by Rev Dunamis Okunowo | Dec 7, 2022 | Singles and Married
Reading Time: 2 minutes
3 Truths Singles And Married Should Know
1. You are uniquely created
One of the most powerful things you should know is your identity in God, who you are in Christ Jesus!
“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jer 1:5, KJV)
You are never a mistake. You are simply unique. Your experiences and your situations should never define you. Your uniqueness was put in place by your creator, so any situation cannot change or tamper with that.
Purpose precedes creation. God knew you before He formed you. So he packaged in you all you will need to fulfill your purpose on earth.
Your natural talents and dispositions are often a pointer to who you are created to be. Find that purpose and stay there because that is where your prosperity lies!
After the wedding, your individuality is not lost but greatly enhanced. Mutual help and support come from your spouse to even become a better person.
3 Truths Singles And Married Should Know
2. You are not condemned
“God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” (Joh 3:17, MSG)
The second thing you need to know is that you are not condemned unless you condemn yourself.
Yes, you made a mistake, Peter made a mistake too. What you need to do is to repent and return to God, not run away from Him.
Judas made a mistake too, but he couldn’t embrace God’s forgiveness, so he hung himself to death.
Don’t hang your destiny because of a mistake. Rise from the ashes and doldrums of yesterday and move into the newness that God has for you!
Be sincere with your spouse. Be open. The truth sets free.
3 Truths Singles And Married Should Know
3. Your future is bright
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (Jer 29:11, MSG)
You may not know where you are going in life, but God knows, so it is wise to stay with Him. You may not have an inkling of what God is doing with you, but your maker knows what He is doing.
Everything may look confusing, but God says He had it all planned out. God says if you can stay in line if you can stay on the path He has for you, everything is already planned out!
His plan is to take care of you, not abandon you, His plan is to give you hope and a future you hope for!
I challenge you this morning, do not yield to that wrong voice because of desperation. Do not allow the devil to trap you. Stay with God. He has it all planned out. Your brain may not be able to figure out how it is going to work out, but God’s got your back.
Stay with Him. As you stay faithful, He will unveil His plans for you and your life will never be the same again! You will walk in your marital destiny and you will not miss it in Jesus’ name
Join hands together with your spouse to fulfill destiny! Be blessed!
by Rev Dunamis Okunowo | Dec 5, 2022 | Singles and Married
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Will You Fight Or Give Up? I remember vividly. It was examination time. The news traveled all over the campus. He was a final-year student in the Law Department. He was writing one of his papers. But the examination was rudely interrupted because he lost his mind. He never wrote that examination.
We live in a wicked world. The devil has come down with wrath. His time is short and he wants to wreck as many destinies as he can.
We all have issues in our families and extended families. There is always a family or lineage issue. In some families, they simply die young. In some, they usually marry late. In some, they hardly marry at all. In some, there is not a single millionaire. The only one that attempted it lost his life at it. In some, they give birth late. In some, it is diabetes, while in others, it is cancer. In some, they travel out and they never come back. In some, they are mostly drug addicts. In some, they are prone to marital abuse. In some, they are never well-read. In some, they are well-read but never get good jobs, In some, it is a story of separation and divorce. It goes on and on.
When you find yourself in the midst of such attacks and visible trends that are negative, you don’t joke about your relationship with God, or else you will repeat the history of your lineage.
You see, there is a way to exempt yourself! Will You Fight Or Give Up?
The first thing is to make sure you are born again and you have a relationship with God. That is the starting point.
The second thing is to stay away from compromise. Do you know what compromise does? It drags you back to the devil’s turf, and it is like cooperating with the enemy of your soul. You see, you cannot go far with God if you are always getting into sinful habits and yielding to the flesh. That is what Apostle Paul is trying to say here:
“Are you so foolish and so senseless and so silly? Having begun [ your new life spiritually ] with the [ Holy ] Spirit, are you now reaching perfection [ by dependence ] on the flesh?” (Gal 3:3, AMP)
You started a life in God as His child. You cannot go back to your old way of living while still claiming you are His child. You cannot be in the choir and sleep around. You cannot be the assistant pastor and be desecrating that soul committed into your hands. You cannot be a leader in the church and yet you are defiling several lives. You cannot be canceling lives that came for you for counseling.
Paul said it was foolish and senseless. Why would he say that?
It is the same reason I started with. You looked around yourself and you see battles. You see attacks. You see haters. You see people that don’t want you to rise.
As a child of God you are simply exempted from these attacks. But when you go back into some habitual sins, you actually empower the devil and his cohorts against yourself. That is why Paul said it is simply senseless and foolish.
Yes, it simply foolishness to shoot yourself in the leg.
Your grandfather had a child out of wedlock. The same thing happened to your dad. And now, your girlfriend wants to be spending nights at your place, does anybody need to tell you that condoms would soon fail and the same household wickedness is about to be perpetuated?
Your dad and mum are divorced. Now, you and your wife are about to do the same thing and you blame it on “she is disrespectful or he doesn’t love you.” Don’t you know that forces of hell are at work?
Will You Fight Or Give Up? Listen to me, it is time to fight. Fight for your life. Fight for your destiny. Fight for your marriage. Fight for your posterity and prosperity. Fight for your dream. Fight for God’s counsel over your life!
Decide to live right. That is how to fight. Decide to stay away from all forms of sexual sins. Do not empower the enemy against your destiny.
Jesus destroyed the curse of the law. All curses have been dealt with and you have been redeemed from the curse of the law. Jesus spoilt principalities and powers and made a show of them. He lined them up and showed them to the body of Christ that they are now weak and beggarly elements.
Glory! Jesus conquered them! Will You Fight Or Give Up?
Now, you need to enforce victory over every evil by your relationship with God and by living a life devoid of sin.
Fight by looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith! You already won, you only need to enforce that victory.
Let me conclude with this well-known scripture:
“From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it.” (Mat 11:12, GW)
Decide to be forceful from now. Decide to rebel against what God has not given you! It is time to uproot every tree that God has not planted in your life.
May God grant you more understanding. Will You Fight Or Give Up?
by Rev Dunamis Okunowo | Nov 30, 2022 | Singles and Married
Reading Time: 3 minutes
Overcoming Relationship and Marriage Problems. There are several enemies of relationships and marriage. These are also enemies of God because marriage is instituted by God.
I can tell you there are deep-seated problems and issues. There are issues that the people involved don’t even know why they are acting the way they do. There are adultery-ridden marriages on the verge of destruction. There are crying brides and frustrated grooms.
There are singles in love with the ones that do not love them. There are manipulators and users. There are singles who believe they are cursed and their very beliefs follow them all over. There are couples who are living like roommates, just existing, enduring instead of enjoying their union.
There are people who have walked down the aisle but are now strolling up the aisle alone and walking out of marriage. There are couples waiting on God. There are those battling with sexual perversions, ranging from pornography, masturbation, and even homosexuality and lesbianism.
What is happening?
Overcoming Relationship and Marriage Problems
“Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.” (Psa 66:3, KJV)
Listen carefully, I don’t know what your challenge is, I don’t even know what the monumental problem is, but this one thing I know, and this one thing I want you to know this morning, the light of God shines and darkness will never overcome it! You need to believe and slowly absorb that.
Through the greatness of God’s power, every enemy will be subdued.
What is that enemy fighting in your relationship or marriage?
Childlessness? Sickness? Health Challenge? No suitor? Financial issues? Generational trends? Perversions? Confusion? Addictions? Serious issues you cannot even discuss with your pastor?
Listen to me, there is the power of God that no problem, issue, puzzle, or enigma can withstand!
That scripture says, through the GREATNESS of His power, it didn’t just say through His Power but through the GREATNESS….
How great is God’s power to you? What is the greatness of His power in your heart? How much of this power do you realize? How much of this power can you tap into? How do you see His power in your relationship, marriage, and life?
“The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies. What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” (Nah 1:7-9, KJV)
Overcoming Relationship and Marriage Problems
How do you see God? What is your opinion of Him? Far away God? Disenfranchised by your situation and unconcerned? Or the very present help in every trouble?
Listen to me people of God, whatever is making you cry right now is too small. Whatever is making you sad right now is nothing before His power. That depression and despondency that wants to overwhelm you cannot withstand the power of God in your life.
Discover that power you carry! Realize that which you have. You are in a covenant and relationship with God that is backed by the very throne of God.
Get back into His presence today. That is where you will activate that power that already lies in you. Get back to God and make your way right, and then His enemies in your life will be subdued. It didn’t say, they may be subdued, but they SHALL….
It is not a speculation, people of God! Get angry today! Refuse to accommodate that problem in your life. Sack that issue trying to lord it over your life. Jesus got you the victory already.
Get back into God’s word. Fill your heart with it. Meditate on it. Say it and stay with it. Confess it. Spend time in His presence. Let His presence rub on you.
I challenge you today. Go to God. You have tried some other means. You are beautiful but have no husband, you need the greatness of His power. You can speak phonetics, but no wife, you need the greatness of His power. You work hard but have nothing to show for it, there is a power to get wealth. They don’t marry in time in your family, but you can be exempted. They die early in your family but that is not your portion.
Refuse to fear any longer. Stop dining with negative talkers and start rubbing your mind with divinity!
Overcoming Relationship and Marriage Problems
The power of God will save you, it will deliver you, and will put a smile on your face! Let this truth settle in your mind. Start thinking about possibilities. Nothing is wrong with you, the devil is a liar. You are a child of God, don’t follow anybody to bathe in the river. Don’t light any red Candles. Go into God’s word and encounter the greatness of His power!
Rise up today, Arise and Shine for your light has come!
by Rev Dunamis Okunowo | Nov 29, 2022 | Singles and Married
Reading Time: 4 minutes
This Will Not End In Shame!
Sally struggled in her thoughts. Since she has given her life to Jesus, nothing spectacular has happened in her life, or so she thought. She wondered whether she would eventually make it.
Sometimes, her thoughts would wander away and meander into the terrain of doubt and the foggy path of faithlessness. Has she made the right decision in serving God? It looked like those that didn’t know God or are not as spiritual as her are getting things done faster, getting married, and are happier.
Really, she is confused. It is the same experience with George. He is not sure this “born-again thing” will lead him anywhere. He feared being a loser at the end of the day. It simply seems walking with God is the slowest thing that can ever happen.
The couple down the road the Johnsons are not spared either. The economic downturn of their nation is really biting into their finances. They wake up every morning, hoping to japa! All hope seems lost!
Well, I am here this morning to encourage you! This Will Not End In Shame!
“Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded.” (Psa 22:4-5, KJV)
The ones that have gone ahead of you trusted in God, and God delivered them. Trusting God does not mean trouble will not show up, but when you trust Him, no trouble or issue will overcome you.
They trusted in God and they were not confounded.
Listen to me, people of God, when you trust God all the way, it will look like you are finished, but you will not be finished. It will look like you are a loser, but you will laugh at the end. It will look like you made a useless decision, but in the end, people will seek your counsel.
The wisdom of God is foolishness to this world. It cannot be naturally discerned.
Look at verse 5 in the Amplified version:
“They cried to You and were delivered; they trusted in, leaned on, and confidently relied on You, and were not ashamed or confounded or disappointed.” (Psa 22:5, AMP)
They trusted, leaned on, and confidently relied on God, and they were not ashamed or confounded, or disappointed!
This Will Not End In Shame!
I declare over you, you will not be ashamed. You will not be confounded. You will not be disappointed.
Stay with God, people of God. I say it again, stay with God.
Do you know the problem that people normally have with this?
They usually compromise while trusting God. The moment you get into some habitual stuff, the whole process is ruptured! And that is when it looks like you are defeated.
Why are compromise and sin dangerous here?
The devil is the accuser of the brethren. He is looking for every mistake and accuses to God not to bless you. Then He comes to you and accuses God to you. God does not love you! He will accuse man to God and accuse God to man.
And so, if you are not grounded in the word, you will tend to believe him and the moment you have an ill feeling towards God, your creator, and benefactor, the whole process of trusting God is tampered with.
If you don’t want to see shame as a child of God, stay away from sin. Stay away from all sexual sins.
A lifestyle of sin brings shame.
“By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples.” (Pro 14:34, BBE)
A lifestyle of sin makes people blaspheme the name of the Lord. They will say something like, “Oh, she is born again, why would that happen to her? Where is her God that cannot deliver her?”
But we see from the above scripture,
They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded!
But Pastor, I am not in any habitual sin, and yet nothing is happening? You need to know there are timings and seasons. When you want something done for you but it is out of God’s season for your life, it may not happen, simply because it is not time yet.
Also, you need to know that there are things you can do that will speed up God’s plan in your life, that will break the bars of delays, will make crooked places straight and that will release unprecedented favour into your life.
What are those things? Here are a few of them
1. Stay with God’s word. Read, meditate and confess regularly
2. Pray in the Spirit daily, it strengthens you to trust God more by opening your eyes
3. Be a tither and a giver. Be consistent. Support God’s work. Don’t be careless with it
4. Serve God in a local assembly. Spend your time, talent, and treasure for God
5. Forgive all. Stay out of strife.
6. Stay out of sin. Clean up your life. Let dangerous habits go.
6. Honour your biological parents and spiritual parents with your seeds. Listen to them.
7. Be full of thanksgiving
These are just a few things. In trusting God, you trust with all your heart. And I can tell you, you will not be ashamed! This Will Not End In Shame!
by Rev Dunamis Okunowo | Nov 28, 2022 | Singles and Married
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Accountability and Falling In Love. Ade and Sally were crazily in love. It was like love out of the novels. They were so much into each other. But they kept their love life secret. In no time, situations beyond them arose, and they are unable to handle it, so the relationship was ruined. You see, life has a way of dealing you things beyond your wisdom and often people who have gone through what you are going through are the ones that can help.
The Johnsons who are married found each other in similar scenario. The husband believes there should be no third party. In the end, the wife felt oppressed and their relationship nosedived quickly, enveloped with attitudes, withdrawals, and sexlessness too!
Accountability and Falling In Love.
I remember I was accountable as a student when I fell in love on campus in 1996. Even though our pastor was a student then, we still remained accountable. Before I asked my wife out, I informed our fellowship pastor and he encouraged me! May God not send you to a person who will talk you out of God’s plan for your life. Many people’s dreams have been killed by the people they trusted. Mephibosheth was entrusted to his nurse, but the nurse “dropped” him and he became lame!
Accountability is a spiritual exercise that protects your relationship. When you are accountable, it helps you to be cautious and to consciously stay away from pre-marital sex. It also helps you to report each other or even report yourself.
Most sexual sins are perpetuated when your relationship is shrouded in secrecy. The moment one party is saying you should not tell anybody, then something is wrong somewhere.
Accountability and Falling In Love.
After the wedding, accountability continues. It is a powerful principle you shouldn’t joke with. The couple should agree on who will mentor them. In marriage, when there are issues, it is wrong to pick up your phones and report each other to your parents or friends. When you do that, the situation will aggravate. Parents will be biased towards their children, friends will also be biased. You need somebody who has nothing to lose, is not biased, and is ready to be truthful to the two of you.
As couples, do you have somebody you can call on the phone when there are issues behind you? I do that for a lot of couples around the world, and situations that have degenerated into serious issues for days are often resolved in minutes, not so much because I know so much, but because of the grace of God upon my life.
As I conclude on Accountability and Falling In Love, I have discovered that if a couple can do these three things, all other issues are just minor.
These three things are
1. Stay away from cheating and unfaithfulness
2. Forgive each other quickly and stay accountable
3. Pray together regularly
I pray that God will grant you more understanding.
