Did you ever wonder why Jesus would perform miracles and then tell people not to share their testimony with others? Why would He want those who experienced God's great grace to keep quiet about it? How many of us would obey if told to say nothing about a great encounter with Him?
Let us consider a few instances of this. In Mark 7, a group brought a man who was deaf and dumb. Jesus said, "Ephphatha!" and he was healed. Then, Jesus commanded those present not to tell anyone (Mark 7:36). He even told Jairus and his wife not to reveal what He did for their daughter (Luke 8:56). He did the same with a group of blind men in Matthew 9, healing their sight only to tell them, "See that no one knows about this" (Matthew 9:30).
Most couldn't keep quiet. Matthew 9:31 - But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country (NKJV). And in Mark 7:36 - Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. And in Mark 1:45, when He healed a leper, we learned a consequence of this reality - When the man left, he began to talk freely. He spread his story so widely that Jesus could no longer enter any city openly. Instead, he stayed in places where he could be alone. But people still kept coming to him from everywhere (GWT). Jesus sought anonymity, but once the people of any town found out what He'd done, all privacy was gone.
Now, how does any of this apply to modern Christians? Are we not called to testify to what God has done in our lives? Has the Lord not instructed us to be witnesses who speak of His power? Are we not to make Him known by sharing our experience so others can taste and see that our God is good? The answer to each of these questions is a resounding 'yes'. However, we can learn from Jesus' instruction that certain people should not share what He's done for them.
When believers are in tune with the Holy Spirit, they will know when to share their testimony. Sometimes, God may want His children to wait before they tell everyone what He's done in their lives. Part of the miracle may still be 'cooking' and, once done, will complete the entire 'meal'. In such cases, the focus should be on the need to remain in God's plan and timing. Jesus wanted to keep Himself and others within God's schedule. For instance, even His disciples were told not to share certain things until after He died (Matthew 17:9).
Alas, how many of us can dial down our excitement when God answers our prayers? It requires great discipline. We must realize that in some cases, the time has not yet come to reveal the mysteries we've seen or experienced.
However, we must allow the Lord to develop such discipline in us. And we must obey when told to hold off on revealing certain godly encounters. Deuteronomy 29:29 - The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law. We cannot forget this scripture and the deep wisdom it contains. Many things God reveals to His children are not for public consumption. In Matthew 7:6, Jesus warned believers not to cast their pearls to pigs, indicating that the precious things of the Lord are not for everybody. This is partly why He spoke in parables to certain people (Mark 4:34).
We may be called to delay in sharing our encounters because of the 'birds of prey' which aim to blemish the offerings given by God's people to Him (Genesis 15:11). Simply put, satan aims to steal, kill and destroy the testimony being offered as a sacrifice of praise to the Lord. This could be in the form of naysayers who dismiss and question what a believer experienced. As a result, the Spirit of the Lord may discourage sharing testimony with a particular person or group. Or, the Lord may encourage a believer to leave out certain details or share in a way that protects their privacy or that of someone else. A believer needs only to cooperate with the Holy Spirit.
There are many reasons why the Lord may discourage someone from immediately sharing their encounter with Him. Ultimately, it is not for us humans to make that determination. God must guide. Our default should be to praise Him without reservation, remembering that we were created to honor and worship Him. He also called us to attest to His character by sharing what He's done and taught us. Nevertheless, if the Lord wants us to slow down on sharing what He's done, we should patiently wait until we receive His release to do otherwise. May we allow the Spirit of the Lord to help us navigate such situations with the Lord's discretion and discernment, IJN, Amen.
See you at Noon EST for fellowship!
From M22 - Happy to be here today Fam. I missed everyone of you. Happy Easter. May this season bring much joy and blessings our way. God bless you all. Amen
He who dwells in light
Surrounded by the Cherubim
Surrounded by the Seraphim
Glory to His Name
CLOSING PRAYER
Great Jehovah! You have brought us to the end of today's fellowship and we are grateful for this privilege.
We thank You for bringing us together that we could honor You this way. We pray that our fellowship was a sweet-smelling offering to You. God, let Your favor and mercy flow over us. Bless those who participated today as well as those who will at a later point in time. Take all the glory now and always, IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for the region of Plateau state in Nigeria. I pray that the souls of the 40 slain Christians rest in your bosom. Father Lord I pray that you comfort their families and avenge their deaths. Father just as you avenged on Abel's behalf, I pray that you will expose and deal with every entity respecting and killing believers across the world. Father Lord grant these individuals a change of heart and if they refuse your change over them, let them experience your might and power IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for this community and our able convener @FFJ that we will receive a fresh outpouring of the Holy spirit over our lives and that of our loved ones. I pray that we will be strong witnesses for your kingdom till the end of time. I pray that we will reflect you in our values, behaviours, actions, thoughts and words. IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people mourning the loss of loved ones. I pray that you will grant them the strength to grieve and heal as they navigate this difficult period. I pray that your everlasting peace will fill their hearts and minds and they know they can rest in your authority knowing you will always be with them IJMN Amen
LAST 10 MINUTES
Today, we've learned that there are times when we will need to keep quiet about our encounters. We've also learned that we truly need the grace of God to help us understand when such moments occur. Let us pray for God's wisdom, His discernment, and discretion so that we may obey Him in such moments and receive His blessings.
Dear Lord, we thank you for today's lesson. We are asking for your grace so that we may hear you and respond to you whenever you call us to hold off on sharing something with others. We understand that you have a good reason for everything you do and we just want to obey you. Help us, Lord, in Jesus' name, Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I am grateful for how you love on me everyday. I am grateful for how you are shaping and pruning me. You are the Potter and I am the clay. You are the one that makes beauty out of ashes. I bow down at your feet Abba and I ask that you continue your transformation within me. IJMN Amen
From M22 - Lord Jesus we are grateful you died so we could live. We have sinned against you and we plead your forgiveness and mercy over our lives. We thank you for your love and compassion towards us even we are distant. We pray that we never stray away from your will for our lives. IJMN Amen
From M22 - Happy Easter Fam!!! Today's word is very insightful as always. I really appreciate sis @FFJ constantly sharing God's word with us.
In this social climate, it's not easy for a lot of us believers to be still when it comes to sharing certain information and that is why we need discernment from the Holy spirit to know when to share or withhold. I know there are times where we feel guilty we don't share but we always listen to others share. We have to learn to say Yes to God even though it makes others feel uncomfortable. May God help us to be still when he requires us to be. IJMN Amen
From JIR - Lord, I pray for those who are being used as vessels by You to minister. May they continue bearing good fruit and spreading word of the good news. I pray that they are comforted, encouraged and given peace during this time and that they are successful in their ministry and are protected from any spiritual attacks that may come their way. IJMN. Amen.
From AC - Heavenly Father, I lift in prayer all skeptics, asking that You open their hearts and minds to Your truth, and I pray for those in the faith who have drifted away from Your path. Your Word says in John 6:44, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them" So we ask that You draw them to You, that they may experience the freedom and salvation that only You can provide. Lord, set the captives free and set their hearts on fire for You and pour fresh anointing on your sons and daughters who have lost their way. May You guide both unbelievers and apathetic believers to discover their faith and find their way back to You. In Jesus' name, Amen
From JIR - I pray for those experiencing war. Please protect them Lord. Please give them the courage, strength and protection they need to withstand the attacks they are facing. Please bless them to pray to You and never give up on their prayers and to know that You are working things out for them. Please Lord cover them under Your wings and give them the strength they need to get through their situation. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - Lord, I pray for those who are being led astray by false doctrine. I pray that You stir their hearts to read the Bible with full understanding and clarity without a veil over their eyes. I pray that they rely on You and Your Word for revelation instead of men with platforms. I pray that they test every spirit and that You increase their faith, understanding and discernment. I pray that You open their hearts to receive the truth and the chains holding them back are broken. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - I pray for those being persecuted daily and putting their lives on the line as a sacrifice to spread the Gospel and stand for Christ. Lord, I pray that You bless them with the strength and courage and zeal to stand strong and make their voices heard more than ever during these end times. I pray that You cover them and protect them from evildoers and those who mean them harm. May the evildoers be caught in their own traps. Lord, I pray those who are being used as Your vessels touch the hearts of many through the Holy Spirit and that You bless them for their sufferings. IJMN. Amen.
Dear Lord, I thank you for your help and protection this week. Father, please glorify Yourself in the life of all my brothers and sisters in Christ. Please set a guard over the mouths of your children to protect them from sharing the wrong information to the wrong people. Be glorified in Your creation. In Jesus name, I pray, amen!
Almighty God. I exalt You my King. You are Yahweh, the only God. You are He who gives and He who takes away. Praise be to Your Name.
We are warned in Amos 8:11 - Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord GOD, when I will send a famine on the land—not a famine of bread or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD (BSB).
Father, many have not experienced the beautiful gift of hearing Your words. The devil uses chaos and confusion to dull that gift, that inheritance that rightly belongs to Your people.
However, You are the God who isn't limited. For the devil is less than nothing. Its acts are utterly worthless (Isaiah 41:24, 27).
As Jesus came to destroy the works of satan, I call on You to help Your people apply the gift of hearing Your word. May they submit and receive the Holy Spirit who acts as Your voice to us mere mortals. May Your sheep indeed hear their Shepherd's voice and not that of a stranger, IJMN Amen.
Father, I want to thank You for my neighborhood. You are the God who places us where You want us to be and You guide and protect Your servants whenever they go as You have instructed. Hallelujah!
Lord, Matthew 7:7 tells us to ask that we receive, seek that we shall find and knock, that the door be opened.
Dear King, the enemy is on a rampage seeking to negatively impact this neighborhood by inflicting confusion, disease, financial lack, and other challenges in the community.
But, I serve a living God. The God who is eternal. He who is the I Am that I am. The God who never fails and who answers when we call!
Thus, Lord, I lift up my neighbors. I place each before You committing their lives and families and concerns unto You. Great and Mighty God, You who possess Your possessions. Come into the homes, bringing peace and Your blessed presence. You who satisfy the needs of people, Lord, satisfy their needs, to Your glory and by Your grace, IJMN, Amen.
Our Savior prayed for His disciples that You would protect them from the evil one. He also called on us to ask in His name that our joy be complete.
Heavenly Father, we stand on the prayers of Your only Son, whom You sent to die for our sakes. We call on You to protect and heal those who are preyed upon by oppressors. We know You will not ignore the suffering and You will bring justice to the wicked. In Your grace, we call for Your merciful protection upon the innocent and thank You for hearing our humble petition, IJMN, Amen.
Lord, I lift up the nations of the world before You. Great King. Your name is Righteous. You are Holy and True. Eternal and everlasting God.
God, Your word tells us Your dominion is everlasting over the nations. The destroyer roams about destroying the foundations of the nations, a foundation that was created by You as You oh Lord are the Builder of Everything.
But, Lord, we Your children, sanctified and called onto You, we know that Your purpose can never be thwarted. We know that what You plan and what You state have already occurred no matter what we see around us to the contrary.
And so, Father, You who still the turmoil of the nations, still the turmoil. Send Your breeze of peace - the Spirit of the Lord across the four corners of the world. Let Him follow our Savior Jesus Christ who goes ahead to encounter those whose lives need change. Let there be revival across the nations that stuns chaos agents. Let Your people stand underneath You, tall and strong that the upright may save their nations to Your glory and by Your grace, IJN, Amen.
PRAYER TIME
You have obeyed the instruction to enter the gates with thanksgiving and praises.
Now, use this opportunity to pray for somebody. Not yourself. Ask God to help them and bless them.
This is the time to pray for other people. The Lord will help and guide you.
The hour is dark, and it's hard to see
What You are doing, here in the ruins
And where this will lead
Oh, but I know, that down through the years
I'll look back on this moment, and see Your hand on it
And know You were here
And I'll testify of the battles You've won
How You were my portion when there wasn't enough
And I'll sing the song of the seas that we crossed
The waters You parted, the waves that I've walked
Singing
Oh, oh, oh, my God did not fail
Oh, oh, oh, that's the story I'll tell
Oh, oh, oh, I know it is well
Oh, oh, oh, that's the story I'll tell
Thank You for making us a part of Your family, Lord. Thank You for desiring us to be one with You through Jesus.
From JIR -
Lord, I want to thank You for the opportunity to give You praise. There are those who wish they could glorify You but can't. In Your mercy and wisdom, You gave me the chance to praise and lift You high this day.
Ah, God, I am grateful.
Thank You that I can rejoice. Thank You that I can dance and jump in worship. That I can lift my hands to You and bow down. Thank You that I can lie down - prostrate fall!
God, You are great! I thank You for these gifts. These mighty good things You have allowed me to do as I express my joy to You. Great and mighty God!! Thank You!
God thank You for loving me. Forgive me for when I've forgotten how much I mean to You. I'm so precious that You sent Jesus to die as a price for me. Thank You, Lord!
Your word assures me that absolutely nothing could separate me from Your love. You have promised in Isaiah 43:2 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
You who give entire nations for my ransom. Isaiah 43:4 - Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.
You who will never leave me behind, because even I am so precious to You. You call me Your royal diamond and a crown of splendor (Isaiah 62:3). Your witness (Isaiah 43:9-12).
Thank You, Father!
From JIR - As I sit here with breath in my lungs, I thank You Lord for blessing me with another day to draw closer to You and for You not being done with me here on earth yet. Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Thank You God for Your generosity. Thank You for choosing me. Thank You for setting Your seal of ownership upon me. Glory be to You, my Papa.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 - Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, /who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.
From AC - My precious Lord, I crown You with all praise and worship! Thank You for healing, for Your provision, for my family, protection, Your grace and mercy, and the joy found in Your presence. Thank You for the blood You shed so I could be reconciled to the Father and receive eternal life. May I never forget Your sacrifice or stray from Your ways. Glory to Your most high and Holy name! Amen!
From JIR - “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and the melody of a lyre. You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts.”
Psalms 92:1-5 NLT
From JIR - Your Almighty power, strength and wisdom are matchless. I sit here in awe of You and Your magnificence. Nothing gets past You, You know all that we do and our most inner thoughts. You know what is in the darkness and the light dwells with You. Your ferocious presence and power are too much for us mere mortals to comprehend. We only see and know a glimpse of what You can do. No man can fathom or understand Your capabilities. All things are possible with You. You cannot fail. You cannot lose. What a privilege it is to call You God and be a servant to the Creator of all things. I soberly revel in the fact that You are my God. You are Almighty in every way possible. I bow at Your feet and magnify You my God. IJMN. Amen.
From JIR - Words can’t begin to explain my gratitude for what You did on the cross for all of humanity, Lord. As the Owner of the universe, thank You for coming down from Your glory in heaven and sacrificing Yourself for our sins to be forgiven. Thank You for defeating death and satan upon Your resurrection. Your love for us cannot be measured. You alone are worthy of all praise and worship. I stand in awe of Your goodness, Your grace and Your tender mercies; we are not worthy. You are good, You are great. I bow at Your feet and thank You for being my God. I shout to the high heavens and thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Who can be against us when my God is for us?
You who contend with those who contend with us.
You who open doors that cannot be shut.
Almighty Redeemer.
You who take sickness away. You dismiss the slanderer.
You silence the accuser of our souls.
Our God who cannot fail. Great and mighty King!
We hail You!!!!
From AC -
PRAISE TIME
Now is the time to shower the Lord with adoration. Tell Him the sweet things you know He wants to hear.
Praise Him for His greatness. Love up on Him for the kindness He's shown you. Thank Him for His mercy.
Give God the glory.
Here is my alabaster, poured out in worship
Here is my full surrender, I know it's worth it
Some say it's too expensive, I say it's not enough
How could I give too much?
Let it be costly, let it be costly
You are most worthy, most worthy
Holding back nothing, let it mean something
You are most worthy, most worthy, Jesus
From JIR - Thank You Lord for breathing life into us this morning. You are the reason we are here. Thank You Lord for guiding us into fellowship this morning and drawing us closer to You. Your love is infinite and we thank You for saturating us in Your love. We thank You and worship You for all You do. You are worthy of all praise. Thank You Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Thanks for today’s word sis @FFJ. It explains so much and I have learned that the Holy Spirit is guiding me through who to share and not share my testimony with. Before, I would overthink things and wonder why I was reluctant to share my testimony with one person but be eager to share my testimony with another person. This is so good and has answered a few questions that I didn’t realize I needed answers to concerning this issue. God bless you for sharing and giving clarity on this topic. IJMN.
From AC - Amen! Praise God! I truly enjoyed this message. Such gems and wisdom that I will keep in mind. There have been many times I’ve felt a strong reluctance to share a praise report, which always seemed to go against what we’re taught about giving testimony. But the feeling was so clear, I knew it had to be the Holy Spirit. You captured the reasons behind that beautifully. Thank you, and God bless you for sharing this!
Blessed Good Friday to you all. May we never forget the sacrifice of our beloved Lord and Saviour. It is Finished!
From EC - Amen and good morning ladies!
ALTAR CALL
Give Your Life To Christ and be washed clean of all sin.
Jesus wants a relationship with you. He wants you to know not only who He was when He walked the earth, but who He is now as He sits by the right hand of God in heaven.
Jesus died for you so you could live a blessed life on earth and receive the great blessing of living in eternity with the Lord. He did this because we human beings are sinners and our sin creates a barrier in our ability to step into God's presence. God cannot abide iniquity because He is holy and so as human beings sin and sin and sin, the distance between themselves and the Lord grows larger.
But not if you become a friend of Jesus. Those who choose to become His friend receive a deposit of God's Holy Spirit who helps them become more like Christ from day to day. And the more like Christ a person becomes - even if by only a little smidge - the more pleased God is and the more the distance between themself and God lessens. Christ died to make this possible. He died to ensure every human being could be redeemed, washed clean to enter God's presence.
Christ loves His friends. He will and does do almost anything for them. He is seated at the right hand of God, right now, petitioning the Lord on behalf of His friends.
I pray that you understand the need to become a friend of Jesus Christ. The benefits are huge! Just as He prayed for His disciples then, He prays for His disciples now. Just as He helped His friend Peter by healing His mother-in-law, He helps His friends with the problems they face today. He taught His friends, the disciples, everything He learned from the Lord and He's still doing that.
Are you wondering whether the benefits of being His friend won't cost too much? You don't want to give up the shows, the websites, the music, the way you speak, etc. However, have you considered the consequences of not choosing Him?
Or, maybe you think this message doesn't apply to you because you were born a Christian. You regularly go to church. You don't lie or steal and believe you are a good person.
It is wonderful to be good, but the true reward is in being a godly person who walks in the fear and obedience of the Lord. In John 14:6, Jesus said nobody can come to God except through Him, so please take this opportunity to gain access to God and His heavenly kingdom by saying the prayer below with me (and only if you mean it):
Lord Jesus I am a sinner. I confess my sins right now to you. And I believe that you are the son of God. I believe that you came, you died, you rose again, and you paid the price for my sins. Today, I accept the new life, today I accept the Holy Spirit. Come dwell in me, make Your home in me. I will never be the same again. In Jesus's name, Amen.
God bless you! I believe the Lord will visit you in a unique way. If you'd like to learn more about the new life you have signed up for, please look at this document - How to have a stronger relationship with YHWH God!
Please make prayer a regular part of your life. It is simply you talking to the Lord. Also, please start reading the Bible and ask God to make it come alive for you. It holds all the answers you need. You can start by reading the Epistle of John, the Book of Acts, and the Book of Romans. Get water baptized as quickly as you can and ask God to lead you to a church of His choosing.