FINDING THE POWER OF GOD

Sure you were greatly blessed by the last edition of the Web of Wisdom magazine. In this edition I will be dealing with the topic “Finding the Power of God”. It is going to profit those of you that are pastors and everyone involved in leadership role in church especially to worship leaders.

Many times what we call praise worship is an entertainment to our soul and sometimes an exercising of our body. I believe that the most important qualification of a worship leader is not actually good voice but his ability to find the Holy Spirit in a meeting. Don’t put your skill or your talent ahead of the Holy Ghost. Sometimes people that are skillful take leadership from the Holy Ghost; rather you need to spend time in prayers to do the following things;

1)      To become pliable and sensitive to the Holy Ghost

2)      To find the right song for each occasion.

Everyone that is involved in worship has a major role to play in the amount of power that is available for a service or for a meeting or for a crusade. In the days of Elisha (2 kings 3:15) Elisha said ”Bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played that the hand of the Lord came upon him.” Elisha could have started talking but he rather chose to wait for the anointing to stir up prophetic utterance. A worship leader that is interested in his own voice will miss the Holy Ghost, the mood of the Holy Ghost and how the Holy Ghost wants to move.

Don’t submit the leadership of the Holy Ghost to skilful people, in fact I have even seen unanointed people join a church and within three months, they became leaders of the choir because of their powerful voice, so such people have used their  talent to take leadership from God.

Now the first thing you are going to take note of if you are going to find the kingdom of God or find the power of God is:-

1.      Follow the flow of the Spirit.

Learn to follow the flow of the Spirit; you do so by simply watching somebody that is in the flow. You do what they are doing, so simple. You must teach people where to look.

When God led Israelites out of Egypt, the Bible says “He led them by the pillar of cloud in the day and by the pillar of fire in the night.” So wherever they are, they must look in the direction of the tabernacle.

Most of the times when Israel is in trouble, you will find the spirit of prophecy fall on one of the sons of the priest, if there is no prophet there, it will always come upon someone either a king, a priest or a prophet in the old testament, but in the new testament it is the person that is sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit that is the leader in any gathering. Leadership has nothing to do with title; it has to do with sensitivity. True leadership is not about the position they gave you but your sensitivity to where the Holy Spirit is going.

As a Pastor, you are not following the fashion, you are not following the fact, you are following the Holy Spirit; following the anointing. In fact you are a student of the anointing, I want you to consider the practical steps in following the flow of the Spirit:-

  -  Study and follow the flow in your heart; the flow in the anointing and the flow in your calling,

  - Develop sensitivity with the flow in your heart.

  - Look at the flow on the leadership of a meeting.

 - Teach your members to follow the flow as they see it on you.

Myself and mummy have worked together for many years now and some people wonder, saying “how do you know she is going to prophecy, the issue is not how do I know she is about to prophecy, the question is “how do I know what is coming up next. You are to follow the anointing as a pastor and teach your members “follow me as I follow the anointing. What the anointing moving me to do, get involved.

Don’t forget the Shunamite woman who followed the flow in her spirit, such that when Elisha passed by she sowed in her seed time and reaped a fivefold harvest; 2 kings 4

-          She reaped the harvest of a son.

-          When the son died, she reaped the harvest of the resurrection of the son.

-          When famine was coming, she reaped harvest of divine communication.

-          After the famine she reaped the harvest of divine restoration plus interest.

One seedtime yielded a cycle of harvest, and the key is “you can’t have harvest when you miss your seed time”. Seed is what set your harvest in motion and when you get to your seed time you need to follow the flow.

2.      You must find the purposes of the kingdom

God is a God of purpose. In fact when they were looking for Jesus at the age of 13, He was missing from the crowd that were going back and for three and half days they couldn’t find Him, but where did they find Him? They found Him in His purpose.

Every time you get out of divine purpose, you also get out of divine power.

The Bible says God deals with motives, the reason is just more important to god than just the act, especially for those of you that are singing, it is so easy for you to get carried away with your own voice that you are just entertaining people.. As a music minister there is a thin line between entertainment and ministering. When the crowd response is more important to you than the flow of the anointing, you are in self glorification and not in the purpose of God.

The purpose of God for the anointing is to destroy yokes, lift burdens, build the kingdom of God. So find the purpose of God and you will find the power of God.

If you ask God for a loaf of bread and I ask for a bakery He will give me a bakery without giving you a loaf of bread, you know why? Because the reason why I am asking for a bakery is to be a blessing. He will not waste His time baking a loaf of bread but He will give me a bakery and tell you to come and meet me since He knows I am going to give you the bread.

Somebody says God make me a millionaire, He doesn’t make people millionaire, He gives people assignment of a millionaire. Let me give you a fantastic counsel. “Never say no to a divine assignment if you want to grow in power with God.” So find the purpose and you will get the power. Your purpose is to prepare the ground for the ministry of the word to bring the power of God down. Your purpose and god’s purpose must align and become congruent.

3.      The word of God

If you don’t know which road to take to a service, take it in the direction of the word of God. Whatever you are called to do with the word face it. A minister must know his calling, don’t preach without being sure that you are called. There is a difference we must understand between the calling and assignment.

The calling is the divine invitation and claim on a man to a holy work. However having a calling is not as important as knowing that you have a calling. The problem in the body of Christ is interested Mediocres working for God because they are interested. Interest can die; calling cannot. Calling is not a matter of interest.  It is when God calls you that He begins to clarify things for you.

Assignment on the other hand is the Holy work given to you to do and there are many assignments within a calling.

Things you must do to your assignment:-

1)      Know your assignment.

2)      Watch your assignment

3)      Study your assignment

4)      Give yourself totally to your assignment

5)      Take heed to your assignment.

Finally, I pray that God baptize you with sensitivity more and more so that you and I can fulfil God’s purpose for our lives.

May God depend on you.

For more on this teaching, get the full teaching by Daddy (Rev. Olusola Areogun) on the title “Finding the Power of God”

GENERATING FUNDS FOR THE WORK

By: Rev. Olusola Areogun

 (A)                                                    FACTS

1. Without funds good visions become nightmares of frustration.
2. The funding affects the expression and extent of vision.
3. The way you raise funds for the work will affect the integrity of your work.
4. There is a difference between a church based work and itinerant based work in funding. Don’t mix it.
5. The anointing of increase and multiplication is in the call and hands of a set man.
6. Ministers that are afraid of teaching on finances fall into the trap of mammon and release a spirit of poverty on their people!

(B)                                       PRINCIPLES

PRINCIPLE ONE

    RECOGNIZE THE THREE MAJOR PURPOSES FOR WHICH GOD GIVES FUNDS;

-      TO FINANCE YOUR ASSIGNMENT ON  THE EARTH

-      TO FUND YOUR NATURAL OBLIGATIONS

-      TO FINANCE YOUR PERSONAL ENJOYMENT

PRINCIPLE TWO

      I Corinthians 9:11

YOUR SPIRITUAL EFFECTIVENESS DETERMINES YOUR MATERIAL ABUNDANCE.

-      DON’T turn it upside down. What God gives a man of God is SPIRITUAL THINGS to sow. He gives the people carnal things to sow.

-      Both minister    and the people are sowers and reapers.

People: Seed = their carnal things

                          Harvest = the spiritual things of the man of God

The minister: Seed = the spiritual things

                          Harvest = the carnal things of the people.

            

            IT IS A CYCLES OF BLESSING PERPETUALLY

              Watch where they break the cycle, there is suffering. A church not taking good care of their shepherd with carnal things lack the spiritual things to shield them from Satan or give them super advantages in life.

A minister that is not ministering supernatural things will lack the carnal things of the people.

PRINCIPLE THREE

John 6:5-6

NOT EVERY NEED IN THE WORK WILL REQUIRE MONEY TO SOLVE.

You must be sensitive to know the difference and respect the difference.

Examples

Moses – Exodus 36: 1-7

John 6: 5-6

THE MYSTERY OF THE ANOINTING

By Rev Olusola Areogun

Text: Phil 4:13

Col 1:27-  To whom God would make known what the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which Christ in, the hop of glory

John 14:12- Verily, verily I say unto you; He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father

1.      You have an anointing.

       When there is a lack of anything needed, it is because of a lack of the anointing. e.g. John 6:1-12, 1 kings 17:13-14:17

At Mount Carmel, we see the role of the anointed in every miracle. You have an anointing SPECIALLY designed by God for your place, roles in life, your assignments and your responsibilities. Spiritual and secular roles carry different aniontings. Daniel and Joseph functioned with the anointing in secular roles.

2.      Don’t let your head lack oil, why? It leads to dryness and dandruff.

Eccl 9:8- let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.

Psalm 23:1-6

1 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.

2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters

3. He restoreth my soul; He leadth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5. thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

• Strife according to His working. Col 1:29, Eph 3:20, Phil 2:13
• Work out what God is working in you.

3.      Who and what is the antichrist?

(a)    A literal person – 2Thess 2, 1John 4:1

(b)   1 John 2:18- little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

(c)    Eph 4

There are many antichrists – anti-anointing

·         People

·         Things

·         Spirits

·         Attitudes that are against the anointing.

·         Anything that questions or hinders the flow of the anointing. Stay away from the flesh – Gal 5:16-22, stay in the spirit.

Beware of unholy alliances – marriage, business, friendship, family… 2Cor 6:14-end, Neh.13, Ezra 8, 2chron 20:35, 1 kings 3:1, 1Sam 30:1; 31:1.

4.      How do you replenish your store or river of the anointing?

(a)    Connect to a GIFT OF CHRIST – Eph 4:7- but unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

(b)   Stay in love ( in the fruit of the spirit – Gal 5:22- stay in the spirit)

(c)    Stay in unity – Psalm 133

(d)   Stay in the word.

(e)    Remain in anointed fellowship. 1 Sam 10:1-10, 1 John 1:1-7

Take note of these three levels

·         Anointing within – Isa 45:5-6, Exo. 40:38

·         Anointing upon – Lev 10:5-10

·         Anointing among – Exo 30:22-38.

      How to relate with the anointing upon men

·         Hear their words – John 3: 35- the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

·         Sow into their lives – 2 Kings 4:8- and it fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread

·         Be sensitive to their presence – Mark 6

5.      Effects of the anointing- 1 John 2: 20-27, Col 1:27, 2 Cor 13:1-6, Pro 8:1-12, 1Cor 2:16 – mind of Christ; 2 Sam 23:6-7 –protection; Psalm 89, Psalm 92:1-end, 1Sam 10:1-10, 1 Sam 15: , Psalm133, 2 Sam 3:1, Esther 6:13-14. Supernatural supplies and the anointed. Phil 4:9- those things which you have both learnt and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

6.      DON’T LET SATAN STOP THE ANOINTING IN YOUR LIFE.

Don’t let satan separate you. Jude1:16-21. – spirit of mockery.

2Peter 3:1-6.

7.                  The anointing creates a dynasty or generation of it’s own. 2 Cor 4:13

·         David and giant killers – 2 Sam 21:15-23

·         Joseph and reaching the top

·         Jesus and miracle workers (Apostles) – Acts 4:13.

·         Paul and the ministry things – Silas, Timothy, Titus – Rom 16

·         The spirits of just men made perfect. Heb 12:22

8.      The things of the anointing only come when you acknowledge your source.

·         Jesus acknowledged the father. – John 5:30- I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine won will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

·         John the Baptist acknowledged Jesus – John 1:15-33

·         The Apostles – 2 Cor 4:5-7.

The Corinthians lacked the anointing because they did not acknowledge Paul. 1 Cor 9:1-end, 1 Cor 4:1-end.

Spirits that hinder people from acknowledge their source

·         Shame

·         Mockery –e.g Sambalat and Tobiah. Jude 1:17-22, 2 Pet 3:1-6

·         Intimidation.

9.      THINGS SATAN CAN DO:

Satan cannot eight or defeat the anointing. BUT

(a)                he can separate you from it

(b)               he can stop you from walking in it

(c)                he can make you neglect or ignore it

(d)               he can fake it

(e)                he can make you copy it without the substance of it. (You can copy the action of the anointed that you are submitted to, that you carry their spirit in sonship and you’ll experience the same flow e.g Elisha copied Elijah’s action at the parting of Jordan.- 1 kings 2:)

10.  THE CHURCH AND THE ANOINTING

• Membership level
• Partnership level
• Both

11.  THE ROLE OF THE ANOINTED IN THE MIRACLES OF THE BIBLE

What does the man of God bring? It is the ANOINTING.

What does the anointing do?

(a)    it increases the contribution of God to the situation.

(b)   it reduces or removes the contribution of satan.

Examples:  - Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood. – Mark 5

-          Elijah and the widow of Zarephat. – 1 kings 17

-          Elisha and the widow of the son of the prophet. – 2 kings 4:1-7.

-          Elisha and the Shunamite. – 2 kings 4:8-end

12.  THE RESULTS OF A LACK OF THE ANOINTING.

Eph 2:12- that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.

a.       burdens and yokes continue generationally.

b.      1King 19- Mount Camel- People wonder who is really God?

c.       no divine communication

d.      closed heavens

e.       divine silence- Saul

f.       unnecessary defeats by the enemy- 2Sam.1:17-23

g.      anti-covenant experiences- Joshua 7: 1-11

h.      satanic oppressions- Samson-Judges 16:20-23

       - Saul- 1Sam.15:14-15

There are 2 ways a man can lack the anointing;

a.       the spirit can leave  grieved (when grieved by evil acts)

b.      a man can walk away from God, His calling, His place and the will of God.

Damas- 2Tim.4:10

Judas

Peter- John 21:3- Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, we also go with thee. They went forth and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

c. when a man can enter a wrong role- Uzzah

13.  WINNING THE ANOINTING

Phil.3:1-15

No confidence in the flesh-Rom.12:3- the grace

RUNING SELFLESSLY WITH GOD’S REVEALED VISION

HELP’S MINISTRY (Christian office Administrator, Pastor’s personal assistance)

Text: Col.2:19, Eph. 4:16

INTRODUCTION

Helps simply means to make easier – make something easier for someone to do or achieve. Helps could be in form of rendering advice, money or real physical support.

The helps ministry entail you teaming up with someone who is a Chief servant to accomplish a vision or get an assignment carried out.

The helps ministry is ordained of God, it is established of God to give a structural support to the Chief servant. Helping him to take care of the physical side of his assignment/vision while he concentrates on the spiritual side. It is not in any way lesser than the pulpit ministry, but it is different from it. God calls people into whichever He wants. You must therefore be careful and embrace that which the Lord has called you to be. (Heb. 5:4; Eph. 4:7; I Cor. 12:11).

Our focus by the grace of God in the helps ministry are the people in charge of Church Administration like Assistant Pastors, Personal Assistant to the man of God, Business Manager, Confidential Secretary. Generally, Christians, that have calling to work in Churches or ministries.

In the helps ministry you:

v  Don’t envy the chief servant – Absalom- II Samuel 15:1-6

v  Don’t fight for equality – Numbers 16:1-3

v  Don’t make yourself the centre of attraction and operation.

v  Don’t make your help – a major and what you are to help a minor – Aaron in trying to be leader was led by the people. Exodus 32:1-9

v  Must operate always in recognition of the head and not consider your own importance. E.g. Joab in II Samuel 18:10-19:1-8.

v  Must be ready to deal with the opponents or oppositions to the Set man and the vision. Be positively partial!

v  Must remember that you have been called into a selfless service. You may not get the same physical/monetary benefits like those in the secular employments.

A.      Requirements

BE BORN AGAIN. I CORINTHIANS 2:14, II Peter 1:4, I John 3:9, John 1:12

Be filled with the Holy Ghost; acts 6:1

See it as a step to greatness as seen in Joshua, Elisha, Stephen and Evangelist Philip in Acts 6:1.

Be faithful: Acts 6:1-6, I Corinthians 4:1-2

You should be faithful, honest and dedicated to the work. See it as your work, your life and as God’s work.

Be a son – Heb. 3:1-6, Gen. 22:1-12. See yourself as a son and the work as a family work.

Be ready to receive assignment. Because it is HELPS, you must receive assignment from the head.

B.      STABILIZING TRUTHS ABOUT THE HELPS MINISTRY

                     i.            It Is NOT INTERIOR to the five fold ministry, it is ONLY DIFFERENT. We are to work to complement each other – I Cor. 12, Rom. 12

                   ii.            It is not vain labour nor for eye service – Eph. 6:16

                  iii.            You must believe that you received it from the Lord – Col. 4:17a

                 iv.            You must strive to fulfil it: Col. 4:17b

Create time, set your love upon the assignment, do not do it half heartedly because there is no physical renumeration from the man.

                   v.            Your work and that of the Set-man together form one work (body):  I Corinthians 12:20

                 vi.            If you did not do your work perfectly, it will affect other works in the family: I Cor. 12:26.

C.      BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE IN HELPS MINISTRY

1.       Aaron and Hur. Exodus 17:10-13

2.       Certain women – Luke 8:3

3.       The Disciples – Luke 22:8-13

4.       Bezaleel and others Exodus 35:30-35,36

5.       The Deacons – Acts 6:1-6

D.      Common Errors In Helps Ministry

1)      To want to stand alone.

e.g.  music minister who has no pastor and doing sole-ministry around.

                Help minister is always attached to the pulpit ministry for multiplication of strength. See how the minstrel helped Elisha in II Kings 3:15.

You must adapt to the head in order to walk faithfully.

Everyone that is not a pastor must be a member of a church.

2)      To want to withhold help or be lax due to pride, ignorance of purpose or laziness is to be in error.

3)      There is no need to envy the pulpit ministry – we all have glory, but the glory differs. I Cor. 15:41.

E.       REWARDS OF A FAIHTFUL HELPS MINISTER

A helps minister must work with a servant’s attitude – John 13:1-8

1.       Where you serve is where you have a part and a portion.

2.       God rewards you openly – Matthew 6:6b.

3.       It is an honourable ministry (office) that makes you to operate at a higher level in life or be part of what is bigger than you.

Acts 4:12; Seen with Jesus.

John 12 :26.

4.       Reference e.g. Elisha pours water on the hands of Elijah and was recommended for a higher service (II Kings 3:11) for authenticity.

5.       You receive the anointing upon your Set-man e.g. Deut. 34:9, Matthew 16:18