Jesus Goes Before You

And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him…

John 10:4

Jesus Goes Before You

Have you ever seen a farmer trying to drive a bunch of geese from one location to another? He goes behind the geese, doesn’t he? Compare this to a shepherd who leads his sheep. He goes before them and the sheep simply follow him.

Jesus is our shepherd and we are His sheep. He does not drive us, but He leads us. Legalistic people drive others. Jesus leads. He goes in front of us. He is not like the sergeant who says, “Men, cross this river. I’ll cover you from behind,” because he suspects that the river is infested with crocodiles. Jesus is not that kind of leader. He goes in front of us.

In the Old Testament, Jesus led the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. Do you know how Jesus appeared back then? He appeared in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Where was that pillar? It was in front of them. In fact, the pillar of cloud shaded them from the hot desert sun so that they were kept cool during the day. At night, when the desert got very cold, Jesus, the pillar of fire, gave them light as well as warmth. Whether He was the pillar of cloud or fire, He went in front of them.

As long as they followed Him, the Israelites did not have to worry about anything. Jesus took care of all their needs. He gave them water when they were thirsty, and bread and meat when they were hungry. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. They were kept in good health throughout the 40 years of their wandering in the wilderness.

My friend, Jesus your shepherd wants you to just follow Him. As long as you allow Him to lead you, all your needs will be taken care of. He is your provision, healer, counselor, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification…He is everything you need Him to be!

Never Give Way To Devil

Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26–27

Anger Management

When you encounter someone who is nasty to you, how do you normally react? Many of us tend to get angry, and if we really lose our cool, we end up saying or doing things we regret later.

My friend, the Bible says, “Be angry, and do not sin.” It’s not a sin to feel anger, but don’t allow that anger to cause you to sin. And don’t give place to the devil by letting that anger take root in your heart.

“How do I do that Pastor Prince?”

Focus your attention on how much God loves you!

Once, I was walking to my car and I saw a man walking in front of me with his wife. His car was parked next to mine. When he opened his car door, he did it with such force that it hit my car with a loud “thud!” Then, he glared at me as if I had wronged him. Without a word of apology, he got into his car and slammed the door. His wife quickly went into the car like a meek little lamb.

I was on my way to church, full of the Holy Ghost, ready to preach on God’s love. But now, I was angry! I sat in my car, nostrils flaring. I said, “Lord, I am angry!” The Lord said to me, “Do you know that I love that man?” I said, “Yeah, but I don’t want to know about it right now, Lord.” The Lord then told me that the reason that man behaved that way was that he really did not know how much He loved him. So he was grouchy. He was angry. He was bitter toward life.

“Now, you experienced it only once,” the Lord said, “Imagine living with him like his wife does.” Then, He said, “Son, do you know that I love you? You are blessed because compared to him, you know how much I love you.” As I focused on God’s love for me, my anger melted away.

Beloved, in moments of anger, the devil wants you to focus on what the other person has done to you. But God wants you to focus on what Hehas done for you at Calvary. Today, feed on His love for you, and let Him turn every bitter situation sweet!

Personalize God's Favor In Your Life

Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper…

John 21:20

Personalize God’s Favor In Your Life

In the Gospel of John, you will find John referring to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” several times. Why did he do that? Did Jesus love him more than the rest?

My friend, John was simply practicing and personalizing the love that Jesus had for him. We are all God’s favorites, but John knew the secret of accessing Jesus’ unmerited favor for himself. It is your prerogative to see yourself as the disciple whom Jesus loves, and to call yourself that!

As you keep reminding yourself that you are the disciple whom Jesus loves, you will grow in the consciousness of the Lord’s love for you. And the more you are conscious of His love for you, the more you will find your fears dissipating. Why? Because His perfect love casts out all fear (1 John4:18). And besides living fear-free, you will also begin to experience an increased measure of His free favors!

Jesus’ Heart Revealed

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Luke 4:18–19

Jesus’ Heart Revealed

When Jesus was in a synagogue in Nazareth, He spoke of how God sent Elijah to the widow of Zarephath, and Elisha to Naaman the Syrian. If you read these two stories in the Old Testament, you will realize that one is a miracle of provision and abundance (the widow’s last bit of oil was multiplied), while the other is a miracle of healing (Naaman was cleansed of leprosy).

So even in the Old Testament, we see that God’s desire is to amply provide for and heal people. It’s not His will for anyone to suffer lack, or to perish from disease. In the New Testament, when Jesus encountered lack, He gave huge catches of fish, and multiplied loaves and fish. When the sick came to Him, He always healed them.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. Settle it in your heart and mind that He wants you healthy and provided for. Take time to read all the miracles of provision and healing in the Gospels and see Jesus’ heart for you today.

Keep Hearing The Good News

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:17

Keep Hearing The Good News

Let me share with you what hearing and hearing the good news of the gospel did for one student in my congregation.

This student had done badly in her mid-year examination, failing three core subjects. Her parents then started playing my messages in their home and car as often as they could. As this girl listened repeatedly to the messages, her parents shared with me that they noticed a dramatic change in her attitude toward her studies. She started to place her hope and reliance on God, and peace began to replace the stress of school.

Six months later, in her final-year examination, to her delight (and that of her parents), she scored really well in those core subjects and received two awards: one for being among the top students in class and another for having made the best progress!

Beloved, whatever your challenge is today, continual listening to the gospel of Jesus always brings faith and peace, and always leads you to good success!

Far Above Every Negative Thing

He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Ephesians 1:20–21

Far Above Every Negative Thing

Isn’t it wonderful to know that God does not measure and judge you based on your performance today? Instead, He looks at Jesus, and as Jesus is, that is how He sees you. His Word declares that “as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).

Notice that it does not say that “as Jesus was on earth, so are we in this world.” That would be amazing enough because during Jesus’ ministry on earth, healing, blessings and abundance followed Him everywhere He went. Yet, that is not what the Word says. What it says is, “as Jesus is” (present tense). In other words, as He is right now, so are we in this world!

So just consider where Jesus is today. Right now, He is seated at the Father’s right hand, “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” If I were you, I would take some time to meditate on this passage because as Jesus is, so are you right now, in this world. Meditate on how as Jesus is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named,” so are you! See yourself as Jesus is, far above every principality and power, far above every disease and physical condition, far above every kind of fear, depression and addiction, and begin to reign over every negative situation in your life today!

Be The Blessed Man

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7–8

Who wouldn’t want to be the blessed man described in Jeremiah 17?

In both good and bad times, the blessed man thrives and reigns. He is like a tree planted by the waters, with its roots spread out by the river. When the heat is on—when the competition heats up or when there is a financial drought—he doesn’t fear or worry. His “leaves” remain green, in other words, he stays young and fresh. And he continues to be fruitful—always succeeding and seeing the desired results, whether in his business, career, family life or ministry!

How do you enjoy the blessings of the blessed man? You look not to man but to Jesus alone. Looking to Jesus is to meditate on His Word, His unmerited favor and His gift of righteousness. Begin to truly put your trust and hope in Jesus, instead of in your own strength or other people. Then, get ready to thrive and be bountifully fruitful whether times are good or bad!