TURNING WISDOM TO WEALTH 4 4 Having Faith In God's Blessing

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with G.o.d through our Lord Jesus Christ:

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of G.o.d.

There is a wealth in secret dark places. You can access it by faith, until your faith is risen up, you will continue to blame others for your failure. There is a grace for wealth; it is not about the university you attended or the diligence alone. It is grace that makes the difference between you and the unG.o.dly. You access grace by faith.

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

There is no toiling around the blessing of G.o.d. Toiling many times is not just struggling; it is mental exertion not knowing what to do with life.

When G.o.d is involved in your life, the blessing will not add any toil, nor pain, nor trouble.

Romans 12:3

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as G.o.d hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Use your faith to access what G.o.d has given to you.

Peter is a good example of a professional who toiled all night before encountering the Lord.

Luke 5:1-9

And it came to pa.s.s, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of G.o.d, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

And when they had this done, they inclosed a great mult.i.tude of fishes: and their net brake.

And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

He was toiling and labouring all night as an experienced fisherman. When the word of G.o.d is in place, it works better and faster than the intelligence of man. Jesus stood at the lake, where Peter was toiling, to catch some fishes. In these last days, things may be failing but there is no failure in G.o.d.

Many times, people say that if you are diligent in life, you will succeed. But Peter failed despite his diligence. I know many diligent people who have failed at one time or the other. There is a way of diligence but not the diligence of the world. When G.o.d commanded Adam to name every animal he has made, G.o.d brought them to Adam. The work he did was to open his mouth and name the animals.

G.o.d downloaded the names from heaven to Adam, He gave him inspiration of naming the animals, yet he attributed the success to Adam.

When Jesus got to Peter, He told him to let down his nets. He did not go there looking for fish, fish looked for him. If it were to be others, they would have walked away. Thinking how ordinary word can produce results. But Peter did the word of Jesus.

When you carry bible today some look at you as if you are an idiot. "time is going", they say. But do you know that some have not become anything because of this mentality. Because anything you become, it is the word of G.o.d that makes you to become it.

The blessings of G.o.d are in the word, because few are doers of the word. Our commitment is to do the word. Life becomes attractive when the result comes. Even G.o.d can turn our enemies to be our friends. If the word makes everything, the word will command them towards you.

Luke 5:4

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

Beloved, G.o.d gives you more than enough. Peter only let down the net; he did not see the connection between his success and Jesus' preaching. Without your reward showing, the unbeliever will not serve your G.o.d. Peter had to call others, and they were surprised at his result. Those laughing at you will soon laugh with you because G.o.d will turn things around for you.

Peter, on seeing the breakthrough fell down at Jesus' knees. His knees could not touch the ground because fish had covered everywhere.

Beloved, G.o.d will do miracles that will cover everywhere that you will need the help of others. G.o.d has decided to locate your blessing in his word that is being preached. Blessing is your inheritance; you must use your faith to get them.

Jesus spoke the word and the blessing was released. Fishes come in the night not in the day because in the day time, your shadow is cast on the water by the sunlight and also the noise of the mult.i.tude on the sh.o.r.e will drive them away.

Whatever you are looking for, the word of G.o.d will attract it to you. It is through the preaching of the word that preservation and blessing come your way.

Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

1 Corinthian 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of G.o.d the world by wisdom knew not G.o.d, it pleased G.o.d by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

If G.o.d blesses one, he can bless others. Many times, G.o.d moves to the unlikely to provoke his own people. G.o.d has no alternative to preaching that is why he is looking for a man, not a committee. You may come from a background of poverty and curses but once you embrace the word, things will change for you. Yours is to believe; the preacher is to preach. Inside the word is the blessing.

John 6:28-29

28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of G.o.d? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of G.o.d, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

Here the people came to Jesus, they wanted the secret of working mighty works. The blessing of G.o.d is looking for you; if you only believe. Animals came to Adam and he named them. Fishes came to Peter and he caught them. No struggling, no pain. This is not laziness but work at another level. G.o.d is smart already, he is not looking for your smartness. He is looking for your faith. Faith is the only way to get your inheritance.

Beloved, the blessing of G.o.d guarantees your success.

Hebrews 11:20

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

Isaac believed that when he released the words it is settled. This is the same blessing in Genesis 27:27. Isaac knew that once the blessing of G.o.d is released, it can't change. We must count on G.o.d's ability in these last hours. This is the hour to shine in the midst of darkness.

Genesis 27:27

And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:

Jacob received the blessing and it was done. The devil is not big enough to separate you from the blessing of G.o.d. Because Abraham had blessed Isaac and Isaac could transfer it to Jacob and so he did. You must believe that nothing can stop you from being blessed. The Lord defends his anointed and watches over them. They are precious to him.

Psalm 105:14.

He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Isaac did not give Jacob silver and gold to inherit but he released the word. He spoke to him as touching his future and Isaac told Esau that once the blessing is released, it cannot be reversed.

Once the blessing is released, it is settled. No devil is big enough to separate you from the blessing of G.o.d. You only need to trust G.o.d and believe in him. Once the blessing is released, it is released.

Heb 11:21

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

Once the blessing is released, it is too late to change it. Joseph taught that Jacob was blind that is why he was blessing the wrong person. He crossed his hand and put the left hand on Mana.s.seh with the right hand on the younger Ephraim. Jesus took our place on the cross; he took the curse so we can inherit the blessing. He became the son of man so that we can become the son of G.o.d. Family curses are being reversed on the cross. So it is too late for the devil to go ahead and curse you for no devil can curse what G.o.d has blessed.

Galatians 3:13-14

Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

You are blessed already. It is not by feeling but by faith. When Jacob was running from Esau, he didn't feel blessed. He only took a staff in his hand, and vowed to give G.o.d every t.i.the if he would bring him back in peace. He raised an altar to G.o.d in appreciation of his goodness when he returned 20 years after.

Beloved, the blessing makes rich without adding sorrow. Believe that your better days are not behind but ahead of you.

Hebrew 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to G.o.d must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The blessing worked for Jacob to the extent that when Laban employed him, he became richer than his landlord. By the time he was running away, Laban, his employer felt cheated. He ran after him to kill him but G.o.d appeared to him in a dream, warning him not to touch Jacob or else G.o.d would deal with him. Then he made Jacob to swear that he would not marry other wives besides his daughters, so that his daughters, (Rachael and Leah), could enjoy the blessing. The father in law knew that the blessing of Abraham was all over Jacob.

Laban changed his wages ten times; he was so envious of Jacob that he kept on reducing his wages and the more he shortchanged him the more G.o.d blessed Jacob. All his attempts to break him down only led to increase. G.o.d's blessing will overwhelm you.

Deuteronomy 6:10

And it shall be, when the LORD thy G.o.d shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not,

G.o.d says that he will give us good things. Good things are good for you, and so start believing G.o.d for good things.

Psalms 103:5

Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

G.o.d has promised to satisfy your mouth with good things. You look younger than your age, when the Lord satisfies you with good things. G.o.d wants to be responsible for the outcome of your life as he nourishes and satisfies you with his best. He will turn trials into triumph and adversities into advancement.

Don't join them to confess negativity about your situation. Every disaster can become a blessing; every test can become testimonies when the blessing of G.o.d is released. So no more excuse around your life, this is your season to own good things.

Joseph in the home of Portiphar learnt how to manage a home until he rose to the very top. The presence of G.o.d in his life made the difference. G.o.d trained him to administer a home in the integrity of his heart. He went to an informal school of the Holy Ghost until he rose to the very top because of the wisdom of G.o.d in his life. Pharaoh heard him and was convinced that he needed him if his nation would make it through years of famine that would swallow up the first seven years of abundance. Despite false accusation, injustice and imprisonment, Joseph went from prison to prominence. He became the master of Portiphar.

I won't know who has rejected you, but the stone rejected can become the chief cornerstone. What you cry about in the past you will soon laugh about. You are anointed to be you and n.o.body can beat you being you. It is your time of blessing so step up to who you are. If you hold on to excuses, you won't be in the level you should be. Get rid of excuses. You have everything you need to live in this generation.

Don't wish to die, don't justify being in the same level. Every time you give excuse, it slows you down. Refuse to be slowed down. Trust G.o.d to make your wrong right. Your stature will increase. Joseph brothers didn't know him again because G.o.d has changed his level. The reason he knew his brothers is because they were not better than he left them. Famine has affected them, they were looking haggard and pale. Stop self-pity, stop telling stories like the blind man at the pool. No matter where you come from, faith is an equalizer. It will get you to where you are going.

Nothing that happens is a surprise to G.o.d. He knows everything. Don't give in to offences, for nothing can stop your future but you. Joseph never got offended. He believed G.o.d.

Psalm 105:16-22.

Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.

He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.

Whatever you have gone through will be a gain to your future. Don't keep a diary of the evil that people have done against you. G.o.d has the final say. Time is too short to be lived in the past. You have waited all these days, start to multiply what G.o.d has given you. The blessing will look for you.

Isaiah 40:30

Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

You will not faint; don't cast away your confidence. G.o.d is about to reward you.

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the a.s.sembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Don't get so discouraged that you forsake the fellowship of believers. Stop the blame game; stop expecting people to play G.o.d in your life. See the account of Jesus meeting a paralyzed man at the pool.

John 5:6-7

When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Jesus didn't respond to the excuse of the man at the pool. Quit making excuses. He even had a bed by the pool. He was already comfortable in his problem. G.o.d is giving you opportunity to be blessed.

Isaiah 42:9

Behold, the former things are come to pa.s.s, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

Great doors will open for you and if you can see it, you can have it. For Joseph, it worked. How can you make a stranger a prime minister? Pharaoh so much reproached other nations that it was unlikely for Joseph to have been made a prime minister except for G.o.d's favor. But when G.o.d is ready for you, nothing can stop him. Which university did he go to learn economics? n.o.body knew how he preserved food for seven years but he did it. And it worked for a whole nation.

The ark that Noah built about 4,000 or 5,000 years ago, up till 1836 A.D, was when they built a bigger one than the ark of Noah. The ship of Noah is as big as a big football field. It had two storey building; Lion, a carnivorous animal came to him. Even snail heard the word of G.o.d and came because G.o.d commanded his blessing.

Grace is looking for you. Don't be afraid, G.o.d can preserve his own. G.o.d has your future in his hands. Creative thinking is part of the blessing. Who taught Abraham to fight. He took 318 trained servants in his house to fight Sodom. Was Abraham a soldier? He trained David to be accurate with the sling and the stone. When he killed Goliath, he was not in the army of Saul. The army of Saul ran when they saw Goliath but G.o.d trained David to be equal and ready for that encounter.

Beloved, trust G.o.d for divine guidance and he will guide your step to the very top. When you don't know how to do it, G.o.d will empower you. What took others 7 years to learn, within one week, you will know what to do and they will come to learn from you. G.o.d will vindicate you, no matter the shakings in the world for we belong to a kingdom that cannot be shaken. Have faith in G.o.d and G.o.d will be glorified in your life.

HAVE A LISTENING EAR

1 Kings 3:16-28

Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

And the one woman said, O my lord, I and this woman dwell in one house; and I was delivered of a child with her in the house.

And it came to pa.s.s the third day after that I was delivered, that this woman was delivered also: and we were together; there was no stranger with us in the house, save we two in the house.

And this woman's child died in the night; because she overlaid it.

And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.

And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold, it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear.

And the other woman said, Nay; but the living is my son, and the dead is thy son. And this said, No; but the dead is thy son, and the living is my son. Thus they spake before the king.

Then said the king, The one saith, This is my son that liveth, and thy son is the dead: and the other saith, Nay; but thy son is the dead, and my son is the living.

And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.

And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.

Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of G.o.d was in him, to do judgment.

To turn wisdom to wealth in these last days, you must have a listening ear. Solomon had a listening ear. Many don't listen. I was told the story of a major general,( an army officer), who was travelling at top speed; in his car (jeep) across a town. The bridge ahead had been washed away by the heavy rain in the previous night. The villagers coming from farm saw the way he was speeding. They were waving him down in order to tell him of the danger ahead. He thought they were looking for help and he did not wait. They kept on waving him down. He could not even wait for two minutes to hear them out. He kept on running. Don't be in haste the bible says "he that believeth is not in haste". He kept on running, until he ran to the bridge and died. G.o.d has set opportunity for him to be preserved but he would not wait or listen.

We must learn to listen. Solomon the richest in the Old Testament had ears to listen. How can a great king like Solomon listen to others? Beloved be quick to hear, be slow to speak. Some are not learning anything in life. Learn, learn from people, learn from children. Solomon learnt from everything. He went to the insects and learnt from them. He learnt from the fowls. Don't close your ears through life; listen and learn.

Solomon listened to the harlots. If it were to be some people, they would have given a command for the harlots to be killed without hearing them out. The harlots were not married yet they wanted children. One overlaid her baby until she died. The other slept much until her baby was exchanged. Two of them had trouble, how will the case be settled? Two of them kept saying 'the living child is mine'

Can you imagine? The man G.o.d has destined to be the richest in the world, hearing people (harlots) talking. Wealth is a product of problem you solve for the people. If you stop solving problem, you stop having wealth. Money does not fly from the sky. Be interested in solving problem and you will be wealthy.

Those who have no time to help others will not attract wealth. Hear people and help them. Sit down and hear, even G.o.d has made hearing a pattern for us to have faith.

Roman 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of G.o.d

Some today are not hearing. What they are hearing is news that the country is tough, the economy is distressed but they are not hearing what G.o.d is saying; "I am the Lord, I changeth not". You come to the church to hear. Have a hearing ear.

He heard their stories and after he heard them, he had the inspiration of G.o.d. He commanded for a sword to be brought. Since they were fighting over the living child, he decided to cut the baby two apiece. To cut the story short, he commanded that the child be killed; each of the harlot should take the half. The one that was a liar accepted the verdict but the real mother out of heart of compa.s.sion for her baby felt the agony and love.

In these last days, those that are eager to destroy the work of G.o.d, because they want to become leader by force, will be diminished by G.o.d in these last days. The rebellious will dwell in a dry land.

Many years ago, I warned somebody about his wrongdoing towards the opposite s.e.x. I am not just interested in people being many in church and yet living contrary to the word of G.o.d. If I don't know, it is different but if I know, I will admonish you. I must love you enough to get you to heaven. You must agree with the word of G.o.d that is preached. I am not that type of pastor that will be silenced, from saying the truth because of who you are or what you have for one day I shall account for how I lead. h.e.l.l is real and heaven is real.

This man came through my bible school; I trained him as I trained others. He came to me one day and said that he had became impotent, so I prayed for him in the presence of his wife and he was healed. But he misused the healing in extramarital affair. Leaders reported him that he was chasing other women despite the fact that he was married so I set up a committee to examine it when he denied. We wanted to help him. In the midst of this, he left the church and went to another church where he would not be held accountable. You can never help anyone against his will. But our choices have consequences. I watched his life from afar. When he left me, he had a car and after some months, no car again. Because adultery empties people of their fortune and a bad wife will follow a wrong husband to err. If Adam had not followed Eve to error, Eve would have been restored but Adam said "if you fall I fall.

Never you compromise to the level of following a woman or a man into error against G.o.d. I told my wife many years ago what am telling you "G.o.d told me to marry you. We are both AS in genotype, and as a scientist I know enough not to marry you. But G.o.d brought this marriage together; I know he will secure it, we will not give birth to a child with a sickle cell disease. I also told her G.o.d led me to you, the day you stop loving Jesus, I will not support you. It is Jesus that I love, because I love Jesus my love for you will grow. I don't even know whether I love you now, but l love Jesus". What you need in your husband or wife is to love Jesus. As long as your spouse loves Jesus, he or she will love you because the fear of Jesus will make you to love your wife. Our three (3) children did not have SS genotypes. G.o.d leads us in the paths of righteousness for his name sake.

But if there is no fear of Jesus, you will do things that n.o.body will hear. That man and the wife are both dead now. That was the man that G.o.d used me to raise his son from being a cripple many years before that time. Today they are gone. He went to a church that they don't care about his life. All they care about is his money and they got his money until he came down to zero. When he died, he died alone in a hotel room with an harlot; he came down to nothing. They ought to be here; they ought to be alive hearing the truth if only they have listened. May you have listening ears in Jesus Name.

Kenneth Hagin was once preaching in a crusade at one time and he described that 'a man here who has been drinking, living a careless life' and G.o.d has been warning the man and he has been running but that, that night was the last chance. He said the man should come up to the altar, where the man was standing he knew he was the one that Kenneth Hagin was describing but he left deriding the preacher. When he left, he got drunk again that same night and didn't know when he went to another person's house. He stood at the door and was knocking, the man inside thought he was a robber and shot him with a gun. In the hospital where he was dying, they saw him crying 'I wish I had listened to the preacher". May you not regret in your life.

As a man, don't mistreat the woman that G.o.d has given you to make your journey better and faster. How can you be living a double life when G.o.d has given you a sister that fears G.o.d.When Solomon told them to cut the child, and one of the harlots said yes, he knew that, that woman was not the mother of the child; for whatever you have labored to produce, you don't want it destroyed. But the other one, with compa.s.sion said the child should not be killed. When all Israel heard it, they acknowledged the wisdom of Solomon.

Solomon also related inhonour to the friends of his father. There are people who are old around you, you must honour them. Apart from having a listening ear, you must be teachable. Teach-ability and a hearing ear go together. Solomon was teachable! He was a student, he learnt wisdom from his environment.

1 Kings 4:32-34

And he spake three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five.

And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes.

And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom.

Some don't learn from anybody. Solomon became honourable; he learnt from the environment; learn from what happens. Plan your life; give offering, give t.i.the; give first fruit. People's problem will always be there. If you play G.o.d in their lives and all you do is give out, when you stop giving, the same people will fight you.

So plan your marriage. I married as a student doing PhD. The cow for the wedding, I bought it for N5000. It was a big money then, people came to eat. Plan but don't expose your plan prematurely; plans fail because people don't plan their lives . Have a diary to write things. Somebody may say what of if it fails? Even if it fails, it is not a crime. What of if it succeeds? You will succeed.

Solomon succeeded, he looked around and compare note. Egypt had horses, in those days they rode on horses for battle. People think that rich men don't work. Solomon got the horses where they were cheap and many. He sold them to where they were needed. He was involved in buying and selling to make gains

Open your eyes to see opportunities for business. Create something for yourself. What can you do? What are they lacking there that is here. Think out of the box and you will succeed. What has G.o.d placed in your heart, that dignity and honour has not allowed you to do, thinking you are bigger than it. Can you be bigger than money? May you create wealth.

I have helped some people before and I gave them job to do not money. I gave them books to go and sell for them to take a particular percentage on every book they sell. Many times they ran away and they won't come back to me because they are looking for free money not work. What are you going to do for the rest of your life.