Looking Back At Life Without Regrets
A Sermon Delivered on Wednesday evening, March 30th, 2020, by Evangelist PAUL ACQUAH, Live on MZ Radio London, UK Most Christians find themselves living between the “regrets of yesterday” and the “worries of tomorrow”. Anyone familiar with the Scripture knows that this is not a part of God’s plan. In fact, the believer is to forget the past and press on without anxiety. You see, the not-so-good decisions in our lives can stay with us for years. And even after the effects have worn off, regrets can remain. It’s so easy to go back and relive memories that we aren’t proud of. And one of the biggest ways that Satan tries to get at us all is with regret. But thankfully, there are steps we can take to live without regrets. You can take solace in knowing your past does not define who you are or what God is going to do in your future. This is a message on maximising our time on earth by redeeming the time. You may ask, is it possible to live a life where you don’t have any regrets at the end? And the answer is, it’s possible. How do we do that? It’s about maximising the time that we have on this earth. And how do we maximise the time that we have on this earth? It is simply by redeeming the time. Redeeming the time is to take ownership of our time. It’s about not being distracted in life, but taking control of our time. That will enable you to live with no regrets. Let’s turn our Bibles to 2 Tim 4. I’m going to read verses 5 to 8. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said: “5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:5-8). “The time for my departure is near”. So, here’s the thing nobody wants to hear – my life is being poured out, the time for my departure is near, my life has come to an end. The reality, however, is that we are all going to die one day. So, it’s not a question of if we’re going to die or when we’re going to die. The true thing that I want to address is how we die. In other words, what legacy are we leaving, what fruits are we leaving behind to impact our generation? When our time to pass from this life to the next life comes, will we have any regrets about how we lived? It’s possible to live for all of eternity, being proud of the life that we lived and being happy with the life that we lived. Paul reminds me of myself, and he reminds me of so many people because when it comes to the time for our departure, what will we do? What did Paul say? What did he do? Did he pray for more time? Paul didn’t pray for more time, He didn’t pray that he wanted more money, he didn’t pray for all of the things that we may think are necessary to chase after, what we call worldly success. When Paul was at the end of his life, the only thing he could say was, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). If you were to be near the end of your life today, will you say I wished I had more time? When Paul was about to transfer from this life to the next one, the only thing on his heart was, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I just want us to be able to meet our end, or transfer from this life to the next without wishing we have more time. And so, if there’s something that we need to do, we should do it today. If there’s someone that you love, and you haven’t told them that you love them, you should tell them you love them today. Tell them you believe in them today. Give them encouraging words today. If there’s someone that you need to forgive today, then forgive them today. Live every day like it’s your last day. That’s how you redeem the time. Live every moment to the maximum and maximize every moment you have in this life, because this life is precious and this life is not promised. We’re not going to live forever. We have a limited time on this earth. And therefore, something that’s limited is precious because it’s not unlimited – it’s not like you can just get more and more of it. There’s a set amount of time we have on this earth and that makes it precious, so we should live with our end in mind. We can look back at our lives and not have any regrets because we all have seasons of opportunities in this life. Why are some people living higher lives, and for others, life is a struggle after struggle? They are always crawling. You may be thinking, how come someone else’s life just seems to be going up high and headed to the top and I am always in a
You Can Experience And Operate in the supernatural
Have you ever wondered if the extraordinary power that Jesus wielded can be experienced by everyday believers? The concept of Christians experiencing and operating in the supernatural, akin to Jesus, is a profound and transformative aspect of faith that has captivated believers throughout the centuries. Rooted in the teachings and promises of the Bible, it is seen that followers of Christ are not only called to emulate his moral and ethical teachings but to also participate in the miraculous and supernatural dimensions of His ministry. From healing the sick and casting out demons to performing signs and wonders, the New Testament provides numerous accounts of Jesus’ miraculous works and extends the promise of these capabilities to His disciples and, by extension, to all believers. Faith in Jesus can open a door to a life filled with the supernatural. I want to invite believers to explore and embrace the extraordinary aspects of their spiritual journeys. Be blessed as you read! You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. In this world, we are like Jesus’. We are his workmanship, created to walk in good works. We are His ambassadors representing him in this world (see I John 4:4, 13, 17; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:20). My friend, you can experience the supernatural and operate in the supernatural. God wants to work through you, but the workers are few. Christ is our model: He came to teach, preach and heal. We must do the same. 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Mathew 9:35-38). “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). It’s vital to recognize that our mission is crucial. When you realize that there’s a purpose for your life at this moment, it doesn’t matter if you know a lot or a little about God. What’s important is that you’re willing to share what you do know. So, can you go and preach what you know with power? This is why in verse 17 of Mark chapter 16 it says, 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” If you are a believer in Christ, then you can experience the supernatural and operate in it as well. ‘In my name, they will cast out demons’. The name of Jesus gives us the victory over the forces of Satan. Perhaps you feel like you’re under the oppression of Satan. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him” (Acts 10:38). So, we have physical healing, healing from oppression, the name of Jesus, the power of Jesus, the life of Jesus, the character of Jesus, and the nature of Jesus. His heart is to set you free and lift you up. I want to tell you that you can experience the supernatural and operate in it as well. If you feel that there’s a spiritual reason for what you’re going through and believe that demonic forces are at work, I want to assure you that they’re afraid of you if you know who you are in Christ. If you submit to God, you can resist the devil, and he will flee. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (1 Peter 5:7-9). So, let me ask you a question: how much do you think demonic manifestations, forces, or spirits of infirmity are affecting you? You have the name of Jesus. There is no reason for any form of demonic activity in your life, house, or family. You have the name of Jesus. You have the love of God shared abroad in your heart. We are so equipped my friends, to operate in the supernatural and win in life. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons. We have an unfair advantage over unbelievers and over the devil. He’s defeated. We have an unfair advantage, we have favour with God, and we have the name of Jesus that is above every name. So, do you have a revelation of the name? Do you understand the power of the name? Do you understand redemption in the sense that Jesus went through so much so that you could reign in life? For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Romans 5:17). Notice that you can reign in life. You might be facing some battles, and some battles require time, and I understand that. Some things happen instantly, while others take more time, but if you persist and continue to apply the power of the name and remain steadfast, you will reign in life. It
God Is Our Source
God is the Source by Evangelist Paul Acquah It is natural to seek stability and security in a world filled with uncertainty and constant changes. Many often look to external sources, such as careers, relationships, or material possessions, to fulfil their needs and provide a sense of well-being. However, there is a timeless truth that transcends the temporal nature of our earthly circumstances: God is the source. Looking through the Word of God, scripture after scripture proves that God is the source of everything we need. He is the perfect and on-time source for everything you could ever need or want. His supply never runs short. Although the world may offer temporary solutions and fleeting pleasures, God’s provision is everlasting. It transcends the limitations of time and circumstance. Therefore, be inspired to seek a deeper connection with God, to trust in His provision, and to live in the abundance of His grace. This article will help renew your mind to become fully persuaded that God is your Source. Your source is your Father in heaven, who never runs dry. When we talk about God as our source, you may ask what is a source? A source is a supplier of something that we cannot produce on our own. For example, there is a source of gas or electric power so I can cook. When it is dark, you can go to this small switch on the wall and flick it on, and then you have light in the house. This is because of the source of electricity entering your home. We have entertainment by clicking on a button while watching TV. Why? The source of power comes into your home. We can preserve our food in a fridge freezer and keep it cold. We can cook it on the stove all because there’s a source of power coming into our house, and we don’t even realise it in the day-to-day until there’s a storm and the power goes out. A storm comes into the area and knocks down some electric wires, so we do not have power and then we realise how much we need that power source in our lives. Our lives are filled with sources. A mobile phone is another source of information. This is because of the source of information technology in our phones. We don’t think about it until our battery dies or our phone freezes on us. We go to work, and we get paid and that allows us to pay for all the other sources in our lives. Sources make our lives easier, enjoyable, and more productive. However, the sources that we rely on are often subject to shortages and interruptions, and can be in limited supply at times. We rely on food sources, but if there is a period of drought, farmers do not have much produce. You’d go into a grocery store or the supermarket to get something and it wouldn’t be there because the source has run out. Don’t limit your finance and all these other sources to anything that you see. None of the so-called earthly sources are real sources; they are all channels. Your source is your heavenly father, who never runs dry. If you plug into His eternal supply, you will never run out. We need to consider the fact that it is the Lord almighty who is our source. If you really got a revelation of who it is that’s our father who has redeemed us, that would change the way you look at things and your expectations. Some people live their lives with such low expectations because they just feel like God is limited in what he can do, and so they look at other things as their source. The problem is that most people think they have to be their own source, or rely on another human to be their source for everything. Yes, God has equipped each and every one of us with talent and gifts. He’s placed in each of us the ability to do something of significance in this world. It is amazing when we are functioning in our gifts and using our talents to be productive in this world. However, when we strictly rely on our own gifts, talents, abilities, and ourselves as sources, we have limitations. This is because we can only do so much on our own, because there are seasons of life when our human sources have a shortage or an eruption, something outside of our control. Maybe you lost your job, and you can’t find another one. Perhaps you are going through a painful life season, a loss of a loved one, a bad medical report, or a hard or painful divorce. Maybe something is going on with your children or your parents and all of a sudden, your control of your source is limited. There’s a shortage; it’s gone now, what can you do? The sources are subject to shortages and interruptions and can be in limited supply, but not when you rely on God as the source of your supply. When you put your trust and security into something bigger than yourself, like God, it cannot be taken from you. Your job shouldn’t be your source. It’s a blessing, but it’s not your source; God is your source. Your wife and husband, as much of a blessing as they are – and you cannot picture your life without them – but they are not your source of security, happiness, love, and joy. They are not your source. A man or woman could never be your source of true happiness, and they will always fall short. Your children, as much as you love them, cannot be your source of joy. God is your source of joy. As much as you rely on your parents and love them and they look out for you and they’re there for you, it’s a blessing, but they cannot be your source. God is the source of your supply and
We Are Called To Touch The World
Throughout the ages, God has consistently called His people to be a light unto the nations; a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are not meant to merely exist within the confines of our own communities but to boldly proclaim the good news of salvation and to touch the lives of those around us with the hope and love of Christ. As a Christian, you are called to be an agent of change, to be God’s hands and feet, bringing hope, compassion, and healing to those in need. It’s a calling that demands courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. And it requires you to embrace the same mindset that Christ embodied – a heart that is moved by the suffering of others and a desire to see lives transformed by the power of the Gospel. Be reminded that you and I are in this world for such a time as this, and be encouraged to heed to God’s clarion call to impact the world. Believers are here for the world. We are in this world but not of it. We are here to bring Christ to our world, letting Christ work within us and through us. Jesus praying for believers in John 17 said “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” And in John 20:21-22, Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” We represent Christ as his ambassadors and because of that, we have a reason to be in this world. We don’t have to let things happening around us or the things happening in government, society, schools, etc., distract us. Neither should we place our hope in these things. Our hope must come from understanding our position in Christ Jesus and the purpose for our existence on this earth. The Bible discusses the importance of light, with Jesus referring to salt and light and emphasizing the need to not conceal a bright light. In Matthew 5:13-15, Christ makes the profound statement that believers are salt and light. 13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. This directive is notable for its aim to touch the world and bring glory to God. We are therefore placed in this world for such a time like this. Believers of all ages should focus on letting their light shine in this dark world to bring glory to God. Sadly, however, today believers remain broadly uninfluential in many areas of society. In contrast, historically, the early believers influenced society right after they received the Holy Spirit. The unbelievers said, ‘Oh, these people are filling Jerusalem with their doctrine,’ “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” (Acts 5:28). How is it possible that believers are concealing their light in this era? Is it because we don’t know who we are and what we have? In fact, it says here in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”. The word behold means stop, consider, look upon, ponder and make it your own. So, it says “behold,” which means to stop, realize, consider, and ponder this, and make it your own, because the new has come. You’re no longer of this world, which grants you the ability to connect with and influence it uniquely. Believe that you can still touch the world irrespective of what’s going on around you. Colossians 2:9-10 says “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” This is talking about Jesus. In Him dwells the fullness of God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Kingdom, the power, the might, and the ability are all in Jesus, and it says you are complete in him. That means because of Jesus you have been made complete in him who is the head of all principalities and Powers. Therefore, no matter what is going on in the world, you are in Christ who is over everything. This doesn’t mean that lost people still don’t do lost things, rather, it means that the truth and the spirit of God in you have the ability to rise above those things. You need to have the right attitude and perspective and not be like everyone else, whining about everything. Instead, say to yourself, “No, I’m going to stand up in my relationship with God. I will let the spirit of God motivate me and stop focusing on the flesh, but instead look at the spirit, so that I can have a word in due season.” You’re at the right place at the right time with the right word. Why? It’s because you have a living relationship with the Living God. This tells you that you have the absolute world-changing power that lives in you. I’ve met many people
Think About Your Eternal Home
Think about your destination after you die. Everybody has an eternal home. Where is yours? Remember that death is just a translation from this earth. In our daily lives, consumed by the immediate and the tangible, it’s easy to lose sight of the eternal perspective. Yet, the Bible consistently calls us to lift our eyes beyond the horizon of this temporal world. Scriptures offer profound insights into the nature of life after death, providing a framework for understanding our eternal destiny. A vivid picture of two primary destinations; heaven and hell, is painted in the scriptures. These destinations are not merely abstract concepts, but are depicted as real and significant, carrying eternal implications for every individual. Central to this biblical narrative is the promise of eternal life with God in heaven for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, contrasted with eternal separation from God in hell for those who reject Him. It is important that we consider how this heavenly perspective should transform our earthly lives as we contemplate our eternal home. So, how should the promise of eternity with God shape our priorities, decisions, and relationships today? This article explores scriptures to gain a deeper understanding of eternal realities and choices that lead to our final home, offering both a sobering and hopeful perspective on our ultimate destiny. In John 14, Jesus said to his disciples: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”. My father’s “house” refers to his residence or dwelling. Jesus is simply saying that in heaven there are many dwelling places, and he is preparing one for us. Our experience in heaven will be beyond our expectations (remember Ephesians 3:20). The fact that we will be with Jesus makes it even more exciting if you think about it. This is because nothing will compare with being with the one who loved us and died for us. Let me remind you of the story of the rich man and Lazarus that Jesus told in Luke 16.19-21 “There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores. 22-24 “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’ 25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’ 27-28 “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’ 31 “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’” ” It’s important to consider how having a heavenly perspective should transform your earthly life as you contemplate your eternal home. “ To be clothed in purple and fine linen is to wear the clothing of kings and live in the luxuries of this world. The rich man lived comfortably and lacked nothing every day of his life. He never thought of losing his riches or suffering in some unforeseen way. His expectations did not include eternity. The day of death comes to all people. Lazarus’ life of suffering had come to an end. The days of pain, hunger, begging, and struggling for existence were over. Jesus tells us that Lazarus, the beggar, “was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s lap.” Lazarus is seen in Abraham’s lap being comforted after a long life of pain and hardship. Lazarus has now gained the ultimate prize or reward for a life of faith. Jesus said that the rich man, on the other hand, “was buried.” There were no angels to carry him away. The text of scripture simply said that he died. The tables had now turned in the realm of eternity. While Lazarus was the suffering beggar in the world and the rich man basked in the comforts of luxury. It is now the rich man who is poor and Lazarus is the one rich in comfort. The rich man is now begging, and Lazarus is in the comfort of Abraham’s bosom. This story also shows that the people God honours are not necessarily the same people the world honours (Luke 16:15). This rich man had a beautiful home, fancy clothes, and the best of everything. He had it all, but he never showed the beggar any mercy. When he died, I guarantee you he had a fancy funeral. Thousands of people may have gathered, all talking about how great his accomplishments were. Yet the Bible says only that he was buried, left to rot in the grave. On the
What are the benefits of salvation?
It’s so important to understand the benefits of salvation because sometimes I run across Christians who don’t seem to have experienced any change in their lives. But we should be experiencing change from the moment we were saved. There should be something going on, so let’s refresh ourselves in this and see what it’s about. For you to experience the benefits of salvation, you must understand the gospel because the gospel and the power that it carries releases the benefits of salvation in our lives. The gospel itself is God’s power. The understanding of the birth, death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ, and of being born again to become a new creation are all part of the gospel. So, there are benefits of salvation that we should notice as we accept the Lord as our saviour. As we believe in the Lord and begin our Christian Walk, we should be noticing something different in our lives and the way we conduct our lives. The term “salvation” has become so familiar to Christians that the true meaning and understanding have been lost. Salvation is much more than just being born again. This refers to every benefit that the believer is entitled to, through Jesus. Salvation means much more than just forgiveness of sins; it includes healing, prosperity, and deliverance in every area of our lives. Therefore, if we are not experiencing the abundance that Jesus provided for us in any area of our lives, then we are having a problem understanding what salvation truly entails. The truths of the gospel are not commonly preached or understood in many churches. This is the reason so many Christians are not walking in all the benefits of their salvation. They don’t have the power of the gospel working in them. The word ‘salvation’ needs to be explained because today salvation has been cheapened from what it originally meant to be. The word salvation as used in the bible is not limited to forgiveness of sins. It includes forgiveness of sins, but it’s much more than that. Most churches today use the word salvation and forgiveness of sins interchangeably. Yes, salvation includes forgiveness of sins, but as I said earlier, it also includes prosperity, healing, and deliverance. Everything that was purchased for us by Jesus is a part of what salvation produces, Only in Christ can we find true happiness and peace in this life. Salvation is not just an insurance policy; it is the way to experience the supernatural life and goodness of God in our daily lives here and now. Salvation is something that was done and completed in the past yet continues to have present results. God’s grace has already provided all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), and our faith reaches out to God and receives the benefits (Romans 5:2). Putting faith in what God has already provided by grace is the key to victorious Christian living. Jesus paid it all. It’s not based on my performance; it’s based on my faith in what he did. Salvation is the gift of God unto the forgiveness of sins, the healing of your body, your prosperity, joy, peace, deliverance, emotional stability, and many more. But for some Christians, this seems a radical thought to them that healing has been purchased through Jesus for them just as much as forgiveness of sins. Prosperity has been purchased for them just as much as forgiveness of sins. Deliverance from oppression, depression, fear, anxiety, anger, have been purchased for you through what Jesus did. You don’t have to do something else to earn them. They aren’t addition to salvation, They’re integral part of salvation. Jesus wants you healed, delivered, set free, prospered, just as much as he wants you forgiven of sins. And it’s the gospel that releases that power of salvation for healing, deliverance, joy, peace, and forgiveness of sins. Mix what God has done with faith (Hebrews 4:2). And faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More