portrays God’s character as a “forgiving” God, as a “merciful” God – that has declared His willingness to pardon sin.

So verse 3 of Psalms 103 says: “Who forgives all your iniquities” – that is one side of the coin – the other side being “Who heals all your diseases”.

And this depicts God’s goodness, that He has the power of healing disease.

  • Forgiveness & healing are men’s greatest needs.
  • Forgiveness & healing are received from God which means He only has the right to forgive and heal.
  • Forgiveness & healing are inseparably connected. When God forgives, He heals.

When you and I lay hold off or possess forgiveness and healing, it results and inspires the deepest gratitude to God.

Jesus appeared as the Messiah fulfilling the hopes of the Hebrews.  He healed the broken hearted, bound-up wounds and gave sight to the blind (Luke 4:18)

Jesus Christ showed not only that He was the Healer but manifested His love and compassion as a forgiving God and willingness to restore the diseased body, mind and soul.

How many of you know that God also heals today? It is part of His character. God is a Healer.  When Christ came to the earth, He healed the sick, the blind, the lame and even more than that, He healed the hearts of people.

People who were separated from God and under His wrath, when they repented, Jesus healed them.  He healed the terminated sickness of our souls and drew us back to God.  Thank God that Jesus is a Healer and that He still heals today.

Remember sickness and disease are illegal to the believer.

You need to know this – you have the right to walk in divine health, because Jesus went to the cross – spirit, soul and body – to redeem us spirit, soul and body. Amen!

Galatians 3:13 tells us “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law having become curse for us for it is written “cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”. Hang where? On a tree.

It is a finished work. 1 Peter 2:24 tells us “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body”.  Where?  On the tree.  “That we having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed – were – past tense – it is already a done thing.

In both these verses the word “tree” is mentioned (keep this in mind).

Now let’s come back and understand under what circumstances the name of God – Jehovah Rapha was revealed.

This name of God – Jehovah Rapha is proclaimed to the children of Israel by God through Moses at Marah.

If we read Exodus 15:22-26, we find that Israelites after they cross the Red Sea, they were in the wilderness for about 3 days and were thirsty in need of water and when they came to Marah, they found the water to be bitter water to drink.

In what became second nature to them, they began complaining, grumbling, murmuring about it to Moses, whining about the scarcity of drinkable water.

Moses called to the Lord and asked for help. God intervened, working through Moses, and He showed him a tree.  So a piece of wood was provided.

And Moses threw it into the water as per instructions from God.  And the bitter water became sweet refreshing water for the people.

It is at this point that the Lord suddenly begins to talk to the Israelites about the diseases and plagues that He brought upon the Egyptians because of the afflictions of the Hebrews.

So God is concerned at this point about the Hebrew people, regarding the actions that they must take to prevent the same kind of diseases and plagues from visiting them.

So He demands obedience from them, lest the diseases and plagues come upon them for disobedience.

And if they will be obedient to Him, none of those diseases would come upon them.  So the reason for no sickness upon the obedient was because God is the Healer of His people.  Here He reveals Himself as “Jehovah Rapha” – Jehovah the Healer or Jehovah your Physician that heals you.  To prove to them that He not only could heal, but that He was also willing to do so and thus fulfil His promises and covenants unto them.

God promised to make everyone, without exception, immune from all diseases in the future upon meeting conditions such as suggested in Exodus 15:26 and that is –

(1) Diligently hear His voice

(2) Live righteous lives in His sight

(3) Give ear to His commandments and

(4) Keep all His statutes.

I believe the bitter water at Marah was symbolic of what was taking place in the hearts of the Hebrews. Actually, when the Hebrews left Egypt, and crossed the Red Sea, they were very happy to leave the bondage that Pharaoh had inflicted upon them.

However, when they realized that their freedom from bondage was not so easy, that they had to rely on God completely for everything, and that the circumstances for them were not what they desired, namely the bitter waters, their hearts began to be filled with the diseases of bitterness and resentfulness.

God knew their need for healing from bitterness.  And He longed to bring that healing to them. So it is here He reveals Himself as “Jehovah Rapha” – “The Lord Who Heals”.  For He longed to heal them of their resentfulness, bitterness and pride.  So the healing of the waters of Marah was a demonstration of God’s power to the Israelites to overcome any impurity, contamination or corruption.  This power was going to work on behalf of the Israelites, God’s chosen people, all the way while they journeyed to the Promised Land.

It was also the demonstration of God’s promise to them to make every one of them without exception, immune from all diseases which He brought upon the Egyptians, if they met the conditions He placed in verse 26 of Exodus 15.

Now let’s see what lessons we can learn from Exodus 15:26.

Do we face any difficult situations in a desert or wilderness experience in our lives? Most certainly!  And instead of protesting against it, like Moses we need to pray and ask God for help.  We need to remember God always answers our prayer.

When Moses prayed about the situation – bitter waters – God gave him the solution – showed him a tree – a piece of wood to be thrown into the waters, and the bitter waters became sweet.

In verse 26 of Exodus 15, God initiates a test to His people.  I would say He challenged them to obey Him completely, wholeheartedly – and if they did so – no diseases would come upon them.  In fact, in the midst of their bitterness and hurt, God reveals Himself to them as their Healer.

We too grumble, complain, murmur, etc.  We too can be healed but 1st we must repent of the same.  So like the Israelites, we too are in need of healing in all 3 areas – physical, emotional and spiritual.

So in emotional healing, the Lord heals emotional hurts and broken hearts. Psalms 147:3 says: “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”. Whatever pain you are carrying around, you need to hand it to the Healer.

In physical healing – some of us are experiencing a tough time right now.  The pain and discouragement that comes from Physical difficulties e.g. back pain, leg pain, joint pain, neck pain, toothache, headache, frozen shoulder, stones in the bladder, etc., etc.  We must ask Jehovah Rapha to do His healing work in our lives. In the gospels, there are so many instances mentioned where Jesus spent lot of time healing people of their physical ailments.

The spiritual healing is by far the most important of the 3 realms of healing.  For the spiritually sick, He provides healing and wholeness through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.

Luke 4:18 says talking about Jesus.  “He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed”.

You might be saying to God “Oh God please take away this sickness from me”. That may not change anything. Or you might say, but God says “I will take sickness away from among you”. The good news is that He already did that in Jesus Christ.  So in God’s eyes, you are already perfect, even though you might be going through trials, pain and difficulties. He sees you the way He sees Jesus.  In His sight, there’s nothing wrong with you.  And if there is, Jehovah Rapha – the God Who heals – He has already healed you.  By His wounds you were already healed.  So live in this consciousness – that you are healed!  For healing is your birthright!  Only Jesus can sweeten the bitterness of life.  He is the bondage breaker. Alleluia!

So I end with this –

  • All our problems began at a tree in the garden of Eden – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
  • All our sin problem is resolved because another piece of wood – which is a tree – Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree – was used to hold our sin substitute on the cross.

The significance behind the wood from a tree is providing sweetness to the bitter water.

Whether you are hurting emotionally, physically or spiritually, right now turn to the Lord Who heals – Jehovah Rapha. Amen!

– Pastor Lynette Mathias
Co-founder of Eagle Vision School of Prophets International (EVSOPI)
Senior Pastor – Kingdom Seekers International, Church (KSI)

Birthing Your Prophetic Destiny — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, Prophecy, Prophetic Teaching, Prosperity, Wisdom

There are some who have had prophetic words over their lives and yet they have not come to pass for several years. You may be one of those. Although you may have had them confirmed from the mouth of two or three witnesses yet in desperation you may have said the Prophet was wrong. You may have said, “I’ve heard everything the Bible has said about healing, but I still haven’t received the promise of God in a miracle.” So you gave up on believing the word of the Lord and the revelation.

Why is this so? And how can you birth the prophetic word given to you, see your prophetic promises fulfilled and release your destiny?

Matthew 16:13-17 Simon Peter had a revelation from heaven. He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father in heaven.”

You too may also have received divine inspiration like Peter-a prophetic word, a vision, an illumined scripture from God. Maybe a prophet called you out and prophesied over you or God spoke to you through television, radio or a dream.

God may have revealed something we would accomplish for him, something we would become or something we would see Him do in our lifetime.

Matthew 16 Jesus said to Peter: “I say to you Peter, ‘on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.‘” This was a specific [rhema] word to Peter.

“On this rock” means on this rock of revelation, of being able to hear what your Father in heaven is saying, I shall build, My church.” Revelation activates destiny!

In the same passage, Jesus goes on to say, “Peter, I’ve given you the keys to the kingdom.” The keys are the prophetic word or revelation you receive. It is the key to your destiny. You can use this key to unlock heaven and lose things in heaven so what God said about you in heaven can come to pass on the earth. With that prophetic destiny key, you can build and plant or uproot and pull down every opposition to its fulfillment. Jeremiah 1:10.

When God gives you a revelation, you are called to build, plant, loose, birth and bring to pass that word by working with the Holy Ghost. At the same time, you may have to pull down some things in the spirit that oppose the fulfillment of your word.

We need to know how to properly use these keys which have been handed to us through visions, dreams or words from the Lord.

Many times we have not walked in the fulfillment of what God said about us, not because of the prophet, God or the devil, but because of ourselves. We have a responsibility to birth prophetic promises that are given to us. When God speaks something about you, He is releasing a potential. What we do with it can determine our destiny.

When God says something about you, He is speaking out and releasing your potential. Many Christians don’t realize that most prophetic words, or their timing, are conditional upon us taking certain steps of obedience.

Daniel had a revelation while he was reading the book of Jeremiah. God breathed on the scripture and revealed to him that he was about to come out of Babylonian captivity after 70 years. Daniel began to fast and pray. Daniel 10 about what God said – he didn’t just take God’s spoken word for granted. He realized that God wanted him to be involved in the word.

Like Daniel, we need to birth prophetic words of God spoken to us and bring to pass what is potential. They are designed to stir up and cause destiny to come alive in us so we will get passionate about what God about us. We need to fast and pray over the prophetic word given to us.

Daniel kept praying and after 21 days Gabriel the archangel showed up and told him that God had heard his prayer on the very first day but it took 21 days for the answer to come because of opposition in heaven called the Prince of Persia. The enemy didn’t want him to receive what God wanted him to have immediately so there was a delay in the spirit.

What are the roadblocks to your destiny? – It may be an opposition set up in heaven against your destiny.

So how do we hasten the word of the Lord?

  • Pray with Fasting
  • Prophetic Decree – proclaim or declare by faith the word given to you
  • Release angels to go and get what God has for you – angels should be sent out to battle the forces of the enemy trying to keep us from our destiny

Labour of Love — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Discipleship, Encouragement, Faith, Prophetic Teaching, Wisdom

The Lord ‘records and rewards’ all the hard work and sacrifices you make for the sake of the gospel.

The Lord listened and recorded the names of those who feared and honored Him and what they spoke with each other. Malachi 3:16

God does not forget how hard you worked for him and how you showed your love to him by caring for other believers…Hebrews 6:10

Let’s take Peter’s example. Let’s see the ‘record and reward’ in his case.

Jesus on the shore of Lake Gennesaret, taught the people who crowded around him to hear God’s message. Jesus got into the boat that belonged to Simon Peter and asked him to row it out a little away from the shore. He then sat down in the boat to teach the crowd. Peter was disappointed and exhausted. He had spent a night of fruitless fishing. Imagine how he felt when the Lord asked him to give him his boat yet he helped the Master to preach his message. Jesus noticed this and rewarded him for it. How?

After having finished speaking, He told Simon to row the boat into the deep and let down his nets. When Simon and his men obeyed they caught so many fish that their nets began ripping apart. They signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. The men came, and together they filled the two boats to the point of sinking Peter toiled all night caught no fish. Now he had plenty, just because he helped the Master. Luke 5:1-7

Have you made any sacrifices for the sake of the gospel? – Time, money, family, friends, relationships…
God hasn’t forgotten.

Your blessings don’t wait till you get to heaven; they begin to rain down here on earth. Peter didn’t receive his harvest of fishes in heaven. He got it on earth!

Mark 10:29-31. Jesus said: “…anyone who gives up home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or land for me and for the good news will be rewarded. In this world, they will be given a hundred times as many houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and pieces of land, though they will also be mistreated. And in the world to come, they will have eternal life.”

God doesn’t forget your labor of love. He will reward you in due time.

Finally, you prove your love for God and your love towards Him in the way you show your love to others, especially fellow believers.

1 John 4:20 – “He who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” – If you don’t actively love those for whom Jesus died for, then you really don’t love God.”

We must do good to others at the slightest opportunity.

“My dear children let’s not just talk about love; let us practice real love.”
– 1 John 3:18

God records and rewards our labor of love!

The Power of Jesus Name - Prophet Tony Mathias

The Power of Jesus’ Name — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, Finance, Prophetic Teaching

The Two Keys: Praying in the Name of Jesus & Praying in the Names of Jesus.

THE FIRST KEY
The Name of Jesus – the First Key to Heaven. To do business with the Heavenly Father, you must come to him in the name of Jesus, because His name is the Key to heaven. When Christ was on earth, the disciples didn’t need to pray to the Father for Jesus provided their needs. When they needed food, Jesus provided it. When Peter’s mother-in-law was sick, Jesus healed her. When they needed to pay taxes, Jesus supplied the money. When they needed a place to meet, Jesus made preparations for it. When they needed anything, they asked Him directly. Since Jesus was going to the Father, they would no longer be able to ask him directly. – Because Jesus would now be actively working on their behalf as well as ours, at the Father’s right hand.

John 16: 23-24. “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name he will give it to you. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask and ye shall receive that your joy may be full.” – That is praying to the Father, asking Him to do something in Jesus’ Name! – It is like Jesus saying: “You ask the Father in My Name – I will endorse it and the Father will give it to you.” – It is like Jesus signing a cheque and handing it over to us. All we have to do is fill it up.

Too many people have filled it up for a thousand rupees instead of one lakh of rupees and so have lived a low level of life bringing disgrace to the name of Jesus. Is that all his Name can provide? Every time we talk about hard luck, sickness, inability to cope up; we are bragging of the devil. We need to study on all the resources Jesus has for us where we can use His Name in prayer to the Father and receive them. His Name guarantees answer to prayer. In this aspect of prayer, the Father grants you your request. But there is also another aspect of using the Name of Jesus: – This is not praying to the Father to do something. It is talking about you doing something – using the Name of Jesus against the enemy of our daily life. In the Acts of the Apostles, they used the Name of Jesus this way. John 14:13-14 “And whatever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye ask anything in My Name, I will do it.” ‘Ask’ here means ‘Demand.’ “Whatever you demand in My Name, I Jesus will do it.” It is making a demand of the devil to give back all he has stolen…Jesus ensures we receive our request.

Matthew 28:18-19 – “All authority is given unto me in heaven and in earth, go ye therefore…” – The authority that Jesus received after his resurrection with a Name above all names has been given to us. – Jesus is saying “I authorize you. I am sending you out to make disciples …I am with you always!” Peter says to the crippled man: “Silver and gold have I none…” – Why isn’t it happening much today?

Acts 3:12, 13, 16 – “…why look so earnestly on us as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers glorified His Son Jesus…Through Faith in His Name hath made this man strong… We have had the Name, but our faith in the Name has been weak. How can we correct this? – The Bible says: “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10: 17.

How can our faith in the Name of Jesus be increased? By hearing what the Word of God says about the Name. That will educate our spirits and raise our faith to higher levels. Then it will be natural for us to act on the Word like Peter. You need to know that: – You are standing in the place of Jesus with the power of attorney to function in His place and with legal rights to use His name. You have become His voice. Though you ask the Father for something, it is Jesus asking and doing it for you. Where do we use the Name of Jesus? In Prayer; getting people saved; Water baptized; Spirit baptized; in demanding our rights; Casting out demons; Healing Establishing God’s Kingdom & Will “When we pray in Jesus’ Name, we are taking His place, using His name, using His authority to carry out His will on the earth.” 1 John 4:17. “As He is so are we in this world.”

THE SECOND KEY
The Names of Jesus in the Old Testament God had many names, each reflecting aspects of His nature and character – ‘a consuming fire’ ‘shepherd’ and so on. Yet the name ‘I Am’ is all-inclusive. It includes all the qualities of God’s nature and character. Jesus, the Son of God, also has a variety of names that describe Him since He is both human and divine: ‘The Branch’ ‘Emmanuel’ ‘Wonderful Counselor’ ‘Mighty God’ ‘Everlasting Father’ ‘Prince of Peace’ ‘Jesus’ ‘Lamb of God’ ‘King of Kings’ ‘Lord of Lords’ ‘Bread of Life’ ‘Living Waters’ ‘Savior’ ‘Redeemer’ ‘True Vine’ ‘Word of God’ ‘Great I Am.’ And so on…. Mary and Joseph were told by the Angel to call Him Jesus Luke 1:31 & Matthew 1:21

Why did God name Him Jesus?

1. To show that He was God’s Son;
2. That his name was to reflect His human & divine nature and character.

Jesus, the Son of Man, came to earth as Savior of the world. Jesus the Son of God the ‘Great I Am’ came to meet our needs. Establish God’s Kingdom and Will. Here is your Second Key: – If you want God to meet your need base your prayers on His specific divine name which meets your particular need. That is how prayers are answered – by calling upon His names. For example, Jesus was confronted with a dead man Lazarus. His name addressed the need – He said, ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’ John 11:25
If you believe Jesus is your Savior and Redeemer that is wonderful but that’s only the beginning. The names of Jesus have been given to meet our needs. For example: For a friend’s salvation: ‘Jesus my Savior, save Judy.’

  • If you feel weak say: ‘The Lord Jesus is my strength.’ Psalms 18:1.
  • If you’re experiencing poverty say: ‘Jesus is my provider’ Genesis 22:8.
  • If your body is sick –‘Jesus is my healer’ Exodus 15:26

You could pray in line with His names according to the need: Jesus you are my Jehovah Jireh, my Rent Payer; Debt Canceller; Tuition Provider; Healer…

List the Names of Jesus. Use them at every opportunity you get to meet your needs and those of others.

Superman — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Faith, Prophetic Teaching, Wisdom

Acts 1:8. “But you shall receive power [ability, efficiency, might] when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses…”
If you are born-again, you are a superman with extraordinary powers abilities gifts might strength rights and privileges given to you by God. You may not fly in the air with a red cape and a large ‘S’ on your chest but you do have supernatural abilities and super powers not displayed among ordinary people on earth.

As a Christian, you are a superman with the ability given to you by God Himself to change any hopeless situation around. One thing is necessary that you become aware of it and act like it is so, performing the task and mission God has assigned you. What does scripture say about this?

Luke 10:19 “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” That means that you have been given authority over all the power of the enemy. And no matter how poisonous, harmful or evil a thing is, it has no power to hurt you.

Mark 16:18 “…if you drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt you and when you lay hands on the sick, they recover!” Why? Because you are extra-ordinary, not of this world – the life of Christ in you makes you supernatural.

All you need to do recognize and become aware of the divine ability, efficiency, might that the Holy Spirit has brought in your life – that you are a Superman!

A story is told of an Archbishop who was in an airplane flying with several others. The Pilot announced they had lost one engine and the other was having trouble and might fail soon. The passengers panicked and imagined the crash. But the Archbishop got up, spoke in tongues, used his authority in the Name of Jesus and said to the plane, “Move” – The engine and the plane became steady until it landed perfectly and safely. The cockpit crew couldn’t explain how everything turned normal; they thanked the Archbishop for saving their lives.

You have been given authority in the Name of Jesus. You have been given the power of attorney to use His Name against sickness; you can use it to improve your job, finances, marriage, family and all that concerns you. You are a Superman with the Holy Ghost power residing within and with authority given to you in the Name of Jesus! All you need to do is use your authority and release the Holy Ghost power in you!

You could make a simple prayer like this – affirming your God-given abilities.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for the life of Christ dwelling in me that makes me superhuman! I recognize your divine ability, efficiency and might at work in me today, and by virtue of this divine life I declare I’m superior to Satan; I call those things that are not as though they were and nothing shall be impossible to me in the Name of Jesus and for the glory of God!”

Prophet’s Oil — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Faith, Prophetic Teaching

A true prophet will be hand fed by the Lord. God fed Elijah during the time of famine through ravens at brook Cherith twice a day where ravens brought him flesh and bread and he drank from the brook. He fed him through a starving widow at Zarephath 1 Kings 17:4-6. God’s ways are ingenious His methods sure Psalms 18:30.

God trains His prophets in His school of learning which is not easy but will bear fruit later. Although for a time Elijah drank from the brook, the water dried up, yet God didn’t forget him, He told him to change his location and there He providentially arranged for a widow to feed him. You may have witnessed a good supply of something you had, suddenly dry-up. God may be saying it is time to move on.

The LORD said to him (Moses), “What is that in your hand?” And he said, “A rod…You must take this rod in your hand, with which you will perform the signs.” Exodus 4:2,17 – God is asking you, what do you have in your hand? Nothing is too little or insignificant that God cannot use.

Elijah had God’s Word in his mouth – he declared that there would be no rain for three years, famine was the result. God backed up His word. God is raising prophets like Elijah in whose mouth there is no guile. When they speak the Word of the Lord it will come to pass.
Elijah moved from this place of apparent victory in speaking for the Lord to a place of humbling – fed by ravens, drank from the brook and fed by the starving widow. God uses those in the body of Christ sometimes to meet our need and then could move us into other ways of provision. We need to be open to hear and obey His voice. He moved Elijah from the location of the brook to the widow’s home. Elijah obeyed and it opened a door of miraculous provision. If we faced a dilemma would we have grumbled or obeyed?

He called out to the widow and asked her to bring bread. She said, “I solemnly swear, as the LORD your God lives, I didn’t bake any bread. I have one handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering wood. I’m going to prepare something for myself and my son so that we can eat it and then die.” Then Elijah told her, “Don’t be afraid. Go home, and do as you’ve said. But first, make a small loaf and bring it to me. Then prepare something for yourself and your son. This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Until the LORD sends rain on the land, the jar of flour will never be empty and the jug will always contain oil.” 1 Kings 17:12-14

God is still asking you today, do you have a little oil? Yes, you do have a little oil. Stir up the gift of the Holy Spirit within you and ignite the fire of His Spirit. This woman was ready to quit, preparing to die, but God, had another plan. Perhaps we may be discouraged ready to quit. God tells us not to quit having brought us thus far – He will surely complete the work He has begun. He has filled us with the oil of His Spirit. He encourages us to let the fire begin to burn again in our heart. We have oil in our lamp. victory is ahead. The Lord said the meal and oil would not run out. God is saying you will never run out of His supply for you. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life and you will dwell in the house of the Lord the house of abundance.

The oil in the house brought miracle after miracle. Soon the widow’s son was raised by God from the dead in response to Elijah’s prayer. The Lord hears you and will respond to your cry. It says, the Lord heard the voice of Elijah and the child revived.
Open your heart to Him. Step out in faith at His direction.

God will use you dear believer to work supernatural miracles for those that need a miracle. Perhaps they have seen no rain, are discouraged and need to see the hand of God move in their lives. You, His prophets, need to step out in faith, filled with the oil of His Spirit to release an abundant supply that never runs out and water from His River of life that never runs dry sharing Christ with many a hungry and thirsty people. The more you step out in faith and use the oil you have you shall be filled with an ever-increasing abundant supply and the well that never runs dry.

Kingdom Principle Of Generosity — Shilpa Kathavate

by evsopiadmin, posted in Finance, Prophetic Teaching, Prosperity

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Lord Loves a Generous Giver

2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Lord’s Generosity
2 Corinthians 9:10
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Luke 11:13
If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

Isaiah 40:29
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Ephesians 3:20 -21
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

How should we be Generous?

Luke 6:30
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.

2 Corinthians 8:12
For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.

Matthew 5:41-42
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Giving to those in need

Leviticus 25:35–37
“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger, and he shall live with you.

Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at interest, nor give him your food for profit.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.”

 

  • God commanded the Israelites to be generous and merciful to each other
  • A brother’s need was not to be capitalized on for personal gain.
  • If money was loaned to a fellow Israelite, interest was not to be charged
  • Because the Israelites were delivered from Egypt & received God’s generosity, they were to show impartial generosity to each other

Giving Sufficiently & Maintaining Generous Ears

Deuteronomy 15:7–8
If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.

Proverbs 21:13
“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.”

  • Do not shut your ears/hands or harden your hearts to the cry of the poor
  • Lend him sufficiently for his need
  • Lord Jesus said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

The Generous will Prosper

Proverbs 11:25
A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Psalm 112:5
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Proverbs 22:9
“Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.”

Proverbs 19:17
“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”

Matthew 10:42 God keeps track of our giving

“And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

God’s Promise to the Generous

Psalms 41:1-3
“Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.

The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.”

God responds to the kindness and generosity of his people with protection, health, and abundance.


Biblical examples of Generous People

  • Generous people often give more than they are asked to give

In Exodus 36:1-7 we see God’s people bringing more than enough to meet the need — to the point that Moses must tell them to stop!

  • Generous people give in response to a great cause

In 2 Corinthians 8-9, we see the Corinthian church giving faithfully to help a community of people whom they have never met!

  • Generous people give out of their substance & poverty, whether large/small -Jesus’ enthusiasm about generosity

In Luke 21:1-4 Jesus compares the widow’s mite to the rich man’s gifts — demonstrating that the gifts of all are needed and used in God’s economy

  • True generosity doesn’t come from our excess; it comes from sacrificial hearts
  • The beauty of this passage is in Jesus’ enthusiasm to point out this woman’s magnanimity out to the disciples
  • To think that God gets this excited when we’re open-handed is pretty inspiring
  • Generous people give more than just their money

In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells the classic story of the Good Samaritan — one who gave time, resources, and skill to meet the need of a man who had been left for dead at the side of the road

The Samaritan makes himself vulnerable and available — the very definition of hospitality.

  • Generous people give even when it doesn’t make sense

In Genesis 45 Joseph responding graciously and generously to his family, even when logic would tell him not to

  • Generous people give to help others, even when they differ from one another

We see it in Luke 7:1-10 as a Gentile builds a Jewish synagogue! Who could have predicted such a donor for such a cause?

  • Generous people give to see the impossible become possible

A little boy offered Jesus his meager lunch in Matthew 14:14-21

He only had a few loaves and fishes, and Jesus had 5,000 mouths to feed But gifts in God’s hands can be & often are divinely multiplied to meet the demands of greater works

  • Generous people give as a byproduct of their own personal transformation

The story of Zacchaeus, in Luke 19 is the story of a transformed giver- a tax collector moved by Jesus’ call to come back to God’s ways transforms from “collector of money” to “giver of money”!

  • Generous people give when others will not

In Philippians 4:15-16  the apostle Paul laments the lack of response from the churches he’s encountered.

Even when he was ministering to others, far away, in Thessalonica, the Philippians were giving to his ministry!

Meditation — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Meditation, Prophetic Teaching, Wisdom

1 Thessalonians 5:23. “May God himself, the God of peace sanctify you through and through? May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?”

You are a spirit being, you have a soul and you live in a physical body! People generally sense a great need to keep their physical bodies and minds fit. So they eat healthy foods, do physical and mental exercises. But we Christians apart from keeping our physical bodies fit sense a greater need for transformation Romans 12:2.

How do we do that? By ‘Renewing our Minds’ and ‘Training our Spirits’ through Meditation. 3 John 2. “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” ‘If you are sick, your soul is sick. If you are sad, your soul is sad. If you are poor your soul is poor. If your soul is poor your whole life will be poor. If you are not prospering your soul is not prospering’ – The mind which is a muscle needs to be exercised by meditation.

Dr. Peter Tan says: “I started spending about 6 to 7 hours daily confessing – meditating on God’s Word for a period of about one year – As a result, my entire life and ministry was completely transformed. Within a period of about six months, while I was preaching the Word of God, the gifts of the Spirit started operating. When I prayed for the sick or cast out demons, I found a new strength of power and life flowing out of me. I have never been the same since.”

Meditation is musing, pondering, thinking over a specific Word from God connected to a specific need for life-application. Meditation is a godly exercise that needs to be practiced in order to live a victorious and blessed life – both temporal and eternal. Confessing God’s Word is part of it.

To receive the benefits of meditation you must enter four gates. What are those? – Mind; Ear; Eye; Mouth. Let us combine two scriptures Proverbs 4:20-23 & Joshua 1:8 to understand these better.

Proverbs 4:20-23 “My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart for they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life,” – This scripture tells us more about the first three gates – mind, ear, and eye.

Mind Gate – ‘Attend to my words’ – Concentrated thinking
Ear Gate – ‘Incline thine ear’ – Hear what is said
Eye Gate – ‘Let them not …eyes’ – See, Imagine, Visualize

Reading the Word silently uses only the eye-gate and mind gate to take in God’s Word. Reading it aloud with understanding thoughtfully, uses all the four gates – mind; eye, mouth, and ear.

Joshua 1:8 – “This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.” This scripture tells us more about the Third and Fourth Gate: Eye & Mouth.

“Meditate” in this verse comes from the Hebrew word “hagar” which means to Imagine [visualize]; Mutter, “Roar or shout”. ‘Eye-Gate’ – Imagine, visualize God’s Word as you study it. This means to ponder or think quietly on God’s Words in picture form.

As you keep these pictures in mind, the Word goes deep into your spirit and gets rooted there. It will become personal to you. ‘Mouth Gate’ – there are two ways of speaking, first softly and then aloud and both are essential – Mutter or speak God’s Word to yourself under your breath; Roar or shout God’s Word aloud! – And they are both to be done over and over again. As this is done, it will go beyond the written page, beyond your thinking and into your spirit. It will become God’s personal Word to you, and not just words written in the Bible.

Isaiah 31:4. “As a lion roars…over his prey unafraid of shepherds coming against him…so will the Lord of hosts…” – The word ‘roar’ used here is from the Hebrew word ‘hagar.’ The purpose of this kind of meditation is to drown every opposing thought in the mind, including thoughts the devil brings to prevent God’s Word entering your spirit.

When you shout God’s Word to yourself like this, you will make God’s Word enter your spirit and destroy all opposing thoughts, “…making you prosperous and successful.

Once again let us see what entering the four gates through meditation mean to you.

Mind Gate: Think, ponder muse God’s specific Word for specific life application.
Ear Gate: Hear what is said.
Eye Gate: Imagine, visualize God’s Word as you study it in picture-form
Mouth Gate: Mutter-speak God’s Word [under your breath]; Roar-shout God’s Word aloud, both repeatedly.

What happens when you do this? God’s Word enters gets en-rooted in your heart and that’s what your life will become. Many are unhappy with the life they are living. The secret is to get God’s Word rooted in your heart for every area of your life – spiritual growth; financial breakthrough; good health; security and so on…And that is the power of meditation.

If the Word remains only in the mind it can be unfruitful because you can still reason it out of you; the devil can also take it away from you because of your lack of understanding it. Meditation with understanding drives the Word into your spirit. It takes the Word from your mind into your spirit. When it gets into your spirit, it becomes real and personal to you, and then nothing can take it away from you.
What are some of the powerful results of Meditation?

It gives you Rhema – God’s Word speaking to you presently in your present situation. By meditating on the Logos, the written word you receive ‘Rhema’ which changes things; that changes life situations. The Logos has the ability to produce results and give you an inheritance. But you will not receive that inheritance until you release the ability in the Logos. How do you do that? – By meditating on the specific word given to you. It makes you the Word! – As you practice consistently meditating on God’s Word, you begin to think, talk, and act like God himself. Your life then reflects the Word. And the Word becomes flesh. When that happens, it is impossible sickness to stay in your body, since you have become like a sponge soaked in the Word. The Word has divine energy to affect everything in your life including your physical body. Proverbs 4:22

Glory and Prophecy — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Prophecy, Prophetic Teaching

Many attend Church, hear sermons, read their Bibles sing and praise but never change; sinners leave church services unchanged. Why? – They are not touched by the Glory of God. A person who does not encounter God’s Glory remains unchanged. God’s Glory changes both believers and unbelievers. The Church is a place where you must experience the Glory, the tangible presence of God in action and experience change.

When God’s Glory or presence is manifest or made visible, captives are set free, works of the devil are destroyed through the tangible anointing, healing and deliverance manifest, along with answers to prayer. That’s how you build God’s Kingdom and receive anything you ask. The Bible says call on Him when He is near i.e. when He is manifesting. Luke 4:18; Matthew 6:33. Luke 10:19; Acts 10:38.

Although God is omnipresent, He does not manifest his tangible presence everywhere. When He does, you will see it, feel it and be changed. If you are sick, you will get well. If you are broke, you will become wealthy, you will change into the image of Christ. Galatians 1:15-16; Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 2:14

There are ways to release or make manifest God’s glory – God’s Glory is released when we ‘Love and Obey’ him John 14:10, 21, 31; – God’s Glory is released when we welcome the true prophet. 2 Chronicles 20:20; Matthew 10:41

Before God does anything supernatural in a place in a big way, He changes the atmosphere through prophetic utterances. That is why we must welcome genuine prophecy and prophets because they change the spiritual atmosphere, stir up the gifts, manifest miracles by bringing down the Glory in that place.

When God brought Israel out of Egypt He had to bring down the ten plagues with signs and wonders through his prophet Moses to break down something in the supernatural holding them back. Many times God does this through his prophets. Their anointing breaks the powers of darkness in the heavenly realm and opens the way for miracles, deliverances and changed lives. The word of the prophets is like a hammer that…brings damage to Kingdom of darkness.

Some churches teach their people that all they need is to study the Bible and get all the answers they need – to put away the prophetic word. Such never get personal words because they despise prophecy. We are fortunate under the New Covenant – to hear God speak to us individually and by prophets John 10:27; Matthew 10:41

To recognize the genuine from counterfeit prophets check the fruit Matthew 7:15-20: – character; fulfilled Word; Christ glorified; scriptural agreement; anointing, freedom, and so on.

God can speak prophetically in two ways: – God puts words in your mouth or you stir up the gift by faith in action Isaiah 51:16; 2 Samuel 23:2; 2 Timothy 1:6.

All Christians are called to prophesy – simple prophecy – encourage; exhort; comfort; build 1 Corinthians 14:3. The Office of Prophets Ephesians 4 are few – They destroy the works of the devil, build God’s house [you] bring direction; correction; confirmation; prediction; impartation; activate ministries; protect, release miracles blessings; bring down mantles of anointing, change spiritual atmosphere bring Glory

You are asking what God’s Specific Will for my life is – Do you have a burning desire for a long time? If your heart is clean you are not in sin that is God’s desire – fulfilled as you delight in the Lord Psalms 37:4; Psalms 39:3; Jeremiah 20:9; John 10:27

Becoming A Disciple — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Blessings, Discipleship, Prophetic Teaching, Wisdom

There is a big difference between a Convert and a Disciple. The difference is like giving birth and raising your child. Believing in Jesus Christ will make you a convert, not necessarily a disciple.

The easy part is to get born-again; the hard part is living for Christ, once saved.

A disciple is a student who follows the example of his teacher. He learns discipline. Luke 6:40; Matthew 7:21

There is a three-fold mark on a disciple: – ‘Faithfulness, Fellowship, and Fruitfulness’

FAITHFULNESS: John 8:31 – A genuine disciple puts the Word of God first in his life. You need to survey the kind of magazines, books, Cds in your home. Do you find the Bible and other biblical books in a prominent place? What kind of television programs do you view? These can be check points to show your faithfulness.

FELLOWSHIP: John 13:35 [With Believers] – Who do you fellowship with? What kind of conversation do you have with them? Many Christians forget their own sins, but gossip about the sins of others. Do we do the same?

FRUITFULNESS: John 15:8, 16; Acts 1:8 – In the end, what matters is the fruit we bear for the Lord. Every Christian is called to be a disciple of Jesus, to learn from Him and live according to His example – imitate His teacher. Disciples follow their Master, converts may change their minds. The Goal of discipleship is to make disciples not converts and expand God’s Kingdom, the Body of Christ. Expansion speaks of growth.

There are also basic principles that need to be adhered to in order to be a disciple such as:

  • Obedience to God’s Word
  • Total commitment to Jesus the Master
  • Fruit bearing relationship with Jesus
  • Loving others unconditionally
  • Fulfilling the Great Commission.

In every situation, a disciple asks the question– “What would Jesus do?”

You as a disciple should make a firm decision to do what Jesus would do. There are times when you need to submit important decisions to those in spiritual authority over you.

You must be a ‘Kingdom Seeker’ seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness Matthew 6:33.

God will keep His promises and provide for you.

As a disciple, you will experience God’s pruning, refining and purifying process. Love must rule your actions, words, and attitudes. Forgiveness, compassion, and concern must be part of your love walk. You need to resist every temptation to return to your old evil habits. It is only through mature discipleship and loving example that the disciple can convey the character of Jesus to the world. Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 5:1-3; Matthew 12:29;

Cost And Benefit – Discipleship is important because it is God’s strategy to reach the world. Jesus trained twelve disciples for 3 ½ years of His public ministry. He commissioned all His followers to train disciples. Even a few disciples can achieve far more than a large number of converts. The end result should be spiritually mature Christians. Winning converts adds to the number of born again believers, while discipling multiplies born again ones. It is costly to be a disciple of Jesus. We need to deny ourselves, carry our own cross and follow Him. We need to give our whole lives and everything we have to God for Him to use, as He wants. God comes first in a disciple’s life.

A true disciple realizes and accepts the Lordship of Jesus in every area of his life. He lives and dies for the principles of God’s Kingdom Luke 14:27; 8:57-62; John 6:60-66; Mark 10:17-31; John 13:13. There is a cost and benefit in being a disciple. No pain, no gain!

We reap what we sow consistently following instructions of the teacher and doing regular spiritual exercises will bring significant spiritual growth. The disciple learns by doing what the Master orders. He should have utmost respect for Him and faithfully carry out all His instructions and orders without question.

The benefits of discipleship far surpass the cost of discipleship. During the period of discipleship, the disciples have unlimited opportunities to learn and grow in power, wisdom, and love of Jesus so that they are able to continue the works Jesus did. When Jesus called the first disciples to follow Him, everyone seized the opportunity and followed Him instantly.

Secret Of Transformation — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Blessings, Encouragement, Prophetic Teaching, Prosperity, Wisdom

RENEWING THE MIND
God is a Spirit. He made you in His likeness and image. So you are a spirit too. You have a ‘soul’ [mind] and you live in a physical body. John 3: 3-6; 4:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; When you are born again, God lives in your spirit, which becomes brand new. You are then able to fellowship, communicate and live in friendship with God spiritually.

Your spirit becomes God-conscious. Your physical body and mind are the same as before. Being in contact with the physical world they make you world-conscious and self-conscious.

The mind thinks in a worldly way, rejecting what the Spirit says Romans 8:6-7; For example, it continues to think negatively, be depressed, gossip, have fear… Even Christians are known to live in this way. A major reason: – they lack knowledge of God’s Word, or even if they know they are unable to walk in it. And we will find out why. If the soul [mind] is poor your whole life will be poor. If your soul prospers, your whole life will prosper; One who has a prosperous soul is quick to repent, believe and forgive. He has a positive mind, led by the Spirit. 3 John 2; Romans 8: 14; Romans 12:1-2; He thinks in line with God’s Word. Old ways of thinking have been swept away. He is disciplined, holy generous and so on.

The secret of a victorious Christian living is to renew our mind by changing the way we think, by thinking in line with God’s Word. Therefore we need to keep reading God’s Word, meditating on it and obeying it daily. Then we will be able to renew our minds and be transformed!

REJECTION AND LONELINESS
Satan has devised many weapons to destroy you. One of them is the self-destructive weapon of Rejection & Loneliness. When you are overcome with this weapon, you lose your peace, joy, and happiness, get discouraged, wallow in self-pity, get depressed, sick, fall an easy prey to temptation and worst still, reject God your only help.

Newspapers, magazines, films are full of stories of revenge, murder, suicide victims trying to deal with rejection and loneliness in their own ways. Satan has many friends who help him; parents, teachers, lovers, friends, and people we depend on, society…they hold this weapon in their hands

Someone wrote this letter:
God do you understand the pain of my rejection and loneliness? Where are you when I need you the most? I am lonely, afraid and insecure. Those I trusted most deserted me. Can I count on you Lord? Will you desert me? Is there an answer, a hope for me? Oh God help me! I’m confused.

God Replies:
Those the Father has given me I will never reject John 6: 37 – Though others may reject and desert you, I will not! I willingly accept those who trust me. I did not condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery though others did. I reject the sin but not the sinner. I freely forgive those who ask me to. I will never forget you I have carved you on the palms of my hand…do not be afraid for I am with you.” Isaiah 49:15-16; 41: 10
I am with you night and day. I love you and I will never leave you. Yes, I understand your suffering, pain of rejection and loneliness. I suffered too. I was despised and rejected by others. You are not alone. Haven’t you read the scriptures? He came unto his own and his own received him not. John 1:11 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief: and we turned our backs on him. Isaiah 53:3 Moses said –My own people won’t listen to me anymore…Exodus 6:12.. Cheer up! There is hope!

You are an over-comer, you can overcome rejection and loneliness. Don’t deal with it all by yourself. I’ll show you the way. Here is the solution. Don’t turn away from God. He takes care of you. He heals your broken heart “Give all your worries and cares to God he cares about what happens to you.” 1 Peter 5:7 “He heals the brokenhearted, binding up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3. Don’t turn away from others; Go where you are assigned. Get Involved in the local church – “take care of traveling teachers, missionaries” “care for orphans and widows in their troubles” and there are many other things you can do. 3 John 1:5; James 1:27.

Sharpen Your Axe — Prophet Tony Mathias

by evsopiadmin, posted in Encouragement, Prophetic Teaching, Prosperity, Wisdom

Abraham Lincoln said: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe”

This is what I plan to do with this teaching – To show that you are God’s battle Axe [skills, talents, abilities, gifts, resources].

He is waiting to use you: He can only do so to the extent you are sharp and cutting edge. No one, not even God Himself will sharpen your axe for you. You have to do it for yourself. And when that is done you will be able to complete the work God gave you.

Two key scriptures I have selected here are: Jeremiah 51:20 & Ecclesiastes 10:10.
NLT Jeremiah 51:20 “You are my battle-axe and sword says the LORD. “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms.” Ecclesiastes 10:10

If you don’t sharpen your axe, it will be harder to use. If you’re smart, you’ll know what to do.

A young strong and energetic wood-cutter was employed by a timber merchant. His assignment was to pull down trees. Given a good salary, good work-conditions and a strong axe he was determined to do his best. The First Day he brought down 15 trees and was congratulated by his boss- “Congratulations,” said the boss. “Carry on the good your work you are doing!”

The Second Day he worked harder remembering the encouraging words of his boss but was able to pull down only 10 trees despite his hard work.

The Third Day was even worse – He brought down just 7 trees though he worked much harder this time. Day after day lesser trees were brought down – He wondered why? He said to himself: “Am I losing my strength?” Plucking up courage – He approached his boss and apologized, saying: -“I do not understand what is going on. Day by day I am bringing down lesser number of trees though I work harder each day

The Boss replied: “When was the last time you sharpened your axe?”

“Sharpen? – I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been so busy trying to cut trees…” A boxing match may last ten minutes. But preparation time for the event in sharpening boxing skills may take weeks. Preparation is the key ingredient to success

You Are God’s Battle-Axe Jeremiah 51:20

“You are my battle-ax and sword says the LORD. “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms.”

What a privilege and honor to be God’s Battle-Axe! Are You God’s Battle Axe? This world is a battlefield. God is calling us to spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood….” Because we are His battle axe to destroy the kingdom of darkness and establish the Kingdom of God in the hearts of man, we must be a sharp battle axe in the Lord’s hand. *

Signs Of A Dull Axe – Ecclesiastes 10:10 “If you don’t sharpen your axe it is harder to use; if you’re smart, you’ll know what to do.” It is pathetic to see one begin and end as a clerk in an organization. Perhaps he has little vision and motivation for arriving at the top. It is false security to only feel fulfilled at work, comfortable with colleagues, boss, and the company. Such people would never think of pushing themselves out of their comfort zone? One imminent danger! Complacency can derail your career.

If you are not cutting-edge, God cannot use you mightily. He will use you in proportion – The job you handle may include management of the home, finance, business, working in an establishment and so on. But wherever you are, you will portray signs of a sharp or dull axe. A dull rusty axe will show a mediocre person not willing to do his best; not interested in updating his field and industry; not seizing his God-given opportunities; no zeal; complacency, content to live life the way it is, non-repentant, no vision, no goals, no zeal for the Kingdom of God. Most never update, never improve their skills. They think what they have learned is good enough – not so! Good is the enemy of better. They become dull of hearing Hebrews 5:11 when they refuse to renew their minds holding on to their own mindsets and not taking on the mindset of the Lord.

Those that are dull of hearing are un-teachable, because they have no desire to listen and that can lead to hardness of heart. [Pharaoh had a hardened heart, he was un-teachable]. They must rise from doing good to doing better. It is our attitude [mindset] that determines our altitude. Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to success. Many are busybodies who have forgotten the value of rest – they become burnouts or misfits. They need to rest in-between: Even the Lord himself went to sleep in the boat – Jesus “Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while” Mark 6:31

Psalmist says: “Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10. 

Isaiah 40:31 “They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength…”

John Milton: “They also serve who only stand and wait!”

William Henry Davies: “What is this life so full of care we have no time to stand and stare”

Work became toilsome after Adam and Eve disobeyed God and sin entered the world. Sin and disobedience to God’s Word, make the “axe” dull and rusty. Therefore we must hide God’s Word in us Psalms 119:11.

Satan’s goal is that we lose our cutting edge and become ineffective witnesses for our Lord Jesus. He makes efforts to keep us constantly busy with other things and even in our secular work – so that we do not have intimacy with God. But God, on the other hand, has a way of sharpening dull Christians if we only return to where we lost our cutting edge reach out and reclaim it!

*Does Your Axe Need Sharpening? Do you feel you have lost your cutting – edge? Has your axe become dull?

You once had a great desire to read Christian books, attend seminars and conferences, hear Christian videotapes, attend gospel crusades, intercede, fast and pray meditate and evangelize and win souls, but it does not seem so now. Has more of the world come in? Has zeal for the house of the Lord diminished?

Are you a spectator at Church and not a participant? Have you made it a practice to keep sinning? Are you a busybody? [No time for God] Then you need to sharpen your axe.

*How to Sharpen Your Axe?

Acknowledge Lordship of Jesus Christ “Acknowledge Jesus Christ in your heart as Lord. If anyone asks why you do so, be ready to tell him, gently and respectfully.” 1 Peter 3:15. Take time to cultivate relationship, friendship and intimacy with God. Acknowledge God’s Word “For the word of God is active and alive sharper than…” Hebrews 4:12 Take time to cultivate intimacy with his Word.

The Bible shows you how – Seek his Kingdom and his Righteousness Matthew 6:33.

We need to judicially read and understand worldviews so that in that context we are able to reply according to God’s Word the reason for our hope in this hopeless world.

Be His Mouthpiece When the Word of God is rich in us, we will be a sharp axe in His hands.

We need to be His mouth-piece as ministers of reconciliation, while we seek his Kingdom and righteousness Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Matthew 6:33

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: Isaiah 50:4

We are God’s Battle-Axe in his hands. We must ensure we are cutting-edge and not dull so that he can profitably use us in the battlefield.

If we don’t sharpen our axe [ourselves] it will be harder to use.

Complacency will not only derail our career but also calling, place and function in the Body of Christ which is an organism rather than an organization.

Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to success. We are always in need of sharpening.

We sharpen our axe by:

  • Acknowledging Jesus Christ as our Lord [He owns us]
  • Acknowledging God’s Word
  • Seeking God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness
  • Becoming His mouth-piece