C H O F Ministry

Tag: Control

“Regulate and Monitor Your Own Spirit”

Beloved, our scripture this morning tells us to rule and control our spirit. It doesn’t say to rule and control someone else’s mind or to rule and control your situations. You can’t influence what other people believe “feel” or say about you or the deleterious situations around you. If you’re dealing with an illness or your money is low, your attempts to rule and control it will only lead to unhappiness, anxiety, and pessimism. You must regulate and monitor your own spirit.

*A component of ruling and controlling your spirit is not to let that toxicity get in you. Beloved boats don’t sink because water surrounds them – they sink if too much water gets in them.

*Another component of ruling and controlling your spirit is to not believe the adversary’s incessant whispers – rumors; “He/she blew it. God’s never going to bless him/her.”

Beloved as we end another week and head into another weekend, I want you to know and believe God’s mercy is more extensive than any mistake. Your mistakes didn’t terminate God’s plan. His plan for you isn’t complete yet. You may have fallen, but your mindset should be, “I’m not staying down!!! God will get me to where He wants me to be.” ✝️❤️

Let us Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your energy and compassion in times of adversity. I can’t rule or control what others say or do. I can’t govern or manage harmful situations around me, but I can regulate and control my spirit. I believe that You’ll make way for me and get me to where I’m supposed to be according to Your plan for my life. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen, and Aaamen. ✝️❤️

May the King sitting on the Throne of Grace and Mercy bless us all today and through the weekend. ✝️❤️😊

June 12, 2020
“Imprisoned”

Good Morning Happy Monday.

Beloved, have you ever felt caught between a rock and a hard place? You know, no matter what choice you make, it seems to be the wrong one. You struggle and struggle with it until you reach the end of your rope. You realize that nothing you can do on your own will change your situation(s). Well, I have on many occasions.

It’s easy to become discouraged and start to panic, fearing that you’ll never find your way out of the mess. At times I’ve felt like a sheep caught in a barbed wire fence. But I’ve found that when this occurs, I need to be still so the Shepard can cut me loose. Beloved, if you would just be still, the Lord will cut you loose and free you from your seemingly hopeless situation. You see, the more we struggle, the tighter what has us snared “tricks, deception, decoy become. That’s because we’ve spent too much time and energy trying to free ourselves. And the outcome never changes we get the same results – CAPTURED!!!

Beloved, the Lord wants us to be still and trust Him to deliver us from whatever has us imprisoned. If we’re still, we’ll hear our shepherd approaching, wire cutters in hand, to set us free.

Have a blessed Monday and a joyful Week.

March 25, 2019
“Run Your Enemies Off”

Psalm 68:1 (NLT)
1 Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
Let those who hate God run for their lives.

Happy Sunday to you Beloved,

Beloved allow me to ask you a question: What are you letting stand up against you in your life? In other words, what are you directing your words, energy and thoughts on? You might say, “Oh, it’s just so hard right now. My finances are tight.” “My health doesn’t look good.” “Somebody walked out on me.” No Beloved!!! 😀 You’re concentrating on the wrong things. You’re letting downfalls, dissuasion and self-pity rise up. Why don’t you turn that around and say, “God is still in control!!!

Somebody may have walked out on me, but I know God is going to bring me somebody better.” “I may be hurting right now, but I know God is the restorer of my soul.” “I may have an unexpected debt, but I know God is my provider. He’s supplying all of my needs. He’s fighting my battles.”

Beloved, when you give God glory and let Him arise in your life, you can’t stay defeated. 😀 No foe can stand against you in the presence of Almighty God. Your enemies will run off in all directions trying to get away!!! They’ll tremble at your words of faith!!! Beloved, let God arise and embrace the blessing and victory He has prepared for you!!! 😀

Will you Pray with me?

Dear Heavenly Father, at this time I release any undesirable, self-defeating opinions or attitudes. Instead, I select to let God arise in my life. I affirm that You’re worthy, You’re holy, and You’re the center of my joy, peace and strength.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen and Amen.
Have a blessed Sunday Everyone. 😀

June 24, 2018
“The 2 Rs”

You know Beloved, there are portions of the old Wilburn I don’t miss and don’t have intentions of reliving. I’ve had my share of struggles, like anyone in life, and I still have struggles.

Beloved, there are parts of all our lives we want to be lifeless and remain lifeless. Sure, we could sidestep certain circles, so the past doesn’t reappear.

Maybe you’ve dodged a family reunion or high school reunion because of this. Maybe you dodge certain towns or shopping centers because of whom you might bump into. Maybe one of these situation has recently happened to you. Maybe you found yourself in a circumstance that causes you to shield the new you because of the old you. Beloved, this is terrible and not the way God wants us to live!!!.

As I was reading Luke chapter 8, verses 1-3, caught my attention.

It said: Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, (2) and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, (3) and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means. Those 3 verses hopped right into my spirit.

Beloved, Mary Magdalene was once demon possessed!!!. Sure, we’ve all read it, its been taught to us, and I’ve taught about her being demon possessed. But, as I looked closer at this verse, I feel that one of the reasons her demonic characteristic really doesn’t stand out with us is because she was never treated as one who had been demon controlled.

For many of us when it comes to our old life, it wasn’t just one demon, but several!!! None of us want to be the poster child of one being demon controlled. But if there was ever one back in Jesus’ day, it was Mary Magdalene!!!

Demon possession is something we don’t see much of in America, well, we don’t pay it much attention many don’t recognize it. But it’s real!! There maybe someone you know that you’ve stopped hanging with that are fighting real demons. Beloved, I’m very serious here about peopled being controlled by real demons. And It’s something you shouldn’t take too lightly either.

Now, allow me to ask you a couple of questions right here: *Are you praying for people in the battles they are fighting? **Are you willing to extend to people the gift of the 2 Rs repair or reconstruct to bring them into your circle with full trust?”

Many don’t focus on how severely demon-controlled Mary Magdalene was because she was never again treated as one who was demon controlled.

You see, if that’s how people REALLY saw her, why would God make her one of the first (THE FIRST) eyewitness of the empty tomb? In the Bible we see her running saying, “the tomb is empty!!!” That would be crazy!!! LOL!!! To treat her as old demon-controlled Mary would have led to saying, there goes crazy Mary again.” To run and say to people, “Hey you guys, I talked to an angel, a real angel, JESUS IS ALIVE!!!!” People would have easily said “Yeah, right Mary!!! An angel or is it one of your demons again? Come on Mary come back to reality.”

But instead, she was treated as someone that was made new by Jesus. Beloved, no human can be alive and dead at the same time. NO ONE!!! You’re one or the other.

I read Romans 6:4-11 when people ask me to baptize them:

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. (6) We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

(7) For one who has died has been set free from sin. (8) Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (9) We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. (10) For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. (11) So, you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Beloved, if you said yes to a relationship with Jesus, then let the past be dead. Live the new (different) life that Christ offers. The past life only brought death, so why go back? You’ve been made new, you’re now living, so LIVE Your Life!!!

Beloved, do you know someone with a past? Remember, you have a past also? Do you treat them as you hope others would treat you? Or, are you someone that certain people want to avoid because you might bring up the past? Or because you might treat them as if the past is still the present? Can you see, how Christ is treating them regardless of their past?

Beloved, complete forgiveness, full fellowship and relationship with God will help repair or rebuild a demon-controlled brother or sister who wants to get rid of their old sin nature. We should act like Jesus.

Mary didn’t have to live spooked by her past. God put her in leadership positions. She was a vital part of what God was doing. She was the first woman to the tomb, she was at the cross, she was with Jesus as He was proclaiming the gospel. Jesus didn’t see her as a black sheep or hindrance to His message. In fact, she was made for the message because we serve a God of life change.

Have a blessed week Everyone. 😀

May 21, 2018
“How to have Confidence in God Completely”
Beloved, I want you to visualize going to your favorite amusement park. You get on the rollercoaster, fastened in and just like that, nervousness grasps you. Your normal response is to improve your grip and reposition yourself to get some control, so you grasp the security bars tighter.

Or maybe you’re the one who keep your hands wide open and enjoy the experience.

Beloved, if you’re anything like me, you grip the security bar, close your eyes while tightening every muscle in your body while millions of thoughts of how to survive go through your mind. It’s in those moments I’m regretting I got on. But after it’s all over, I’m glad I did and want to go on again!!!

Beloved, this is an example of how we tend to live out our lives with God.

Either with a closed fist “wanting to be in control of all that’s happening out of fear”. This is nothing more than mere transitory security. Or, you have your hands wide open with no reservations of the unknown and no expectations, knowing that a Sovereign God has your life in His hands. And, has created all the threads and qualities of your life so complicatedly, like beautiful well-hung drapery.

While the prior example may seem to present the most comfortable situation, I can tell you that God is after the latter. He’s always after your faith!!!

Romans 8:28 tells us He works all things for your good!!!

Beloved, God wants you to completely have confidence in Him.

While it’s easy to say you believe that God is Lord and you have faith in Him, He’s requesting you to also put your confidence in Him for all the complications you face in life.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NLT) says:
7 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.

There’s one phrase that you’ll normally hear in most types of relationships is “just trust me.”

As a Minister, I say that a lot to many people when I’m trying to get them to try something new that’s extraneous to them. As a Minister, I would never put my fellow followers in harm’s way or have them try something that would upset, wound, or offend them, it’s the reverse!!!

I want them to find gratification from this something new.

Beloved, it’s the same with God. He wants to do good to us, it’s His desire, while also transporting to Himself the honor He’s due.

Now, my question to you is: What Door(s) Are You Knocking On To Put Your Confidence In?

Not long ago, First Lady, Donece asked me to go to lunch with her. She wanted to take me to this fast food restaurant that didn’t serve the food I liked. I went back and forth with her trying to persuade her to select something we both liked. But because she knows me well, she knew that they had something that I would love despite my past experiences with this type of food. I finally gave in, and you know what? I ended up loving this specific sandwich she wanted me to try!!!

Beloved, all along she kept saying to me, “Just trust me.” You see, I thought I already knew what was best for me, so I wanted to regulate in other words “control” the situation.

This is what God is saying to us daily because He knows us!!!

He’s saying just to trust Him!!!

Trust Him with our:
- jobs
- children/grandchildren
- finances
- marriage
- family relations
- school
- health
With absolutely everything!!! Without questions!!!

God is saying to you: “Stop holding on!!! Let Go!!! I Got You!!! Take hold of my hand and just trust Me!!!”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says:
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Now I must admit, this area is a little scary in terms of understanding this.The unidentified or strange can be startling!!!

But when the Lord reestablished my relationship with Him, that was one of the first and scariest things He had me do!!!

To surrender control and select to have faith over fear was the key. It was essential for my transformation. I wouldn’t be doing ANY of what I’m doing today without that step of faith.

Beloved, it absolutely was the best decision of my entire life.

Sure, I might have closed my eyes tight and turned my head back, but my hands were wide open.

Many of you know my past!!! I’m sure many of you are amazed at my transformation. Let me tell you from my life experience, God is able-if you allow Him to take control.

Beloved, is the cry of your heart, “God, have Your way?”

Or, are you still repudiating to let Him have complete control?

My question to you is, why are you so afraid to let go and let God?

There’s a song sung by the late Rev. James Cleveland called “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired” the words of the song are awesome.

“I don’t feel no ways tired,
I’ve come too far from where I started from.

Nobody told me that the road would be easy,

I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.”

If you allow God to take control, He will not drop you off and leave you.

Let me tell you Beloved, even though at times countless methods of perceived trials come up against you, you may feel all alone or no one is paying attention to what’s going on in your life, just remember God is in control of everything that’s going on. Everything is at the mercy of God, and nothing can touch or overtake you without almighty God’s authorization or endorsement.

When your life is held in the palms of His hands, you have no reason to be frightened or stressed out. Allow yourself to get to that place where you say repeatedly, “I don’t believe You brought me this far to leave me.” Not because you know what your future holds, but because you serve a great God who does.

Now let me tell you right here, God won’t pry open your hands to receive His plans for your life. But, He’ll always accept the invitation if you let Him in.

Beloved, you must have complete confidence in God.

Hebrews 11:1-2 (NLT) says:
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

In the Bible, there was a former prostitute named Rahab who lived in a city that God commanded the Israelites to destroy and take over.

When Joshua and his men came into the city, terror gripped the people who lived there. But Rahab showed a significant amount of courage and faith. She didn’t know their God, but she heard about and His mighty acts. Instead of running, and showing terror, she risked her own life by hiding the two Hebrew spies in her home.

Beloved, it was her act of faith that allowed God’s plans to succeed, and her entire family was spared!!! Sure, she could have easily turned the men in or hardened her heart against this foreign God. She could have rejected them by just saying, “No.”

But she didn’t!!! She allowed her faith, her confidence to be bigger than her fear.

Little did she know that God had a great plan for her life!!!

Beloved, she was a woman shamed and looked down upon in society!!! But not in the eyes of God!!! He saw who she would become through His grace, mercy, and power.

God ended up blessing Rahab, and she became the great-grandmother to King David!!! And eventually, her name was written down in the actual lineage leading up to the birth of King Jesus!!!

Now, if Rahab was able to open her hands at that moment and trust an unknown God, then how much more can you trust a God that you do know?!!! 😀

To God Be the Glory.
Have a blessed week Everyone.
April 23, 2018