WHO IS IN THE GARDEN?

In the beginning, there was a garden,

Beautifully adorned like a little fair maiden.

East of Eden; a place of delight and pleasure,

An enchanting paradise made by The Creator.

To further add zing to what the eyes could see,

The Creator planted in it, all sorts of trees.

Now, there were these two planted in the middle,

One was for life, the other to know good and evil.

From Eden, a river flowed into the garden,

To keep it succulent, lush and evergreen.

To have the garden kept and worked,

The Creator put in it the man he had formed.

For his food, he could take from any tree.

To eat from them, he was indeed free.

But of the fruit of the middle tree, it was forbidden;

Like the tithe, nothing from it could be eaten.

The consequence of man breaching this clause,

Brought the serpent and the ground under a curse.

The man was driven from the Garden of Eden,

To work the ground from where he was taken.

Who were those in the garden with the tree of life?

The Creator, the serpent, the first Adam and his wife.

Now, who is in the Garden since man has been driven?

Because all I see is cherubim and a sword flashing.

Wait, what’s this groaning I hear in the garden?

Someone making an appeal to the Father in Heaven?

Why, that’s The Creator’s Son praying in agony,

But the garden is different, this one is Gethsemane.

His brow furrowed as He considered the cost,

Such a great price He would have to pay for the lost.

Three times He prayed if the cup could be gone,

But He always added “Thy will be done.”

So, who were those in this garden of His agony?

The Creator’s Son, Peter and two sons of Zebedee.

Now who’s in the garden moments after His prayer?

A large crowd with swords led by the betrayer.

Events led to Him being scourged and then crucified,

Hung high, spread wide, on the cross He died.

Then taken to the garden beside Golgotha,

He was laid in the tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea.

So, what’s this crying I hear in the garden?

As though His body has been taken;

It’s Mary, seeking and weeping,

Before being aware the Saviour had risen.

As in the beginning, where there was a garden,

Beautifully adorned like a fair little maiden,

At the end, we see the garden of delight,

In the heavenly city without day or night.

So, who will be in the garden with the tree of life?

The Creator, the last Adam and the church; his bride.

These, via obedience, have the right to the tree of life.

Those outside include those who love and practice a lie.

If you’re yet to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord,

Please do; the price’s been paid by His blood.

No time to waste my friend; make no delay!

Accept God's priceless gift of salvation today!

‘Bayor | 29.03.2013 + 30.03.2018

Scriptures: Genesis 2 and 3 | Luke 22:39-52 | John 19 | Revelation 22

COUNTER FEAR WITH FAITH | DEBBY BUKOLA OWOLABI

The Bible says "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). Which also implies, "fear comes by hearing and hearing words other than God's word". What you hear, eventually settles down into your spirit and has a way of acting out later; that is why you need to guard your heart with all diligence for out of it flow the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23).

What we see and hear through our eye and ear gates, have a way of affecting us. So, you need to constantly counter words which do not align with God's Word anytime they come your way. You speak God's word to counter thoughts, words and imaginations that oppose what God says (2 Corinthians 10:5).

God has not given us the Spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7). Therefore, anytime you hear a news or information that brings fear to your heart, it's a signal. Fear is not from God, thus that word can't be from Him. So, what do you do? Speak the word of faith! Speak what God says back at that voice because every situation speaks to us.

Your life goes in the direction of your dominant thoughts (Proverbs 23:7). Hence, we cannot over emphasize the importance of renewing your mind (which is expected to be the mind of Christ). Fill yourself with words of faith and words that bring hope. Truth is, words are life; they are spirits. They don't die and these words have a way of forming your thought patterns. So why not form a great thought pattern that is Word-based?

This is not to deny the fact that wickedness and evil pervades our world. However, you’ve got God's Word - a more superior way of thinking that will help you pull down strongholds. Therefore, don't weaken your faith by allowing the evil around us to be your reality and experience. Agreed, evil abounds but you have a more potent force working in you. He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Don't attach meaning to everything. Personally, I don't like cats. I grew up with the mindset that they are evil because I was made to believe so but I understand better now that they are only animals that are susceptible to being used by evil spirits. So, that a cat, bird, goat, monkey, frog or lizard was used by an evil spirit does not make that animal evil. Balaam's donkey spoke as the occasion demanded but it would be fallible to conclude that "all donkeys can speak" (well, perhaps excluding Shrek’s donkey). The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove but it doesn't make the Holy Spirit a dove nor does it make a dove on the street the Holy Spirit. Don't generalize based on an occurrence or build a doctrine around a particular experience.

News and entertainment media are prone to pumping negativity into your heart with stories like how a pregnant woman was buried alive, how a marriage failed, how a 2-year-old was raped, how 50 people died in a communal clash and so on. Don’t permit such negativity to settle in your heart; these things will always happen because the world is evil. Be deliberate in choosing what you listen to. I call that "Selective Hearing Method".  In a case where you get to hear a news that wants to drain your faith, counter them with words of faith:

"I shall not die but live to declare the works of the Lord! Hallelujah!”

" That evil is NOT my portion"

"The Blood of Jesus Christ speaks life over my household therefore my children will not be victims of evil".

" My marriage is working"

" With long life, God will satisfy me and show me His salvation".

Now, this is what it means when the Scripture says "... And every tongue that rises against you, you shall condemn. " (Isaiah 54:17). When these negative voices rise up against you, silence them with God's word.

Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious —the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. 

Philippians 4:8 (MSG)

Stay in Faith.

#FaithDiet#

#BeFaithFocused#

#CounterFearWithFaith#

#MindRenewalVenture#

Debby Bukola Owolabi | @debbybukkyOwo1

FOUNDATIONS AND ROOTS | MARCH 2018

If a tree continuously produces undesirable fruits, it might be best to uproot the entire tree. 
Trying to get rid of all the fruits every now and then doesn’t really cut it.

Weeds do not have to be sown like seeds to grow; 
certain outcomes of our lives may just be weeds left to breed.

27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 
28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’…

Matthew 13:27-28

13 But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.

Matthew 15:13

The foundation of a building may be unseen but if faulty, the visible structure won’t be able to hide the defect for long. 

Plastering a crack that keeps showing up may not be much of a solution.

3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do?
Psalm 11:3

10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant.”

Jeremiah 1:10

WHAT IFS

What if the ground is part of the reason for a tree’s inability to produce good fruit?

What if there are some good fruits but these are outnumbered by the bad ones?

What if the fault seen in the building is a result of just one wrong material or procedure in the foundation?

What if the fault is ignored and the entire building becomes inhabitable or destroyed?

SUGGESTED PRAYERS

Father, I bless everyone that yielded to your use as channels to properly lay a solid foundation for my life (parents, siblings, teachers, guardians, friends etc).  

May their blessings abound. (Exodus 1:17-21)

Father, I forgive every one that knowingly or unknowingly served as a channel of negative input to my foundation. For those I know, may they find your mercy as I find freedom in forgiving them. (Ephesians 4:32)

Father, you are my Foundation Fixer, please help me to locate and address errors in my foundation that are a threat to the beauty and durability of my life’s structure. (1 Corinthians 3:11, Hebrews 11:10)

Father, whatever is a cause of fruitlessness in my life, please help me identify and uproot. I refuse to be a waste of space and grace. (Luke 13:6-9)

Father, please prune me of flaws (in character, ideologies etc) that limit or stunt growth and productivity. (John 15:1-4, Ezekiel 36:26)

(please pray other prayers as inspired) 

God Bless You.

'Bayor

_____________________________________________________

FEATURED VIDEO!

WORSHIP MEDLEY FEAT. SOLUCHY
(Track 5 of 6 | For Full DVD, contact +234 807 667 8025 or email exaltedhornmusic@gmail.com)


FEATURED MUSIC!

Dedicated To All Those Born this Month!

_____________________________________________________

FURTHER READING

UPWARD GROWTH | FORWARD MARCH

Excerpt: When GOD speaks, EVERYTHING hears!
MARCH!...that's NOT a suggestion!
IF the location is not your ordained position, move!
If the situation is not Heaven's intention, speak!
As you say it, you see it!
May You GO FORWARD and GROW UPWARDS, this month and onwards!

MARCH PAST | POSITIVE TRANSITION
Excerpt: It can’t be called a “march”  if no movement was made.
People rarely, if ever, march backwards...
May each new day of this new month be like a new step towards POSITIVE TRANSITION…as a People and as a Nation!
God Bless Nigeria!

TOUCHING HEAVEN, CHANGING EARTH | March 2016

Excerpt: Just because it’s still dark and others are sleeping doesn’t mean the day hasn’t already begun.
Even from the way they are spelt, the first, second and third positions stand out from the rest (fourth, fifth…tenth).
While others may merely be recognized, the first three are mostly rewarded.
Like the hands of clock at 3:00am, something about the connection of the vertical and the horizontal at 90 degrees makes it a “right angle”.
Those who touch Heaven, change earth.

ORDERED STEPS | MARCH 2017

Excerpt: It’s easier to follow orders when the integrity of the commanding officer is not in question...
It’s harder to follow an instruction before it makes sense...
May your results and testimonies, validate your obedience to Divine Instructions 
and your yielding to divinely ORDERED STEPS this month.

_____________________________________________________

If you’re reading this and yet to accept Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and personal Saviour, please pray the below:

Heavenly Father, I come to you today in the name of Jesus. 
I am a sinner and cannot help myself. 
I believe with all my heart, that Jesus died, was buried and rose triumphantly for me! 
Forgive me all my sins. 
Cleanse me with the precious blood of your son, Jesus. 
Deliver me from sin and Satan to serve you, the true and living God. 
Today, I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and personal Saviour. 
Thank you for saving me! 
I am born again. 
I believe that I’m now your true child, in Jesus' mighty name.

If you prayed the above prayer sincerely, welcome to a life of victory as a child of the living God! You have been set apart by God. If you need further instruction on this pathway of life, please locate a Bible believing church around you or online. We could also connect on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Please click on any of the handles below and send me a direct message.

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture references above were taken from the New King James Version of the Bible. Where applicable, emphasis mine.

Pictures: Google

_____________________________________________________

DOWNLOAD MUSIC & VIDEOS!

hulkshare.com/romoke | hulkshare.com/bayor

youtube.com/c/BayorMartins

_____________________________________________________

LET'S CONNECT!

/bayormartins

bayormartins

@bayormartins

_____________________________________________________