The Power Of Hope – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 8:24-25(KJV); For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Hope saves. 

In the darkest of times, hope is something that we embrace. 

Why do many people die? It might not be a physical death but families might die; businesses might die; ideas might die; ministries might die.

Often times it is because people threw hope out of the window. A hopeless man is a dead man.

Hope is what we cling to when the winds of life are contrary; it is what we embrace when everything around us is screaming failure. 

Some people think that things have to look good for them to have hope. When they say, “I am hopeful” it is because they have a small glimpse of the possibility.

That is not the Bible’s kind of hope. In our theme scripture, Paul asks, “what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?”

Are you living through the darkest moment of your life? Embrace hope, you will see the light. 

Are you at the end of your rope and have nowhere to turn? Embrace hope, the answer will come.

When you arise in hope, you flood your life with possibilities. When you reject hope, you shut the portal for possibilities. 

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 1:3, Romans 12:12

GOLDEN NUGGET: Hope saves.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this Word. Thank you for the brightness of my future and the world you have painted with possibilities. No matter how harsh the storms of life, I choose to hope in you because there is an answer; there is a way. As I rest in you, you point me to the light; for my career, for my ministry, for my family, for my business. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

The New Creature’s Reality

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 3:3(KJV); And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

The reality of a New Testament believer is that whatsoever he does in Christ is because he is what he does. 

Like our theme scripture puts it, you purify yourself because you are pure. We don’t do things to become, we do things because we are. 

The New Testament believer is not a “becoming” creature. When Paul describes you, he says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are BECOME new.”( 2 Corinthians 5:17).

The newness of your life is a past tense reality. You are already new; already divinely healthy; already favoured; already prosperous; already powerful. 

You are not becoming healthy; becoming favoured; becoming prosperous or becoming powerful.

Whatsoever you do is because you already are.

You work hard because you are a hard worker. You succeed because you are a success. You make wealth because you are wealthy. You seek wisdom because you are wise.

Hallelujah! 

FURTHER STUDY: 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:10

GOLDEN NUGGET:

The newness of your life is a past tense reality. You are already new; already divinely healthy; already favoured; already prosperous; already powerful. 

PRAYER: My loving Father, I thank you for the newness of life. Every day, I embrace the reality of my life in you and of what you have made me be. I behold this life through the eyes of the spirit and yield myself to its abundance. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Power Of Hope

Apostle Grace Lubega

1 John 3:3(KJV); And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Without hope, one cannot have a purification of his spirit. This is the power of hope.

This purification is the steadfast willingness to live in accordance with your God nature. Like our theme scripture says, you purify yourself because you are pure.

If we had no hope, we would think that we are lost causes in the flesh, that no matter how much we apply the Word, we will never change. 

Thank God for hope! 

Hope is what makes the man struggling with a weakness in the flesh continue confessing and believing that he is the righteousness of God because, in that, he purifies himself even as he is pure.

Hope is what makes that woman who is in dire financial straits keep proclaiming and believing that she is rich because, in that, she purifies herself even as she is pure.

Hope is the anchor of our souls. Cling to it! Rest in it! 

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 6:19, Romans 4:18

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Without hope, one cannot have a purification of his spirit. This is the power of hope. This purification is the steadfast willingness to live in accordance with your God nature.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. Thank you for what you have made me be and of who I am in the spirit. In all things, I look at who I am in you. It is my strength and reality. I speak the things that I am and that you have made me be because hope is alive in me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Scriptures In Ink

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 15:4(KJV); For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

For centuries, what amounted to the scriptures was not what we have as the Bible today. Rather, it was the experiences of men and women whom God had called, encountered and used in their day. 

Some of their experiences were passed down through the years as part of Christian or ecclesiastical tradition.

But you need to ask the ultimate question. “Why were the scriptures written?” “Why did the Lord find it prudent to reduce them to ink and have them preserved for the generations to come?”

The answer is in our theme scripture. The Bible says that these things were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

The Bible is a symbol of hope to the Church of Christ. The stories therein and the victories of its men and women of faith serve the ultimate purpose of giving the Church hope.

We are reminded that mouths of lions are shut from harming a believer; that burning furnaces cannot consume us; that axes still float; that bones can still give life; that the barren can bring forth children; that the lame walk; the blind see; the dead are brought back to life.

This hope has anchored the Church through the ages; in times of persecution; in times when the gates of death yawned open; in times when the Church went underground.

Every scripture is a breath of hope. Find comfort in the Word, in the fact that history has proved over and over again that nothing is too big for God; no situation is too desperate for Him to save.

His name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Corinthians 10:11, 2 Timothy 3:16-17

GOLDEN NUGGET:
Every scripture is a breath of hope. Find comfort in the Word, in the fact that history has proved over and over again that nothing is too big for God; no situation is too desperate for Him to save.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for your Word. It is my anchor and my comfort. I look to it in all circumstances because it is a beacon of hope and a reminder to my spirit that all things are possible. I read it in this understanding and grow in its wisdom every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Weight Of Mercy – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 5:8 (MSG); But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.

The weight of God’s mercy is in the fact that while we were of no use whatsoever to Him, He sent Jesus to die for us.

Sometimes, people are tempted to first clean up their act; temper their weaknesses and put on a facade of perfection before yielding to God because they think they must be picture perfect before God can relate with them.

That contradicts the mercy of God.

He demonstrated this mercy by seeking for you before you had any demonstrated value. 
In doing this, He offered heaven’s most precious and valued gift for your redemption.

What an exchange! 

Beauty for ashes; value for deficiency; strength for weakness; fullness for emptiness.

This is an eternal lesson to you child of God, never to weigh your value on the scales of your physical potential but on the scales of His mercy.

Halleujah!

FURTHER STUDY: John 15:13, Romans 5:6

GOLDEN NUGGET: 

Never weigh your value on the scales of your physical potential but rather on the scales of His mercy.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for your love. It is eternal, unconditional and unending. 
I live my life every day in the knowledge that this love will never fade. It wakes me every morning, leads me through my days and comforts me through my nights. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The God Of Mercy – 3

Apostle Grace Lubega

John 10:28(KJV); And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

The power of God’s mercy is in His determination to hold onto you no matter what you do or what you go through. 

In our theme scripture, Christ reinforces this determination when He declares that no man can pluck His own out of His hands.

He knew that there would be people who would reject you for your mistakes. He saw that there were those who would despise and cast you out because of your weaknesses. But He wants you to know that their rejection is not of importance. 

He says, “No man shall pluck them out of my hand”.

Some people think that when they cast you out then they have equally rubbed you out of God’s agenda.

No!

They assume that by rejecting you, they have also closed the doors of heaven to you.

No!

They grossly underestimate God’s determination to keep you.

Even at your lowest moment, remember that God has got you. He still loves you.

Halleujah! 

FURTHER STUDY: John 6:37, Hebrews 7:25

GOLDEN NUGGET:

 The power of God’s mercy is in His determination to hold onto you no matter what you do or what you go through.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this great Word. What a beautiful truth! What a blessed assurance to know that I am loved beyond comprehension. Today, I choose to live with the confidence that I am loved and treasured by you. Thank you for believing in me, for holding on to me and for reminding me that I am yours forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Godly Sorrow

Apostle Grace Lubega

2 Corinthians 7:10(KJV); For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

There is a godly sorrow and an ungodly sorrow. Ungodly sorrow is the sorrow that our theme scripture calls the sorrow of the world. 

Ungodly sorrow does not lead to repentance. It means that no matter how regretful someone is of their actions; no matter how much they put on a show of their determination to never do something again, they can never truly repent.

Ungodly sorrow brings you to God as a slave. That is the Christian who may have made a mistake and thinks that God has disowned him for it. That is the Christian who has succumbed to weakness and expects “thunderbolts” to finish him off. That is the Christian who explains every crisis in their life as a punishment from God for their mistakes.

Godly sorrow on the other hand is what brings us to God as sons. 

It teaches us humility in accepting our wrongs while allowing God to deal with us like only He can. It is the sorrow that does not allow us to downplay the gravity of sin but neither does it allow us to forget the depth of God’s grace and mercy toward us.

If you have made a mistake, return to God as a son. His arms are wide open to receive you.

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Romans 2:4, 1 Timothy 1:16

GOLDEN NUGGET:

Godly sorrow brings us to God as sons. It teaches us humility in accepting our wrongs while allowing God to deal with us like only He can. It is the sorrow that does not allow us to downplay the gravity of sin but neither does it allow us to forget the depth of God’s grace and mercy toward us.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this truth. Thank you for your arms that are constantly wide open. Lord I embrace the abundance of your grace and of your mercy. I choose to always come to your throne as a child, knowing that what I can expect is love, love and more love. 
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Spirit Of Adoption

Apostle Grace Lubega

Romans 8:15(AMP); For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

We have received the Spirit of adoption. He reminds us to expect mercy and love from God and never wrath or rejection.

Our theme scripture reminds us that because of the Spirit of adoption, we cry “Abba” in bliss, not in anguish.

This understanding defines our prayer life, communion and fellowship with God.

God does not want you to cry to Him in agony because you feel condemned and judged. He wants you to cry to Him in bliss and in joy because you know that you have been forgiven and accepted in the beloved.

Because of the Spirit of adoption, we never approach the Father’s throne in fear. 

You may have messed up in the flesh but the Father’s arms are still wide open and He is inviting you to fall into the arms of love.

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Galatians 4:5-7, 1 Corinthians 2:12

GOLDEN NUGGET:

We have received the Spirit of adoption. He reminds us to expect mercy and love from God and never wrath or rejection.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. Thank you for the reality that I have not been begotten of flesh and blood but I am God begotten. You have given me the great privilege to be called your child. I live my life with this blessed assurance. My heart rejoices in the knowledge that you are for me and never against me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

It Starts With You

Apostle Grace Lubega

Matthew 23:26(KJV); Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also

In social psychology, there is a principle called the fundamental attribution error. It is the tendency for people to think that their misbehavior is caused by other people or environmental factors while other people’s misbehavior is a result of those people’s personality issues.

For example, the person will bark at a friend because they are having a bad day but when they see the friend bark at another, it is because the friend has a personality problem.

That’s not true. Often times, circumstances only reveal who we are.

Take the example of anger.

Someone may claim that their spouse always provokes them to anger. Not so. You were already an angry man. The spouse only stirred up what was already in you.

This is why self-evaluation is particularly important.

You have to be able to acknowledge that what you are dealing with is about what is in you and not just something that someone brings upon you.

In humility, allow God to deal with you. He is interested in sorting you from the inside and not necessarily sorting what is outside. He wants to calm the storm within so that you can weather the storm outside.

His name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Philippians 2:13, Matthew 7:3-5

GOLDEN NUGGET:
God is interested in sorting you from the inside and not necessarily sorting what is outside. He wants to calm the storm within so that you can weather the storm outside.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for this Word. I receive it in humility. Deal with me God. Where I have played the blame game, I choose to shine this torch inward; teach me to live my life inside out because it is what is within that defines what is without. I yield to your instruction and to the life-changing power of your Spirit.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The God Of Mercy – 2

Apostle Grace Lubega 

John 6:37(AMP); All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me].

Often times, our theme scripture is used only in the context of people that are coming to salvation and giving their lives to Christ.

While this is true, there is more to it than that. It also applies to those of the household of faith. 

When a man makes a mistake and comes to the Lord in humility and repentance, God never rejects or casts them away.

If this is how God treats us, we also ought to extend the same treatment to fellow believers. 

There are Christians who are utterly intolerant of other people’s struggles and mistakes. 

I know a man of God who sent away a girl from the church because she got pregnant out of wedlock. He said he was teaching her. What kind of message does that send? That those who get pregnant but abort are more worthy? 

God does not cast away His own. 

He does not teach us by rejecting us. His arms are wide open to receive you regardless of your mistake. Fall into the arms of love and let Him deal with you.

His name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: Hebrews 13:5, Hebrews 4:16

GOLDEN NUGGET:
God does not cast away His own. His arms are wide open to receive you regardless of your mistake. Fall into the arms of love and let Him deal with you.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this truth. Thank you for your endless mercy that is available to me. I look to that mercy as my source of strength and my hope for tomorrow. I stand because of your mercy. That mercy is the lifter of my head; the comfort that I am your own for the rest of my days. 
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Weight Of Mercy

Apostle Grace Lubega 

Matthew 23:23(KJV) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

The Mercy of God is weighty.

This is very important because if you never understand the love and mercy of God in its fullness, you will never heal from the consequences of your mistakes; your weaknesses in the flesh will always come with destruction.

The end result is that the weakness will wield you to exhaustion, that you will not be able to come out of it. 

People who do not understand the mercy of God suffer from weaknesses that they cannot come out of and the consequences of these weaknesses follow them until the day they die.

When a man does not see this mercy for what it is, he will conclude that there are things about his life that will never change. He assumes that some mistakes are irreversible.

The Mercy of God disputes this. It reminds us that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

The Bible says God’s mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). This means that every day is a new opportunity from heaven to change your situation and circumstances.

Hallelujah!

FURTHER STUDY: Lamentations 3:23, Matthew 19:26

GOLDEN NUGGET:
If you never understand the love and mercy of God in its fullness, you will never heal from the consequences of your mistakes.

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this Word. I awaken every day to the assurance that I am loved and I am forgiven. I receive and embrace your endless mercies, to look past yesterday and set my eyes on what tomorrow brings. This day, I rejoice in this banner of love that is over me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Growth Pattern

Apostle Grace Lubega

Hebrews 5:12-14(KJV); For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We grow in stages; we learn in phases. Until you understand this pattern child of God, the stage of your growth will be in conflict with the phase of your learning. 

Infancy is a stage of growth. When the Bible speaks of newborn babes, that is a stage in spiritual growth. 

There is a learning phase for such Christians. Phases are moments in which revelation is availed in accordance with the ability of the spirit of an individual to bear spiritual insights. 

The duration of these phases is determined by how yielded one is to the principles by which he ought to grow; how responsive he is to the Word and to the working of the Word of God in him. 

Stages and phases must flow together. If they do not, one’s ministry will not reflect his maturity. He may teach wealth yet struggle with poverty. He may teach marital stability yet fail to keep his family together. 

This was the nature of the church that Paul addressed in our theme scripture. Their learning phase as babes had passed but because they had refused to grow, Paul had to teach them again as those that had need of milk.

Growth will always be a choice. Learning phases are consistently available to progress us through the stages. Revelation is progressive and is increasing every day. Purpose to yield to the instructions of the moment lest you be left behind even as revelation progresses.

God’s name be praised!

FURTHER STUDY: 1 Peter 2:2, Hebrews 6:1

GOLDEN NUGGET:

We grow in stages; we learn in phases. Until you understand this pattern child of God, the stage of your growth will be in conflict with the phase of your learning. 

PRAYER: Loving Father, I thank you for this word. Lord, it is my desire to grow in the things of the spirit. I refuse to be stagnant; I refuse to miss my seasons. I refuse to let God-appointed moments for elevation pass me by. My heart is continually yielded to learn from you. I receive the Rhema word for my times and with it, I grow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.