Increase Your Faith

Overcome! By Apostle Robert Achwera

1 JOHN 5:4 NKJ 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

All of us have a choice: we can either make excuses, or make progress in life.

Most people have an excuse. They are too young or old, short or tall, educated or uneducated — whatever. We all have some reason to justify our failure.

But when we focus on God and His ability and willingness to help us in every way — all our excuses become insignificant.

God’s intention is not for His children to be defeated by the problems of life. No! The problems of life are opportunities for us to experience God’s help and provision.

God plans for His children to overcome.

How?

By faith!

And faith is available to anyone who will feed on the Bible. Faith comes from God’s Word like physical energy comes from eating physical food.

So, if your faith is weak, take in more of God’s Word.

Then your faith will grow strong. Then you can overcome the problems you face. Then God will be glorified in you.

SAY THIS: With the help of God, I will overcome!

Bookmark to:

Prayer: An Exchange By Apostle Robert Achwera

ISAIAH 40:31 NKJ 31 But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Time is precious. Our lives are full. Life is busy. Many of us think we are too busy to spend time in regular daily prayer. But is that a wise choice?

In the Scripture passage above, the literal meaning is “those who look to the Lord expectantly will exchange strength.”

Prayer is an exchange of strength.

God offers to exchange what He has for what we have. As we spend time looking to Him, this exchange takes place.

What strength does God have? Wisdom. Understanding. Insight. Guidance. Favor. Influence. Health. Everything we need!

When you give your time to God, He reciprocates by giving His time to you. He goes ahead of you and makes your way smooth, giving you favor and guidance so you can walk in victory.

God will give you ideas as you wait on Him. Ideas of how to do things better. (For example, I got this message while praying.)

You may think you don’t have anything God would want. But God wants your love and your trust. As a human, you also have God- delegated authority on Earth, especially as a member of the Body of Christ.

Exchanging the little strength you have for the strengths of God is a great trade!

Don’t miss this wonderful benefit!

SAY THIS: I will invest time looking to the Lord expectantly in prayer.

Bookmark to:

Keep Thanking God By Apostle Robert Achwera

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 CEV 18 Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.

There are many things in life we may not understand. But we can understand this verse, and know that God gave these instructions for our benefit, to help us — not because God is so insecure that He needs constant thanks.

When bad things happen, what should we do?

Will it help to gripe and complain and feel sorry for ourselves?

No. That only makes things worse.

When bad things happen they seem to contradict belief in the goodness and care of God.

But we must remember that there is an enemy, the devil, who is out to steal our faith, our peace, and our joy. We are commanded in Scripture to resist him, staying strong in our faith.

Giving thanks is a powerful way to resist the devil. Even when we do not understand, and it seems like things are out of control and going downhill fast — we should force ourselves to stay in faith and be thankful.

(I am not saying God is responsible for evil, or to thank God for evil. Instead, I am saying we can thank God for what He is doing, and what He has already done for us in the sacrifice of Jesus — no matter what may be happening.)

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 NLT 18 No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

SAY THIS: I will keep thanking God, no matter what happens.

Bookmark to:

Your Body Is Your House By Apostle Robert Achwera

2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 NKJ 1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The “real you” is not your body. Your body is just a house you live in so you can function here on earth.

Just as someone can change houses where they live, you can, and will someday, leave your body and still exist.

We focus too much on our body. The inner part of us is most important. These bodies we live in are not eternal.

It is not wrong to take care of our bodies, any more than it is wrong to take care of the house or apartment where we live. It is a mistake, however, to spend all our time on our body and neglect our spirit and mind.

1 TIMOTHY 4:8 RSV 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Who a person is on the inside is more important than what their body looks like.

We judge too often on the house (body) that people live in, instead of focusing on the real person living inside that body.

SAY THIS: My body is only a temporary house where I live.

Bookmark to:

The Accurate Message Of Jesus By Apostle Robert Achwera

JOHN 8:31-32 NKJ 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The promise of Jesus is clear: the end result of staying in His Word will be freedom.

So, if you are not becoming more free, you need to examine if you are accurate in your understanding of the Word of God.

JOHN 8:31-32 KJV 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Whether the Greek word is translated as continue, abide, or remain, the meaning is clear. You need to stick with the Word; not stop and start; not try it for awhile; but jump in with both feet and stay there.

“What do you mean by freedom, preacher?”

I don’t mean a license to sin. Sin produces bondage — the opposite of what I am talking about.

I mean freedom in every area of life. Freedom from having to sin. Freedom from fear. Freedom from worry. Freedom from doubt. Freedom from strife. Freedom from confusion. Freedom from family problems. Freedom from oppression. Freedom from poverty. Freedom from disease.

Note that Jesus did not promise that everyone who called Him Master would automatically and instantly be free. Instead Jesus indicated that time would be involved before those who truly followed Him would see the full result of the freedom His Word would produce in their lives.

If you continue….

If you abide….

If you live in….

If you remain in….

Don’t forget the “IF.” And don’t forget the “CONTINUE.” This Scripture promise is NOT for everyone who claims to be a Christian. Only for those who are willing to spend the time and effort required to feed on God’s Word.

While I do not wish to criticize any group of Christian believers, I do think we should all individually judge our own situations. If the Bible teachers you have been listening to are not producing freedom in your life, you should prayerfully examine whether the message they proclaim is accurate — or distorted.

Remember that it only takes a tiny amount of poison added to an otherwise wonderful and nutritious meal to make it dangerous.

SAY THIS: I will continue, abide in, and remain in the accurate message of Jesus Christ, without ever giving up, and it will produce freedom in my life.

Bookmark to:

Life Is Good By Apostle Robert Achwera

God says that all He made is good.

GENESIS 1:31 NKJ 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

The devil wants us to believe that life is bad.

(One way he tries to accomplish this is through all the bad news reported daily. Feeding too much on bad news is not good for you. You can get the top news stories without spending hours every day listening to the bad things the devil is trying to do in the earth.)

If you think life is bad, you will be depressed, or maybe even bitter.

If you think life is good, you will be thankful.

No matter what your circumstances are, there are always things to enjoy and rejoice about. If we focus on the goodness and greatness of God: all He has created and all He has done for us, life will seem good. If, instead, we focus on our pains and problems, we will not enjoy life much.

Even the bad things of life — which are all the result of sin, not what God did — can benefit us IF they cause us to draw nearer to God and act on His Word.

God’s main purpose is to prepare us to be fit companions for Himself for eternity. (See Romans 8 — we WILL be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.) What God wants you to do is submit to Him, feed on His Word, be thankful, walk in faith, and let Him make you like Jesus Christ.

God’s plan is good.

Marriage is good. If we disobey God by husbands not loving their wives, and wives not respecting their husbands — it can be bad. But only because we make the wrong choice, to disregard God’s instruction.

Work is good. It is satisfying to do a job well and accomplish something. But when we don’t do our work as unto the Lord, or try to make our jobs our source, worshiping and serving money instead of God — work can be bad.

Family is good. Being surrounded by those you love and care for, and who love and care for you, is a wonderful blessing. But, when we fail to walk in love, and allow strife into our relationships — it can be bad.

If your life is not good, then you need to make adjustments based on the Bible.

When you see your cup as half full, instead of half empty — life will be better for you. Take time to smell the flowers, and rejoice in all the goodness of God. Rejoice in all the beauty of God’s creation — life.

SAY THIS: God made life, and it is very good.

Bookmark to:

How To Grow Spiritually By Apostle Robert Achwera

1 PETER 2:2 NKJ 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

Spiritual growth is similar to physical growth. Time, food, and activity are the requirements. God’s Word provides our spiritual food.

A full supply of nutritious spiritual food is the main requirement for spiritual growth. But spiritual activity is also required for you to grow strong, instead of just growing fat.

JAMES 1:22 NLT 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Acting on God’s Word is spiritual activity. Some examples are speaking God’s Word, praying, praising God, being thankful, walking in love, and trusting God.

EPHESIANS 4:15 NKJ 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ.

Speaking God’s Word is vital for spiritual growth. You must personalize and internalize what God said about you. Then you will begin to think, see, and act in line with God’s Word. This process is Bible meditation.

1 TIMOTHY 4:15 NKJ 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

How will you, and others, know when you are growing spiritually?

The evidence of spiritual growth is spiritual fruit. So, to know if you are growing spiritually, check your life for more of the fruit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.

GALATIANS 5:22-23 ESV 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Remember that growth is a process so don’t become discouraged if you don’t have abundant spiritual fruit immediately. Just keep feeding on God’s Word and it will produce the fruit of growth.

Another way of describing spiritual fruit (and thus spiritual growth) is becoming more like Jesus in the way you act.

EPHESIANS 4:13 NLT 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.

When you grow spiritually, you will grow in faith and love.

2 THESSALONIANS 1:3 NKJ 3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

SAY THIS: I love the pure milk of God’s Word which feeds my spirit and causes me to become more like Christ.

Bookmark to:

Don’t Talk Too Much By Apostle Robert Achwera

PROVERBS 10:19 ICB 19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet.

1 PETER 3:10 LB 10 If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue, and guard your lips from telling lies.

JAMES 1:19 NLT 19 My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

PROVERBS 17:27-28 ICB 27 The person who has knowledge says very little. And a person with understanding stays calm. 28 Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet. He appears to have understanding if he doesn’t speak.

ECCLESIASTES 5:3 NLT 3 Just as being too busy gives you nightmares, being a fool makes you a blabbermouth.

TITUS 3:2 NKJ 2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

2 TIMOTHY 2:16 NKJ 16 But shun profane and vain babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

1 TIMOTHY 1:6 NIV 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk.

1 TIMOTHY 5:13 NKJ 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

MATTHEW 12:36-37 NKJ 36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

SAY THIS: Lord, please help me to control my tongue and only say what is acceptable to you.

Bookmark to:

Don’t Give Up! By Apostle Robert Achwera

1 CORINTHIANS 10:13 THE MESSAGE 13 No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

All of us have been tempted to lose hope and give up. But we always have a choice: focus on God and stay in faith, or focus on the problem and give up.

Problems — no matter how huge they seem to us — are no problem to God. Nothing is too hard, or complicated, for God to solve. But God wants us to trust Him.

So what should you do when you are being tempted and feel like giving in and giving up?

Refuse!

Just keep your focus on the Lord and rejoice in His faithfulness. Remember that God cannot lie, and will never fail. God will see you through.

HEBREWS 10:23 NKJ 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

When the devil tries to steal your faith, he tries to get you to quit speaking in agreement with the Word of God. Don’t let it happen! Hold fast to speaking your faith! Keep on saying what the Word of God says about you and your situation. Don’t be moved by the circumstances.

GALATIANS 6:9 NIV 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Don’t grow weary. Keep your eyes on the Lord. His Word will work and produce a harvest of blessing in your life. Don’t doubt it!

SAY THIS: I will keep trusting in God and never give up!

Bookmark to:

Offering Time Apostle Robert Achwera

2 CORINTHIANS 9:7 NIV 7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Most people regard offering time as a necessary evil, at best.

As usual, our ideas are much different than what the Word of God teaches.

God does not encourage giving just to meet the needs of His work on earth. No, God does it for our good, so that we can be blessed. (Also, to combat selfishness.)

Every offering time is an opportunity for us to worship God and express our love to Him in a tangible way. But God, being so good, has designed it so that when we do give to Him it also functions like planting a seed, which will produce a harvest of blessing in our life.

God designed His creation to work in such a way that money and blessing will come back to us in even greater measure than we give out.

2 CORINTHIANS 9:6,8 NIV 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

One way the devil tries to suppress the spread of the Gospel is by making people believe that messages like this are just to get money, as if preachers dreamed up the Bible for their own benefit. No, God planned all this, and He is smart enough to know that without adequate funding, those whom He has called to teach and equip His people will be held back, unable to be as effective as they should be.

When we give to those proclaiming the Word of God on earth, God considers it giving to Him, and a seed sown.

A farmer does not hate planting his crops. Farmers don’t whine about having to put their seed in the ground. No, they look forward with joy to the time of harvest they know is coming, because they understand how seeds work.

If we believe God’s Word, then we know our giving works exactly as the seed the farmer plants in the ground.

You don’t have to believe this (or anything God teaches us in His Word). But surely you can understand that refusing to believe God’s Word is NOT a way to please Him.

SAY THIS: I will plant my financial seeds with joy and thanksgiving, as I worship God with my money.

Bookmark to: