Last week we managed to tackle three keys that can help you be able to possess God’s promises for all aspects of your life including purpose, family, business, relations, and more. And as promised, this week we continue with the second part of our article.

While the year is still new, we have a choice to begin it hopeful because of the power of God. No matter what happened the previous year, we can begin expecting something better. We can do that because we can choose to believe God, believe His promises and embark on actions that will see them manifest in our lives.

Let’s jump into the remaining three keys. If you haven’t yet, read the previous article here.

1. Remember that It’s Never Too Late

It will never be too late for us to achieve the promises of God for our lives, our families, our businesses, and life in general. Moses was called when he was about 80 years old. Abraham and Sarah got Isaac when they were past childbearing age. This tells you that nothing is impossible with God. He’s above time, years, and above all things. As you make up your mind to claim the promises of God for your life this year, remember that nothing you face can stand against God.

But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27, NKJV) 

2. Refuse to be Intimidated by Obstacles

Remember the Red Sea that stood in front of the Israelites on their way out of slavery? What about the many powerful enemies they had to fight and the Jordan River they had to contend with? 

Granted, you’ll come face to face with situations that will try to easily convince you that the Word of God is not true. There’s a lot to learn and apply from the Exodus story. It doesn’t matter how big the hindrances may seem – with God by your side, you can conquer them all.

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth (Psalms 97:5, NKJV)

3. Obey the Word of God 

Having done that, you need to take action. What has God been telling you to do? What is God telling you to do now? But, don’t just hear, do the word.  Listening to what God has to say is only a partial, you need to complete it by doing what he tells you do.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves (James 1:22, NKJV)

Resolve in your heart to obey every word that God gives you. Naaman was told to go bathe in river Jordan but at first turned away in rage.

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:10-14, NKJV)

But thank God he went ahead and obeyed the word of God that came through the prophet Elisha, or he would have missed his miracle. Obeying God’s word will help us claim and manifest his promises for yet another wonderful season that is year 2020.

Contact Westside through our website contact form or Facebook page. Come and visit our Sunday service to learn more about experiencing true joy in Jesus.

By the grace of God, the New Year 2020 is here with us! Well, the beginning of a new year is an excellent opportunity for a fresh new start as it brings a special atmosphere that motivates us into action. As believers, one of the actions we can take in 2020 is taking hold of the promises of God.

Sometimes when we hear the promises of God we may fail take action, and the promise remains unclaimed. Like the Israelites going in to take possession of the land God had given them, it is not an easy road. Fear may knock and hindrances may stand our way. But we can overcome the fear and fulfill God’s promises for his glory. And here’s the truth, God wants us to take possession of His promises …but how?

How to Take Possession of God’s Promises

With the warmth of a fresh New Year still glowing, here’s how you can possession of God’s promises and have a fulfilling 2020.

1. Resolve to Live by Faith

You’ve got to believe that you can make it. Don’t look at life as a physical journey but as spiritual one. In his Word, God has told us that we cannot please Him without faith.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6, NKJV)

No one ever claimed a promise of God without believing. So, this really is the starting point. Arm yourself with unwavering faith that God will do what He has said He will do.

2. Refuse to Settle for Less 

Don’t allow yourself to settle for a partial promise. The Israelites could have just settled on the east side of the Jordan. They could have played it safe and not have proceeded to Canaan. I mean, why fight more battles?

God’s plan was not for them to stop there! God wasn’t done showing Himself strong through them! Go the long haul to achieve the purpose of God for every aspect of your life.

3. Ignore Bad Reports

Whose report will you believe? If you are going to fully claim and get ahold of the promises of God this year, you can’t afford to listen to any other thing but the report of God. Yes, you’ve got to be careful what and who you listen to. Don’t allow yourself to speak fear. Choose to speak in faith like Caleb.

Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.”

But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” And they gave the children of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone as spies is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great stature. There we saw the giants (the descendants of Anak came from the giants); and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.”(Numbers 13:30-33, NKJV)

To be continued…

Contact Westside through our website contact form or Facebook page. Come and visit our Sunday service this new season to learn more about experiencing true joy in Jesus.

Happy New Year!

One of the highlights of December is the joy of celebrating Christmas. Most of us get to decorate our homes, do parties, travel, celebrate and share gifts.

But what really is the true meaning of Christmas? The decorations, the parties with family and friends, the gifts under the Christmas tree, travelling and going on holiday, Christmas cards, telling each other “Merry Christmas”?

For some who may not be able to do all these things, Christmas can turn out as a time of sadness. The reason being a lack of money to buy Christmas presents for family and friends. Not being able to travel, meet and celebrate with loved ones. Or, not being able to put a turkey dinner on the table.

With all the emotions that Christmas brings, it’s easy to lose ourselves in the season and overlook the reason we celebrate Christmas.

Christmas and the Birth of Jesus

During Christmas we celebrate the birth of Christ. Isaiah in Chapter 9:6-7 prophesies what the coming of Jesus Christ would be to us.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

If you are a student of the bible, you probably know that the birth of Christ represents the beginning of God’s redemptive plan for mankind, and is therefore very significant for us. God sent His only Son to us who lived a life of no sin so that He could become the final sacrifice, the atonement of our sins. After 33 years, Jesu paid the price of sin on Calvary and overcame death so that we could be saved.  His birth was not just another birthday – He was no ordinary baby.

Why do We Truly Celebrate Christmas?  

Christmas is a time of remembering God’s great love for us. The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of God’s incredible act of love.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16-17, NKJV)

We celebrate Christmas by acknowledging, praising, and glorifying the One who gave it all. Yes, it’s true that through the death of Jesus and His resurrection, we have become victorious. Without the death of Christ on the cross, we would not have salvation. But all this would not be possible without His birth. His birth changed everything – our present and future. That’s the reason we should celebrate Christmas and do so with all our hearts.  

Celebrating Christmas

Let’s look at Christmas in a new way this year. Yes, we can enjoy the parties, the food and the gifts, but let’s not forget the real meaning of Christmas which is God’s love and Him sending Jesus with a plan for our redemption. And whether we do parties or not, whatever is happening, we can choose to be happy at Christmas. We can know and remember God’s love for us. For Jesus is truly the reason for the season!

Contact Westside through our website contact form or Facebook page. Come and visit our Sunday service this festive season to learn more about experiencing true joy in Jesus.

With Christmas just around the corner, people are busy with the merriment that comes with the holiday season. There are gifts to be purchased, and of course, there is the ever-present time sensitive demand of decorating to be done. Though the first Christmas was a humble affair, today’s holiday celebrations have grown to be of epic proportions. Long gone for many are the simple joys of the season and in their place are stress, pressure, and overwhelming financial commitments. Many families succumb to feelings of hopelessness and depression, feeling unable to keep pace with what others around them are doing at Christmastime. In the midst of all of the preparations for the big day, it is wise to take time to reflect on the age-old question—do money and presents buy peace and contentment?

Is there a connection between money, presents, and true contentment?

In today’s world that places a high emphasis on the accumulation of material goods and wealth, it can become far to easy to begin to equate peace with these things. But true contentment cannot be purchased, and it is not found in the latest device, gadget, car, or house.

In Ecclesiastes 5:10, Solomon tells us:

“He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;

Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.

This also is vanity.”

Solomon was both the richest and the wisest man alive. Yet the book of Ecclesiastes abounds with warnings against seeking peace in wealth or belongings. Solomon was quick to discover that loving money was an empty pleasure. Those who love money soon find out that having money isn’t enough to fill the hole inside their hearts. Having a little money leads to an overwhelming desire to accumulate more. Even with vast reserves of money in the bank, it is never enough; the owner of the accumulated wealth is driven to continue to amass more; often working long hours and neglecting both their health and their family in the process. It is a vain pursuit that does not bring joy. We need money to live, but money will not bring peace and contentment.

In Proverbs 23:4-5, we are admonished to:

“Do not overwork to be rich;

Because of your own understanding, cease!

Will you set your eyes on that which is not?

For riches certainly make themselves wings;

They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

Money is only temporal at best. Many people invest their money into stocks in the hopes of reaping a high return on their investment. Still, others try their hand at casino games or lottery tickets, hoping they will become the next great get rich story. The truth is money is spent and lost far more quickly than it is earned. Money will not last. We cannot take it with us when we go, and it can all be taken away from us in the blink of an eye. Money cannot be counted on, and our main goal in life should not be the constant pursuit of amassing wealth.

Proverbs 11:28 says:

“He who trusts in his riches will fall,

But the righteous will flourish like foliage.”

We should not put our faith, trust, and hope in money. It cannot save us, and it does not bring us contentment, peace, or joy. It is only a temporal pleasure, and it cannot be held onto, no matter how careful or tight a grip we exert.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew tells us to:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

For the believer, our treasures are not of this earth. Instead of being focused on acquiring a storehouse of “things,” we should set our sights on doing God’s work while here on the earth. We are not preparing for an eternity’s stay in this sinful world. We are only here for a short time. We cannot take with us the things we buy to make our lives more comfortable while here on this earth. Nor will our bank accounts follow us to heaven. However, the souls we have won to Christ through faithful and consistent witnessing for Him are treasures which can be laid up for us in heaven for us to place at the feet of our Saviour. The world can take away our money, and thieves can break into our homes and steal our most prized possessions. But the things we do for our Lord are added to our heavenly account and can never be taken away. They are the things that bring us true and lasting joy. Peace and contentment are found in serving Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3 tells us:

“You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.”

The formula for true peace and contentment is quite simple. It is found in keeping our minds, thoughts, and hearts trained on pleasing our Lord. As we draw near to Him through the study of His Word, He guides our hearts and feet to the steps that lead to the peace that can only be found in a close relationship with Him.

Are you struggling with trying to find peace and contentment? Contact Westside at or visit our Sunday service to learn more about experiencing true joy in Jesus. We welcome the opportunity to help you.

We often worry about the big things in our lives, fixating on obstacles we think we can’t overcome or monumental problems that just never seem to be resolved. However, it is often not the larger things that end up wreaking the most destruction in our lives. Small matters left untended can yield disastrous consequences.

The Bible tells us that the tongue is but a small part of the whole body, yet it has the potential to cause great harm. Often the direction of a person’s life is completely changed simply by careless things he or she has said.

In James 3:3-5, we read:

“Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”

The tongue is an instrument with tremendous power, and every day, we have the choice to use it for evil or for good. The truth is the tongue can work in subtleties that are equally as harmful as outright lies. Over time, we can become masters at nuances in language, using our tongues to lead others towards wrong thinking through insinuation or even engaging in the spread of gossip. Though many are quick to dismiss gossip is an inconsequential sin, it is extremely harmful for both the repeater and the one whose reputation is being soiled, often unfairly.

In Psalm 34:12-15, the psalmist encourages us with these words:

“Who is the man who desires life,

And loves many days, that he may see good?

Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit.

Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

And His ears are open to their cry.”

The key to a happy life is held in these verses. For those who wish for a life of contentment and joy, the answer is quite simple: master control of the tongue. Note that the Bible gives a very direct formula for the achievement of a life that is defined by God as good. We are to avoid speaking words that are evil and actively pursue things that bring peace.

Proverbs 12:18 tells us that:

“There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,

But the tongue of the wise promotes health.”

Our words have the potential to pierce the hearts of others. Instead of using our words to wound, we need to focus on utilizing them to heal and provide help. Gossip tears people down; words of love and kindness build them up.

Are you struggling with controlling your tongue? Contact Westside Bible Chapel, call (902) 567-2181 or visit our Sunday service to learn more about how God can empower you to use your words for good and not evil. We look forward to serving you.