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nd we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

The path of life has many twists and turns. Many of those turns present themselves suddenly and abruptly. There are turns we can choose to take and there are those we are forced to take. Each turn presents a new situation or circumstance. Often time we tend to make decisions based on what we see in front of us, as if we are on a straight path with no turns or exits. Many have abandoned their goals because all they see is a path that leads to a dead end or insurmountable obstacles. What you don't see, is the turn along that very path that will bring about the change you seek or the turn that will steer you around many obstacles. Often times the obstacle we see ahead is really a turning point that will bring us into a better situation.

We must come to a place of understanding where the sovereignty of God is concerned. There is no situation or circumstance beyond His sphere of control. As a matter of fact He is the master of situations, even those situations that seem to place us outside His will!

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When Rehoboam (the son of Solomon) became King, Jeroboam and the assembly of Israel came to him and asked for the heavy yoke and hard service that Solomon had placed on them to be lightened.

Having told them to come back in 3 days for his answer, Rehoboam sought advice from the old men who served under Solomon while he was alive.

They advised him to serve the people and respond kindly to them so that he will gain their service.

However, Rehoboam forsook their counsel and instead turned to the young men who grew up with him for advice. The young men gave him the advice that would appeal to his ego and said, "to the people who told you, your father made our yoke heavy, but you make it lighter for us, say this,

'my little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins and now whereas my father loaded you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions'" (1 Kings 12:10-11 AMP).

The King took the counsel of the young men over the old and answered the people in the manner prescribed by them. It is at this point that the bible reveals that the situation was from the Lord (1Kings 12:15 AMP) in order to fulfil His word regarding the Kingdom being torn away from the son of Solomon.

God is able to fulfil His word in ways that we cannot fathom or even anticipate. With insight, stealth and perfect timing He instigates, orchestrates and creates situations that will bring about a

God did not have to use an army to rend the Kingdom from him. All it took was a situation that catered for his own ego. Don't be afraid of influential people who are against you, for they are just a situation away from having to make decisions that will work in your favour. As mentioned, there is no situation or circumstance that is beyond God's sphere of control. To truly grasp the gravity of that statement you must take God out of the religious box and recognise His involvement in situations that seem far from His will.

Whether initiated by Him or allowed by Him, He is in control!

desired outcome even in the most dire of circumstances. There are many other examples of God's surreptitious method of creating situations to change what seemed inevitable: Judges 14: God creates a situation, which ignites a sequence of tic-for-tact rivalry between Samson and the Philistines.

2Kings 7v1-2: God changes the economic climate of Israel in one day 2Kings 7v6: God causes the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, thus abandoning the siege of Israel.

Because God knows the hearts of everyone, He knows how to create situations that will influence even the decision makers that affect your life (Proverbs 21:1). In the case of King Rehoboam,

That being said, it is not God's intent to be the master puppeteer of His children. As sons of God, He has given us the Kingdom so that we too may have power over circumstances. Like all Kingdoms, the Kingdom of Heaven is based on a system of operation. As a matter of fact, the Kingdom is a system. A system by definition is an assembly or combination of things working together as a unitary whole. All systems operate according to a principle or a law. A law is a rule of action; it determines the function of a system.

Once you discover and obey the law of any particular system, you can use that system for your own benefit. The invention of the light bulb, radio,TV etc came about through discovering the laws by which certain systems operate. Many of these laws have been named after the scientist who discovered them; such as Newton's law of gravity, Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction and Einstein's theory of relativity. These men discovered systems and the principle upon which the components of that system operated and then used it for their own benefit. Everything functions systematically.

So how do we achieve power over circumstance? to be continued....

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MZ Tell us a bit about your background, where are you originally from and where are you based now? Well I was born in Georgetown, Guyana but I was raised in Queens, New York where I am based. My Dad was a pastor in Guyana and he felt the call of God to start a church in Queens, NY. So I moved to NY at an early age and was basically raised there.

MZ When and how did you fall in love with ‘hip hop’ and how did your ministry begin? I loved hip-hop since I was a child. I remember seeing this rap group at a concert in Guyana... I don't know their name but they did a song called where will I go when I die? Well, when my family migrated to N.Y. I totally fell in love with the music. As far as when the ministry begun....hmmmm...I always was into music. I played drums in my father's church. So I was always around music. I remember rapping at age 13 and 14 for fun in church. Throughout my teenage years it was just a hobby.

But around ages 17/18, just before my father died I begun to realize that God was gonna use my gift. I lacked integrity at the time however...and the years that followed I had to deal with some of those issues.

MZ Is your ministry solely music based or does it extend into other areas? No it’s not just music. I preach a whole lot.

My sermons are available on my website for free at www.RichieRighteous.com. I currently assist in pastoring my church in Queens. I also graduated with a degree in Theatre and I hope to someday do plays and movies. I recently wrote a Christ-mas play that was performed last Christmas.

MZ Who would you say you have been influenced or inspired by and why? I grew up in NY so there were many rappers I listened to that had the ability to rap...Biggie, Nas, Jay Z and I could go on. I would be hypocritical to say that in some way or another of these rappers didn't influence me. It’s funny because I never was a secular rapper. I was always gospel and I thank God for that. The inspiration behind my music has always been the Gospel of Jesus.

MZ Tell us about your most recent project ‘R.I.C.H. Resting In Christ Hands’ which features the ever popular track ‘Who you represent?’ What was the inspiration behind this album? I wanted people to know about this awesome relation-ship I have with Christ. We live in a world where success is measured by how much you possess, or should I say if you are Rich. I wanted to redefine what success is according to what God says. It’s a very personal album...I have songs like ‘M.R.I.’ and ‘Patiently Waiting’ that describes some of my personal struggles.

MZ You’ve recently finished your debut tour ministering in the UK with Mali Music and various UK artists?

How did you find that experience? I enjoyed it so much. The UK has many good talented people that love’s God, that blessed me. However, it didn’t take me long to realize that the UK did not know my ministry (smile). So they didn’t know what to expect. It was a joy to see people night after night just shocked to see what God is doing in my life. My only regret is that I did not have more time on stage. The crowds definitely did not want me to get off either. I felt like there was so much more I had to impart. I guess there is always next time. But, I absolutely loved what God did on this tour.

MZ You also shared one of your testimonies during your UK tour which the track ‘M.R.I’ is based on; could you also share it with our readers? Yeah, the track is about me going to the doctor to get checked out for a tumour

and not knowing what the result would be.

The Song has a twist in the middle because I portray a scene in which my wife is dreaming (get the album... LOL) anyway the song is ultimately about trusting God no matter what circumstance you may be facing. Trust him even if the outcome is not what you would like it to be.

MZ Could you give an example of challenges you have faced in your Christian walk and how have you overcome? In the beginning of my ministry I lacked integrity. My son was born out of wedlock. I am now married to his mother. I realized quick that talent is what men see, but integrity is what God sees. I struggled, and I still don't have it all together. But I have come to trust in Him who is able to keep me from falling. I also struggle with low-self esteem, but once again the beauty of this relationship is that when I am weak God is strong, my confidence is in God. I’ve experienced a lot of hurt that at times I was bitter against people. All these things I was able to release through much prayer and reading God's word.eli MZ What can we look forward to hearing from you in the future, what are you future plans? I am currently recording new tracks for a summer release of a Deluxe Edition of Let’s Come Together. In add-ition, I will begin working on a “Love” project this year. One of the songs on the Deluxe Edition of Let’s Come Together will give listeners a sneak peak of what to expect on the Love project. This is very close to my heart because I love singing about love.

MZ What encouraging words do you have for up and coming gospel hiphop artists? Stay faithful to the Lord. Stay in His word. Seek to please Him first not man.

Let Him use you. Don't give up. Work Hard.

Give it your all. Don't do it for man's approval do it for God's approval. Even if you get fame and wealth it doesn't mean God is pleased.

Make sure you please the Lord.

MZ Thank you for your time.

To find out more about Richie visit www.RichieRighteous.com

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supernatural wealth transfer that the Lord

by His spirit has been prophesying to the church in the last few years. “The power to get wealth” in Deuteronomy 8:18 is primarily a supernatural endowment or enhancement of the mental faculties to operate at levels beyond oneís natural skills, talents and abilities; and it comes via divine revelation. I have not only read these scriptures, but found it to be true in my life and most recently in experience of publishing my first book-Footprints of Giants, from which contents of this article have been adapted.

A person who does not have the Spirit does not accept the truths that come from the Spirit of God. That person thinks they are foolish and cannot understand them, be-cause they can only be judged to be true by the Spirit. The spiritual person is able to judge all things, but no one can judge him. The Scripture says: “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has been able to teach him?” But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:14-18 (New Century Version)

These verses of scriptures teach cogent truth that holds the key to supernatural and victorious living. Firstly, the leadings of the spirit are incomprehensible and foolish to those without the spirit. Secondly, the spiritual person is one who has an ability to discern the leading of the spirit. Thirdly, we believers have the mind of Christ, and hence are equipped to receive the leading of the spirit.

It is accepting and acting on the leading of the spirit that, not only holds the key to victorious living, but also I believe, the secret to the

Grasping this concept and acting on it would enrich your life in no small measure.

The power of an idea, concept, business plan, or marketing strategy revealed by the spirit of God to your human spirit and translated to your human mind for your body to action, cannot be underestimated in transforming your situation. It takes just a word revealed (rhema), believed and acted on to move you from where you are now to where you wish and ought to be.

It is my firm conviction based on scriptural insight that, the edge that believers are beginning to demonstrate and would progressively do, over non- believers in all spheres of life, prominent among which is the market place; is by divine revelation of concepts, ideas and strategies that outwit traditional wisdom.

Wisdom in Proverbs 8:18 boasts that “Riches and honour are with me, enduring riches and righteousness”. However, 1 Corinthians 1:30 reveals who “Wisdom” is when it says-”But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who became for us “Wisdom” from God”. Christ is the wisdom of God, and the great news to shout on the rooftop about is, “We have the mind of Christ”!

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Yes, we have the mind of Christ, but it would only work for us if we learn how to tune in to and obtain direction from His spirit. Before going ahead to share with you personal experiences of victory by the revelation, letís first find out from scriptures how to access the mind of Christ via His Spirit.

Be Status Conscious Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. (New king James) John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Believers must recognise we are sons and so have access to divine direction by the Holy Spirit. Expect to be led by His Spirit because you are a son and it is the privilege of sons to be led. The fact that we have the mind of Christ means we possess the antenna through which the Holy Spirit can transmit messages to our human spirits. We however need to tune and train those antennae ( human spirit) to receive from the transmitting station (Holy Spirit). Stop confessing being clueless or without solution, because you can access the direction you need if you care to.

May I ask you dear reader, “how desperate are you to hear from God about your ministry, church, marriage, calling or business?”. “The decisive test for desire is the price the bearer is willing to pay in exchange for itís accomplishment”. (Footprints of Giants 2009 ). If indeed you acknowledge that the divine idea from the Holy Spirit holds the key to your break through, may I challenge you to demonstrate it, by seeking Him until you are convinced beyond all doubts that He has spoken to you? What you need to do with the word or idea laid on your heart is subject for part2 of this article.......

Be a Seeker

Dr .T. Ayodele Ajayi

Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart”.

Everyone who is an ardent, relentless seeker of God for divine insight into their affairs is guaranteed divine leading. I am not ashamed to admit that it is my usual practise to seek God in my heart for the leading of His spirit in the cross road moments in my clinical practise and academic pursuits. I recount once, being confronted with a work-based manage-

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ment project for which I was not naturally inclined or suited. Even, choosing the topic of the project was a challenge as management essays are not a natural area of strength, being a clinician. However, upon seeking God, He

by His Spirit not only gave me a topic, but also a strategy to write my project, such that I came out tops in a class comprising of seasoned managers who had a daily working knowledge of what the project required. The tutor later commented in writing, that over the entire period of several years teaching the course, my essay was one of the most outstanding she had ever assessed.

Dr Ajayi is a Psychiatrist and an Associate Pastor with New Covenant Church. His recently released maiden book-”Footprints of Giants” has been embraced and acclaimed as practical, motivationalinspirational and life-changing, both within and outside the church.

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