IN HIS PRESENCE

Monday 21st November 2022.

Exodus 33:13 Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation [is] Your people."

Exodus 33:14-15 And He said, "My Presence will go [with you,] and I will give you rest." Then he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go [with us,] do not bring us up from here.

Our rest is in your presence, not in things, titles, names, that is why we look away from everything and look at you.

It is your presence that gives meaning to our lives, purpose, calling, and all our engagement. Outside You, there is death, struggling, and pain; so we yearn, desire, and long for Your presence. 

Exodus 13:21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

Outside You, we fail. Let Your presence move upon our hearts.

Hebrews 13:5 [Let your] conduct [be] without covetousness; [be] content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, [ "I will never leave you nor forsake you."]

It's your presence that gives us confidence, meaning, and boldness to stand. 

We are not wise enough, strong, and beautiful enough, You are our advantage, beauty, strength, and wisdom. 

Exodus 33:18-19 NLT Moses responded, "Then show me your glorious presence." The Lord replied, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.

Show us Your glory in our lives, families, churches, and businesses. That which we have never seen is what we are crying for. 

We are not asking You for gold and silver but Your awesome presence ooh Lord. 

May Your tangible presence cover our souls and bodies, and sustain us so that we may love on You. 

STAY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU. PASTOR BEN OCHOLA.

GOD'S MERCIES FAIL NOT

Sunday 20th November 2022 - Second Service

Romans 9:15-16 AMPC 15 For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.]

There is something beyond will and power and that is the God factor . If God does not approve something, man's efforts amount to nothing (Psalms 127:1).

The moment the God factor is introduced in any issue, there will always be victory because God's mercy never fails.

Lamentations 3:22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

With God, there is nothing like a hopeless case because His mercy specializes in hopeless cases. Cry for God's mercy and you will prevail.

Romans 9:23 And that He might MAKE KNOWN the RICHES of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

God wants to advertise His mercy in your life. He is so loaded with love that He looks for a way to pour it out; mercy is the expression of His love (Ephesians 2:4-5 AMPC).

Read Acts 3:5-12

Acts 3:12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

There is a dimension of manifestation that has nothing to do with godliness but God's mercy. 

Apostle Paul understood this truth. No wonder God raised him and used him mightly.

1 Timothy 1:12-16

[12]And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

[13]although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

[14]And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

[15]This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

[16]However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Paul meant that God used him as an example to those who are going to believe in Him. Paul had done so many bad things but if the mercy of God can turn a persecutor of the church into a preacher, then what of you?

Isaiah 40:6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

Psalms 62:9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor.

All flesh is grass and class is nothing. Whether you are a cleaner or CEO, we must all cry for the mercies of God. 

You may have materialistic wealth but do not pride in your wealth. Have your confidence in the mercies of God.

Why do you need the mercy of God?

You are a man and no matter how anointed, wise, and powerful you are, you need help (Hebrews 4:16).

 STAY BLESSED AND HiGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU. PASTOR BEN OCHOLA.!

GOD'S MERCIES FAIL NOT

Sunday 20th November 2022 - First Service

Romans 9:15-16 AMPC 15 For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will have compassion.

16 So then [God’s gift] is not a question of human will and human effort, but of God’s mercy. [It depends not on one’s own willingness nor on his strenuous exertion as in running a race, but on God’s having mercy on him.]

There is something beyond will and power and that is the God factor . If God does not approve something, man's efforts amount to nothing (Psalms 127:1).

The moment the God factor is introduced in any issue, there will always be victory because God's mercy never fails.

Lamentations 3:22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.

With God, there is nothing like a hopeless case because His mercy specializes in hopeless cases. Cry for God's mercy and you will prevail.

Romans 9:23 And that He might MAKE KNOWN the RICHES of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

God wants to advertise His mercy in your life. He is so loaded with love that He looks for a way to pour it out; mercy is the expression of His love (Ephesians 2:4-5 AMPC).

Read Acts 3:5-12

Acts 3:12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

There is a dimension of manifestation that has nothing to do with godliness but God's mercy. 

Apostle Paul understood this truth. No wonder God raised him and used him mightly.

1 Timothy 1:12-16

[12]And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

[13]although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

[14]And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

[15]This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.

[16]However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

Paul meant that God used him as an example to those who are going to believe in Him. Paul had done so many bad things but if the mercy of God can turn a persecutor of the church into a preacher, then what of you?

Isaiah 40:6 The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” “All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.

Psalms 62:9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor.

All flesh is grass and class is nothing. Whether you are a cleaner or CEO, we must all cry for the mercies of God. 

You may have materialistic wealth but do not pride in your wealth. Have your confidence in the mercies of God.

Why do you need the mercy of God?

You are a man and no matter how anointed, wise, and powerful you are, you need help (Hebrews 4:16).

 STAY BLESSED AND HiGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU. PASTOR BEN OCHOLA.!

THE ART OF PASSIONATE HEARTFELT PRAYER

Thursday 17th November 2022

Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near Isaiah 55:6 NKJV

And you will seek Me and find [Me,] when you search for Me with all your heart Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months James 5:17

Elijah was a man like us, subjected to passions that plague us day by day but despite all those shortcomings, he knew one thing; to engage God through prayer on the platform of His word and goodness.

These men knew how to unlock and lock systems at will as the Holy Spirit inspired them. Their confidence was in God and God alone James 5:18.

Acts 10:34-35 Then Peter opened [his] mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

God has availed Himself to each one of us equally on the platform of prayer through which we can interface and interact with Him.

Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

God did not say preacher or prophet but He said; " any man" , so each one of us qualifies for the grace that can change your life. 

Acts 10:30-31 So Cornelius said, "Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, and said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight of God.

Cornelius was a prayerful person, a giver and through his consistency and persistence, the doors of the gospel were opened up to the gentiles. He became the first gentile believer because he knew the secret that; " If men can pray, God can intervene and do what no man can do".

Psalms 121:1-2 I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help [comes] from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

The solution of men is not here on earth and neither is it under the sun but the solution comes from above. The help you need is drawn from the place of passionate heartfelt prayer (Hebrews 4:16).

James 5:16 AMPC ..... The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].

It is not enough to be righteous, holy, and walk right with God you must pray. 

When righteous men passionately pray and involve their hearts and souls on the platform of mercy, God is more than willing to show us His mercy and it is this mercy that changes the lives of men. 

Our God still answers prayers

Further study

Luke 23:42-43 If the thief found an answer, how much more will you who is called by his name.

Ephesians 5:8 Keep your altar(heart) on fire 

Mark 14:38 You must bring your memory, heart, imagination, body, and everything of you in the place of prayer.  

Luke 22:44 Your prayers should be on fire

Galatians 1:12 It is in that place of prayer where you receive revelation. 

STAY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU. PASTOR BEN OCHOLA!

HAVING CONFIDENCE IN THE MERCIES OF GOD

Wednesday 16th November 2022

Philippians 3:3-7..rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Paul was revealing to us that the things that we  boast of and have confidence in are nothing. Our confidence can only be found in the finished work of Christ.

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.

It is until we arrive in a place not by words but by our heart's posture, where we know that we know that; deep inside our hearts, there is nothing of us but it's all of God, then we will be able to walk into dimensions that we have not seen before (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Isaiah 42:8 I [am] the LORD, that [is] My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images.

We do not glory in our wisdom, strength, wealth but only in knowing God Jeremiah 9:23-24.

Psalms 103:15 [As for] man, his days [are] like grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

So we cannot allow ourselves to fall into this deception and forfeit our mercy because we are celebrating what doesn't bring honor and glory to the Master.

2 Corinthians 12:9... Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God doesn't use strong people but He uses weak men and women, those who look away from themselves and have nothing to rejoice about or count themselves, and all their advantage is in the Holy Spirit. That is what the Lord is calling the church to.

Romans 4:18 who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, [ "So shall your descendants be."]

There was no more reason for Abraham to hope or believe, everything inside him was dead. He was finished with nothing left for him to place his confidence in as far as a man is concerned and so was Sarah. 

Age had caught up on them and biology had declared a verdict upon their lives. 

Romans 4:19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.

God in His Mercy, grace, and power  found perfect expression through Abraham when he came to the end of himself. As long as he could still produce with Hegai, he could not see what God promised him.

Acts 27:10-12 says, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives." Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

These men couldn't listen to  apostle Paul because they went with what their eyes would tell them,  trusted their education and experience and they launched out but it ended up a complete disaster.

Don't put your confidence in what is of the flesh but in the mercies of God.

Further study

Psalms 25:7, 39:5, 40:11

Galatians 3:1

STAY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU. PASTOR BEN OCHOLA!

REWORK US BY YOUR MERCY

Monday 14th November 2022

Isaiah 4:4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning,

Let the fire of consecration burn within us. 

Romans 9:21Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

Lord, we are instruments in your hand; like an instrumentalist tunes their instrument to fit their song (what they want to hear), please tune us to suit the tune You want to play in this land, nation, home, husband, wife, children, etc. 

Jeremiah 51:20 (KJV) “You are My battle-ax and weapons of war: For with you I will break the nation in pieces; With you I will destroy kingdoms;

Sharpen us where we have been blunt, irrelevant, and out of due;  in our utterances, vision, ability to hear, etc., and bring to our hearts the precision of the divine that we may remain relevant on every ground and place you have placed us. 

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Lord, You are still the same:  move upon us and align us with the Spirit of grace, holiness, truth, and peace.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we yield to You let Your hand come strongly upon us so that we may run, walk and fly with Your speed in everything You have called us to do.  

2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Bring us into harmony with divine dates, performances, and calendars in our health and everything, let them catch up with eternity. 

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us,...

Let Your mercy triumph in every area of our lives, that mercy that located us when we were in sin, Your enemies on our way to hell, let it continue in our lives. 

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Carry us into the place You ordained for us before we were in our mothers' wombs: those plans, designs, and purposes.

Psalm 138:8 The LORD will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Arise unto the Word You have spoken concerning us, the church, land, this house of faith, etc. and bring perfection in our bodies.

Exodus 6:5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.

Lord, remember Your covenant over this house of faith and this land. stir up Yourself according to Your Word. Rend heavens over our homes, pulpits, businesses, etc. for the sake of Your Name that men may know there is a distinction between them that serve You and them that don't. 

STAY BLESSED AND HIGHLY FAVORED, WE LOVE YOU. PASTOR BEN OCHOLA.!