THE POWER OF SYNERGY

Synergy is actually the working together, collaboration and combined effort of people or partners for better yield and result. It is the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances or other agents to produce a combined better profit, income, or harvest greater than the sum of their separate efforts. Synergy is team work at its best results that can be much more productive and effective than when individuals do the works separately. Team work makes the dream work; it divides the task and multiplies the success; alone we can do little; together we can do so much! Many joints in synergy work together more efficiently with what each joint supplies and makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love [Eph. 4:16]

Such merger help the combined effort to generate better results and increased revenue that they could not generate or achieve on its own and this gives grace to remain competitive and profitable. Synergy produces a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual efforts or contributions. Synergy is the reason for most mergers and achievements. It is also responsible for increased profit, combined talents and technology, and cost reduction.

“And he gave orders to the twelve, and sent them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits” Mark 6:7 BBE

Even Jesus Christ being Lord and Savior recruited twelve partners to synergize with Him for effective ministerial work, saving the souls of men, making disciples and release of miraculous working power for signs and wonders; at a point having been equipped, He sent them in twos so that cooperate anointing and grace working among them can raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, give sight to the blind and make the lame to walk. Synergy brings us in contact with others of like passion so that we can create and do what we could not do alone.

In spiritual synergy talking about combined effort working together within the body of Christ, we must come to humbly work together as one, just as the Father and His Son Jesus Christ did, the resulting strength and productivity will be greater than the sum of our combined individual efforts. One of the reason for five-fold ministers is that each can contribute to the wholesome of the body of Christ so that the people of God can be well fed with a balanced diet and not remain spiritually immature, still needing milk of the word and spiritual lean. Working with others make their gifts to be sharpened and developed so that in pairing a trained person with a learner, the learner can develop his inherent gifts, gloriously mature and work better and faster.

Looking critically at New Testament pattern of ministry [Eph. 4:11-12] apart from division of labor among the five-fold ministers, they are called and ordained to equip the saints, pew or congregation to fit into the mode of operation within the body of Christ that God assigned them to whether music ministry, ushering, prayer band, administration or technical department such that each department excellently doing their part of the overall work can call for efficiency in doing the works of the heavenly Father and in harmony. Each of us as a good manager must use the gift that God gave us to serve others [1 Peter 4:8-10; Romans 15:5-6; Ezra 3:9-10].

Imagine a local assembly where the music ministry is found wanting or lack necessary spiritual vibes to perform their duties effectively; Satan will take advantage of this loophole and hinder the right access to the Throne Room of Grace and he will even negatively affect the rising up of our prayers as incense when the prayer band are not effectively debasing the kingdom of darkness.

“How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God's people to live together in unity! It is like the precious anointing oil running down from Aaron's head and beard, down to the collar of his robes. It is like the dew on Mount Hermon, falling on the hills of Zion. That is where the LORD has promised his blessing—life that never ends” Psalms 133:1-3 

Synergy or collaboration caused the unity or harmony among brethren in the above scripture as they come to associate together, and to go up to the house of God in company, and with delight to join together in acts of religious worship; to serve the Lord with one consent, with one mind and mouth to glorify God, and to be of one accord, having the same love; and to do all kind and good offices one to another in the most hearty and cordial manner; serving each other in love, bearing one another's burdens, sympathizing with each other in all circumstances, forgiving each other offences committed, praying with one another, and building up each other in their most holy faith, stirring up one another to love and to good works.

Such is what brought down the blessings of God upon that body of Christ, even life forevermore.

What bring about the power that stand against foes, deflates mountains and efficiently disrupt the works of darkness is when two formidable forces fuse  together and operate as “one” standing toe to toe against the kingdom of darkness and resisting whatever come against it. It is as if two souls were like two chemicals, when kept apart they will do no harm, but in bringing them together, they will explode and shatter everything that stands against it. It is like hydrogen and sulfur which are not dangerous when apart but becomes sulfuric acid when brought together and develops character that burns and destroys. Positively speaking, it is like sodium and Chlorine that become salt when brought together that sweetens and preserves life.

This is the scenario when two entities within the body of Christ fuses together for kingdom exploits, we will see that we are better and stronger together. A synergy is where different entities cooperate advantageously for a final better outcome. The effect of the unison is greater and better than the sum of the effects of the individual parts. Nuclear weapons are made of millions of chemical atoms coming to fuse together and their union contain power that can destroy cities.

In Christian ministry or business terminology, synergy means that teamwork will produce an overall much more better result than if each person was working individually towards achieving the same goal. Always remember that there is “a bonus achieved when things work together harmoniously”

Synergy is taken from the Greek word “syn-ergos”. This means working together. One person may not be tall enough to pluck an apple on the tree but if he carries another person on his shoulder together they can pluck several apples from that tree. So synergy usually arises when two persons or more with different complementary skills cooperate and work together. It usually takes a man with sperm and a woman with eggs to consummate in order to bring forth an embryo or fetus that develops into a baby.

“He has done this intentionally so that every member would look after the others with mutual concern, and so that there will be no division in the body. In that way, whatever happens to one member happens to all. If one suffers, everyone suffers. If one is honored, everyone rejoices. You are the body of the Anointed One, and each of you is a unique and vital part of it. ” 1 Cor. 12:25-27 TPT

One of the cause of such division is the spirit of offense, bitterness and unforgiveness among brethren sown by the devil so as to negatively affect the bond, love and oneness that ought to be amongst them. Once there is division within the body and one part suffers, it affects the wholesome of that body negatively. The other point of this is that each joint within the body has what to contribute to the wholesome of the body so when devil negatively affects a part from performing its duty or responsibility, then the wholesome and blessedness of the body is negatively affected also.

Jesus is the head and leader of the body of Christ and all believers are members of that body. This body is made up of many sub-parts who are to operate as one in synergy under the influence of the spirit of Christ with godly characters like love, joy, peace and compassion amongst them. We are influenced by the love of Christ and so care for each other so that in oneness we can stand toe to toe against the enemies of the body of Christ like the popular saying “United we stand, divided we fall”. Together with other believers, we find encouragement, hope, strength, safety, and so much more!

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven” Matt. 18:19

Greater impact happens when forces are joined together to fight a common cause. The oneness achieved when two forces agree in request before the Lord is that the Lord manifests their request because of the power of agreement and combined action or operation. Even in the cooperate world we have seen many companies joining forces together in alignment and they often beat others through this power of oneness. We often see airlines or car companies partnering or merging for better effectiveness, efficiency and productivity. Locally Access Bank and Diamond Bank merged together and they became a formidable force than before.

“Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it” Joshua 10:4-5 

Kings do not fight alone, they synergize together to fight a common enemy and physically speaking win the war because they join forces together and conceive power that would not have been available normally.

“And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do” Genesis 11:6 

It correlate with the above scripture where people agreed to build and even the heavenly Father declared that nothing will be restrained from them because of the bond and synergy among them. Stephen Covey said “Interdependent people combine their own efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success”

YOUR BRETHREN YOUR HELPER

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” Eph. 6:10-11 

Paul did a wonderful work defining the weapons of our warfare against the onslaught of Satan but he left out a very formidable weapon which is what covers your back while in spiritual warfare. I submit to you that it will take a fellow brethren to stand at your back to protect you from unseen forces and strategy of the evil one to throw a fiery dart at you from the back.

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he fall; for he hath not another to help him up” Eccl. 4:9-10 

Indeed, if we look upon man as he came out of the hands of his Maker, we imagine him to be perfect, entire, lacking nothing. But God, whose thoughts are higher than our thoughts, saw something still wanting to make Adam happy. And what was that? So God made “an help meet” suitable for him. And if this were the case of man before the fall; if a help was meet for him in a state of perfection; surely since the fall, when we come naked and helpless out of our mother’s womb, when our wants increase with our years, and we can scarcely subsist a day without the mutual assistance of each other. Even when one is weak, the stronger one make up for the strength lapses and lift the weaker one up! [Romans 15:1]

COMBINED FORCES IGNITES POWER AND PRODUCTIVITY

Coals if ignited and left alone will soon go cold but when coals are heaped together, the fire grows brighter and fiery. The saying “that when they fall, the one will lift up his fellow” is applicable here because one coal well lighted will spread the fire to the one yet to be lighted up. In such scenario mutual reproof, mutual exhortation, and mutual assisting and defending each other occurs regularly. Brethren in unity have a good reward for their labor.

In a good partnership, two can accomplish more than each one individually. The sum will be greater than the parts. If they fall, one will lift us his companion: When two work and live together they can help each other in difficult times. Where there is a stammering Moses, there is always an orating Aaron that makes up for the short coming of Moses. Thank God for Moses Father in law Jethro [Exodus 18:17-21] else Moses would have killed himself doing work that seventy people should do.

NEW TESTAMENT PATTERN OF MINISTRY

“After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them TWO and TWO before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come” Luke 10:1 

Christ sent these disciples two by two to teach them the necessity of concord among the ministers of righteousness, that in the mouths of two witnesses everything might be established. It was done, doubtless, that they might aid one another by mutual counsel, and that they might sustain, and comfort one another in their works and trials.

“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away” Act 13:1-3 

God beautifully portrayed the necessity of synergy by gathering together in Antioch prophets and teachers in preparation for the missionary journey that Paul and Barnabas will engage in. Two very important calling out of the five-fold ministerial group highlighted by Paul were mentioned here and they were equally important for this mission. It takes the Prophets to be inspired by God so that the need for and codes for the mission can be passed from God to the Prophets but it takes the teachers to decode the mission statement and teach it in plain language that all the brethren can understand and run with the vision. Not only that, God also sent both Paul and Barnabas together as a synergic force in other to proffer success of the mission.

“And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth” Rev. 11:3 

When you critically look at the end time scripture above, you will see that at this critical point both Apostles and Prophets will be released as foundation of this work so that an effectual force can be released to combat the work of darkness trying to militate against the Church of God.

PRAYER OF CHRIST FOR ONENESS IN HIS BODY

“And I ask not only for these disciples, but also for all those who will one day believe in me through their message. I pray for them all to be joined together as one even as you and I, Father, are joined together as one. I pray for them to become one with us so that the world will recognize that you sent me. For the very glory you have given to me I have given them so that they will be joined together as one and experience the same unity that we enjoy. You live fully in me and now I live fully in them so that they will experience perfect unity, and the world will be convinced that you have sent me, for they will see that you love each one of them with the same passionate love that you have for me” John 17:20-23 

The greatest power in Christendom is released when there is unity within the Church. Remember one shall chase a thousand while two shall chase ten thousand. Best analogy for this is the water pipe system in a building; once the parts are fitly fitted and connected to the source of the water there is no disruption in water flow to all the parts of the building but if the pipe leaks or is broken somewhere, it will negatively affect the flow and supply of water to parts of the building. As long as the whole body of Christ are fully engaged in doing their parts of the great commission and united to all the body parts there shall be no schism, breakup, or rupture.

“Who is Apollos, really? Or who is Paul? Aren’t we both just servants through whom you believed our message? Aren’t each of us doing the ministry the Lord has assigned to us? I was the one who planted the church and Apollos came and cared for it, but it was God who caused it to grow. This means the one who plants is not anybody special, nor the one who waters, for God is the one who brings the supernatural growth. Now, the one who plants and the one who waters ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT AND ON THE SAME TEAM, but each will be rewarded for his own work. WE ARE COWORKERS with God and you are God’s cultivated garden, the house he is building. God has given me unique gifts as a skilled master builder who lays a good foundation. Afterward another craftsman comes and builds on it. So builders beware! Let every builder do his work carefully, according to God’s standards” 1 Cor. 3:5-10 TPT

In this classic scripture, we see the process of growth [verses 5-6], believers plants and water; we see the source of growth [7-8] as God is the one who gives the increase; we see the synergy of growth [9-10] as co-workers synergize and have time in the word and in prayer and personal worship of Jehovah; while in the Church they read the word together, pray together and for one another and do have time of cooperate worship. It is such synergy that encourages sustainability, expansion, explosion and growth within the body of Christ.

GREAT POMP, POWER, ANOINTING RELEASED IN ONE ACCORD

“These all continued with ONE ACCORD in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” Act. 1:14 

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with ONE ACCORD in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” Act. 2:1-4 

“And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with ONE ACCORD in Solomon's porch” Act. 5:12

Christian brethren must keep the oneness and practice the one accord, so that God’s blessing of life can be poured out among them. God commands eternal life as a blessing upon those who dwell together in oneness in the Church life [Psalms 133:1-3]. God will come to dwell among us and bless us with the anointing of the Spirit, the watering grace and eternal life.

One accord is the master key to all of God’s blessings in the New Testament. The anointing of God is poured out as rivers of living waters when men and brethren are together in one accord just as seen above on the day of Pentecost. Few chapters down the book of Acts [Acts 5:12], we see all manner of signs and wonders being done through the hands of the apostles who were in one accord in Solomon’s porch.

I just had a vision as I am penning this article, I saw several strands of ropes being intertwined together and I noticed that the more the strands of ropes twisted together, the stronger the rope become. That is the power of synergy. Together we can do great and mighty things. The grace down-poured on the day of Pentecost is still available if we stand together in prayer and unison as one body… we are all one in Christ Jesus [Galatians 3:28]. Disunity is like cancer that is a killer and spreads until death is inevitable!

“Look at how much encouragement you’ve found in your relationship with the Anointed One! You are filled to overflowing with his comforting love. You have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have felt his tender affection and mercy. So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy. Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves. Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests” Phil. 2:1-4 TPT

Walk in close proximity with the brethren as part of that one body and you will experience greater grace, holiness, righteousness and peace with all men; perseverance, anointing, power and authority for greater works.

Synergy helps us to create something we could never produce on our own. The power of synergy is released as we partner together with others. Community is shared responsibility and releases the power of synergy and true kingdom synergy extends to the next generation. Synergy is divine assistance to do greater and better engaging the expertise of others to mingle with ours for maximum output.

SAINTS WHO OPERATED IN SYNERGY

“But for now, I feel a stirring in my heart to send Epaphroditus back to you immediately. He’s a friend to me and a wonderful brother and fellow soldier who has worked with me as we serve as ministers of the gospel. And you sent him as your apostle to minister to me in my need” Phil. 2:25 TPT

Many times Paul had beautiful and fruitful ministry because he had the likes of Epaphroditus, Timothy, Apollos and Titus working alongside him carrying some of the burdens and making his work lighter and fruitful. Epaphroditus was a fellow worker or companion in labor, team player, wonderful brother and fellow soldier; who has taken part with Paul in the work and in the fight, he was a great helper and was in kingdom service to expand the kingdom of God causing the amount of work accomplished to be more than the sum of its parts.

When we work together like this, it helps to preserve unity within the body of Christ, get more Christians involved in the work and to evenly distribute the work that need to be done.

“Beloved friends, what does all this imply? When you conduct your meetings, you should always let everything be done to build up the church family. Whether you share a song of praise, a teaching, a divine revelation, or a tongue and interpretation, let each one contribute what strengthens others” 1 Cor. 14:26 TPT

None of us is a jack of all trade, you have your specific role and work within the body; harmonious release come when we all do our parts diligently, music leaders leading in worship, prayer warrior praying, teacher teaching, prophets prophesying while the evangelists go out there and bring fresh souls into the kingdom of God so that we can labor together with God maximally.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLE OF SYNERGY

“It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endure forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD” 2 Chron. 5:13 

The glory of God “doxa” which simply is all that God has and all that God is, will be released when in harmony all ministerial laborers take their place and effectively played their roles. In this classical example each musician use their instrument and grace gift to lift up worship beautifully such that the glory of God flows down and the house was filled with the cloud of God as they work together as one. It is in such atmosphere that miraculous power is released and you see all manner of miracles, signs and wonders without men being involved in the process.

LOVE OF THE BRETHREN AND SYNERGY

There are obvious hiccups that work against unison and negates one accord within the body of Christ. But mercy and grace empowers us to overcome pride and insecurity; repentance and fostering good relationship works against arrogance and spirit of isolation. Love and community mindset work against fear and intimidation.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” John 13:34-35 

Love among brethren does not only cover a multitude of sin but it helps to foster oneness so that there is no division among us and we can be tender to one another doing the works of God with others without any rancor, hostility or bitterness. Such is when the Spirit of God flows among us to give whatever it takes especially the anointing and grace for better works.

“But if there is bitter jealousy or competition hiding in your heart, then don’t deny it and try to compensate for it by boasting and being phony. For that has nothing to do with God’s heavenly wisdom but can best be described as the wisdom of this world, both selfish and devilish. So wherever jealousy and selfishness are uncovered, you will also find many troubles and every kind of meanness. But the wisdom from above is always pure, filled with peace, considerate and teachable. It is filled with love and never displays prejudice or hypocrisy in any form and it always bears the beautiful harvest of righteousness! Good seeds of wisdom’s fruit will be planted with peaceful acts by those who cherish making peace” James 3:14-18 

Those with evil hearts and unable to bridle their tongues often causes division among brethren operating out of bitterness, envy, jealousy, selfishness, malice and every kind of meanness and without compassion and agape love for the brethren, so they walk and work contrary to synergy. These are earthly, unspiritual, sensual, demonic or diabolical and cannot foster oneness nor truly synergize with the brethren for better and greater output but causes divisions among the brethren and weakens the bond among brethren.

DEVELOPING A GRATEFUL HEART

You only become grateful when you habitually practice gratitude, appreciation, gratefulness and thankfulness unto God who bestows all pleasant things unto us in this life and thereafter. A heart become grateful when it experiences the significance of the Love of Christ and the original blessedness that God gave all men as seen in the life of Adam and Eve [Genesis 1:28-29]. To be grateful means to show or feel an appreciation for kindness, benefits, something done or received. You cannot be hopeful about the future without being thankful for the good done to you either physical, spiritual or material. God shows Himself strong and lives in a humble and grateful heart.

To be grateful is when God does what is pleasing to your mind or satisfying to your soul and you show and offer words of appreciation. Just like the acquisition of most Christian qualities, gratitude is a progressive expression of the goodness that God bestows to us, it is not static and there must be increase in the level that we appreciate the goodness of God. However we do know that ungratefulness permeates the hearts of many believers in this season as many look at what has not been done instead of being thankful for many of what has been done.

“People will be self-centered lovers of themselves and obsessed with money. They will boast of great things as they strut around in their arrogant pride and mock all that is right. They will ignore their own families. They will be ungrateful and ungodly” 2 Tim. 3:2 TPT

Cultivating a grateful heart is not always an easy task, it is a little easier to cultivate when all is good but harder when you are facing the down side of life. But the word of God commands us to thank God at all times knowing that even the light afflictions that we do suffer, will eventually work out an eternal weight of glory.

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” 2 Cor. 4:17 

Gratitude is a fierce weapon against the antics of Satan which when continually applied will give us victory over the hopelessness that Satan want to barrage our mind with. We must continue to look at Jesus the author and finisher of our faith despite all odds knowing that God will eventually make all things to work together for our good. He is well able! Ephesians 3:20

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness, His mercies begin afresh every morning” Lam. 3:22-24 TPT

The faithful and steadfast love of God guarantees His blessedness, so we must continue to praise him despite passing through the valley.

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:34

We are admonished to always be thankful to God for everything.

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Ephesians 5:18-20

Other Thanksgiving scriptures

Eph. 5:4; Job 1:21; Psalms 34:1; Isa. 63:7; Acts 5:41; 1 Cor. 1:4; Phil. 1:3, Phil. 4:6; Coll. 1:11-12, Coll. 3:17; 1 Thess. 3:9, 1 Thess. 5:18; 2 Thess. 1:3, 2 Thess. 2:13

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” James 1:17 

Everything good in your life comes from God (James 1:17). We will grow closer to God when we understand this truth and build our lives around it. We will also be less weary when walking under the shadow of the death knowing that as we thank God, soon the good side of the Lord will show up.

We must cultivate or developing habits that will help us become more thankful. The true son that knows how to thank God will collect other pending blessings.

Remember this song

“When I think of the goodness of Jesus, and all He has done for me, my very soul shall soul hallelujah. Praise God for saving me!”

“And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole” Luke 17:11-19 

The Samaritan who came back to Jesus to give thanks was not only healed of leprosy like the nine that did not come back to thank Jesus, everything that was wrong with him was made whole and he was offered eternity and salvation. Ingratitude often come from pride, hanging around ungrateful people [1 Cor. 15:33], and because of circumstances for example it is hard to be grateful when the bills are piling up and creditors pursuing us.

“It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endures forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God” 2 Chron. 5:14 

Regularly practice giving thanks and God’s Presence and blessings shall be evident around you. We should make a habit of expressing gratitude or appreciation to God who saved and delivered us from darkness and translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son Jesus! Inner peace is developed when you quit complaining! Remember “I complained and my spirit is over whelmed” [Psalms 77:3].

We all have only two choices either to be moody and grumble or be joyful and elated in spirit. Thankful people gauge blessings by things other than money. Imagine two people, one is very rich and has kidney issues and need dialysis once a week but the other person is averagely poor but has very sound health, obviously that poor but in good health person that is whining and complaining does not understand what the goodness of God is.

“Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world” Phil. 2:14-15 

 Thankfulness rather than constant complaining, grouchy and murmuring should be our default position and we move from complaining to praising God even when the future seem bleak.

When you see something good in your life, thank God for it. Do not compare yourself or present predicament to others, you don’t know what they have gone through in life before they got to that wealthy place! We all complain occasionally, but we must practice responding to your own complaining by finding things to be thankful for. This helps to rewire your brain to be as skilled at recognizing the goodness of God in your life. God is forever good and His mercy endures forever.

“And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp” Numbers 11:1 

Express gratitude regardless of the situation. Paul tells the Thessalonians to give thanks in all circumstances because it is the will of God [1 Thess. 5:18]. Why? We never see the full picture. We cannot look at every situation and clearly understand why it’s happening. We can only know God is at work in these situations and working them out for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28).

“We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously” 1 Cor. 10:13 TPT

Regardless of what is happening, we can thank God for his presence knowing that He delivered us, He is delivering us, and He will yet deliver us from the afflictions of tomorrow. He is redeeming the situation and sustaining us through it. On our own, we focus on the current situation. We must rise above the situation when we purposefully look for what God is doing in the middle of it. Joy always replaces sorrow and sadness when we begin to thank God, whose goodness and mercy endures forever!

“Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now” A.W. Tozer

Praise God when all is well. Praise God when it seem like all is not well. Praise God for unrealized blessings! You may believe this is obvious, but it is important that we praise and thank God. We must be conditioned and believe that life will go well for us because of the God factor; He promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us. When life runs smoothly, we don’t tend to see this as God’s gift to us. We don’t see how He protects, leads, direct, deliver, save, bless, guard and guide us along the way to green pastures and still waters. Trials of life are temporary, even in it, we must give God thanks and be assured that there will b e a turnaround! Our God is well able!

Learn to sit down like David before the Lord [1 Chron. 17:2-18] and chronicle God’s faithful actions; do it often intentionally and use the words from your lips to narrate the faithfulness and the goodness of our God.

Learn to see how bad experiences can produce good outcomes. Often you will be able to see how those bad experiences helped you gather strength and momentum for future blessings in your life. Regardless of that, learning to see past trials through eternity’s perspective enables us to be more thankful during times of struggle in the future.

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith work patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” James 1:2-4 

Make gratitude a part of your interactions with other people. Gratitude should impact both our relationship with God and our relationships with other people.

“To appreciate means to raise in value. That’s not only true of things, it’s true of people. When you appreciate somebody, you literally raise their value. We ought to appreciate people because it increases their self-worth” Rick Warren

Make it a regular practice to say thank you to people in your life. Often, the people we express gratitude with the least in our lives are those that are closest to us like spouse, parents or children.

Lean into the strength gratitude provides. I know many people who have been through extremely tough situations. I have noticed those who are the most grateful and have learned to see God’s work regularly show the most persistence when going through hard times of life.

Thanksgiving is a superpower. It enables us to see past our experiences and embrace how God is moving. Not only are thankful people able to draw strength from gratitude, but they’re also able to empower others with their perspective as well. Their thanksgiving is a testimony of God’s goodness and enables others to develop faith in the ability of God to save, bless, heal, deliver, empower and sustain His Children

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18

Habakkuk’s perspective in this scripture tells us to show gratitude even if we don’t have what we want or need. We need to prioritize what God is doing in a situation over our own wants and needs. We can learn from Habakkuk to rejoice even during troubling times.

Our ultimate source of thanksgiving should come from what God has revealed about himself in the Word and in the person of Jesus Christ

His love: John 3:16

“God bestows His blessings without discrimination. The followers of Jesus are children of God, and they should manifest the family likeness by doing good to all, even to those who deserve the opposite.” F.F. Bruce

His patience

“Quite honestly, most people are quick to “write someone off.” But our God is a God of the second chance. Learn from One who is patient with you, and you’ll learn to be patient with others.” Woodrow Kroll

His salvation

“Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief.” John Calvin

His wisdom

“Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Wisdom is, in fact, the practical side of moral goodness. As such, it is found in its fulness only in God. He alone is naturally and entirely and invariable wise.” J. I. Packer. Thank God for giving us wisdom for without it, we cannot excel.

His mercy

Lamentations 3:22-24

“The mercy of God is an all-embracing mercy and it breaks down the barriers that man erects.” Allstair Begg

God is ever good and great!

“Everything about God is great, vast, and incomparable. He never forgets, never fails, never falters, and never forfeits His word.” Arthur W. Pink

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” Psalms 107:1-2 

We must be ever grateful for God is ever mindful of us and always looking for ways for all things to work together for our good

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heal all thy diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's” Psalms 103:1-5 

It may not always be easy to give thanks especially when you are in the valley, but this is the very thing we must do in order to see God’s will accomplished in our lives. An attitude of thanksgiving accepts and embrace God’s will but discontent dries up the soul. Be like Jesus and obey God and embrace hardship without complain [Phil. 2:5-8] and you will also enjoy time of lifting like he did.

“I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people” Psalms 116:17-18 

Let us prepare to give our thanksgiving unto God and sow according to the blessings that God has given to us over such a difficult season of life. Look back and see how God sustained you, family, children, health, provision and ever abounding grace and give Him thanks for His mercies that endures forever more.

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” Heb. 13:15

Let us stand to our feet or kneel down and give Him thanks by lifting up holy hands and blessing God with our mouth for his mercies that endures forever!

WAYS TO DEVELOP A GRATITUDE FILLED HEART

1.    Let gratitude become consistent and habitual. It helps to rewire your brain to be proficient the goodness of God in your life and often downplay the bad or those things that seem far-fetched or yet to be done.

2.    Express gratitude regardless of the situation knowing that the Almighty God is well able to turn things around in a jiffy [2 Chron. 20]

3.    Learn to praise God very well when the going is good, do not take it for granted that it is God’s obligation to do things for you or meet you at the point of need.

4.    Learn to see how bad experiences can produce good outcomes. Joseph went through afflictions for several years but he eventually became ruler in Egypt according to the promises of God. Know that your situation is subject to change. You may not see the full picture yet but soon, you will see the goodness of God in the land of the living

5.   

Make gratitude a part of your interaction with other people appreciate them for the good rendered unto you. Complaining language changes when you learn to be grateful

6.    Lean on the strength gratitude provides. You disarm Satan from barraging your mind and empower both God and other people to do much more when you are grateful for good done to you.

Joses Hizkiah

joseshizkiah@gmail.com

www.uliministry.org

+234 802 321 9298

ENHANCING THE ANOINTING OF GOD IN OUR LIFE AND MINISTRY

The Spirit of God revealed that there are five major keys that propel the anointing to be released, maintained and increased in dimension, power and strength. Five simple concepts that help get each of us into a place of submission to the Lord where He can move through us as if He were ministering and not us. Please note that if you walk like Jesus you will have experiences and results like Him and even be empowered to do greater works.

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” Mark 16:17-18 

Whatever a man or woman of God or even any believers [in the now and biblical times] empowered by God can do, you can also do or even better because the Holy Spirit resides with us since Pentecost and empowers us to walk in the supernatural. Remember, “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me” [Phil. 4:13]. Through the anointing resident in the believers, Jesus proclaimed “these signs shall follow them that believes”. The word “sign” is the Greek word “semeion” which means supernatural miracles, signs and wonders.

 I believe there are principles we can deduce from encounters with God of “Men of Old” who walked with and desire to be anointed and used by God and see the price they paid to acquire, maintain and increase in the anointing of God over their lives. We must also be sensitive with what God is using to activate or input anointing over our lives and ministry. Moses had a rod of power but Joshua was given the effectual power in the Word of God as motivator of the anointing.

The first point here as the Spirit of God revealed is the attribute of “supernatural inheritance” of the anointing. The development of the anointing can start from an impartation through the previous generation. Elisha inherited a double portion of the anointing of God in the life of Elijah, Joshua got the spirit of wisdom from the laying of hands of Moses. The seventy elders were given a measure of the anointing in the life of Moses. Paul had laid hands on Timothy to receive a measure of heaven’s endowment for supernatural works and anointing.

In my case, my connection and association with Pastor Chigbo Ndukwe and several other mentors that excel in specific areas of ministry that I crave for, respect and draw from, was contingent for the translated of specific anointing into my life and ministry. Prophet Ricky Dent of blessed memory, was instrumental in imparting me with the teaching and seers anointing. I believe an element of the anointing can be transferred and there are many factors involved in it.

You do not have to have a personal contact with a person for the anointing upon their lives to rub on you, you can be ardent lover and reader of their books, sow either finances or service into their lives and ministry or even contact their anointing via internet, social media or even watching their program on television. There are people who had supernatural experiences in dreams or visions with patriarchs of old and they see themselves operating in the spirit or power operating in such patriarchs.

I now remember a Bishop who have written over a hundred books once laid hands on me by stroke of chance and divine arrangement as I was about to buy a book in the bookshop in his massive office complex. I saw crowd of people striving for him to lay hands on them or their sick loved ones but he laid hands on my head because I was closer to him and up to date I have written 26 published books and have at least 20 books some finished and some I am still writing on my laptop.

There are several men and women of God that declared publicly how they contacted anointing of God resident on other men. Kenneth E. Hagin declared how he righteously coveted the anointing on Smith Wigglesworth and he got it. Benny Hinn was imparted by the anointing on Kathryn Khulman. Apostle Joshua Selman was imparted by the anointing on Reinhardt Bonkke at a stadium meeting where he went to serve. Even the Lord God declared that the remnant in this third day shall operate and be imparted with the spirit and the power of Elijah.

Secondly, there is a key of righteousness in the anointing. It is directly tied to your comprehension of your right-standing with God, and His demand for holiness in your life. Holiness is key and pivotal to anointing because God uses clean vessels to pour out his power and love.

“He that walk uprightly, and work righteousness, and speak the truth in his heart. He that backbite not with his tongue, nor do evil to his neighbor, nor take up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honors them that fear the LORD. He that swear to his own hurt, and change not” Psalms 15:2-4 

One of my favorite scripture that keep me in check is “without holiness you cannot see God”. We must be in right standing with God and always ready to mortify the deeds of the flesh while setting our affections on heavenly matters where Christ our Lord resides.

“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows” Hebrews 1:9 

Righteousness is a force that make heaven to release greater anointing and keep the doors of heaven open to rain down power of the age to come upon us.

Thirdly is compassion that plays a vital role in ministering as Jesus did. It is not just your compassion for the lost and hurting but compassion to see that we do all in our capacity to make sure that saints committed into our care are not hell bound.

“Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have COMPASSION on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children” Matt. 15:32-38 

It is a supernatural mixing with His compassion that permits His anointing to flow through you. Faith in the anointing cannot be emphasized enough. But I don’t mean just your faith toward Him alone—it takes a gift of faith, a divine instilling of the Lord’s faith in us to operate as He did. We must have faith in God or better still have the “God kind of faith” [Mark 11:22] to see release of anointing and mountain like challenges dissipate from the life of the people we minister to.

I am persuaded that it takes more than individual person’s own faith to be deepened enough to see creative miracles take place (i.e., toes to grow instantly where none existed a moment before, those kinds of miracles) does not happen without the added value of a supernatural degree of “God’s kind of faith” and the “gift of faith” imparted the moment a miracle like that occurs. Gift of faith is part of the nine gifts of the spirit [1 Cor. 12].

Most importantly and lastly, I believe one of the most important factors in the anointing shoots from humility. In the classic story of the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of the garment of Jesus and was healed there were several things that played out [Luke 8:44]. She bowed down in HUMBLE adoration of who Christ is and she touched the pomegranate and the golden bell. Pomegranate represents the fruit of the Spirit while the golden bells represents the gifts of the spirit. See humility, touching the nature of God in Christ [fruit of the spirit], before the gift of healing manifest in the woman with the issue of blood.

“But he give more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resists the proud, but give grace unto the humble” James 4:6 

It is time to come to the revelation that you have absolutely nothing in yourself to be able to minister to people, apart from your direct revelation, grace gifts and relationship with the Lord. Whatever you demonstrated is through the gift of the Spirit, it is not your own; lest any man should be boastful, arrogant or walk in pride.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he HUMBLED himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:5-11 

We must be trained to allow the Lord to minister through us. We must decrease, and He must increase [John 3:30]. Christians must also take a look at some of the characteristics required to develop this type of operation, to thicken the anointing, as it were; the fruit of the spirit is [Gal. 5:22-24] what God is looking for when those watching give their applause, and partake of Christ in you, the hope of releasing the glory of God in an ever increasing splendor.

It’s not just the manifestation, it’s the fruit behind the manifestation. However all the above is subjected to the entire council of the written or spoken [“dhavar” – Present Truth] Word of God that you know, embrace and declares, always remember that where the Word of the Lord is, there is power. Reading, studying, meditating and doing the Word of God must be paramount if we want to experience the anointing of God [Joshua 1:8, John 6:63]. Both the Word and the Spirit of God are twin towers that releases greater dimension of God’s grace and glory.

I pray that these truths here will benefit our relationship with the Lord and further enhance the operations of the Holy Spirit and God’s anointing in our life and ministry. We must allow the Holy Spirit to move through us, obeying His every dictates and walking in the spirit in such a way that we all can hear the applause of heaven and see the release of the supernatural in and through us.