STEPS TO HIGH FAVOUR by Alex Oguh

ABOUT THE BOOK

This book is about Mary and the steps she took to actualize the high favour bestowed by God on her. It is s written to encourage faith in every reader  to rise up to the level God has in mind for him or her.

There are ten steps to high favour highlighted here in the book. Ministers can use these steps and the others they may see to teach faith to their congregations. 

Step 1: Why Was Only Mary Highly Favoured?

Step 2: Marry From The House Of David

Step 3 -stay Within Your Borders 

Step 4: Rejoice 

Step 5: Learn To Meditate On God's Word 

Step 6: Mary Was Told Not To Fear`

Step 7: Call His Name Jesus

Step 8: Believe In Overshadowing 

Step 9: Have A Human Discipler 

Step 10: Take Responsibility 

May the Lord use this feeble effort to help you enter HIGH FAVOUR from this year.

Alex Oguh

+234 806 579 2749 / alexoguh@gmail.com

Copyright © 2024 Alex Oguh

All rights reserved.

ISBN:

No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without the prior written permission of the copyright owner, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Published by:

Alex Oguh Word Publications

Behind A.A. Rano Filling Station, Near

Saint Francis Catholic Church, Off Ganaja

Junction, Lokoja, Kogi State, Nigeria.

+234 806 579 2749

+234 805 592 1871

alexoguh@gmail.com

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to our outgoing Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria (CEFN) General Overseer, Rev. D. B. Usman, Ph. D.

ü For encouraging us to mix more and more with the other parts of the body of Christ.

ü For fetching for us the theme: HIGH FAVOUR.

I was so glad the very first night this theme was declared for 2024 because it implies that God’s Spirit will overshadow some of us individually and as a Mission.

May CEFN be overshadowed, May we get pregnant and may Jesus’ life be formed, be born and reign among us.

CONTENTS

Step 1: Why Was Only Mary So Highly Favoured?

Step 2: Mary From The House Of David

Step 3 -Stay Within Your Borders 

Step 4: Rejoice 

Step 5: Learn To Meditate On God's Word 

Step 6: Mary Was Told Not To Fear

Step 7: Call His Name Jesus

Step 8: Believe In Overshadowing 

Step 9: Have A Human Discipler 

Step 10: Take Responsibility

WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK

I am learning to obey the promptings of the Lord. God’s word, like rain and snow (Is. 55:10-11), keeps coming down to the earth. There is the need for good grounds or hearts for the rain so that things of God might grow more and more on the earth.

I sense I should write this for you. Some others may have received such instructions. We know that God delights in using people that are small, unimpressive, and weak and with nothing to qualify them apart from God. That is why I delight in my weaknesses.

    2 Cor 12:10

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NKJV

Will this book help you, my dear reader? It depends on whether God’s Spirit overshadows it or not. I have done all I can do, as the Lord has prompted me to. I have written what I think God wants to use to help us, His people and I have prayed over it and commended it into God’s hands to overshadow it and make impossible happen. He did it for Mary. A virgin became pregnant because of overshadowing of the Spirit. I believe He will like to grant us HIGH HONOUR too by overshadowing us with His Spirit.

May the Lord do so as you read the book.

Alex Oguh

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I must keep thanking all those working tirelessly to make this our great Mission great. I particularly must thank all our past and current spiritual leaders for their roles in bringing us thus far.

I was born into paganism and didn't actually leave that even when I began to go to Church. I have been a Catholic for twenty-six years (1965-1991). Then I had the mercy of God and was converted at the end of 1991. From then on, I became a member of a Pentecostal Church from 1992 to 2023. I had my first biblical knowledge of Christ at this period from their Sunday School Classes all through to their Theological Seminary. I thank God for those who showed me the Light there. I gained much there and I thought that I was good enough for ministry till I entered Christian Evangelical Fellowship of Nigeria, CEFN.

I have been seeing myself as Ruth who was new to God's people. Her being among the people in their cities, farms and worship places proved to her that God's people are really unique. My journeys so far through the various groups (blocs and denominations) have made me admire the body of Christ. I love the people of God.

I wish that we operate more closely together as the Lord expects (Eph 4:11-16).

There is divine expectation. Each one of us is expected to be like Christ in every way (Rom 8:29). My experience is that each group in the body has its own unique way of being like Christ. Therefore what a blessing being one in the body can bring.

The way we plan, the way we insist on having correct personal life, correct family life and the way we subject ourselves to accountability here is unique and I have gained much from there. The way we do things indicates that we already have high favour and honour. We only need to know this and strive to do more in these directions. Whoever is in honour and does not know it is like a beast that is perishing (Ps 49:12, 20)

I acknowledge you all my leaders for helping me to see this. I particularly thank those I have worked with very closely – Rev. Joseph Ahiaba, Rev. Philip Utaji, Rev. Sunday Akeji AND Rev.Dr. Malachi Ogakwu. Thank you for showing me the life of Christ.

Alex Oguh 

INTRODUCTION

I was there that night in October 2023 in CEFN National Conference when the theme for 2024 was declared by our outgoing General Overseer. I was thrilled because the high favour Mary got was executed by the Spirit overshadowing her and all that concerned her. Conception was possible despite her being a virgin. Her wedding and marriage still stood firm. 

This booklet is written to encourage each reader to take steps of faith.    

       

Heb 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. NKJV

We all have beliefs. Many, I suppose, believe that high favour will be theirs in 2024, whether they do something or not. That will be deception. Without it faith it is impossible to please God. God is looking for our faith. What we say, how we say them and what we do and how go about doing them are things God considers before granting us our hearts' desires. 

As in all scriptures, God decided to guide us towards high favour by making that angel appear and say words to Mary under circumstances that give context to the story of annunciation. I believe those brought out in this booklet are important in learning and exercising faith for high favour.

May the Lord minister to you through this booklet. May your faith soar high as you read the book and the word of the Lord be confirmed in as many of us as possible.

Step 1:

WHY ONLY MARY WAS SO HIGHLY FAVOURED

Luke 1:26-27

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent  by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 2 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The  virgin's name was Mary. 

There is a reason for every special favour or lifting by God. Not even Jesus was raised above all arbitrarily.    

There were many other girls - billions of young women in the world at that time that God wanted to send His Son to the earth. There were millions of young girls in Israel alone at that time. Maybe there were hundreds of thousands of girls in Nazareth alone at that time. What are  the things that attracted God to this lady, called Mary? 

Why Am I Asking These Questions?

a. God is not partial 1 Tim 5:21

b. God is no respecter of persons Acts 10:34

c. All men are equal before Him

Not even Jesus was treated differently.

    Phil 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being  found in appearance  as  a  man, He humbled Himself  and  became obedient  to  the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NKJV

Mary Remained a Virgin Despite

1.1 The Nature of Nazareth and Galilee

We are aware that Galilee in their language means surrounded by gentiles. It was why the Pharisees never stopped asking, 'Can the Messiah come out of Nazareth?'

Nazareth was a land of sins – robberies, raping, and other things against womenfolk. The young men there were like young men in places without Christ in our day. What do they do? They try to chase and sleep with every available young virgin. Mary must have been tempted over and over by the people of these other tribes. 

        

The King of Assyria once dropped other men in Israel and carried their men to another country (2 Kgs 17:24). The Hebrew women that remained could only make their children, born for these foreigners, speak Hebrew. The children belonged to their fathers – these men that had been dropped in the land. This was how Samaria came into being. Galilee was terrible. Yet Mary was living in it and remained a virgin.

……….

Those who get high favour are not untested persons. Esther was without her natural parents in Persia. She was a slave. Any male could have done injustice to her by raping her or forcefully marrying her. Yet that special beauty remained a virgin and got so honoured as the Queen of Persia. Are you a virgin? There are exam malpractices everywhere, are you free or are your children not involved? Are you a womanizer? High favour is not for those living in sin.

There appears to be fewer and fewer virgins now. Our villages seemed to even have less. It is a shame to some girls to be a virgin. Is that so with you? Are you a virgin? You may be old now, but were you a virgin before you married? How did you manage your single days? Mine was terrible. The devil gained much from my life when I was young. I wanted to remain committed to God and remain holy, but the Catholic Church was not teaching the Bible like some do now. We were listening and reciting some things in Latin. You were brought up in the Church. Your parents were or are ministers in the Church. Did you remain a virgin? Young man, did you remain a virgin?

For us men, virginity is mostly a matter not only a sin among women. It is men that dis-virgin women. Lesbian women sleep with themselves, but men normally entice most of the women into sex. Were you helping to reduce virgins or what was your sin? 

Being holy is likened to being a virgin. The ten virgins in the parable of ten virgins were not all about women. To be without sin is to be a virgin. The Lord regards us as His bride. Most sins are seen by God as spiritual adultery (Jam. 4:4). 

1.2 Mary's Age

Mary was a virgin. It was a feat in her time and circumstances. How could she remain a virgin? She was not a tiny young girl. She was mature enough to know and expressed surprise that the angel was talking of pregnancy when she had not yet known a man carnally. She was not naïve. She knew the process that starts babies in the wombs.  That tells me that she was not too young. So how did she survive as a virgin? What of all those Roman soldiers occupying the land? Mary must have resolved not to soil herself with them. Without that resolve, her opportunity to be the mother of Jesus would have eluded her. Only a virgin could be highly honoured with that ministry. Do you think you are qualified for such lifting? 

Have you ever heard of Zacchaeus in Lk 19? He ran up and own in other to see Jesus. He even climbed a tree in order to see Jesus. It was not enough. He cooked food for Jesus and those with Him. I know that you are donating much to the Church. Yet go and ask Zacchaeus. Check yourself again and again. Many people in our land believe that it is where you work that you eat. So they give and take bribes. Are your hands soiled with such sins? I see buildings here and there erected by corruption money. You think that you can get high favour under such circumstances? No way. How can?

1.3 Age Of Joseph

Another reason to make it hard for Mary to remain a virgin was the age of Joseph. Joseph was introduced as “Joseph”, not as Joseph the son of so and so, not Joseph the apprentice in a carpentry workshop. We later know him as 'Joseph the carpenter'. Joseph the carpenter means that he was a professional man. I imagine that Joseph had his own house or room. Yet Mary remained a virgin. Joseph was a holy man, no doubt. Yet Mary had opportunities to lure him to early sex. She didn't.

High favour is not arbitrary. Think of your life. What is your level of self-control? If they had begun having sex from day one of their marriage, nobody would have frowned at it. They were legally and spiritually married. How is your private life? How is your secret life? What is your profile picture on Telegram, Instagram, Twitter and other social media platforms like?

Let us remain virgins. Some high honours are for virgins. Some high honours are for the righteous. Some high favours are for those, like Mary, who can remain virgin in spite of what is going on with other girls. Even Joseph had a share of the high favour. He controlled himself.

So Who Will Get High Favour?

They are those who stand out among the crowds like Mary. They are those who are able to say no to exam malpractices. Many have fallen for it. Will you fall for it? Sin is a fall from high favour. Immorality is now everywhere. Sex is even on display on the internet. The temptation to watch pornography is strong. Have you fallen or are you likely to fall into it? Everyone is taking or is giving bribe. Has that made it right for you?

Even Christian ministers are falling into sins here and there. Some are giving lying prophecies in order to raise more money. Have you fallen for that? Pastors are touching Church monies? Pastors want to be posted only to big churches? 

Stand out in spite of trials and temptations. Pray about this.

STEP 2:

MARRY FROM THE HOUSE DAVID

Luke 1:26-28

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. NKJV

Mary had been engaged to marry Joseph, a man from the house of David. That has a lot of implications. David means, 'Beloved.' The Church is the beloved of the Lord (Rom 1:7). David was a shepherd, not a hunter. As a shepherd, David helps care for the sheep. A hunter is likely to think of the sheep as something for the slaughter. Husbandry is where the word 'Husband' comes from. A man in husbandry business tends animals and wants it to be well with them. Hunters are interested in killing animals in their hands. Marry into the family of David. Marry from the family of David. Marrying the family of David is like marrying from within the Church. David tended his father's sheep. Marry a man that sees you as part of the flock of God. 

David was not a man rejected by God. His senior brothers were Israelites, but they were men rejected by God. It is not every young man or woman in the Church that is from the house of David. 

There are ways to check. The man Mary was about marrying then was called Joseph. Joseph means 'Add' or

……

'Adding' as can be seen in Gen. 30:25. Every true Christian you marry will add to your life. 

David was a man who could sooth a troubled King Saul and cast out evil spirits from him. Every correct Christian spouse will make your comfortable and will help you out of trouble. It is difficult to enjoy high favour when you have a son or a daughter of the devil as your spouse.

Marry from the lineage of David. David can help you kill any Goliath confronting you. Marriage is weak when one spouse carries another spirit apart from God's. There is no marriage that does not face challenges. The wine or the joy of every marriage will finish one day. You need someone who is like Jesus to turn water to wine.

You need a person like David around your life. David was a person who had many opportunities to kill King Saul but did not. A man or a woman with the spirit of David will not harm you even if you mistakenly annoy him.

Marry from the Church. It is better for you. David cried when his enemies died. He cried when King Saul died (2 Sam. 1). He cried when Abner (2 Sam 3:22-39), the Commander of Saul's army was killed. He cried when Ner, another Commander of King Saul died. Where do you get such men? It is only in the Church of God that you see them.

…………

David was a man whose first plan on entering the throne of the unified kingdom was how to bring back the ark or revival. David conquered the enemies of God. David reigned without oppressing anybody in the land. It is better to marry from the Church.

Remember that David fell much later when he saw Bathsheba bathing. If that can happen to a David, what do you think can happen to other weak men? If that happened with a man like David, why marry a man who is playing with sin?

Something good came out of that fall. Solomon came out of that union. That could only happen when there is someone who really prayed. You need a wife or a husband from among the people of God. Even that is high favour. Without that how can you enjoy high favour? You need a peaceful home to enjoy high favour.

House of David stood for the Church in the Old Testament. Young man, I know that you say that you are a Christian. Are you in any way like David? Are you unlike him? David was the model to follow or imitate for those in the Old Testament. Jesus is our model now in the New Testament. You can see that following Jesus is more demanding than following David. Any Christian man or woman who is not learning to be like Jesus is not a good husband material. 

    

Rom 8:29

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. NKJV

Please marry from the House of God. And if you have already married wrongly, take time to plead for mercy. Marrying in the will of God is a major step towards having favour with God (Prov. 18:22).

STEP 3:

STAY WITHIN YOUR BORDERS

    

Luke 1:28

And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" NKJV

'Having come in' implies that Mary was inside. Why did the Holy Ghost allow that to be in the Bible? He wants us to learn something from it.  It is part of the principles of walking with God to accept that everyone and everything has boundaries.

Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, shouldn't have gone out anyhow.  

    

Gen 34:1-3

Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land. 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her and lay with her, and violated her. NKJV

Her going out that way, without proper company, made Shechem rape her. This is very important to single ladies, especially the young ones. All that happened after Shechem raped her could have been avoided. Dinah ended up losing on all grounds. Mary was inside when the angel came to deliver that important message to her. 

That message was not delivered on the street. Let us learn from that. It is wiser for young ladies to stay in their father's houses until they marry. God's plan is for a woman to remain under authority at all times.

We are told that a woman who had vowed can be stopped by either the father or the husband. Men cannot change their minds after making a vow and neither can widows or divorced women. 

    

Num 30:2-9

If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. 

3 "Or if a woman makes a vow to the LORD, and binds herself by some agreement while in her father's house in her youth, 4 and her father hears her vow and the agreement by which she has bound herself, and her father holds his peace, then all her vows shall stand, and every agreement with which she has bound herself shall stand. 5 But if her father overrules her on the day that he hears, then none of her vows nor her agreements by which she has bound herself shall stand; and the LORD will release her, because her father overruled her. 

6 "If indeed she takes a husband, while bound by her vows or by a rash utterance from her lips by which she bound herself, 7 and her husband hears it, and makes no response to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her agreements by which she bound herself shall stand. 8 But if her husband overrules her on the day that he hears it, he shall make void her vow which she took and what she uttered with her lips, by which she bound herself, and the LORD will release her.

9 "Also any vow of a widow or a divorced woman, by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her. NKJV

It is part of the tradition of the people of God that a woman is under a man's authority. Remember that it was the woman that fell first in the Garden of Eden that's why the Church has the tradition of women covering their hair. 

    1 Cor 11:3-11

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 6 For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. 7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man is not from woman, but woman from man. 9 Nor was man created for the woman, but woman for the man. 10 For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. NKJV

All of the doctrines about women covering their hairs or not cover them should be about whether women should be under authority of men or not.

In order to experience high honour, we need to know what to do and what not to do. We are told not to move ancient landmarks in Deut. 19:14; 27:17; Prov. 22:28; 23:10. Let's look at the one Prov. 22:28 and the verse that follows it.

Prov 22:28-29

Do not remove the ancient landmark

Which your fathers have set. 

29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before unknown men. NKJV

Every verse of the Bible is an ancient landmark. God had set them to set boundaries for us - to help us know where to enter and when not to pass through. Greed has made removal of ancient landmarks a very common thing in our time. As a result there are a lot of quarrels and lawsuits over land boundaries. 

It is the same problem that has caused denominations to thrive in our time. There are strange boundaries and removal of boundaries from where they ought to be. The boundaries are no more firm.

What is the council of God? We can see this in verse 29

29 Do you see a man who excels in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before unknown men. NKJV

The key is to excel in your work. Young lady, excel as you work and obey your parents. Your husband will come your way. Excel in your school. God will link you to your own husband. You don't need to be roaming up and down in a big city before you see a husband to marry.

People are looking for high honour; you must not be like the harlot. 

    

Prov 7:10-12

And there a woman met him,

With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. 

11 She was loud and rebellious,

Her feet would not stay at home. 

12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,

Lurking at every corner. NKJV

Mary was not like a harlot. There is the attire of a harlot. Don't wear that because it doesn't lead to high favour. Being loud and rebellious is not the way into high honour. Obedience is the way up in God. You going up and down will not help you to get high favour. Your attending every wild party will not help you to enter high honour. Your cunningly trapping men will not help you into high favour. High honour is not for harlots.

Men are not exempted in this. There are places to be when you are serious about attaining high honour. There are things not to be evolved in when you are serious about becoming one of those God will favour. Taking drug or alcohol is not the way to high honour. Yahoo-yahoo is not a step towards high honour. Exam malpractice is not a help when you want to get high favour.

God wants to give you high honour just like He gave Mary. Take responsibility. Drop things that will not allow you to have high honour. Stay within your boundary. Avoid sin and sinful habits.

    

Heb 12:1-2

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

Drop every weight or anything bogus enough to drag you from being highly favoured by God. There are sins that easily give us trouble. Immorality is most likely on top of the list. Be careful with pictures you see, videos you watch and the television channels you tune to. Look unto Jesus and let him be your model. Be careful with the friends you keep. 

Make it part of your regular prayers for God to deliver you from temptations.

STEP 4:

REJOICE

      Luke 1:28

And having come in, the angel said to her,"Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" NKJV

The word translated as rejoice here is from the Greek word 'Chairo'. It means to be "cheerful", i.e. calmly happy or well-off. It is said when meeting or parting. Be well. See Strong Concordance.

It's translated, 'Hail' in King James Version. No part of the Bible was carelessly put there. That is why there is something to learn from it.

It is with joy that we draw water from the well or salvation. 

    

Isa 12:3

Therefore with joy you will draw water

From the wells of salvation. NKJV

We are commanded to rejoice always. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice evermore.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

We are expected to have peace that passed all understanding (Phil. 4:7). We are in a religion of real peace.

Romans 14:17 (KJV) For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Mary was told to rejoice. Rejoicing always is a step towards high honour. Giving thanks is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. Allow God to order your steps into high honour. 

When God ordered the steps of Saul, the son of Kish, into high honour, he didn't know that was what God was doing. His father's donkeys got lost and he was sent with a servant to look for them. The donkeys returned to the house, but they roamed on till God brought Saul before Samuel for the anointing to become the King of Israel.

God ordered the steps of Ruth, a stranger in Bethlehem, into her future farm, the farm of Boaz. How did a stranger get into the portion of such a close relative? It was God ordering her steps. The way to glory is not straight or smooth.

David met and killed Goliath because he simply obeyed his father that sent him to the senior brothers who were in the warfront. In the same way, Joseph didn't know that he was on a journey to high favour when his father sent him to check on his brothers in the field.

Here was Mary planning her wedding. Suddenly everything was falling apart because of what the Angel came to say. Yet the angel was asking her to rejoice. May we accept God's will in every situation. 

    1 Thess 5:16-19

Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

    19 Do not quench the Spirit. NKJV

Refusal to rejoice at any point is quenching the Spirit. Why not let us learn to follow God. Let us stop leaning on her own understanding. Let us trust the Lord with all our hearts (Prov. 3:5-7). 

For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (Rom 8:28). All things work for good to those who love God. It's not some things that work for our good. All things are made to become steps for us to ride on.

Do you really want high favour and honour? There is only one way. Abraham followed that way. He kept giving thanks. Yes even when age caught up with him. Yes, even when Sarah reached menopause.

    

Rom 4:18-22

who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, "So shall your descendants be."   19 And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb. 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."  NKJV,

The apparent lateness of the promised Isaac was a challenge to Abraham and his wife. Age was not on their side. God got more glory when Isaac was born.

God has promised us high favour. Let us trust Him for it. Let's rejoice even when circumstances change negatively. Yes, even the unexpected begins to happen. Our instruction is to rejoice always. Rejoice in every situation. Welcome trouble as written by James. 

    

James 1:2-3

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, NKJV

Zecharias, the father of John the Baptist shouldn't have complained and argued. God didn't give them a child when they were young. He had decided to give them a child in old age. What is wrong with that? Is God not free to do whatever He wants with our lives? Are we not here to give Him praise? His questioning God caused him to be dumb for months. Learn from that.

God wants more glory. He has a right to orchestrate events towards more glory for Himself. It was true that Lazarus was dead. It was perfectly in God's will and power to raise Him. He could raise him back to life as he was dying. He could do it the second day or the third day. God chose to raise Lazarus four days after his death. What is that to you?

So why worry yourself about how God will give you high favour? He can do like in the days of Gideon. In order to get more glory, He allowed the army of 32,000 to reduce to 300. Why can't He allow Lazarus to first really decay before raising him back to life? We can all see that that miracle of raising Lazarus back to life is more memorable than His other miracles of raising the dead.

That miracle made the religious leaders mad. They went for meetings after meetings in order to kill Jesus. Jesus' death was the greatest mistake of Satan. He is still regretting. Jesus got high favour or honour by suffering and dying on the cross. We don't know the road to high favour. Or do you know the way into it?

STEP 5:

LEARN TO MEDITATE ON GOD'S WORD

    

Luke 1:29

But when she saw him,* she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. NKJV

Luke 1:29 AMP [29] But she was greatly perplexed at what he said, and kept carefully considering what kind of greeting this was. 

Mary gave attention to the word of God that came to her. It is advisable to think deeply about things that can help you. She wondered what it meant. She let it roam in her mind. This was part of Mary's life.  See her keeping things in her heart in the following verses.

  Luke 2:18-19

And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. NKJV

Mary kept the dealings of God in her mind and she kept meditating on them. It was her habit to value things of God. The shepherds may even forget, but Mary will remember what they said the angels told them. Even the memory about the visit of the wise men, who do you think kept them in her heart? Thank God for Mary. A lot of what we know today would have been lost if Mary had been careless about such events and things which were spoken of Him. 

The very old man, Simeon, came into the Temple when the baby Jesus was brought in for dedication. The man said some profound things. Joseph and Mary kept those things in their hearts. So learn us to keep important things in your heart. It was the practice of the holy family members.

Avoid the Way of the Following

1. Avoid the Way of Esau.

Esau sold his birthright and got up and left. He didn't even look back to ask himself, 'What have I done?' 

    

Gen 25:29-34

Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom.*  

31 But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day." 

32 And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" 

33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day."

So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright. NKJV

Esau was naive. How can your brother ask you to sell your birthright to him? Birthright is a gift from God. Can being born first be bought? How can you get the means to pay when it happened before your birth? Esau sold his birthright.  

Never sell your birthright. Never sell the fact that you are a male or a female. Never sell truths about you. We are told to buy the truth and sell it not in 

    

Prov 23:23

Buy the truth, and do not sell it,

Also wisdom and instruction and understanding. NKJV

How do we know that you really value the truth you have got? We know it when you pay for it. We know it when you give it attention. We know it when you start following that truth. We know it when you give it time and resources.

1. Work on Allowing God's Word to Flourish In Your Heart

In the parable about the sower, some seeds fell on the wayside. Some seeds thrown landed on the footpath or road by the farm. The birds were happy. Those familiar with farming know that birds even dig up seeds that were properly planted. Farmers have to chase such birds. So leaving your seeds on the surface is like entertaining the bird around the farm. Jesus likened a heart that doesn't think deeply about the word of God to be like such a ground. Spiritual birds of the air feast on such.

2. Avoid Hypocrisy 

King Saul heard God's judgment on him. Instead of repenting, he began to drag Samuel to help him pretend that there is no problem (1 Sam 15).

Mary's heart was not that type. She used to think deeply about things. It was why she was able to ask wise questions. All those with wayside hearts never attain high favour. Mary thought much about important things. It was why she was able to ask wise questions. All those with wayside hearts never attain high favour.

Allow God's Word to Affect You Like the Followings

1. David broke down when Prophet Nathan confronted him about his sin with Uriah's wife (2 Sam 12)

2. King Josiah tore his clothes when the word of God and the likely punishments s read to him. God was pleased with him for allowing the word of God to affect him so deeply. (2 Kgs 22).

Allow God's word to have impacts on you. It was one of those things that helped Mary to attain and maintain that height of favour. Is there any evidence that God's word has ever really hit you like a hammer or engulfed you like fire?

    

Jer 23:29

"Is not My word like a fire?" says the LORD,

"And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? NKJV

I heard the word of God when I had a motor accident some 33 years ago. What I saw and heard then turned me. I've not remained the same since then. I'll never be able to recover and go back to my life before that day. That old me died and I started learning to live the new life in Christ from there and then.

Along the way, I heard God when God used Bishop (then Evangelist) Sunday Yusufu to heal my daughter in 1992.  It was there I met the following verses.

     

Mark 16:17-18

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." NKJV

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." NKJV

I had been a Christian for 26 years before then. So there are signs when somebody is a Christian? Why didn't I know this before then? Why didn't they tell us? Was it that they didn't know or didn't want to tell us?

I couldn't sleep that night after seeing that in the Bible. I went into my Catholic bibles. I thought that those verses won't be there. I saw them there. The meanings were not obscure. 

· Casting out devils?

· Speak in new tongues?

· Take up serpents?

· Drink deadly poison and remain unharmed?

· Heal the sick?

From that day till down, I started reading the Bible for myself. I saw deceptions among God's people. That is why I beg God to keep helping me to go through the Bible at least once in a year. That is how the word God can affect a person.

Then I heard God from 

    Matt 26:40-41

Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?  41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." NKJV

I was worried the about how to maintain my new found joy in Christ. I was beginning to lose grasp of the peace I had at conversion.  We are told to rejoice ever more in conversion.  We are told to rejoice ever more in 

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Rejoice evermore.

My joy was going away. I cried back to God and He showed me what to be doing to keep overcoming the evil one. It is to spend one hour in prayer and the word before God daily. I learnt that. Those in Education profession say that when learning has occurred, there will be permanent change of behaviour.  That knowledge affected me. I don't think that I have failed many times since then. If one hour is what God demands, so be it.

Then I began to hear God through Bro. Gbile Akanni. The summary of what I heard is that no man with self-life can ever follow God correctly.

        

Luke 9:23-24

Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,* and follow Me. NKJV

    

Luke 9:23-24

Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat — I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. (THE MESSAGE)

    

Gal 2:20-21

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. NKJV

That is the summary of all I've learnt in Peace House. I learnt Christ and Him crucified. I learnt to allow Him live His life but in me. I learnt to listen to Him and to take everything before Him to decide what to say or do. I learnt the way He lived as reported to us.

        

John 5:19-20

Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. NKJV

    

John 5:30

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. NKJV

I learnt to live like that - to have no mind and plan of my own. I learnt what real Christ-like life is all about. I'm still see my mistakes, but I won't give up becoming like Jesus.

I saw that this is the ultimate in our religion. I simply allow Him to control the steering wheel of my life. It was what Mary did. She said at the end of the conversation, 

Luke 1:38

Then Mary said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. NKJV

Nobody gets high honour without coming to this stage. She surrendered herself. She gave up her interests. That was when the angel left. He went back to heaven to report that they have found a correct life that God can use. The life God uses must share God's glory. Pray about this. Be sure that you have taken this important step towards high honour.

STEP 6:

MARY WAS TOLD NOT TO FEAR

Luke 1:30 (KJV) And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

Don't fear that this angel is talking to you like this. Angel means messenger. The word has been used mostly for good angels that work with God. In reality there are good and bad angels. Since the word means messenger, it has been used for human beings and for inanimate things that God had used as messengers.

Wind has been God's messenger as in 

Ps 104:3-4

3 He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,  4 Who makes His angels spirits, His ministers a flame of fire. NKJV

It has been used for pestilence as can be seen in 

    

Ps 78:47-49

He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycamore trees with frost. 48 He also gave up their cattle to the hail, And their flocks to fiery lightning. 49 He cast on them the fierceness of His anger, Wrath, indignation, and trouble, By sending angels of destruction among them. NKJV

Most people are nearer Angels than they think. God's words are spirits. They report back to God. They labour to succeed over lives. Any story, any scripture or verse of the Bible can be used as God's messenger to you. Don't wait till you see an apparition. Interact with the word of God to you. Meditate on what you are hearing. Don't fear as the Lord speaks to you. God was able to use a fisherman like Peter. He can use you. Fear not.

Why Should God's Word Frighten You?

Abraham was spoken to in     

Gen 12:1-3

        Now the LORD had said to Abram:

"Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father's house,

To a land that I will show you. 

2 I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you

And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing. 

3 I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." NKJV

He heard God and obeyed. The reality today is that He has become a father of many nations. Don't fear. Allow God to promote you to high favour. It starts by believing His word. Gods plan is to make everyone that accepts Christ a minister of the Gospel one way or the other. God is looking for a Nation of priests. What stopped that plan was that the children of God refused to stand and hear Him. They ran away out of fear and asked Moses to hear and tell them.

That was a great loss to them. You need to hear God yourself and obey to become a highly favoured one. Mary obeyed the voice of that angel. She didn't run away. Therefore she became what God created her to become.

Isaiah 60:22 (KJV)  A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time

This is another bogus promise. It has happened before. Don't let the promise be too big in your eye. Look at Jacob's household. Benjamin became a nation. One of the children was born because Leah gave her son's fruits to Rachel to eat. Even that boy became a tribe in Israel.

Genesis 30:14-18 (KJV)  And Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.

And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.

And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.

And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son.

And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.

You can become great. You name can be known all over the Earth and across generations. Mary couldn't have imagined what God had in mind for her then. Blessed among women? Among which women? Women in their fellowship? Women in their village? Women in their region or in all Israel? She couldn't have imagined that her name would be known in all future generations. 

Don't be afraid. God can honour you. Be bold. That was the way God put it to Joshua.

Joshua 1:1-2, 5-7 (KJV)  Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,

Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

Be bold. Be courageous. Mary was told not to fear. That was an important step towards her becoming highly favoured. Take that step this day.

Peter and the other fishermen took that step of holding mightily to God's promises to them. Those local men became great leaders. When He addressed them as He was giving them the Great Commission, I imagine that some smiled. How could these local men go into all the nations? How can such turns Greeks and Romans? What do they carry to impress Barbarians’? Yet some took courage and believed.

Remember that David was surrounded by people in debt, people who were outcasts. 

1 Samuel 22:2 (KJV)  And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

These were the men David turned to big military leaders for Israel. They became Army Commanders. This happened in a space of a few years. Mary was made great. It was because she believed. You too can believe and become something for God.

Some fear to read the entire Bible. Those who pick courage and read the bible become leaders. Do like that. Read your Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Become an Elder or a Deacon. What are you doing there in the pew? Peter didn't stay in the pew forever. Why you?

Revelation 4:1 (KJV)  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

Come up hither. God is calling you to high favour. Accept the call. God's call is always a high calling. He normally goes up before calling people.

Matthew 5:1-2 (KJV)  And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

The great Sermon on the Mount was not heard by everyone.

Only those who came up to Him heard those wonderful truths. 

Mark 3:13-14 (KJV) And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.

And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

Accept this high call. It is the call before high favour. Many were called. Some even came but He didn't pick them. So came clean. Come to Him without sin and doubts. Come to Him quickly. Be early to Church. Don't be sluggish about the work of God.

God is looking for a Nation of priests. He is in need of vessels to use. He wants those who will carry Christ in their mortal bodies. 

Colossians 1:27 (KJV) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Galatians 4:19 (KJV) My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

He is looking for those to glorify. He wants people in who Christ is formed. He wants Christ to reign through your life. Will you allow Him? Nothing is stopping you.

Romans 8:29 (KJV) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

There is a journey to glory. Everyone who becomes like Christ has high favour. Become like Christ. Make becoming like Christ your goal iñ life because that is God's goal over your life. Do you really desire high honour? This is a very important step towards it. Stop fearing the idea of becoming a great man or woman of God.

Mary was told not to fear even though: 

1. Her wedding was in trouble 

2. Disgrace was ahead of her. No disgrace came 

3. Joseph won't understand. God made Joseph understand through a dream.

4. They may stone her to death. Nobody stoned her. She became great.

5. She may remain single through life. She even still married her man.

6. There is a strange being before her.

7. That being a virgin would stop her from being pregnant. The Spirit overshadowed her.

STEP 7:

CALL HIS NAME JESUS

Luke 1:31 (KJV)  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Matthew 1:21 (KJV)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Look at the two different verses closely. Mary was instructed to call the Son of God, JESUS. Much later, Joseph had a dream and he was told to name Him JESUS. I wonder how many should give a new baby a name. The Angel didn't tell Mary to let Joseph name Him so. Neither did the Angel in the dream tell Joseph that Mary had been instructed to give the baby that name.

What can deduce from this? It is that everyone should name this Son of God. Even the mother had to deliberately give that name. The earthly father should also do the same. It's as if each person the baby is revealed to must give Him that name.

Jesus has other wonderful names. Each name has its unique meaning. As explained to Joseph, this name has its special meaning and implications.

Matthew 1:21 (KJV)  And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 

Why this name out Jesus ' many names? It's because only this name brings God and Man together again. Sin was the quarrel in the Garden. Sin is still the matter. Sin separated God and Man.

Isaiah 59:1-2 (KJV) Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

Sin must be removed or there is no friendship with God. Jesus is the bridge between us and God. That bridge cannot lie over sins and sinful habits. Sin must be forsaken. Call Him Jesus to show that you have dealt with the problem of sin. 

Has Jesus saved you from your sins? Otherwise, how can you expect high favour. High favour is not for sinners. High favour is not for children of darkness. Children of darkness are those who hide what they do. They hate light. They don't operate naturally when in the open. Are you really a child of light?

Your Pastor may not have yet named Him Jesus. Don't mind that. Your Elders may Jesus know Jesus with other names. Leave to play with their destinies. Go ahead and call Him Jesus.

Do you know why this is important?

1. Only those who dealt with sin can have true fellowship with God. 

1 John 1:6 (KJV)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

2. Sinners cannot see God. 

Hebrews 12:14 (KJV)  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Why is sin so common in the Church in our days? It's because we have not explained that jesus came to take away sins of His people.

Romans 15:20 (KJV)  Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

Are you still living in sin? Then you are not qualified for high honour or favour. How can God glory a sinner? Shame is the portion of the sinner

Isaiah 48:22

There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.

Isaiah 57:21

There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

No peace for the wicked. No honour for the wicked. 

Just call the Son of God by the name Jesus. That is all. Know the implications. It means that He will save His people from their sins. Be saved from your sins and sinful habits.

STEP 8:

BELIEVE IN OVERSHADOWING

Luke 1:34-35 (KJV) Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Mary asked a very important question. How can you be saying that I will get pregnant when I've not been having sex? We want to consider the angel's answer in this step. 

The Angel pointed to the way impossible things happen. They call it overshadowing. Whenever God overshadows a matter all things become possible. 

For instance, when the Devil had done all kinds of atrocities on the Earth created by God, everything turned to darkness. The world became empty or void. Darkness or evil was covering and dominating the earth. God then began to speak and everything changed from chaos to order. 

The Church is looking bad this moment. Let the Spirit of God cover down again in revival and the Church will once again become glorious. Nothing is too hard when there is overshadowing.

Even for Jesus to do those miracles He did, the secret was overshadowing. 

    

Luke 5:17

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.* NKJVi

 

See what happened in Acts of the Holy Apostles. It was more of the Acts of the Holy Spirit. It started after the Holy Ghost came in Acts 2. Jesus specifically asked them to wait and do nothing till the Holy Ghost has come. They were fearful till then. They closed the door till then. The Jews were towering high above them till then. The suddenly everything turned. They Apostles began making them fear. Everything they did didn't stop the witnessing about Christ. Fear disappeared from the disciples. The unbelievers began to fear.

The presence of the spirit makes all things possible. So Mary became pregnant.  The fear of her losing the one she loved was averted. She stilled Joseph.

Some people have zeroed up their minds that Mary must remain a virgin till she died. That is a lie. 

1. The angel that visited Joseph in that dream told to him to still make Mary his wife.

Matthew 1:20 (KJV) But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

The angel told him to go ahead and wed his wife. He obeyed.

2. The bible said that they began regular marital sex after Jesus was born.

Matthew 1:24-25 (KJV) Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Mary was entirely human. She lived a normal human life and she was highly favoured. You can have high favour too.

Ask God to overshadow things for you. Give God difficult situations to change for you. Nothing went wrong for Mary. I'm sure that she must have been praying. When she went to Elizabeth, that was their prayer point. They have prayed for God to turn the heart of Joseph. After all hearts of kings are like watercourse in the hand of God. God answered their prayers. Pray!

STEP 9:

HAVE A HUMAN DISCIPLER

Luke 1:36 (KJV)  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

God gave Mary all she needed to attain high favour. High favour is not arbitrary. Nothing happens for nothing. Some people think that they can do without help of others. That is not through. Human beings need one another 

Ephesians 4:11-16 (KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

God has put Pastors and other men and women of God in the Church for the purpose of equipping the people of God. Like the system in the world, everyone born here is going to work one way or the other, but we must first going schools, colleges and universities.  We all must go through the hands of tutors and governors (Gal. 4:1-2). 

All kinds of leaders are here in the Church to help each one of us to grow properly. Elizabeth was pointed out to Mary as a person who is going through a similar experience. She was wise and she ran to see Elizabeth.

Proverbs 15:12 (KJV)  A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

Mary was not a mocker. She was a sincere seeker. She went to the wise. May you learn that wisdom. Providing you an example to see and follow is one of the ways God helps His people.

See what He did for Paul after saving him. He showed him a disciple, not just a Christian, in Damascus.

Acts 9:3-6 (KJV) And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Saul wanted to know what to be doing? How can you know that without seeing another real servant of God? Though the Lord knew the answer to that question, He decided that a human discipler should answer that. 

Acts 9:6 (KJV) And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him,

Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

He was told to go into the city. There is the city of God. God needed him to be part of a community of disciples. Saul was helped by this true follower and others like him in Damascus. He grew quickly in the spirit and he became a preacher. 

When Paul escaped from Damascus, his discipler kept praying for him. Later Barnabas became the one following up Saul. Barnabas found out about his conversion. He tried to make the true followers in Jerusalem accept Saul, but it didn't work.  When Barnabas entered the Gentile Church, he went and looked for Saul. Saul was so made that his ministry became more prominent than Barnabas'.

How did Paul help others? He kept calling on them to follow him as he followed the Lord.

1 Corinthians 4:16 (KJV) Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

The need to follow one another as sheep follow one another cannot be underestimated.  Mary was wise. She ran to a more mature woman. She ran to a more spiritual woman. She sought help from a woman who was ahead of her in this kind of experience she was about to go through.

You need a human discipler. Others before us had benefited from this pattern in God's family. It was Moses who helped Joshua to become so great. It was Naomi who guided Ruth to prominence.

Joshua should have guided another life to maturity in things of God.  There was none from his house or anywhere. The land entered into darkness after him. The book of judges was an adhoc thing because God had no man.

Moses himself was guided by his mother and Jethro much later. Most persons God used mightily in history were helped by human discoplers. There are things that you understand from books. You need a real person who is living that life. It will be easier to be slapped and turn another cheek if you have seen somebody who has been slapped and he turned another cheek before.

Do like Mary. Get a human discipler.

STEP 10:

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Luke 1:38-39 (KJV) And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

This is the final step you must take towards high favour. Without this step, you will attain little despite your many positive confessions. 

There is an illustration of a lazy person in the Bible in 

Proverbs 26:14

As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

The lazy person plans like other people. He may even have more ideas or plans. He wants to this or that. He has desires. The problem with the lazy person is than he does not actually do or carry out his plans.

He or she is like a door. Doors move a lot in their lifetimes. They open and close as dictated by the users of the spaces around them. All the movements of a door can be enough to cover thousands of kilometers before the door becomes bad or is replaced. All that movement does not lead to displacement. No distance is covered. Why? The door is attached rigidly to the building. 

The lazy man plans a lot. Only that the plans are never carried out. Mary carried out her plans. She immediately rushed out of her village and went to see Elizabeth.

Supposing she had lingered around and supposing someone, especially, Joseph had convinced her to come out of her promise to God? God could see faith in her. What you believe in is your belief. What you say or do with your belief is your faith.

She actually received her miracle baby. She got pregnant and carried the pregnancy to term and delivered the baby.  She didn't go for abortion. She didn't regret making herself a handmaid of the Lord.

Take responsibility. Paul wrote a letter to Colossians and specifically said to Archippus,."Fulfill thy ministry."

Colossians 4:17 (KJV) And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Why only mention Archippus? Maybe Archippus was playing around. Mary Archippus slept a lot. Maybe Archippus was a lazy man.

Hard work is a way to high favour. 

Proverbs 22:28-29 (KJV) Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Do what you are supposed to do. Do no adjustments to the boundary lines. Laziness can make you do that. Be in the fellowship when it is time for fellowship. Be in the office when it's time to be there. Don't cut corners. Obey your leaders.

You signed and agreed to serve anywhere in your Zone or region. Why are you now kicking against your being transferred? Stay within your boundary. Marry the person you should marry. Obey God even if doing so is hard.

Take responsibility. If you are married, be married. Obey your husband. Love your wife. Mary remained committed to God. She took care of the baby Jesus. She didn't drop Him in an orphanage.

I want you to know that having Jesus growing in Mary was not unique to Mary. Every Christian goes through the same road Mary went through.

✓ Jesus must be first be born in you .

✓Jesus must be formed in you.

Galatians 4:19 (KJV)  My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

✓ Jesus must be allowed to grow in you 

✓ Jesus should one be born through you as you begin to preach the gospel.

This is the tenth and last step. Stand on this always. Believe what you have heard. You are the first to believe that you are highly favoured.

Psalms 49:12, 20 (KJV) Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish.

Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.

If you follow these steps, then you are in honour. Be the first to believe that about intention of God over your life. Refusing to know it is becoming like a beast that is perishing. God forbid 

Pray about these steps. Meditate on them. God may give you understanding

THE END

WRITE YOUR IMPRESSIONS

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Other Books by Alex Oguh

1. Avoid Distractions in His Presence 

2. Celebrate Spiritual Birthdays 

3. Dream Interpretation (No Man Can Interpret Dreams) 

4. Due Order 

5. Effective Kingdom Praying 

6. Emergency! Our Angels Are Idle 

7. Have You Said, “Here I Am to God? 

8. Honour to Mary 

9. Kingdom Praying 

10. Let Us Contend for the Faith 

11. Understand Causes of Christian Unity & Disunity 

12. Who has Bewitched Igala Wives' Burials? 

13. Who Is This Christian God?  

14. Tell the Retirees

15. 7 Warnings to Retirees & Elders