Don’t Wrest the Scriptures

[2 Peter 3:15‭-‬16 KJV] “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”

“as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction”

I want to exhort you to always read the Bible in the context that God wants all men to walk in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. God is holy and expects us to be holy; you must always read the Bible in that context.

It is important to understand that certain parts of the Scriptures are more difficult to understand than others. Apostle Peter testifies that Apostle Paul has some kind of superior wisdom that makes him write things that are hard to understand.

These portions of the Scriptures poses a danger to two main classes of people:

1. The unlearned and
2. The unstable

These are the two key classes of people who find it hard to understand and interpret the Scriptures in context.

Anytime you meet anyone who is either unlearned or unstable, beware of their interpretation of the Scriptures. When people are unstable, they fall into the danger of wrestling portions of the Scriptures.

One of the key requirements of God’s servants or preachers is to rightly divide the word of truth, being a workman who needs not be ashamed. To be able to rightly divide the word of truth, you must first understand that the Bible contains:

1. Instructions
2. Promises
3. Warnings
4. Testimonies and
5. Accounts or narrations

The Bible is the word of God and must be read in context. Whatever portion of the Bible you read may be categorized into any of these.

1. The promises of God gives us hope and faith
2. The testimonies of the Lord will keep us from covetousness (See Psalm 119:36)
3. The warnings of the Lord will keep our souls from destruction
4. The instructions of the Lord will make us wise and give us understanding
5. The accounts or narrations of the Lord comforts and teaches us lessons to learn (See Roman 15:1-4)

God bless you so much. I do not doubt that God will guide your heart into the Scriptures.

Stay blessed

Simpe Bediako

Originally published at highcity.org

Only God Can Change a Man

[Jeremiah 13:23 KJV] “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.”

Introduction

There is only one thing that can transform and change a man; that is to allow the word of God to renew your mind. You will not see any transformation in your life until you allow the word of God to change and transform your mind.

The Lord, through the Prophet Jeremiah, quizzed whether a leopard change its spots? It is only possible for a person addicted to sin to transformed if you change your mind. You must allow the word of God to change your mind.

We are not seeing much change and transformation because we are not;

1. Hearing the word
2. Believing the word nor
3. Allowing the word to change us

Many of us are just playing church. We are no longer watching the videos nor soaking in preaching messages. Many of us are not even visiting the devotional at highcity.org anymore. Many of us are sinking into sin and carnality because we are not engaging with the word.

I believe we have come to that place where we have to allow the word of God to help us renew our minds. The word is the only thing that will make us Christ-like.

Indeed, transformation is the work of the word, grace, and the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

May the Lord help us to allow the word we hear always to renew our minds. We can shine as lights in this dark and crooked generation. We can do better when we allow the word to guide us.

Stay blessed

Simpe Bediako

Originally published at highcity.org

The Word of God is Spirit and Life

I want to exhort you on the value of the word and the need to eat this bread on daily basis. Let me begin by saying that if you don’t eat this word on a daily basis, you will not be a healthy Christian. The word is spirit and life.

[John 6:63 KJV]“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life”

Listen!

The word of God is spirit and life, and when you allow that word into your life, it brings about changes you cannot explain.

1. The word of God drives out devils:

As you learn to stay in the atmosphere of the word, demons leave your life. I have no doubt that the word of God is power and can drive out devils. Those who learn to stay in the atmosphere of the word live a demon-free life. The word releases you from demonic holds.

2. The word creates faith and miracle:

Those who hear by faith receive the ministry of the spirit and miracles. The word you hear creates your world. This is the time to hear and believe for a miracle.

3. The word inspires hope and nourishes the soul:

The word of God inspires not just hope but also nourishes the soul. The word in your life is the hope of glory. Those who reject the word of God will soon dry up.

4. The word will break every chain of darkness:

The word is the light that can defeat darkness. I want you to believe that even in the face of freak darkness, the word will deliver results. The word breaks every chain of darkness.

Stay blessed

Simpe Bediako

Originally published at highcity.org

How to Engage with the Preacher for the Manifestations of the Supernatural

I want to exhort on how we can stir up an atmosphere for the manifestations of the supernatural acts of God in the church and in our lives.

An atmosphere of the word is always an atmosphere of the supernatural and miracles. One of the greatest secrets to stir the acts of God is to engage with the preacher. Many of us, when soaking in the word, don’t engage the preacher.

You do not put the preacher at ease. Many of us even avoid eye contact with the preach and are often absent minded when the preaching is going on.

The Bible tells us the story of a man who was healed while Apostle Paul was preaching. Apostle Paul was able to minister to the man because the man engaged with him.

Engage the Preacher

The Bible teaches that the man heard Apostle Paul as he spake. He engaged the apostle, and Paul beholding that he had faith to be healed ministered to him.

[Acts 14:6‭-‬10 KJV]“They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: And there they preached the gospel.”

“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked”.

I have no doubt in my mind or heart that if we shall all strive to engage the preacher and respond to the messages, we will create an atmosphere that provokes the supernatural.

The word is all that you need to get all that you need. “There was nothing made that was made without the word.” Right from the beginning, everything has been by the word. All we must strive to do is to listen intently to stir up the spirit of the speaker!

Stay blessed

Simpe Bediako

Originally published at highcity.org

7 Reasons Why You Must Make Time to Listen to God’s Word

The Lord has declared 7 days of hearing and hearing by the God’s word. We want to spend these 7 days listening to God’s word to us by His prophetic voice in the scriptures.

In these 7 days, we will go to the archives and chose any message, and listen to the full message. We are going to gather at night and study the word of God. This is a prophetic direction and we will respect it.

Why should we spend 7 days soaking in the word of God and reading Psalms, Proverbs, and the Gospels? This is a 7 days challenge and I pray that you commit yourself to it.

Let me share seven simple reasons with you.

1. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

[Romans 10:17 KJV] “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”.

2. Hearing and allowing the Word to abide in you leads to answered prayer.

[John 15:7 KJV] “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

The Bible is strong on this one!

[Proverbs 28:9 KJV] “He that turneth away from his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

3. Hearing the Word of God is the secrets to the anointing of the Holy Spirit and working of miracles:

Hearing by faith is one of the greatest secrets to greater anointing and working of miracles among us. The more you listen to the word, the greater the release of Spirit and miracles.

[Galatians 3:2 KJV] “This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

[Galatians 3:5‭ KJV] “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

4. Hearing the Word brings fruitfulness:

The man who listens to the word and meditates on it shall be blessed.

[Psalms 1:1‭-‬3 KJV] “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

4. Listening and meditating will lead to greater prosperity:

[Joshua 1:8 KJV] “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success”.

5. Hearing the Word will deliver you from an evil man and a strange woman who flatters:

[Proverbs 2:1‭-‬5‭, ‬12‭-‬17 KJV] “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;”

“Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord , and find the knowledge of God.”

“To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked; Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:”

“To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.”

6. Hearing the Word will make you wise unto salvation:

[2 Timothy 3:15 KJV] “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

7. Hearing the Word will thoroughly furnish you unto every good work:

[2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 KJV] “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

Beloved, I do not doubt that you shall join us as we spend this forthcoming week hearing by the word.

Be blessed

Originally published at highcity.org

How to Soak in the Word of God

To soak in is to spend time experiencing and enjoying something or some feeling. To soak in the word of God, therefore, is to spend time to experience and enjoy the word of God.

To soak in is to enter something by a gradual process; figuratively is to sit quietly and let the word of God soak in, or better still, close your eyes and let the word of God soak in.

Most often, it is seen when you pour water around the base of a plant and allow it to soak in.

[Psalms 1:1‭-‬3 KJV] “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

We must learn the secret of soaking in the word of God. This is one of the master keys to a regenerative life. When you soak in the word, you walk into fruitfulness. The word begins to work for you.

The following are steps to soak in the word;

1. Shun the company and fraternity of the ungodly, sinners, and scorners:

Don’t walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.

2. Delight yourself in the Word of God:

Develop a taste and craving for the Word
You must develop a craving for the word. You must think about it day and night and desire to have it. You must rejoice at the word as one that found a great treasure.

3. Meditate in the word of God;

To do this;

• Select a video or podcast or audio that inspires faith.
• Listen with an open mind at first. Put the speaker at ease.
• Listen for content, spirit, and style
• If the preacher says anything that you believe and want to happen in your life, repeat it to yourself.
• Then search the scriptures to see if those things are so written.

God bless you

Originally published at highcity.org

Invoking the Regenerative Power of the Word!

The whole prophetic message for day 9 is in Mark 4:1-23; that is the parable of the sower who went out to sow.

Remember, that the Sower went out to sow with a goal and aspiration to get fruits. He was not out there sowing for sowing sake. God is sowing and digging and watering us for a reason.

Remember that the word we hear every day must produce results in our lives. Certain things fight the viability of the seed.

1. Unbelief stemming from misunderstanding the word that is preached
2. Shallowness and lack of roots
3. Lust
4. Anxiety, cares, and panics
5. Deceitfulness of riches
6. Pride of life
7. Impatience

Many of us don’t bear fruits because of these things. Take time and think about these things.

As we wait on the Lord we are praying that God will cause His word to manifest in our lives.

Prayer points

1. Pray that the Lord will help us to believe His word. That the Lord will give us understanding into His Word that is preached to us; and that He will help us to believe the word.
2. Pray that the Lord will cause His word to take root in us, and that we shall also take root in the word.
3. Pray that the Lord will help us to deal with lust, anxieties, cares, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pride of life that choke the word.
4. Pray that the Lord will give you the patience and humility and meekness to receive the engrafted word and to nurture it.
5. Pray that any bird of the air assigned to devour the word in your life shall be rebuked in the name of Jesus Christ!
6. Pray that the Lord will shield you from any heat and storm sent to cause you to wither. May the Lord protect you from the harshness that the devil is sending.
7. Pray and thank the Lord!

I love you

Originally published at highcity.org

How to Listen

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[Luke 8:18 KJV] “Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have”.

I want to exhort you today on the need to listen the right way. Whenever you come into the presence of the Lord and the word of God is being declared, listen to hear and to obey. The human brain understands by structure, if you know how to listen, you will understand more and know more.

Whenever you are listening to anyone, whether to your wife, friends, or pastor, remember that every message has a structure, spirit, and content. You must listen to discern both the structure, content, and spirit. These are the three things that you must hear always.

The structure of every message is how the delivery is structured. There is a way every message is structured to give it an easy delivery. For instance, every message I preach states clearly the what, why, and how? My messages are mostly structured in the what, why, and how.

The content of every message is important but the most important thing about the content of the message is the frame of reference. In scripture, the Berean believers were more honourable and many believed because they studied the messages after church. They searched to be sure that the things were so written.

[Acts 17:10-12 KJV] “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. [11] These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. [12] Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few”.

The spirit of a message is what is communicated but not said. The non-verbal communications; what is the person saying that he or she has not said clearly with words.

I know you shall hear and hear right.

Be blessed, I love you!

Kofi Simpe

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Originally published at highcity.org

Read this Book!

[Acts 19:17-20 KJV] “And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. [18] And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. [19] Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men : and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. [20] So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed”

I want to exhort you today on the need to take the reading of the Bible and Christian literature seriously. The Bible tells us how the Apostle Paul lead a little church of 7 families to reach all of the then Asia with the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. The narrator teaches how the word so mightily grew that from the body of Apostle Paul were sent aprons to heal the sick and free those vexed by devils.

The ministry of Apostle Paul in Asia teaches us about the place of mantles in modern ministry. Mantles can go where we can’t; mantles can enter homes with high walls and still create significant impact in the lives of many.

The Bible teaches us that sons of magicians and exorcists saw what God was doing with Apostle Paul, they went about trying to mimick it; but the demons revolted saying “Paul I know, Jesus I know; but who are you.” We understand how the story turns out. Inasmuch as mantles works, they work well for people with a relationship with the Lord of the mantles. The Bible tells us that the devil-possessed man beat up these exorcists until they fled naked.

After this incident those who also practiced curious arts brought their books to be burned. Now, if books written by men who have studied metaphysics can fill its readers with magical powers, then why should anyone think the Bible is a book of tales written by powerless men. I submit to you that the Bible has the power of filling men and women with the power of God. Where the word of the king is there is power. The Word of God is the power of God to save those who believe.

The more you read and pay attention to its content the greater you grow in power. This Book has raised men and women who made history. The content is so powerful and impactful. The Lord is His word. He honours it and brings about great change. You must read and pay attention to its content.

Be blessed, I Love you!

Kofi Simpe

Prayer: Dear Lord, please help each of us understand the Book when we read it, Amen!

Originally published at highcity.org

Overturning Curses in Your Life and in the Land

I want to speak to you today about overturning the curses in your life and land to bearing the necessary fruits by the word.

[Isaiah 55:10-13 KJV] “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:”

[11] “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it”.

[12] “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands”.

[13] “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off”.

Every word that God speaks must produce two types of results: either it gives bread to the eater or seed to the sower. The word that God speaks distills as dew and it must not return to Him void. As we wait on God, we are believing that He will send His word to give bread to the water and seed to the sower.

The gospel we preach must, therefore, happen. If we preach on the healing, healing must happen. The word of God must not fail. God spoke to Noah and it happened; He spoke to Abraham, it happened; and He spoke to Elijah, and it also happened. The Lord is committed to overturn the curses and command a blessing over your land and life. He has promised that as we preach the word, fir trees and myrtle trees shall grow in the stead of briers and thorns. As we wait on God, we shall be entering into the season of prosperity and increase. His word will manifest and we shall prosper. As the word of God is coming to us, we must prosper.

The word shall not return to Him void, it must water the grounds and give bread to the eater and seed to the sower. His word must always happen, but why haven’t many of us seen fruits. We have neither received bread nor seeds, why?

[Mark 4:13-20 KJV] “And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?”

[14] “The sower soweth the word”.

[15] “And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts”.

[16] “And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; [17] And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended”.

[18] “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, [19] And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful”.

[20] “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred”.

1. Many of us don’t go beyond hearing the word;

Many have not mixed what they heard with faith (See Hebrews 4:2). Many of us don’t meditate nor do what we hear. We don’t even memorize the word. You must mix the word with faith in you. The word you believe is what you receive, and the word you have received is what you do.

2. The word has no roots in them:

Many of us don’t bear fruits because the word has no roots in us; we don’t endure. Many of us are fair-weather hearers and followers. We are unable to hold on to our profession in the midst of tough times. Many don’t have faith and conviction and roots in the doctrine or the teaching of the church.

3. Many of us allow the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things to choke the word:

We allow these parasites to sap the energy out of our convictions and faith. We start so well but we grow weaker because we begin to focus and chase other things.

We can never yield fruits if we don’t work at and on the word. We must express a simple faith in what we have heard. We must be consistent and persistent in action.

As we wait on God, we pray that He will send a word that will overturn every curse in our lives and land. We pray that the word that comes to us weekly shall yield bread to the eater and seeds to the sower. Receive that grace now!

Be blessed, I love you!

Noah Simpe Bediako

Originally published at highcity.org