Thursday, August 29, 2013

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR A BETTER NIGERIA? By fela DUROTOYE


Exactly 50years ago (Aug•28•1963), Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King spoke glowingly about his dream for a better nation, the USA.

What is amazing is that MLKing dared to dream for his nation even though he was NOT the President of the USA. He was NOT a politician or a government official. He had NO position of authority. He was NOT voted into any office nor was he elected by anyone.

He was just an American citizen with a dream for a desirable change for his nation.

What was special about his dream was that he truly BELIEVED.

MLK believed his dream against all odds ... against the precedence of history and against the tyrannical force of government policy and the brutal beatings by the police and the prevailing culture of oppression and segregation at the time he dared to dream.

If Dr. King could have a dream for his nation, then so can YOU.

You also can dream of a better nation and then ACT to bring your dream to pass, like MLK did.

If YOU can only believe and act in faith, then YOUR dreams WILL come to pass, as the dreams of citizen MLK and citizen Nelson Mandela and citizen Mahatma Ghandi...all their dreams came to pass...and so can yours.

So I ask you tonight... WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR A BETTER NIGERIA?


FD

Sunday, August 4, 2013

FINDING THE SECRET PLACE | RAY WATSON

This is a fantastic article for Psalmists and song leaders that desire a deeper and a more intimate place in worship. Be blessed.

Finding The Secret Place

Ray Watson

Intimacy With God - Turn Us Lord

Article Printed in ICFM Faith Report August 2001

In 1997 God spoke to me and said, "I want to use you to turn the hearts of My people back to Myself." I said, "Why, Lord?" and He said, "Because their hearts are everywhere."

The heart needs to be captured. We need a fresh encounter with love. We need to experience God in such a way that our hearts are captivated by Him. Only then will we turn to Him with hearts that are passionate, worshiping in spirit and in truth. The Psalmist prayed, "Turn us Lord, and our hearts will be turned." I believe God gave us music as one of the means to awaken our hearts toward Himself. There is power in music to ignite the heart in worship. That is its created purpose.

I think the church is ready for a fresh emphasis on worship. I sense a hunger for reality in worship that goes far beyond what we have become accustomed to. The deepest part of God is calling to us to be with Him, and our songs must reflect this. If a song doesn't move us deeply in some way then deep isn't calling to deep. Only songs birthed in His presence can bring that presence to us. Only songs birthed in heaven will leave us feeling like we have been there. Songs written out of passion will bring that passion into our worship services. I can't think of a worship song I've written that hasn't reduced me to tears in the process. There is surrender in tears. When tears can flow freely the heart is yielded and is easily touched. If we don't have intimate moments in our corporate worship services where people cry silently as their hearts are yielded to Him, then their hearts are not being touched.

There is a new sound coming into the earth today.- it is the sound of heaven. What does this "heavenly sound" sound like? There is glory on the voice of someone who has been there. You can tell if they have been there or if they haven't. I personally believe there are two elements that will identify this fresh wind of God's spirit in our worship, and those two elements are spontaneity and intimacy. Both these elements release the glory of God's presence in our midst in a way that a song constructed any other way just cannot. The new sound will carry an element of spontaneous worship - songs that are birthed from hearts so captivated with God, that the human vessel simply becomes a conduit of His presence. There is something about the human voice and its capacity to carry the sense of God's presence - it is hard to explain, but I'm sure we have all experienced it. There is a hunger in the heart of God's people for more intimacy in worship, and I believe this cry is birthed in the heart of God Himself. The Lord is calling us to greater intimacy as part of our preparation for the day when both the Spirit and the Bride will say, "Come." I believe the return of Jesus will be ushered in by a church that has found her way into the bridal chambers of heaven and whose passion demands a consummation of the marriage. "There will be no more delay." The Bride has made herself ready.

I think the challenge for the modern day psalmist is to find the presence of God, live there, and write songs that come from a heart that is obviously experiencing what the song is about. This will in turn allow the congregation to share corporately in the moment of intimacy that gave birth to the song. The congregational worship will rarely rise above the personal love walk of the song leader, or of the worship circumstances in which the song was birthed. Moses' own personal meeting place with God became the place where God met with the people. Our responsibility to the people is to have our own walk with God. We cannot lead the congregation into places we ourselves have not been. As a songwriter, your intimacy with the Lord becomes a place of intimacy for others when you put it in a song. Songs received in the presence of God carry God's presence. We must first eat of the holy things before we can minister the holy things. We must partake of the altar before we can serve from the altar. David went into the house of God and ate the Presence Bread. Then he was able to feed those who were with him. When our heart is touched with the presence of God we carry that presence with us wherever we go. Our place of meeting with God becomes the place where others too can meet with Him. It is an awesome privilege and responsibility.

There is a cry today in the hearts of God's people for greater intimacy in worship - for songs that are God-breathed, songs that are birthed in another world and can bring that world to us, songs that are so touched by His presence that they capture every heart for Him. There, in the secret place, we are captivated by His love and consumed with His purpose for our lives. There, in the intimacy of worship, we will lay down our brief lives in pursuit of the greatest privilege ever offered to man - to be lovers of God.

Ray Watson and his wife Pam pastor Pursuit church in Auckland, New Zealand...

*Culled from a Facebook status update by Nathaniel Bassey

Saturday, August 3, 2013

POWER PROJECT (3) | Special Miracles Edition - Day 1 and 2


The Power Project began sometime in May 2013 and simply put, the experience has been wonderful. For details on the first episode and posts from part of the second, please click here.

This is the third installment of the project and with permission from the group admin, I'll commit to posting an abridged version of the group discussions once in a while.

Everyone in the group is required to, among other things, read a chapter in the book of Acts daily.

It seems to me that this eight month is a call to deeper fellowship with the Holy Spirit as it is written:
1“In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2 “The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.”
- Zechariah 1:1-3
Quite a lot of goodwill messages have been released concerning this month and beyond saying “Amen” to them, we have to “War with prophecy” as the Scripture says:
18 This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,”
- 1st Tim. 1:18
As you read through the conversations, please feel free to share your thoughts, insights, questions and comments also. We look forward to hearing from you as you share with the Body of Christ what things are being quickened in your spirit.
God bless you!
- ‘Bayor

Day One
Aug 1 Thu 07:39
Ikechi Ugwoeje www.FrontlineMediaAcademy.com Photography/Video:
Shalom saints of God. My friend shared a word this morning and it so blessed my heart, enjoy!
“Come in the name of the LORD into this new month; announce to August that you have come in the name of the LORD. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD. No impossibilities, nothing too hard, mountains skip like rams, oceans part, wildernesses become fruitful fields, flints turn to fountains, mountains sing, hills clap, highlands made plain, valleys exalted, dry valleys become refreshing spring; favour, mercy, grace, open doors, angels attend to you because you have come in the name of the One Who was, Who is and is to come. CELEBRATE!!!”
Please I encourage you to read @Bayor's article on August here: http://bit.ly/1bLkAwn. Great words. It is poetic and prophetic. Thank you bro, more grace to you :)

Aug 1 Thu 08:17, 08:54
NATHANIEL BASSEY:
Hallelujah for AWE-GUST !
There is something so special about August that even the elements of nature have come to recognize.
The rainy season begins in March, intensifies in June and parts of July, but stops in August to begin again in early September. That's why there is something called 'THE AUGUST BREAK'.
August is also the 8th month, and many would see this as representing a new beginning or season. Even the new calendar year of the ministry I belong to, the RCCG, begins in August, after the convention.
Why the AUGUST BREAK? Hear me, there's someone also called, THE AUGUST VISITOR. And who is this???
"Lift up your heads, O you gates (August)! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in" (Psalm 24:7)
The King of glory. The LORD strong and mighty. The LORD mighty in battle. He is the AUGUST VISITOR.
 Therefore I prophecy that every battle, struggle and trouble you have faced hitherto, Have all come to an end. But unlike the rainy season, they shall not begin again next month.
And because the August visitor has stepped in - THE KING OF GLORY - I say receive rest from every side. It's a new season; a break from all your troubles in Jesus name.
Happy new month. Please take this seriously

Aug 1 Thu 10:18
ARM- 'Amaka Rachael Mordi: 
Hello Family! It's a new day with a new beginning in a new season of special miracles indeed. Good to be here. My expectations for the month are high and I've keyed in by faith. God & I are in this together. I'm so happy and excited about the testimonies ahead of us. @Bayor, I've been blessed by the article and I shared it with all of my friends and family. Thank you for sharing such inspiration. I was greatly awed and improved. Good to see each one here again.

Aug 1 Thu 15:09
NATHANIEL BASSEY:
" But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."       - Acts 1:1-8
Jesus commanded his disciples to 'wait' until they be endowed with power before going out to witness. He understood the place of power in preaching the gospel. Witnessing the gospel without power is to witness a gospel of 'weakness'. Indeed Paul says, 'the kingdom of God is not in word only, but in power and the Holy Ghost. We must go back to the good old strategy of "waiting on God" before launching out on kingdom assignments.
“To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God.”
- Acts 1:3 Amplified

Infallible proofs and unquestionable evidences must accompany our gospel.
Indeed this chapter begins by saying the things he began to "DO and TEACH", it's time to DO' some things. DO' some love, DO some good works, DO some signs and wonders, DO some raising the dead, DO some casting out devils, DO some fruit of the spirit and gifts of the spirit. There is a kind of gospel that the world cannot deny, it is that of power expressed through love. But we MUST first, wait. Thank God unlike the disciples, we already have the Holy Ghost; however we must stir him up in us. And that's why power project 3 is here. God bless you all.

Aug 1 Thu 15:44
B .A.Y.O.R Martins: 
@Bro. Nath: Thank you so much for this!
God bless and increase you sir!
Greater depths and insights in Jesus name.
@ARM: Thanks for being you. God bless you for sharing. Like @everyonehere, may we receive Divine Firsts; Unprecedented Visitations and Proofs of Ministry by Virtue of waiting on Him this month especially as members of this Chat-Room as it was in the Upper-Room...

As regards an August Visitation... http://bit.ly/13IqX9K


Day Two


Aug 2 Fri 00:01
‘Lanre KUNNUJI Olaminrewaju:
... Flesh and blood didn’t reveal this to you. Similar to the discussion I had with a friend. "Waiting" is so essential. God is not our house boy. He does things at His own appointed time. Our souls must just wait patiently and with a determination of not giving up. Nice one once again Bro

Aug 2 Fri 05:14
ARM- 'Amaka Rachael Mordi: 
It's an amazing month we've entered into. While praying yesterday, I knew in my spirit that this is that time/season of our lives we've always anticipated, prayed for or silently wished for.
Thus saith the Spirit of God: "I have ushered you into a season of REST. A season when with little or no effort, you accomplish extraordinary feats! A season where your desires of yesterdays and yesteryears are granted you! Supernatural miracles and testimonies would abound! August begins that season! Celebrate for I have gone before you to perfect all that concerns you."
I perceive by the Spirit a huge influx of money this month/season. We'd handle much more than we have ever handled and give much more than we have ever given. Debts would be erased and interests increased! Our accounts would go from debit to credits such that it would get the banks' attention.

Aug 2 Fri 05:23
P. Amaka Serita Declan
Wow! Glory to God! This is an amazing revelation. A poetic introduction and reception of our (Awe)August Visitor, even though to me, He's equally a HOST. Thank us o much @bro Bayor. I'm so blessed by this.
Yes @Arm, resound it! Blow the trumpet! It's our season of rest roundabout!!!!!!!

Aug 2 Fri 05:43
Juzzy Production: 
Wow... @Bayo, @ARM,@nato God Bless u guys for sharing..... I'm blessed already wow

Aug 2 Fri 06:51
Ikechi Ugwoeje www.FrontlineMediaAcademy.com Photography/Video: 
Good morning saints of the most high God. Happy to be among the living today. Another opportunity to bless my world!
I was touched by the later part of Acts 1 yesterday where the disciples cast lots for the replacement of Judas. They never had to do that again after the Holy Spirit came. Many of us still live as though the Holy Spirit has not come. Not being sure about anything is a sign that we are not there yet. The Holy Spirit is here to reveal all things we need to know so we are never guessing or casting lots to make decisions. I want to know the Spirit and walk with Him more than ever from this season onwards. Thatz my number one focus for August. No better time to connect with Him so deeply like this season of REST and SPECIAL MIRACLES!

Aug 2 Fri 06:57
ARM- 'Amaka Rachael Mordi: 
In August, my decisions are His decisions, my thoughts are His thoughts, my words are His words, my actions and works and His actions and works! I am in sync with the Holy Spirit- spirit, soul & body! Thanks @BroIkechi! That answered a lot

Aug 2 Fri 07:00
Telimoye: 
As we decrease may HE increase and Let HIS WILL be done in our Lives! Good morning all

Aug 2 Fri 07:05
ARM- 'Amaka Rachael Mordi: 
I just read this. I just can't keep it to myself. It would you or bless someone you know

Your Name And Your Destiny - Friday August 2nd, 2013,
Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee (Genesis 17:5).
Whatever name you answer, as a person, has a direct bearing on your destiny; your name gives meaning to your destiny. This explains why it was necessary for God to change the names of certain characters in the Bible in line with their destinies in God. A good example is Abraham, who was formerly called Abram. Abram meant exalted father or assumed father; one who was regarded as a father, even though he didn't have children.
However, one day, God spoke to him and said,"...behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee" (Genesis 17:4-5). He believed God, and immediately started answering the name "Abraham," meaning 'a father of many nations.'
Another example is Jacob; he was named Jacob at birth because when he was born, he held on to his brother's heel. Jacob means swindler or deceiver; and true to his name, he obtained his brother's birthright through deceit, with the aid of his mother. However, when he encountered the Angel of God's presence and asked to be blessed, the Angel wouldn't bless him until his name was changed from Jacob (the swindler) to Israel, a prince with God (Genesis 32:28); thus was his destiny transformed for good.
Before Peter came to Jesus, he answered the name Simon, meaning a reed shaken by the wind, unstable. As Simon, he wasn't consistent. One day Jesus said to Him, "And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, Greek: Petros) and upon this rock (Greek: Petra) I will build my church...." (Matthew 16:18)."Petros" means a little rock that's founded on a greater hidden rock (Petra), not just a stone; Signifying stability and consistency.
If the name you've been answering isn't consistent with the Word of God, you've got to change it, because your name is your destiny. It makes no difference that you have answered the name all your life; if you find that its meaning isn't consistent with the revelation of who you are as a new creation in Christ, you must respond to God's Word and change it as an act of faith. When you do, your new name will be recorded in heaven, and the destiny of the former one will be cancelled.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, I thank you for the revelation of your Word that enlightens me on who I am in Christ. Thank you for leading and guiding me in the way that I should go, taking paths that you've preordained for me, and elevating me unto higher levels of your glory, in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Further Study:
Matthew 16:16-18
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
 Rhapsody of Realities by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome

Aug 2 Fri 09:19
TONIA:
Good Morning Saints! Wow m excited at all wat God is set edo dis month. Everytin is SPEAKING alredy. Tnx @ Bro Bayor, @Bro Ikechi, @Bro Nath, @ARM for sharing, I’m greatly blessed! As d word takes its place filling every vacuum in us d ACTS of d Spirit must of a necessity by manifested n I see His manifestations already. Glory!!!
Its great 2b in dis POWER HOUSE!!

Aug 2 Fri 11:36
P. Amaka Serita Declan:
Wow! God bless everyone in this family. This is called 'corporate anointing' "Anointing without measure"..... No single individual believer can manifest this level of anointing. Only Jesus Himself walked in it, and as He was leaving, He bestowed it upon the church as a body....the anointing on the body.... Oooooops!!!! This level of anointing is generated only when two or three are gathered together in His name, just like this Power Project group.....We praise You, Lord Jesus. All glory, honour and majesty be ascribed unto You alone....

Aug 2 Fri 19:09
NATHANIEL BASSEY: 
I've had this song on my phone for sometime now. And it's a song I use to sing, especially the Benny Hinn version. Today on my prayer walk, I put it on, and boy! Did I connect or what. I believe in my heart, so strongly, that this is my theme song for this month, especially the PP3. Amazing material to have while praying. It stirs one up to lay hold on God.

There came a sound from Heaven,
Like a rushing mighty wind,
It filled their hearts with singing,
And gave them peace within,
The Prophet gave this promise,
The Spirit will descend,
And from your inner being,
A river with no end.

Chorus 1
 There is a river
That flows from deep within,
There is a fountain
That frees the soul from sin,
Come to this water,
There is a vast supply,
There is a river
That never shall run dry.

There was a thirsty woman,
Who was drawing from a well,
Her life was ruined and wasted,
Her soul was bound for hell,
Then she met the Master,
Who told of her great sin,
And if you drink this water,
You'll never thirst again.

There is a river
That flows from God above,
There is a fountain
That's filled with His great love,
Come to this water
There is a vast supply,
There is a river
That never shall run dry.

Aug 2 Fri 23:21
Telimoye:

Acts 2! As we continue to pray in the Spirit we must realise that the Holy Spirit will always make an entrance and HE will only enter where HE is welcomed. In as much as we desire HIS presence it’s always good to Welcome HIM, believers met and were expectant, we are all here for a cause let's be expectant and welcome HIM in to this Month of August PP3 asking HIM to fill us completely with HIS Spirit. Welcome Holy Spirit welcome.

Friday, August 2, 2013

As regards an August Visitation... (like a Governor or President attending a function)


 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me....8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

- Acts 1: 4, 8; 2:2 KJV



- An august visitor is not received casually; there is prior preparation: 
“...commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait...”

(Wait = to be available or in readiness; to look forward to eagerly)

Like the disciples in the Upper Room, may we be in a posture of waiting in readiness for His arrival in this season. May we put in the needed spiritual alacrity and poise that beckons to Him...



- An august visitor doesn’t go to an event uninvited...or unexpected:

“but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me”

His seat is reserved, his name is on the program and there is an anticipation of his arrival.

May He find “room” in our lives in this season...



- An august visitor doesn’t arrive at an event unaccompanied or unannounced: 
“there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind”

Like the sirens and retinue announce his arrival in the natural, the elements do/did in the spiritual.

May we be sensitive to the stirring of the waters, events that lead to the event...



- An august visitor doesn’t go to an event without a message:

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you... and ye shall be witnesses...”

At a point in the event, He is introduced and mounts the stage to deliver his “keynote address”...


May our ears be attentive to His instructions and our hearts yielding to His impartations in this season...

Thursday, August 1, 2013

AUGUST | AWE+GUST



au·gust  [aw-guhst]  adjective
Definition: dignified, noble; inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur;
Few Synonyms: 1brilliant, 2exalted, 3glorious, 4honorable, 5impressive, 6majestic, 7monumental, 8superb...

Spelling it differently and examining individual words...

“Awe+Gust”
awe [aw]  noun
Definition: amazement; an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, or the like.
Few Synonyms: 1admiration, 2astonishment, 3esteem, 4regard, 5respect, 6reverence7wonder, 8worship...

gust   [guhst]  noun
Definition:  rush, eruption; a sudden, strong blast of wind; a sudden rush or burst of water, fire, smoke, sound, etc.
Few Synonyms: 1blast, 2blow, 3breeze, 4burst, 5explosion, 6outburst, 7storm, 8surge...

 Instance from the Word...

 1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, ...7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, ...we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “Whatever could this mean?”
- Acts 2:1-12 NKJV

Only THE “August Visitor” could have made such a Grand and Unprecedented entrance to a gathering and transform erstwhile common men to a people so uncommon that supernatural became natural...

As it was at the Upper Room, may Unique Gusts of awe-inspiring DIVINE FIRSTS be your experience all through the thirty one days of this month.
May the events about to ensue from your life cause men to wonder how on earth God could love someone so much.

1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath.
- 2nd Kings 22:1 NIV

No other month this year begins on a Thursday and that informs of the uniqueness of this month amongst other things. Thursday is also the biblical fifth day and that speaks of Grace...

May you receive the grace to maximize each of the thirty one days of this month so as to come into a newer dimension of dominion daily.
May this month indeed mark a New Beginning for you in many areas of your life especially those you have been believing God for a turnaround in.

THIS is 2013
and
"It's Morning; Ekaaro o!"
Jesus Christ is Lord!

-'Bayor



/bayormartins
2862A114


@bayormartins