^^^^^^
Study more and understand grace. If you truly understand grace you will fully understand what the law is and vice versa. The whole law is hinged on love...I am not talking about penalty of law but law...that is where so many people mix it up.
Learn what righteousness of the law also means per Romans 8. This requires your own study.
Happy Sunday.

Psalm 23:5a
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.

Imagine eating when enemies have surrounded you. Kai, that is a level of inner peace...dem go dey vex they hala, you go just dey smile, dey chop, dey belch untop.
Nothing maddens enemies more when you maintain calm instead of fretting, eating instead of losing appetite, counting your blessings instead of complaining.
Let us eat and enjoy the feast God has prepared before us make enemies dey foam for mouth.

@twinsgirls, yes o. The inner peace I say for up there remind me of Kung Fu Panda (2) wey I watch recently. Lol. Shey me and my twins no go dey drag TV remote so to watch 3d animation?
If you nefa watch am go watch am. Lolz.

A Callous Spirit (1)


Sunday, 03 November 2013

'...You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.' Luke 9:55

The disciples had a problem with their attitude, and Jesus 'called them on it' six different times in two chapters. Let's look at each and see what we can learn: A callous spirit. Instead of believing Christ to feed the crowd with five loaves and two fishes, they said to Jesus, 'Send the multitude away...' (Luke 9:12) One of the dangers of succeeding in ministry is that you can end up loving crowds but not really caring for individuals. Or wanting contributors, but not wanting to spend time meeting people's individual needs. Years ago a man decided to visit the churches of two well-known television ministers he liked. After hearing the first, he asked if he could say hello to him. But the minister's 'handlers' said no, suggesting he phone to arrange an appointment. Disappointed, he went to hear the other minister, and was invited to lunch with him following the service. Feeling valued, he handed the minister a cheque for four million dollars. (This is said to be a true story.) You must always be approachable, available, and affirming. You must keep the personal touch. True, you can't personally minister to all who are sick and counsel all who are hurting. As a pastor, having quality time to prepare sermons and Bible studies must be a top priority. But Jesus was able to '...sympathise with our weaknesses...' (Hebrews 4:15) because He mixed and mingled with us. Only as you stay in touch with people's needs, can God use you to meet those needs in real time. The saying goes, 'People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.' So, do you care?


SoulFood: Acts 9:1-19, 2 Cor 11:21-33, 2 Cor 12:7-10, Phil 3:4-14


This is the Word for Today

ayoku777:
The only way for you to be sinless under the law is to pluck out your eyes and cut off your hands. In other words, have no body parts to commit the sin with.

Lol. I once made a post on this. The body parts were just means to commit sin for sin is conceived in the heart. It takes real understanding to understand what Jesus said there. It is not the hand or leg or eye that causes to sin, it is only the medium used. Else a thief or adulterer will just say it was his hand or privates that made him sin not actually 'him'. Lol.
Even with all those parts cut off the mind and the mind is not renwed and the heart circumcised, the person will still fester with lust, hate and bitterness. It still won't make the person sinless in actual sense except the heart is renewed. So the joke is still on the person really.

Jesus ministry on earth was on having the right heart and if any looks at Jesus words with veiled eyes, he will never understand the very life in Jesus words. He will keep thinking Jesus was preaching works or 'under the law' when Jesus was speaking the mind of God for believers.

ayoku777:
If you read that passage with the veil of works, you would think Jesus was admonishing us on how much sacrifice we should be willing to make, to make heaven. He is rather showing us how the only way to be righteous is through faith in Him.

Very true. Jesus was always heavily castigating the pharisees because even their works never reached the heart. It was a show, their prayers, apparent piousness, supposed kindness never reached the heart, they say without doing. Jesus was simply saying if our righteousness is not of the heart, we are no better than pharisees. Even if we give our all out without love, it is waste.
Reading the scripture context He said this is proof enough (wholesome words) and it is a pity many do not understand Jesus even till now and hold words of men over the Truth, Life and Light of the Words of Jesus.

Matthew 5:19-24
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother. without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
As you can see it is too obvious that teaching and doing God's commandments is part of the kingdom of heaven in both first highlighted scriptures and Jesus explained that it is not until someone physically kills another that he has sinned but having hatred is same as killing. Lusting after a woman is adultery. Perfect law of the spirit. So if the person cuts off his body parts, it still doesn't stop hatred and lust in the heart which is still sin.

If we were to watch man's thoughts and intents on video then we will truly believe the heart of man is desperately wicked.

Just put costumes on our heart intents and cast it in a film show and see who we really are? That is the man of the heart. That is why we always need Jesus.
Works are nil if the heart is not right and there is no way that the heart is right that good works will not spring forth.

Christ work on earth was to draw men back to God through His words and actions, providing the Way, Truth and Life, through only Him and He promised to send the Holy Spirit to continue it after He left earth, and His death was a substitute for us to pay the debt we owe God because of our sin for God made us good from creation.
This is the finished work of Christ. His ministry is never contrary to what God had said from the very beginning.
For 3 bear witnes in heaven, The Father, The Word and The Holy Spirit and the three agree in one.

yes o! That is the way to go. Give God that sacrifice of praise and watch Him do His thing. Nothing will stop the manifestation of God's gift in your life. Amen!!!!!

@chidinma, my darling. Abeg no vex. How are you? And the preparation for your testimony? From @diamondring's story you can see that when your time come, nothing go fit stop am with God on your side.
Jesus said we should take up our cross daily and follow Him. Some people enjoy life at early stages and later suffer and for some its the reverse and for some it is on and off but in all God still sees us through.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning. Let us trust God who says He will give us an expected end. Even though our beginning might have been small, our latter end is greatly increasing because we trust God.

@dreams, thanks. It was set. Using knowledge from my cake baking days, I tested to see if it was done by piercing through with a fork and it came out clean so I knew it should be OK. I also baked within the time you gave.

@diamondring, I am happy for you. Congratulations. Correct SUV for a patient and virtuous woman. You deserve much more. Why are you wondering? The blessings of the Lord brings joy without sorry. Please enjoy yourself jare.

@Pink22 dear, have faith. And start confessing what you want. We have been given all authority in Jesus..we need to open our mouth and speak life to what we want o. The devil usually brings mirages to make us exercise fear then builds on it if we fall. As our sisters said, see your doctor and test your hormonal levels. It is well dear. There shall be no more loss in Jesus name. The number of baby's days will be fulfilled.

@Dreamsinbc, lol. Na u dey teach us na.

@Lore&Temi & Sentempest, it is our season.

@Arlington, how now? Na only Udoka and Echala you see abi? Ok o. How your big boy and oga na? greetings.

@twinsgirls, have faith small...the mouth go wide. Lol.

@Dreams, it is well jare. The carrot and apple muffin turned out well but to confirm, should the inside be soft or fully done and dry like cake because mine was soft inside though na foil I use make the cup as I never buy muffin maker yet.

Thanks for the other recipes. Na helele o.

Use Your 'Measure of Faith'

Saturday, 02 November 2013

'...God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.' Romans 12:3

The amount of faith God has given you is equal to the assignment He's given you. So whatever you're facing, tell yourself, 'God has given me the faith to handle this.' Nothing's more important than your faith. Jesus told Peter, '...Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail...' (Luke 22:31-32) Faith is more important than money, or career success, or reputation. Everything can be taken from you but, if you have faith, you'll bounce back. Faith is like having a direct line to God. As the prayer of faith goes up, His power flows down. As a result, you are more than adequate for the challenge. Failure is never final, as long as your faith doesn't fail. That's why Satan will do everything he can to keep you from spending time each day in the Scriptures. 'Faith comes by hearing...the word of God.' (Romans 10:17) Jesus said, '...If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move...' (Matthew 17:20) There are obstacles in your life that will only be removed by faith. And you don't need a truckload of it, just a mustard seed. Think: a tiny seed has the power to grow, overcome obstacles and become a mighty tree. It will press up through the ground, around rocks, braving storms, withstanding animals and other threats to its life. It's not so much the size of your faith, but the quality of it that determines your success. So today, use your 'measure of faith'.



SoulFood: Is 38-41, Jn 7:45-53, Ps 9, Prov 28:13-16



This is the Word for Today

@Twinsgirl, Olivertwist. But Baba God knew you would want more so wetin Him talk?
Psalm 81:10
 I am the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.
So e mean say you nefa open am wide enough. Wide like Garfield own o.


I Corinthians 6:19-20
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Exactly! What?!!
If you know say you are the temple of the Holy Ghost, won't you care and beautify it well. You no go sweep out dirty, wash everywhere, perfume it with fresh roses, remove decaying things?
This is not about make up or using cream or wearing gold. What is your internal make-up? No be about being rich or poor, na just laziness or not maximising time well to put good food in our body dey do many of us..
God don give you brain to think to eat and drink well so you no go just dey sicky sicky come dey allow all this small small apprentice devils wey just dey learn work dey form oga for body, no be only about spirikoko thins.
My people, the wise hunger for knowledge but fools feed on trash and junk o. A word is enough.....

@OP,
LOL. Obviously for you to want to consider it means you are not even sure of your current stand in atheism. One of the reasons that makes people revert to atheism is because they did not truly believe Jesus Christ or they looked away from Him and focused on thingsor people around them. For you not to fall, you need to keep focusing on Jesus. In short responses to your questions:

1. Slightly change your perception of what you are seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting. Just like you cannot see the wind or air yet you know it is there, same way you need to have a little more faith and patience to understand that looking is not same as seeing, feeling is not same as touching, perceiving is not same as smelling, tasting is not same as savouring and hearing is not same as listening.

2. Imagine the miracle of the air you breathe and let that air cease for a minute then you will understand that your life itself is a miracle. Putting a ringing alarm clock beside a dead person will not raise him up yet you sleep and this wakes you up. You want to see miracles? When you look, seee...Seek Him in truth and let Him handle the rest.
Miracles happen and that is why they are miracles. They come when truly necessary else it will becomes just a normal thing to you if you see them so often.

3. Lol. Very funny statement. May be if you were just patient a little more and exhibited more patience, you would have been embarrased with the body rolls and touch since they are so important to you.

4. The church of Christ is one. Factions happened as far back as the time of Paul so much that Paul said was he crucufied for us or were we baptised in his name. It would surprise you to know that many who uphold the words of Apostle Paul (for he was a minister) today as their whole bible, over the words of Jesus Christ, would have denied and abused him if he were to live again in this age for even he like Jesus had so much contradictions from people.
That is why Jesus is our source and we understand Him by the Holy Spirit and also gain lots of insights from the words of His ministers both in the letters in the bible and in true current day ministers sermons as well whose words tie to the word of God.
In Revelation Jesus spoke of the various issues of churches in different locations so the church is constantly growing and developing. Jesus Christ is the foundation. Others that build on the foundation need to be careful what they build. Some build hay, some silver, some gold but the day will prove it.

5. The accessible gateway to God is through Jesus Christ His son in praise, worship and so many other means.

Today, make up your mind that you want to return to God and tell Him to reveal Himself to you and watch a miracle unfold before your eyes.

@Safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I burst laugh so tey spit fly comot. I come dey clean my keyboard.
Choi! @cjnone, so you come deny yourself like this? So you and @safe sef know una sef for real life? Ehen! you don expose yourself na, make @safe come hold your hand pull you up from floor. Besties for life.

@Echala, I gbadun you jare. You see fine babe @honeypie, quick claim am for your daughter. Ehn, I understand. When I see fine blokes them, me sef dey claim better for my sons...see as you sef don become mama baby. Enjoy.

@Honeypie, agbo in breastmilk? , please send the recipe abeg.

@Mummy3D, it is nice to join this forum. Many of us do not know how big it will grow sef, this thing wey we start like play like play so.

@Dreams, abeg you must start kiddies kictchen when Zikora and Zulu arrove o because we don dey hear say baby food no good as akanmu with crayfish. THis kitchen wey you start so, you never know how big e go be yet.

@Udoka, ok be like say na goal keeper be the best position now o
The midfielder and attacker wey many don dey play don do. Na to catch the ball hold am come keep am for net after the scoring.
And please no claim 'virgin' o, this one wey you wan know how bosom feeding go be....I be think say you don dey do am before just that extraction no dey happen yet...Cough...cough.

Amen guys.

@mhozzis,
You are welcome.
That is great to know. People will look at a thing and have different perceptions. One sees lack, work, bondage and another sees opportunity, breakthrough, elevation. It starts from the heart and depends on faith. What do we see?

@Happy new month Pastor Olu T and all others whether or not we have engaged in conversation . May it be a November to remember for good for us all. Thanks to God for another opportunity to thank Him.

ouhhh! @Cjnone,
Gosh, you want me to release a tear or two with those words?

Is it about:
Squeezing humour in every situation...@Safe...you fit laff miss road.
You don see someone wey laff sotey dem dey tell am sorry?

A herb or household condiment for any health challenge...@Honeypie. Choi, her pikin go drink agbo thins tire.

A picture for every thought...@Goldenbaby...words and thoughts in pictures. If you no like to dey hear word, she go give the word cloth make you see am well.

A meal no matter the mood...@Dreamsinbc...she can turn chalk to bread sef.

A song for every weary heart...@Pink. You see someone who suppose vex they sing praise, na you go tire na. Na this kain thin dey frustrate mockers.

A vex and prayer no matter how down...@Mamatriplets. She go yab you seriously, na u go dey laugh yourself. She go make prayer so sweet you, you go deny beg for prayer point with abeg.

A word of admonishing no matter the confusion...@Omonikiba and other chief encouragers. Dem go so encourage and advice you, you go say bitterleaf sweet pass sugar.

A person to ginger tears making us forget our own issues so we can comfort them, when they need to release fears...our cry cry mamas and shaky shaky mums. Hope say no be their children go dey tell them say 'Pls calm down mum, how did you even cope when we were delayed'.

A medical view from our own @Beloved. Free of charge o. Remain make she begin e-scan, e-appointment.

A quick caller of fasting without even minding those wey too gbadun their food...@nice14 especially in her @berrybas days. Thank God say she don carry belle now. We for hear something.

A word no matter the situation...from the Word of God. You go surprise the things wey u go find for bible o, even how to care for your pet and animals.

And some think they have nothing to live for because of the small seeming delay in receiving the special package God is preparing specially for them?

@Dreamsinbc, I should thank you. You helped open my eyes to how to relate scriptures to eating right.

@Lizzyslaw,
Shun ma! We gat to rep God wherever we are na. Establish the kingdom on God on earth as it is in heaven....

@mamas, I greet you all.

Only you are Holy!
Only you are Worthy!
Only you are Wonderful!
For there's no one else like you
who is Faithful Ever True
All my love, my heart, my life
is a testimony!
@Echala, God is faithful. Congratulations dear and happy nine months.
I am so glad at the outpouring of testimonies at this time and it will go round for us all. It is just a matter of patience and rest in God.

Nice thread. I think it is good to hear such experiences on anonymous forums like this.
Let us be careful of hormonals that go wacky on a woman's system.

Please do your own research before trying any method. For those who believe life starts at conception, I just hope they realise IUD works by stopping implantation not conception. It is called an abortifacient so it actually aids abortion of conceived babies.

Genesis 9:2-3
2 All the animals of the earth, all the birds of the sky, all the small animals that scurry along the ground, and all the fish in the sea will look on you with fear and terror. I have placed them in your power. 3 I have given them to you for food, just as I have given you grain and vegetables.

Thank God for giving us all things to enjoy. He has given us animals and plants for food to prepare in the best way we can. This 30day challenge is a knowledge experience to teach us how to combine this food well for our benefit. Thanks @Dreams for being used to help us combine well.


Proverbs 15:14
A wise person is hungry for knowledge,
while the fool feeds on trash.

What Do You See?

Friday, 01 November 2013

'...A great...door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.' 1 Corinthians 16:9

Paul writes, 'For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.' So, what are you focusing on? The open door or the adversaries - the opportunities or the obstacles? In 1866, an amateur geologist noticed some South African children playing with a glistening rock. He asked the children's mother if he could purchase it. Thinking it was worth nothing, she gave it to him. Later, when he examined it, he discovered that it was a premium 21 carat diamond. When word got out, a Scottish mineralogist named James Gregory was sent to investigate. He reported back that South Africa wasn't suitable for finding diamonds. He speculated that the previous discoveries had resulted from ostriches, of all things, eating the gems in distant lands and depositing them in South Africa via their dung. A few days after Gregory's report was made public, an 83 carat diamond was found in the area he had visited. It is now known as The Star of South Africa, and it launched the region's first mining operation in what is today the world's largest producer of diamonds. And what about Gregory? His name lives on, but not as he might have wished. In the diamond industry, when someone exhibits bad judgment, it's called 'pulling a Gregory'. If you ask God, He will help you find the 'treasure' in your field (Matthew 13:44-45). If Jesus could turn water into wine and feed five thousand people with a boy's lunch, think what He can do through you. The question is: what do you see? The open door or the obstacles?


SoulFood: Is 34-37, Jn 7:25-44, Ps 104:24-35, Prov 28:9-12

This is the Word for Today

^^^^^
Whatever it may be...as I said earlier....God is the one who judges the motives. If it is due to carnal reasons, He knows. Many reasons often given are fleshly. It is either due to anger, jealousy, hatred, rebellion or an avenue not to even give so as to supposedly 'have more'. For a heart that truly loves knows what is right as God's word says and does.

@Bidam,
Please only God knows people's true motives though it may be reflected in their actions. But why I picked out that line is due to objectivity, not even the year or make of a car.
If that kind of statement can be made then nothing stops a statement like this when he sees a 2014 model driven by someone who does not even give at all whether to poor, family or church. I just get amazed when I see some comments...but it reflects whats inside and it is not nice to see.

As we discussed while he drove me to the motor park in his 2006 Benz car (I told him: "how come you drive a car like this and you don't pay your tithe?" lol),

Without wondering what even brought up this kind of comment, it really is a hint to understand now why some were tithing before and stopped. It is truly a thing of the heart, indeed.

However, God truly knows those who are rich towards Him with the right heart.

So here is the post, slightly modified, but please also consider my first post on the kind of fasting God honours:

Esther 9:1-2
1 NOW IN the twelfth month, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of Adar when the king’s command and his edict were about to be executed, on the [very] day that the enemies of the Jews had planned for a massacre of them, it was turned to the contrary and the Jews had rule over those who hated them.
2 The Jews gathered together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on such as sought their hurt; and no man could withstand them, for the fear of them had fallen upon all the peoples.

1. Lord Jehovah, every plan of the enemy to massacre the fulfilment of your command of 'BE FRUITFUL' which you spoke to me at creation, let it work contrary to their plan and let me have rule over them. For the bible says You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Ps. 23:5a. Any counsel of Ahitophel against me, my family, my conception & pregnancy, let it fail and instead work out for my good to your glory.

2. Lord Jehovah, anything or anyone that has been placed whether on my path, in the hospital, my office, my home, my business or family to cause my hurt, 'let their heart cut/fail them/be full of fear' because of YOU that I have on my inside and let them be unable to withstand me in achieving my full fruitfulness.

3. As you have purposed to bless me with the fruit of the womb according to your word, let me be surrounded with helpers sent specially to assist this to come to pass for your blessings make me rich and adds no sorrow.
Amen.

@Iya-Ejima,
Thanks. I understand you. I also know we all understand by now how much God's will for us is always for our good. It may not even be the fact that baby is ready or not ready to come but it may just be as @hioneypie said certain arrangements are being made. It could be the right nurse and doctor to birth the baby will be on ground. There are so many spiritual things in this world that we shoud know timing is also key. I will post a prayer I pasted for the preggy mamas on their thread so we can pray it well.

Someone posted a link for prayers by Mrs Funke Adejumo. I am not sure if it is @sentempest ot @kike100 but I listened to that message. God bless those mamas with their hearts desires. It was powerful! It is good we all listen to it because we need to always pray even for ourselves so we enjoy the fruits of our labour.


@tamitara, did you go through the whole thread? We have mamas here that mentioned that report o and some are using alternative medicine and some also follow the resident herbalistress @Honeypie's protocols o. The important thing is to get the wisdom to know which one to use that will to God's glory. Getting close to God is the most important for me sha then we will get wisdom and release.

@safetilicious, better come back here now and take e-hug + e-koboko. I have missted you. We dey wait your next post.

@MamaT and Omonikiba, Abeg land here now. No take my silence for what it is not o.

@Goldenbaby, teacher where you be o.

@Iya- Ejima,
I think while considering her desire, we should agree that @Udopauly mama baby will bring forth at the right time that favours both her and the baby as God has ordained. There is a baby involved now so I think we need to be sure we factor what is best for the baby health as well, don't you think? That is my honest opinion. So if it falls on 38 weeks, a day before or after, all well and good.

Isaiah 58:5-12
Do you think this is the kind of fast day I’m after:
a day to show off humility?
To put on a pious long face
and parade around solemnly in black?
Do you call that fasting,
a fast day that I, God, would like?

6-9 “This is the kind of fast day I’m after:
to break the chains of injustice,
get rid of exploitation in the workplace,
free the oppressed,
cancel debts.
What I’m interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad,
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way.
The God of glory will secure your passage.
Then when you pray, God will answer.
You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

9-12 “If you get rid of unfair practices,
quit blaming victims,
quit gossiping about other people’s sins,
If you are generous with the hungry
and start giving yourselves to the down-and-out,
Your lives will begin to glow in the darkness,
your shadowed lives will be bathed in sunlight.
I will always show you where to go.
I’ll give you a full life in the emptiest of places—
firm muscles, strong bones.
You’ll be like a well-watered garden,
a gurgling spring that never runs dry.
You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew,
rebuild the foundations from out of your past.
You’ll be known as those who can fix anything,
restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate,
make the community livable again

I wanted this to be as easy to understand as possible so I used the MSG version. In this day of our fast, let us consider ourselves and again and receive a renewal of our heart and return to God. For the bible says, when we do the fast that God likes, when we pray, He will hear us and we will be like a well-watered garden (abounding fruitfulness) and a spring that never runs dry, we will receive strength in our bodies and enjoy a full life and we will have wisdom to direct us in all situations. Amen.

@Lateef4me,
Thanks for this beautiful message. May we be willing in this day of God's power and return and stay in Christ enjoying unbroken worship to God.

damilarelr:

Its okay. Honestly, butt from your response, does it mean when you are not in fast you're not humbled before God, or what is that status of your spirit when you're fasting and when you are not?

@damilarelr,
Please try to take time to read my post on fasting again and note where I said 'is A means to'. Note the diction so we do not have to keep repeating ourselves.
However, in response to your question, there is something about living a fasted life and understanding the kind of fast that God choses which is in Isaiah 58:3-11. We can do away with a lot of 'earthly enjoyments' to commune better with God and reveals a life of him who has God's word hidden in his heart.


@Ayoku777,
I really gained alot from your post. It is true that God has given us all things to enjoy in Christ and at times to get to certain levels we need to travail to draw down and exercise the authority we have in Him. The verse you quoted in I Timothy 1:18 also reminds me of Deuteronomy 2:24.