Official website of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, Nigeria

How to identify a godly person

Pr. Luciano Reis — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:58:46 +0000

We understand from the last post that everyone who is of God has the authority to perform miracles. But not everyone who performs miracles is of God. In other words: miracles do not validate the godliness of those who do them.

1. He who is of God can perform miracles.
2. He who is not of God but preaches God’s Word can also perform miracles.
3. Demons can perform “miracles” too.

Therefore, 2 out of 3 miracles may come from a person who is not of God, and 1 in 3 may come from the devil himself through one his servants.

“Bishop, if that’s the case, it is best not to seek or believe in miracles so I won’t be deceived.” Not quite so. Miracles are God’s gifts to those in need. So yes, we ought to have faith and seek the miracles we need. But we must also be careful about the messengers we seek our miracles from.

Please understand: The big problem is to think that the miracle is proof that the messenger is godly. And one has nothing to do with the other. As God doesn’t discriminate against the sinner when blessing him with a miracle, He can also use an ungodly person to work a miracle for the sincere seeker.

So, the question is: If doing miracles in God’s name doesn’t prove a person’s godliness, then how can we identify the true man or woman of God?

As you might already suspect, he who is of God practices the Word of God. Just preaching, teaching, quoting, or studying the Word of God does not make a person godly—only the practice of it. And may I add: the practice of the Word as a whole, not only what is convenient to him. I don’t mean perfection, but the sincere effort to practice every word God says, even when it’s unpleasant to him.

The apostle John cautioned Gaius, the disciple, about Diotrephes, a church leader who was full of pride and sought his own glory: He that does good is of God: he that does evil hath not seen God. 3 John 11

It is clear, then, what makes a person godly and what doesn’t.

Here’s how you identify the man or woman of God: watch their character and behavior, especially among those who are very close to them. If he or she’s married, start by watching their relationship with their spouse. Next, see how he or she behaves toward their peers, and how they deal with the major human temptations: money, power, pride, emotions, and lust.

I know it’s not always possible to know someone that close. The miracle seeker doesn’t usually know the miracle messenger that well. (That’s why the messenger’s marriage is usually the best thermometer, followed by his nearest relations). But as our Lord said: There is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed, and a tree shall be known by its fruit.

Just remember that miracles are not fruit.
Bishop Renato Cardoso

Oil of Psalm 23

Pr. Luciano Reis — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 20:51:38 +0000

Who doesn’t dream of being able to sigh happily and be able to boldly say, “Actually, I don’t need a thing!” I know what you’re thinking, “This is just wishful thinking.”The truth is, in most cases, you want to be happy. But it seems you cannot.

You cannot be happy when you are sick. Good health is a basic condition for a happy life. And yet, you can be healthy and lack the next important thing – financial stability. If debts are pilling up, money doesn’t stay in your hands and you find yourself constantly worrying about how you will make ends meet, then you’re still not happy.

Health and wealth are not all though. You may still lack what money cannot buy: peace and love. Stories abound of the rich and famous that committed suicide or divorced for the second and third time. Maybe you have all you need materially, but inside you feel down and without direction.

So what to do?

If you are really looking for help, come and see if you too could benefit from the Oil of Psalm 23 event.
In the famous psalm, you find the type of provision that comes to a person who puts their trust in God – a person who makes Him their Shepherd.
Well-being, peace, protection, favour, and direction are but a few of the benefits that come through faith.

With this in mind, on May 13 a generous amount of the Oil of Psalm 23, which was consecrated in different locations in Israel, the Holy Land, will be given free of charge, in a bottle, to everyone attending this event at the Universal Church of the kingdom of God (UCKG). Learn how to use it to anoint the sick, the emotionally distressed, your loved ones and family, your workplace and objects that represent difficulties or challenges in your life.

Far-fetched? There’s only one way to find out. What is your faith up for?

Event: Oil of Psalm 23
Date: Sunday 13th May 2012
Time: 9.30am (also 8am)
Location: UCKG – 13B Opebi Road, Ikeja – Lagos – Nigeria (Opposite GTBank)
Admission: Free

The UCKG HelpCentre’s spiritual advice is to be seen as a complement to the scientifically proven treatment you may be receiving. The UCKG does not claim to heal people but believes that God can through the power of faith. Always follow your doctor’s instructions

Sunday of Justice

Pr. Luciano Reis — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 23:34:26 +0000

Day of Hope NGA

Pr. Luciano Reis — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 19:50:55 +0000

The strong and the weak

Pr. Luciano Reis — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:37:27 +0000

The weak are emotional.
They are indefinite with their decisions and their faith. They are enslaved by other people’s opinions.
This causes them to be unhappy, even though they believe in God.
“While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal,” 2 Corinthians 4.18.
Those who are born of the Spirit are spirit. They live by a rational faith and disregard visions, feelings and emotions.
They believe in order to see, and do not need to see in order to believe.
Is this foolish? Certainly, it sounds foolish to the world.
But not to the world of faith, which is the Kingdom of the Spirit of God.
Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of the Spirit of God, John 3.3.
Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of the Spirit of God, John 3.5.
Only those who are born of God are able to overcome the war for salvation because they use supernatural faith.
In contrast, those who are born of emotions, flesh or the natural man do not have the Holy Spirit and therefore, do not recognize the world of supernatural faith.
Because of this, they do not have the courage to assume a serious commitment with God, deny their own will, take up their cross and follow Him.
Instead, they are literally cowards. At the slightest sound of the war drums, they flee.
They do not have courage to deny sin and face the injustices of evil.
Their emotional faith makes them shy in front of their relatives, friends and acquaintances.
This does not happen with those who are born of God. Their faith is solid, well established and deeply rooted in the Word of God. They do not care about other people’s opinions…
And if everyone turns their back on them because of their faith, then that is when they become stronger.
They extract strength from their weaknesses and take possession of the promises.
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” I Corinthians 2.14.

The Culture of the Living Dead

Pr. Luciano Reis — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:12:56 +0000

Newspapers are becoming increasingly dominated with headlines of well- to-do household names that attempt or commit suicide. It’s ironic that whilst some in hospital beds, struggle to keep their lives others find themselves in a place death is their way out of it all.
People have many reasons for wanting to take their lives, especially when they look around and come to the conclusion that it no longer has any value. What’s questionable is why people who seem to have the world at their feet decide to suddenly end it all. And it’s not just our celebs that are victims, our families are too. I am sure that you can think of at least one person in your household that is living physically but inside, they feel dead.
You get home and your teenage son is nowhere to be seen. He ignores your calls then strolls in at unsociable hours and he’s off his head. For him and for others, he’s just enjoying life, but for you who love him, he’s throwing his life away…
Your partner is unfaithful and you know it but you’ve lost control and the communication is non-existent. You want to be loved, you dream of it but he or she is disinterested. For others, you’re happily married, but for you and your partner, the relationship died years ago and all you have left is a routine or kids that keeps you together.
Your relatives are sick, you have no peace, arguments are the norm and your family is in ruins. Fights about money and the lack of it spiral out of control. Fiery words are like bullets to the heart that knock you down every time. It’s your family and so it hurts. It’s your mother, father, brother, sister, nephew, cousin, son, it’s part of your flesh and if they are in pain, so are you.
Now close your eyes and imagine that problematic person calmer, rational, loving, respectful, kind, approachable, well, and happy. Imagine that person’s life is resurrected and restored. On an unforgettable Easter Sunday centuries ago, a unique Man made the most precious landmark in history as He rose from the dead with the help of the magnificent life-changing Spirit. This same Spirit is available for all to access today. He has the capacity to touch the hearts of those you love and breathe life into their hearts and begin a transformation of character.
This Easter Sunday, why not do something different? If this Spirit could raise Jesus up from the dead, don’t you think he can raise up your family from their situation and make them new? Invite those you love to receive His gentle touch from the inside. You are also welcome to bring their names and photographs to the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God where a recreation or a projection of the Garden Tomb will be available for people to present their requests. This is a symbol of faith that those who are present at that tomb on Easter Sunday can exchange the living dead culture for a life that’s worth living for!
The change in your family could start with you… show them you care, offer them a prayer.

This is the place that commemorates an event that has marked the world for centuries and is disputed to this day. The body of one Man was raised up by a Spirit, the Holy Spirit, who gave a battered and butchered body, drained of blood and water, LIFE!
Through this Spirit, this Man – Jesus – was seen alive and well after being out to death in a brutal fashion and this same Spirit is available for everyone to access on Easter Sunday.

Everyone is welcome to bring their family members who feel like they also need the touch of the Holy Spirit to visit the recreation of the Garden Tomb that will be located at the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God. Attendees who are unable to bring their loved ones on the day- are free to bring their names and photographs to the tomb. Let’s unite our faith and invite this life-changing Spirit to touch our lives and the hearts of those we care for.
Date: Easter Sunday 8th April
Time: 10am
Where: 13B Opebi Road, Ikeja – Lagos (Opposite GTBank)

For more information call our helpline: 01 890 7256 or 0805 113 0964

Trade in Your Cross

Pr. Luciano Reis — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:37:23 +0000

Family problems are stressing you out, sickness is stealing your joy, financial crisis and lack of funds are doing your head in, loneliness is putting you down, depression has moulded your character and you are so unhappy, yet it’s your cross to bear, right?!
WRONG!
Who said that anyway? Who convinced you that you should accept a miserable way of living? Who compelled you to carry a cross that does not belong to you? Whose life is it anyway?
It’s YOURS, dear reader. It’s your life and YOU decide. You have the power to choose what happens to you and there are so many people and spirits fighting to gain control of you. If you don’t exercise this power, it will naturally be stolen from you. Now, this may be a bit controversial, but sometimes religions steal your life away when all you need is faith! Sometimes your fears paralyse you when all you need is courage. Sometimes you find yourself in a deep pit that your father’s father, mother’s mother passed down to you and you have no idea how you got there. Yet because you don’t know what to do, you continue to carry a cross that doesn’t belong to you. Actually, this cross belongs to Someone else and He actually already carried it for you!
I am sure you’ve heard about this amazingly courageous Man who decided to take up His cross one Good Friday many years ago. But why? Why would He do such a thing? This is our challenge. We want that Man by the name of Jesus to exchange our cross of problems by taking it from us as He promised. At 10am on the Good Friday 6th April 2012, no timid serene Christ-like figure on a cross will be present; no detached authoritarian will appear. On the contrary, on Good Friday, the real Jesus who to this day wants to take our burdens and give us real life will show up to take up your cross of problems. Don’t you feel lighter already? Do you believe? We do!
The Trade in Your Cross Event challenge to you and those you love to trade in your cross of problems for one that is light, manageable and doable!
Address: 13B Opebi road, Ikeja, Lagos (Opposite GTBank), come ready to see what will happen next.
Is your cross too heavy? It’s time to let it go! See you there…
For more information about this event, contact the Help Line on
0805 113 0964 or 01 890 7256 (Lagos)

Event: Trade in Your Cross
Date: Good Friday 6th April
Time: 10am
Location: at the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Admission: Free

Why are you depressed?

Pr. Luciano Reis — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:37:56 +0000

The same way that faith brings life, doubt brings death.
While faith inspires dreams, hopes and raises self-esteem, doubt poisons dreams, hopes and promotes depression.

I doubt there is a medicine that can cure depression, the same way that I doubt that anyone who has their faith in the Word of God is depressed.

From a spiritual point of view, depression is nothing more than a permanent state of doubt.
I am an amateur when it comes to conventional medicine, but I understand a little bit about spiritual medicine.
Depression is a strictly spiritual problem.

What kind of medicine can cure a spiritual disease?
How many people commit suicide after a bout of depression?
And what have Freudian philosophies done to reverse this situation? Nothing.
Why?
Because if the problem’s origin is spiritual, its solution will also be spiritual.
When it comes to dealing with spiritual problems, you must use your faith.

Usually, whenever we talk about faith, the unwary automatically associate this topic with being religious. This is where they are wrong!
Biblical faith has nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with any kind of religion.
The Bible abolishes any and all religions.
Through Biblical faith you will find Spirit and Life. Spirit and Life that flow directly from the Wellspring of Life.

Mankind is a trinity: body, soul and spirit.
The same way the body needs to be cared for and the soul needs love, man’s spirit can only receive nourishment through by the Spirit of the Word of God – the Holy Bible.

Until man’s spirit is fed, the person will continue feeling an EMPTY VOID IN THEIR CHEST.
This has nothing to do with religion or religiosity. It has to do with the Spirit of Life.
Want proof?
Read any kind of book, whether it’s about philosophy, self-help, romance or any other book that is at your disposal and then do a self-analysis. Has anything changed inside of you?
I am absolutely certain it has not. Instead, your mind has become more confused, you may even have noticed that this has happened before.

Now, let’s do another experiment. Read the Book of Life: The Holy Bible.
Read Genesis, the origin of Good and Evil. Meditate on each sentence. Then read Psalms, Proverbs, Isaiah, the Gospel of Luke…
I doubt that at the end of each one of these books, you will continue the same way you were before. Do you know why?
Because the Spirit of the Word of God is going to touch you.

Be enlightened in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

By: Bishop Macedo

Principle of success

Pr. Luciano Reis — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:15:14 +0000

Here’s a principle of success:

Treat people the way you would like to be treated.

Hardly rocket science or groundbreaking, I know. But extremely rare. The more I interact with people, the more I observe their behavior and actions, the more I see that most people aren’t interested in other people’s well-being. They’re interested in themselves.

That’s what makes this principle even more powerful. If you live by it, you’ll be an exception, a part of the few. And that’s why you’ll be sought after, valued, and respected.

Dare to be the exception.