Quiet Time

  Scripture : Proverbs 26: 11     “ As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly” Proverbs 26: 11 Description 8: Eating your own vomit   .. God knows how difficult it is for us to eat things we do not like. For most of us, there are things we just wouldn’t eat, even if we are starving. For example, your own vomit. I recall a particular day when I saw a dog in the house vomiting some disgusting, pudding-like substance. It was so smelly that I avoided that area of the house. About an hour later, I passed by and I was very shocked to find the dog eagerly lapping up the pudding of vomit . How utterly disgusting! I wondered why the dog was eating it. Was there no other food? Some of you must have seen this phenomenon before. Well, that is exactly what you look like when you go back to old ways, old boyfriends, old girlfriends and old habits that you once vomited out. God is utterly surprised at you. This reminds us of the prodigal s...

Scripture : Jeremiah 3: 1    “.. thou hast PLAYED THE HARLOT with many lovers ….” Jeremiah 3: 1 Description 7: A lover playing the Harlot God compares the backslider to a woman who is married to the man of her dreams but then decides to go after other men. She jumps over the wall at night, leaves her dear beloved, charming prince in bed, and goes hunting for “ fresh blood”. I know that many people find the profession of prostitution horrifying and repulsive. They cannot imagine how people can abuse their bodies for a living. I remember a lovely woman who had a respectable husband. After some years of marriage, this lady began to have affairs with other men. She would climb over the wall and run away at night when her noble husband was asleep. Can you imagine that?! But let me ask you something else. If your wife not only left you but went into the streets to become a prostitute, would that not even be worse? How would it feel like to pass by the ‘ red light’ dist...

Scripture : Jeremiah 2:32    “ Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a BRIDE her ATTIRE....” Jeremiah 2: 32   Description 6: A bride who forgets Her WEDDING GOWN Many brides are in love with their wedding gowns. Before the wedding day, they hang in their wardrobes to ensure that they don’t get stained. Often, the gown is prepared in advance for the great day (and some gowns cost more than a year’s salary!). The bride’s gown is worn for only a few hours, but the bride spares no expense when she is buying it. Many women are thrilled to be the bride- the star of the day, the most beautiful woman of the day, the princess of the moment. She walks down the aisle in splendor! God is saying that when you go away from Christ, you are like a bride who forgets to wear her wedding gown on her wedding day . .. This is why God is so horrified when Christians forget their God and backslide. It is simply implausible, inconceivable, and beyond belief. The Bible maintains that ...

Scripture : Jeremiah 2: 23     “ Can a maid forget her ORNAMENTS…….yet my people have forgotten me ……” Jeremiah 2:23 Description 5: A lady who forgets her Ornaments According to Jeremiah, the backslidden person is like a woman who forgets to put on her ornaments. Many women are attached to their earrings, necklaces, and make-up. Some women will never appear in public without adorning themselves with the accessories. (Unfortunately, many ladies substitute outer beauty for inner beauty. They have no time to pray, or bibles but they spend a lot of time putting on all sorts of ornaments every day!) I must say I have rarely seen a lady who is not attached to her trinkets. God compares the backslidden person to a young lady who has forgotten to beautify herself with her numerous dresses, shoes, necklaces, earrings, mascara, and the rest. How unusual!! Jeremiah realized that these things were part and parcel of every normal woman, and that women were every attached...

  Scripture : Jeremiah 2:24     “ A Wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away…..?” Jeremiah 2:23 Description 4: Becoming a Wild Ass I prefer the Berkeley translation of this verse, which says: “ Like a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, in the heat of her passion snuffing up the wind: in the time of her mating who can turn her lust away? Jeremiah 2: 24 (New Berkely Version) Many backsliders are like wild animals heated up with passion looking for a mate. The Amplified version puts it this way: No males seeking her need weary themselves; in her month they will find her seeking them. The Moffatt translation of the Bible elaborates further : “No male need trouble to search for her; all can find her at mating time.” When you become a backsliding Christian, the Bible says you become prey to unbelievers. Unbelievers can easily lead you away to sin. Show me a backsliding Christian...

  Scripture : Jeremiah 2: 23         “….. thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways.?” Jeremiah 2:23 Description 3: Becoming a Wild Camel A backsliding Christian is also described as a swift dromedary traversing her ways . A dromedary is another name for a camel. It is a wild and swift creature, which strays anywhere. The heart of a backsliding person is as unrestrained as a wild camel. It is not under the control of anything. It is loose and wild. …. Backsliders are like wild camels which have no restrictions and boundaries anymore. Your Christian life is supposed to be governed by God’s Word. When a person backslides he begins to do what he wants to do, and not what God wants him to do. He’s like a wild animal with no checks and controls. God’s Word gives us guidelines that are for our own good but a backslider chooses to live outside God’s law. What a pity!   Credits: Excerpts from Backsliding: Develop staying power B...

Scripture : Jeremiah 2: 13         “….. art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine….?” Jeremiah 2:21 Description 2: Becoming a degenerate wild vine The next bible description of backsliding is that of a good plant that has degenerated into a thorny and strange vine. Here, God shows us how a farmer’s plantation from which he was expecting a good yield turned into a field of thorns and useless weeds. You, the believer, are that beautiful plant of the Lord. Why on earth would you want to allow yourself to degenerate into a thorny and worthless shrub? This is how God sees you when you backslide. God’s problem with Israel was that had invested so much love, care, tenderness, and time into their lives. Yet they had turned into disobedient, hardhearted, and wicked people. Will you allow yourself to become a worthless creature before God? The answer should be a definite “No!”   Credits: Excerpts from Backsliding: Develop stay...

  Scripture : Jeremiah 2: 13         “they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water ” Jeremiah 2:13    Description 1: Exchanging fountains for broken cisterns When I was a medical student, I was sent on a working visit to Danfa, a Ghanaian village, for two weeks. Once, during a field trip, we came across another remote village that had no running water. Since the village had no running water, they had dug a large hole in the ground where water gathered; often this water was dirty and brownish. The people in the village bathed, defecated, and urinated in it. At the same time, they drank from it and used it to cook. This water obviously gave them various diseases and sicknesses. In the bible, backsliding people are likened to people who have access to clear running water, but exchange it for dirty smelly water- just like what I saw in that village. I am sure y...

  Scripture : 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13           “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall ” 1 Corinthians 10: 12-13   God raised up the Prophet Jeremiah at a time when Israel and Judah were about to be taken captive in Babylon. He used Jeremiah to show the people of Israel the backslidden state of their hearts. The book of Jeremiah gives several vivid descriptions of the backslidden state. Jeremiah, also known as the “weeping prophet”. He was often at “war” with the people of Israel, constantly warning them to repent and change from their wicked ways. The weeping prophet was concerned about the wayward attitude of his people. He repeatedly urged them, “Turn away from your wicked ways. Stop doing evil! Repent and come back to God.” He attempted to show them in many different ways what it meant to backslide. Yet the people of Israel and Judah refused to change. ….in our Christian walk, there are no signboards to w...

THE SWEET INFLUENCES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON YOUR LEVEL OF HONESTY -PART 2 Scripture: John 14:17 Topic: The Sweet Influences of The Holy Spirit on Your Level of Honesty - Part 2 "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."  John 14:17  God is truth. God abhors lies. Lying always seeks to cover up the truth. As a child of God you are commanded not to speak lies. In this series of our quiet time we look at how the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit in our lives affects our level of honesty. "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."  John 14:17    2. A person under the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit becomes honest.     Stephen was honest because he was full of the Holy Ghost.   "Wher...

THE SWEET INFLUENCES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON YOUR LEVEL OF HONESTY -PART 1 Scripture: John 14:17 Topic: The Sweet Influences of The Holy Spirit on Your Level of Honesty - Part 1 God is truth. God abhors lies. Lying always seeks to cover up the truth. As a child of God you are commanded not to speak lies. In this series of our quiet time we look at how the sweet influences of the Holy Spirit in our lives affects our level of honesty. "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."  John 14:17  1. A person under the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit will love the truth and dislike lies and dishonesty.      This is because the Holy Spirit is the spirit of truth and the spirit of light.  The more the Holy Spirit is in you, the more the darkness of dishonesty will be put far away from you. When a person freely tells lies you can be sure he is ...

SWEET INFLUENCES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON YOUR LEVEL OF BOLDNESS  Scripture: Acts 4:31 Topic: The Sweet Influences of the Holy Spirit on Your Level of Boldness     "And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Acts 4:31   One of the most amazing effects of the influence of the Holy Spirit will be the dramatic change in your level of boldness. Frightened, timid and disillusioned apostles hiding in a room were transformed instantly into a bold and fearless team of preachers.  They seemed to have no fears any more. They suddenly seemed to know how to give speeches in public.  They faced up to the murderers of Christ boldly and preached confrontational sermons!  You can contrast this with Peter’s vehement denial of Christ a few days before. What caused such drastic changes? The Holy Spirit! You need the Holy Spirit to grow in bold...

  Scripture : Exodus 35: 21         “And they came every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one WHOM HIS SPIRIT MADE WILLING, and they brought the  Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments” Exodus 35: 21     Without the influence of the Holy Spirit, most people grumble then they have to do something. They complain, they murmur, they go on strike, and exhibit many different forms of discontentment. It is hard to find a workplace without discontented and grumbling employees. Such is the nature of man without the influence of the Holy Spirit. Our churches are equally filled with discontented, grumbling, and criticizing members. Most of these murmurers are filled with evil spirits like the complaining Israelites who followed Moses. This is why we need the Holy Spirit to fill our churches. The Holy Spirit imparts a different attitude. The Holy Spirit...

Scripture : Ezekiel 36: 26- 27 (NASB)  “   Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU AND CAUSE YOU TO WALK IN MY STATUTES, and are careful and follow My ordinances” Ezekiel 36: 26- 27(NASB)     Amazingly, it is the Holy Spirit who helps us to obey the commandments of the Lord. When someone is under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, it becomes easy for him to obey the commandments of the Lord. The very one who gives you the instruction sends His Spirit to cause you to be obedient. This is why none of us should boast in ourselves. Whatever we are able to do has been given to us by the Holy Spirit Do you want to obey God? Do you love God? Are you struggling to be obedient to the commandments of God? Pray to God for the Holy Spirit and you will have the ability to obey Him. He Himself will ma...

Scripture : Galatians 4: 6    “ And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Galatians 4: 6 1.       2. Under the influence of the Holy Spirit, you develop convictions and assurances The Holy Spirit influences your convictions by crying out about certain things in your heart. Anyone who is under the sweet influence of the Holy Spirit will become sure of certain realities because the Holy Spirit will cry and repeatedly speak certain words in your heart. These words that the Holy Spirit speaks in your heart will become convictions that you hold unto. You will be sure of these things without having reasons why. Are you beginning to form certain convictions in your heart? Are you becoming sure of certain things? Is there a mysterious knowing in your heart? Is your soul mystically longing for certain things? Are you certain spiritual desires growing and developing in you? Is your heart crying ...

  Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1: 21- 22        “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT in our hearts.” 2 Corinthians 1: 21- 22     1. God assures you of His approval by the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit’s presence in your life is a guarantee and a further assurance of His approval on your life. Read it for yourself: The presence of the Holy Spirit is a guarantee, the seal, the pledge and the assurance that you need. God has left the Holy Spirit in our midst so that He is present in all that we do. His Spirit is supposed to assure us and calm us down. His presence is supposed to be a guarantee that assures us in what we do. “Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God. Who also hath given unto us the EARNEST OF THE SPIRIT” (2 Corinthians 5: 5) Are you approved? Does God like you? Is God happy with you? Is He happy with your songs? Does G...

Scripture : Romans 5: 5   In this series of our Quiet Time, we study ways in which the holy spirit can change the life of a believer by pouring out His sweet influences on their life thereby transforming regular life into something far more beautiful.    “ And hope maketh not ashamed; because THE LOVE OF GOD IS SHED abroad in our hearts BY THE HOLY GHOST which is given unto us.”                                                                                                     ...

Scripture : Galatians 5: 22- 23   In this series of our Quiet Time, we study ways in which the holy spirit can change the life of a believer by pouring out His sweet influences on their life thereby transforming regular life into something far more beautiful.    “ But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”                                                                                               ...

THE SWEET INFLUENCES OF THE ANOINTING - PART 6 Scripture: Isaiah 11:2-3 Topic: The Sweet Influences of the  Anointing  on your level of intelligence. In this second part of this series of quiet time we will look at how to know when the influence of the Anointing is ministering the  four pillars of intelligence i.e. knowledge, wisdom, understanding and the fear of the Lord in your life.  And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of THE FEAR OF THE LORD; And shall make him of quick understanding in THE FEAR OF THE LORD: and he shall not judge after the site of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: Isaiah 11:2-3 2. How to know when the influence of the Anointing is ministering knowledge into your life. You will know that the influence of the Holy Spirit is giving you knowledge when the knowledge that is coming to you has certain characteristics. ...