Treasures in the Darkness

 

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Isaiah 45:3 (NIV)

In Isaiah 45, God promised the Israelites release from bondage to Babylon and deliverance for his wayward people through a Persian king named Cyrus. He says to Cyrus, “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name” (Isaiah 45:3 NIV).

During his conquest, Cyrus literally found treasures that the Jews had buried as they were taken into captivity. Like King Cyrus, who found treasures hidden in the darkness, you, too, can find treasures—hope in the unexpected places of darkness, those painful places of suffering where you would very much like not to be. God gives you these treasures for two reasons.

First, he does it so you would know that he has the power to intervene in your darkness. In this verse, God reveals himself as the Lord, the God of Israel. Over and over in Scripture, he says that he is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Master, the Ruler, and the Deliverer. He is transcendent, which means he’s above time, space, and matter, and his existence is not dependent on anything outside of himself. His ways are higher than your ways and his thoughts higher than your thoughts.

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:5 NIV).

God is huge and powerful, and he can intervene in your darkness in ways only a transcendent God can do. You can probably tell amazing stories of the ways God has intervened in your finances, your health, your family, or your career, just when you thought there was no hope of restoration or salvation. He revealed himself as he moved into your darkness and changed everything.

We ask for miracles every single day because we know he is God and we are not. Sometimes God intervenes in ways that we have begged for. Other times, he does not. He may not have intervened in the darkness that has surrounded you or your family in the ways that you desired. So, what then?

This verse reveals that God will be close to you in your darkness. He is the Almighty God. He’s huge, but he is also imminent, which means he is intimate. He is personal. He is your helper, your healer, your Savior, your friend, the lover of your wounded soul. This personal and intimate God will be close to you in your darkness because he promised he would be.

“I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.”

Isaiah 45:3 (NIV)

In Isaiah 45, God promised the Israelites release from bondage to Babylon and deliverance for his wayward people through a Persian king named Cyrus. He says to Cyrus, “I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name” (Isaiah 45:3 NIV).

During his conquest, Cyrus literally found treasures that the Jews had buried as they were taken into captivity. Like King Cyrus, who found treasures hidden in the darkness, you, too, can find treasures—hope in the unexpected places of darkness, those painful places of suffering where you would very much like not to be. God gives you these treasures for two reasons.

First, he does it so you would know that he has the power to intervene in your darkness. In this verse, God reveals himself as the Lord, the God of Israel. Over and over in Scripture, he says that he is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Master, the Ruler, and the Deliverer. He is transcendent, which means he’s above time, space, and matter, and his existence is not dependent on anything outside of himself. His ways are higher than your ways and his thoughts higher than your thoughts.

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit” (Psalm 147:5 NIV).

God is huge and powerful, and he can intervene in your darkness in ways only a transcendent God can do. You can probably tell amazing stories of the ways God has intervened in your finances, your health, your family, or your career, just when you thought there was no hope of restoration or salvation. He revealed himself as he moved into your darkness and changed everything.

We ask for miracles every single day because we know he is God and we are not. Sometimes God intervenes in ways that we have begged for. Other times, he does not. He may not have intervened in the darkness that has surrounded you or your family in the ways that you desired. So, what then?

This verse reveals that God will be close to you in your darkness. He is the Almighty God. He’s huge, but he is also imminent, which means he is intimate. He is personal. He is your helper, your healer, your Savior, your friend, the lover of your wounded soul. This personal and intimate God will be close to you in your darkness because he promised he would be.

He’s as close as your next breath.

  teaching from Okugbeni  opkako

He’s as close as your next breath. 

There’s Only One True Source for Identity and Purpose

 

“It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.”

Ephesians 1:11 (The Message)

The only way to know who you are and what your purpose is in life is to look to Jesus Christ. Why? Because he created you!

“We look at this Son and see God’s original purpose in everything created . . . everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him” (Colossians 1:15-16 The Message).

The phrase “in Christ” is one of the most important in the Bible. In the New Testament it is used 89 times, and the phrase “in him” is used 79 times.

If you have trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, you likely call yourself a Christian, but the word “Christian” is used only twice in the whole Bible. In biblical times, the most common description used for a follower of Jesus was “in Christ.”

That directly points to where you should find your identity as a follower of Jesus. Ephesians 1:11 says, “It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for” (The Message).

In Christ, you find out who you are—that’s your identity. And you find what you’re living for—that’s your purpose.

The only way to know your identity and purpose in life is by getting to know your Creator. You may think you know yourself best, but God knows everything about you. He made you to love you, and he gave you a purpose only you can fulfill. If you really want to find out what that purpose is and how to pursue it, you have to get to know Jesus Christ and ask for his wisdom and direction.

When you look for your identity in other people, you’re not going to find it. When you look for your identity in your job or your hobby or your accomplishments or your causes, you’re only going to be disappointed.

When you find your identity in Christ, you’re going to find your purpose and the motivation to get to work on it.

teaching from Godwin okugbeni

Talk It Over

• What have you tried to find your identity in besides Jesus Christ? What has been the result?
• Why do you think getting to know Jesus and having a relationship with him will motivate you to pursue your purpose?

Have you trusted Jesus Christ for your salvation?

The Bible says you can only get to heaven by trusting in God through his Son, Jesus Christ. And you don’t have to earn God’s love or work your way into heaven. The Bible says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

If you haven’t trusted in Jesus and committed to following him, why wait any longer? If you’re ready to step across that line and make a decision to believe in Jesus Christ and follow him, pray this prayer:

“Dear Jesus, you have promised that if I believe in you, everything I’ve ever done wrong will be forgiven, I will learn the purpose of my life, and one day you will accept me into your eternal home in heaven.

“I confess my sin, and I believe that you are my Savior. You have promised that, if I confess my sin and trust you, I will be saved. I trust you when you say that salvation comes by grace, through faith, and not by anything I do. I receive you into my life as my Lord. Today I’m turning over every part of my life to your management. You have the right to call the shots in my life.

“Jesus, I want to use the rest of my life to serve you instead of serving myself. I commit my life to you and ask you to save me and accept me into your family. In your name I pray. Amen.”

If you just prayed to accept Jesus, please email me at  godwin.okugbeni@gmail.com and let me know about it. I’d like to send you some free materials to help you start your journey with Jesus.

When Your Phone Becomes Your Idol

 Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’”

Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

Do you own your phone, or does it own you?

If you’ve taken a really useful tool and made it the most valuable thing in your life, then your phone has become your god. If you’ve allowed your phone to distract you from what is most important, then it has become your idol. The tool has become the master.

Jesus once visited the home of his friends Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus. While Martha busily prepared for the meal and played the part of a good hostess, her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his teaching.

Martha got frustrated and said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40 NIV).

“‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV).

The Bible says that Martha was distracted by her preparations, which kept her from the most important thing: being with Jesus.

Often, in the moment, you may think you’re focused on the right thing—returning that text, making that call, checking that status, answering that message. But if something keeps you from the most important thing, then it’s taken over your life.

You need to sit at Jesus’ feet every day of your life. It’s called a quiet time. You sit quietly and pray and read the Bible and let God speak to you through his Word. You confess and ask God for what you need and praise him for who he is. It’s the most important part of your day because it affects everything else in your day. It determines how much you get to know God and grow as a follower of Jesus.

When you have to choose between having a quiet time or scrolling through your phone, which will it be? If you’re like the average person, you spend three hours and 15 minutes on your phone each day. How much time do you spend in God’s Word?

Don’t let yourself get distracted. You have control over how you spend your time. Choose to spend it on what matters most.

Talk It Over

• How can you take some of the time you spend on your phone each day and use them for discipleship instead?
• When you’re trying to prioritize what matters most, why does planning your time help?
• Do you always have your phone with you? If you do, practice distancing yourself today from your phone, or at least from your apps. What difference does it make?

 

  teaching from  OKPAKO OKUGBENI

How to Defeat Discouragement

 It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling his Good News to others, and so we never give up.”

2 Corinthians 4:1 (TLB)
Do you know that God loves you? Maybe you’ve heard that truth all your life!

But if you know God loves you, do you sense and recognize God’s love? When you stop believing you are loved by God, you can start to get discouraged. Why? Because if you don’t believe God loves you, then you can’t experience his grace and mercy.

The best way to defeat discouragement is to remember how much God loves you and to stay focused on that truth.

“It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling his Good News to others, and so we never give up” (2 Corinthians 4:1 TLB).

What is mercy? Mercy is when God gives you what you need, not what you deserve. Mercy is when God knows every mistake you’ve made and will ever make, and he still gives you every good thing in your life. God’s mercy is what keeps you going when you feel hopeless or worn down or discouraged.

A lot of people who have been Christians for a long time don’t sense God’s love because they only think God speaks to them in a critical voice. But if the voice you’re listening to is always negative, it’s not God.

God made you to love you. The number one purpose of your life is not for you to do good. The number one purpose of your life is not even for you to love God back.

The number one purpose of your life is to let God love you. When you do that and experience his mercy and grace, you’ll be free to pursue all that he has planned for your life.
 teaching from OKUGBENI OKPAKO
Talk It Over

    What circumstances most often affect how you think God views you?
    Do you feel like God more often speaks to you in a negative voice or in love? Why?
    How do you let God love you? What do you want to change about the way you think in that area?


Give hope, prayer, and encouragement below. Post a comment & talk about it.

How to Defeat Discouragement

 

It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling his Good News to others, and so we never give up.”

2 Corinthians 4:1 (TLB)

Do you know that God loves you? Maybe you’ve heard that truth all your life!

But if you know God loves you, do you sense and recognize God’s love? When you stop believing you are loved by God, you can start to get discouraged. Why? Because if you don’t believe God loves you, then you can’t experience his grace and mercy.

The best way to defeat discouragement is to remember how much God loves you and to stay focused on that truth.

“It is God himself, in his mercy, who has given us this wonderful work of telling his Good News to others, and so we never give up” (2 Corinthians 4:1 TLB).

What is mercy? Mercy is when God gives you what you need, not what you deserve. Mercy is when God knows every mistake you’ve made and will ever make, and he still gives you every good thing in your life. God’s mercy is what keeps you going when you feel hopeless or worn down or discouraged.

A lot of people who have been Christians for a long time don’t sense God’s love because they only think God speaks to them in a critical voice. But if the voice you’re listening to is always negative, it’s not God.

God made you to love you. The number one purpose of your life is not for you to do good. The number one purpose of your life is not even for you to love God back.

The number one purpose of your life is to let God love you. When you do that and experience his mercy and grace, you’ll be free to pursue all that he has planned for your life.

Let Your Pain Draw You Nearer to God

 

“We were really crushed and overwhelmed . . . and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. And he did help us.”

2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (TLB)

When anything painful happens to you, you’ve got a choice: You can run to God, or you can run from God.

If you’re running away from God, what are you running to? Who could help you more in your pain than God?

In the years since my son Matthew died, I have had to choose over and over again to run to God. In fact, in those years I’ve spent more time alone with God than in all of the previous years of my life combined. Why? Pain has a way of drawing you close to God.

How do you draw closer to God when you’re in pain? The first thing you do is tell him exactly how you feel. It’s what you naturally do when you see a disaster like a hurricane or an earthquake and cry out, “Oh my God!”

Even if you cry out, “God, I don’t like this. I’m mad. I’m upset,” that’s still drawing close to God in prayer. It’s called the prayer of lament.

You need to learn how to worship God in all the phases of grief. In other words, you use prayer to express shock, to unload your sorrow, and to struggle with your emotions. You surrender your life to God when you don’t know which way to turn. You ask God to use pain for good in your life. You don’t suppress any emotion. You tell God exactly what you’re feeling and draw near to him.

You do what Paul did in 2 Corinthians 1:8-10: “We were really crushed and overwhelmed . . . and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for he can even raise the dead. And he did help us” (TLB).

I have seen so many people transformed by the process of learning to worship, trust, and draw close to God when they’re in pain. They have learned that God is never closer to you than when you are brokenhearted.

Don’t waste your pain. Let it cause you to turn to God, spend more time with him and his Word, and be reminded of his promises to you.

teaching from Godwin Okugbeni

Talk It Over

• What or who do you most often run to when you experience something painful?
• How does God’s Word help you with your pain?
• In what ways can God turn your pain into something good in your life or someone else’s life? How have you seen him do this already in your life? 

 

 Our Prayer team is here to pray for you”

What does the bible say about prayer ? Philippians 4:6 states ,”Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. “In 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have towards him. If we ask according to his will he hears us.”

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What God has done, HIV AIDs destroyed and cancer

 

See What God has done, HIV AIDs destroyed and cancer of the breast shattered on the altar of EarthTimeMinistries. God surely confirms the words of his servant Godwin Okugbeni To him we return all the Glory. Email godwin.okugbeni@gmail.com  or contact +23448165723445

God Promises to Meet All Your Needs

I want you to have the good that comes from giving . . . My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need.” Philippians 4:17, 19 (NCV) God promises in the Bible that if you learn to give like him, then he will meet all your needs. Does that sound too good to be true? Maybe it does. But if the Bible says it, then you can believe it! God says that if you’ll put him first in your money and learn to be generous, open-handed, and open-hearted, then he will meet all your needs. Paul says in Philippians 4:17 and 19, “I want you to have the good that comes from giving . . . My God will use his wonderful riches in Christ Jesus to give you everything you need” (NCV). God promises to meet all your need—not all your greed. There is a difference, of course, in what you really need and what you sometimes think you need. Thankfully, God knows the difference. He loves you, and he wants to make sure you lack nothing—emotionally, physically, spiritually, and mentally. But he also wants to make sure you learn to be like him, and he is generous. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:7, “You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. ‘For God loves a person who gives cheerfully’” (NLT). Nobody should tell you what to give. What’s generous for you is your decision. God loves it when you give because you want to, out of love for him and a desire to be like him. People often say, “Give till it hurts.” No! Give till it feels good! Give till it becomes joyful. Don’t give reluctantly. Don’t give under pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. That’s the premise. Now, here’s the promise: “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others” (2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT). God has not allowed any wiggle room for himself in this promise. He doesn’t have to! He is able to provide everything you need and more. He is waiting to see you giving cheerfully, generously, and spontaneously—from the heart. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What does it look like for you to be generous and sacrificial with your giving? Describe some of the joy you have experienced from generous giving. Why do you think it brought joy? What do you need God to provide for you? How can you give more of that thing away so that God will multiply it? The post God Promises to Meet All Your Needs appeared first on Pastor Godwin OKugbeni.

Do you  have prayer request ?

Our Prayer team is here to pray for you”

What does the bible say about prayer ? Philippians 4:6 states ,”Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. “In 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have towards him. If we ask according to his will he hears us.”

Please complete the prayer request form and your prayer request will be delivered to our prayer team

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God Will Never Let You Go

For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us.” Romans 8:38-39 (TLB) No matter how bad life gets, you can rest in one important truth: God won’t stop loving you. You’ll have things go right. You’ll have things go wrong. But God’s love will never end—you can count on that. That truth should be one of the most important sources of joy in your life! The Bible says it like this in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for us” (TLB). That’s good news. When you put your hand in God’s hand, he grabs it and won’t let go. God holds on to you with all he has. When my kids were little, we went to the Grand Canyon. When we walked up to the edge, I grabbed the hands of my two youngest children, Josh and Matthew. Of course, they wanted to get closer to the edge than I wanted them to get. They tried to squirm and shake free, but I wouldn’t let go. I was their father, and I loved them. You’ll have times in your life when you’ll want to let go of God’s hand. You’ll want to give up your commitment to Christ when times get tough. But God won’t let go of you—ever. Once you put your hand in his, it’s there to stay. If you could earn your salvation by working for it, you could lose it the moment you stopped working for it. But you didn’t earn your relationship to God. It was a free gift. Once it has been given, it can’t be taken back. Teacherning from OKUGBENI OKPAKO