Infinite Fellowship Ministries

Stripped For Glory: Sermon By Rev. Loice Achola

But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared]. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings. Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, healing and health to all their flesh. Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life. 

Proverbs 4:18-23 (AMP)

In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. But you did not so learn Christ! Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], And put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:19-24 (AMP)

We’ve all heard the saying that “Life happens.” We’ll go through good and bad times no matter what age or background.

Our identity cannot be changed unless we accept that God has called us to be someone by His design.

Our circumstances CAN lead us to worship God in spirit and in truth. If we do not understand the Only One Who can dig us out is the One that we should focus on, then we will no longer want to be in the presence of God.

God needs to bring us to accept who we are in Him because on our own, it is impossible. Change in our lives is best effected by God.

God does what He does to remind us of who He is. He is faithful and constant. He’ll always delivers us and clothe us with His righteousness just like He did with Adam and Eve. God reminds us of His faithfulness in past times when we have lost our way, and that is how He draws us back into fellowship with Him.

We hear God because He speaks to everyone. He is not partial about who He speaks to.

We can choose to go to the Holy of Holies or we can choose not to. We need to check the small things that are keeping us from His presence

You cannot have the mindset of the Outer Court in the Holy of Holies.

For us to be able to enter into the presence of God, our thoughts need to change.

Adam and Eve understood the frailty of the human condition.

God acknowledges who we are. Yet His hand reaches out to humanity day by day for all eternity.

God created us to celebrate us. In our praise and worship, He delights in us.

God created us because He loves us. And because He loves us, He will draw us to Himself.

As human beings, we rarely let go of wrong and hurt visited to us. We tire quickly to forgive when offended or wronged.

God does not grow weary of us asking for forgiveness. He will not react to your situation the way you will or as bad you expect Him to.

God is leading us to access the prophetic mountain of His presence through worship. You will not stumble into His presence.

You need to put into place measures such as how you view your issues or circumstances so they don’t keep you from His presence.

God warned Cain that sin was standing by the door of his heart because of the offence he harboured against Abel.

Even after Cain killed Abel, he still heard God.

God will not take away your circumstances. He did not do it for Jesus at Gethsemane. Right there in your circumstance, your mindset need to change.

God does not take us away from the storm so we can find Him in the storm. We need to change how we view our circumstances.

Christianity is not an event. It is a journey. So is entering the presence of God.

There is something that God is doing in your mind and heart this season so that you can be able to enter into His presence.

Effective prayer does not change your circumstance. Effective prayer changes how you see God, yourself and the circumstances you go through.

Sometimes our circumstances persist because we have not done what He asked us to do. For every prophetic word there is an instruction.

Check your mind. God will bring to pass everything that He has spoken. It is up to you to work with Him and to align your attitude for His word over your life to be fulfilled.

Behind every struggle you are going through, there is an attitude that God is checking on.

God said in His word that He wants to reveal us as kings and priests in the world. But without an attitude change, it will be impossible.

You are the aroma of Christ.

Just like Esther went through 12 months of preparation – soaking in oils and beautification, God has to change your aroma in the spirit before He can reveal you. He has to soak you in His presence, in His Holy Spirit. God has to change your smell because carnality reeks in the spirit. He has to change your scent so that you leak Christ everywhere that you go.

God will cause you to remain in a certain place until you are transformed to enter where He desires to lead you.

When you are in circumstances where you don’t know what to do, remember that God is all knowing. He can change things in the blink of an eye.

We need to learn how to worship God through the darkest of times. We need to be diligent (carefully pursuing) in seeking Him.

Carefully pursuing God demands that we go the way He leads. It demands that we be relentless in seeking Him, clinging to what He says.

The Holy of Holies is there for your access daily. That is why the temple curtain was torn when Jesus died.

We need to make a conscious decision to exalt God above our situations.

God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly far above all we could ever ask or think.

In the Outer Court, God teaches you that He is the one who delivers. His blood is sufficient to deliver us from sin and bondage.

In the Inner Court, God will remind you that He is light. He will guide your way.

The Holy of Holies is about Christ and Christ alone.

There are paths that God walks on, paths He has laid out for humanity. He is the one that leads us.

Ask God why you have been in the situation you are in. Ask Him what His intention is for keeping you in the situation.

When God is leading you in His path, you need to be stripped of all that is of yourself that He clothes you with His glory.

Everyday has its own glory. You can only be adorned in God’s glory if you are with Him, in His presence.

You can enter into the presence of God. Think differently. Change your attitude so that He becomes your main focus.

A renewed mind, attitude and dependence on God is the only way to know your identity so as to be revealed as a king and a priest.

God does not want you to be a survivor. He wants you to thrive like the king you are.

If you are afraid of something, you are afraid of yourself. You are afraid of being an impediment to yourself.

You are the one who is able to keep yourself from accessing the presence of God, from the Mountain of His presence. Introspect and check your mind.

Once your mind changes, your heart will follow suit and so will your actions.