Your company matters.

1 Corinthians 15:33
Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

The company you keep defines your character. You are defined by your associations. Proverbs says a wise man chooses his friends carefully.

The Corinthian church was associating with people who said there is no resurrection from the dead. Paul warned the church to stay away from such people because bad company, bad friends and bad associations corrupts good character. There is a lesson here for all of us, we must be very careful about who we associate with, what are their views, do they honour the word, do they honour the authorities, do they take the things of God seriously and do they live a honourable life in the way they think, speak and behave. Proverbs says he who walks with the wise shall be wise but the companion of fools will be destroyed. If you desire to go higher, associate with people who are going higher by the way they live. If you desire to go lower, associate with those who are going lower by the way they live. Let me say this again, Association matters. Be around champions of faith, love champions, prayer warriors and word giants, if you desire to go ahead in life. Refuse to associate with the disobedient, rebellious and divisive people for they have no future.

Friend, the fulfillment of your destiny depends a lot on the company you keep. Get around the right people, for association with the right God ordained people is the environment where the seeds of greatness will become trees of greatness and you will bless many nations. The wrong bunch of people will block every seed of greatness in you and you will never be able to reach your full potential. Choose your friends wisely !

Pray more in tongues!

Pray more in tongues.
- Pastor Ashish Mathews

I Corinthians 14:18
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

Tongues is a spiritual language given to every born again child of God when they receive the Holy Spirit. Every believer has the right and the ability to speak in tongues. When you speak in tongues, your spirit through the Holy Spirit speaks words that are released from your mouth which your mind doesn't understand. No man understands it, only God understands it.

When you pray in tongues, supernatural things begin to happen. Speaking in tongues causes you to be spiritually sensitive. When you speak in tongues, you speak to God and speak forth mysteries, hidden truths and secret things. Also when you speak in tongues you edify yourself, improve yourself and build yourself up. You just keep going higher and higher, there is no limit to the height you can attain by praying in the Spirit. Praise God for this indescribable gift. A strong spirit is the need of the hour. When your spirit is strong you can face any challenge with boldness and confidence, knowing that God is on your side and all things work together for your good. Praying in tongues helps you understand the word more clearly. It helps you discern the right way while making decisions because you become sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit in you. Speaking in tongues takes your ministry and your life into another level. John G Lake, one of the greatest healing evangelist that ever lived said, 'Tongues has been to me the making of my ministry'. 

It doesnt matter whether you are a preacher, a musician, a plumber or a businessman, you have the gift of tongues and the ability to speak in tongues. Speak as much as you can in tongues, speak more and more. As you do, you will begin to see improvement in yourself and then eventually in the all areas of your life. Kenneth Hagin, one of the pioneers of the word of faith movement said, 'Tongues is the gateway into the supernatural'. Keep building yourself up so you can build others up. Glory to God. Jesus is Lord.

"Everyday I speak in tongues more and more. Speaking in tongues edifies me, improves me and builds me up. I never neglect speaking to God in tongues. I speak out mysteries and divine secrets when I speak in tongues. I pray in tongues and I sing in tongues. I am refreshed, my spirit is becoming strong every day and everything I do prospers."

Flee sexual immorality!

I Corinthians 6:18
Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Sexual immorality simply means illegal sex and as per the word of God it includes sex before and outside of marriage, homosexuality, lesbianism, sex with close relatives, sex with animals or with divorced man or woman. In the eyes of God, sex is honourable and holy only in the confines of a marriage relationship.

The Spirit of God is telling us to flee from sexual immorality because of the terrible consequences that comes with it. Paul says no sexually immoral person will inherit the kingdom of God and by the Spirit, He warns us to stay away from people who say they are believers but are involved in sexually immoral practices.  In the book of Revelation, the Spirit says all fornicators will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. As believers of the Lord Jesus Christ, your body belongs to Jesus. He has purchased your body with his own blood. Corinthians says your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. You remember, when Potiphars wife came near Joseph, Joseph ran from her and protected himself. Flee. Run. Fly. One of the ways we can keep ourselves from sexual immorality is by guarding our thoughts. Jesus said sexual immorality comes out of the heart.  You can guard your heart by guarding your thoughts. Thoughts are governed by observation, association and teaching. Don't be in places that causes you to have dirty thoughts, choose your friends wisely and be careful about the conversations you have, be careful about the books, magazines, newspapers you read and the shows you watch. Make no provisions for the flesh and put no confidence in the flesh.

Everything starts with a thought. We must guard our thoughts, words and actions. If such wicked, immoral and dirty thoughts get in your head and stay, then very soon you will find yourself speaking and doing the same things. Friend, thank God for his grace. His grace is sufficient and His grace teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly lusts and helps us to live sober, righteous and godly lives. Be conscious that your body is not yours but it is the Lords and offer it to Him as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable in His sight. Rely on the mighty Holy Spirit in you and you will shine as an example and role model for the glory of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Glory!

The wisdom of this world. Beware!

I Corinthians 1:20
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

God has made the wisdom of this world foolish. Since it's foolish, we cannot build our lives on anything that comes out of this world because God has concluded that as totally foolish.

Satan is the god of this world system and everything thats in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. This does not come from the Father. Lust, pride and selfishness is at the root of everything that comes out of this world system and therefore God in his great love, has declared and concluded all of it as foolish and complete nonsense to help his children in making the right decisions. When you hear something, you must always find out where has it come from. From the world?  Or From the word? Because anything that comes out of the world, irrespective of who said it, the person might be very successful, popular and intellectually smart but if it's against the word of God, I declare and conclude it's an absolute nonsense. Satan has been trying very hard to use famous celebrities and other outstanding personalities to make statements that are in direct opposition to the word of God so that He can decieve people especially the believers. Let me say it again, no matter who says it, anything that is against the word of the Living God, is nonsense and foolish. God has made it foolish and therefore to me it's foolish and I will not follow something that is foolish and utter nonsense.

Friend, I encourage you fix your eyes on the word and make it your standard of living.The word of God is the wisdom of God and as you invest yourself into God's word, you will begin to deal wisely in all the arenas of your life. This is why Jesus came, to give you an abundant and overflowing life. Stay on the word. Refuse to be distracted and discouraged. This is your time. This is your season. The best is yet to come. Jesus is Lord.

Be an encourager!

Proverbs 12:25
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.

Each day has enough troubles of it own. People around you are facing challenges just like you and are tempted to worry which causes their hearts to be heavy, burdensome and depressed. In this world filled with challenges, why don't you make a decision to encourage some one? The employment opportunities for encouragers are huge! Apply!

Sometimes we are so focused on the challenges of our lives, that we pay little or no attention to people around us. Every one needs encouragement because it gives people hope and cheers them up. Jesus commanded us not to worry and to cast all our cares and anxieties on him because he cares for us. Because we have such a great caretaker, we can give all of our worries to Him and focus on encouraging people. When no one in Jerusalem was willing to associate with Paul, it was Barnabbas who spoke kindly to Paul and brought him into fellowship with the other believers in Jerusalem. You never know what a single word or act of encouragement can do, the impact it can have on the person's life.

Friend, make a decision to take your eyes off of yourself and encourage someone today. Make a habit of giving hope to people and letting them know that God is with them and everything is going to be alright. Encourage them to keep trusting Jesus, keep speaking the word and keep praising the Lord at all times for their victory is at hand. Be a Barnabbas to someone today and everyday. This is Your time. All that God has promised you will come to pass and your laughing days are here. Hallelujah. Jesus is Lord.

Zeal for God.

Romans 10:2
For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge.

Paul here is talking about the Israelites and their passion for God. Their zeal for God was so strong that they ignored what God actually wanted and did what they thought was the right thing to do. Zeal without knowledge is an absolute waste of your time, energy and resources. Zeal with knowledge gives you direction and enjoyment because you know you are doing the right thing.

Paul was so zealous for the things to God that he fiercely persecuted the church of the living God. Zeal is very important but without knowledge of Gods will and his purposes, it won't benefit much. The Israelites being ignorant of Gods righteousness by faith in Christ Jesus, sought to establish their own righteousness by the works of law and whenever you ignore Gods will, you stumble at the rock of offense and at the stumbling stone. A person who ignores Gods word and does what he thinks is right will not go very far even if he is very passionate and zealous about it. Paul was zealous about the persecution but you see Jesus showed up and stopped him in his tracks.

Friend, as believers, we must first discover the right way, when I say right way I mean the God way, which is the word way. Find out what is right in the eyes of God before you direct your passion, zeal and energy towards it. Its highly recommended that you be convinced that all your pursuits are in line with Gods word and his purpose for you can be sure that any work that ignores Gods purpose is only for a short time. Peace be to you!

Talk to sickness!

Luke 4:38‭-‬39
Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

Jesus spoke to fever and it left the person. This is one of the keys of living in divine health all the days of your life.

Sicknesses can hear you. Settle this in your thinking. When you magnify the sickness and tell about it to others, you are feeding the sickness and making it even more strong. Let the sickness in your body, hear Gods word from your mouth. Refuse to say anything else. The word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit, when released from your mouth in faith will attack and eradicate every trace of sickness in your body and will supply life for his word is full of life. Refuse to magnify the sickness. Refuse to bow down to the sickness. Jesus said whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea' and doesn't doubt in his heart but believes what he says will come to pass then he shall have whatever he says. Refuse to talk about the moutain. Start talking TO the mountain. Talk to sickness. Speak the word of God. Speak in faith. Speak in the name of Jesus and speak boldly for Jesus has defeated every sickness there is and has redeemed you for divine health all the days of your life.

Friend, Jesus said if you believe in me the works that I do you will do and greater works than these you will do because I go to my Father. Since we are exactly like Jesus himself in this world, let's do what Jesus did and rebuke sicknesses and diseases in His name. Your words are extremely powerful. Speak life. Speak the word. You will never be the same. This is your time. Be healed in Jesus name, Amen.