Author Archives: Mark Odeke

So, then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12

One can only hold their head up high and walk with absolute confidence when they have learned to hold themselves accountable to the highest degree possible.

The LORDs expectation is that we find fault with ourselves first to the point that we are drawn to both repentance and genuine change without crossing the line into extremes of self-condemnation.

How about you take time and answer these questions genuinely;

1. If you stood before the LORD today, would He let you into heaven! Why do you think so?
2. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your relationship with the LORD?
3. How do you rate your relationship with others? Be honest!
4. Are you honest in your dealings with others? To what extent?
5. Do you see weaknesses in yourself that your protective of? How are you dealing with them?
6. Are you at that place where you want to be with the LORD? Are you satisfied with Him!
7. Is there anything or anyone stumbling your walk with the LORD! How are you dealing with it?
8. Do you have secret faults, those you never speak of and are ashamed of? What are you doing about them?
9. Are you able to recognize pet sins in your life? Those that you celebrate publicly and are unapologetic about.
10. What do you struggle with? Is it rage, anger, malice, envy, lies, immorality, theft, unforgiveness, coveting, foolishness or even perverse tendencies and bitterness?
11. Have you errored unconsciously before? How then did you come to the revelation that you had errored? What’s the sequence of such errors?
12. Have you uttered words to others you wish you could take back? What was your reaction? And what have you done about it?
13. Is there anyone out there hurting because of you that perhaps you need to apologize too? Have you tried reaching out or your pride just can’t let you!
14. Do you think you are without fault?
15. How well do you deal with criticism?
16. Where do you think your lacking in your own walk with the LORD?
17. If you had to sacrifice anything for a deeper relationship with the LORD, what would that be? Would you go through with it?
18. What godly attributes do you possess that you want to see in others?
19. When you take a deep look at yourself, do others see Christ in you?

Here is your Prayer Path
Dear LORD, please help me evaluate myself truthfully. In Jesus name, Amen.
Your Friend,
Mark Odeke

So, when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. “John 8:7“

God loves people, especially sinners. Its why He sent His only Son to die on the cross. You were forgiven because of the price that Jesus paid on the cross not because you are worthy.

A forgiven person should be able to extent forgiveness to another. To whom much is given, much is therefore expected. One who has been forgiven the most, should be most forgiving. Every one of us who has been redeemed has been forgiven much. We should be able to treat others as the LORD has treated us.

For the LORD to waive the death penalty that was upon us doesn’t elevate us to a position of self-righteousness, instead it should make us like Him, as we have received from Him, so we should be able to extend to others.

It’s a pity that the church today preaches condemnation, judgment against those whom the LORD has already extended forgiveness. To cast a stone at another when they sin against us is wrong in the eyes of the LORD, to hold a stone in itself and not cast it is equally wrong, so is the thought of picking up a stone in the first place.

The hardest thing for Christians is to rise up beyond condemnation when dealing with those who are living in sin. When a brother notices a brother in sin, everyone else will know of it except the one in the wrong. We pass judgement as though we ourselves are without sin.

There is something else I have noticed in the body of Christ today, one who has been forgiven much, forgives very little and one would wonder why? It is because they have received a partial revelation of what it means to forgive and to be forgiven by the LORD. They forgive today and remind you tomorrow just how much you sinned. They paint themselves holy while everyone else is dirty, this one is a hypocrite in the eyes of the LORD.

The LORD would rather you forgive instead of sowing seeds of condemnation. For with the same measure, you use against your
brother, it shall be used against you. To condone sin is equally wrong in the eyes of God, may the LORD give you the grace not to condemn others when they fall short but also the boldness not to condone wickedness.

How may stones have you cast at others? How many have you kept in your pocket? Have you condemned those the LORD has already forgiven! Are you sure you are without sin! Before you point a finger at another, are you certain you are pure in the eyes of God!

Here is your Prayer Path
Dear Father, I withdraw all the stones I have cast at others and I am sorry I cast them in the first place, please forgive me. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Your Friend,
Pastor Mark. A. Odeke

And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years.” Luke 1:18

Some of the most faith wrecking statements are “How shall I know that this will happen or How sure are you that what you say will happen or that God will even answer me?” There is an innate fear that perhaps the word of God you have received may not come to pass and because of that you seek guarantees to be certain. This is doubt at its best.

Faith in God seeks no guarantees, it simply believes without hesitation. It creates no excitement but a sudden calm in your spirit man which is almost tangible. Faith creates a meekness to the word of God from which it draws strength. It takes away anxiety, worry and fear for the unknown and firmly focuses your eyes on Jesus Christ.

There is something else you should know about faith; it possesses creative power. Faith creates expectation, unwavering commitment to the LORD and a firm resolve to wait upon the LORD. Faith chooses not to focus on the current state of affairs but on the unfailing promises of the everlasting God. It honors the words spoken by His servants even if those who uttered them are long gone to the with the LORD.

What then was Zechariah’s problem? why did he seek assurance from the angel of the LORD regarding that which had just been proclaimed to Him? He looked not to the word of the LORD but to his current state. He said, “I am an old man and my wife is well advanced in years.” You too could be saying, I am old who can marry an old woman like me, I don’t even have papers, who would hire someone like me? Who wants a sickly spouse, who can give birth at my age? Who can accept me the way I am? My prime years are gone, it can’t be! I have been home for too long. Doubt creates negative things like fear, worry, depression and anxiety.

Self-pity is the reason we choose to doubt instead of looking to the LORD from whence comes our victory. When you see yourself, you say, “Oh poor me, who will even bother to help me” This was Zechariah’s problem. To make sure he utters no more self-destructing confessions, the angel said, “But behold you will be mute and unable to speak until the day these things take place because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” Luke 1:20

What’s is your decision? would you rather believe or be mute?

Here is your Prayer Path
Dear Father, I will look not to my current state but to your infallible word and promises. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Your Friend,
Pastor Mark. A. Odeke

Then Jesus said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. John 5:8-9

believe in miracles and they still happen today. Yours is on the way and it’s only a matter of time. Yes, something is just about to happen.

With all honesty, after waiting for 38 years, the least place the man at the pool expected help to come from, was the LORD. That is why he was so bent on getting into the water no matter how long it took.

Sometimes when things get really tough and hard, almost everyone is inclined to the thought that God isn’t bothered at all about what’s happening or perhaps He is punishing you for something while others prefer to see lessons in hardships, delays, frustration and set back. That is your perception of Him and it is entirely subjective.

When you feel drawn towards quitting, walking away or even giving up, may you remember that the LORD is faithful. May you listen to that still small voice of the Spirit speaking deep within your heart. If He could bring you this far, imagine what He could do if only you hold on a little longer.

There is the untold story of the man at the pool which is what happened right after he got healed. The bible offers only a fraction of it. Have you stopped to imagine what his family’s reaction was when they saw him walk? What about those who laughed at him? Then those who walked away when he needed them the most! And of course, the mockers, naysayers who thought miracles are a thing of the old.

God is going to do something with you that is going to shock the wits out of you. As a matter of fact, it will take you a while to recover. While you are trying to sober up, then He will do it again. It begins as a small droplet, then it slowly gains strength eventually turning into a heavy shower. This is identical to blessings and miracles. They start as tiny ignorable droplets, then into a shower then a heavy down pour.

Are you ready for your down pour?

Here is your Prayer Path
Dear Father, I am ready for a heavy down pour of miracles. In Jesus name. Amen

Your Friend,

Mark A. Odeke

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD goes with you, He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

History has a tendency of forging people to the positive or to the negative. When one has suffered failure and reproach for a long time, there will always be a part of them that fears that they may end up in a similar state.When one has been jobless for a while they may quickly forget the pains of being unemployed but they will always have the fear deep within them that someday they will lose this job as well. Even when a person has been healed or a recipient of countless miracles, they will have that feeling that the sickness may return and that the healing is temporary. Why?

That’s because when you stay long enough in a situation, you sort of get used to, not having, being sick, always failing, slavery, frustration, delays, betrayal, failure at the point of breakthrough, wrongful dismissal, total stagnation, debts etc. that’s all you know, and it’s all you remember. All your memories are built around the undesirable to the extent that when the LORD blesses you, when you remember how tough it’s been, you weep.

The Jews were slaves for a long time, all they knew was brutality, when the LORD set them free, it seemed normal for them to be afraid because they had never been free all their lives that’s why the LORD had to make them a promise that He would be with them and that He would never leave them, nor forsake them.

Let not the past define you but let the LORD your God who goes ahead of you, give you total healing and victory that you seek in the name of Jesus. It’s okay to be afraid but you don’t need to. May He surround you with His love and comfort your heart and give you strength in your time of need and remind you that He is with you.

The LORD knows right where you are, the battles your fighting, how powerful your enemy is, how you have tried and failed constantly, how many they are and the tactics they are using against you. He knows exactly how long you have been a slave and a victim of the devil and how desperate you are to breakthrough. Here the word of the LORD, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them or what you’re dealing with now.”

As you read this, may He heal you completely and bring peace to your life. In the midst of your battles, may He encourage and strengthen your heart. Friend don’t be afraid; He is with you.

Here is your Prayer Path
Dear Father, I will not be afraid. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Your Friend,
Pastor Mark. A. Odeke