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ISSUES OF PROCESS The issues of life do not always flow in the order of our human permutations and projections. In other words, what we often see and consider as main issues, do not always count with God. One of the poems we learnt as children tells of a personality called Solomon Grundy. The concept of the poem revolves around the life and times of the man – Solomon Grundy born on Monday, Christened on Tuesday, Married in Wednesday….bla, bla, bla! As little children, we are taught about a predictable life that revolves around in cycles. We believed every human destiny must move in certain directions in order for it to be normal. We know better, understanding that life is not
about one plus one being two. That we are born into this realm is not a guarantee, we must be Christened. That we get married or have children isn’t an assurance. A God-factor sets into virtually every facet of life. “I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift , nor the battle to the strong neither yet bread to the wise , nor yet riches to men of understanding , nor yet favour to men of skill ; but time and chance happeneth to them all. For man also knoweth not his time : as the fishes that are taken in an evil net , and as the birds that are caught in the snare ; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time , when it falleth suddenly upon them.” ~ Eccl.9:11 – 12 The beauty of life is best appreciated in the context of process and not speed
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ingdom Advancement Principles:
The Coat of Many Colours The preacher says the race is not to the swift. In paraphrasing, we conclusively say, we don’t win in life on the account of our speed. 1 Cor.9:24-27 says: Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” The race of life leads to a crown that is imperishable and this demands that we consider the process as VITAL. The word ‘temperate’ is a Greek word ‘egkrateuomai’ and it means to exercise self restrain. The carnal man craves a reward and naturally fails to see things from a
divine perspective. The story of Joseph in Genesis teaches that there is no short cut to success. The life of Joseph is one that depicts the process in Kingdom advance. It is an expression of running with patience and temperance rather than speed. While the carnal celebrates speed, the spiritual man is considerate about bringing discipline to the body. Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” Laying aside weights while at the same time running with patience opens a dimension to the Church on the issue of process. Why should we opt to run cautiously rather than speedily? The race of life is not about pace but in our ability to internalize the principles that we
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KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT PRINCIPLES: Coat of Many Colours glean from our encounters. Joseph obviously understood this process as one in which we deal personally with our humanity so we are can develop in divinity. “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2 Like Jesus, whom we must mirror as author and finisher. Enduring the cross and despising the shame becomes easy when we truly receive the revelation of the joy set before. All of the offenses that come our way must be laid at the cross. The word ‘endure’ is translated to staying under, to bear, to have fortitude or persevere. Joseph expressed this dealing with bitterness and rejection. The power to succeed in life’s process does not just come out of our natural attributes and potentials but out of our ability to take the right decisions and actions at the right time. v.11b (Eccl.9) Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. Our talents, intelligence and gifts actually amount to nothing without the divine harmony of time and chance. Zech.4:6 says: “So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.” The harmony of time and chance is by the Spirit. The word ‘chance’ is a Hebrew word ‘Pega’ that connotes impact. (also see Deut.8:18) Joseph’s Time and Joseph’s Chance is revealing when we understand the concept of his process
from the pit to the corridors of power in Egypt. Eccl.9:12 says ‘man does not know his time’. We must know our time so we can take our impact into new levels of experience in God. The word ‘Know’ is ‘Yada’ means and it means to ascertain by seeing, recognizing or observing. Times of trials in the life of Joseph are clearly portrayed in his changing coats. In other words, the things we cherish the most and want to preserve in the flesh must be willingly released. The loss of his coat of many colors, saw him take up a coat in potiphar’s house which he eventually lost to Potiphar’s wife. The prison coat turned out ultimately to have been the portal he needed to get to Pharoah’s coat. The changing coats of Joseph represent the changing seasons and times which we are going to see in the dynamics of the coat.
The DYnamICs of The CoaT - The sIGnIfICanCe of The PrIson CoaT Joseph was un-daunting in his disposition towards the transition to the Kings prison. In the same manner in which he responded to the shift to Potiphar’s house, Joseph eschewed bitterness. The prison environment was another process point in the life of Joseph that was to further release the multi dimensional life of Christ from within. The prison is a place of limitation and handicap. In the natural, prison situations are designed to reform the life of those who have violated others. For an offense that Joseph did not commit, he found himself in prison – a place of complete loss to freedom. “Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. and he was there in the prison.” 21 But the LorD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and he gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” – Gen.39:20-21
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The Lord was with Joseph in the Kings prison - It was not in any way a place of limitation for Joseph because the Lord was with him. The prison became a place of expression in God’s mercy and favor. v. 22-23 “and the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LorD was with him; and whatever he did, the LorD made it prosper.” The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners – Through the prison situation, the Lord was raising Joseph to another level of leadership and administrative capability. That prisoners were under the authority of Joseph indicated that Joseph was functioning in a dimension of reformation. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority - The prison situation helped to further develop Joseph in the place of integrity. Joseph was accountable and responsible for the management of the prisoners and the business of the prison. The anointing of the spirit of God on the life of Joseph was connecting him into a capacity to open the prison to those who are bound. “The spirit of the Lord GoD is upon me, Because the LorD has anointed me To preach good tidings to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;” – Isaiah 61:1 Opening of the prison to the butler and the baker Gen.40:1-5 “It came to pass after these things that the butler
and the baker of the king of egypt offended their lord, the king of egypt. 2 and Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief butler and the chief baker. 3 so he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison, the place where Joseph was confined. 4 and the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them; so they were in custody for a while. 5 Then the butler and the baker of the king of egypt, who were confined in the prison, had a dream, both of them, each man’s dream in one night and each man’s dream with its own interpretation.” Within every life lies a situation which could be likened unto a prison condition. It is in reality, a prison within a prison. The imprisonment of our spirit man in the case of our bodies confines the operation of the spirit man and limits the function of the human spirit. The human body in itself becomes subject to its own prison as a result of the imprisonment of the human spirit. Apostle Paul said,” o wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? – romans 7:24 Paul was indeed talking about the slavery of his human body. There is a level to which the human body has been designed to function in. Often, we are confined to operating under our capacity because of the bounds that have been place on us by the prison of sin that this body has procured. With Love and warmest wishes from
LemmY rUsseL. www.gospelhouseministries.org
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YADAH meets
Gabriel EA ziashi A
prolific songwriter and a dynamic singer with a phenomenal voice range, his drive and fervour for the art of worship has made him one of the most compelling voices to emerge from the UK gospel scene.
interview.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Gabriel Eziashi is the fifth in a family of seven siblings. He has been involved in the UK gospel music scene for over thirteen years, serving as a worship leader for over twelve years with Jesus House for All The Nations, (a parish under The Redeemed Christian Church of God) Mandate men’s choir and the Festival of Life, which is the largest gathering of Christians in Europe.
I’d start by saying I did not get into music. It’s has always been in me. I could say that because I never learnt music; what you see and hear is what is referred to as RAW TALENT. In fact to the best of my knowledge I’ve been singing all my life, but went into it, more organised in 1989, when I join a group known as “Public Notice”.
Eziashi recorded his first album in the summer of 2006, and spent two years after that extensively touring the whole of the United Kingdom and Europe, ministering and promoting the album, titled “Stand By Me”. Yadah recently hooked-up with Him. Here’s an excerpt of the
How did you get into music and particularly gospel music?
Now I really delved into Gospel Music in about 1993 when I gave my life to Christ at “Rhema Chapel” Agbowo in Ibadan; Oyo State, Nigeria. Those were very trying times when I was faced with abject poverty with no apparent way out - but Jesus came in and that was the beginning of a whole new journey. Despite the
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odds, each time I cried out to Jesus, something seemed to happen and change my circumstances around. So in appreciation of His faithfulness in my life, I decided I will never sing any other type of music - but Gospel Music. You recorded your second album in Nigeria. How does the Nigerian experience compare with that in the UK? I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase before “THE DIFFERENCE IS CLEAR”. I understood the meaning in totality while recording this album in Nigeria. Now don’t get me wrong; will I do it again? My answer is a HUGE YES. Nigeria is my country, I love her with every fibre in my being, but we have a lot of ground to cover. As per the experience, it’s simply “UNFORGETTABLE”. The sheer talent roaming the streets of Lagos are immeasurable, the gifting unfathomable. On my first album, I worked with one producer, while on this album I worked with four producers. The reason was that I wanted the very the best for the genre of music and I’m so glad I got it. The producers are Cobhams Asuquo, Wole Oni, Iyke Onka and Rotimi Akinfenwa. Their personalities are as different as their area of specialization, it was simply phenomenal. I observe that your album comprises both African and English lyrics. Was this deliberate and what type of audience are you looking to capture? Personally, I love all genre of music. Whether its Classical, Jazz, Afro etc I believe they were all created by God. As a minister of the gospel both in Word and in music, I wanted to reach everyone by making sure I created an understanding for my style of music. Hence, virtually everyone who has listened to my music could go along with it because I sang in different languages including English, for their understanding. I see music as an opportunity or a vehicle to spread the good news of the Kingdom. Some would say there is a showbiz element to the gospel music industry today. Having shared the platform with literally the top names in the industry, how do you manage to remain humble and not let the showbiz aspect of the industry take over? Very simple, I know where HE picked me from, and believe poverty is VERY BAD; it’s a disease no man should have. I also know that without HIM I can do
nothing. So I make every effort to remind myself of the fact that, if I allow pride or “showbiz element” to take hold of me, I know that that will be the beginning of my end. As a Pastor, family man and gospel singer how are you able to juggle all your roles without getting burnt out? First and foremost, it has been by God’s grace. Secondly, I am so privileged to be married to the most beautiful woman, both physically and at heart - my wife Oludayo Eziashi. Her support has been immeasurable. Thirdly, the leadership team God has given me has been exceptionally brilliant. Finally, I was also privileged to come in contact with a gentle man, who today is my manager (Joel Benson). He actually coordinated everything back in Nigeria. They remain ever supportive, praise be to God. What would be your advice to up and coming gospel artists? In particular, how would you encourage Pastors with the same gifting? My advice to both the Pastors and the upcoming artiste would be the same. First make sure your motive for going into gospel music is strictly to and for the glory of God and the body of Christ (The Church), anything other than this will cause you heartache and frustration. Second thing, it’s a process. Music takes time. Learn to make mistakes and get better at what you love doing. Finally, you must have mentor(s). These people are those you know and trust; who will tell you the truth as it is. They can be Men or Women of God, or your most trusted friends, and other music artistes. For example, Alvin Slaughter and Donnie McClurkin are two of my music mentors. Lastly, how can your CDs/DVDs’ be obtained? It could be ordered from www.gabrieleziashi.com, OHTV STORE, ITUNES, CDBABY, PAGES BOOKSHOP (Jesus House) and various Christian bookshops across the UK.
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Our Father in Heaven Heal our Land Join millions of Christians around the Globe to pray for London, the Nation, the World and be inspired into Mission
Sunday 13th June 2010 West Ham United F.C. Green Street, London E13 9AZ (Nearest Station: Upton Park District Line)
Doors open and Worship from 2.00pm ~ Main Programme 3.00pm - 6.00pm
Artists include: Graham Kendrick, Noel Robinson, Godfrey Birtill Dave & Pat Bilbrough, The All Souls Orchestra and X Factor finalist Bev Trotman
Tickets ÂŁ5.00
(Children under 10 go free)
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