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18/11/2024

: WHAT ARE YOU FILLED WITH?

In the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18, the Bible says this: “Do not get drunk on wine: it is debauchery. On the contrary, be filled with the Spirit ”.

Here Paul strongly urges us to desire the Holy Spirit and be filled with his gentle presence. In other words, it is what we love and love that fills our daily life and therefore our life. Whether it is work, fashion, lust, lust, the pursuit of money or material goods, etc.

Indeed, the present world aims to saturate our thoughts with all that can lead us away from our Lord. It is therefore more than important to empty ourselves of all these things so that the Holy Spirit takes not the first place but all the place. Because, the current world system aims by all means to stifle our faith and our love for the Lord and wants to plunge us into a state of spiritual lethargy.

Love the things of the Spirit and let them fill our lives.

"Set your affection on things above, and not on things on the earth" (Colossians 3v2).

God bless you !

By Laure Michelle OTIRA
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14/11/2024

: PRAY AND DO NOT REPEAT EMPTY WORDS (PART 2)

In Matthew 6v7 it is written: "When you pray, do not multiply empty words like the pagans who imagine that they will be answered with words. In the first article of this series we have pointed out the obvious contradiction between the usual interpretation that most of us made of this verse and the life of prayer of Jesus.

In reality, this text of Matthew 6v7 does not forbid us to make long prayers or to spend long moments. This text does not recommend that we specialize only in short and brief prayers. Nor is it a question of proscribing the repetition of the same words in prayer or prohibiting the practice of praying several times for the same subject.

In fact, for each of his points, Jesus had a different opinion since he allowed himself to spend long moments in prayer including hours and whole nights (Luke 6v12); he even trained his disciples to do the same (Matthew 26v40-42) and the Lord himself often repeated the same words in his prayer times (Matthew 26v44).

So what did he mean in Matthew 6v7? Note that the verse does not say: “When praying, do not multiply words” it says instead: “When praying, do not multiply empty words”.

For a vain word is one which is useless, unfruitful from the point of view of God. Here are four things that could characterize this kind of speech. First, a vain word does not fit with the Holy Scriptures, for remember that we must address God by reviving his memory, that is, by reminding him of what he has said and promised (Isaiah 43v26)

Second, a vain word is one that is not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Let us not forget that it is written: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know what to ask in our prayers" (Romans 8v26a).

Thirdly, a vain word lacks faith. If we say in our prayers phrases that are not marked by faith, they are useless words because: «But without faith it is impossible to be pleasing to him» (Hebrews 11v6a).

Fourthly, a vain word expresses more our vanity, our pride, our desire to be seen, listened and appreciated by men (Matthew 6v5) than the simplicity and sincerity of a heart that knows how to humble itself before its creator: «... God, I give thanks that I am not like the rest of men, who are raptors, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector; I fast twice a week, I give the tithe of all my income." (Luke 18:11-12)

Thus, if our words are based on the scriptures, on divine promises; if they are full of faith and inspired by the Holy Spirit I doubt very much that they displease God even if they are repeated an entire night: Words full of charm bubbling in my heart. My work is for the king, I say: Let my tongue be like the pen of a skilled writer!" (Psalm 45v2).

God bless you!

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA
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13/11/2024

: DO NOT PRAY WITH EMPTY WORDS (PART 1)

In Matthew 6v7 Jesus said: "When you pray, do not multiply empty words like the heathen who imagine that they will be answered by words." After several years, I am still wondering: "what did the Lord mean by this statement?"

Was this a way for him to forbid long prayers? Did he mean that our prayers should necessarily be short? Did he recommend that we not repeat the same word several times in prayer?

If we answer these three questions in the affirmative, then we should be able to explain why Jesus himself prayed long prayers of an entire night: "At that time Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the whole night praying to God" (Luke 6v12).

If Jesus in Matthew 6v7 wanted to promote short and brief prayers then why in Gethsemane he insists that his disciples should be able not only to pray for an hour of the clock but also to interject several prayer sequences of one hour each?

Indeed, it is written: "And he came to the disciples, whom he found asleep, and said to Peter: You have not been able to awake an hour with me! Watch and pray, that you may not fall into temptation; the spirit is well disposed, but the flesh is weak. He departed a second time (...)" (Matthew 26v40-42).

Was Jesus trying to say that we should not repeat the same words several times in a prayer related to the same request? If the answer is yes? Then why did he repeat the same words in his prayer to Gethsemane: "And when he left, he prayed for a third time, repeating the same words" (Matthew 26v44).

Actually, the answer is simple. It will be the subject of another article entitled: "PRAY NOT TO MULTIPLY EMPTY WORDS (2nd PART).

God bless you

By OTIRA Eudes Leonel

21/09/2024

: DO NOT FOCUS ON THE ENNEMY!

“Concentration” consists in mobilizing all of one's internal and other resources to direct them towards a single objective. To focus is to regard any other goal that is not in our sights as a distraction. Concentration not only comes down to focusing on a specific focus, but it is also and above all to ignore other focuses that are considered distracting.

Very often we make the mistake of focusing more on the enemy, on these works or on our failures and pains. However, in doing so we forget that "if the enemy is the only thing we see, it means that we have lost sight in God." Indeed, if the enemy is our main objective, our subconscious will treat any other objective as distracting, God included.

I have spent hours in prayer and come out dry and frustrated. Because during the prayer I focused on a weight that was in my heart or on that person who had hurt me. I turned the situation around, thinking that in this way God would help me understand and overcome it. But in doing it this way, the only thing I could do was bring back painful memories and amplify them.

For others, although they have become Christians, spend more time fighting the enemy than knowing God. Now, they should henceforth apply themselves to knowing and to consolidating their position in Christ, to know their authority, their rights, their privileges but also their duties in him. In fact, we have the choice of either obsessively fighting the enemy or rooting in Christ to enjoy there the best He offers us (including victory over the enemy) that will not be followed by sorrow (Proverbs 10:22).

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA (Gabon)

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Réveil Impact Magazine

15/08/2024

Exhortation: DEEPEN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Relationships are extremely important to human beings. Indeed, throughout our lives, we are led to have relationships. First, our birth is the fruit of a relationship, then we grow up within a family and finally we live in society except in rare cases.

Man, to flourish, must manage his relationships well according to their nature and their level of importance. However, the most important relationship that a human being can have is the one that binds him to his creator.

This is not about asserting your position within any church, group, or any religious organization. You must work to strengthen your relationship with God.

2 Peter 1:10 says: “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to establish the calling and choice you have been given, for if you do this, you will never stumble. ”.

The relationship with God must be alive and dynamic. You must continually develop the awareness that your creator is there, even if you do not see him with your physical eyes. You must talk to him constantly, learn to listen to him in your heart and recognize his signals and calls around you. There is nothing that can strengthen you as much as the feeling of being listened to by God.

Do not experience God as a myth or an old legend. Live it every day! Talk to him about the details of your life, involve him in even the most insignificant choices you have to make, ask for his help, advice and guidance. Be patient! he will answer you, either by reading or meditating on the Bible or even a completely other book, or by listening to a preacher or any person, or by a trivial event, an unexpected circumstance or an inner perception.

God bless you !

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA (Gabon)
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31/07/2024

: FAITH IS A CHOICE, SO IS FEAR

We read in Matthew 14v28-31 this: “Peter answered him, Lord, if it be you, command me to come to you on the waters. And he said: Come! Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus. But, seeing that the wind was strong, he was afraid; and, as he began to sink, he cried out: Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, seized him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt? ".

In this episode, at the sight of Jesus who defies gravity by walking on water, Peter says to him: "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water". Jesus orders him to come and Peter walks on the water. But, later, at the sight of the wind which was strong, Pierre, out of fear, will sink.

Notice that to walk on water, Peter saw Jesus, heard and recognized his voice, and made the choice to obey his Lord. Also, to sink, Pierre saw the wind which was strong, undoubtedly heard it and noticed the waves which were agitated. Each time, Peter had the choice either to obey the voice of the Lord or to yield to the call of fear.

Having faith does not mean that there will never be circumstances or events that call for doubt. There will always be. But, it is our responsibility to choose to cling to our faith, and it is possible because it is within our reach. No one has ever been forced into doubt or disbelief, we are the ones who choose to give in.

Thus, our victory depends on our ability to stand on the Word of Christ and not respond to the vagaries of doubt, fear, or unbelief.

May God richly bless you!

Eudes Leonel OTIRA
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29/07/2024

: THE FEAR OF “WHAT WILL THEY SAY?”

Most of the sins we commit originate from fear of how others will view us.

Indeed, the fear of being reprimanded in public for example or the fear of being humiliated can push an inferior to revolt or insubordination. The fear of not being up to or the fear of being underestimated pushes people to make mistakes, to rush or to make errors.

I was told the story of a man who admitted to having cheated on his wife for the first time because of his friends. They found that he was not man enough by being faithful and loyal to his wife. So, the fear of being mocked and not being seen as good enough led him to cheat on his wife.

There is also the fear of rejection. This can push a person to compromise just because they want to feel accepted. There are two types of action: action by induction and action by inspection. Unlike inspection, induction excludes reflection and analysis. We are induced, when we are pushed and act under pressure without thinking. This is exactly what fear does, it pushes us.

Fear constantly leads us to believe that we have something to prove. Because it generates a feeling of incapacity in the person who experiences it. However, none of us wants to be seen as incapable.

So, to prove to ourselves and others that we are capable, we choose to do things that we would never have done before.

The devil asked Jesus in the desert to prove that he was the son of God by changing stones into loaves. Jesus refused (Matthew 4:3). Because the greatest freedom is to have nothing to prove. So don't lose this freedom. Since, the Bible says: “...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17).

God bless you !

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA (Gabon)
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25/07/2024

: OFFERING OF RECOGNITION

In the first epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians 5 v 16 to 18, it is said: "Be always joyful. Pray without ceasing, express your gratitude, it is the will of God for you in Jesus Christ". The Bible version of The Sower says it in these terms: "Be always in the joy. Pray without ceasing. Thank God in all circumstances: such is for you the will which God expressed in Jesus-Christ".

Let us understand here that we must give thanks to God in all circumstances. In other words, gratitude should be a way of life for us and flow naturally from our heart and be expressed through our mouths or through our actions. As we take a deeper look at what the Bible says on the subject, it becomes clear that we are invited to be thankful for whatever situation we may find ourselves in. Why ? The reason is clearly revealed to us in our aforementioned verse: THIS IS THE WILL OF THE LORD!

In addition, as a child of God, we understand that our joy should not depend on goods, achievements, pleasant situations that we can live. Oh no! Otherwise the apostle Paul would not have insisted on the imperative character of his recommendation: "Be ALWAYS ..."

Because God is not God only when everything is going well in our life. Even when things seem to be going the wrong way we hoped, it does not take away from God his nature. So, LET'S ALWAYS BE IN JOY EXPRESSING OUR THANKSGIVING TO GOD AT ALL TIMES!

God bless you !

By Faneolya BISSANGOYE
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18/07/2024

Cap sur le Ghana... à la conquête du monde anglophone

03/07/2024

20/06/2024

: "LOVING GOD"

There is no higher purpose than loving God. To love it not because it is necessary, useful or indispensable; to love him, not for what he could give us; but to love him because we understand that through this love we have the unique opportunity to touch his heart and to rejoice him.

A famous cantor said this: "There are words that I can only say to you alone and there are words that I only want to hear from you ... (Speaking of the Lord)".

We must love God, not because we expect something from him in return, nor because we want him to be proud of us, but because we want to focus on him and not on us for once.

King Solomon said, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom" (Proverbs 1v7). But, another sage added that: "the greatest wisdom is to love him".

God bless you !

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA
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04/06/2024

: ANOTHER GOD IN YOUR HEART.

It is easy for a Christian to brandish his belonging to any religious assembly: "I am from such a congregation...., I belong to such an ecclesiastical current...". All this is very beautiful, however, this God to whom we claim to belong sometimes lives very far from our hearts.

Indeed, many have replaced him with a pseudo god. Would it be fashion, lust, cars, travel or excessive ambition, a sports program or even a TV series, possessions or wealth, love of the world and all its lusts, the pride of life ?

We have forgotten that it is written in the book of Exodus 34v14 the following: "Thou shalt not bow down before another god; for the Lord is called jealous, he is a jealous God". Unfortunately, the reality is that all of these things we have taken into our hearts and they have taken pride of place there. Then, their presence increased and amplified to the point of bringing out the King from all eternity.

What is this thing that disputes the place with God in your heart? Someone once said: "If Jesus is not Lord of everything, then he is not Lord at all".

God bless you !!!

By Laure Michelle OTIRA (Gabon)
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01/04/2024

"LIVING FOR GOD: SACRIFICE OR REASON TO LIVE?"

Recently my little brother told me about the conclusion he reached. According to him, having a good fellowship with God requires sacrificing one's own life. Because, he added, it requires concentration and involvement at all times. This opinion is quite widespread because some people often feel that walking with God is a burden. They have the feeling that to live with him is not to live at all. This, in my opinion, is not true.

When we look at the life of a footballer for example, we notice that the only thing that concerns him is his professional career. Football occupies his whole life and gives him the feeling of living fully and being fulfilled. The same goes for politicians, doctors or researchers. They never see the dedication to their career as a burden, it is rather, for them, the reason for their existence.

Thus, a life is only fully lived when it is lived for a purpose. So why is living for God seen as a sacrifice? This is so, because we don't actually live for him. We put God as an extra-curricular or extra-professional activity to which we devote ourselves after having gone about our real occupations.

However, if we live every day for God, we would do everything out of love for him, whether we are at work, in family or in society in general. From that moment on, living for God would no longer be a burden but rather the reason that would give meaning to our life (Galatians 2:20).

May God bless you abundantly !!!

26/03/2024

LET'S NOT TRY TO IMPRESS GOD

Quite often, we don't like the idea of ​​others finding out about our weak spots. When we are in public, we adopt politically correct attitudes to look good and not let anything show our bad sides. Indeed, no one would like to experience the embarrassment of having their mistakes exposed and exposed. We prefer to cover them up, because this way we preserve our image and make sure that the respect that others have for us remains intact.

But most of us make the mistake of doing this with God. I remember that there were times when I exercised my faith in this or that area, I felt that I had slight doubts, that I had unanswered questions etc. But, I refused to admit it because I wanted God to be proud of me and to see that I was not letting anything destabilize my faith. So I was trying to impress God.

Yet God has never forbidden us to ask him questions whose answers would make our faith more enlightened, and firmer. The Bible says he is “ the head and consumer of the faith” (Hebrews 12: 2) . If it happens that in our journey we have doubts and unanswered questions, do not hesitate to stop for a moment to ask the Lord of the lights. Let’s not hide our doubts, fears or fears. Let us freely confess them to the Lord and ask him to help us.

May God bless you all !!!

23/03/2024

: WHEN THE GODS FAIL!

In Psalm 82: 6-7a God declares this: "I had said: you are gods, you are children of the most high. Yet you will die like men."
Indeed, we will not die because of the absence of God by our side. Neither do we fail because God has not equipped us to be successful. Because, in reality, he has already blessed us. By declaring and prophesying about us that we are gods, he brought into existence what was not, he made us fit to be as he said.

However, the devil is a factor to be taken into account. Because, he has the right to seduce us, to make us proposals, to speak to us and to oppose us. Indeed, no anointing has ever prevented the enemy from speaking to a person. The proof is that Jesus himself, after 40 days of fasting and no doubt of prayers, saw the devil approach him to make proposals to him.

One day I said to a brother in the faith that: "what is surprising with us is that, when the devil begins to solicit us, divine Wisdom makes us perceive that it is the enemy who is already setting himself up. On stage. At this moment, victory should be assured to us since the adversary is unmasked. But strangely we fail all the same. "

God may be with us down to the spinal cord, but we can still fail; not because he does not support us nor because the enemy is too strong, but because it is up to us who are on the ground that the final decision rests. God inspires, directs, gives his word as a weapon, but it is up to us to obey by applying his instructions.

Instead, we let our feelings and emotions guide our choices. We act, inspired and driven by fear, selfishness, pride, pride, anger, hatred, bitterness, revenge. We fail out of immaturity.

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA (Gabon)
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23/01/2024

THE TEST ALLOWS YOU TO ASSESS YOURSELF

In our daily life, at school or at work, the test has always been an important tool for our evaluation. At the academic level to obtain a diploma or to access a higher cycle, tests must be taken. The professional world is no exception to the rule.

However, this natural perception of the test could indicate to us what the test is on the spiritual level. The comparison may not be obvious to all, but the Apostle Paul said, "Nature itself does not teach you ...?" " (1 Cor 11:14).

As much as the test allows us to evaluate ourselves in the natural world, know that God too will use tests to evaluate us before bringing us into our destiny. Let's look at the story of Abraham together, God asks him to sacrifice a son whom he obtained after much sterility. However, the purpose of God was to make Abraham the father of the faith but it was necessary that God evaluated him by a test to see if he would make himself worthy to be called the father of the faith (Genesis 22: 1-14).

God wants to bring us into another dimension but he will first assess us by trials. Let us be strong and resist the trials that we will have to go through, because God is preparing us and bringing us somewhere.

May God bless you all !

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA
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11/01/2024

: PROTECT THE WORD IN YOURSELF

One day Jesus told this parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, (…) another part fell among the thorns: the thorns grew with it, and choked it (…) Those who fell among the thorns were those who, having heard the word, followed it go, and let it be choked with the cares, riches and pleasures of life, and they bear no fruit that comes to maturity” (Luke 8v5, 7, 14).

In this so-called parable of the Sower, the Lord explains that the seed is the Word of God (Luke 8v11) and it also appears that the earth on which this Word is sown is the heart of man. Now, according to Jesus, if we let this seed of the Word be stifled in us by worries and others, it will not bear fruit that matures.

Furthermore, what this parable is trying to tell us is that faith is not just about clinging to and believing the Word of God and keeping it in our heart. It also consists of protecting this word in us against all kinds of invasion, reasoning, thoughts that do not favor its blossoming.

Many of us have sometimes received a promise or a Word from the Lord. But, we have allowed something else to coexist with this Word. We have given access to doubt, thoughts, carnal reasoning and unbelief which have made it ineffective. Ultimately, we do not see the manifestation of the promise. And we often ask ourselves why?

The wise Solomon said, “Guard your heart above all else, for from it come the springs of life” (Proverbs 4v23). To keep is not only to firmly hold the Word of God sown in our hearts; but, it is also prohibiting access to all forms of reasoning which could dilute this Word and make it ineffective and fruitless..

So, let's make space for the Word in our hearts, let's not make it cramped or in competition with anything. Let it flourish in us and bear fruit.

May God bless you richly!

Eudes Léonel OTIRA
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26/12/2023

: SHOULD WE PRAY FOR THESE THINGS ? (PART 9)

We have already said in previous articles in this series that God is not against our praying for our material needs. Rather, God is against worrying and living in the worry that breeds lust. Now, the Bible says: “You covet, and do not possess; you are… envious, and you cannot obtain (…)” (James 4v2).

God is not against us praying for our needs, but He is against us idolizing the object of our needs. When the object of our need takes over our whole heart and cramps God, that thing becomes an idol.

For example, if we pray, fast, seek the face of God to have a job, a spouse or to have children, and if the determination, endurance, perseverance, constancy, fervor, aggressiveness that we put in prayer to seek these things is above our determination and our commitment to seek God for the things of the Kingdom, to learn to know him, to discover what he expects of you, to obey him etc, then we we are idolaters.

Therefore, let us not love the object of our need more than God. Let’s not idolize our needs. Let us not come to God just for our needs without interests for Himself. Our investment and our sacrifices to obtain the object of our needs must not be greater than our investment and our sacrifices to find God, love him, serve him and be in communion with him.

Hence, the Lord's declaration which consists of putting everything in its place, namely the kingdom first and the rest afterwards: “Seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God; and all these things will be added to you. » (Matthew 6v33).

God bless you !

By Eudes Léonel OTIRA
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