Sunday 31 August 2014

NO FAITH, NO MIRACLE- 31/8/2014

NO FAITH, NO MIRACLE- 31/8/2014

Memorise Ephesians 3:20: Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Read: Mark 10:49-52
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : JOHN 8:31-10:21and JOB 31:16-28

Message
There are levels or categories of faith. In the scriptures, we see these different categories at work at one point or the other. These categories include the following: No faith (Mark 4:40), little faith (Matthew 6:30), faith as small as a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20), great faith (Matthew 15:21-28), exceeding great faith (Matthew 8:5-13) and the gift of faith from the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:9). Those who want to experience a harvest of miracles are those who are ready to put their faith to work. It is faith that brings about miracles. There was a time in my ministerial life when I had little faith. But God honoured my faith. A woman brought her child to me who had never spoken since the day she was born. I decided therefore to pray for the child. As I said “in Jesus’ name”, the child answered “Amen!” I nearly jumped out of the window because I had never seen such a thing before. God will embarrass you with miracles in Jesus’ Name.
There was an experience in my life that shows that God will never fail when we put our faith in Him. Before my wife and I met the Lord, we had three children through caesarean operation. We decided to stop child-bearing since the doctor had said that my wife could not give birth naturally. We got born-again six years later and started reading the promises of God in the Bible. I read in the Bible that with God nothing shall be impossible and this stuck to my heart. I realised that what the doctor said was impossible can be made possible by the mighty power of God. My doctor friend told me that my wife would bleed to death if she tried to give birth. When the time of her delivery came, she laboured for two days consecutively but the baby did not come out. On the third day, as I was on my way to get food for my wife, the devil threatened: “Stupid man! And you said you have a Ph.D. Your wife will die today and you will see what her relatives will do to you.” Suddenly, a holy anger rose up within me and I said: ‘’Listen devil! If my wife should die tonight, I will get permission from my father-in-the-Lord to preach on Sunday, and the first thing I will say is that there is nothing my God cannot do”. As I said this, this devilish thought disappeared from my mind and the joy of God flooded my heart. As I got to the hospital, I sat inside the car and suddenly heard the cries of the baby. Human words cannot express the joy that came to my heart upon seeing my wife in good health and my baby in joy. The kind of joy that will bring tears to your eyes will happen to you in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please meet me at the level of my faith, and help my faith to grow.

Saturday 30 August 2014

WHEN REVIVAL COMES II- 30/8/2014

WHEN REVIVAL COMES II- 30/8/2014

Memorise Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Read: Psalm 51:1-3
1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions:and my sin is ever before me

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : JOHN 6:60-8:30 and JOB 31:5-15

Message
In what areas of your life do you think you need revival? What do you think you have done that has taken you into a backslidden state or what deadly error have you fallen into that has put you in danger of hell and perdition? Today is the day of revival, repentance, forgiveness and restoration of your joy of salvation. Revival is not miracle-working; it is increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of holiness and complete obedience of a people towards God.
The first thing a man who wants to experience revival must do is to realise that he or she has sinned, according to Psalm 51:3. In Psalm 51, we see David praying fervently for revival and restoration after he sinned against God via adultery and murder. He asked God to have mercy on him; he craved the loving kindness and tender mercies of God. He pleaded for spiritual cleansing after acknowledging his sins. This is where many so-called born-again Christians, particularly those who have been pretty old in the faith often miss it. They feel that they don’t need to say the “sinner’s prayer” again because of their long-term Christian walk. They are like the Pharisee of old who went to the temple to display his superiority over the publican (Luke 18:10-14). Whenever a wise man discovers that he has fallen short of God’s approval and favour due to sin, he throws away his ego and humbles himself before the One who can forgive and forget. God is easily found when we seek His face in earnest penitent prayer according to the experience of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33:12-13. The Bible in 1 John 2:1-2 says:
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
What the Lord is telling us in this scripture is that, it is expected that a child of God should live sin-free, according to 1 John 3:8-9. However, peradventure anyone finds himself in sin, he must quickly cry to God in penitential prayers so that he may be restored and spiritually revived again. The next thing is that you must have faith in the word of God and the blood of Jesus Christ for cleansing. Appropriate the blood of everlasting covenant and make up your mind not to go back again.

Action Point: Check your life and see if there is anywhere you have gone amiss. Do not hide it or pretend as if nothing has happened. Confess it to God and let him revive and restore you.

Friday 29 August 2014

WHEN REVIVAL COMES I - 29/8/2014

WHEN REVIVAL COMES I - 29/8/2014

Memorise Psalm 85:6: Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

Read: Psalm 85:4-7
    4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
    5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
    6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
    7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : JOHN 5:19-6:59 and JOB 30:24-31:4

Message
In spiritual parlance, revival presupposes that backsliding has hitherto taken place. In other words, it is when people abandon their spiritual fervency that the need for revival becomes inevitable. In Christianity, revival is a term that generally refers to an increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a congregation or church, either regionally or globally. This should not be misconstrued with evangelistic meetings that churches conduct to bring about salvation of lost souls. May the Lord revive His church in Jesus’ Name. What happens when revival comes? According to our Bible reading today, people turn away from their wickedness when revival comes. Salvation becomes a household commodity among the backslidden and the anger of God ceases to burn against His people. A typical example of revival is recorded in Jonah 3:4-10 concerning the people of Nineveh. One pleasant thing about God concerning sinners and backsliders is that He will always warn them so that they may repent and escape His fiery judgment. The Bible says:
“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”
Ezekiel 18:21-23
Another thing that happens when revival comes is that God answers the prayer of sinners contrary to the general opinion that He does not. However, it is the prayer of repentance that God honours before any other, as seen in the case of Manasseh in 2 Chronicles 33:12-13. Revival brings about total restoration of both spiritual and physical wellbeing. The true sign of revival is when people turn completely from their past wicked ways and turn a new leaf of godliness (2 Chronicles 33:15-17). This is contrary to what we experience in the church today where people claim to be born-again and yet still maintain the status quo of their past sinful lives and habits. Manasseh died a repentant sinner and had peace, even at death according to 2 Chronicles 33:18-20. Your beginning may not matter, but how you end is what matters the most.
Prayer Point: If you are a sinner, pray for the salvation of your soul and if you are a backslider, pray for revival and complete restoration.

Thursday 28 August 2014

LESSONS FROM REBEKAH- 28/8/2014

LESSONS FROM REBEKAH- 28/8/2014

Memorise Genesis 25:22: And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.

Read: Genesis 25:20-23
20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian.
21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD.
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : JOHN 3:16-5:18 and JOB 30:9-23

Message:
Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, was temporarily barren and her husband had to intercede for her before God blessed her with the fruit of the womb. She was a Syrian woman who was brought up in her native country. She grew up to know the gods of Syria but was not familiar with the God of Abraham and Isaac. This may be the reason why the Bible did not record anything about her prayers to God but rather recorded the intervention of her husband Isaac who interceded for her. However, what transpired after this reveals that Rebekah later became knowledgeable about God, and she even showed signs of being very spiritual.
After Rebekah became pregnant, she noticed that the babies struggled together within her; they seemed to kick and jostle each other. Their movements prompted her worries and she sought out a prophet to explain the situation to her. Rebekah found herself in a dilemma that no human wisdom could explain. She therefore chose to seek for divine direction from the Lord. Note that this is the very first time the Bible talks about someone making enquiries from the Lord. We should learn two big lessons from Rebekah. We should learn to be sensitive to heavenly signals and seek the face of the living God whenever we need clarification on any matter. Many are in problems today because they were so complacent and carefree that they neglected the warning signals that God gave them until it was too late. Many today also seek for clarifications and directions from the wrong sources, and others patronise gods that cannot give any useful direction.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6
Jesus is the Way, He is the Truth and He is the solution to all problems in life. Therefore, seek Jesus today; seek for the King of kings and the Lord or lords; seek for the only One who knows all things and can do all things, and He will give you direction. He will put an end to your confusion and misery. Jesus will quench your thirst and satisfy your hunger. Jesus will heal your broken heart and give you peace in all areas of your life. My friend, Jesus is the answer. Whatever you may be passing through, call upon His name today and your life will never be the same again.

Prayer Point: Jesus the Son of God, I believe in you. As I call upon your name today, please solve all my problems and give me peace.


Wednesday 27 August 2014

REWARD FOR LABOUR- 27/8/2014

 REWARD FOR LABOUR- 27/8/2014

Memorise Joshua 24:13: And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.

Read: Genesis 31:3-7
3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5 And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : JOHN 1:1-3:15 and JOB 29:21-30:8

Message:
Jacob sojourned with Laban and laboured for him for several years. At first, his host was cheating him at every opportunity, and the years of his hard labour were almost in vain. Down the line, God had to intervene to enable Jacob eat the fruit of his labour. For a reader of this devotional, in every area that you have been deprived of your reward in the hands of your employers or contractors, the Lord will intervene on your behalf in Jesus’ name. It is evil when your sweat serves to increase the wealth of another man without you having any benefit to show for it. After God decided to bless Jacob to redeem the years of his labour under Laban, the sons of Laban and their father conspired against him, believing that he did not deserve the wealth he had earned. When God intervenes in your situation, you will become what the enemy did not think you could ever become. God’s intervention brings reward for labour. This can be manifested in God helping you to set up your own business or company after faithfully serving another for a reasonable length of time. Jacob ran Laban’s business as his own; he was faithful to tending the flocks and the business grew rapidly under his care. Jacob later recognised that although he had served Laban over the years, the man was not eager to grant him independence. May the Lord deliver you from the wisdom and power of those who don’t want you to become your best.
Reward for labour is obtained when the Lord delivers you from the hands of unfaithful business associates. Laban dealt fraudulently with Jacob; at several instances, he changed their business agreement just to make sure that Jacob lost out while he prospered. When the Lord chooses to reward your labour, He will not allow the plans of fraudsters against you to stand. Through fraud, there are many people who have lost their mouth-watering jobs innocently. Some people have been imprisoned for frauds they knew nothing about. Some people have lost millions and billions through fraud; this will never be your experience in Jesus’ Name. Also, when the Lord chooses to reward your labour, He will not allow your sincere investment to go in vain. Jacob invested his time, skills and labour into the business between himself and Laban. Reward for your labour comes when God decides to judge between you and those using you for their own advantage. After over 200 years of hard labour in Egypt, God came down to deliver the children of Israel and He gave them a land where they would enjoy the abundance provided by others. May the Lord cause you to enter into an inheritance of rest in Jesus’ name.

Prayer Point: Father, grant me reward for all my labour and remember me for good in Jesus’ name.

Tuesday 26 August 2014

DISCIPLESHIP- 26/8/2014

DISCIPLESHIP- 26/8/2014

Memorise Luke 9:23: And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Read Mark 8:34-37
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LUKE 23:6-24:53 and JOB 29:7-20

Message
At the beginning of the earthly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, discipleship was a term used to describe the process of building followers who were committed to the cause, teaching and beliefs of our Lord Jesus Christ. It later became a common term used to describe the followers of Jesus. Discipleship is the crux of the Lord’s final address on earth. In this address known as the Great Commission, He charged us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). Discipleship is not something that happens immediately after salvation, neither is it an optional experience for any Christian. Discipleship, which essentially means following Jesus, is the essence of Christianity.
Discipleship as a Christian experience is a way of life that requires paying a cost (self-denial), and commitment to the cause (taking up one’s cross).These two attributes required of a disciple are clearly stated in many passages of the Bible, specifically Luke 9:23, says:
“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
This if further enunciated in Matthew 10:38:
“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”
Luke 14:27 stretched the idea even further by saying:
”And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”
The Bible always speaks of following Jesus in relation to self-denial and the cross. Discipleship is therefore the way of sacrifice.
Paying the cost of discipleship through self-denial and commitment to the cause of Jesus by taking up one’s cross daily are two important requirements of discipleship. By denial of self, Jesus does not mean to deny one’s self of something. He means to renounce self; to cease to make self the object of one’s life and actions. This involves a fundamental reorientation of the principle of life. It is to place the divine will before self-will. God, not self, must be at the centre of life. This is something that is especially difficult for the average human being. I pray that as you read this, the Lord will visit you and turn your focus from self and earthly things to God and heavenly things in the Name of Jesus.

Prayer Point: Father, please help me to focus on you alone. Help me to pay the price of discipleship and to be committed to the cause of Jesus all the days of my life.

Monday 25 August 2014

WHAT SEEK YE? - 25/8/2014

WHAT SEEK YE? - 25/8/2014

Memorise Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Read: Luke 12:29-31
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LUKE 21:25-23:5 and JOB 28:20-29:6

Message
In most 21st century societies, the hustle for survival is the preoccupation of many families and individuals living below the poverty line, while fashion, entertainment, lavish spending and accumulation of state-of-the-art technology are the concern of those that are well-off. The lifestyle of many, and ultimately what they pursue in life, is driven by their philosophy of life and the economic class they belong to. Many people seek wealth, fame, power etc, and they would do anything including participating in heinous crimes to achieve their goal. However, the Bible in Matthew 6:31-32 says that God knows we have need for food, clothes and accommodation:
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.”
The Bible also says in Proverbs 10:22 that the Lord is able to bless His own:
“The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.”
Since the Lord is able to bless and prosper His children without them engaging in illicit activities, it is therefore not befitting for a Christian to participate in the same crazy pursuit for material things prevalent in the world today.
Furthermore, the word of God in 1 Timothy 6:9-10 says:
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
Evidently, those who want to be rich at all costs usually fall into diverse temptations and traps of the devil. Out of desperation to be rich, they are easily drawn into sinful acts in the form of questionable businesses, partnership with dubious characters and dealings in substandard and harmful products. The question therefore is: what do you seek? What are you running after? Be warned that what you seek determines what you get. Seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness; seek the Lord Jesus with all your heart and He will surprise you with joy, peace, prosperity and a host of other heavenly blessings that money cannot buy.

Prayer Point: Father, please give me the grace to seek your kingdom and righteousness with all my heart, with all my soul and with all my might, in the Name of Jesus.

Saturday 23 August 2014

THE MATERIALIST’S MISTAKE- 24/8/2014

THE MATERIALIST’S MISTAKE- 24/8/2014

Memorise Luke 12:15: And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

Read: Psalm 49:6-10; 

Bible in one year: Luke 19:28-21:24; lob 28:7-19 

The materialist is somebody with great regard for material possessions, a person who considers material possessions and physical comfort more important when spiritual values. To a materialist, the end justifies whatever means is employed in acquiring wealth or possessions. Materialists would cheat, steal, hurt fellow human beings and even kick against God’s commandments in order to amass wealth and get great possessions.

One irrational and foolish confidence that is often displayed concerning earthly wealth and possessions is exposed in Psalm 49:9. This scripture reveals that those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches always hope to live forever and expect to be secure from sickness, sorrow, pain, oppression, accidents and disaster. The Bible teaches that this wrong attitude to wealth and prosperity robs a person of his or her dignity and degrades such persons to the level of beasts. The Bible also teaches that there are limits to the purchasing power of wealth, especially when it come to the deeper demands of the soul, where financial wealth has no relevance.

Another irrational and foolish miscalculation of human philosophy is that a person’s worth is summed up in his or her earthly wealth and possessions. Based on this wrong assumption, materials seek to acquire wealth and possessions at all costs and by all means. Meanwhile, the Bible in Luke 12:15 tells us that the worth of a man ’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. The idea that wealth has value for a person beyond the grave is a mistake. This is why the Lord asked these questions in Mark 8:36-37
“For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

We must give truthful answers to these questions in order to avoid committing the mistakes of the materialist. If you acquire a world full of wealth and possessions and lose your soul, what will you offer in exchange for your soul? Be wise! The truth is already revealed in the word of God; poverty is bad, wealth is good, but you must not pursue wealth and possessions in away that will make you lose your soul.

Prayer Point:  Father, please help me to set my priorities in line with the word of God. Let my precious soul make it to heaven.

FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE: 23/8/2014

FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE: 23/8/2014

Memorise Hebrew 12:17: For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. 

Read: Hebrew 12:9-12

Bible in one year: Luke 17:11-19:27; Job 27:13- 28:6

Failure is defined as lack of success in a set objective or loss of ability to function normally. Failure occurs when an event doesn’t accomplish it intended purpose. Failure usually ends up as a double tragedy because when a project fails, you lose your investment on the project and afterwards you must pay for the future repercussions of that failure. In most cases, the repercussions of failure are far- reaching and in eversible. With this perspective, it is clear that failure is something of inestimable loss. However, failure always disguises itself as a normal everyday discernment; such a seemingly normal event may develop into a serious tragedy. So it was when Sarah innocently offered her maid to Abraham to conceive a child in Genesis 16:3, and when Iacob suggested to his brother Esau to trade his birthright for pottage in Genesis 25:31. These are examples of ordinary events that resulted into terrible tragedies. I pray that you will not commit any blunder that will lead to terrible tragedies in your life in Iesus’ Name.
What started as a generous gift of love later developed into something that brought grief to Abraham in Genesis 21:11. Having to separate from his son was painful and as the father of Isaac (Jews) and Ishmael (Arabs), we can see that the outcome of Abraham ’s failure is far—reaching and irreversible as evident in the Arab—Israeli relationship today. When you consider Esau’s reaction to ]acob’s proposal, you will immediately see that he trivialised the matter. He later paid dearly for his miscalculation in his lifetime and his descendants are still paying for his careless mistake till date. Father Lord, please have mercy, and let your mercy prevail over every evil judgment and repercussion of sin and failure in our lives in the Name of Jesus!
We can see from the above cases that the immediate cost of failure is expensive and the future repercussions inestimable. You cannot afford to suffer the loss of failure, therefore you must do everything in your power to prevent and avoid it. First, you must view everything in life according to the Bible and submit totally to its authority. You must also ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things. The fear of God and complete obedience to His commandments is the sure antidote to failure. May you never experience failure again in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, let every past mistake that could lead to terrible tragedies in my life be cancelled today by divine intervention, in the Name of Jesus.


Friday 22 August 2014

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS- 22/8/2014

SIGNS AND SYMBOLS- 22/8/2014
Memorise Matthew 16:3: And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 
READ: MATTHEW 16:1-3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: LUKE 14:25-17:10 and JOB 27:1-12

MESSAGE
Signs and symbols are signals to important events in life. Signs usually have their origin in the spirit realm. Some signs manifest physically while some can only be viewed with spiritual eyes. Those with the ability to read the signs of the times have been in existence for thousands of years. The star-gazers from the east were able to correctly identify the star of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, scientists have developed advanced technology for more accurate prediction of weather patterns. Major world events are regularly being transmitted via dedicated spiritual broadcast stations, but only those with active decoders are able to receive such privileged broadcasts.
It takes the spiritually sensitive person to determine spiritual signs that are not apparent to the physical eyes. It is important to be able to discern the time of your favour or else you may miss it completely. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to point your attention to the signs signalling your time of favour. He is mandated by God to share secrets of things to come with us (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit can use any available means to communicate signs to you. It could be through dreams, open visions, or God’s audible voice. He could speak through a prophet in a programme, or He could send one to you directly. God has a thousand and one ways that He could use to inform you of happenings in the spiritual realm. What is important is whether you know how to cultivate your relationship with the Holy Spirit. If you do, no event will take you unawares.
However, it is important to note that Satan and his cohorts easily identify the time of one’s favour and move at such times to provoke the proposed recipient to take steps capable of triggering a loss. There are people who have determined not to compromise with sin, but when their time of favour comes, they would suddenly observe that they are under intense demonic pressure to sin. It is at such times the devil reawakens their old appetite for sin. Satan uses this strategy a lot to debar Christians from receiving their blessings. Therefore be wise, watch and pray. Whenever you come under intense pressure to sin, your time of favour could just be around the corner. Do everything you can to keep your relationship with God intact. Most importantly, cultivate your friendship with the Holy Ghost. Open your spiritual eyes; be sensitive to the signs of the times and you will never be caught napping.

PRAYER POINT: Holy Spirit, reveal yourself to me more than ever before in Jesus’ name.


Thursday 21 August 2014

SELF EXAMINATION- 21/8/2014

SELF EXAMINATION- 21/8/2014

Memorise 2 Corinthians 13:5: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Read: Matthew 7:3-6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : LUKE 12:35-14:24 and JOB 26

Message
Self-examination is the contemplation of your own thoughts, desires and conduct. Our Lord Jesus Christ admonished that before a person would begin to counsel and advise others on how they should live their lives, self-examination is always necessary. Before a Christian partakes in spiritual activities that require some level of sanctification and holiness in the church, it is also necessary to carry out self-examination. This is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 11:28 which says,
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.”
Consequently, self-examination should precede taking part in the Holy Communion or the acceptance of ordination into a position in the church.
However, we should remember that God does not call the qualified; rather, He qualifies the called. No Christian can claim adequacy in qualification because we’re not worthy of the great gift of salvation He obtained for us at the cross of Cavalry. Therefore, the purpose of self-examination is not to qualify yourself or to prove that you are worthy before God, but to do that which is honest and truthful before God and man. This is why the Bible in 2 Corinthians 13:7 says:
“Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.”
Self-examination is needed in the 21st century church to check whether we are still in the faith. Adherence to basic Bible doctrines has become a thing of the past. Obedience to commandments of the Bible is now subject to whether such commandments do not infringe on a person’s human rights and if it meets with his or her personal approval. The concept of sin, righteousness and holiness as clearly defined in the Holy Bible is now relative to a person’s choice with serious considerations for culture and environment. Therefore co-habitation of unmarried couples, immodest dressing and behaviours that translate to a total departure from Biblical teachings are exhibited in the church of God with impunity. Examine yourself today; are you still in the Faith?

Prayer Point: Father, help me to examine myself, and send a revival to your Church in Jesus’ Name.

Thank you and God bless you for your contribution

Wednesday 20 August 2014

GOING IN CIRCLES? - 20/8/2014

GOING IN CIRCLES? - 20/8/2014

Memory verse: Numbers 32:13: And the LORD’S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed. 

Bible passage: Numbers 14:33-36

Message:
Going in circles is a term that denotes making considerable efforts without commensurate progress. It could also mean wasted efforts, to wander about and to waste time doing things without achieving results. The Bible gives us many examples of this, but the story of the Israelites in the wilderness on their journey to the Promised Land gives a very good illustration of this. The children of Israel started their journey to the Promised Land with full assurance by the Almighty God that He would be with them all the way. True to His word, He stayed with them day and night. They lacked and suffered nothing throughout the journey. To these Israelites, God was good, gracious, kind and loving; showering them with His mercies which endure forever. But it got to a point where God noticed that they persisted in sin and would not heed His warnings. Then He became angry with them. Numbers 32:13 says:
“And the LORD’S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.”
We need to remember that this whole scenario started with Abraham receiving an unsolicited promise of a land flowing with milk and honey from God. Many years had passed and the descendants of Abraham had lost both hope and interest in the promise, but God revisited them out of love and compassion. He delivered them from oppression and slavery with a strong hand. He did many wonders in the wilderness to prove He is a mighty God. He fought their battles and defeated all their enemies. Above all, He blessed them and made His tabernacle with them. God had done so much for them to justify His expectation of simple appreciation, trust and obedience. The least that God expects from His children is this, and He is disappointed when we fail in this regard. Consequently, God made them wander about in circles in the wilderness for forty years.
I challenge you to take a critical look at your life. Are you making progress or going about in circles? Are you in good standing before God? Is everything alright with your spiritual, family and business life? Are you doing well physically, financially, and emotionally? Are you suffering from stagnancy in any area of your life? If anything is amiss, turn to God in prayer now.

Prayer Point: Father, put an end to going in circles in my life and empower me to make progress.

Tuesday 19 August 2014

DIVINE ENCOUNTER-19/8/2014

DIVINE ENCOUNTER-19/8/2014

Memory verse: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Bible reading: John 1:11-13

Bible in one year: LUKE 9:21-10:42 and JOB 24:9-20

Message:
God in His infinite wisdom created every human being with the potentials and abilities that they need to fulfil His purpose for their lives. Unfortunately, some pass through life without realising this potential; some others who do, fail to fully exploit it. Only a negligible few are able to exhaust their God-given potentials on earth. Recognising your potential starts from knowing the Lord Jesus and discovering your purpose in life. Knowing your purpose in life is tied to a relationship with the Creator of the heavens and earth. From today’s Bible reading, we understand that a very vital part of God’s plan for everyone created in the image of God is to become a “son of God”. Being born-again is not the same as becoming a son. The journey begins at the point of being born-again and then continues far into the spirit realm. This is where divine encounter comes in. It is absolutely impossible for anyone to undertake this journey except the person has a divine encounter with God. Even Jesus had to go through a process before He could go to the Cross. It took encountering the power of the Holy Spirit to prepare Him to fulfil destiny (Acts 10:38). I pray that you will not leave this world without fully realising your potential, in Jesus’ Name.
Divine encounter is a special visitation of heaven on earth; a meeting divinely arranged to accomplish an unusual spiritual agenda in the life of a chosen beneficiary for the ultimate fulfilment of God’s purpose. Without an encounter with the power of the Spirit, you would remain trapped and live far below your potential. To fulfil your destiny, you must partner with the Holy Spirit. This partnership must be kick-started by a divine encounter. Apart from Jesus Christ, another character who realised his potential was Peter. If you compare Peter before the descent of the Holy Ghost at Pentecost with the Peter after Pentecost, you will notice some sharp differences. Before Pentecost, Peter was full of fear. He found it difficult to stand on his convictions. Even a maid could make him deny the Lord. But after Pentecost, he became so bold that not even the Council’s threats could stop him. Before Pentecost, Peter realised his leadership potential but lacked the fire, zeal, direction and divine backing of the Holy Spirit to fulfil it. As a result of this, after the death of Christ, he dumped his main purpose of existence – fishing for souls, and went back to his old business – fishing at sea (John 21:1-3). After Pentecost however, he was able to perform according to Heaven’s expectations. Are you feeling weak, fearful and discouraged from taking the necessary steps to fulfilling your purpose on earth? Like Peter, you need to encounter the power of the Holy Spirit, and what you lack will suddenly be provided. You shall fulfil your destiny in Jesus’ Name. Ask God for the power to become who you were meant to be.

Prayer Point: Father, please I need a divine encounter; Lord fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can fulfil my destiny, in Jesus’ name.

Wednesday 13 August 2014

FOOLISH COMPARISON: 13/8/2014

FOOLISH COMPARISON: 13/8/2014

Memorise 2 Corinthians 10:12: For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

Pible passage: 2 Corinthians 10:12-18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : MARK 14:43-16:8 and JOB 21:1-16

One of the greatest temptations facing the human race today is that of comparison. Making comparisons about virtually everything has become part of life from childhood to old age. We compare family background, physical appearance, intelligence, character, abilities, endowments, life achievements etc. It has systematically turned life in general to a kind of competition. Even little children are known to tell lies in order to measure up on the comparison scale of their mates. Have you compared yourself to others and didn’t quite measure up? Have you ever thought that you are not as beautiful, handsome, smart, capable, charming, gifted or as godly as your friends? Going into this kind of comparison makes it so easy to think that if you had more or knew more, you would be secure and happy. But as a matter of fact, people who have it all, even the most endowed individuals in the world, still struggle with feelings of insecurity.
In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve in His own image. He blessed them and gave them dominion over all creation. He provided everything that anyone could desire for them. He gave them intimacy and attention, He also gave them beauty, security, significance, and purpose. Nevertheless, Satan confused Eve by giving her feelings of insecurity that pushed her to take her eyes away from her precious inheritance and focus on the forbidden fruit. Comparisons will always make you ignore what you have and focus your attention on what you lack. It will push you to doubt God and yourself, convincing you to seek for solutions outside of God’s provision. By making comparisons, you will become convinced that something is missing in your life and that kicking against God’s commandment will make you be “like God”. The Lord will help you to recognise Satan’s lies and overcome his temptations in Jesus’ Name.
Do not fall for the lies of the devil anymore; learn to refute his temptations with the truth. Always appreciate and thank God for His wonderful provisions and promises. Believe the word of God in Colossians 2:10 that says, you are complete in Him. As you hold on to the word as a weapon against the schemes of the devil in your life, the word of God will work for you in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, please let my focus always be on your provisions and promises in my life with praise and thanksgiving to you.

Tuesday 12 August 2014

THE FOLLY OF THE WISE: 12/8/2014

THE FOLLY OF THE WISE: 12/8/2014

Memorise Ecclesiastes 1:13:  And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith.
Read: 1 Corinthians 1:17-24
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : MARK 12:41-14:42 and JOB 20:20-29


Today’s Bible reading reveals that there are many kinds of wisdom. All types of wisdom except the wisdom of God are grossly inadequate and limited in their ability to deal with life situations as it relates to the created universe. For King Solomon, all types of wisdom were the same. Many like him find it difficult to differentiate between the different kinds of wisdom. This is why Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:13 gave his heart to seek and search out by wisdom all things that are done under heaven and came to the wrong conclusion that it is a sore travail deliberately programmed into the human life by God himself. God loves us so much and He would not programme vain and futile exercises into the life of His children. Solomon proceeded with his research and by the time he got to Ecclesiastes 7:29, he arrived at another conclusion; this time it was the right conclusion. He said:
“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” So God did not deliberately programme sickness, sorrow, failure, confusion and war into the life of His children at all. It was in the process of seeking many inventions that so many evils that we did not bargain for entered into human life. In the first place, God did not give wisdom to human beings so that they can redefine, redesign, correct or improve on His work. His work is perfect and all His ways are just. Any attempt by man to correct or improve on God’s work is tantamount to arrogance against the Almighty, and it is bound to end in futility. Furthermore, the
Bible in Ecclesiastes 3:14 says, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
This time, Solomon speaks with much confidence and assurance that he knows whatsoever God does shall be forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. He concluded here that the work of a perfect God does not need correction; that everything He did is free from error and that those things that seem to us like errors are deliberate designs because known unto God are all his works from eternity to eternity. HALLELUJAH!


Prayer Point: Father, please don’t let me become wise in my own eyes and don’t let me become arrogant against you.

Monday 11 August 2014

KNOWLEDGE IS LIMITED: 11/8/2014

 KNOWLEDGE IS LIMITED: 11/8/2014

Memorise: I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. Ecclesiastes 1:16
Read: Ecclesiastes 1:14-18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : MARK 10:46-12:40 and JOB 20:1-19

Message
Wisdom is commonly defined as the correct application of knowledge. Wisdom therefore feeds on knowledge, and the type of knowledge applied determines the type of wisdom you get. According to the Bible, there are many kinds of wisdom. There is the wisdom of words in 1 Corinthians 1:17, the wisdom of the world in 1 Corinthians 1:20 and the wisdom of God in 1 Corinthians 1:24. I am happy to inform you today that the only wisdom that is reliable is the wisdom of God; all other kinds of wisdom are grossly inadequate and limited in all ramifications. May the Lord open your eyes to see the inadequacies and limitations of human knowledge and wisdom in Jesus’ Name.
King Solomon was a man who God blessed with great wisdom. He said of himself in Ecclesiastes 1:16 that he had more wisdom than all who lived before him in Jerusalem, and that he had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. His fame as a wise king was so great that powerful kings and queens from kingdoms far and near visited Jerusalem to pay homage and to see things for themselves. However, despite the fame and success of this wise king, he could not hide his disappointment when he said: that which is crooked cannot be made straight, and that which is lacking cannot be supplied. He went on to say that with great wisdom comes great frustration and whoever increases knowledge merely increases his heartache. Obviously, the frustration and disappointment of King Solomon was as a result of his false impression that by wisdom, man could examine, redefine, redesign, correct or improve on the work of God. Children of God may want to deny this fact, but it is a truism that haunts all great people. We tend to ascribe so much importance to human knowledge and wisdom far beyond its scope and real ability. Knowledge and wisdom are tools created by God to assist human beings to worship and glorify God through total obedience to His commandments. What good is knowledge and wisdom to the Almighty God if not for this purpose? Anything other than this is vain. Searching for knowledge for the sake of it is sure to leave anyone that will pursue such in a state of dryness and emptiness. I therefore pray that all your efforts in life will not end up as chasing after the wind in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point: Father, please give me great wisdom and help me to use it for your glory.

Friday 8 August 2014

DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GREATNESS- 8/8/2014

DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GREATNESS- 8/8/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "SURE PATHS TO GREATNESS”. Today's message is titled " DRIVING FORCE BEHIND GREATNESS" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise Mark 11:24: "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." Today's reading was taken from   Hebrews 11:1-6 and the Bible reading in one year is MARK 5:21-6:56 and JOB 18:5-19 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

How does a man experience greatness? The starting point on the path to greatness is the desire to be great. For one to be great, you must have definiteness of purpose; that is, the knowledge of what you want and a burning desire to achieve it, backed by faith in God. Desire is borne out of need and dissatisfaction with your present status or lot in life. The proof of desire is pursuit. What you pursue says a lot about you. Your life gravitates towards the desires of your heart. Desire is what gives birth to miracles. Desire inspires and motivates. It was desire that inspired the Wright Brothers to fly. Hope and wish are different from definite desire. The proof of definite desire is pursuit irrespective of the current situations and circumstances. Definite desire translates into reality. Wishing will not lead to greatness, but desiring greatness with a focused state of mind, then planning definite ways and means to acquire it and backing those plans with persistence which does not recognise failure will bring greatness. Psalm 37:4 says,
“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Desire is like a living organism. It is born, it grows, and it can die. People with a strong desire to be great know that every setback along the path of greatness brings with it the seed of advancement. You must desire to be great because greatness is your heritage. I have come to realise that many Christians are just living life by and by because they are complacent and have accepted the status quo. Jesus was never complacent. His desire to succeed in His ministry was fired by His mission as stated in Luke 4:18. He kept moving on to the other side. Beloved, you must refuse to stay on the edge of God’s blessing. There exists greatness on the other side. The strong desire to fulfil your mission in life will fire you on to greatness. If your desire is in line with the will of God, and you concentrate on it and do not associate with small thinkers, you will achieve it. Another driving force behind greatness is obedience. Obedience in this respect simply means your willingness to do what God has instructed you to do. Abraham obeyed God when God instructed him to get out of his country (certainty) and go to a land that he was yet to show him (uncertainty) (Genesis 12:1-3). Obedience is doing anything God asks you to do regardless of its cost and consequences. God has promised us greatness if only we will obey His commandments (Deuteronomy 28:1-13). You should therefore respect the principle of obedience if you desire to be great. 

The Action Point is: Obedience involves faith. Have faith in God, and He will surely make you great.

Thanks and God bless you for your contribution


Thursday 7 August 2014

SURE PATHS TO GREATNESS-7/8/2014

SURE PATHS TO GREATNESS-7/8/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "HOW RESOLUTE ARE YOU?”. Today's message is titled "SURE PATHS TO GREATNESS" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise Psalm 48:1: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness." Today's reading was taken from   Ephesians 1:17-21 and the Bible reading in one year is MARK 3:13-5:20 and JOB 17:6-18:4 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is the message for your input:

Greatness means largeness in size. It means to be pre-eminent, imposing, grand, distinguished in importance and remarkable in ability, character, achievement and of course the anointing. Without doubt, our God is a great God. The greatness of our God is manifested through His Names, His creations, His wondrous acts, His love, through His Son Jesus and through us His children. Are you a child of God? You are destined for greatness because God created you in His image and commanded you through His word to be great (Genesis 1:26). Don’t under- estimate yourself. You were created to multiply and to dominate. Your calling has to do with greatness. You are not ordinary (Psalm 139:14). God has done all that is needed for you to be great. He even used His only begotten Son Jesus to pay the price for your greatness. It must be understood that every form of greatness begins in a small way. Great men like Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, Paul the Apostle and our Lord Jesus Christ had humble beginnings. Job 8:7 says:
“Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.”
Every child of God should be guided by the motto: “It is not over until it is over”. I believe that it cannot be over until I am fully blessed and truly great (1 John 3:2). Abraham, Isaac, Joseph and David travelled on a particular path to greatness in their respective lives. They manifested some character, attributes or traits that ensured greatness in their lifetimes. The first of such attributes is dreams. God revealed greatness to Abraham and Joseph through dreams before they became great. Whereas Abraham saw innumerable stars which were to represent his children, Joseph dreamt and saw sheaves, the sun, moon and eleven stars making obeisance to him. At the time they dreamt those dreams, there was absolutely no indication that they were going to be great men. What are your dreams? Dreams are the driving force behind greatness. Greatness involves dreaming big. The most distinguishable difference between small or unsuccessful people and great or successful people is that great people are motivated by dreams which are beyond their capacity to fulfil. Though out of their reach, they believe that if they work hard enough, they will someday hold their dreams in their hands. Dreams motivate you into action. What you see in your dream, you become. Unsuccessful people are motivated by today. They are not “tomorrow thinkers.” Who are you? Are you a today or a tomorrow thinker? Vision and dreams are the sure paths to greatness.
Key Point: A dream encourages you to pay some price now and reap the reward later.

Wednesday 6 August 2014

HOW RESOLUTE ARE YOU?-6/8/2014

HOW RESOLUTE ARE YOU?-6/8/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "A VISION PROPELLED LIFE”. Today's message is titled "HOW RESOLUTE ARE YOU?" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise James 4:6: "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Today's reading was taken from   Exodus 33:12-23 and the Bible reading in one year is Mark 1:1—3:12 and Job 16:18-17:5 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

I start each year with New Year resolutions. In a particular year, I decided on what I intended to do more intensely that year. I decided to seek God and praise Him like never before, to open my mouth and tell God how things are with me, to humble myself like never before, to give cheerfully, to trust man less, trust God more and finally, to walk more closely with God like never before. I was pleasantly surprised at the end of the year that every decision I made was fulfilled. How resolute are you? Make a resolution and be prepared to follow through with your resolution. In addition, you should be prepared to make changes. Are you resistant to change? There are two groups of people in an ideal church congregation. These are: the Old Brigade and the New Combatants. The Old Brigades are those used to the old system of doing things and are not ready to change. To experience good success on a daily basis, you must be prepared for change. Be prepared to do things in a new way, if that is what will enhance the growth of your church or organisation. The New Combatants are young and well equipped with new systems for doing things. This group of young radicals should also be prepared for change. Be prepared to learn from the experiences of the Old Brigade. Both the Old Brigade and the New Combatants should learn from the Law of the Inertia. It states thus: “A body  maintains its state of rest or uniform growth unless acted upon by an external force”. Be prepared to run with the vision of Christ for your life and be diligent in your business. Proverbs 22:29 says,
“Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.”
Success is the product of getting and utilising new ideas, concepts and perceptions profitably. Success is realising God ’s desires for you and responding obediently to them in order to reach your maximum potential. This will please Him and bring benefits to others. An integral part of obtaining good success is management and planning. To achieve excellence and good success, you must prayerfully plan for it and continuously manage it. Be hard working and be prepared to possess your possession in the area of prayers (Iames 5:16-18).

Prayer Point

The prayer point is: Father, please help me to be a doer and not a mere hearer of your word. I have decided to obey your words. Please help my decision.

Thank you for your contribution. have a fruitful day in Jesus Name, Amen.


Monday 4 August 2014

A VISION PROPELLED LIFE-5/8/2014

A VISION PROPELLED LIFE-5/8/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "THE WAYS OF GOD”. Today's message is titled "A VISION PROPELLED LIFE" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise Isaiah 55:8 : "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD." Today's reading was taken from   Exodus 33:12-23 and the Bible reading in one year is Mark 1:1 - Mark 3:12 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

Pauls two letters to Timothy and his letter to Titus are known as his Pastoral Epistles because they deal with the life of the Church. At the time they were written, the Church had been in existence for about thirty years and the apostles were passing away. It was therefore necessary to consider the changing leadership of the church and how the church should be organised. So Paul wrote to give church leaders guidance on how to administer the churches for which they were responsible. Todays passage acquaints us with Christian leadership and the need for them to be positioned for good success. You can enjoy wealth, good health, miracles, signs and wonders when you are guided by a heavenly vision. Vision is the product of effective thinking. It is mentioned in literature that great men think because they are great, and great men are great because they think. An aspect of thinking that differentiates great men and women from mediocre ones is the ability to handle a vision. How important is vision to renowned men and women? It is very critical. Vision can be described as foresight, based on insight with the benefit of hindsight. A man of vision sees what God has for him before its fulfilment. Vision is no doubt one of the most powerful forces available to man on earth today. Vision gives meaning to life. It keeps us alive and conditions our lives. Proverbs 29:18 says,
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Someone once said: Action springs out of what we fundamentally desire. A man with no vision is at best a living corpse. He desires nothing and so achieves nothing. Every great person in history is a personal owner of a vision. A lady was once asked: What would be worse than being blind? She answered, To have sight with no vision. This quote emphasises the need for vision or the power of imagination to guide ones life. We need a vision for our business. Personal ownership of a vision is needed for our walk with the Lord Jesus Christ, for our home and for our family. A man or woman of vision achieves good success in his or her endeavours. Are you a man or woman of vision? To actualise your vision, be resolute, be prepared for a change and be prayerful. Note that success has other price tags on it and these price tags read: courage, determination, discipline, risk-taking, perseverance, consistency and doing the right things for the right reasons.

The Action Point is : When David had a vision, he conquered Goliath. When David lost his vision, he could not conquer his lust. Is your vision intact? Do something about it.

Thank you and God bless you for your contribution









Sunday 3 August 2014

THE WAYS OF GOD-4/8/2014

THE WAYS OF GOD-4/8/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "THE CENTRE OF A WISE FAMILY”. Today's message is titled "THE WAYS OF GOD" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise Psalm 103:7 : "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." Today's reading was taken from   Exodus 33:12-23 and the Bible reading in one year is Matthew 25:31 to Matthew 26:68 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

A miracle is a supernatural act of God. I believe in miracles. However, Gods ways are more important than His acts. The acts of God are meant to lead us into appreciating His ways. Every incontrovertible act of God is designed to propel men to seek the ways of God. God moves in mysterious ways. Isaiah 55:8 says,
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
The way God reasons is radically different from the way we reason. His foolishness is wiser than the wisest genius on earth. Since Gods thoughts are higher than ours and His ways are superior to ours, it is imperative for us to learn His ways as He reveals them to us.

How do we learn Gods ways? First, we learn His ways through intimate relationship with Him. As you interact with God in prayer and the study of His word on a daily basis, you learn the ways of God. You learn How God relates with His saints, how He answers prayers and corrects mistakes. Secondly, we learn Gods ways by learning to fear Him (Psalm 86:11). We should not misunderstand the fear of God. The fear of God is not tyrannical fear. This is because our God is not a tyrant. Our God is Love (1 John 4:8). Rather, to fear God means to love Him so much that you would neither want to offend nor disobey Him. The best friend a person can have is God. He is also the worst enemy you can have. If you fear God, you will have access to enjoying life in its fullness because in God is true life. The fear of God is attained when you allow your life to be instructed by wisdom (Proverbs 15:33). The fear of God prolongs days (Proverbs 10:27) and is better than great treasure (Proverbs 15:16). It requires understanding (Proverbs 2:5). You can be taught to fear God through the ministry of a teacher (Psalm 34:11). The worst human enemy you can have is someone who does not fear God. Such a person can steal your goods, and destroy you and your children. He or she can even use you for rituals. If a person confesses that he or she does not fear God, that person should be avoided like a plague. God is however constant. His acts are constant and serve as catalysts that propel men to learn His ways. It now depends on you as a recipient of His miracles to either seek His ways or not. God revealed His ways to Moses because Moses was His friend. If you live in perfect obedience to Gods perfect will and you allow your life to glorify Him, there is no way God will not reveal His ways to you.

The Action Point is : The life of Moses brought praises to God. In what ways has your life brought praises to God?

May The Lord help us so that our lives will bring praises to him in Jesus Name, Amen



THE CENTRE OF A WISE FAMILY- 3/8/2014

THE CENTRE OF A WISE FAMILY- 3/8/2014

Yesterday's message was titled "A LOVING & PERMANENT GUEST !”. Today's message is titled "THE CENTRE OF A WISE FAMILY" as provided by Pastor E. A. Adeboye in Open Heavens Devotional (Adeboye, 2014). In today’s message, we have been asked to memorise 1 Peter 3:8 : "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." Today's reading was taken from  1 Corinthians 7:1-7 and the Bible reading in one year is Matthew 23:37 to Matthew 25:30 (Adeboye, 2014).

Quoted below is today's message for your input

A Christian home is a training ground where virtues are developed. It is a place of safety and security. It is a centre for creativity and the transmission of values such as the importance of people, the idea of love, as well as moral and spiritual values. For the survival of Christianity and the betterment of society, parents should employ godly wisdom in the number of children they give birth to. In addition, money, time and energy must be invested in training children according to the perfect will of God. Children are gifts from God as stated in Psalm 127:3:
Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Children should be trained to love God, especially from infancy to childhood. A Christian family will achieve good success when there is genuine repentance and all members avail themselves of the grace of God by spending quality time together in prayer and in the study of the word of God. The family altar is the centre of a wise family, uniting the home and building up faith (Psalm 133:1-3). It also manifests the presence of God (Matthew 18:18-20). It shows the relevance and need for God each day. It gives members of the family the opportunity for self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5). It empowers members to overcome problems within the family and makes the home a place where the Name of the Lord is honoured. Do you have a family altar at home? Note that the family that prays together stays together. You can organise the family altar by first and foremost preparing your mind to learn from God (Ezra 7:10). After this you should gather your family together. It is the responsibility of parents, especially fathers, to gather members of their families together and share the word of God with them. A good family altar should start with a session of worship and praises. This should either be preceded or followed by a short prayer. The crux of the family altar is the word of God. All members of the family should study the word of God together. This is better done with the assistance of a devotional aid. It is important that we study the word of God together because the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:21). The Bible is also the only means of knowing how to be reconciled to God. From it, we get valuable information on what to do after you have made a start in the Christian life. It is through the Bible alone that we can know what lies ahead, what the world is coming to and what happens after death. The Holy Scripture is available to make you wise for salvation and produce the life of God within you. How strong is your family altar?

The Action Point is How strong is your family altar? Do something positive about it today.

Thank you and God bless you for your contribution to this forum.

Friday 1 August 2014

A LOVING & PERMANENT GUEST - 2/8/2014

A LOVING & PERMANENT GUEST - 2/8/2014

Memorise: Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matthew 6:26

Read: John 7:38-39

Based on the fact that the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Jesus after His baptism (Luke 3:22), the dove is used as an emblem of the Holy Spirit. A study of some characteristics of the dove will therefore give us insight on the Person of the Holy Spirit. The most striking characteristic of the dove is that it is one of the cleanest birds on Earth. God the Holy Spirit is pre-eminently holy. Holiness is so essential to His nature that His name consists of the word Holy. Whenever the Holy Spirit moves, He convicts the heart of men of sin, of righteousness and of judgement (John 16:8). He is a clean Spirit, and to be a friend of His, you have to move close to Him in holiness.

Another characteristic of the dove is that it is gentle in manner (Matthew 10:16). Why is the dove gentle in manner? In my research into the nature and habits of the dove, I came across this truth: One reason for the gentleness of the dove is because the bird has no gall. Gall is considered by naturalists of old as the source and fountain of contention, the bitterness of the gall being supposed to infuse itself into the spirit. There is no bitterness in the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit, among other things, is gentleness (Galatians 5:23). To come close to the Holy Spirit is to come close to meekness and gentleness. Someone once said, Nothing is as strong as gentleness and no one is gentler than the Holy Spirit. The gentleness of the Holy Spirit must not be seen from the perspective of weakness because in His gentleness lies His strength, and in His strength lies victory, deliverance, prosperity, healing, salvation, promotion, protection and all that you need now and in future. Another characteristic of the dove is that it is swift of wing. The main strength of a dove is its wings. Upheld by its wings, a dove can fly for many days so that other birds pursuing it are unable to overtake it. The Holy Spirit is very swift in His dealings and He is never at a loss of what to do. As a swift and prompt Spirit, God the Holy Spirit attends to the needs of the people of God. He prays with us while we pray, He guides us in our choice of a life partner and He helps us in our business transactions. The best business is one whose senior partner is God the Holy Spirit. Invite Him into your business. He assists us in our inadequacies, comforts us in our sorrows and cheers us in our despondency. He guides us in our difficulties and He quickens us when our faith is weak. Cast your burdens upon the Holy Spirit. Let Him take over your burdens, for He cares for you.

Prayer Point: Lord delight in me. Bless me. Fix your gaze upon me and transform my life for better today.