SOTERIA

EXPLORING THE RICHES OF SALVATION
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:8-10‬ ‭NKJV

What is SOTERIA (Sozo)?
Soteria is actually a word from the Greek language. It means SALVATION.
A study of the Bible shows that even before Christ came into the world virtually every time salvation is talked about, God is often the reference point. So you will notice such phrases as
The God of my/our salvation
The horn of my salvation
The tower of my salvation
The Rock of my salvation
The strength of my salvation

This shows us that even in the Old Testament, whenever salvation is desired or sought, man looked to the Living God.
However, in the New Testament it must be observed that salvation by God is offered through His Son, Jesus Christ - Acts 4:12, Rom 1:16, 1Thess 5:9

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (‭Acts‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ NKJV)

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ NKJV)

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,(‭I Thess‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬ NKJV)

HOW TO EXPERIENCE SOTERIA - Rom 10:8-10
The roles of Christ and the Sinner/Saint
- Christ's Finished Works - Phil 2:5-9,
- Heart Belief - Rom 10:8-10
- Mouth Confession -Rom 10:8-10
- Satan's role?
Basically, the devil's role is to serve as an adversary (opponent). Often, his tools are either thoughts (2Cor 10:3-5) or people ( Simon - Acts 8; Barjesus - Acts 14 ).

AIDS TO SALVATION
- Prayer/Intercession
- Spiritual Atmosphere
- Evangelism/Witnessing/Preaching the Word of God

THE BENEFITS OF SALVATION - Heb 6:9
The salvation God offers to every man, in every nation and every generation comes at the expense of our Lord, Jesus Christ. However, this salvation plan offers a lot of benefits. Uninformed believers have thought salvation through Christ Jesus is only to guarantee our safe passage from this sinful world into heaven. However, a study of God's plan through God's word portray a much broader package.
There are several benefits of salvation. These include Salvation from
1. Sin - Matt 1:21, 1Tim 1:15
But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭20-21‬ NKJV)
2. Death - Heb 2:14-15
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭14-15‬ NKJV)
3.  Satan's control - Is 14:16-17
4. Poverty
5. Eternal damnation - John 3:16-17, Luke 19:10
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭16-17‬ NKJV)
6. Ignorance - Is 5:13-14, John 8:31-36
7. Sickness and Disease - Matt 8:16-17, Is 53:3-5, 1Pet 2:24
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: “He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭8‬:‭16-17‬ NKJV)

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed. (‭I Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬ NKJV)

SALVATION IN LEVELS
- spirit - Rom 10:8-10
The salvation of the spirit is what a person experiences when he/she gives her life to Jesus Christ. At the fall of man in the garden of Eden, it was the spirit of man that was disconnected from the life of God (see Gen 1:26). So when man is saved it is his human spirit that is reconnected back to his Maker/Creator.
- soul - 1Pet 1:9, James 1:21, Rom 12:1-2

After salvation through Christ Jesus, the Christian needs to feed on God's word in order to align with God again, in thinking and mentality. So, as the Christian feeds on God word his soul is gradually and progressively saved, delivered from the system of thinking he/she had hitherto embraced in the world. The way of thinking with regard to life, money, opposite sex, authority, relationships, etc.
- see James 1:21
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬ NKJV)
- body
As for our human bodies, there is no salvation plan for our earthly bodies. From Scripture, there is only a replacement plan - see 1 Cor 15:35-54

THE CONCEPT OF ONCE-SAVED-FOREVER-SAVED
- What the Bible says - Acts 17:29-31, Heb 10:26-29, 31-39,

Pst. Tunji AKINOLA (Senior Pastor)
International House of His Presence
Port Harcourt

GOD VS MONEY

One of the biggest obstacles Christians face in the cause of their spiritual development is the challenge of money. Often, believers are willing to spend quality time in the pursuit of money, but rarely consider it something worth the time to seek more of God. A believer seeks someone else- like his pastor or a prophet- to help him with spiritual guidance, or to locate the mind of God on an issue. However, the same believer would not trust or task anybody to help him manage his money. He believes he can handle that himself.

Some Christians would rather spend quality time to seek money, but regard it as a waste of time, or a matter of low priority to spend time with God.
Sincerely, if believers of this generation are  given a choice between losing money and losing God, the choice would majorly till towards losing God.

If we take a survey of Christians exerting efforts towards making money versus efforts towards the pursuit of God, we are likely to find out that more effort is made towards money. Regardless of pull towards making money by the majority, what stands prioritized above and beyond comparison is that, WE NEED GOD MORE!!!.

When the devil wants to lure us away from a cordial and vibrant relationship with God, one of the things he uses is the offer of money (fame, wealth, and power). A man who genuinely seeks God and makes Him his priority can get the material things without losing his focus or spirituality, but a man who makes money his priority will lose God, and eventually lose the material things, or have them with spiritual emptiness and sorrow. 

Proverbs 23:6, "Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

A WISE MAN IS THE ONE WHO MAKES GOD FIRST IN EVERY AREA OF HIS LIFE, PRIORITIES, PURSUITS AND PURPOSE.
As Christians God does not want us to be led by money, people or circumstances.
God wants us to be led always by His Holy Spirit. It takes time, effort, practice and a process, but it yields eternal dividends. Unfortunately, many are not willing to pay the price so, they settle for the easier, more convenient options money, people, spiritual leaders and circumstances offer.

Pst. Tunji AKINOLA (Senior Pastor)
International House of His Presence
Port Harcour

WAITING ON THE LORD

“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.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:31‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

WHY DO WE WAIT ON THE LORD?

We press into His omnipresence in the hope and desire that His manifest presence may show up. For in His manifest presence we receive empowerment, healing, revelation and the renewal of strength. While it is man who should determine to wait on the Lord, to come into His omnipresence by choice; It is God determines when and how to bring forth His manifest presence, by His sovereignty.

Your ability to stay relevant in the things of God is hinged on your ability to know the mind of God and to do it. If you want to stay relevant to God learn to develop a culture of waiting in His presence. When you wait on God long enough, His manifest presence will show up.

WHAT GOD'S MANIFEST PRESENCE DOES

There are diverse things to be contacted when God's manifest presence shows up:

1. The Conviction of Sins - Nineveh (Jon 3)

This applies both to the sinner and the saint - John 16

- Sinner: Nineveh,

- Saint: David with Saul the king

2. The Revelation of God - Abraham (Acts 7:2), Paul (2Cor 12:1) Samuel (1Sam 3:)

3. The Revelation of His Will - Moses (Exodus - Deuteronomy)

4. Divine Direction - Samuel-Saul (1Sam10:), Paul (Acts 27:) Apostles (Acts 13:1-3)

5. Divine Healing and Miracles - Jesus ministry - , Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8).When you 

cultivate a practice of waiting in His presence, without your consciousness, God can deal with complications in your health and keep you in divine health. In this regards, my wife has a testimony with regards to hyperthyroidism.

6. Divine Protection and Deliverance - Jesus from the Jews, Israel , Jews in Persia (Esther 4-8)

7. Divine Empowerment - Elijah outrunning chariots (1Kings ), Joshua suspending the Sun and the Moon (Josh ), Philip from the desert to Ashdod (Acts 8:38-40)

8. Divine Provision - Israel in the Wilderness (Pillars of Cloud and Fire, Manna, Clothes and Sandals, Quails), Jesus and the 5,000 and the 3,000.

9. A spiritual culture to develop spirituality and spiritual sensitivity - Anna (Lk 2:36-38)

John (Lk 1:80, Lk 3:1-2), Jesus (Lk 2:40,51-52)

CONSEQUENCE OF WAITING

It is not enough for the saints to develop a culture of waiting. There must be corresponding action to back up and compliment a period of waiting.

Waiting is never truly over until there is a manifestation of God in the waiting period.

God's manifestation may come in the form of a word, a healing, a revelation, an empowerment etc, BUT THERE MUST BE THE MANIFEST PRESENCE OF GOD IN RESPONSE TO MAN'S WAITING!

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT WAITING ON GOD

When a person, especially a Christian, does not practice the habit/culture of waiting on the Lord, such a person cannot walk with God, enjoy His presence, or walk in His favor.

Such a person will depend solely on his own strength, and sometimes be at the mercy of demonic influences.

Some things a person who does not wait on the Lord can experience, though a Christian, include:

1. Running ahead of God and His divine plan - Moses in Egypt (Acts 7:)

2. Replacing divine virtue with human/demonic device - Saul (1Sam 30:), Ahab

3. Complete ignorance of the workings of God - Job 33:14-

4. Life will have a vacuum, and will be punctuated with struggles - The Prodigal son (Lk 15:11-24),

ENGAGING CORPORATE WAITING BEFORE THE LORD

There is a dimension available in God for the individual who waits on the Lord. However, there is another dimension to be experienced in God on a corporate plane, when several people come together with one mind , one purpose and one objective to seek the face of God.

Pst Tunji AKINOLA (Snr. Pastor)
International House of His Presence
Port Harcourt.
Rivers State, 
Nigeria

DIVINE RESTLESSNESS FOR BREAKTHROUGH

"By your sword you shall live, And you shall serve your brother; And it shall come to pass, when you become restless, That you shall break his yoke from your neck.” Gens 27:40 (NKJV).

Isaac said to him,
"You’ll live far from Earth’s bounty, remote from Heaven’s dew. You’ll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you’ll serve your brother. But when you can’t take it any more you’ll break loose and run free. Gen 27:39-40 The Message (MSG)

"But you shall live by your sword, And serve your brother; However it shall come to pass when you break loose [from your anger and hatred],That you will tear his yoke off your neck [and you will be free of him].” Gen 27:40 Amplified Bible (AMP)

By your sword you shall live and serve your brother. But [the time shall come] when you will grow restive and break loose, and you shall tear his yoke from off your neck. Gen 27:40 Classic Edition (AMPC)

A very important scenario is painted here - ,
-there is no unpalatable /ungodly situation that cannot be changed.
-You are neither too young nor too old for a divine turn around.
-We should not make tolerable a condition we do not like.

The key players here were all members of one family. Issac, Esau, Jacob, and Rebecca. A recap of events is that, Esau, lost his birthright due to his carelessness of divine destinies and realities. Jacob was conscious of the spiritual tradition of transference of THE BLESSING. A test on Esau to find out how important HIS COVENANT right was showed his disdain for it. Choosing to have a morsel of food to the leverage for the BLESSING -His Birthright. There was already a switch in the spirit and Isaac was not aware.  Hence, the conflict he experienced in the whole process of transferring the Blessing. 1 Esau had also prepared savory food and brought it to his father and said to him, Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that you may bless me.

32 And Isaac his father said to him, Who are you? And he replied, I am your son, your firstborn, Esau.

33 Then Isaac trembled and shook violently, and he said, Who? Where is he who has hunted game and brought it to me, and I ate of it all before you came and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be blessed.

The impact on the aged Isaac was that he"trembled and shook violently"! Picture an 70-80 year old man in this mould! This is the powerful import of a divine occurrence on human life. But Jacob had it all to himself.

                                                                             BUT!

DIVINE RESTLESS from Esau would cause a turn around. "You’ll live far from Earth’s bounty, remote from Heaven’s dew. You’ll live by your sword, hand-to-mouth, and you’ll serve your brother. But when you can’t take it any more you’ll break loose and run free. Gen 27:39-40 The Message (MSG)

Where Esau was was not the expected place. He was meant to live in the EARTH'S Bounty, and under HEAVENS DEW. But his complacency caused him a switch in the spirit.  Scarcity was decreed over him, servitude was pronounced but praise God a way of Escape is also given! ..."But when you can’t take it any more you’ll break loose and run free." That is what a godly restlessness can cause in your life. A turn around, a breakthrough to the bounties of the earth and the dew of the heavens!

HOW TO USE YOUR RESTLESSNESS:
Turn to God first. Consider the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32)when he said .."How many hired servants of my father have enough food, and [even food] to spare, but I am perishing (dying) here of hunger! I will get up and go to my father,

He told himself the truth of his present situation. After which he intentionally took the right action -(Faith and works), "So he got up and came to his [own] father". He did not consult any other person. Divine restlessness takes you back to
    -the source to get the breakthrough;
    -deal with the current status of your life
There is a guarantee of acceptance, help and ultimately restoration to the choice place of your destiny..."But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [[j]fervently]. But the father said to his bond servants, Bring quickly the best robe (the festive robe of honor) and put it on him; and give him a ring for his hand and sandals for his feet.

Do not tolerate a condition you do not like, Remember, BREAKTHROUGH is a militant/military concept. You cannot have a civilian mentality and experience victory in the war-front. Put on the whole armour of God. There is a realm in the second heaven where hierarchically, you destruction had been determined! A cohesive force armed with your ancestral biodata, with only one intention: deny you the fullness of the bounty of the earth and the dew of heaven.

THE RIGHTWAY:
"Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight and right way for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. Ezra8:21

David and the LORD of Breakthrough: 2 Sam5:17-23
When it was heard that David was crowned king, the enemies sought David, while sending a message about the "gathering of giants" at the valley of Raphaim, but it was recorded about David, "but [he] heard of it and went down to the stronghold" as "the Philistines also came and spread themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 

"And David came to Baal-perazim, and he smote them there, and said, The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like the bursting out of great waters. So he called the name of that place Baal-perazim [Lord of breaking through]. The same place they called Valley of Giants, became symbolic to God's praise as Lord of breakthrough! Friends you will rename that same place with the testimony of God's manifestation.
And yet it is recorded that they still came back, the same place, but praise God! victory is assured still. God, himself unleashed the warlords of His domain. I believe the return of the enemies was more intense than before, But the Lord of breakthrough already had His name defining the place. You have won the land of your conquest, if you go to your STRONGHOLD like David.

Paul the Apostle had this to say, "But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." 1 Cor 16:8-9.
He had to tarry as he must have learnt the word of Christ, tarry for power! Go to your stronghold. This breakthrough is by God. The signature of God must be on it. His glory must be revealed, and that, through you. The Lord of breakthrough has appeared. Halleluyah!

by Allen KELLY
From the BREAKTHROUGH PROGRAM June1-3, 2016
at International House of His Presence
Port Harcourt

BREAKTHROUGH

There are seasons in life where an unrest causes drastic and intentional steps to be taken towards a needed change. human history is flooded with men and women who defied the status quo of their generation, their maternal/paternal heritage and
contentiously resisted to be archived as a testimony of a FRUSTRATED LIFE! An insatiable yearning prompts for a better day!. A day where promises of righteousness, peace and joy in the abundance of what THE BENEVOLENT CREATOR had offered them in PROMISES.


QUESTION: Have you ever felt such a strong, not-to-be-ignored, compelling cry for the deep recesses of your life, that their is more to me than what I see. If yes then welcome to the dawn of a new chapter in the anals of your history. You are just in line for the next face, you are about to Breakthrough.


What is breakthrough ? "a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development. It's other synonyms include
 -advance
-development
-step forward
-success
-improvement
-innovation
-progress
-revolution
-headway
Also "an instance of achieving success in a particular sphere or activity".
While this is exciting to note because of its positive tonal expressions, it would be wise to take note of the converse/reverse of breakthrough -SETBACK

The recent occurrence in our nation can not but compel us to seek God and prove His promises towards us, against the siege of SETBACKS. God cannot lie, He has promised He will never leave us nor forsake us. The casting down had being overwhelming But THERE CAN BE A LIFTING UP. The rage of the enemy is MAKE  US ACCEPT LESS, meanwhile we are in the covenant of MORE THAN ENOUGH. He authored your life, and whatever would impede you coming to finishing, would not escape the BREAKTHROUGH THE ANOINTING BRINGS INTO YOUR AFFAIRS

HOW TO GET BREAKTHROUGH:
According to Chip Ingram, "What we need to know is that breakthrough is not something we sit around and wait for. Breakthrough is God waiting on us to respond in obedience to what He has already commanded and already promised. Breakthrough happens when we take the first offensive step against the barriers in our life. Breakthrough happens when we say, "I’m going to trust that God is going to supernaturally do the impossible."

The word BREAKTHROUGH happens to imply access got against intense/intensional blockade or resistance. IT'S A MILITARY CONCEPT. In a conflict, being able to reduce the defense of the opposition can grant you access to their territory for dominance. The worth of a breakthrough is when it focuses on a targeted STRATEGIC LOCATION!
Where is that area in your life that you need breakthrough? Be bold to locate it. It's personal, its a burden, it is known too well to you!. Have you considered that the importance of that location has determined the AMOUNT OF ENEMY FORCES resisting your takeover of that location?

Friends, the devil should not becloud your sense of understanding, see the enemy for who HE IS. A deceiver!  In the enemies camp, there is always a general skilled to resist and viciously protect what it prizes highly. But alas, "But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils". Luke 11:22

"This means that an invading army can expect its attempt to achieve a breakthrough to be met by a barrier of fierce enemy opposition. Increasingly and intense fighting always precedes strategic breakthroughs. Strategic ground is not yielded easily" Jon Bloom  on Prayer

"So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim 1 Chronicles 14:11. Not to worry friends, there is still hope for a turn around in any,every setback. God does not lead you to a setback, He yearns for you to breakthrough to break free, "

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him". Acts 10:38
WHOLESOME
-SUCCESS,
-ADVANCEMENT,
-HEADWAY,
-REVOLUTION in this life.

Get set, anticipate, BE INTENTIONAL, LET NOTHING TRICK YOU OUT FROM THIS SEASON, Re-Write your story for others to read. PUSH FOR YOUR BREAKTHROUGH! IT IS POSSIBLE!!!

Written By Allen KELLY