Biblical Keys to Divine Speed 3

Excerpts from Launch Out into the Deep by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

Obedience Luke Chapter 5 verses 1 to 9

An interesting account of how Peter and his colleagues toiled all night fishing and yet not a single catch. Tired, perhaps a little angry and even frustrated, they resorted to washing their nets, an activity that should have come much later. This is because if they had caught fish, they would be trading the fish after clearing them from their nets. But because nothing was caught, they washed their nets, probably in preparation for another toil. But God who gives speed intervened in their lives. How?

He requested the use of Peter’s boat and I am quite sure for free. Beloved, I expected Peter to be grumpy, to request some form of remuneration after a fruitless fishing expedition. But he left the net wash up exercise and took Jesus to the portion of water from where He ministered to and taught the multitudes. When Jesus was done speaking, Peter was probably glad to be free; to join his colleagues and prepare for another fishing expedition at night. After all, every experienced fisherman knows that the best time to fish is at night. However, Jesus upturned all of Peter’s belief system, expertise and experience in fishing by asking Peter to launch out into the deep and to let down his nets for a catch. Peter must have been skeptical. He was the fisherman, an experienced one of means - he owned a boat and worked with a number of other fishermen. Besides, they had toiled all night and if that was fruitless, was it this one in the day time that would yield any fruit? This stranger asking him to launch out into the deep at that time of the day was no fisherman; He did not own a boat and had just finished teaching the people. From all indications, He was a prophet, a rabbi or some religious person. So why ask him to launch out into the deep?

Yet and this is quite significant. Peter obeyed a second time irrespective of the timing and the pedigree of this stranger in fishing. Also, really important to note is that Peter referred to Him as Master even when he did not know that he was beside the King of kings and Lord of lords, the Creator of the heavens and the earth to whom everything responded in total obedience.

Beloved, obedience to God is always a key to the miraculous. God acted in Peter’s favor and fishes flocked to the nets. What they did not catch all night, had probably never caught in their entire lives filled the boat. The Bible records that they were astonished at the catch. In less than the amount of time it takes them to make their regular catches that sent them back to the waters always, they caught what would give them sustainable income for the rest of their lives. Obedience to God opened a floodgate of unusual overwhelming abundant catch that skyrocketed Peter and his colleagues from the league of comfortable fishermen to wealthy fishermen. In less than twelve hours God made them what they had always desired. They gave up fishing for fish for fishing for men.

Obedience to God gave them divine speed above their peers and colleagues. Are you seeking divine speed in any area of your life, then be obedient to God. Obey every one of His divine instructions and you will be amazed at how fast God responds and how all of nature works in tandem with God.

Additionally, Peter was a very diligent person. He had toiled all night, yet he did not resort to sleep. He was busily engaged washing nets (a physical activity) when Jesus requested yet another physical activity of him – move the boat away from the land. Without complaining he obeyed and just when Peter thought he was already free for the day after Jesus had finished speaking, Jesus asked him to launch out into the deep. All of these activities were spiritually, physically and mentally demanding calling for diligence. Peter was spiritually, physically and mentally diligent as well as obedient. He gained speed, abundance, as well as a position amongst the disciples of Jesus Christ. Significantly, Jesus handed the leadership of the early Church to Peter in spite of his weaknesses (Matthew Chapter 16 verses 13 to 19).

Physical diligence is great, mental diligence is greater but spiritual diligence is greatest. While the mentally diligent will always have an edge over the physically diligent, the spiritually diligent will always have an edge over both. However, it is really profitable to have and exercise all three.

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Biblical Keys to Divine Speed 2

Excerpts from Launch Out into the Deep by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

Diligent Hands Always Rule

Laziness always hinders progress. Therefore, do away with any form of laziness. Examine your life for any of the following manifestations of laziness such as idle chatter (Proverbs Chapter 14 verse 23); sleep (Proverbs Chapter 6 verse 4; 19 verse 15; 20 verse 13 and 24 verses 30 to 34); excuses (Proverbs Chapter 26 verses 13 to 16; 22 verse 13 and 20 verse 4); covetousness (Proverbs Chapter 21 verses 25 to 26).

Ahab manifested covetousness – he chose to do nothing at all day. So his mental processes and physical sights wandered and unfortunately took him to the vineyard of Naboth and even when Naboth said no, Ahab still refused to engage his mental processes in diligent positive mental processes. He became sullen and sulked, the spoilt lazy brat that he was. So when Jezebel noticed and Ahab told her what his problem was, Jezebel did his thinking for him albeit with the assistance of the devil. Naboth was falsely accused and killed. If Ahab was spiritually and mentally diligent, this would never have happened.  But he chose spiritual and mental laziness and brought the wrath of God on his lineage. Rather than take responsibility for his spiritual and mental inefficiencies, he blamed it on Naboth who was wise enough not to sell his inheritance because he had spiritually and mentally gleaned it from the Book of the Law. Ahab on the other hand was ignorant of the Law because he had not given any attention to the Law and that explains why his mental processes dwelt on coveting people’s property all day long.

This also implies that Mr. and Mrs. lazy are rebellious people, rebelling against the command of God in Deuteronomy Chapter 6 verses 1 to 10, Joshua Chapter 1 verse 8 to engrave the Law in their hearts; as well as the Word and standards of God to keep the garden, look after one’s seed. Please see Ecclesiastes Chapter 10 verse 18.

Elijah was spiritually, physically and mentally diligent. Prior to outrunning Ahab, he obeyed God and presented himself to Ahab to say that there would be rain in the land (1^st Kings Chapter 18 verses 1, 16 to 17). He also asked Ahab to gather the people of Israel as well as the prophets of Baal to him on Mount Carmel. Ahab complied and as soon as they were gathered, Elijah asked the people to choose between serving God and Baal. Thereafter, he challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest. They should call on their god to send fire on their offering. For several hours, they shouted and even cut their bodies, leaping about the sacrifice. There was no response (verses 26 to 29). At evening time, Elijah called the people to him, repaired the broken down altar of the LORD, poured water on the sacrifice and the wood. The water was so much that it ran all around the altar. He then called on God and immediately, the fire of God fell and consumed the sacrifice (1^st Kings Chapter 18 verses 30 to 38).

At this the people returned to God, obeyed Elijah and killed the eight hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and Asherah who lived off Jezebel. The evil queen Jezebel was using state resources to enforce the worship of idols in Israel and Ahab who should say no was her slave spiritually, mentally and physically. Beloved, all of these activities that Elijah embarked on and implemented on the same day were spiritually, physically and mentally tasking. Yet, Elijah did not retire to his bed to sleep despite the fact that it was already late in the day.

He moved on to the major task of the day – the return of rain to the land. Beloved, the rain did not drop immediately after God told him there would be rain. It did not drop after he presented himself to Ahab; not even after the sacrifice and the execution of the prophets of Baal and Asherah. It took a while and a time of very diligent tasking spiritual, physical and mental activities for the rain to come down.

Beloved, Elijah donned on his praying garment and began high level intercession for the land and people of Israel. In spite of the very clear blue skies, Elijah prayed in faith that the rain he had prophesied after urging Ahab to go celebrate should come down. As he prayed, he asked his servant to go to a vantage position where he could see the sea. Severally, the servant went and reported that there was nothing. Significantly, Elijah was not deterred. He persevered and kept praying. At the seventh time, the servant came with a report, not very encouraging to anyone who lacked faith. But that was all Elijah needed – “there is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand rising out of the sea”. Elijah began to celebrate, thanking God for his faithfulness. He then sent his servant to Ahab who was eating and drinking to hurry up home so that the rain would not stop him. Even at that and with all the gadgets of speed at his disposal, Elijah outran Ahab to Jezreel. Beloved, Elijah’s spiritual, mental and physical diligence translated into divine speed while Ahab’s laziness translated into late arrival.

What stopped Ahab from joining in prayers, in seeking the face of God for the land? Divine speed is a function of spiritual, mental and physical diligence as well as obedience. Prayer, prophesying, leading the people to repentance is hard work that only the diligent can do successfully.

Elijah’s faith and confidence in God is worth emulating. Just a little cloud and he warned about a downpour. Is it possible to just imagine that Elijah had gone bunkers! How on earth would a downpour come after a long period of drought when only a little cloud was still rising out of the sea? But Elijah knew and understood the ways of God. Significantly, Elijah, though a prophet was also human like the rest of us. He had his fears, worries, anxieties and concerns. Jezebel hated him and would do anything to kill Elijah. Elijah did not wait for Jezebel to act after she sent a messenger to tell him that she would kill him the following day. Elijah ran away from Israel to Judah, specifically, Beersheba. Even then, he was greatly discouraged. He even took a day’s journey into the wilderness and shockingly prayed to die. The question is if he really desired death, why did he run away from Jezebel?

Beloved, Elijah did not really desire death. He was simply overwhelmed. After recording such great successes, a woman threatened his life and made him run away from his homeland to another land to seek protection. He had become weary and wondered if this was how he would continue to live – from the brook Cherith to Zarephath, to Mount Carmel, Jezreel and now Beersheba?

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Biblical Keys to Divine Speed 1

Excerpts from Launch Out into the Deep by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

• Diligence 1^st Kings Chapter 18 verses 44 to 46

Elijah was still praying, thanking God for answered prayers when he sent word to Ahab to set out before the rain stopped him. Quite significant is the fact that Ahab had a chariot to ride in. Apart from the shelter that a chariot offers, it also has the capacity for speed. A chariot will definitely go faster than people on foot. It is like walking and riding on a bike; riding a bike and driving a car; driving a car and flying in a plane. So by all indications, Ahab should arrive at Jezreel before Elijah who went by foot.

Yet the Bible records that Elijah arrived Jezreel before Ahab and the reason for this is because the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah. The hand of the LORD was not upon Elijah all along but as soon as Elijah needed to get to Jezreel before the downpour he prophesied and prayed down, God rested His hand upon him to give him divine speed ahead of Ahab who had all the speed apparatus of his day. Some questions are worth asking at this point. What is the hand of the LORD that came upon Elijah and why Elijah? Was Elijah still walking on foot when the hand of the LORD rested on him? Though the Bible does not provide answers, Proverbs Chapter 15 verse 19 gives a clue. How? 

A lazy person actually makes no effort. S/he always gives excuses and is never bothered about the consequences of his or her inactions arising from spiritual, physical, mental, intellectual, material, and moral laziness. That is why his way is compared to a hedge of thorns. Attempt to walk through a hedge of thorns and you will be amazed at the sheer impossibility of making progress. This is because a hedge of thorns is actually designed as a barrier to hedge in whatever it is protecting and keep away intruders. In like manner, any form of laziness actually barricades the blessings of God from the life of a lazy person.

While I cannot say much about Ahab’s physical diligence, it is clear from the evidence of Scripture that Ahab was spiritually, mentally and morally lazy. That explains why his wife Jezebel easily turned his heart to idols and great wickedness. Therefore irrespective of whatever man made speed gadgets he owned and had access to as King of Israel; he could never outrun Elijah who had access to the speed of God. This is exactly what Proverbs Chapter 15 verse 19b means that the way of the upright is a highway. Highways are designed to give speed which explains the absence of speed breakers or any barriers that the hedge of thorn constitutes. Uprightness gives speed because it eliminates the speed breakers of sin and related atrocities.

An upright person is a person who walks in the fear of God and because God is always with such a person, that person has full access to the speed of God and will always outrun when the need arises. Therefore, be spiritually, mentally, physically, intellectually diligent so that when the need arises, you will outrun and return the glory to God. 

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The Power of Thoughts

Excerpts from Launch Out into the Deep by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

Thoughts are powerful as they make or mar divine destinies depending on what a person allows in his or her thought processes. Thoughts impact people even more than their environments and relationships. Thoughts create, give direction, enrich, impoverish, and make or mar a person. Thoughts also kill, save, empower and disempower. Thoughts become words, desires, visions and dreams. When thoughts are expressed as words, they take on flesh and progress to ideas, opinions, visions; dreams which when implemented become actions that are either positive or negative. Thoughts birth desires, plans, opinions, dreams and visions. Thoughts are therefore building blocks. Just as blocks are set on a land to produce a building, so also thoughts set one on the other build or destroy destinies.

People are bound or limited when the devil holds them bound in their thoughts and imaginations. The Gadarene Demoniac was bound in his mind and could only think straight and wear clothes and stop hurting himself when Jesus set him free from the demons that took over his mental faculties and were controlling his actions and utterances.  That is why the Bible says to guard your heart with all diligence and gird up the loins of your mind for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Matthew Chapter 12 verses 34 to 37.

Thoughts give direction – as a man thinks so is he (Proverbs Chapter 23 verse 7). The ten spies saw themselves as grasshoppers before the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. That singular thought in their hearts that they were small before the giants gave them direction – they would rather return to Egypt and serve as slaves than go face giants and die. That thought formed a stronghold against the promise and truth of God to them.

The devil still uses this strategy effectively. All he requires is an evil limiting thought to place in your heart and once you accept it like the ten spies did, that thought rules you and grounds your life to the often stagnating plans of the devil and his cohorts for your life. That is why you must never permit any thought that is not of God in your spirit, soul and body. But if unfortunately such thoughts have taken root in your spirit, soul and body, ask God to forgive you for accepting a lie of the devil, then ask for cleansing of your thinking faculty and imagination and further ask God for healing so that you can be free of such satanic incursion and interference in your life in Jesus mighty name,

Beloved, God is able to set you free from the pollution of a warped and distorted imagination so that your heart can receive and accept the truth of His Word so that faith will rise in your heart to run with the Word of God to soar above the ceilings and limits the devil thought to set over you with his lying thoughts and words. Be free to soar with the truth of God’s Word.

Satanically induced thoughts that have crystallized into strongholds are great fortifications through which the devil and his cohorts have a free day. However, God is greater and mightier than any force and can destroy every stronghold no matter how long it has stayed and no matter how entrenched it is in the life of the people concerned. Even strongholds that are more fortified than the walls of Jericho come crashing down at the Word of God, in the name of Jesus Christ. Do not be afraid. Whatever the enemy has done, God is able to undo. Please see 1^st John Chapter 3 verse 8. A stronghold is one of the works of the devil that Jesus Christ came to destroy. Please see also 1^st Corinthians Chapter 10 verses 3 to 6.

Think strategically, digest Philippians Chapter 4 verse 8 and be transformed to who God created you to be.

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You Can Heal From the Scars of an Abused Past

Excerpts from Launch Out into the Deep by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

An abused past is the last thing anyone wants to remember. The memories no matter how long they have been stashed away and how far away they are stashed are always fresh when recalled. The memories of an abused past do not fade away. Sometimes, a word, words, sentences, conversations made without any reference to someone with an abused past can set the painful memories flooding all over again. A look, certain action, visit to a certain location, mention of a certain name/s can bring one to tears, bitterness resentment, anger and a quest for vindictive actions. This vicious cycle can go and on if the memories are not taken to the feet of Jesus Christ and left there completely in exchange for healing. Yes, you can be healed from the pains of an abused past to live a life of happiness and true freedom in Christ Jesus.

• Turn to God and be completely honest with God.

• Be honest with yourself.

• Be honest to your Counselor or Pastor if you have one.

• Release the deep seated pain and emotion. Let go of the past and embrace God's new beginnings.

• Forgive those who hurt you and reconcile with them if they are still alive and willing to relate with you. But be careful to set clear cut boundaries in your new relationship.

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How to Regenerate a Warped Mind

Excerpts from Launch Out Into the Deep by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

A warped mind is a cesspool of mental filth ranging from salacious thoughts, murderous thoughts, projection of ill will, suicidal thoughts, constant thoughts of evil occurrences in his or her life, those of loved ones, constant thoughts of failure and every form of negativity under the sun. A warped mind is a diseased mind, the product of negative mental processes such as divination, drug addiction, pornography, alcoholism, fanaticism, wrongly directed activism, feeding the mind mental filth from x rated films, books, conversations, wrong environmental conditioning, wrong conversations, wrong associations and what have you. It is also a function of what the owner of the mind allows into his or her mind.

Evil communication certainly corrupts good manners. A warped mind is a ripened harvest of wrong mental thought processes. A warped mind is a paralyzed mind owned and controlled by the devil and not the owner of the mind. A warped mind is a mentally sick mind like the mind of the man healed by Jesus Christ in Gadarene. Mental paralysis is a tool used by the devil and his human cohorts to frustrate and abort divine destinies. Why? A warped mind cannot function in the plans and purposes of God for his or her life. Why? A warped mind is at war with God as it does not submit to the Spirit of God (Romans Chapter 8). A warped mind will consistently wander from one wrong thought process to the other.

How to Regenerate a Warped Mind

• Repentance and renunciation.

• Invite the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and enjoy and celebrate the presence of God in your life.

• Feed your mind the Word of God daily as stated in Romans Chapter 12 verses 1 to 2. Align your confessions, thought processes, imaginations, day dreams, and wishes with the Word of God. Please, see Philippians Chapter 4 verse 8.

•Meditate on the Word of God daily. Please, see Psalm 119.  In-depth meditation on the Word of God is very key to expanding mental faculties. Hold a verse or two of Scripture in your mind and prayerfully reflect on all the possibilities of that Scripture that you can think of. As you consistently do so, you will notice a greater illumination of your mind, your improved ability to perceive and receive knowledge, increased understanding, broadened horizons and clearer perspective. Significantly, you will notice that you pay little or absolutely no attention to worries and anxieties. Your perspective is clearer to grow or improve on your divine ideas and talents to serve humanity better and in the process reap financial and other rewards. Having developed highly expandable horizons and a clearer perspective, I suggest that you begin to prophesy your desired goals. You will discover that the words come readily to mind because you daily feed your spirit and your mind the Word of God and have been consistently meditating on some of the beautiful promises of God to you. Prophesying becomes easy and as you daily plant the precious promises of God for your life into your life, even you will be amazed at the emerging transformation in your life that will bloom into the fullness of God's plans and purposes for your life. How on earth does a person plant the Word of God? Through prophesying; this is speaking and declaring the promises of God upon your life. This action akin to the agricultural planting of fruit seeds or vegetable seeds also follows the agricultural growth pattern. Therefore one of the things you will discover is that all of these mental exercises are not one off activities. They are continuous processes that help to move you up further in the ladder of life's successes.  Some examples of prophesying are:

• I (please insert your own name) declare boldly the written and infallible Word of God for my life that “God will open to me His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to my land in its season, and to bless all the work of my hand. I shall lend to many nations but I shall not borrow. And the Lord will make me the head and not the tail; I shall be above only, and not be beneath in Jesus mighty name. Deuteronomy Chapter 28 verses 13 to 14.

• The name of the Lord is a strong tower. I (please insert your own name) have run into this all powerful name at which all knees bow and all tongues confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to take refuge. Therefore, anything that is contrary to God's plans and purposes for my life must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in my life in Jesus mighty name. I therefore declare boldly that God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. He will make a way where there is no way for me in Jesus mighty name.

• God, you are my light and my salvation. Please, fill my life with your light to enlighten any darkness in my life and cover me with your salvation to protect me from all the wickedness in high places and the evil plots of men against me and my family members, my businesses and all that pertains to me, dear Lord in Jesus mighty name. Father, I thank you because all of these precious promises of yours concerning my life will accomplish your plans and purposes for my life in Jesus mighty name. Thank you, Lord.

Beloved, you can develop many more of these through a diligent study of the Bible coupled with meditation. I cannot wait to see yours and also share in their blessings to humanity. Do not go around telling yourself this is a tall dream. It is possible. Ask for God's help, grab your Bible, begin with the book of John in the New Testament, pull out a verse or two for meditation and practice daily. Overtime, you may finish the Bible in less than six months, read up so many other development books, and like me, you would be one of those contributing to the personal, spiritual, financial, intellectual, marital, political and socio-economic development of billions of people across the globe. While it may appear to be hard work at first, you will soon grow to enjoy it, yearn for it if it is what you were created to do to bring pleasure to God. That exactly is the bottom line. The billions are resident in what God created you to achieve on planet earth. As you work that plan and purpose which is your divine Canaan, you will experience God's faithful blessings and presence. Once again, birth the billions that are daily crying out for a release. Rick Warren made a lot of money from his books The Purpose Driven Life and Purpose Driven Church. What are you waiting for?

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