A New Beginning - Thursday January 1, 2015
Memorise: And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. - Revelation 21:5
Read: Isaiah 43:19
19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
MESSAGE:
When someone promises to give you a gift, before you begin to celebrate, find out whether the fellow has the wherewithal to fulfil the promise, or else you may be disappointed. The good news is that the Almighty God, who knows no impossibility, said in Isaiah 43:19 that He would do a new thing for His children this year. I pray for someone using this devotional that something pleasantly new and glorious will happen to you this year in Jesus’ Name.
However, for something new to happen. The old must give way. In Genesis 32:24-28, the angel said to Jacob that his old name must give way for a new one. The Lord said this same thing to his grandfather and grandmother-Abraham and Sarah, whose names were changed from Abram and Sarai respectively. The old names that have brought misfortune and agony to someone using this devotional will change this year in Jesus’ Name. You must let go of your old ways of living if you want to experience a glorious new beginning this year. Your old ways of thinking and your old ways of doing things, especially your ungodly behaviour, must give way.
You must change your master if this master is not Jesus Christ. Jesus is calling all those who labour and are heavy laden to come to Him. He promised to give as many as shall come to Him a new beginning to joy and victory if they would accept His Lordship, take His yoke upon themselves, learn of Him and keep His commandments (Matthew 11:28-30)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17
The implication of this passage of scripture is great. It means that if you come to Jesus Christ, your sinful living becomes history, because not only will you be forgiven, the power behind “go and sin no more” will be your portion also. This was the experience of the woman caught in the sin of adultery who was forgiven by the Lord (John 8:11). My sincere prayer for you this New Year is that the abundant life in Jesus Christ will be your portion, in Jesus’ mighty Name. Happy New Year!!!
Action Point: Father, I stand on your promise of glorious new things for me and my loved ones, and I claim these promises for abundant joy in this New Year in Jesus’ Name.
Bible in a Year: Isaiah 1-2; Acts 1
Wednesday 31 December 2014
It Pays to Live Holy II - Wednesday December 31, 2014
It Pays to Live Holy II - Wednesday December 31, 2014
Memorise: For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. - Zechariah 2:5
Read: Job 1:8-10
1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
MESSAGE:
Everybody in this world wants to be secure. Witchcraft is prospering because people feel insecure and they are looking for security from any available source. The unfortunate thing is that, looking for security from the forces of darkness is looking for security from the very person who wants to destroy you. Those who are living a holy life have the protection of the Lord Almighty. This is because God has built a hedge around them. In Job 1:9-10, the Bible tells us that God had put a hedge around Job and his household. God put a hedge around Job because he served Him. Job got into the predicament that befell him because God wanted to prove a point to Satan. Around every holy child of God, there is an unseen wall. Satan cannot pass through this wall because it is made of fire. The Bible in Zechariah 2:5 says,
“For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.”
Satan knows that he is going to end up in the Lake of fire. He is therefore not very anxious to taste this fire yet, so when he sees anybody who is surrounded by this fire, he keeps his distance.
God has made so many promises to those that are holy. Psalm 91 contains classical examples of these promises. You cannot abide in the secret place of the Most High without being holy.
Without being holy, God’s promises cannot be yours. The fire of the Almighty God is so hot that when it surrounds you, the fire of this world will make way for you to pass. We have a good example in Daniel 3:24-28, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were put in the fiery furnace. Their experience confirms what the scripture says concerning the holy in Isaiah 43:2:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
There is however one thing that can remove the security covering from you. This is sin.
Whenever you sin, you create a barrier between you and God. It is therefore dangerous to sin, not even for once because you may not be able to recover from the devastating effect of the ensuing satanic attack in the course of your backsliding. I pray that your fire will not go out in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, whatever will take away your banner of protection over my life, withhold me from such from now on.
Bible in a Year: Acts 27-28
Memorise: For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. - Zechariah 2:5
Read: Job 1:8-10
1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
1:10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
MESSAGE:
Everybody in this world wants to be secure. Witchcraft is prospering because people feel insecure and they are looking for security from any available source. The unfortunate thing is that, looking for security from the forces of darkness is looking for security from the very person who wants to destroy you. Those who are living a holy life have the protection of the Lord Almighty. This is because God has built a hedge around them. In Job 1:9-10, the Bible tells us that God had put a hedge around Job and his household. God put a hedge around Job because he served Him. Job got into the predicament that befell him because God wanted to prove a point to Satan. Around every holy child of God, there is an unseen wall. Satan cannot pass through this wall because it is made of fire. The Bible in Zechariah 2:5 says,
“For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.”
Satan knows that he is going to end up in the Lake of fire. He is therefore not very anxious to taste this fire yet, so when he sees anybody who is surrounded by this fire, he keeps his distance.
God has made so many promises to those that are holy. Psalm 91 contains classical examples of these promises. You cannot abide in the secret place of the Most High without being holy.
Without being holy, God’s promises cannot be yours. The fire of the Almighty God is so hot that when it surrounds you, the fire of this world will make way for you to pass. We have a good example in Daniel 3:24-28, where Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were put in the fiery furnace. Their experience confirms what the scripture says concerning the holy in Isaiah 43:2:
“When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
There is however one thing that can remove the security covering from you. This is sin.
Whenever you sin, you create a barrier between you and God. It is therefore dangerous to sin, not even for once because you may not be able to recover from the devastating effect of the ensuing satanic attack in the course of your backsliding. I pray that your fire will not go out in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, whatever will take away your banner of protection over my life, withhold me from such from now on.
Bible in a Year: Acts 27-28
Tuesday 30 December 2014
It Pays to Live Holy I - Tuesday December 30, 20
It Pays to Live Holy I - Tuesday December 30, 2014
Memorise: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. - Romans 6:22
Read: Proverbs 11:17-18
11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
MESSAGE:
There is a sure reward for all those who are living holy. Men will go the extra mile to get a great reward from an endeavour, no matter the sacrifices it may require of them. Holiness requires from us certain sacrifices; we have to forgo certain things. I can assure you that there are several rewards for living holy. God is not merely asking us to live holy; He also promises “sure rewards” for living holy.
For example, long life is a sure reward of holy living according to Proverbs 11:19. Sin leads to death while holiness leads to life. You will die young if you are indulging in sin. But if you are living holy, Satan will not be able to get you into a snare that can lead you to death. Another reward is found in Hosea 10:12:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
If you plant holiness, you will harvest the mercy of God. It is glaring that but for the mercy of God, we will not be alive today. It was God who said that the soul that sins shall perish.
Probably no one would be alive today if God had been rewarding us for the sins we have been committing. He will keep on showing us more mercy if we go on living holy. Peace is another reward of holy living. In Daniel 4:27 the Bible says:
“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”
In this scripture, Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that if he began to live holy, God will be merciful unto him and then give him increased peace. Philosophers spend a lot of time trying to find answers to questions such as, what is truth, what is life and what is peace; they always end up with inconclusive answers. The search continues for them. The reason they cannot get an answer is because they have been asking the wrong questions. The question is not what peace is but who Peace is. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The call to holiness is actually a call to peace.
Why has God called us to peace? The reason is that He is a God of Peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). A father will give to his child whatever he has. The devil will give what he has to his children – sickness, sorrow, confusion, etc. God will give you what He has if you belong to Him. He is the Author of Peace and He will give you peace today in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Find out those habits that are a direct opposite of a life of holiness in your life; do away with them as the price of holiness and you will be adequately rewarded.
Bible in a Year: Acts 24:22-26:32
Memorise: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. - Romans 6:22
Read: Proverbs 11:17-18
11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
MESSAGE:
There is a sure reward for all those who are living holy. Men will go the extra mile to get a great reward from an endeavour, no matter the sacrifices it may require of them. Holiness requires from us certain sacrifices; we have to forgo certain things. I can assure you that there are several rewards for living holy. God is not merely asking us to live holy; He also promises “sure rewards” for living holy.
For example, long life is a sure reward of holy living according to Proverbs 11:19. Sin leads to death while holiness leads to life. You will die young if you are indulging in sin. But if you are living holy, Satan will not be able to get you into a snare that can lead you to death. Another reward is found in Hosea 10:12:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
If you plant holiness, you will harvest the mercy of God. It is glaring that but for the mercy of God, we will not be alive today. It was God who said that the soul that sins shall perish.
Probably no one would be alive today if God had been rewarding us for the sins we have been committing. He will keep on showing us more mercy if we go on living holy. Peace is another reward of holy living. In Daniel 4:27 the Bible says:
“Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”
In this scripture, Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that if he began to live holy, God will be merciful unto him and then give him increased peace. Philosophers spend a lot of time trying to find answers to questions such as, what is truth, what is life and what is peace; they always end up with inconclusive answers. The search continues for them. The reason they cannot get an answer is because they have been asking the wrong questions. The question is not what peace is but who Peace is. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The call to holiness is actually a call to peace.
Why has God called us to peace? The reason is that He is a God of Peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). A father will give to his child whatever he has. The devil will give what he has to his children – sickness, sorrow, confusion, etc. God will give you what He has if you belong to Him. He is the Author of Peace and He will give you peace today in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Find out those habits that are a direct opposite of a life of holiness in your life; do away with them as the price of holiness and you will be adequately rewarded.
Bible in a Year: Acts 24:22-26:32
Tuesday 16 December 2014
Gates & Everlasting Doors - Tuesday December 16, 2014
Gates & Everlasting Doors - Tuesday December 16, 2014
Memorise: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. - Matthew 18:18
Read: Psalm 24:7-10
24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
MESSAGE:
When you work like an elephant and eat like an ant or you are sorrowful while others are rejoicing, it may be that you are under the influence of gates and everlasting doors. When you continue to meet brick walls in all directions you move, you may be under the influence of gates or everlasting doors.
The good news for someone using this devotional is that God is going to lift the negative gates and everlasting doors that have been standing on your way to success today in Jesus’ Name. There are lessons to learn from today’s Bible passage. The first is that gates have heads, and whatever has a head must also have a body, and whatever has a head and a body is an entity. Secondly, these entities are unseen, which means that they are spiritual entities that cannot die. Therefore, it takes the power of the Most High to deal with them. I pray that every spiritual entity working against your progress shall be destroyed today in Jesus’ Name.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” - Ephesians 6:12
For us to deal with spiritual gates and everlasting doors, we need spiritual weapons. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit said that we should put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11). What are the components of the armour of God? The armour includes: truth, righteousness and the acceptance of the gospel of peace. This means that for evil gates and doors to shift ground for your good, you must be born-again by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:5). Not only this, you must also live in truth and righteousness. Moreover, you must take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the word of God with prayer and supplication. The King of Glory will come into your life and the situation of gates and everlasting doors will disappear. There was a rich man who was plagued with negative gates. When we were called to assist him with prayers so that he might be delivered, we asked him to give his life to Christ but he refused. The gate and everlasting doors of Hell got rid of him. My prayer for you is that you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name. For this to happen, today is the day of salvation for you if you are a sinner. If you are a backslidden believer, you must repent and return to your first love.
Prayer Point: Father, every evil gate and everlasting door blocking my way to breakthrough, destroy them completely today in Jesus’ Name.
Bible in a Year: Esther 1
Memorise: Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. - Matthew 18:18
Read: Psalm 24:7-10
24:7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
24:8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
24:9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
24:10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
MESSAGE:
When you work like an elephant and eat like an ant or you are sorrowful while others are rejoicing, it may be that you are under the influence of gates and everlasting doors. When you continue to meet brick walls in all directions you move, you may be under the influence of gates or everlasting doors.
The good news for someone using this devotional is that God is going to lift the negative gates and everlasting doors that have been standing on your way to success today in Jesus’ Name. There are lessons to learn from today’s Bible passage. The first is that gates have heads, and whatever has a head must also have a body, and whatever has a head and a body is an entity. Secondly, these entities are unseen, which means that they are spiritual entities that cannot die. Therefore, it takes the power of the Most High to deal with them. I pray that every spiritual entity working against your progress shall be destroyed today in Jesus’ Name.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” - Ephesians 6:12
For us to deal with spiritual gates and everlasting doors, we need spiritual weapons. This is the reason why the Holy Spirit said that we should put on the whole armour of God (Ephesians 6:11). What are the components of the armour of God? The armour includes: truth, righteousness and the acceptance of the gospel of peace. This means that for evil gates and doors to shift ground for your good, you must be born-again by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ (John 3:5). Not only this, you must also live in truth and righteousness. Moreover, you must take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the word of God with prayer and supplication. The King of Glory will come into your life and the situation of gates and everlasting doors will disappear. There was a rich man who was plagued with negative gates. When we were called to assist him with prayers so that he might be delivered, we asked him to give his life to Christ but he refused. The gate and everlasting doors of Hell got rid of him. My prayer for you is that you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name. For this to happen, today is the day of salvation for you if you are a sinner. If you are a backslidden believer, you must repent and return to your first love.
Prayer Point: Father, every evil gate and everlasting door blocking my way to breakthrough, destroy them completely today in Jesus’ Name.
Bible in a Year: Esther 1
Monday 15 December 2014
Fear, Not a Christian Virtue - Monday December 15, 2014
Fear, Not a Christian Virtue - Monday December 15, 2014
Memorise: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7
Read: Psalm 91:5-6
91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
MESSAGE:
You have nothing to fear if you have given your life to Jesus. Those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ can say with all boldness that we shall not be afraid. Today’s Bible reading says that: provided you surrender your life to the Almighty God and provided you are dwelling in His secret place, and provided you are abiding under His shadow, you have nothing to fear. Fear is from the devil. There was no fear until the devil crept in. When God created Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden, it was all bliss. But from the day the devil entered into the garden and convinced them to disobey God, fear came. After they had sinned, when they heard God coming, they ran and hid themselves. Fear is the exact opposite of faith.
The moment you cross from the side of the devil to the side of God, there is no more fear for you.
When you give your life to Christ, fear must go. Fear comes from darkness and Jesus Christ is light.
When Jesus comes into your life, He gives you the spirit of love, of power, of joy and of a sound mind. This is why it is rare to find a true child of God living in fear. The Bible in Romans 8:14-15 says:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Children of God have the Spirit of God. He assures us that we are the children of God. You can boldly say that you have not received the spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind if you have received the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ said you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you. Since we have received power, we should not be afraid. I am a child of God. Fear belongs to the children of the devil and I am not a child of the devil. From time immemorial, God has always put a dividing line between the righteous and the wicked. He tries to reward each according to their works. He rewards the righteous so that they will love righteousness and so that the wicked will see the benefit of righteousness and turn from their wicked ways. The Bible in Psalm 121:7says this concerning the righteous:
“The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”
With such promises, the children of God have no cause to fear. I pray that whatever will overwhelm your faith and cause you to panic, the Lord will not allow such to happen to you in Jesus’ Name. Do not be afraid; God is your refuge and your present help in the time of need.
Action Point: Check your life, whatever you are doing that is causing you to panic, do away with it.
Bible in a Year: Nehemiah 11:25-13:31
Memorise: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7
Read: Psalm 91:5-6
91:5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
91:6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
MESSAGE:
You have nothing to fear if you have given your life to Jesus. Those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ can say with all boldness that we shall not be afraid. Today’s Bible reading says that: provided you surrender your life to the Almighty God and provided you are dwelling in His secret place, and provided you are abiding under His shadow, you have nothing to fear. Fear is from the devil. There was no fear until the devil crept in. When God created Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden of Eden, it was all bliss. But from the day the devil entered into the garden and convinced them to disobey God, fear came. After they had sinned, when they heard God coming, they ran and hid themselves. Fear is the exact opposite of faith.
The moment you cross from the side of the devil to the side of God, there is no more fear for you.
When you give your life to Christ, fear must go. Fear comes from darkness and Jesus Christ is light.
When Jesus comes into your life, He gives you the spirit of love, of power, of joy and of a sound mind. This is why it is rare to find a true child of God living in fear. The Bible in Romans 8:14-15 says:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
Children of God have the Spirit of God. He assures us that we are the children of God. You can boldly say that you have not received the spirit of fear but of power, of love and of a sound mind if you have received the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ said you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you. Since we have received power, we should not be afraid. I am a child of God. Fear belongs to the children of the devil and I am not a child of the devil. From time immemorial, God has always put a dividing line between the righteous and the wicked. He tries to reward each according to their works. He rewards the righteous so that they will love righteousness and so that the wicked will see the benefit of righteousness and turn from their wicked ways. The Bible in Psalm 121:7says this concerning the righteous:
“The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”
With such promises, the children of God have no cause to fear. I pray that whatever will overwhelm your faith and cause you to panic, the Lord will not allow such to happen to you in Jesus’ Name. Do not be afraid; God is your refuge and your present help in the time of need.
Action Point: Check your life, whatever you are doing that is causing you to panic, do away with it.
Bible in a Year: Nehemiah 11:25-13:31
Wednesday 10 December 2014
Service to the Anointed - Wednesday December 10, 2014
Service to the Anointed - Wednesday December 10, 2014
Memorise: He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. - Matthew 10:41
Read: Matthew 10:40-42
10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
MESSAGE:
Elisha was devoted to serving the servant of God, Elijah. This devotion was one of the qualities that qualified him for uncommon greatness. The Bible stated that Elisha poured water on Elijah’s hand (2 Kings 3:11). With this and also as stated in our memory verse, it is clear that there are lots of blessings reserved for those who serve God’s prophets. You can serve a man of God without getting physical remuneration from him. However, when a man of God pronounces blessing on you saying
“God bless you”, he is not just paying you a compliment. A casual “God bless you” from a friend differs from that which a man of God pronounces. A “God bless you” from a man of God is loaded with prophetic blessings. Hence you must be ready to do what will qualify you for a divine benediction. Recently, I was in the United States and one of my sons in the Lord shared a testimony.
He testified thus:
“God surprised me during the General Overseer’s (G.O.) previous visit. Prior to the G.O.’s arrival, my pastor told me that he had chosen me to drive the G.O. around during his visit. I tried to explain to my pastor that it might not be easy for me to take up this assignment because I was preparing for a major examination, but my pastor insisted. I thought I could manage to combine driving the G.O. with preparing to write the crucial examination because my understanding was that the G.O. would spend just one day. To my surprise, the G.O. spent a whole week. When he was leaving he simply said, “God bless you”. To the glory of God, I passed my exams in flying colours and I got a new job and prospered tremendously.”
May God remember all your labour of love towards the ministers of God in Jesus’ Name.
Elisha was committed to the business of the kingdom. Therefore, when Elijah asked to know what he wanted, he had only one answer: a double portion of the power on Elijah (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha asked for what he would use for God’s work. The Bible in Matthew 6:33 says:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
God is looking for those who are concerned about His kingdom’s business. As from today, may the Lord grant you the mind to work for Him and to work with His anointed ministers.
Action Point: Think of how you can extend the frontiers of God’s kingdom on earth and start its execution.
Bible in a Year: Ezra 8:24-10:44
Memorise: He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. - Matthew 10:41
Read: Matthew 10:40-42
10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
10:42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
MESSAGE:
Elisha was devoted to serving the servant of God, Elijah. This devotion was one of the qualities that qualified him for uncommon greatness. The Bible stated that Elisha poured water on Elijah’s hand (2 Kings 3:11). With this and also as stated in our memory verse, it is clear that there are lots of blessings reserved for those who serve God’s prophets. You can serve a man of God without getting physical remuneration from him. However, when a man of God pronounces blessing on you saying
“God bless you”, he is not just paying you a compliment. A casual “God bless you” from a friend differs from that which a man of God pronounces. A “God bless you” from a man of God is loaded with prophetic blessings. Hence you must be ready to do what will qualify you for a divine benediction. Recently, I was in the United States and one of my sons in the Lord shared a testimony.
He testified thus:
“God surprised me during the General Overseer’s (G.O.) previous visit. Prior to the G.O.’s arrival, my pastor told me that he had chosen me to drive the G.O. around during his visit. I tried to explain to my pastor that it might not be easy for me to take up this assignment because I was preparing for a major examination, but my pastor insisted. I thought I could manage to combine driving the G.O. with preparing to write the crucial examination because my understanding was that the G.O. would spend just one day. To my surprise, the G.O. spent a whole week. When he was leaving he simply said, “God bless you”. To the glory of God, I passed my exams in flying colours and I got a new job and prospered tremendously.”
May God remember all your labour of love towards the ministers of God in Jesus’ Name.
Elisha was committed to the business of the kingdom. Therefore, when Elijah asked to know what he wanted, he had only one answer: a double portion of the power on Elijah (2 Kings 2:9). Elisha asked for what he would use for God’s work. The Bible in Matthew 6:33 says:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
God is looking for those who are concerned about His kingdom’s business. As from today, may the Lord grant you the mind to work for Him and to work with His anointed ministers.
Action Point: Think of how you can extend the frontiers of God’s kingdom on earth and start its execution.
Bible in a Year: Ezra 8:24-10:44
Friday 5 December 2014
Secrets of Abundance II - Friday December 5, 2014
Secrets of Abundance II - Friday December 5, 2014
Memorise: But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. - Luke 4:26
Read: Luke 4:25-26
4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
MESSAGE:
Working hard and praying hard are prerequisite to enjoying God’s abundance. Apart from these, another secret of abundance is consistent sowing. You must keep sowing if you want to experience abundant life. The first seed you sow may open the door to blessings, but it takes persistent sowing to keep the door of blessings open. Let us take a closer look at the story of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:10-16). What opened the door of blessing to her was the first cake she made for Elijah, but what kept the food flowing was the fact that everyday, she kept on making cakes for Elijah. Your initial act of giving can take you to a level of abundant blessing. However, what will lead you to the level of ultimate abundance is persistent giving.
The loss would have been unimaginable, if by the third day, this widow had stopped giving. This would have resulted in the drying up of her source of supply. Let us also learn a lesson from Solomon’s example. The first time he sacrificed unto God, he offered a thousand offerings. God prospered Him in no small measure through a mighty harvest that was unleashed on him. The next time he sacrificed unto God, he offered twenty two thousand oxen. 1 Kings 8:63 says:
“And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.”
Solomon kept on increasing in wealth because he kept on giving. At the end, he attained the level of ultimate financial breakthrough. He became so rich that nobody could attempt to count the amount of silver he had. For someone reading this devotional, you will become so rich that only higher denominations of money will matter to you. When your workers bring in the proceeds from your business, you will tell them to hand in the higher denominations and keep the lower denominations for themselves. Let’s ask ourselves this question: “What is the mystery behind the giving done by the widow of Zarephath?” It is an uncommon faith in God. It is this faith that made her to give her only means of sustenance. She gave her only food to Elijah because she needed to surrender the future into the hands of the God of Elijah. For these secrets of abundant blessing to work for you, you must first give your life to Jesus Christ. You must surrender your life to Him today if you have not done so already. Today can become your moment of supernatural breakthrough.
Prayer Point: Father, I hand over my life to you; take care of my future in the Name of Jesus.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 33
Memorise: But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. - Luke 4:26
Read: Luke 4:25-26
4:25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
MESSAGE:
Working hard and praying hard are prerequisite to enjoying God’s abundance. Apart from these, another secret of abundance is consistent sowing. You must keep sowing if you want to experience abundant life. The first seed you sow may open the door to blessings, but it takes persistent sowing to keep the door of blessings open. Let us take a closer look at the story of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:10-16). What opened the door of blessing to her was the first cake she made for Elijah, but what kept the food flowing was the fact that everyday, she kept on making cakes for Elijah. Your initial act of giving can take you to a level of abundant blessing. However, what will lead you to the level of ultimate abundance is persistent giving.
The loss would have been unimaginable, if by the third day, this widow had stopped giving. This would have resulted in the drying up of her source of supply. Let us also learn a lesson from Solomon’s example. The first time he sacrificed unto God, he offered a thousand offerings. God prospered Him in no small measure through a mighty harvest that was unleashed on him. The next time he sacrificed unto God, he offered twenty two thousand oxen. 1 Kings 8:63 says:
“And Solomon offered a sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, two and twenty thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep. So the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD.”
Solomon kept on increasing in wealth because he kept on giving. At the end, he attained the level of ultimate financial breakthrough. He became so rich that nobody could attempt to count the amount of silver he had. For someone reading this devotional, you will become so rich that only higher denominations of money will matter to you. When your workers bring in the proceeds from your business, you will tell them to hand in the higher denominations and keep the lower denominations for themselves. Let’s ask ourselves this question: “What is the mystery behind the giving done by the widow of Zarephath?” It is an uncommon faith in God. It is this faith that made her to give her only means of sustenance. She gave her only food to Elijah because she needed to surrender the future into the hands of the God of Elijah. For these secrets of abundant blessing to work for you, you must first give your life to Jesus Christ. You must surrender your life to Him today if you have not done so already. Today can become your moment of supernatural breakthrough.
Prayer Point: Father, I hand over my life to you; take care of my future in the Name of Jesus.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 33
Thursday 4 December 2014
Secrets of Abundance I - Thursday December 4, 2014
Secrets of Abundance I - Thursday December 4, 2014
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Read: Genesis 26:12-14
26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
26:13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
26:14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
MESSAGE:
You must be prepared to work hard if you want abundance. Nevertheless, it is quite a different thing to work hard, and another thing to experience abundance. Although God may grant you open doors to financial favour, it is your responsibility to work towards getting to the pinnacle of all-round abundance. To achieve this, you will be required to do a great deal of hard work.
Diligence in hard work is always rewarded. Farmers work hard to reap beautiful harvest. When farmers sow seeds, they begin to grow, but weeds also alongside the seeds sown. Therefore, besides nurturing the good seeds, you must also work hard to get rid of weeds. You are not only expected to work hard, but also to pray hard. Anyone who desires an encounter with the Almighty, which would yield the ultimate abundant blessing, must be ready to work and pray hard.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” - 1 Corinthians 3:6
Paul may plant and Apollos may water but it is God alone who gives the increase. You must learn to pray hard and call upon God to give you increase. Lazy people cannot experience all-round blessing.
Those who are not prepared to work and pray hard are not yet ready for any form of meaningful breakthrough. Remember to put God first when your harvest begins. The Bible commands that we must honour God with our first fruits. Some people harvest and allow the proceeds to waste away.
Until you learn to honour God with your substances, you will not be able to benefit even from the harvest you have laboured for. The Bible attributes one of the reasons for fruitless efforts to failure to put God first in our harvests (Haggai 1:4-6). Some people gather their harvests and put them in bags with holes. The problem of leaking bags emanates from failure to honour God by giving Him the first fruits of our harvest. If you do not give to God, you may end up wasting away the proceeds of your harvest. Those who harvest into bags with holes are those who refuse to put God first. Put God first in all your earnings as from today and you will experience abundance.
Action Point: Think of the ways you have been robbing God of His tithes and first fruits. Repent and perform restitution.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 31
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7
Read: Genesis 26:12-14
26:12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him.
26:13 And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:
26:14 For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him.
MESSAGE:
You must be prepared to work hard if you want abundance. Nevertheless, it is quite a different thing to work hard, and another thing to experience abundance. Although God may grant you open doors to financial favour, it is your responsibility to work towards getting to the pinnacle of all-round abundance. To achieve this, you will be required to do a great deal of hard work.
Diligence in hard work is always rewarded. Farmers work hard to reap beautiful harvest. When farmers sow seeds, they begin to grow, but weeds also alongside the seeds sown. Therefore, besides nurturing the good seeds, you must also work hard to get rid of weeds. You are not only expected to work hard, but also to pray hard. Anyone who desires an encounter with the Almighty, which would yield the ultimate abundant blessing, must be ready to work and pray hard.
“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” - 1 Corinthians 3:6
Paul may plant and Apollos may water but it is God alone who gives the increase. You must learn to pray hard and call upon God to give you increase. Lazy people cannot experience all-round blessing.
Those who are not prepared to work and pray hard are not yet ready for any form of meaningful breakthrough. Remember to put God first when your harvest begins. The Bible commands that we must honour God with our first fruits. Some people harvest and allow the proceeds to waste away.
Until you learn to honour God with your substances, you will not be able to benefit even from the harvest you have laboured for. The Bible attributes one of the reasons for fruitless efforts to failure to put God first in our harvests (Haggai 1:4-6). Some people gather their harvests and put them in bags with holes. The problem of leaking bags emanates from failure to honour God by giving Him the first fruits of our harvest. If you do not give to God, you may end up wasting away the proceeds of your harvest. Those who harvest into bags with holes are those who refuse to put God first. Put God first in all your earnings as from today and you will experience abundance.
Action Point: Think of the ways you have been robbing God of His tithes and first fruits. Repent and perform restitution.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 31
Wednesday 3 December 2014
Wait For Your Harvest II - Wednesday December 3, 2014
Wait For Your Harvest II - Wednesday December 3, 2014
Memorise: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. - James 1:4
Read: Hebrews 6:11-15
6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
MESSAGE:
I learnt a valuable lesson some years ago. When the crowd of participants at our monthly Holy Ghost service began to increase, I decided to select seven elders to help in the area of ministering to people.
I gave each of them neckties that I had used during previous ministrations. “Put on these neckties; they are already soaked with God’s anointing during my previous ministrations” I told them.
Whenever they wore those neckties and ministered, supernatural miracles always occurred. As signs and wonders happened in the area of ministration, something else happened in my own life. I was showered with gifts of neckties.
Each time my close acquaintances travelled, they came back with just one type of gift - neckties.
Wherever they travelled to, the only gifts they brought to me were neckties. Then I asked God, “Why are these people just giving me neckties? Can’t they come up with some other gifts beside neckties?” God gave me insight into what was happening. He said, “Son, if you sow ties, you will reap ties.” I quickly got the message and decided to start sowing shoes. I located pastors who wore my shoe size and I gave them a good number of my shoes, among which were some of my best shoes. I expected a harvest of new shoes in the first month following my act of giving, but there was no gift of shoes for me. When another month rolled by and there was still no gift of shoes for me, I went to God and said, “Daddy, you told me that if I sow, I would reap.” It was then the Lord taught me another lesson, He said, “Son, if you plant maize, you can harvest it within three months, but if you plant yam, you will wait a little longer”. The Almighty God said to me, “Shoes are of greater value than ties, the greater the quality of the seed sown, the more time you will have to spend in waiting for the harvest. You have planted shoes and you will have to wait a little longer; but the moment the harvest starts, there will be no stopping it”. Later, I was showered with shoes of all sizes and colours: big, small, white, green, black and all kinds of sophisticated shoes. When the harvest eventually came in full, I was pleasantly surprised. James 5:7 says,
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
If you have sown any seed, your harvest will soon come. Just wait a little while and your harvest will locate you in the Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, please let my harvest come speedily and help me not to be weary in well-doing.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 29:3-30:27
Memorise: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. - James 1:4
Read: Hebrews 6:11-15
6:11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
6:16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
MESSAGE:
I learnt a valuable lesson some years ago. When the crowd of participants at our monthly Holy Ghost service began to increase, I decided to select seven elders to help in the area of ministering to people.
I gave each of them neckties that I had used during previous ministrations. “Put on these neckties; they are already soaked with God’s anointing during my previous ministrations” I told them.
Whenever they wore those neckties and ministered, supernatural miracles always occurred. As signs and wonders happened in the area of ministration, something else happened in my own life. I was showered with gifts of neckties.
Each time my close acquaintances travelled, they came back with just one type of gift - neckties.
Wherever they travelled to, the only gifts they brought to me were neckties. Then I asked God, “Why are these people just giving me neckties? Can’t they come up with some other gifts beside neckties?” God gave me insight into what was happening. He said, “Son, if you sow ties, you will reap ties.” I quickly got the message and decided to start sowing shoes. I located pastors who wore my shoe size and I gave them a good number of my shoes, among which were some of my best shoes. I expected a harvest of new shoes in the first month following my act of giving, but there was no gift of shoes for me. When another month rolled by and there was still no gift of shoes for me, I went to God and said, “Daddy, you told me that if I sow, I would reap.” It was then the Lord taught me another lesson, He said, “Son, if you plant maize, you can harvest it within three months, but if you plant yam, you will wait a little longer”. The Almighty God said to me, “Shoes are of greater value than ties, the greater the quality of the seed sown, the more time you will have to spend in waiting for the harvest. You have planted shoes and you will have to wait a little longer; but the moment the harvest starts, there will be no stopping it”. Later, I was showered with shoes of all sizes and colours: big, small, white, green, black and all kinds of sophisticated shoes. When the harvest eventually came in full, I was pleasantly surprised. James 5:7 says,
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
If you have sown any seed, your harvest will soon come. Just wait a little while and your harvest will locate you in the Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, please let my harvest come speedily and help me not to be weary in well-doing.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 29:3-30:27
Tuesday 2 December 2014
Wait For Your Harvest I - 2/12/2014
Wait For Your Harvest I - 2/12/2014
Memorise: Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. - James 5:7
Read: Genesis 8:20-22
8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 26:1-29:2
MESSAGE:
There is a time span between seedtime and harvest time. The time between sowing and harvesting could be short or long depending on the type of seed sown. If the seed is significant, you may have to wait for some time before you reap the harvest. Farmers are never in a hurry.
They know that they must wait for the harvest if they desire a good yield. Some believers are of the opinion that one can sow in the morning and reap in the evening. It is quite possible, but it depends on what you want to harvest. Some crops can be harvested within three to six months, while others may require more than one year before the farmer can harvest them. There is no magic in farming as there are set procedures for planting and harvesting. When a farmer plants seeds, it dies and sprouts again; then within a specific period, it grows until it bears fruit. It is at this maturity stage that the famers begin to harvest. So, you have to wait for the time of harvest. As the Lord lives, the harvest will surely come if you sow on a good ground in Jesus’ Name. Children of God must learn to wait for their harvest to come. It is sad to note that some children of God are too much in a hurry to take their harvest. This is why they go into practices that are not Christ-like and in so doing they get their spiritual fingers burnt by the fire of lust and greed. The Bible in James 5:7 says:
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
Your harvest can take any form. It may be a promotion or recognition for hard work. While faithfully serving an organisation for instance, you must learn to wait for management to appreciate your sense of devotion to duty and not agitate for recognition. It will be tantamount to blowing your own trumpet if you do so. As a matter of fact, it may be that you are merely ambitious but you think you are putting in your best. It may shock you if your employer declares that your so-called best is not good enough for recognition! When I lived in the village, any farmer who hurriedly harvested his yam tubers ended up denying himself a bumper harvest, as he would have disturbed the yams from developing into large tubers. Such unripe yam tubers are not as delicious as those which reach the ripe age before harvest. I pray that the Almighty Father will give you the patience to wait for bountiful harvest from your sown seeds in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, give me adequate patience to wait for my day of glorification in Jesus’ Name.
Memorise: Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. - James 5:7
Read: Genesis 8:20-22
8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.
8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 26:1-29:2
MESSAGE:
There is a time span between seedtime and harvest time. The time between sowing and harvesting could be short or long depending on the type of seed sown. If the seed is significant, you may have to wait for some time before you reap the harvest. Farmers are never in a hurry.
They know that they must wait for the harvest if they desire a good yield. Some believers are of the opinion that one can sow in the morning and reap in the evening. It is quite possible, but it depends on what you want to harvest. Some crops can be harvested within three to six months, while others may require more than one year before the farmer can harvest them. There is no magic in farming as there are set procedures for planting and harvesting. When a farmer plants seeds, it dies and sprouts again; then within a specific period, it grows until it bears fruit. It is at this maturity stage that the famers begin to harvest. So, you have to wait for the time of harvest. As the Lord lives, the harvest will surely come if you sow on a good ground in Jesus’ Name. Children of God must learn to wait for their harvest to come. It is sad to note that some children of God are too much in a hurry to take their harvest. This is why they go into practices that are not Christ-like and in so doing they get their spiritual fingers burnt by the fire of lust and greed. The Bible in James 5:7 says:
“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
Your harvest can take any form. It may be a promotion or recognition for hard work. While faithfully serving an organisation for instance, you must learn to wait for management to appreciate your sense of devotion to duty and not agitate for recognition. It will be tantamount to blowing your own trumpet if you do so. As a matter of fact, it may be that you are merely ambitious but you think you are putting in your best. It may shock you if your employer declares that your so-called best is not good enough for recognition! When I lived in the village, any farmer who hurriedly harvested his yam tubers ended up denying himself a bumper harvest, as he would have disturbed the yams from developing into large tubers. Such unripe yam tubers are not as delicious as those which reach the ripe age before harvest. I pray that the Almighty Father will give you the patience to wait for bountiful harvest from your sown seeds in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, give me adequate patience to wait for my day of glorification in Jesus’ Name.
Monday 1 December 2014
Givers Never Lack- 1/12/2014
Givers Never Lack- 1/12/2014
Memorise: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. - Proverbs 11:24
Read: Luke 6:38
6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 23:16-25:28
MESSAGE:
If you are a good student of the Bible, you would have discovered that God specialises in performing special miracles when those who give sacrificially call upon Him. The story of the Shunammite woman teaches us vital lessons, one of which is that givers will always secure heavens’ attention.
When you meet God’s needs, He will also meet your needs supernaturally and promptly. The Shunammite woman took care of Elisha time and again. She demonstrated uncommon commitment to ensuring that the man of God - Elisha, was well catered for at all times. And so one day, the Spirit of God told Elisha to ask this woman what she needed. She said she needed nothing but the man of God discovered that she had no child and he prophesied that she would have a baby within nine months. God’s word through Elisha was fulfilled and the Shunammite woman became a mother within nine months (2 Kings 4:16-17).
Givers always experience unprecedented miracles. When you give sacrificially, God will make the impossible become possible in your life. There is a brother I met during one of my ministerial trips to Eastern Nigeria. The brother picked me up at the airport having taken up the responsibility of driving me everywhere I went while the programme lasted. When it was time to leave, I thought of a parting gift I could give in appreciation of the hospitality. So I gave him some money and said, “Brother, kindly give this small gift to your children”. His response shocked me. He shouted “Amen” continuously and prayerfully. I called the Pastor-in-charge of that Province aside to find out why the brother was so enthusiastic about the gift I offered his children. The pastor informed me that although the brother was so rich, he was childless. I told the pastor that God was going to surprise him with a miracle. When I visited the same city the following year, the rich brother was at the airport as usual to pick me up. On that particular occasion, he came with a surprise gift. With tears of joy streaming down his face, he declared, “This is a gift from my first son”. The rich brother who had been childless for a number of years became a proud father miraculously by offering to drive me in his car.
By believing the word of the Lord, the reproach of childlessness was rolled away from his life. You can begin to give sacrificially as from today and I tell you the Lord will bless you beyond your wildest dreams. I pray that your next offering will bring a gift that money cannot buy into your life in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Look around you, find someone who is in need and bless him or her with a surprise gift. You will experience the beauty of being a generous giver.
Memorise: There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. - Proverbs 11:24
Read: Luke 6:38
6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 23:16-25:28
MESSAGE:
If you are a good student of the Bible, you would have discovered that God specialises in performing special miracles when those who give sacrificially call upon Him. The story of the Shunammite woman teaches us vital lessons, one of which is that givers will always secure heavens’ attention.
When you meet God’s needs, He will also meet your needs supernaturally and promptly. The Shunammite woman took care of Elisha time and again. She demonstrated uncommon commitment to ensuring that the man of God - Elisha, was well catered for at all times. And so one day, the Spirit of God told Elisha to ask this woman what she needed. She said she needed nothing but the man of God discovered that she had no child and he prophesied that she would have a baby within nine months. God’s word through Elisha was fulfilled and the Shunammite woman became a mother within nine months (2 Kings 4:16-17).
Givers always experience unprecedented miracles. When you give sacrificially, God will make the impossible become possible in your life. There is a brother I met during one of my ministerial trips to Eastern Nigeria. The brother picked me up at the airport having taken up the responsibility of driving me everywhere I went while the programme lasted. When it was time to leave, I thought of a parting gift I could give in appreciation of the hospitality. So I gave him some money and said, “Brother, kindly give this small gift to your children”. His response shocked me. He shouted “Amen” continuously and prayerfully. I called the Pastor-in-charge of that Province aside to find out why the brother was so enthusiastic about the gift I offered his children. The pastor informed me that although the brother was so rich, he was childless. I told the pastor that God was going to surprise him with a miracle. When I visited the same city the following year, the rich brother was at the airport as usual to pick me up. On that particular occasion, he came with a surprise gift. With tears of joy streaming down his face, he declared, “This is a gift from my first son”. The rich brother who had been childless for a number of years became a proud father miraculously by offering to drive me in his car.
By believing the word of the Lord, the reproach of childlessness was rolled away from his life. You can begin to give sacrificially as from today and I tell you the Lord will bless you beyond your wildest dreams. I pray that your next offering will bring a gift that money cannot buy into your life in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Look around you, find someone who is in need and bless him or her with a surprise gift. You will experience the beauty of being a generous giver.
Sunday 30 November 2014
Anointing Destroys the Yoke - 30/11/2014
Anointing Destroys the Yoke - 30/11/2014
Memorise: And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah 10:27
Read: Psalm 26:1-6
1 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 20:24-23:15
MESSAGE:
Whenever it rains, water flows from the sky (top) to the ground (bottom). This same principle applies to the anointing. The anointing flows from the top (leaders) to the bottom (congregation). If your leader for instance is anointed, then the anointing will flow down to you. If you pray for your leader, you are praying for yourself. Rain brings comfort and refreshment. In like manner, the anointing destroys yokes – Isaiah 10:27 says:
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”
The anointing brings freedom, liberty, relief, refreshment, release from prison, healing etc (Isaiah 61:1). Rain brings a new start; the anointing does the same (Isaiah 61:2-3). The anointing brings beauty for ashes and joy for mourners. Rain is a sign of divine favour, so is the anointing in the life of the anointed. The anointing announces divine favour. God uses the anointing to show that a man has found favour with Him; this was the case with David in 1 Samuel 16:12-13.
Rain activates seeds sown; the anointing also activates whatever God has ordained. When God promises you something, the anointing activates its actualisation (2 Samuel 2:4).
Whatever yokes the anointing has destroyed cannot be resuscitated except the person involved goes back to sin, thereby opening the door to bigger yokes of the enemy. In John 5:14, Jesus told the healed man at the pool Bethesda to go and sin no more lest a worse thing comes on him. The anointing of God can flow without ceasing if you abide in God’s will. In Isaiah 35:10, the anointing of God on your head is called everlasting joy, this shows its ability to continuously flow without ceasing.
Prayer Point: Father, anoint my head with your fresh anointing that will be an answer to my generation.
Memorise: And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah 10:27
Read: Psalm 26:1-6
1 A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.
2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.
4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.
5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD:
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 20:24-23:15
MESSAGE:
Whenever it rains, water flows from the sky (top) to the ground (bottom). This same principle applies to the anointing. The anointing flows from the top (leaders) to the bottom (congregation). If your leader for instance is anointed, then the anointing will flow down to you. If you pray for your leader, you are praying for yourself. Rain brings comfort and refreshment. In like manner, the anointing destroys yokes – Isaiah 10:27 says:
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”
The anointing brings freedom, liberty, relief, refreshment, release from prison, healing etc (Isaiah 61:1). Rain brings a new start; the anointing does the same (Isaiah 61:2-3). The anointing brings beauty for ashes and joy for mourners. Rain is a sign of divine favour, so is the anointing in the life of the anointed. The anointing announces divine favour. God uses the anointing to show that a man has found favour with Him; this was the case with David in 1 Samuel 16:12-13.
Rain activates seeds sown; the anointing also activates whatever God has ordained. When God promises you something, the anointing activates its actualisation (2 Samuel 2:4).
Whatever yokes the anointing has destroyed cannot be resuscitated except the person involved goes back to sin, thereby opening the door to bigger yokes of the enemy. In John 5:14, Jesus told the healed man at the pool Bethesda to go and sin no more lest a worse thing comes on him. The anointing of God can flow without ceasing if you abide in God’s will. In Isaiah 35:10, the anointing of God on your head is called everlasting joy, this shows its ability to continuously flow without ceasing.
Prayer Point: Father, anoint my head with your fresh anointing that will be an answer to my generation.
Saturday 29 November 2014
Cast Your Burden on Christ - 29/11/2014
Cast Your Burden on Christ - 29/11/2014
Memorise: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. - Psalm 55:22
Read: 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
MESSAGE:
What a marvellous thing to know that I don’t need to bear my burden by myself anymore. We have an express and authoritative assurance that God carries our loads of burden. This means that I need not get worried over anything anymore. In fact, His word in Psalm 55:22 is not a mere admonition, it is a command. In it He says:
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
God is always willing to help men, but men do not always avail themselves of God’s unfailing ability to help like no other can. Rather, they prefer to bear their burdens all by themselves; thus, many get crushed under their burden. For instance, man cannot by himself get free from the burden laid on him by the devil. This is why Jesus came to undo the burden of sin for man.
The burden of sin is the greatest of all burdens. No one should think that mere religious observance can set him free from this burden, no it can’t!
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” - Isaiah 10: 27
Beloved, what is that burden of sickness, unpaid rent, mortgages, debt or wayward child, let the Lord know that you are releasing the burden to Him now and see what He will do. The Lord sent the same word as the scripture above through Peter in 1 Peter 5:7. This time, He says that we should cast all our care upon Him. Note that He says “all”. All means everything without any left. The trouble is that many of His children do not think God really means what He said. God is not frivolous like men.
Many children of God, rather than bring their burdens to God, they like rushing to fellow human beings who themselves need assistance. A woman, who for 12 years had been bleeding without any remedy, spent all her living seeking help from men. They were merely living off her; they could not lift this terrible burden off her life. In desperation, she brought this burden to Jesus as her last resort.
Immediately, her fountain of blood dried instantly (Mark 5:25-29). Do as this woman did, come to Jesus with your burden today, but only let it be in faith.
Action Point: Father I am grateful for commanding me to cast my burden upon you. Now earnestly tell him the specific burdens of your life you want Him to take away.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 18:1-20:23
Memorise: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. - Psalm 55:22
Read: 1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
MESSAGE:
What a marvellous thing to know that I don’t need to bear my burden by myself anymore. We have an express and authoritative assurance that God carries our loads of burden. This means that I need not get worried over anything anymore. In fact, His word in Psalm 55:22 is not a mere admonition, it is a command. In it He says:
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
God is always willing to help men, but men do not always avail themselves of God’s unfailing ability to help like no other can. Rather, they prefer to bear their burdens all by themselves; thus, many get crushed under their burden. For instance, man cannot by himself get free from the burden laid on him by the devil. This is why Jesus came to undo the burden of sin for man.
The burden of sin is the greatest of all burdens. No one should think that mere religious observance can set him free from this burden, no it can’t!
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” - Isaiah 10: 27
Beloved, what is that burden of sickness, unpaid rent, mortgages, debt or wayward child, let the Lord know that you are releasing the burden to Him now and see what He will do. The Lord sent the same word as the scripture above through Peter in 1 Peter 5:7. This time, He says that we should cast all our care upon Him. Note that He says “all”. All means everything without any left. The trouble is that many of His children do not think God really means what He said. God is not frivolous like men.
Many children of God, rather than bring their burdens to God, they like rushing to fellow human beings who themselves need assistance. A woman, who for 12 years had been bleeding without any remedy, spent all her living seeking help from men. They were merely living off her; they could not lift this terrible burden off her life. In desperation, she brought this burden to Jesus as her last resort.
Immediately, her fountain of blood dried instantly (Mark 5:25-29). Do as this woman did, come to Jesus with your burden today, but only let it be in faith.
Action Point: Father I am grateful for commanding me to cast my burden upon you. Now earnestly tell him the specific burdens of your life you want Him to take away.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 18:1-20:23
Friday 28 November 2014
Victorious in Jesus 28/11/2014
Victorious in Jesus 28/11/2014
Memorise: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. - Isaiah 54:17
Read: Deuteronomy 30:19-20
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 14-17
MESSAGE:
Some of life’s experiences are contrasting pairs. There is the good and the bad, success and failure, progress and retardation, joy and sorrow, peace and trouble, the list goes on. It is my prayer that your experiences in life will not consist of the negative element of the various contrasting pairs in Jesus’ Name. Nevertheless, much as no sane person will wish for himself the negative aspects of life, there is no single person that will not face a challenge of life at one point or the other. Life’s challenges vary in nature and magnitude. There are challenges that come as a result of efforts towards achieving greatness, these are necessary in order to attain greater heights. Anyone facing such should be prepared to tackle them with endurance and the assistance of God.
There are however some other forms of life’s challenges which are devastating and are uninvited.
These are usually designed by the enemy - the devil and by those who allow him to use them. Oh, how many promising lives have been prematurely terminated by these evil forces! How many hopes of a greater tomorrow have been dashed by the activities of these evil entities! Some potential professors, geniuses and business moguls are scavenging on the dunghill because their brains have been remotely reprogrammed. May you never fall victim of this network of evil in Jesus’ Name. In case you are already a victim in one way or the other, as you turn your heart to Jesus without reservation, I decree that your prison doors be opened now in Jesus’ Name.
Living in victory and being on top of every situation in peace and confidence is guaranteed only if you love God, cleave to Him and obey His voice, Deuteronomy 30:20 says:
“That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Love God above anyone and anything else, be obedient completely to Him and get yourself hooked on Him and not on any “pleasure” giving habit or person. Note that this passage says God is your life and your length of days. This is awesome, it means that whoever attempts to harm you is done for; hence you will fulfil the number of your days and your destiny also.
Action Point: Annul every counsel of the adversary against you and your loved ones in Jesus’ Name.
Memorise: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. - Isaiah 54:17
Read: Deuteronomy 30:19-20
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 14-17
MESSAGE:
Some of life’s experiences are contrasting pairs. There is the good and the bad, success and failure, progress and retardation, joy and sorrow, peace and trouble, the list goes on. It is my prayer that your experiences in life will not consist of the negative element of the various contrasting pairs in Jesus’ Name. Nevertheless, much as no sane person will wish for himself the negative aspects of life, there is no single person that will not face a challenge of life at one point or the other. Life’s challenges vary in nature and magnitude. There are challenges that come as a result of efforts towards achieving greatness, these are necessary in order to attain greater heights. Anyone facing such should be prepared to tackle them with endurance and the assistance of God.
There are however some other forms of life’s challenges which are devastating and are uninvited.
These are usually designed by the enemy - the devil and by those who allow him to use them. Oh, how many promising lives have been prematurely terminated by these evil forces! How many hopes of a greater tomorrow have been dashed by the activities of these evil entities! Some potential professors, geniuses and business moguls are scavenging on the dunghill because their brains have been remotely reprogrammed. May you never fall victim of this network of evil in Jesus’ Name. In case you are already a victim in one way or the other, as you turn your heart to Jesus without reservation, I decree that your prison doors be opened now in Jesus’ Name.
Living in victory and being on top of every situation in peace and confidence is guaranteed only if you love God, cleave to Him and obey His voice, Deuteronomy 30:20 says:
“That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Love God above anyone and anything else, be obedient completely to Him and get yourself hooked on Him and not on any “pleasure” giving habit or person. Note that this passage says God is your life and your length of days. This is awesome, it means that whoever attempts to harm you is done for; hence you will fulfil the number of your days and your destiny also.
Action Point: Annul every counsel of the adversary against you and your loved ones in Jesus’ Name.
Thursday 27 November 2014
World Changers - 27/11/2014
World Changers - 27/11/2014
Memorise: And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; - Acts 17:6
Read: Acts 8:5-12
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 10-13
MESSAGE:
Jesus left a group of 11 apostles behind when He ascended to heaven. He left them with a purpose and a mission to the world. He left them in the world, not to get absorbed or influenced by it, but to change it. Did they succeed? They very well did. Not long after Jesus had gone, in far away Thessalonica, the people exclaimed that the Christian brethren had “turned the world upside down”.
This was an acknowledgement of the fact that they had brought change to the world (Acts 17:6).
For us in this generation, we should realise that the generation that the world cannot change is the generation that will change the world. If the believers of old were flowing with the Satan influenced current of their time, they would not have made any impact and they would not have passed down the torch of the gospel effectively through successive subsequent generations.
To change the world, you need to understand the current situation of the world, its functions and the active players involved. You cannot change a system you know nothing about. Some of us don’t know the current trends in the world around us. If you truly see yourself as being on a mission for God on earth, you cannot afford not to care about what is going on around you.
Even our Lord Jesus Christ was aware that a tower fell on some people in Siloam and was able to appropriately reply those who asked Him questions regarding the incident (Luke 13:4). Next, you need to map out your strategy. Through careful planning, strategise for the desired change you want to introduce, considering the resources at your disposal in Christ and who is behind your vision (Luke 14:28). Having done all these, “stick to your guns” in Christ. Don’t be lured away from your objective, don’t succumb to intimidations or blackmail and don’t be distracted (Philippians 3:13-14).
Action Point: How much are you contributing towards changing the world by witnessing Jesus Christ? Be involved!
Memorise: And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; - Acts 17:6
Read: Acts 8:5-12
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:
10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.
11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.
12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 10-13
MESSAGE:
Jesus left a group of 11 apostles behind when He ascended to heaven. He left them with a purpose and a mission to the world. He left them in the world, not to get absorbed or influenced by it, but to change it. Did they succeed? They very well did. Not long after Jesus had gone, in far away Thessalonica, the people exclaimed that the Christian brethren had “turned the world upside down”.
This was an acknowledgement of the fact that they had brought change to the world (Acts 17:6).
For us in this generation, we should realise that the generation that the world cannot change is the generation that will change the world. If the believers of old were flowing with the Satan influenced current of their time, they would not have made any impact and they would not have passed down the torch of the gospel effectively through successive subsequent generations.
To change the world, you need to understand the current situation of the world, its functions and the active players involved. You cannot change a system you know nothing about. Some of us don’t know the current trends in the world around us. If you truly see yourself as being on a mission for God on earth, you cannot afford not to care about what is going on around you.
Even our Lord Jesus Christ was aware that a tower fell on some people in Siloam and was able to appropriately reply those who asked Him questions regarding the incident (Luke 13:4). Next, you need to map out your strategy. Through careful planning, strategise for the desired change you want to introduce, considering the resources at your disposal in Christ and who is behind your vision (Luke 14:28). Having done all these, “stick to your guns” in Christ. Don’t be lured away from your objective, don’t succumb to intimidations or blackmail and don’t be distracted (Philippians 3:13-14).
Action Point: How much are you contributing towards changing the world by witnessing Jesus Christ? Be involved!
Wednesday 26 November 2014
The All-Knowing God - 26/11/2014
The All-Knowing God - 26/11/2014
Memorise: O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. - Psalm 139:1
Read: Psalm 139:1-6
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 7:4-9:31
MESSAGE:
God is the only one whose knowledge covers both actual and possible happenings. He knows everything about things that are, and He has the knowledge of all things that could have been.
Concerning you, He knows everything, down to the very thought of your heart. Even the things you will think of in future, He knows them (Psalm 139: 1-2). The devil’s knowledge is not in any way close to the level of God’s knowledge at all. He does not know the thought of your heart unless you reveal it one way or the other. Don’t ever make the mistake of equating Satan’s level of knowledge with that of God. Although Satan makes the most of his limited knowledge in advancing the interest of his kingdom, God is able to turn his wisdom and the wisdom of all your enemies into foolishness.
This was demonstrated in the case of Moses, who was born to deliver Israel from their captivity in Egypt.
Several years earlier in Genesis 15:13-14, when God was speaking to Abraham that his descendants would be in servitude for four hundred (400) years in a strange land, Satan heard it. At the expiration of the four hundred (400) years, Satan knew that a saviour would be born for the deliverance of God’s people. So he put machinery in place to eliminate this saviour in order to stall the liberation of God’s people. One element of his grand plan was the enthronement of a Pharaoh who would not acknowledge Joseph or what he had done for Egypt. This Pharaoh was therefore hostile to God’s people. Satan used him to decree the killing of all Hebrew male children. In spite of this, Moses the liberator was raised under his very nose, in his palace and with his resources. If Satan knew everything, Moses would not have survived, he would have exposed him. God is able to raise you up in the midst of your enemies. Indeed, the Lord will blindfold all those seeking after your life and they will become your greatest asset, helpers, providers and stepping stones to greater heights in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Worship the most High God for His exclusive attribute of being the all knowing and for being able to bring His counsel to pass in your life, irrespective of all that the enemies may plan.
Memorise: O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. - Psalm 139:1
Read: Psalm 139:1-6
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 7:4-9:31
MESSAGE:
God is the only one whose knowledge covers both actual and possible happenings. He knows everything about things that are, and He has the knowledge of all things that could have been.
Concerning you, He knows everything, down to the very thought of your heart. Even the things you will think of in future, He knows them (Psalm 139: 1-2). The devil’s knowledge is not in any way close to the level of God’s knowledge at all. He does not know the thought of your heart unless you reveal it one way or the other. Don’t ever make the mistake of equating Satan’s level of knowledge with that of God. Although Satan makes the most of his limited knowledge in advancing the interest of his kingdom, God is able to turn his wisdom and the wisdom of all your enemies into foolishness.
This was demonstrated in the case of Moses, who was born to deliver Israel from their captivity in Egypt.
Several years earlier in Genesis 15:13-14, when God was speaking to Abraham that his descendants would be in servitude for four hundred (400) years in a strange land, Satan heard it. At the expiration of the four hundred (400) years, Satan knew that a saviour would be born for the deliverance of God’s people. So he put machinery in place to eliminate this saviour in order to stall the liberation of God’s people. One element of his grand plan was the enthronement of a Pharaoh who would not acknowledge Joseph or what he had done for Egypt. This Pharaoh was therefore hostile to God’s people. Satan used him to decree the killing of all Hebrew male children. In spite of this, Moses the liberator was raised under his very nose, in his palace and with his resources. If Satan knew everything, Moses would not have survived, he would have exposed him. God is able to raise you up in the midst of your enemies. Indeed, the Lord will blindfold all those seeking after your life and they will become your greatest asset, helpers, providers and stepping stones to greater heights in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Worship the most High God for His exclusive attribute of being the all knowing and for being able to bring His counsel to pass in your life, irrespective of all that the enemies may plan.
Tuesday 25 November 2014
Divine Compassion -25/11/2014
Divine Compassion -25/11/2014
Memorise: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. - Luke 7:13
Read: Luke 7:12-15
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:3
MESSAGE:
At many times, the compassion that we as human beings show towards the plight of others cannot go beyond sympathising with them. This is especially so in the face of serious and intimidating needs, pains or sorrowful incidents. We plead with others, speak words of encouragement and consolation, and of course we pray with them. This is understandable, but why is it so? It is so because we are humans and not God, creatures and not the Creator. With God however, it is a different situation.
God’s compassion always leads to a definite action that brings about a change in the situation and experience of the one on whom He shows compassion. Someone actually described God’s compassion as mercy in action. Divine action always accompanies divine compassion, to the extent that the most hopeless situation can be brought back to life again, just like it happened in the case of the dead body of Lazarus, which had been in the grave for four (4) days, but was brought back to life again (John 11). What is that situation in your life that is considered hopeless and for which you are tired of human limited compassionate expressions. In the Name of Jesus, your case will receive the attention of God’s compassion this season and shall be transformed.
Consider the case of the widow in our Bible text. Humanly speaking, her case of tragedy had gotten to a point of no return by reason of the demise of her only source of consolation, following the death of her husband (i.e. her only son). Indeed, she received a great outpouring of limited human compassion, which could not go beyond weeping and wailing along with her, and accompanying her with the remains of her son to his grave. Just then, a drastic turn to her situation occurred because the divine compassion of God in Jesus Christ met her. I say to you in that trouble of yours, God’s compassion is engaging you for a complete turn-around now in Jesus’ Name. The Bible records in Luke 7:13-15 that:
“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.“
Hallelujah! God will have compassion on you and you will have testimonies in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Pick an issue confronting you or your family, ask that the compassion of God be made manifest in that situation in Jesus’ Name.
Memorise: And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. - Luke 7:13
Read: Luke 7:12-15
12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.
15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:3
MESSAGE:
At many times, the compassion that we as human beings show towards the plight of others cannot go beyond sympathising with them. This is especially so in the face of serious and intimidating needs, pains or sorrowful incidents. We plead with others, speak words of encouragement and consolation, and of course we pray with them. This is understandable, but why is it so? It is so because we are humans and not God, creatures and not the Creator. With God however, it is a different situation.
God’s compassion always leads to a definite action that brings about a change in the situation and experience of the one on whom He shows compassion. Someone actually described God’s compassion as mercy in action. Divine action always accompanies divine compassion, to the extent that the most hopeless situation can be brought back to life again, just like it happened in the case of the dead body of Lazarus, which had been in the grave for four (4) days, but was brought back to life again (John 11). What is that situation in your life that is considered hopeless and for which you are tired of human limited compassionate expressions. In the Name of Jesus, your case will receive the attention of God’s compassion this season and shall be transformed.
Consider the case of the widow in our Bible text. Humanly speaking, her case of tragedy had gotten to a point of no return by reason of the demise of her only source of consolation, following the death of her husband (i.e. her only son). Indeed, she received a great outpouring of limited human compassion, which could not go beyond weeping and wailing along with her, and accompanying her with the remains of her son to his grave. Just then, a drastic turn to her situation occurred because the divine compassion of God in Jesus Christ met her. I say to you in that trouble of yours, God’s compassion is engaging you for a complete turn-around now in Jesus’ Name. The Bible records in Luke 7:13-15 that:
“And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.“
Hallelujah! God will have compassion on you and you will have testimonies in Jesus’ Name.
Action Point: Pick an issue confronting you or your family, ask that the compassion of God be made manifest in that situation in Jesus’ Name.
Monday 24 November 2014
When Gentleness is Misapplied - 24/11/2014
When Gentleness is Misapplied - 24/11/2014
Memorise: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. - Luke 16:16
Read: Matthew 11:11-12
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 1:1-5:1
MESSAGE:
Gentleness and meekness are fruit of the Spirit which must be found in children of God.
However, some children of God have misunderstood gentleness as demanded by scripture to mean tolerating everything, including the enemies that they should get tough with. The Bible says that right from the time John the Baptist appeared to preach the kingdom of God, obtaining the kingdom of God has required violence. This is so because, just as God has made provision for us in Christ to enter into the kingdom, there is an opposing kingdom of darkness that want to do everything it can to prevent us from accessing the kingdom of God and its benefits. Hence, you have to be violent with the enemy. You are not meant to go softly with Satan and his emissaries, no! The scripture gives us a clearer picture of this in Luke 16:16, which says:
“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
Pressing into a place implies using force, the force of God. This implies going violent against every opposition. This is why you must be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-13) so that the enemy would not gain the upper hand and press you out of God’s good plan and provision for your life.
Satan, demons and all that they stand for must be treated violently. Satan is to be resisted (James 4:7) and demons must be cast out (Mark 16:17). Hence, all their manifestations in the form of bondages, sicknesses, diseases, sorrows, death etc, are to be stopped. Besides, we are not to take it lightly with the flesh at all, the flesh is an ally of the devil and it does not want to please God but itself. Therefore, no pampering of the flesh; we are to deny the flesh its cravings and indulgencies. Can you see why you must be strong in your spirit man so that you can subject the flesh to the will of God? What about the world system of evil? We must not allow it to draw us into its embrace. A child of God must know when and how to bluntly say No to an invitation to sin irrespective of who is involved, even without blinking an eye, like the three Hebrew boys before that great king, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:16-17).
Prayer Point: Father, help me never to tolerate nonsense from the devil and his cohorts, but to always deal with them as you commanded in Jesus’ Name.
Memorise: The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. - Luke 16:16
Read: Matthew 11:11-12
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Bible in a Year: 2 Chronicles 1:1-5:1
MESSAGE:
Gentleness and meekness are fruit of the Spirit which must be found in children of God.
However, some children of God have misunderstood gentleness as demanded by scripture to mean tolerating everything, including the enemies that they should get tough with. The Bible says that right from the time John the Baptist appeared to preach the kingdom of God, obtaining the kingdom of God has required violence. This is so because, just as God has made provision for us in Christ to enter into the kingdom, there is an opposing kingdom of darkness that want to do everything it can to prevent us from accessing the kingdom of God and its benefits. Hence, you have to be violent with the enemy. You are not meant to go softly with Satan and his emissaries, no! The scripture gives us a clearer picture of this in Luke 16:16, which says:
“The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.”
Pressing into a place implies using force, the force of God. This implies going violent against every opposition. This is why you must be strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10-13) so that the enemy would not gain the upper hand and press you out of God’s good plan and provision for your life.
Satan, demons and all that they stand for must be treated violently. Satan is to be resisted (James 4:7) and demons must be cast out (Mark 16:17). Hence, all their manifestations in the form of bondages, sicknesses, diseases, sorrows, death etc, are to be stopped. Besides, we are not to take it lightly with the flesh at all, the flesh is an ally of the devil and it does not want to please God but itself. Therefore, no pampering of the flesh; we are to deny the flesh its cravings and indulgencies. Can you see why you must be strong in your spirit man so that you can subject the flesh to the will of God? What about the world system of evil? We must not allow it to draw us into its embrace. A child of God must know when and how to bluntly say No to an invitation to sin irrespective of who is involved, even without blinking an eye, like the three Hebrew boys before that great king, Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:16-17).
Prayer Point: Father, help me never to tolerate nonsense from the devil and his cohorts, but to always deal with them as you commanded in Jesus’ Name.
Sunday 23 November 2014
Stay Focused - 23/11/2014
Stay Focused - 23/11/2014
Memorise: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. - Ephesians 5:1-2
Read: Ephesians 5:1-8
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 28-29
MESSAGE:
God’s ways are clearly not the ways of men. What men hold dear and crave after are usually not what matters to God. We human beings like to blow our own trumpets. We like to be addressed by big titles and we want the office we hold to be identified with us wherever we go. These are not important things before God; as a matter of fact, they are the expressions of self which if allowed to thrive by a child of God, will lead to carnality. Romans 8:7 says, a carnal mind cannot please God.
In John 13:33, Jesus called His disciples “Little children”. Among them were some men like Peter, who was physically older than Him. Much later still, after His resurrection in John 21:5, He called out to them on the sea: “Children, have ye any meat?” They answered him, “No”; this was after they had been with Him for years. They never out grew being called children, and none of them protested to Him for being called a child.
Some years ago, at the conclusion of a seminar at the University of Ibadan (south-west Nigeria), I had asked the students if they were ready to become like a child in order to receive their miracles, then the Lord asked me the same question. He asked me if I was not already considering myself an adult.
This really shocked me. It made me to give myself a serious self-examination. I realised that I had allowed my new status as the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God to come between me and God. Prior to my becoming the General Overseer, with a two-minute prayer, I got results, but after I became the General Overseer, it took efforts of binding and loosing, praying in tongues and resisting the devil for me to obtain personal miracles. In light of this, I started to crave seriously to become like a baby once again. It is an easy thing to lose focus if one is not watchful. Humility is the key thing here.
Many people have missed it on this point today because they love to flaunt their titles, positions and achievements. When they talk, you think they are the ones behind their achievements. When addressed as brother, they will immediately correct you, “I am Pastor, Apostle and Doctor so and so”.
Yet, at many times, they themselves address the great apostles of old as Paul or Peter etc, without using any prefix.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to always see myself as a child before you.
Memorise: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. - Ephesians 5:1-2
Read: Ephesians 5:1-8
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 28-29
MESSAGE:
God’s ways are clearly not the ways of men. What men hold dear and crave after are usually not what matters to God. We human beings like to blow our own trumpets. We like to be addressed by big titles and we want the office we hold to be identified with us wherever we go. These are not important things before God; as a matter of fact, they are the expressions of self which if allowed to thrive by a child of God, will lead to carnality. Romans 8:7 says, a carnal mind cannot please God.
In John 13:33, Jesus called His disciples “Little children”. Among them were some men like Peter, who was physically older than Him. Much later still, after His resurrection in John 21:5, He called out to them on the sea: “Children, have ye any meat?” They answered him, “No”; this was after they had been with Him for years. They never out grew being called children, and none of them protested to Him for being called a child.
Some years ago, at the conclusion of a seminar at the University of Ibadan (south-west Nigeria), I had asked the students if they were ready to become like a child in order to receive their miracles, then the Lord asked me the same question. He asked me if I was not already considering myself an adult.
This really shocked me. It made me to give myself a serious self-examination. I realised that I had allowed my new status as the General Overseer of The Redeemed Christian Church of God to come between me and God. Prior to my becoming the General Overseer, with a two-minute prayer, I got results, but after I became the General Overseer, it took efforts of binding and loosing, praying in tongues and resisting the devil for me to obtain personal miracles. In light of this, I started to crave seriously to become like a baby once again. It is an easy thing to lose focus if one is not watchful. Humility is the key thing here.
Many people have missed it on this point today because they love to flaunt their titles, positions and achievements. When they talk, you think they are the ones behind their achievements. When addressed as brother, they will immediately correct you, “I am Pastor, Apostle and Doctor so and so”.
Yet, at many times, they themselves address the great apostles of old as Paul or Peter etc, without using any prefix.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to always see myself as a child before you.
Saturday 22 November 2014
Fellowship – How vital!- 22/11/2014
Fellowship – How vital!- 22/11/2014
Memorise: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. - 1 John 1:3
Read: Mark 3:13-15
13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
MESSAGE:
God desires to fellowship with His people on earth, despite the fact that in Heaven, there are four (4) living creatures and twenty four (24) elders round about His throne, with thousand of thousands of angels worshipping before Him (Revelation 4:2-6, 5:11). God has a special place for us in His heart in spite of all that is going on in heaven. May you not fall short of giving satisfaction to God in the area of fellowshipping with Him in Jesus’ Name.
The first motive of Jesus for calling the twelve disciples was fellowship (Mark 3:14). Also, rooted in the call He made to us all in Matthew 11:28-29, is the desire for fellowship. He said:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
This is a call to keep company with the Lord, a call to communion. Learning of Him occurs in His presence. His presence is a point of directing your attention to Him without distraction, in His presence, your whole being is engaged with Him. As you can see from this call, it is from the place of His presence that your derive fulfilment. Joy, peace and victory all come from the presence of the Lord.
Some children of God are first and foremost full of activities. Coming into God’s presence is secondary to them; it is a “by-the-way” thing. No, this is not supposed to be so. Note the order of events in today’s Bible text: having settled on the mountain, our Lord Jesus called the twelve disciples up to Himself so that they should be with Him – communion, and thereafter, that He might send them out to preach – Service. Our service will have no meaning if He doesn’t have access to our souls in fellowship. It would not be pleasing to Him if we are not carrying His presence to the point of service delivery. We fellowship with Him when we spend time alone with Him and when we come together in worship, praise, prayers, studying and learning of His word (1 John 1:3). However, some children of God don’t have a personal quality time alone with God, such are depriving themselves of so much.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to always love your presence. Let my heart always seek you in Jesus’ Name.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 25-27
Memorise: That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. - 1 John 1:3
Read: Mark 3:13-15
13 And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him.
14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,
15 And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:
MESSAGE:
God desires to fellowship with His people on earth, despite the fact that in Heaven, there are four (4) living creatures and twenty four (24) elders round about His throne, with thousand of thousands of angels worshipping before Him (Revelation 4:2-6, 5:11). God has a special place for us in His heart in spite of all that is going on in heaven. May you not fall short of giving satisfaction to God in the area of fellowshipping with Him in Jesus’ Name.
The first motive of Jesus for calling the twelve disciples was fellowship (Mark 3:14). Also, rooted in the call He made to us all in Matthew 11:28-29, is the desire for fellowship. He said:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
This is a call to keep company with the Lord, a call to communion. Learning of Him occurs in His presence. His presence is a point of directing your attention to Him without distraction, in His presence, your whole being is engaged with Him. As you can see from this call, it is from the place of His presence that your derive fulfilment. Joy, peace and victory all come from the presence of the Lord.
Some children of God are first and foremost full of activities. Coming into God’s presence is secondary to them; it is a “by-the-way” thing. No, this is not supposed to be so. Note the order of events in today’s Bible text: having settled on the mountain, our Lord Jesus called the twelve disciples up to Himself so that they should be with Him – communion, and thereafter, that He might send them out to preach – Service. Our service will have no meaning if He doesn’t have access to our souls in fellowship. It would not be pleasing to Him if we are not carrying His presence to the point of service delivery. We fellowship with Him when we spend time alone with Him and when we come together in worship, praise, prayers, studying and learning of His word (1 John 1:3). However, some children of God don’t have a personal quality time alone with God, such are depriving themselves of so much.
Prayer Point: Father, please help me to always love your presence. Let my heart always seek you in Jesus’ Name.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 25-27
Friday 21 November 2014
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 22:2-24:31
You Can Stand Out II - 21/11/2014
Memorise: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. - Luke 19:5
Read: Luke 5:17-20
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 22:2-24:31
MESSAGE:
Due to the current challenges confronting the life of some believers, they wonder in their hearts if they can ever make it. They wonder if life will just pass them by. They wonder if they can ever stand out among their contemporaries. If you belong to this class, I have good news for you: yes you can become outstanding among others in spite of your current situation. There were many sons of the prophets in the days of Elisha, but only he stood out, so much so that the king of the land acknowledged him, calling him my father. To this end, as previously learnt yesterday, you need to have a vision of what you want to become in order to stand out. You need to choose to change because your choice in life determines your chance. You must be prepared for new ideas. You must maintain good relationships, as the greatest poverty is to not have good friends. Also, you must be informed on current happenings around you.
Besides all these, you must be teachable. From our scripture reading, the man sick of the palsy and his friends, came to the teaching service of Jesus; this shows that these men were teachable. When you stop learning, you stop growing and then you begin to degenerate. It is either one is moving forward or else one is drawing back. You will ever move forward in Jesus’ Name. You cannot be reached if you are not teachable. So many of God’s people are just too full of themselves, they are self-conceited and are impervious to corrections. This will not help you become a success; it is the deceit of the devil to rob you of a good future.
Furthermore, the sick man and his friends were determined. Determination is the route to distinction and excellence. With their determination, they broke every barrier that was on their way. You also must be a barrier breaker. Sternly confront every obstacle on your way and pull them down by the power of God in your life. This power is generated through a life of holiness and prayers. Finally, the friends of the sick man positioned him before the Lord. You must position yourself also before the Lord for your miracles, just like Zacchaeus did to gain the attention of Jesus (Luke 19:3-5).
Prayer Point: Father, every barrier standing against my getting to the top, let them be demolished in Jesus’ Name. Lord, help me to stand out among my peers.
Memorise: And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. - Luke 19:5
Read: Luke 5:17-20
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 22:2-24:31
MESSAGE:
Due to the current challenges confronting the life of some believers, they wonder in their hearts if they can ever make it. They wonder if life will just pass them by. They wonder if they can ever stand out among their contemporaries. If you belong to this class, I have good news for you: yes you can become outstanding among others in spite of your current situation. There were many sons of the prophets in the days of Elisha, but only he stood out, so much so that the king of the land acknowledged him, calling him my father. To this end, as previously learnt yesterday, you need to have a vision of what you want to become in order to stand out. You need to choose to change because your choice in life determines your chance. You must be prepared for new ideas. You must maintain good relationships, as the greatest poverty is to not have good friends. Also, you must be informed on current happenings around you.
Besides all these, you must be teachable. From our scripture reading, the man sick of the palsy and his friends, came to the teaching service of Jesus; this shows that these men were teachable. When you stop learning, you stop growing and then you begin to degenerate. It is either one is moving forward or else one is drawing back. You will ever move forward in Jesus’ Name. You cannot be reached if you are not teachable. So many of God’s people are just too full of themselves, they are self-conceited and are impervious to corrections. This will not help you become a success; it is the deceit of the devil to rob you of a good future.
Furthermore, the sick man and his friends were determined. Determination is the route to distinction and excellence. With their determination, they broke every barrier that was on their way. You also must be a barrier breaker. Sternly confront every obstacle on your way and pull them down by the power of God in your life. This power is generated through a life of holiness and prayers. Finally, the friends of the sick man positioned him before the Lord. You must position yourself also before the Lord for your miracles, just like Zacchaeus did to gain the attention of Jesus (Luke 19:3-5).
Prayer Point: Father, every barrier standing against my getting to the top, let them be demolished in Jesus’ Name. Lord, help me to stand out among my peers.
Thursday 20 November 2014
You Can Stand Out I - 20/11/2014
You Can Stand Out I - 20/11/2014
Memorise: And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: - Deuteronomy 28:13
Read: Luke 5:17-26
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 19:1-22:1
MESSAGE:
Our heavenly Father is looking for people that will do the uncommon things required to become uncommonly successful, thereby showing forth His greatness. Looking at the story of the man sick of the palsy in our Bible reading for today, you will learn some things that are essential to attaining this height. This man had a vision of what he wanted to become in life, though he was lame. Vision means beginning with the end in mind. Vision is superior to ambition because while ambition is what you want to happen, vision is what God wants to happen. Furthermore, he realised he needed a change and he chose to change. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we see that Jabez chose to become different and he got it. You also will obtain the necessary transformation you need in accordance with what you have chosen in Jesus’ Name.
The sick man was ready for new ideas. For him, getting an alternative meant getting to Jesus.
This is where some people need to watch it. This man was wise enough to know where solution lies for him, but in the case of some children of God, instead of waiting on God under their God-appointed spiritual leaders, they continue to patronise different prayer mountains. This man also kept good relationships i.e. good friends. He could not walk, but his friends could. You have to be good yourself to be able to have and maintain good friends. Don’t be a lone ranger; not only in terms of marriage is this relevant, it also applies to you having good dependable friends.
The sick lame man also had current information. You need to keep the channels of receiving information open in your life. It is when you are current that you can be correct, and then you can collect what you need, which will eventually stand you out in success. Elisha was current on the things going on in his time (2 Kings 2:1-4). By this information, he kept following Elijah until finally he collected a double portion of Elijah’s anointing that subsequently made him to stand out.
Action Point: Father, whatever it will take for me to stand out, please do it in my life and grant me the grace to co-operate with you.
Memorise: And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: - Deuteronomy 28:13
Read: Luke 5:17-26
17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 19:1-22:1
MESSAGE:
Our heavenly Father is looking for people that will do the uncommon things required to become uncommonly successful, thereby showing forth His greatness. Looking at the story of the man sick of the palsy in our Bible reading for today, you will learn some things that are essential to attaining this height. This man had a vision of what he wanted to become in life, though he was lame. Vision means beginning with the end in mind. Vision is superior to ambition because while ambition is what you want to happen, vision is what God wants to happen. Furthermore, he realised he needed a change and he chose to change. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we see that Jabez chose to become different and he got it. You also will obtain the necessary transformation you need in accordance with what you have chosen in Jesus’ Name.
The sick man was ready for new ideas. For him, getting an alternative meant getting to Jesus.
This is where some people need to watch it. This man was wise enough to know where solution lies for him, but in the case of some children of God, instead of waiting on God under their God-appointed spiritual leaders, they continue to patronise different prayer mountains. This man also kept good relationships i.e. good friends. He could not walk, but his friends could. You have to be good yourself to be able to have and maintain good friends. Don’t be a lone ranger; not only in terms of marriage is this relevant, it also applies to you having good dependable friends.
The sick lame man also had current information. You need to keep the channels of receiving information open in your life. It is when you are current that you can be correct, and then you can collect what you need, which will eventually stand you out in success. Elisha was current on the things going on in his time (2 Kings 2:1-4). By this information, he kept following Elijah until finally he collected a double portion of Elijah’s anointing that subsequently made him to stand out.
Action Point: Father, whatever it will take for me to stand out, please do it in my life and grant me the grace to co-operate with you.
Wednesday 19 November 2014
For Christ’s Sake Don’t! 19/11/ 2014
For Christ’s Sake Don’t! 19/11/ 2014
Memorise: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. - Galatians 5:1
Read: Psalm 137:1-4
137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
137:3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
137:4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 16:8-18:17
MESSAGE:
A negative change is generally abhorred by men. Everyone craves progress. We always desire to keep ascending the ladder of success. No one wants to make a u-turn in the journey of greatness. The greatest journey whose end has the greatest significance is the journey to Heaven. This journey is only made in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Only through Him does man have access to God.
Some individuals, who have truly started this glorious and wonderful journey to heaven, handle the race too leisurely and with levity. Otherwise, what shall we say of a Christian sister or brother who toy with sins like fornication, lying, dishonesty and fraudulent practices. Some sisters and brothers still in courtship are already having sex. This is an example of making a u-turn while on the journey to the greater glory above. In line with today’s scripture reading, the implication for such people is that they will fall prey to the enemy. Such people lead themselves into the captivity of the enemy, contrary to the admonition of today’s memory verse. Such individuals become like Samson who when God’s presence was with him, he was a terror to the enemy, but by the time he pushed God away from him through his unabated lust, he became a laughing stock with his two eyes gone. Why, why, why would you allow such regrettable acts to cause you such pain? Such was the condition of the entire nation of Israel in Psalm 137. They went into captivity in the hands of their enemies. Hear their wailing in Psalm 137:3-4:
“For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?”
Some people deceive themselves or allow the devil to deceive them. They live in sin and they claim they can always confess their sins; it is either such people are not saved at all, or they have already backslidden. What a dangerous thing it is for a child of God to toy with sin. Five to six years ago in Lagos - Nigeria, the case of a pastor was reported in the newspapers. A portion of a wall fell on him while he was on top of a woman; they died together on the spot, what judgment! Where would the destination of such a pastor be in eternity? For Christ’s sake don’t toy with sin!
Action Point: Flee every appearance of evil. Don’t say I will do it only once; your “only once” escapade could lead you to an eternity in hell.
Memorise: Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. - Galatians 5:1
Read: Psalm 137:1-4
137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
137:3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
137:4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 16:8-18:17
MESSAGE:
A negative change is generally abhorred by men. Everyone craves progress. We always desire to keep ascending the ladder of success. No one wants to make a u-turn in the journey of greatness. The greatest journey whose end has the greatest significance is the journey to Heaven. This journey is only made in Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. Only through Him does man have access to God.
Some individuals, who have truly started this glorious and wonderful journey to heaven, handle the race too leisurely and with levity. Otherwise, what shall we say of a Christian sister or brother who toy with sins like fornication, lying, dishonesty and fraudulent practices. Some sisters and brothers still in courtship are already having sex. This is an example of making a u-turn while on the journey to the greater glory above. In line with today’s scripture reading, the implication for such people is that they will fall prey to the enemy. Such people lead themselves into the captivity of the enemy, contrary to the admonition of today’s memory verse. Such individuals become like Samson who when God’s presence was with him, he was a terror to the enemy, but by the time he pushed God away from him through his unabated lust, he became a laughing stock with his two eyes gone. Why, why, why would you allow such regrettable acts to cause you such pain? Such was the condition of the entire nation of Israel in Psalm 137. They went into captivity in the hands of their enemies. Hear their wailing in Psalm 137:3-4:
“For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’S song in a strange land?”
Some people deceive themselves or allow the devil to deceive them. They live in sin and they claim they can always confess their sins; it is either such people are not saved at all, or they have already backslidden. What a dangerous thing it is for a child of God to toy with sin. Five to six years ago in Lagos - Nigeria, the case of a pastor was reported in the newspapers. A portion of a wall fell on him while he was on top of a woman; they died together on the spot, what judgment! Where would the destination of such a pastor be in eternity? For Christ’s sake don’t toy with sin!
Action Point: Flee every appearance of evil. Don’t say I will do it only once; your “only once” escapade could lead you to an eternity in hell.
Tuesday 18 November 2014
There for a Purpose - 18/11/2014
There for a Purpose - 18/11/2014
Memorise: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
Read: 2 Kings 5:1-4
5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
5:4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 13:1-16:7
MESSAGE:
Known unto God are all His works from the foundation of the world (Acts 15:18). One of the arguments some philosophers put up for the existence of God is that, the Cause of all things must be a rational and intelligent being because to everything the Cause caused to be, is a purpose given. This so-called Cause is God and there is nothing He created that has no purpose.
Whatever God permits to come to you or to come your way has a purpose. There is a purpose behind you being an African, European, Asian or American. Far beyond the superficial things you may be looking for in that your exalted position in that organisation, God may have something in mind for you to accomplish. Maybe you got sponsored and supported to occupy a political office or maybe you are in government, have you found out why He opened that door to you, or are you busy seeking mundane things for yourself like the ungodly and unpatriotic ones?
In some cases, God’s purpose might bring you into an unpleasant or undesirable situation, just like the young girl in today’s Bible reading. She was taken captive from her native land in Samaria to the far and strange land of Syria. However, see what great effect the quiet little counsel she gave her mistress had in the life of the great but leprous commander of the Syrian army, and by extension the entire nation of Syria. Beyond the healing of her master, she projected the God of her fathers among the heathen, so that He might be feared and honoured.
It is a pity that some Christians today do things that bring shame and reproach to the name of God. Such people misrepresent God through their compromising acts among sinners. Hear what the little girl said in 2 Kings 5:3:
“And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”
It was just this one-minute piece of information God was waiting for to orchestrate a chain of events that would culminate in His name being glorified among the heathen. From this story, we also learn why it is good to be nice and kind to those who are around us, even servants, housemaids, gardeners, drivers etc. Some bosses despise and treat their subordinates inhumanely. Some housemaids, drivers and workers are treated as though they are not human beings (Colossians 4:1). If Naaman and his wife had been maltreating this maid, she probably would not have given them the counsel that led to the removal of their shame and reproach.
Action Point: Objectively identify what exactly you are living for.
Memorise: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
Read: 2 Kings 5:1-4
5:1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
5:3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
5:4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 13:1-16:7
MESSAGE:
Known unto God are all His works from the foundation of the world (Acts 15:18). One of the arguments some philosophers put up for the existence of God is that, the Cause of all things must be a rational and intelligent being because to everything the Cause caused to be, is a purpose given. This so-called Cause is God and there is nothing He created that has no purpose.
Whatever God permits to come to you or to come your way has a purpose. There is a purpose behind you being an African, European, Asian or American. Far beyond the superficial things you may be looking for in that your exalted position in that organisation, God may have something in mind for you to accomplish. Maybe you got sponsored and supported to occupy a political office or maybe you are in government, have you found out why He opened that door to you, or are you busy seeking mundane things for yourself like the ungodly and unpatriotic ones?
In some cases, God’s purpose might bring you into an unpleasant or undesirable situation, just like the young girl in today’s Bible reading. She was taken captive from her native land in Samaria to the far and strange land of Syria. However, see what great effect the quiet little counsel she gave her mistress had in the life of the great but leprous commander of the Syrian army, and by extension the entire nation of Syria. Beyond the healing of her master, she projected the God of her fathers among the heathen, so that He might be feared and honoured.
It is a pity that some Christians today do things that bring shame and reproach to the name of God. Such people misrepresent God through their compromising acts among sinners. Hear what the little girl said in 2 Kings 5:3:
“And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”
It was just this one-minute piece of information God was waiting for to orchestrate a chain of events that would culminate in His name being glorified among the heathen. From this story, we also learn why it is good to be nice and kind to those who are around us, even servants, housemaids, gardeners, drivers etc. Some bosses despise and treat their subordinates inhumanely. Some housemaids, drivers and workers are treated as though they are not human beings (Colossians 4:1). If Naaman and his wife had been maltreating this maid, she probably would not have given them the counsel that led to the removal of their shame and reproach.
Action Point: Objectively identify what exactly you are living for.
Monday 17 November 2014
He Has the Last Say- 17/11/2014
He Has the Last Say- 17/11/2014
Memorise: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. Isaiah 54:10
Read: Joel 3:16-17
3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 10-12
MESSAGE:
The situation in the world is steadily becoming alarming. Big and strong economies are becoming shaky while some are crumbling already, even though trade is expanding with mind blowing technological breakthroughs and rapid succession of invention of devices across every facet of human endeavour. Violence in various forms of inhuman treatment of man by fellow man is also on the increase. This includes terror activities, civil disturbances, kidnappings, rapes, murderous acts, drugs, human trafficking and sale of human beings as mere commodity etc. All these and several more are pointers to any child of God that the end of all things is fast approaching and that these are not the days to live carelessly.
These happenings are at a stage that any observant mind will sense palpable fear in the world, just like the Bible said it would be (Luke 21:26). For you a child of God however, you need not panic in your heart because God has given you an idea of the events that will occur in these last days. He also has given you His promises of hope and has put His Holy Spirit in you. One of such promises is in Joel 3:16:
“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.“
It is required of you as a child of God in this end-time, to get close to the word of God in order to see global events in light of what is written in it. This will give you hope and encourage your mind on how close the eventual return of our Lord is. His return means release from earthly pains and limitations for you, but the beginning of sorrows for those who don’t have a relationship with Him.
Nevertheless, you need to know that the children of God that will do valiantly in these last days, are not those who only depend on feeding on the word of God that they hear via public ministrations, but those who go beyond this by spending time with God in His word through private study like the Berean brethren (Acts 17:10-11). Great strength for the race comes from this. In these evil days, you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Pray that your focus will remain on making Heaven and that you will remain fervent in spirit and steadfast in the love of God.
Memorise: For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. Isaiah 54:10
Read: Joel 3:16-17
3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
3:17 So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 10-12
MESSAGE:
The situation in the world is steadily becoming alarming. Big and strong economies are becoming shaky while some are crumbling already, even though trade is expanding with mind blowing technological breakthroughs and rapid succession of invention of devices across every facet of human endeavour. Violence in various forms of inhuman treatment of man by fellow man is also on the increase. This includes terror activities, civil disturbances, kidnappings, rapes, murderous acts, drugs, human trafficking and sale of human beings as mere commodity etc. All these and several more are pointers to any child of God that the end of all things is fast approaching and that these are not the days to live carelessly.
These happenings are at a stage that any observant mind will sense palpable fear in the world, just like the Bible said it would be (Luke 21:26). For you a child of God however, you need not panic in your heart because God has given you an idea of the events that will occur in these last days. He also has given you His promises of hope and has put His Holy Spirit in you. One of such promises is in Joel 3:16:
“The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.“
It is required of you as a child of God in this end-time, to get close to the word of God in order to see global events in light of what is written in it. This will give you hope and encourage your mind on how close the eventual return of our Lord is. His return means release from earthly pains and limitations for you, but the beginning of sorrows for those who don’t have a relationship with Him.
Nevertheless, you need to know that the children of God that will do valiantly in these last days, are not those who only depend on feeding on the word of God that they hear via public ministrations, but those who go beyond this by spending time with God in His word through private study like the Berean brethren (Acts 17:10-11). Great strength for the race comes from this. In these evil days, you will not be a victim but a victor in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Pray that your focus will remain on making Heaven and that you will remain fervent in spirit and steadfast in the love of God.
Sunday 16 November 2014
Commitment 1- 16/11/2014
Commitment 1- 16/11/2014
Memorise: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45
Read: John 9:3-6
9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 7-9
MESSAGE:
The Master Himself is our example in commitment. He told us that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He demonstrated this by the way He lived. He lived serving and ultimately served us by giving His life for us. Furthermore, He was also serving His Father and was committed to doing the will of His Father. When He was about leaving the earth, He said this to us: as my Father have sent me, so send I thee (John 20:21). How committed are you to Jesus and to His will?
Many people, perhaps including you, are not in any way participating in the vast activities and work of the kingdom. Many attend church regularly, but they do not commit themselves to service. They are mere benchwarmers, only consuming without giving out, No wonder they don’t experience new dimensions of the Holy Spirit. However, some people view becoming a worker as an avenue for socialising and as a fashionable thing. Such are not really committed.
This should not be so! Really, it is of no use coercing anyone to serve God. God Himself will not be pleased with that. He loves a cheerful giver, including cheerfully giving your service to Him.
You need personal revelation of what Jesus suffered and went through to redeem you in order to change your outlook. He is the maker of heaven and earth, the One without whom nothing was made that was made (John 1:3). Yet, He passed through the womb of His creature, was born as a baby, grew like every child. He trekked some 100 miles spanning Jerusalem via Samaria to Galilee to and fro regularly. He was slapped, flogged, spat upon, crowned with thorns which pierced the skin on His head and rough edged crude nails were driven through His hands and feet. All these terrible sufferings He endured for no offence He committed but for you and me. What then can be too dear, too great or too precious to us that will stand in the way of our complete commitment to His will and service?
Besides, every service we render cheerfully and willingly is not in vain but is credited to our account for due recompense of reward when it matters (1 Corinthians 15:58). Oh what a good Father we have! Furthermore, you need to realise that time is short. You ought to strive to achieve much for your own good before the time is up. Seize every opportunity to serve, so as to be in a position to get great rewards.
Action Point: Evaluate the level of your commitment to God’s service and make necessary adjustments.
Memorise: For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. - Mark 10:45
Read: John 9:3-6
9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
9:4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
9:6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 7-9
MESSAGE:
The Master Himself is our example in commitment. He told us that He came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). He demonstrated this by the way He lived. He lived serving and ultimately served us by giving His life for us. Furthermore, He was also serving His Father and was committed to doing the will of His Father. When He was about leaving the earth, He said this to us: as my Father have sent me, so send I thee (John 20:21). How committed are you to Jesus and to His will?
Many people, perhaps including you, are not in any way participating in the vast activities and work of the kingdom. Many attend church regularly, but they do not commit themselves to service. They are mere benchwarmers, only consuming without giving out, No wonder they don’t experience new dimensions of the Holy Spirit. However, some people view becoming a worker as an avenue for socialising and as a fashionable thing. Such are not really committed.
This should not be so! Really, it is of no use coercing anyone to serve God. God Himself will not be pleased with that. He loves a cheerful giver, including cheerfully giving your service to Him.
You need personal revelation of what Jesus suffered and went through to redeem you in order to change your outlook. He is the maker of heaven and earth, the One without whom nothing was made that was made (John 1:3). Yet, He passed through the womb of His creature, was born as a baby, grew like every child. He trekked some 100 miles spanning Jerusalem via Samaria to Galilee to and fro regularly. He was slapped, flogged, spat upon, crowned with thorns which pierced the skin on His head and rough edged crude nails were driven through His hands and feet. All these terrible sufferings He endured for no offence He committed but for you and me. What then can be too dear, too great or too precious to us that will stand in the way of our complete commitment to His will and service?
Besides, every service we render cheerfully and willingly is not in vain but is credited to our account for due recompense of reward when it matters (1 Corinthians 15:58). Oh what a good Father we have! Furthermore, you need to realise that time is short. You ought to strive to achieve much for your own good before the time is up. Seize every opportunity to serve, so as to be in a position to get great rewards.
Action Point: Evaluate the level of your commitment to God’s service and make necessary adjustments.
Saturday 15 November 2014
Growing in Grace -15/11/2014
Growing in Grace -15/11/2014
Memorise: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. - 2 Peter 3:18
Read: Colossians 2:6-7
2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 4:24-6:81
MESSAGE:
Even though little children and babies enjoy many benefits such as being carried, being assisted in every situation and receiving prompt attention and care when they cry, it is not a desirable thing to remain a baby or a child. It is neither in the interest of the child nor that of its parents that a child or baby remains stagnant in growth and not mature. In like manner, while Jesus as the Great Shepherd of his people will gather the young ones with His arms and carry them in His bosom (Isaiah 40:11), He would not be delighted in having them remain immature indefinitely. To remain a babe in the faith for too long is to make yourself a liability to the body of Christ and an unnecessary burden for the leaders set over you. Such Christians don’t know their full rights in Christ, and hence, the enemy takes advantage of their ignorance to afflict them and cheat them. It is common knowledge that in the natural world, children do funny things that can bring them harm, the same applies spiritually.
Spiritual babes can ignorantly inflict injury on themselves by allowing the devil to make them do foolish things. Such Christians will no doubt be carnal Christians. Besides, babies don’t reproduce and God hates unfruitfulness (John 15:1-2). With these in mind, it is therefore very undesirable to refuse to grow in your Christian life. Now, how is a Christian expected to grow? This is revealed in Colossians 2:6-7.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Note from the above passage that there are two directions of growth. Basically, a plant sends its root downwards, while its stem and branches grows upward. It is the root growing deep in the soil that gets food supply to support the stem, branches, leaves and fruiting of the plant above. So also must the children of God keep sending their roots deeper and deeper in Christ till an evident outward expression of growth and maturity in Christian virtues, character and wisdom is made manifest. Also, from the above passage, to achieve spiritual growth, you must expose yourself to Bible teachings i.e. sound doctrinal teachings that reveal the total counsel of God. You are not helping yourself if you select only the things in the word of God that suit you and neglect other instructions, warnings and chastisement.
Prayer Point: Pray that the lord will help you to be consistent in exposing yourself to provisions of God for your growth - studying, meditating, praying, evangelising and obedience to the word of God.
Memorise: But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. - 2 Peter 3:18
Read: Colossians 2:6-7
2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 4:24-6:81
MESSAGE:
Even though little children and babies enjoy many benefits such as being carried, being assisted in every situation and receiving prompt attention and care when they cry, it is not a desirable thing to remain a baby or a child. It is neither in the interest of the child nor that of its parents that a child or baby remains stagnant in growth and not mature. In like manner, while Jesus as the Great Shepherd of his people will gather the young ones with His arms and carry them in His bosom (Isaiah 40:11), He would not be delighted in having them remain immature indefinitely. To remain a babe in the faith for too long is to make yourself a liability to the body of Christ and an unnecessary burden for the leaders set over you. Such Christians don’t know their full rights in Christ, and hence, the enemy takes advantage of their ignorance to afflict them and cheat them. It is common knowledge that in the natural world, children do funny things that can bring them harm, the same applies spiritually.
Spiritual babes can ignorantly inflict injury on themselves by allowing the devil to make them do foolish things. Such Christians will no doubt be carnal Christians. Besides, babies don’t reproduce and God hates unfruitfulness (John 15:1-2). With these in mind, it is therefore very undesirable to refuse to grow in your Christian life. Now, how is a Christian expected to grow? This is revealed in Colossians 2:6-7.
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
Note from the above passage that there are two directions of growth. Basically, a plant sends its root downwards, while its stem and branches grows upward. It is the root growing deep in the soil that gets food supply to support the stem, branches, leaves and fruiting of the plant above. So also must the children of God keep sending their roots deeper and deeper in Christ till an evident outward expression of growth and maturity in Christian virtues, character and wisdom is made manifest. Also, from the above passage, to achieve spiritual growth, you must expose yourself to Bible teachings i.e. sound doctrinal teachings that reveal the total counsel of God. You are not helping yourself if you select only the things in the word of God that suit you and neglect other instructions, warnings and chastisement.
Prayer Point: Pray that the lord will help you to be consistent in exposing yourself to provisions of God for your growth - studying, meditating, praying, evangelising and obedience to the word of God.
Friday 14 November 2014
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 1:1-4:23
New Life in Christ -14/11/2014
Memorise: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Read: 1 John 3:7-9
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 1:1-4:23
MESSAGE:
There is a nature that is of the Earth and there is a nature that is of Heaven. Since the fall of man, the earthly nature of man has become corrupted and therefore is greatly under the influence of the kingdom of Satan. Characteristic features of this nature are: wickedness, moral perversion – sodomy and all sorts of indecent sexual practices, deception, fraudulent practices, poverty, ignorance, sickness etc. A person not in Christ carries this polluted nature around and is capable of manifesting any of its devil influenced character, irrespective of social and educational status. However, when a person comes to Christ, the power of the cross of Christ destroys this nature of sin and the person is given a new nature which is of God; a nature whose feature and expression include a holy character. The character of this new nature is described in 2 Peter 1:4:
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
When a person truly gives his or her life to Jesus, some things occur spiritually in his or her life. The Bible says that fellow is delivered from the power of darkness and is translated into the kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). Also, he or she now has Jesus dwelling in the inside. Jesus in Revelation 3:20 promised that, if you open the door of your heart, He would come in to your heart.
Not only these, 1 John 3:9 reveals that the seed of God is now dwelling in you if you are in Christ.
Also, with Jesus now dwelling in you and He being light, there would be no place for darkness. Darkness is the sphere of operation of sin and demons.
It is not enough to know all these. The onus is now on you as a child of God to assert yourself based on the power of God that is now at work in you against the old nature of sin, Satan and the sinful and worldly influences around you. Hence, the Bible says you should be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, so that you would be able to stand your ground against the enemy of righteousness (Ephesians 6:10-13, James 4:7).
Prayer Point: Pray to God to be more like Jesus Christ.
Memorise: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. - 2 Corinthians 5:17
Read: 1 John 3:7-9
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Bible in a Year: 1 Chronicles 1:1-4:23
MESSAGE:
There is a nature that is of the Earth and there is a nature that is of Heaven. Since the fall of man, the earthly nature of man has become corrupted and therefore is greatly under the influence of the kingdom of Satan. Characteristic features of this nature are: wickedness, moral perversion – sodomy and all sorts of indecent sexual practices, deception, fraudulent practices, poverty, ignorance, sickness etc. A person not in Christ carries this polluted nature around and is capable of manifesting any of its devil influenced character, irrespective of social and educational status. However, when a person comes to Christ, the power of the cross of Christ destroys this nature of sin and the person is given a new nature which is of God; a nature whose feature and expression include a holy character. The character of this new nature is described in 2 Peter 1:4:
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
When a person truly gives his or her life to Jesus, some things occur spiritually in his or her life. The Bible says that fellow is delivered from the power of darkness and is translated into the kingdom of God’s Son (Colossians 1:13). Also, he or she now has Jesus dwelling in the inside. Jesus in Revelation 3:20 promised that, if you open the door of your heart, He would come in to your heart.
Not only these, 1 John 3:9 reveals that the seed of God is now dwelling in you if you are in Christ.
Also, with Jesus now dwelling in you and He being light, there would be no place for darkness. Darkness is the sphere of operation of sin and demons.
It is not enough to know all these. The onus is now on you as a child of God to assert yourself based on the power of God that is now at work in you against the old nature of sin, Satan and the sinful and worldly influences around you. Hence, the Bible says you should be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, so that you would be able to stand your ground against the enemy of righteousness (Ephesians 6:10-13, James 4:7).
Prayer Point: Pray to God to be more like Jesus Christ.
Thursday 13 November 2014
Spiritual Discipline of Prayer- 13/11/2014
Spiritual Discipline of Prayer- 13/11/2014
Memorise: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; - Romans 12:12
Read: Ephesians 6:18
6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 23:28-25:30
MESSAGE:
In virtually every field of human endeavour, there are great men and women. Be it in science, arts, sports, politics, governance and religion, history is full of people regarded as great in these various fields. Many of such people were given to causes that are ephemeral and mundane.
One common denominator in the life of such people or anyone that would be a success is ‘discipline’. What worthy thing it is therefore, when we apply the effort of self-discipline in the area of the one thing that is an avenue for attracting the favour and immense power of God to work on our behalf. This worthy avenue of drawing God’s power is prayer.
The Bible commands us to pray always. Many people would ordinarily find it easier to spend time chatting either in the real world or in virtual cyber space than in praying always as the Bible commands. Note that God wants to manifest His glory in your life. But then, prayer is never at home with the flesh, rather, the flesh wants to gist or while away the time in some other way. This is why prayer is a discipline, a spiritual discipline. Know that it is more profitable for you to pray than to occupy your time with some other mundane things. Put the flesh in its place, discipline your flesh and be compelled to pray.
How is it possible to pray always? Would we not be violating the word of God if we abandon our other responsibilities and spend all of our time on our knees by our bedside praying? Yes we will be.
What is actually required of us is that our hearts must be attuned to God at all times, such that whether we are at home cooking in the kitchen or at the bus stop awaiting the arrival of a bus or on the wheel driving, a silent upward communication link is not far from us.
With such heart posture, it is a usual thing to thank God for virtually every seemingly little but advantageous thing, as well as thanking Him for things that do not appear to be to our advantage.
Such heart will always be full of heavenly joy, accompanied with a whisper of: all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). Besides, for those that are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the ability to pray always is easier, as such a person can almost ceaselessly carry on praying in tongues quietly, irrespective of what he or she may be busy doing, except when he or she needs to pause to attend to someone. So much gets accomplished while praying in the Spirit. The whole demand in Ephesians 6:18 can easily be accomplished by doing so. That is the reason why you should get baptized in the Holy Spirit if you are not.
Prayer Point: Pray that God will help you to be more disciplined in praying.
Memorise: Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; - Romans 12:12
Read: Ephesians 6:18
6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 23:28-25:30
MESSAGE:
In virtually every field of human endeavour, there are great men and women. Be it in science, arts, sports, politics, governance and religion, history is full of people regarded as great in these various fields. Many of such people were given to causes that are ephemeral and mundane.
One common denominator in the life of such people or anyone that would be a success is ‘discipline’. What worthy thing it is therefore, when we apply the effort of self-discipline in the area of the one thing that is an avenue for attracting the favour and immense power of God to work on our behalf. This worthy avenue of drawing God’s power is prayer.
The Bible commands us to pray always. Many people would ordinarily find it easier to spend time chatting either in the real world or in virtual cyber space than in praying always as the Bible commands. Note that God wants to manifest His glory in your life. But then, prayer is never at home with the flesh, rather, the flesh wants to gist or while away the time in some other way. This is why prayer is a discipline, a spiritual discipline. Know that it is more profitable for you to pray than to occupy your time with some other mundane things. Put the flesh in its place, discipline your flesh and be compelled to pray.
How is it possible to pray always? Would we not be violating the word of God if we abandon our other responsibilities and spend all of our time on our knees by our bedside praying? Yes we will be.
What is actually required of us is that our hearts must be attuned to God at all times, such that whether we are at home cooking in the kitchen or at the bus stop awaiting the arrival of a bus or on the wheel driving, a silent upward communication link is not far from us.
With such heart posture, it is a usual thing to thank God for virtually every seemingly little but advantageous thing, as well as thanking Him for things that do not appear to be to our advantage.
Such heart will always be full of heavenly joy, accompanied with a whisper of: all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). Besides, for those that are baptized in the Holy Spirit, the ability to pray always is easier, as such a person can almost ceaselessly carry on praying in tongues quietly, irrespective of what he or she may be busy doing, except when he or she needs to pause to attend to someone. So much gets accomplished while praying in the Spirit. The whole demand in Ephesians 6:18 can easily be accomplished by doing so. That is the reason why you should get baptized in the Holy Spirit if you are not.
Prayer Point: Pray that God will help you to be more disciplined in praying.
Wednesday 12 November 2014
My Body, His Property 12/11/2014
My Body, His Property 12/11/2014
Memorise: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. - Romans 12:1
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 21:19-23:27
MESSAGE:
The passion of God behind the admonition in today’s memory verse is evident. The goodness of God and His commitment to our well-being is far beyond our imagination. Can you comprehend this: that having paid the ultimate price for our redemption, He is still passionately pleading with those of us that are His, for our own sake, to keep our bodies? Though it is in our own best interest, yet He pleads with us. To start with, a person that says he or she is enjoying himself with cigarette smoking or taking of hard drugs does not know what he is saying. Such a person is destroying himself in bits.
Likewise, the fellow given to alcohol is destroying and cutting short his age systematically. What about the fornicator and adulterer? The major vehicle for HIV infection is no other than sexual immoralities such as pre-marital sex, homosexuality, lesbianism and the likes. Presenting your body as a living sacrifice means denying your body the fashion or pleasures that are at variance with the ways of the kingdom you belong to. This includes denying yourself such aberrations like exposing your body through clothes that are in vogue.
If the body of the believer in Christ is the temple of God, and God is holy, how does a child of God think he or she will be full of the Holy Spirit while unabatedly indulging in evil habits?
Somebody must be deceiving himself or herself somehow. The Bible warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). What other possible ways could the Holy Spirit be grieved, if not by rendering His habitation non-conducive for Him to dwell in? Is it not that those defiling His temple (our bodies) are asking Him (the Holy Spirit) to pack up and go elsewhere?
The care of our body includes feeding it with the right things – good food and not junk food that causes obesity, and taking the right quantity of food at a time (gluttony is condemned by the Bible). Likewise, drinks must be non-alcoholic and non-nicotinic. Spiritually, feed on the word of God.
Besides, treat the body with natural means for its refreshing like sleeping moderately and not inducing yourself with drugs to sleep. Also, use your body rightly. It is good to work hard, but then, learn also to give it its due rest. Don’t use the body for immorality in any form. Learn not to pamper your body either, it may crave those things that would make it to incur God’s wrath, it is your duty to deny it those things. You can do all these because the power of God through Christ is now in you. God is not demanding what you cannot do.
Key Point: God desires purity of the heart as well as purity of the body.
Memorise: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. - Romans 12:1
Read: 1 Corinthians 3:16-17
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 21:19-23:27
MESSAGE:
The passion of God behind the admonition in today’s memory verse is evident. The goodness of God and His commitment to our well-being is far beyond our imagination. Can you comprehend this: that having paid the ultimate price for our redemption, He is still passionately pleading with those of us that are His, for our own sake, to keep our bodies? Though it is in our own best interest, yet He pleads with us. To start with, a person that says he or she is enjoying himself with cigarette smoking or taking of hard drugs does not know what he is saying. Such a person is destroying himself in bits.
Likewise, the fellow given to alcohol is destroying and cutting short his age systematically. What about the fornicator and adulterer? The major vehicle for HIV infection is no other than sexual immoralities such as pre-marital sex, homosexuality, lesbianism and the likes. Presenting your body as a living sacrifice means denying your body the fashion or pleasures that are at variance with the ways of the kingdom you belong to. This includes denying yourself such aberrations like exposing your body through clothes that are in vogue.
If the body of the believer in Christ is the temple of God, and God is holy, how does a child of God think he or she will be full of the Holy Spirit while unabatedly indulging in evil habits?
Somebody must be deceiving himself or herself somehow. The Bible warns us not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). What other possible ways could the Holy Spirit be grieved, if not by rendering His habitation non-conducive for Him to dwell in? Is it not that those defiling His temple (our bodies) are asking Him (the Holy Spirit) to pack up and go elsewhere?
The care of our body includes feeding it with the right things – good food and not junk food that causes obesity, and taking the right quantity of food at a time (gluttony is condemned by the Bible). Likewise, drinks must be non-alcoholic and non-nicotinic. Spiritually, feed on the word of God.
Besides, treat the body with natural means for its refreshing like sleeping moderately and not inducing yourself with drugs to sleep. Also, use your body rightly. It is good to work hard, but then, learn also to give it its due rest. Don’t use the body for immorality in any form. Learn not to pamper your body either, it may crave those things that would make it to incur God’s wrath, it is your duty to deny it those things. You can do all these because the power of God through Christ is now in you. God is not demanding what you cannot do.
Key Point: God desires purity of the heart as well as purity of the body.
Tuesday 11 November 2014
Beware Of Pride II - 11/11/2014
Beware Of Pride II - 11/11/2014
Memorise: And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. - Ephesians 6:9
Read: Romans 12:3-10
12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 19:8-21:18
MESSAGE:
Do you know that there are many people who have lost precious opportunities that God meant for their breakthrough or turn-around, all because they think highly of themselves beyond what they really are? Quite a good number of God’s people are suffering unnecessarily just because they despised lofty opportunities in the form of persons, situations, gifts and relationships packaged in simple, unattractive and lowly boxes.
Some of our sisters would not want to get married to anyone that is not at least at the same level as they are, due to their high educational qualifications, fast promotion to the position of executive in blue chip companies or because of their famous and wealthy backgrounds. As a result of this, they are not prepared for the will of God. God does not see the way we see; He has a purpose for us His people. It doesn’t matter if you are already an MD of a multinational corporation at age 25, God may say a first degree holder management trainee is your husband. Would you be humble enough to accept? Many have allowed their earthly privileged position or possession to make them miss out of God’s will for their lives; thus, a fulfilled and blissful marriage experience has eluded them. Young lady listen! If you were brought up with a silver spoon in your mouth or you are a high flyer and you are unmarried, be wise, you are now a child of God, your heavenly Father knows all about you, He determines who becomes this or that. Trust in Him with all your heart, He has your best interest at heart. That man God is saying is your husband, though he does not seem to measure up to your standard as you may claim, God is taking him somewhere. He is not at the bus stop of his life yet. All you need to do is to confirm if he is God’s will for you. If this is ascertained, you would be wise to accede to his proposal to you. But go into the relationship following the laid down guidelines of your church. If you do, you will not get your fingers burnt.
Some of us also allow our position and wealth to interfere with the way we relate with people that are not as privileged as we are at this particular time. I write at this particular time because such people may be going somewhere with God like Joseph in Egypt. One thing we should bear in mind as children of God is that, God has a purpose for those He brings around us, including the driver, the house help, the gardener and others; they deserve to be treated with dignity.
Action Point: Review the way you relate to those who are less privileged around you and prayerfully correct any issues you observed.
Memorise: And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. - Ephesians 6:9
Read: Romans 12:3-10
12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Bible in a Year: 2 Kings 19:8-21:18
MESSAGE:
Do you know that there are many people who have lost precious opportunities that God meant for their breakthrough or turn-around, all because they think highly of themselves beyond what they really are? Quite a good number of God’s people are suffering unnecessarily just because they despised lofty opportunities in the form of persons, situations, gifts and relationships packaged in simple, unattractive and lowly boxes.
Some of our sisters would not want to get married to anyone that is not at least at the same level as they are, due to their high educational qualifications, fast promotion to the position of executive in blue chip companies or because of their famous and wealthy backgrounds. As a result of this, they are not prepared for the will of God. God does not see the way we see; He has a purpose for us His people. It doesn’t matter if you are already an MD of a multinational corporation at age 25, God may say a first degree holder management trainee is your husband. Would you be humble enough to accept? Many have allowed their earthly privileged position or possession to make them miss out of God’s will for their lives; thus, a fulfilled and blissful marriage experience has eluded them. Young lady listen! If you were brought up with a silver spoon in your mouth or you are a high flyer and you are unmarried, be wise, you are now a child of God, your heavenly Father knows all about you, He determines who becomes this or that. Trust in Him with all your heart, He has your best interest at heart. That man God is saying is your husband, though he does not seem to measure up to your standard as you may claim, God is taking him somewhere. He is not at the bus stop of his life yet. All you need to do is to confirm if he is God’s will for you. If this is ascertained, you would be wise to accede to his proposal to you. But go into the relationship following the laid down guidelines of your church. If you do, you will not get your fingers burnt.
Some of us also allow our position and wealth to interfere with the way we relate with people that are not as privileged as we are at this particular time. I write at this particular time because such people may be going somewhere with God like Joseph in Egypt. One thing we should bear in mind as children of God is that, God has a purpose for those He brings around us, including the driver, the house help, the gardener and others; they deserve to be treated with dignity.
Action Point: Review the way you relate to those who are less privileged around you and prayerfully correct any issues you observed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)