Laurence Aikens’ Post

Set Apart for His Glory In a world brimming with noise, demands, and competing voices, God calls His people to a different rhythm: "You are to be holy to me because I, the Lord, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own." Leviticus 20:26 NIV In the Old Testament, the word “consecrated” means that a person, object, or place has been set apart for a sacred and holy purpose. They are dedicated to God. The process of consecration involves purification, sanctification, and often anointing with oil, which is a symbol of this dedication. But God's call to holiness, to live a life set apart, is not about seclusion or superiority. It's an invitation to a life connected to God's character and will. It's about being marked by God’s purity for the purpose of showing others God’s glory and power. So, what does walking in holiness look like daily? It's more than just following rules or rituals. It’s a heart posture—a willingness to live in a way that reflects God's nature. It means we allow God’s Spirit to align our thoughts, actions, and desires with His Word. Consider this today: How can you cultivate a heart posture that reflects God's holiness in your relationships and interactions? God, in His holiness, doesn't just beckon us to be separate. He calls us to be set apart unto Him—the One who created us, redeemed us, and calls us by name. #Redeemed #KingdomCulture

Starting a new year will be meaningless, if our mindset is not changed. We will find ourselves in the corridors of doing the same things we were doing in 2023. We will fail the same way we failed in 2023. We will be trapped by the same trap that trapped us in 2023. We will be going around the way we did in 2023. For us to experience the power and inherit what 2024 has for us, we need to reflect on how we lived in 2023. What made us fail in that manner? Why didn't we reach our goal? Did we use all the potential and opportunities that God gave us to our own advantages? Were we fruitful and productive in fulfilling God's mandate upon our lives? Why did we fail?. Then as we are in this new year, we change our mind and reposition ourselves for our own good. For some of us, we need to change the way we perceive things. Disconnect ourselves from other friendships and association. Connect ourselves to the right people/association. Change the way we do other things. Embrace the new way of doing things and trust God for excellent results. Remember time is a precious gift from the Lord. He has given us another year so that we use it and be fruitful. Don't use time to rebel against God who is the owner of time. Don't use time to make others suffer, for what you sow, you shall reap. May the Lord God open our eyes and give us wisdom and understanding for us to be productive and fruitful in 2024. May the Love of the father, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy spirit be upon you all. From Pastor Dan

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trusting in the Lord with all our heart calls us to a faith that goes beyond intellectual assent. It's a trust that permeates every aspect of our lives. This trust challenges us to relinquish our reliance on our own limited understanding and to fully embrace God's wisdom and sovereignty. Leaning not on our own understanding is an invitation to acknowledge the limitations of our human perspective. It's a call to seek God’s wisdom in all situations, especially when circumstances seem perplexing or challenging. The promise that God will make our paths straight is not an assurance of a problem-free life. Rather, it's a guarantee that when we submit our ways to Him, He will guide us towards His best for us. Straight paths represent a life guided by God's wisdom and purpose, marked by clarity and direction. As you make this journey, I encourage you to trust in the Lord and seek His guidance. When you reach this point in your life, there is a peace and assurance that will come which most will never know. 

YOUR LIFE CONVEYS A MESSAGE (Matthew 5:14) You are the light of the world. The town is located on a hill can not be hidden. Best wishes..… A film made from a true story is usually more touching than a fictional one. Why is that? Because in true story films, viewers are invited to be directly involved in various situations, and even feel the emotions or feelings of the film characters. This is also what happens in your life. Do you realize that each person's life conveys a message? Even though we often view our routine lives as just a story that doesn't mean anything, it actually contains messages that can motivate and touch other people. In fact, each of us communicates with others not only through words, but through character and actions that are in accordance with Christ's teachings. This means that our lives must be an expression that glorifies God. Wherever we are, the light of Jesus must shine brightly through us, so that HE may be visible in a dark world. However, what we must pay attention to is that the strength of the message emitted from our lives is directly related to the depth of our relationship with God. The closer we are to God, the clearer the message we convey. This is what the Lord Jesus wants for us through today's main verse. When HE likens our life to a city on a hill that cannot be hidden; it means that when others look at us, they should see the image of Jesus in us. This is the essence of the message we bring to the world. As His ambassadors, our lives must represent the Savior to the people we meet every day. For this reason, realize that your life is an opportunity for the people around you to get to know God and see His work through your service. Ask for the ability of the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith and life, so that people who see you will be drawn to the light of Christ. Hallelujah. Jesus bless you.

Greetings to you all friends wishing you a very happy Sunday ❤️💐🎉💖 HIGHER EVERYDAY To All and All DATE:14 Apr 2024 TOPIC:PLANNING BY GOD’S PERMISSION MEMORY VERSE: “For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit” READ:1 CORINTHIANS 16:5-9 MESSAGE: Some people live as if they own their own lives. However, there is very little a Christian can do in life without the permission and guidance of God. Hence in our text, we see how careful Paul was in considering the permission of God before taking a step on a matter as simple as spending some time with the brethren. In Acts 16:6-7, the Holy Spirit did not also permit Paul and his team to preach in some places. As Christians, we should always seek God’s approval in our endeavours. Remember, even in the Old Testament times, the people of God acted on God’s permission. An example is David who sought the will of God on various major decisions (See 1 Samuel 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1-4). Friend, you need to have a vision, and set goals and plans for its realization. However, if you commit your ways into God’s hand, the vision, goals and plans will all be influenced by the Holy Spirit. And you will not labour tediously and eventually perform below expectation. God is the Master Planner. Seek Him for success (Proverbs 19: 21). PRAYER: Holy Father, help me to always seek your permission, in Jesus’ name. CHALLENGE: You should always seek God’s approval.

YOUR LIFE CONVEYS A MESSAGE (Matthew 5:14) You are the light of the world. The town is located on a hill can not be hidden. Best wishes..… A film made from a true story is usually more touching than a fictional one. Why is that? Because in true story films, viewers are invited to be directly involved in various situations, and even feel the emotions or feelings of the film characters. This is also what happens in your life. Do you realize that each person's life conveys a message? Even though we often view our routine lives as just a story that doesn't mean anything, it actually contains messages that can motivate and touch other people. In fact, each of us communicates with others not only through words, but through character and actions that are in accordance with Christ's teachings. This means that our lives must be an expression that glorifies God. Wherever we are, the light of Jesus must shine brightly through us, so that HE may be visible in a dark world. However, what we must pay attention to is that the strength of the message emitted from our lives is directly related to the depth of our relationship with God. The closer we are to God, the clearer the message we convey. This is what the Lord Jesus wants for us through today's main verse. When HE likens our life to a city on a hill that cannot be hidden; it means that when others look at us, they should see the image of Jesus in us. This is the essence of the message we bring to the world. As His ambassadors, our lives must represent the Savior to the people we meet every day. For this reason, realize that your life is an opportunity for the people around you to get to know God and see His work through your service. Ask for the ability of the Holy Spirit to strengthen your faith and life, so that people who see you will be drawn to the light of Christ. Hallelujah. Jesus bless you.

God is too wise to be mistaken God is too good to be unkind So when you don't understand When don't see His plan When you can't trace His hand Trust His Heart • T - Total Dependence: Trusting God means recognizing our complete dependence on Him. We acknowledge that we cannot rely on our own strength or understanding, but instead, we trust in His wisdom and guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. • R - Rest in His Promises: Trusting God involves finding rest in His promises. We can have confidence in His faithfulness and trustworthiness. Hebrews 10:23 encourages us to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. • U - Unwavering Faith: Trusting God requires unwavering faith, even in the face of challenges and uncertainties. We believe that He is in control and will work all things together for our good. James 1:6 reminds us that when we ask God for wisdom, we must believe and not doubt. • S - Surrender Control: Trusting God means surrendering control of our lives to Him. We let go of our own plans and desires, trusting that His ways are higher and His plans are perfect. Proverbs 16:3 encourages us to commit our plans to the Lord, and He will establish our steps. • T - Thankfulness: Trusting God involves cultivating a heart of gratitude. We express our thankfulness for His faithfulness, provision, and guidance in our lives. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus.

Fasting Day 3 Focus: Hunger! Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." In Matthew 6:33, Jesus provides a profound principle for living a purposeful and fulfilling life. The verse encourages us to prioritize seeking God's kingdom and righteousness above all else. The practical application of this scripture involves aligning our desires, ambitions, and daily pursuits with the values and principles of God's kingdom. Priority Check: Reflect on your daily priorities. Are you consistently putting God first in your decisions, plans, and ambitions? Aligning with Righteousness: Consider areas of your life where you can align more closely with God's righteousness. Trusting God's Provision: Embrace the assurance that when we seek God's kingdom first, He promises to provide for our needs. #Mordican

Embracing Faith: Finding Smooth Paths in Life's Crooked Roads🙏 Hello Linkedin Family, In moments of lifes uncertainty & confusion, turning to faith in God offers solace and strength. Trusting in Him means believing in His plan, even when we're uncertain. Proverbs 3:5-6 urges us to trust in the Lord, promising straight paths. Despite obstacles, God has the power to smoothen our journey. He brings clarity to confusion, strength to weakness, and hope to despair. Surrendering our fears allows God to work in unexpected ways. Trusting in Him instills courage and perseverance. Isaiah 41:10 reassures us of His presence and support. No matter the challenges we face, trusting in God leads to peace and purpose. His plan navigates us through daunting paths with grace and assurance. Let's embrace faith, knowing that God can make even the crooked roads smooth. #TrustInGod #Strength #Hope #Peace #Purpose #EmbraceFaith PSALM 121:1-2 👇🏽👇🏽

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 NIV We can use our words for good or we can use them for evil. This verse is also interpreted literally, that is, words can result in sustaining life or bringing to life, or our words can cause our death or the death of others. Regardless, it is evident that our words have power. God created with His words. Destructive judgments came about through words. Our words can tear down or build up. Since we speak what is in our heart, it is essential for our hearts and our character to be transformed by the Holy Spirit through the word of God. Further, to bring life, our words must be accompanied by faith, faith in God and His promises. Carefully consider what you say. Do your words strengthen you and others? Do they glorify God? Do they destroy because they are spoken in anger, bitterness, or spite? Remember this: your words can have short-term and long-term impact, that is, there are significant consequences to what you say. Think carefully before you speak. Know when you need to speak death to those things that are ungodly, but also know when to speak life to yourself and others. Edison Bynoe