Emmanuel Okoro (aka MrLift)

The essence of prophecy  "Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, "No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus. Worship God. For the essence of prophecy is to give a clear witness for Jesus." (Rev.19.10 NLT) There is so much we can say about men worshipping men and those men playing God and standing as though they were God and not men. True men stop other men from ascribing worship to them and directing such worship to God. This is one way we make the witness for Jesus clear.  In the book of Acts of the Apostle we saw a situation where men tried to  worship the Apostles Paul and Barnabas but they stopped the people. Today, hero worship is gradually taking the place of true worship.  But to  be a clear witness for Jesus, we must point men to Him..  "When Barnabas and Paul finally realized what was going on, they stopped them. Waving their arms, they interr...

The bride has made herself ready  "Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." (Rev.19.7)  The marriage of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready. This is interesting because we saw in the epistle that the groom prepared his bride and present her to himsef. Case in point,  Ephesians 5:26 tells us that he has washed her with water of the word, blotting out every form of spot or wrinkle.  "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph.5.26-27)  But our text suggests to us that the bride, though washed and sanctified by her groom has certain responsibility to herself and that is to ready herself for her groom.  Little wonder the Apostle Paul says he brings his body under subje...

You shall be helped  "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth." (Rev.12.14 - 16) That God will aways protect His purpose on the earth is without doubt. And because He would often work through humans to carry out His purpose, He will protect the person through whom that purpose will be carried out.  Our text tells of the woman who gave birth to male child and how the dragon sought to kill this woman but God used even the elements to protect and preserve the woman. The woman was given wings to fly into the wilderness. Interestingly in the wilderness, she finds n...

The devil's come down on you "So rejoice, O Heavens, and all who live there, but doom to earth and sea, For the Devil's come down on you with both feet; he's had a great fall; He's wild and raging with anger; he hasn't much time and he knows it." (Rev.12.12 MSB) After the devil was sent packing from heaven his initial residence, he was driven to earth. And our text say he came down with both feet on the inhabitants of the earth. I find the expression very interesting.  For the devil's come down on you with both feet, he is wild and raging with anger. This explains in some details why the Bible tells us that temptation takes us. It comes looking for you with the sole intention to trick and trip you. He wants you to fall just as he fell. He wants you loose your estate, just as he lost his. But do not give in. God is faithful.  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted...

We overcome by the blood  "And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing]." (Rev.12.11 AMP) There are many ways by which the believer overcomes, but principally by the blood and the word which we see from this passage of scripture.  There is so much power in the blood of the lamb. One reason for this, is the fact that the blood of the sinless lamb is a representation of the very essence of the life of God in Christ Jesus. So when we present the blood we present the same power that makes God, God. The devil has no answer to the blood because the only thing that gives the devil a foothold is sin and the blood is sinless.  Th word of God is another source of our victory. God's word is God Himself. The Psalmist actually tells us that God has magnified his word above all his n...

The deceiver  "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. (Rev.12.9 KJV) The number one strategy of the devil is to deceive. The power of the devil is the power of deception. And the way he deploys it is through suggestions. The devil has no power against you other than to inundate your mind with suggestions. He makes you think that the suggestions are you thoughts.  So, he says to Eve, "Has God said..." (see Gen.3) suggesting God has not said. He says to Jesus "If thou be the Son of God... " (see Luke 4) suggesting that Jesus wasn't the son of God.  That is why you want to guard your mind jealously. If he succeed: at your mind, he does not need to try to raise a finger against you, he would have gotten you already.  "Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow t...

No room for the devil  War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back.  But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer. (Rev.12.7 MSB, Rev.12.7 AMP) The picture of heaven that we hold does not entertain the idea that a fight could ever broke out there. Our text opened with the fact that there was a war in heaven. It is oxymoronic to say the least.  Interestingly, the fight was not started by the devil or the dragon as represented in the verse. It was started by the Angels. Michael and his Angels fought the dragon and the dragon fought back. It appears once Michael saw something that was not the picture of heaven as he know it, he did not take it lying low. He fought. See, there is no room for the devil.  We come against anything that does not look like the life that God has in store for us. Michael and his Angels fought until there was no room found for the dragon and his ang...

Ransomed people group  "And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation." (Rev.5.9 NLT) The death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is still a mystery to the world. The lamb that was slain from before the foundation of the world would be the price paid to ransom for Himself a people from every people group is a mystery.  God always has a remnant reserved for himself. One reason Christ Jesus has not returned is due to the fact that certain people group are yet to come to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Once that is done, Christ will return. That is why we must keep praying the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into the feed to reap an harvest of souls for our Christ and King.  More reason we must keep supporting missions and missionaries. While what we do in and around our c...

Fellowships  "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Rev.3.20)  There can be no fellowship except you have two or more people. You truly cannot fellowship with yourself in the real sense of the word.  "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matt.18.20)  Jesus paints a picture of communion when we look at our text carefully. Now, we have used this verse to say to sinners that Jesus is knocking at the door of their heart, if they hear and open to Him, He will come in and sup with them and they with Him. And that's true in one sense. But this letter was written to the church of the Laodiceans. So Jesus originally wasn't speaking to unbelievers but to believers.  "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of ...

Run after God  "The people I love, I call to account--prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! (Rev.3.19 MSB) It appears to be human nature to not want to be held accountable. No one wants to be told what to do. I believe this was one of the consequences of the fall of man. When man fell, Isaiah the prophet tells us that every one went his own way.  "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isa.53.6)  But God says that the people He love He calls to account - prod, correct, guide so that they can live their best lives. God sometime intentionally cuts you back - that is, to prod- just so He could correct you. Certain closed doors, missed opportunities etc that was God saying that will not afford you the chance to live your best life. So He guide you through a path that you ordinarily would not take. But His...

Neither cold nor hot "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." (Rev.3.15)  Indifference I hear is the opposite of love and not hate. I believe this is what this verse speaks of when it says you are neither cold nor hot. You never know with someone who is indifferent. He is not in yet not out, not up nor down, not loving nor hating, not friendly nor unfriendly, not cold nor hot.  God says he wishes we were one or the other. Why? If you are hot, He know how to use you. And if you are cold, he would know how to get you to where he could relate with you. Being lukewarm is a dangerous pace to be. Indecision is a major part of lukewarmness. One translation renders lukewarm as being stale, stagnant. And as you may know, there is no middle ground in the realm of the spirit. You are either going forward or you are going backward. No stagnation. Little wonder God says He will spew you out of His mouth.  "You're stale. You're sta...

Protect your crown  "I'm on my way; I'll be there soon. Keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steals your crown. (Rev.3.11 MSB) The title of this article may blind you to the first line of this verse. He says," I'm on my way', I'll be there soon". That message you must take to heart and ready yourself. Soon is measured differently for different people. For some people, soon has come, for others, soon maybe when they die but anyway you look at it, soon is closer than when it was spoken He says keep a tight grip on what you have so no one distracts you and steal your crown. Notice that there was first a distraction before the stealing. If you are focused and not distracted then there is the possibility that the thief may not be able to steal from you.  One way to keep tight grip is to set watch over one's  mouth  - what we say. Jesus told us that by what we say we take thoughts, that is, become worried and loose focus. He sa...

The hour of temptation  "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." (Rev.3.10)  Truly there are hours of temptation. Paul the the Apostle calls it the evil day. He says that you be able to stand in the evil day and then tells us what to do to stand and withstand in the evil day.  "Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;" (Eph.6.13 - 14) Another translation says" Take all the help you can get, all the weapons that God has issued... " "Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll st...

Before you is an open door "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." (Rev.3.8 KJV) For all the churches that the Apostle John's letters were addressed, there was not one whose work Jesus did not know and there was none whose work made it perfect before God. Good as all theirs works were, they all fell short of God's standard.  But to the church in Philadelphia the angel declared, "I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it:". When God's given opportunity comes your way, it is never for less but always for more. And more in this case, is not necessarily in monetary terms but as it concerns His will for your life.  I could remember Elijah in the famished, rain-thirty land of Israel. For three and hall years it had not rain. Women spoke of killing and eating each others children. Bad as it was, God kept providi...

Works Perfect before God  "Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God." (Rev.3.2)  If one could be saved based on good works, then the church in Sardis would be first. But despite her many works, not one was found perfect before God. Not one of us could ever present perfect work before God. If we could Jesus would not have needed to come.  Good works are good only on the basis that our horizontal engagement points men vertically to God. That is, every time we do good works for our fellow man, it should point them to God himself. " Jesus told us that men should see our good works and glorify God in heaven. So if your work does not point others to God, it is not good enough. It has been said that it is not wrong to be seen to give but to give to be seen is one such work that does not bring glory to God.  So our text says to strengthen the things which remain that they die not and the way...

Reputation   "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: "I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive--but you are dead. (Rev.3.1 NLT) Everything one does must stem from what one is., that is one's being. Jesus told us that except a man be... (see John 3:3) What one does should be a result of what one is. If that is not the case, there is an abnormality.  In our text, we see the Church in Sardis, Jesus says to her "I know all the things you do." So the church in Sardis was engaged in a lot of doing but most of the things she did were not a result of who she was. Hence she has a reputation - doing will give you a reputation. But 'being' will build your character.  The church in Sardis had a reputation for being alive but she was dead. When your public reputation does not conform to your character, you are probably dead an...

The doctrine of Jezebel "But why do you let that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet mislead my dear servants into Cross-denying, self-indulging religion? (Rev.2.20 MSB).  In this day and age when we paint a portrait of Jezebel it will surprise most people how they fit into the picture that our text paints for us. The text refers to this kind of lifestyle as the doctrine of Jezebel. What is the doctrine or teaching of Jezebel?  It is the doctrine of Cross-denying and self-indulging religion. It is the lifestyle of convenience, where everything goes. One of the bane of most Christians today is that of self-indulgence. Not being willing to do what is required. Not going through the process. One of the ways the devil chips away at your character is by taking away bits by bits with no serious consequence in the immediate but over time.  Learning to do the right thing every time is a resolve that you should make. You may not get it right all of the time but you keep at it The ...

The doctrine of Balaam "But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication." (Rev.2.14)  This caution was to the church at Pergamos but it might well be to the entire body of Christ. He says to the leaders of the church, that he has a few things against them. He says they hold the doctrine of Balaam.  What is the doctrine of Balaam?  The doctrine of Balaam is "the gospel of what is in it for me?" And this did not start today. Balaam was a prophet of God but became a prophet of gold. When he began preaching the gospel of what is in it for me. He instructed Balak on what to do to get the children of Israel to sin against God so they could fall into the hands of their enemies.   He "taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto ...

Come up higher "Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you change your mind and repent." (Rev.2.5 AMP) God always has a higher calling for each one of us. Whether we answer it or not, or to what extent we answer is up to us. Our text calls us to remember the height from where we have fallen. That means we do not even know to what depth we have fallen. It reminds me of the story of Samson, who shook himself as he used to but did not know that the spirit had left him.   "And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him." (Judg.16.20) And it says the way to remember is to repent.  When you look at the word repent, it ...

You have deserted Me "But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. ( Rev.2.4 AMP) It is amazing how one gets almost everything right but misses in one little area but that one little area seems highlighted that all the other area where you get it right is drowned. In as much as we want to give you the accolade for all of the areas you were right, we cannot overlook this one little area because this one little area houses every other area..  This is what Jesus seems to be saying to the church in Ephesus. He says to them "You do many things well but you have left your first love - you have deserted me. Why is this important?  Because our love for the master is the basis of any meaningful relationship with him. Little wonder Matthew 6:3 admonishes us to seek first the Kingdom of God.  "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things s...

The first, the last and everything in-between "The Master declares, "I'm A to Z. I'm THE GOD WHO IS, THE GOD WHO WAS, AND THE GOD ABOUT TO ARRIVE. I'm the Sovereign-Strong." (Rev.1.8 MSB) God is not just the beginning and the ending but He is also everything in-between. That means he may begin with you and in between where he began and where he ends, God is still in charge of all the in-between.  That means it may not be palatable in the in-between but remember that God is still and will always be with you. The three Hebrew boys knew him as the God of the in-between and as such were able to go in the fire knowing that He will have the last say in their matter.  Most have known God as the beginning, as the A but are yet to know him when the going gets rough and tough. When we encounter constrains and challenges we are quick to question God's faithfulness. God is the A to Z but He is also the God who is about to arrive, even though He never left you, when h...

The Revelation of Jesus Christ  The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, (Rev.1.1 NIV)  The book of Revelation for some reason inspires fear in some people due to how it has been taught but it is truly a revelation of Jesus Christ. It is not a revelation of demons, evil spirits, angels and their activities but a revelation of Jesus Christ.  To reveal is to unveil, uncover, meaning as you read the book of revelation you should see Jesus Christ unveiled. It is not a book that should produce fear, but faith. Because if you see Jesus Christ truly for who He is, faith will arise within you. The reason why the Apostle Paul says that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation. (see Rom:1:16) So as you read the book of revelation look out for Jesus. Most times, we find what we are searching for. Search for Jesus and you will find him. Seek and yo...