All You’ve Got to Do Is Ask

Do you live a life of self-sufficiency? When was the last time you ask for God's divine provision, intervention or help by faith, believing that He will answer your request which are not out of alignment with His Word?

May you have a deeper understanding and revelation of God's nature and His desire for you. And, do not hesitate to approach His throne of grace and make your request known to Him.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV) 

Click here for All You’ve Got To Do Is Ask, Part 1 | Jesse Duplantis.

Click here for All You’ve Got to Do Is Ask, Part 2 | Jesse Duplantis.

King Jehoshaphat's Prayer

For your edification to turn to God in prayer, the following summary has been gleaned using Gemini:-

"King Jehoshaphat’s prayer (2 Chronicles 20:5-12) is a model of desperate, faith-filled prayer uttered when facing a massive, overwhelming army. He acknowledges God's absolute sovereignty and power, recalls past faithfulness, and admits total helplessness, concluding with: "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you". 

Key Elements of Jehoshaphat’s Prayer:

Acknowledge God's Sovereignty: He starts by recognizing God as the ruler over all kingdoms, emphasizing that no one can stand against Him.

Remember God's Faithfulness: He reminds God of the covenant, the inheritance of the land, and past deliverance.

Admit Helplessness: He confesses, "We have no power against this great multitude... nor do we know what to do".

Focus on God: He shifts focus from the threat to God's power, saying, "our eyes are upon You". 

The Context and Outcome:

The Threat: A vast army of Moabites, Ammonites, and Meunites gathered to fight against Judah.

The Action: Jehoshaphat was afraid, so he set himself to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.

The Response: God answered through Jahaziel, telling them, "Do not be afraid... for the battle is not yours, but God's".

The Victory: The next day, the enemy armies destroyed each other, leaving Jehoshaphat and his people to take the plunder. 

Jehoshaphat's prayer is often cited as a model for dealing with insurmountable circumstances by trusting in God's power rather than human strength."

In his sermon with reference to King Jehoshaphat's prayer, Pastor Benny Ho posited 3 Defining Questions for us to chew on and apply in our own prayer life. 

Image credits: Cornerstone Community Church

Click here for 3 Defining Questions.

A Time To Pray

Do you need some help to get you started on praying? If you do, please feel free to try out the following links.

Pause. Slow down. Be still and know that He is God.

"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, NIV)

Image credits: David Diga Hernandez

Click here for 5 Prayers to Start Your Day with the Holy Spirit which covers the following prayers:

1.    Prayer for Thanksgiving

2.    Prayer for Guidance

3.    Prayer for Protection From Harm

4.    Prayer for Divine Opportunities

5.    Prayer for Strength Against Temptation 

Click here for 7 Prayers You Need to Start Praying Over Your Family Right Now which cover the following areas:

1.     Right influences

2.     Protection from harm and sickness

3.     Strength under temptation

4.     Hunger for the Word of God

5.     Understand their identity - who they are in Christ.

6.     Divine wisdom

7.     To know God's presence

Click here for Right Before God Brings You Wealth, These Things Must Happen as follows:

1.    Generosity
2.    Stewardship
3.    Faithfulness

Pray and be Blessed in the LORD. 

Book Review: SUN STAND STILL By Steven Furtick

The cover of this book comes with the byline: “What Happens When You Dare To Ask God For The Impossible”. 

Pastor Furtick’s writing style may not come across as pleasant particularly for readers who belong to Gen X or earlier. Nonetheless, SUN STAND STILL comes packed and loaded with a battery of truths to re-awaken our ho-hum Christian mind. 

Here is a sample for the uninitiated reader: “I’m not writing to calm or coddle you. With God’s help, I intend to incite a riot in your mind. Trip your breakers and turn out the lights in your favorite hiding places of insecurity and fear. Then flip the switch back on so that God’s truth can illuminate the divine destiny that may have been lying dormant inside you for years. In short, I’m out to activate your audacious faith. To inspire you to ask God for the impossible. And in the process, to reconnect you with your God-sized purpose and potential.” 

The chapters of this book are as follows:
1. Welcome to Audacious Faith
2. Prayer That Stops the Sun
3. Page 23 Vision 
4. The Sun Stand Still Lexicon
5. Ignite the Ordinary
6. Wave Jumper
7. Tiny Babies, Giant Faith
8. The Surcharge of Sacrifice
9. The Simplest Systematic Theology Ever
10. Hear. Speak. Do.
11. The Solid Ground of Audacious Faith
12. Mistake into Miracle
13. When the Sun Goes Down
14. Pray Like a Juggernaut
15. Permission to Pray Practically
16. Sweet Southern Audacity
17. Push While You Pray
18. From the Promise to the Payoff
19. Ten Dimensions of a Sun Stand Still Prayer
20. In the Middle of a Move of God

The theme of this book is presented seamlessly from start to finish and pivots around Joshua’s Sun Stand Still prayer and the Page 23 vision from Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire (written by Pastor Jim Cymbala). 

Along the way through this book, the author managed to sneak-in theology in his characteristic lingo. So, just when you thought that Christian literature has peaked, Pastor Furtick is pushing the limits and expanding the boundaries of writings in Christendom.

Here are just some examples of the theology-simplified:

• Hearing the Word initiates faith. Speaking the Word activates faith. Doing the Word demonstrates faith.

• Twelve Audacious Faith Confessions: 
1. I am full forgiven and free from all shame and condemnation. 
(Romans 8:1-2; Ephesians 1:7-8; 1 John 1:9). 

2. I act in audacious faith to change the world in my generation. 
(Joshua 10:12-14; John 14:12). 

3. I have no fear of anxiety; I trust in the LORD with all my heart. 
(Proverbs 3:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7).

• Prayer is the arena where our faith meets God’s abilities. …

Two of my favourite excerpts are as follows:-

“How did God choose to accomplish the redemption of the world? By His grace – and through the willingness of Jesus to sacrifice His life. How will God accomplish the impossible vision He has planted in your heart? By His grace – and through your willingness to sacrifice your life for the sake of Jesus. I’m not suggesting that you’ve got to work really, really hard for God to work in you. That’s heresy. Grace is something God works in you. And by that grace, He works faith out of you.”

“Your vision should never be limited to who you are or what you think you can do. The size of your vision isn’t even determined by who God is. The scope and impact of your vision will be determined by who you believe God is – and whether you have the courage to respond accordingly. If you’re going to have a Page 23 vision and Sun Stand Still prayers, you’ve got to have the right idea about who God is to you and what He wants to do through you.”

Read this book and feel the excitement of living in the Kingdom of God as Pastor Furtick  narrates his real life encounters and firm grasp of theology in his down-to-earth let’s-get-going style. Blessed reading!

STEVEN FURTICK is the founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, named by Outreach magazine as one of the top ten fastest growing chruches in the nation. 

Learn more about the Sun Stand Still Movement at www.sunstandstill.org


Please feel free to check out 2 of my favourite Christian bookstore and resource locations:

• The Ink Room 

• SKS Book Warehouse   

TRANSFORMED BY WORSHIP by Kong Hee

(Source: City Harvest Church news bulletin, October 11 - 12, 2014)

The Tabernacle in the Old Testament is a pattern of what is in heaven and it outlines how the believer can enter into the Presence of the LORD in today’s context.

Within the Tabernacle resided the Altar of Incense, a picture of worship and prayer. It is positioned in front of the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.

Each time the priest entered into the Holy Place, he was commanded of the LORD to take a handful of incense and sprinkle it onto the burning coals of the altar. As the incense burned day and night, the perfumed smoke passed through the veil and into the Holy of Holies, as a pleasing aroma to the LORD.

The fragrance, mixed with the presence of God, would fill the Holy Place, saturating the clothing, hair and even the skin of the priest himself. The fragrance of God’s presence would then be carried by the priest to others in the Outer Court.

Today, as believers in the New Covenant, when we enter into the presence of God and offer Him our worship, our love and our adoration; we must come away with our spirit, soul and body so permeated with the fragrance of God that we will be “…to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing …the aroma of life leading to life…” just like how it’s described in 2 Cor. 2:15-16.

WORSHIP ALWAYS TRANSFORMS US

The goal of worship is to be transformed into the image of the One who is worshiped. In Luke 9 is a beautiful account of how Peter, John and James went up to the mountain to pray with Jesus. As Jesus spent time with His heavenly Father, His face shone like the sun and His clothes became white and glistening (Luke 9:28-31; Matt. 17:2). Jesus was transfigured by the presence of God.

In the original Greek, the word transfigured is the same word as “metamorphosis”, which means to change from one form to another. It is the same word used to describe the transformation of a caterpillar in a cocoon into a butterfly. So during His time of worship unto God, Jesus was metamorphosed from a human being into a glorious spiritual being.

The same word is used in another verse …”But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the LORD.” (2 Cor. 3:18)

This verse tells us that what happened to Jesus – when He was worshiping His Father – can also happen to us. For that to happen, based on 2 Cor. 3:18, we must know four things:

1. We must worship God with the REAL “US”

To worship with an “unveiled face” is to come before God without any masks – open honesty. Real change and transformation of our lives cannot take place without us being truly honest and open in the presence of the LORD.

2. We must look into the GLORY OF THE LORD

Introspection alone is not going to bring about the transformation we need in our lives. To that effect, even spiritual activities such as prayer, reading the Bible or Christian books would not change us either. It is only when we see the glory of God in Jesus Christ, then only will true transformation take place.

So, during prayer, when we see Jesus, we will be changed; as we read His Word, when we see Jesus, we will be changed.

3. We must expect the Holy Spirit to work in us

When we are looking at His face, the Holy Spirit is doing a deep inner work within us. In the Old Testament, during the plague in the desert, when Moses lifted up the bronze serpent on a pole, his message to the people was “Look and live”. Today, Jesus has already been lifted up on the Cross as our Savior to give us eternal life. So Paul’s message to us here is, “Look and be changed”.

4. We must allow the change to be PROGRESSIVE

Whatever glory we can see in God becomes the new platform to greater levels of glory to be revealed to us. As we spend time in worship looking at God’s nature, we will be adjusted to that nature – we become more loving, more forgiving, more faithful, more patient – from glory to glory!

The transformation is not instantaneous and there are no shortcuts; but as long as we hang in there with Christ, we will never fail. We are changed from “faith to faith” (2 Cor. 10:15) … “from strength to strength” (Ps. 138:3) … “from grace to grace” (1 John 1:16).

By the by, as we worship God, the Bible says that we will be changed “until Christ is formed in us” (Gal. 4:19).




Preaching the gospel of Christ in a way that’s both progressive and heartfelt, Dr. Kong Hee is a highly sought-after conference speaker worldwide, and his messages minister to millions of people around the world who are inspired to become true ambassadors for Christ wherever God has placed them. Kong is also the founder and senior pastor of City Harvest Church – a thriving, contemporary congregation in the heart of Singapore. His international TV program, Alive! With Kong, encourages millions around the world each week. For more information on Kong’s ministry and materials, please visit konghee.com. 

http://edition.konghee.com/

"Trust in the LORD" by Kong Hee

(Source: Devotionals of November 2005 by Rev Dr Kong Hee)

" “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,And whose hope is the Lord." Jeremiah 17:7 (NKJV)

The key to success and victory in life is not in ourselves but in God. David was a shepherd boy, unskilled in the weapon of war, but he defeated Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, with a single sling shot. He was not of royal lineage, but he went on to become the greatest king Israel ever had. What was the secret of his greatness? It was his dependence and his trust in God. David cried, "O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water" (Psalms 63:1; NKJV)

John Knox, the famous Scottish revivalist, was famous for his power in prayer. Queen Mary said she feared his prayers more than Europe's armies. When the Spanish armada fought the English in 1588, Queen Elizabeth I of England called the nation to prayer. As a result, a storm arose and destroyed 65 of the Armada's 130 ships while the English lost none.

It is evident that as long as men seek God, as long as we pray, our lives will be successful and victorious. We will be able to achieve our aims and remain protected. In the course of King Asa's reign over Judah (1 Kings 15:9-24), he changed both its history and future. Under his rule, he courageously deposed of his infamous idolatress grandmother, who had severely influenced Judah toward idolatry. He also drove out the Sodomites and then destroyed all the idols that his father had worshiped. Not only did this great leader himself seek after God, he commanded the entire nation to do likewise.

The prophet, Azariah said this of King Asa, "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you" (2 Chronicles 15:2). As we look back in history, we see that the Word of God is true: Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength (Jeremiah 17:5, 7). God is no respecter of persons. His word works for all who would believe and act upon it.

Faith has a voice

Recently, the Holy Spirit spurred me to have a made-up mind to believe the Word of God before I even start to pray. What's the point of praying when there is unbelief? As a matter of fact, when we demonstrate unbelief it is akin to calling God a liar. Yes, it's that bad.

It's time for us to humble ourselves before God and take Him at His Word; God is not a man that He should lie. And, it's time for us to restore the fear of the LORD even in the House of the LORD. Let God be God, and mortals be mortals -- saved only by the Grace of God.

When God has said it and it is settled in my heart that His truth will prevail, I can pray believing that God hear and answer prayers if I pray according to His will and do not ask amiss of what's His best for me.

As I pray believing, I am reminded further by the Holy Spirit to pray audibly for my own hearing. While there is a time and place for contemplative praying, I find that praying aloud even during my own Quiet Time yield tremendous effect in the invisible or spirit realm. Our Words are powerful according to the Scripture!

When we speak the Word of God appropriately in our specific prayers, by having regard to the full counsel of God's Word, it is just as God is speaking His Words for accomplishment. For example, instead of just praying for me, myself and I, I could try praying along the line of being blessed in my career so that I could be a blessing to my family, employer, relatives, community and the Kingdom of God.

We can learn much from Solomon's prayer at Gibeon. As outlined by Pastor Jim Cymbala in his book "Breakthrough Prayers":

1. Solomon approached God first with thanks and praise (1 Kings 3:7a);

2. Solomon prayed with great humility (1 Kings 3:7b);

3. Solomon defined himself as God's servant, ready to do His will; and

4. Solomon asked for a blessing that would bless God's people.

Mind you, King Solomon did not just think his prayer but said it out. When Hannah was praying for her breakthrough to conceive a child even though her voice was not heard, her lips moved! (1 Samuel 1:13) Also, hadn't Jesus said to speak to our mountains rather than think away our problems?

As we bless others or cast all our cares upon Jesus through prayers, let's demonstrate faith by moving our lips or making our prayers audible to ourselves, i.e., the ears of our inner man. 

Faith a voice. Let God hear our voice!

  

Testimony of Judith Halim

Judith Halim's journey was very tough ... she persevered and passed her trials or tests, and she can now share her testimony of God's grace. Click here to listen to her powerful testimony.

As I listened to her testimony during a recent cell group meeting, Hebrews 11:6 came forth as rhema to me.

 "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

Yes, let us be very clear that without faith, it is absolutely not possible for us to please God. Impossible; no way! Given good parents, children would readily believe and lay hold of their parent's words or promises and would not call the parent a liar.

Sadly, many adults do not approach God in childlike faith and demonstrate unbelief rather than faith by their very actions. Boy (girl), we are gonna to so miss out on the goodness God when we lean on our own understanding rather than trust God. 

Judith kept on trusting God and pursue the truth of God's Word such as:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

When we face impossible situations or need help, we can come boldly to God's throne of grace to ask Him for our needs. But, if we can't believe that God is who He says He is and we magnify our problems rather than God, we are dishonouring Him unwittingly. We are saying, by our actions, that God is not good enough for us.

But, if we can believe and seek Him diligently, boy, o, boy, we are gonna be rewarded! When we honour God by our faith, He will honour us. Remember, faith is the currency of heaven.

How then shall we seek God in prayer? In his book "Break Through Prayer" (page 92 -93), Pastor Jim Cymbala writes: The first rule of prayer is not "faith", but whether the request is according to God's will. Let's not forget the LORD still sits on His throne as ruler of the universe. 

He went on to say that we can count on two clear and powerful promises that leave no question about God's will, namely:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 (NKJV)

"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

As a matter of fact and as reminded by an intercessor friend of mine, the LORD's Prayer (The Model Prayer as NKJV captioned it) would be an ideal framework for us to use when approaching the throne of God's grace on our knees:

The Model Prayer (Matthew 6:5-13; NKJV)

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." 

Make no doubt, God keeps His promises willingly. As George Mueller has observed, "Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance. It is laying hold of God's willingness."

Let's take heart and keep on praying on for our breakthroughs in the light of God's word and His goodness and so much more (Love, Grace, and so forth). Hallelujah! In anticipation of answered prayers.

Why even pray for the haze to dissipate?

Even as the haze covered Singapore for the past few days it was not a priority for me to pray for it to dissipate. After all, it was forecasted that the haze would persist over the next few days or so.

But as I was about to go out this morning, I felt really bothered by the discomfiture or nuisance, if you will, of the ash particles irritating my nostril and decided to get aggressive by calling for divine mercy and intervention.

The upsurge of energy to confront the haze took me by surprise and I received an assurance that somehow the haze would be dealt with – to what degree, I knew not. Nevertheless, it was an uncanny kind of peace which is unexpected but heartfelt.

With mild anticipation of divine intervention to clear up the haze, I went about my errands. By the afternoon as I was heading for church, the haze had dissipated significantly and the sun was shining brightly. All Glory be to God!

For sure, many others had been praying for the haze to dissipate. As for me, it was a real encouragement to see an answered prayer unfold in one afternoon right before my very eyes. That God cares for us and hears our prayers.

The Believer's Authority

My Senior Pastor, Rev Dr Kong Hee, commended “The Believer’s Authority” by Kenneth E. Hagin in a recent sermon. That got me interested and so I purchased a copy of it from Mount Zion Christian Books & Gifts Centre Pte Ltd.

In this 76-pages book, Pastor Hagin shared on how he started on a study back in the 1940s to answer this gnawing question, “Do we have authority that we don’t know about – that we haven’t discovered – that we’re not using?”

According to him, “The authority of the believer is unveiled more fully in the Book of Ephesians than any other epistle written to the churches.” In particular, he personalized Paul’s prayers in Ephesians 1:16-20 and Ephesians 3:14-19 by saying “my” or “me” wherever Paul said “you”.

For example, he would pray Ephesians 1:17 as follows: That the God of my Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto me the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Having personalized and prayed these prayers more than a thousand times over a period of about six months, the spirit of revelation began to function and he started seeing things in the Bible he had never seen before!

For example, in Luke 10:19 (KJV), Jesus said, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

However, an accurate translation from the Greek words for “power” and “authority’ would read thus, “I have given you AUTHORITY to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the POWER of the enemy …” All the power belong to God (e.g., Revelation 5:13).

AUTHORITY IS DELEGATED POWER. Just like how a traffic policeman directs traffic with power from the government he represents and serves. Pastor Hagin also share this prophesy: The Holy Spirit says, “Power on earth invested in the name of Jesus Christ and obtained by Him through His overcoming the enemy belongeth unto the Church. Therefore, exercise that authority, for it belongs to you on the earth, and in this life ye shall reign by Christ Jesus.”

Now, this ought to revolutionize our prayer life. Instead of begging God to answer our prayer when the devil mess with us and reasoning that God’s reply might be a “Yes”, “No” or “Not now”, it’s about time we get this revelation of the believer’s authority and start exercising it.

For example, in John 14:13-14, Jesus said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do…. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it”. The Greek word here is “demand,” not “ask.”

Flowing from this, we can do something about the attacks of the enemy and we pray from a position of delegated authority with boldness in the knowledge of who and whose we are. Our prayers would no longer be wimpy and sound more like these:

“In the Name of Jesus, I break the power of the devil over my brother’s life, and I claim his salvation!” (No problem here; it’s fully in accord with God’s Word and His will.)

“Come out, thou unclean devil, in the Name of Jesus!” (Amen, to this.)

The aforesaid treasury of revelation is gleaned from Chapter 1 to 4. Invest in a copy of “The Believer’s Authority” today and revolutionize your prayer life.

It’s well worth it as we live out the Word of God shown to us by the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ.

Faith Revolution II

One my favourite Bible verse is John 10:10 (NKJV) where Jesus said, " The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."

For the longest time I have wandered how the abundant life could materialise for an ordinary believer like me. One of the hindrance would, of course, be a lack of knowledge. Make no doubt about it that our enemy, the devil -- the Father of lies, would rejoice to see us live a hapless Christian life as he casts doubts and seeks to deceive us from believing God's word. And, horror of horrors, so many Christians have unwittingly play the devil's advocate by condemning ourselves and choosing to be imprisoned by him rather than be liberated by the truths of God's promises. What were we thinking? Do we yet not get it that GOD IS GOOD and the devil is as bad as can be? Hosea 4:6 speaks of God's people being destroyed for a lack of knowledge and John 10:10a speaks clearly of the thief's intentions to steal, kill, and destroy.

It's time for Christians to know God's words -- the sword of the Spirit, and put them into practice by faith. The more we practice, the more we prove our faith and become a skillful warrior. It's time for us to get violent in our spirit and wage a good fight of faith, believing and contending for things which are aligned with God's word and will for us.

Jesus has said, "It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life." John 6:63 (Amp.) We can have the God-filled life when we have His words in our heart. His words are like seeds which are sown first into our minds. If we mix God's words with faith, the seeds would reach the good soil of our heart and spring forth a harvest as they are packed with God's Spirit and Life -- causing us to be a fruit-bearing vine.

Truth be told, we are, for example, heir with Christ and master of all. Yet, when we are still young in faith and feeding on milk rather than solid food, we are no different from a slave in our Master's house! Check this out: "Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, " Galatians 4:1 (NKJV)

A corollary verse to John 10:10b would be Romans 5:17 and this is becoming a hot favourite verse for me. Pastor John Bevere has stated in one of his book (it's either 'Relentless' or Extraordinary') that this is one verse that the believers ought to know besides John 3:16.

"For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

As we read Romans 5, the challenge for us would be whether we will choose the victorious life God has wrought for us through Jesus Christ (the second Adam) and be a champion in life or would we live in defeat by remaining under the power of sin which came through the first Adam.

Believe it: We are the righteousness of God in Christ^. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) Righteousness, as with grace, is a gift from God through faith in Christ.

As we seek God's kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), we will certainly be able to come to His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16) and ask for all that we need and live life with flourish as joint heirs with Christ. We are one with Christ. When God the Father sees us, He sees the righteousness of Christ Jesus and the power of Holy Spirit working through us.

It's about time for us believers to increase our understanding of how God sees us and know more than ever before of who we are in Christ Jesus by faith! And, press in to God and do the greater things that Jesus spoke of in John 14:12-14.

Be blessed now as you listen to Pastor Ulf Ekman preaching on the Foundations of Effective Prayer (starts at 4 minutes 20 seconds after the introduction and worship song).



Bibliography:-
^ Sermon on "Righteouness In Christ" by my senior pastor, Kong Hee, at City Harvest Church on 17 November 2012. (Get hold of the CD and be edified tremendously!)