JUDAH - 13/10/2014
MEMORISE: Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Genesis 49:8
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 8:15-11:27
READ: Isaiah 1:1-6
1 The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.
2 Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.
3 The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
4 Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.
5 Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.
6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.
MESSAGE:
The name ‘Judah’ means praise. Judah was chosen to be the chief and ruling tribe of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 49:8-12). The sceptre of a king and the office of a lawgiver were all allotted to Judah. Genesis 4:10 says:
“The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
Judah is a similitude of the church. In Judah, we can see a shadow of the things to come with respect to the church. Just like Judah, believers are the royal priesthood, expected to show forth the praises of God (1 Peter 2:9-10).
The prophet Isaiah was sent with a message primarily to Judah and Jerusalem – the seat of Judah’s power (Isaiah 1:1). This message contained instructions, reproof, warnings, comfort and encouragement from God to His people. At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the kingdom of Israel had become divided and weakened through civil wars and conflicts with other nations. This same situation applies to the present-day church. The Church today engages in several battles. There are fights within and wars without (2 Corinthians 7:5). Judah was rebellious and ignorant (Isaiah 1:2).
They were corrupt, degenerated, depressed, and laden with iniquity; having backslidden, forsaken God and provoked Him to anger. Just like Judah, many modern-day Christians live in ignorance and sin. In this deplorable state, the demand of God on Judah in Isaiah 1:16-18 was:
“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
This speaks of repentance and total consecration. As a Christian, God expects that you present your body as a living sacrifice which must be holy and acceptable to Him (Romans 12:1). Your consecration to God should be personal, voluntary and sacrificial. How committed are you to God? Is your consecration total? Examine yourself.
ACTION POINT: Do a thorough self–assessment today. Repent of the short comings you identify.
Monday, 13 October 2014
Sunday, 12 October 2014
TOPIC: HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM 12/10/2014
TOPIC: HAVE COMPASSION ON THEM 12/10/2014
MEMORISE: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19
READ: Matthew 9:36-38
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 5:17-8:14
MESSAGE:
Our God is a counting God who is interested in numbers. He is interested in your advancement. He is interested in your prosperity, peace of mind and growth. Candidly, God is interested in the growth of His Church – local, national and global. There are many secrets of church growth which include: good biblical leadership, mobilising the congregation, a balanced spiritual diet, prayer, faith, answers to prayers, evangelistic outreaches, creativity & resourcefulness, finance etc. Are you a Christian worker or a minister of the gospel? Is your church or parish a growing church? For a church to grow, she must be interested in growth. Such a church must cater for the needs of the spirit, soul and body of her members. There is real fellowship in a growing church. It must be blessed with an obedient Pastor, who is a positive thinker. A growing church is committed to reaching the unreached for Christ and using evangelistic methods that work.
Aggressive evangelism is a secret of church growth. It is a process whereby the presentation of the gospel is done zealously, compassionately and in a Christ-like manner. Aggressive evangelism takes two forms which are: aggressive personal evangelism and aggressive mass evangelism (i.e. evangelism to a group of people). Are you a soul winner? Soul winners are wise. Aggressive evangelism is what sincere soul winners practice. This requires genuine consecration, commitment and resolute determination. Aggressive evangelism is a secret of church growth for many reasons. First, it produces abundant and lasting results. Second, it embraces all the other principles of church growth. Third, it motivates Christians to pray.
Fourth, it succeeds where other methods fail. For aggressive evangelism to be effective, there must be thorough preparation. This includes spiritual preparation in form of prayer and fasting, humility, obedience to the voice of the Spirit, holiness, consecration and willingness to do the work. There should also be physical preparation in the form of audience analysis, getting the site for the outreach and forming a committee that will assist in the work. The message of aggressive evangelism should be heart-felt and presented with conviction (Acts 2:36). It must be Spirit-inspired in order to bring about repentance and joy (Acts 8:5-8). Finally, the fruits of aggressive evangelism (souls) must be guarded jealously and preserved in love till they meet Christ in glory. This is made possible through equally aggressive follow-up and discipleship. A church that engages in aggressive evangelism will grow spiritually and numerically, and Christ’s Name will be glorified.
ACTION POINT: Share the gospel with at least one soul today. Be aggressive in evangelism
MEMORISE: Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19
READ: Matthew 9:36-38
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 5:17-8:14
MESSAGE:
Our God is a counting God who is interested in numbers. He is interested in your advancement. He is interested in your prosperity, peace of mind and growth. Candidly, God is interested in the growth of His Church – local, national and global. There are many secrets of church growth which include: good biblical leadership, mobilising the congregation, a balanced spiritual diet, prayer, faith, answers to prayers, evangelistic outreaches, creativity & resourcefulness, finance etc. Are you a Christian worker or a minister of the gospel? Is your church or parish a growing church? For a church to grow, she must be interested in growth. Such a church must cater for the needs of the spirit, soul and body of her members. There is real fellowship in a growing church. It must be blessed with an obedient Pastor, who is a positive thinker. A growing church is committed to reaching the unreached for Christ and using evangelistic methods that work.
Aggressive evangelism is a secret of church growth. It is a process whereby the presentation of the gospel is done zealously, compassionately and in a Christ-like manner. Aggressive evangelism takes two forms which are: aggressive personal evangelism and aggressive mass evangelism (i.e. evangelism to a group of people). Are you a soul winner? Soul winners are wise. Aggressive evangelism is what sincere soul winners practice. This requires genuine consecration, commitment and resolute determination. Aggressive evangelism is a secret of church growth for many reasons. First, it produces abundant and lasting results. Second, it embraces all the other principles of church growth. Third, it motivates Christians to pray.
Fourth, it succeeds where other methods fail. For aggressive evangelism to be effective, there must be thorough preparation. This includes spiritual preparation in form of prayer and fasting, humility, obedience to the voice of the Spirit, holiness, consecration and willingness to do the work. There should also be physical preparation in the form of audience analysis, getting the site for the outreach and forming a committee that will assist in the work. The message of aggressive evangelism should be heart-felt and presented with conviction (Acts 2:36). It must be Spirit-inspired in order to bring about repentance and joy (Acts 8:5-8). Finally, the fruits of aggressive evangelism (souls) must be guarded jealously and preserved in love till they meet Christ in glory. This is made possible through equally aggressive follow-up and discipleship. A church that engages in aggressive evangelism will grow spiritually and numerically, and Christ’s Name will be glorified.
ACTION POINT: Share the gospel with at least one soul today. Be aggressive in evangelism
Saturday, 11 October 2014
His Name is Wonderful 11/102014
His Name is Wonderful 11/102014
MEMORISE: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
READ: Isaiah 9:6–7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 3:1-5:16
MESSAGE:
One of the names of Jesus is Wonderful. That name denotes miracles. In this name is deliverance. Deliverance from an unclean spirit is a miracle. Mark 1:23–26, tells us the story of a man with an unclean spirit. A single demon inhabiting a man can be a terrible situation. But thank God that He has the power to set the captives free. The man came in contact with the Lord and he was free. The situation becomes more serious when a person is possessed by several demons. Luke 8:2 says,
“And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,”
Mary Magdalene had seven demons inhabiting her. If a woman with one single demon would be considered a witch, a woman with seven demons will be a chief among witches. Now, try and comprehend the situation of a man who had a legion or six thousand demons inhabiting him. In Mark 5:1–15, a man who was possessed by at least six thousand demons was delivered. Such can only be described as wonderful. It doesn’t matter how many demons are troubling you, in the Name that is above every other name, you are going to be free.
Let me narrate the true story of a highly educated man, who for one reason or the other was taken over by certain demons. The day they brought him, I thought they had brought a mad man. The way he was looking and everything about him showed signs of a seriously possessed person. Then he began to tell his story. If he scratched his head, cockroaches would come out. If he put his hand into his ear, a butterfly could come out, and he wasn’t a magician. He said, “Just look at it, any part of the body I scratch, an insect will come out”. I told him that I know someone who could set a man free from Legions, regardless of how many they are. At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. I prayed a simple prayer and he left. Two weeks later, he came back. I couldn’t recognise him; he had been completely transformed! That name “Wonderful” is also demonstrated through the miracle of raising the dead. Raising a person who has just died takes a miracle (Mark 5:35-42). Raising someone who is about to buried will take a bigger miracle (Luke 7:11-16). However, raising someone who has been dead and buried for four days is wonderful (John 11:39-45). Lazarus was not just dead. He was dead, buried and rotten. But there is a God. He is the One who can reverse the irreversible. He raised Lazarus from the dead. Has anything been pronounced dead in your life? This same God will attend to your case.
ACTION POINT: Call on that name ‘Wonderful’ to bring to life everything that is dead and buried in your life.
MEMORISE: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21
READ: Isaiah 9:6–7
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 3:1-5:16
MESSAGE:
One of the names of Jesus is Wonderful. That name denotes miracles. In this name is deliverance. Deliverance from an unclean spirit is a miracle. Mark 1:23–26, tells us the story of a man with an unclean spirit. A single demon inhabiting a man can be a terrible situation. But thank God that He has the power to set the captives free. The man came in contact with the Lord and he was free. The situation becomes more serious when a person is possessed by several demons. Luke 8:2 says,
“And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,”
Mary Magdalene had seven demons inhabiting her. If a woman with one single demon would be considered a witch, a woman with seven demons will be a chief among witches. Now, try and comprehend the situation of a man who had a legion or six thousand demons inhabiting him. In Mark 5:1–15, a man who was possessed by at least six thousand demons was delivered. Such can only be described as wonderful. It doesn’t matter how many demons are troubling you, in the Name that is above every other name, you are going to be free.
Let me narrate the true story of a highly educated man, who for one reason or the other was taken over by certain demons. The day they brought him, I thought they had brought a mad man. The way he was looking and everything about him showed signs of a seriously possessed person. Then he began to tell his story. If he scratched his head, cockroaches would come out. If he put his hand into his ear, a butterfly could come out, and he wasn’t a magician. He said, “Just look at it, any part of the body I scratch, an insect will come out”. I told him that I know someone who could set a man free from Legions, regardless of how many they are. At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow. I prayed a simple prayer and he left. Two weeks later, he came back. I couldn’t recognise him; he had been completely transformed! That name “Wonderful” is also demonstrated through the miracle of raising the dead. Raising a person who has just died takes a miracle (Mark 5:35-42). Raising someone who is about to buried will take a bigger miracle (Luke 7:11-16). However, raising someone who has been dead and buried for four days is wonderful (John 11:39-45). Lazarus was not just dead. He was dead, buried and rotten. But there is a God. He is the One who can reverse the irreversible. He raised Lazarus from the dead. Has anything been pronounced dead in your life? This same God will attend to your case.
ACTION POINT: Call on that name ‘Wonderful’ to bring to life everything that is dead and buried in your life.
Friday, 10 October 2014
Identifying Pride 10/10/2014
Identifying Pride 10/10/2014
MEMORISE: And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12
READ: Isaiah 14:12-17
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 1-2
MESSAGE:
One of the most subtle and hazardous problems of leadership is the peril of pride. The very fact that a man has risen to a position of leadership with its attendant prominence tends to engender secret self-congratulation and pride which if not checked, will make such a fellow unfit for further advancement in the service of God’s kingdom. Pride is a fundamental sin that aims at enthroning self at the expense of God. Pride was the sin that converted Lucifer from an anointed cherub and guardian of the throne of God, to the devil – the leader of evil and the most cruel and unpleasant spirit. It was this same pride that caused the expulsion of Lucifer from Heaven. Isaiah 14:12 says,
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
Pride is subtle. It is a sin whose presence its victim is least conscious of. This hydra-headed spiritual monstrosity assumes various forms. The most abhorrent of these forms is spiritual pride. Since pride is a subtle sin, how can you discover whether or not you have succumbed to its flatteries? First, spiritual pride manifests itself mostly in Christian service. To identify whether you manifest pride in your service or not, you should endeavour to sincerely answer these questions: How do you react when another person is selected for the assignment you expected? How do you react when another person is promoted and you are overlooked? How do you react when another person outshines you in gifts and accomplishments? Secondly, be honest. How do you feel when others, especially your rivals say negative things about you? Thirdly, submit yourself to the test of criticism. This is part of the price that must be paid daily by a leader. No leader is exempted from criticism. It should be noted that there is nothing else that so kills the efficiency, capability and initiative of a leader as unhelpful, destructive criticism. It tends to hamper and undercut the efficiency of a man’s thinking process. It chips away at his self-respect and undermines his confidence in his ability to cope with his responsibilities. However, criticism is equally a powerful instrument in assessing the presence of pride in a leader’s life. The pride or humility of a leader can be clearly seen in the leader’s reaction to criticisms. To identify the presence of pride in your life, you should ask if criticism causes hostility and resentment in your heart, causes you to immediately try to justify yourself and if you hasten to respond by in turn criticising the critic.
ACTION POINT: To overcome the peril of pride, you should be honest and measure yourself by the life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who humbled Himself, even to death on the cross.
MEMORISE: And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12
READ: Isaiah 14:12-17
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Samuel 1-2
MESSAGE:
One of the most subtle and hazardous problems of leadership is the peril of pride. The very fact that a man has risen to a position of leadership with its attendant prominence tends to engender secret self-congratulation and pride which if not checked, will make such a fellow unfit for further advancement in the service of God’s kingdom. Pride is a fundamental sin that aims at enthroning self at the expense of God. Pride was the sin that converted Lucifer from an anointed cherub and guardian of the throne of God, to the devil – the leader of evil and the most cruel and unpleasant spirit. It was this same pride that caused the expulsion of Lucifer from Heaven. Isaiah 14:12 says,
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”
Pride is subtle. It is a sin whose presence its victim is least conscious of. This hydra-headed spiritual monstrosity assumes various forms. The most abhorrent of these forms is spiritual pride. Since pride is a subtle sin, how can you discover whether or not you have succumbed to its flatteries? First, spiritual pride manifests itself mostly in Christian service. To identify whether you manifest pride in your service or not, you should endeavour to sincerely answer these questions: How do you react when another person is selected for the assignment you expected? How do you react when another person is promoted and you are overlooked? How do you react when another person outshines you in gifts and accomplishments? Secondly, be honest. How do you feel when others, especially your rivals say negative things about you? Thirdly, submit yourself to the test of criticism. This is part of the price that must be paid daily by a leader. No leader is exempted from criticism. It should be noted that there is nothing else that so kills the efficiency, capability and initiative of a leader as unhelpful, destructive criticism. It tends to hamper and undercut the efficiency of a man’s thinking process. It chips away at his self-respect and undermines his confidence in his ability to cope with his responsibilities. However, criticism is equally a powerful instrument in assessing the presence of pride in a leader’s life. The pride or humility of a leader can be clearly seen in the leader’s reaction to criticisms. To identify the presence of pride in your life, you should ask if criticism causes hostility and resentment in your heart, causes you to immediately try to justify yourself and if you hasten to respond by in turn criticising the critic.
ACTION POINT: To overcome the peril of pride, you should be honest and measure yourself by the life of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who humbled Himself, even to death on the cross.
Monday, 6 October 2014
A Soldier of the Cross -6/10/2014
A Soldier of the Cross -6/10/2014
MEMORISE: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3
READ: 2 Timothy 2:1-7
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 21-23
MESSAGE:
I believe that knowledge and wisdom are crucial to our greatness in life. Simply put, knowledge is information that is censored by intelligence, while wisdom is the right application of knowledge. One piece of knowledge every child of God should have is the fact that every sincere Christian is a soldier of the cross. Christians are combatants, and we are expected to be equipped for battle. Ephesians 6:11 says,
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
The first group of enemies Christians wrestle against are principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). It is our duty as soldiers of the cross to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). A saint is holy, and the faith delivered to the saints is of great value. Therefore, no evil conduct must be found or even mentioned among soldiers of the cross. How should a soldier of the cross live? We are to resist the devil (James 4:7). Resisting an opposing force is serious business. Whoever will resist the devil should first and foremost submit himself or herself to God. Prioritise only the needful in your life and let God be your first priority. As soldiers of the cross, the principle of proper prioritisation is relevant to our growth in Christ. Someone once said the reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first. Many Christians find it difficult to make God their first priority because petty and mundane matters steal much of their time. Unfortunately, many are living for the wrong things. They fail to know that part of being wise is to know what to overlook. If God will be your Number One, there are many things you will have to flee from or refuse to touch.
One of such things is sexual immorality. The scripture enjoins us to flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18). In the same vein, we should flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). A Christian soldier knows, as Paul did, that all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. As a soldier of the cross, it is your duty to be sober, vigilant and watchful. You should set your affection on heavenly things, not on the mundane (Colossians 3:2). Soldiers of the cross are the elect of God and should therefore put on the attributes of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering. We should learn to bear with one another and to forgive one another. Finally, every soldier of the cross is expected to demonstrate the true love of God. You should also be thankful and allow the peace of God to rule in your heart.
ACTION POINT: Spend quality time in worship and in singing spiritual songs with grace in your heart to God.
MEMORISE: Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Timothy 2:3
READ: 2 Timothy 2:1-7
1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 21-23
MESSAGE:
I believe that knowledge and wisdom are crucial to our greatness in life. Simply put, knowledge is information that is censored by intelligence, while wisdom is the right application of knowledge. One piece of knowledge every child of God should have is the fact that every sincere Christian is a soldier of the cross. Christians are combatants, and we are expected to be equipped for battle. Ephesians 6:11 says,
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
The first group of enemies Christians wrestle against are principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). It is our duty as soldiers of the cross to earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints (Jude 3). A saint is holy, and the faith delivered to the saints is of great value. Therefore, no evil conduct must be found or even mentioned among soldiers of the cross. How should a soldier of the cross live? We are to resist the devil (James 4:7). Resisting an opposing force is serious business. Whoever will resist the devil should first and foremost submit himself or herself to God. Prioritise only the needful in your life and let God be your first priority. As soldiers of the cross, the principle of proper prioritisation is relevant to our growth in Christ. Someone once said the reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first. Many Christians find it difficult to make God their first priority because petty and mundane matters steal much of their time. Unfortunately, many are living for the wrong things. They fail to know that part of being wise is to know what to overlook. If God will be your Number One, there are many things you will have to flee from or refuse to touch.
One of such things is sexual immorality. The scripture enjoins us to flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18). In the same vein, we should flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14). A Christian soldier knows, as Paul did, that all things are lawful, but not all things are expedient. As a soldier of the cross, it is your duty to be sober, vigilant and watchful. You should set your affection on heavenly things, not on the mundane (Colossians 3:2). Soldiers of the cross are the elect of God and should therefore put on the attributes of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness and longsuffering. We should learn to bear with one another and to forgive one another. Finally, every soldier of the cross is expected to demonstrate the true love of God. You should also be thankful and allow the peace of God to rule in your heart.
ACTION POINT: Spend quality time in worship and in singing spiritual songs with grace in your heart to God.
Sunday, 5 October 2014
A Professional or An Amateur? - 5/10/2014
A Professional or An Amateur? - 5/10/2014
MEMORISE: And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. 1 Chronicles 12:32
READ: 1 Chronicles 11:11-25
11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
14 And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.
15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.
17 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
20 And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
21 Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
23 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
25 Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 18:17-20:42
MESSAGE:
Success in life, business and ministry does not come easy. Success is realising God’s desires for you and responding obediently in order to reach your maximum potential. Attainment of success is determined by multiple factors, but it takes a combination of drive, patience, energy, a ‘can do’ attitude, efficiency and toughness to be successful. Slothfulness is one of the worst enemies of success. Proverbs 18:9 says:
“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”
Do you want to be successful in your chosen field? Be professional and avoid slothfulness. The two things that differentiate a professional from an amateur in any discipline are: thought patterns and the order of prioritisation. Though there is no single behavioural characteristic alone that can be said to lead consistently to success, there appears to be quite a consistency of behavioural patterns among successful people.
For one, all successful people are intensely interested in their ventures. They are disciplined, focused and sincere disciples of their trade. Moreover, a very successful person has a feeling of personal adequacy. They all have the attribute of “I can do it if I try hard enough”. In addition, successful people are hardworking people. A sense of direction is another secret of success. A sense of direction urges action, shapes action, allows the value of action to be assessed and allows decisions to be made more easily. All highly successful people are both effective and efficient. They do things right and manage their time and resources very efficiently. They never stand still and expect things to fall into place. It must be said also that there can be no success without the personal attribute of honesty, sincerity and integrity. All successful people are goal-setters and go-getters. They set short term goals but more importantly, long term goals. Another important trait of successful people is that they are creative. Success comes as a result of generating new ideas, seeing things differently, and mobilising profitable ideas to get results. Finally, production, enthusiasm and commitment to make things happen are critical to success. A lethargic person who is not interested in innovation and production cannot be successful. Who are you, and how prepared are you for good success? Are you a professional or an amateur?
ACTION POINT: Outstanding success is of God and mediocrity is not righteousness. Pray and plan to be successful in your chosen profession.
MEMORISE: And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment. 1 Chronicles 12:32
READ: 1 Chronicles 11:11-25
11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
12 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
13 He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
14 And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great deliverance.
15 Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16 And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Bethlehem.
17 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, that is at the gate!
18 And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the LORD,
19 And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
20 And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
21 Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
22 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
23 And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
24 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
25 Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 18:17-20:42
MESSAGE:
Success in life, business and ministry does not come easy. Success is realising God’s desires for you and responding obediently in order to reach your maximum potential. Attainment of success is determined by multiple factors, but it takes a combination of drive, patience, energy, a ‘can do’ attitude, efficiency and toughness to be successful. Slothfulness is one of the worst enemies of success. Proverbs 18:9 says:
“He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.”
Do you want to be successful in your chosen field? Be professional and avoid slothfulness. The two things that differentiate a professional from an amateur in any discipline are: thought patterns and the order of prioritisation. Though there is no single behavioural characteristic alone that can be said to lead consistently to success, there appears to be quite a consistency of behavioural patterns among successful people.
For one, all successful people are intensely interested in their ventures. They are disciplined, focused and sincere disciples of their trade. Moreover, a very successful person has a feeling of personal adequacy. They all have the attribute of “I can do it if I try hard enough”. In addition, successful people are hardworking people. A sense of direction is another secret of success. A sense of direction urges action, shapes action, allows the value of action to be assessed and allows decisions to be made more easily. All highly successful people are both effective and efficient. They do things right and manage their time and resources very efficiently. They never stand still and expect things to fall into place. It must be said also that there can be no success without the personal attribute of honesty, sincerity and integrity. All successful people are goal-setters and go-getters. They set short term goals but more importantly, long term goals. Another important trait of successful people is that they are creative. Success comes as a result of generating new ideas, seeing things differently, and mobilising profitable ideas to get results. Finally, production, enthusiasm and commitment to make things happen are critical to success. A lethargic person who is not interested in innovation and production cannot be successful. Who are you, and how prepared are you for good success? Are you a professional or an amateur?
ACTION POINT: Outstanding success is of God and mediocrity is not righteousness. Pray and plan to be successful in your chosen profession.
Saturday, 4 October 2014
Social Deviants!- 4/10/2014
Social Deviants!- 4/10/2014
MEMORISE: Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 1 Peter 4:2
READ: Acts 17:5-9
5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
6 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;
7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 17:1-18:16
MESSAGE:
A Christian can be described as a little Christ. While on earth, Christ exhibited integrity in all His utterances and actions. He said His children would do greater works. Are you born-again? Are you a true child of God? With self-discipline and appropriate preparation, you can become effective in exhibiting integrity. Integrity as a way of life and our effectiveness in every field depends on the measure of our preparation. The more prepared we are, the more effective we become. Therefore, to become effective in exhibiting integrity, you must be prepared.
God’s standard for His children is perfection (Matthew 5:48). It is pathetic to note that many societies lack integrity. In a society where integrity has become a scarce commodity, a person of integrity is sometimes seen as a social deviant. Occasionally, efforts are made by bad elements of such societies to neutralise his or her influence. This can be by subtle or outright persecution, imposition of sanctions, or by a collective effort to undermine his or her personality. History confirms however that a person of integrity is always a winner. Why? He or she is consistent and credible. Are you a person of integrity? Credibility defines integrity. The benefit of integrity is confidence and the ability to influence others positively. The more credible you are, the more confidence people place in you, thereby granting you the privilege of influencing their lives. The contrast is also true. The less credible you are as a person, the less confidence people place in you, and the more quickly you lose your position of influence. Are you a Christian leader? The secret to rising and not falling is integrity.
Integrity is germane to your success in ministry. There is no denying the fact that the more credible you are, the longer your staying power and the more successful your ministry will be. In the same vein, the less credible you are, the shorter your staying power and the less successful your ministry will be. Every leader needs integrity because it builds trust. A man must have followers in order to be a leader. In order to have followers, a leader must have their confidence. Hence, the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, whether it is in a church, on a football field, in an army barrack or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of being a phony, if they find out that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. Your teachings and actions must square up with each other. Society may see them as deviants but the first great need of a Christian leader is integrity and high purpose. Are you viewed as a social deviant? Don’t lose your integrity.
KEY POINT: A man’s character determines the character of his organisation. Be a person of integrity.
Friday, 3 October 2014
Integrity- 3/10/2014
Integrity- 3/10/2014
MEMORISE: Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matthew 3:8
READ: Matthew 7:15-20
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 14:47-16:23
MESSAGE:
It is pathetic but true: integrity is a scarce commodity nowadays. The unvarnished truth is that almost all nations parade those who plead guilty to fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, immoralities, perjury, making of false statements and other criminal acts. Modern society is in dire need of people of integrity. A person is identified by his or her integrity. Matthew 7:16 says:
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
What is integrity? Integrity can be defined as steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. It is a state of being unimpaired of soundness; the quality of being whole or of having undivided completeness. Integrity is a synonym for honesty. It manifests itself as what is called incorruptibility.
Are you corrupt or incorruptible? Are you a man or woman of integrity? There are certain things to note about integrity. First, integrity is a skill: It is a practical skill. It is the ability to practice honesty and to exhibit moral courage in all ramifications. As with all skills, integrity is developed and learned over time. Integrity is a trait that is taught and learned over an entire lifetime. We need men and women of integrity in our society. Integrity can be integrated into a society through sound ideological precepts and practices. Secondly, integrity is a guideline, a benchmark, point of reference or a goal that is used to make decisions based on truth and honesty. To maintain integrity, a person must remember to refer to truth and honesty in all decisions, thoughts, actions and reactions. Thirdly, integrity can be described as a great tower. It is something that a person builds and maintains over a lifetime. May I ask: when will you begin to build your own tower of integrity? Fourthly, integrity can be considered as a seed. It is planted in childhood, watered in youth and blossoms in adulthood. The more a person waters this seed throughout life, the more it grows and blossoms. Just as it is with plants, if integrity is neglected at any point, it will wither and die. Integrity requires constant maintenance. A man or woman of integrity can be likened to a janitor. As a janitor cleans and straightens rooms for a living, a person of integrity should maintain true integrity through daily self-assessment in moral and financial probity. The fifth point to note is that integrity is delicate. If care is not taken, integrity can be eroded, lost or compromised beyond recognition in a person’s life.
Integrity means what a person says and what he or she does are the same; the results are consistent.
Are you a person of integrity?
ACTION POINT: Resolve to maintain integrity in all your thoughts, utterances and actions from today.
MEMORISE: Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: Matthew 3:8
READ: Matthew 7:15-20
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 14:47-16:23
MESSAGE:
It is pathetic but true: integrity is a scarce commodity nowadays. The unvarnished truth is that almost all nations parade those who plead guilty to fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, immoralities, perjury, making of false statements and other criminal acts. Modern society is in dire need of people of integrity. A person is identified by his or her integrity. Matthew 7:16 says:
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
What is integrity? Integrity can be defined as steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. It is a state of being unimpaired of soundness; the quality of being whole or of having undivided completeness. Integrity is a synonym for honesty. It manifests itself as what is called incorruptibility.
Are you corrupt or incorruptible? Are you a man or woman of integrity? There are certain things to note about integrity. First, integrity is a skill: It is a practical skill. It is the ability to practice honesty and to exhibit moral courage in all ramifications. As with all skills, integrity is developed and learned over time. Integrity is a trait that is taught and learned over an entire lifetime. We need men and women of integrity in our society. Integrity can be integrated into a society through sound ideological precepts and practices. Secondly, integrity is a guideline, a benchmark, point of reference or a goal that is used to make decisions based on truth and honesty. To maintain integrity, a person must remember to refer to truth and honesty in all decisions, thoughts, actions and reactions. Thirdly, integrity can be described as a great tower. It is something that a person builds and maintains over a lifetime. May I ask: when will you begin to build your own tower of integrity? Fourthly, integrity can be considered as a seed. It is planted in childhood, watered in youth and blossoms in adulthood. The more a person waters this seed throughout life, the more it grows and blossoms. Just as it is with plants, if integrity is neglected at any point, it will wither and die. Integrity requires constant maintenance. A man or woman of integrity can be likened to a janitor. As a janitor cleans and straightens rooms for a living, a person of integrity should maintain true integrity through daily self-assessment in moral and financial probity. The fifth point to note is that integrity is delicate. If care is not taken, integrity can be eroded, lost or compromised beyond recognition in a person’s life.
Integrity means what a person says and what he or she does are the same; the results are consistent.
Are you a person of integrity?
ACTION POINT: Resolve to maintain integrity in all your thoughts, utterances and actions from today.
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Are You A Spiritual Leader? 2/10/2014
Are You A Spiritual Leader? 2/10/2014
MEMORISE: This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 1 Timothy 3:1
READ: Mark 10:35-44
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 13:8-14:46
MESSAGE:
Leadership is a subject everyone talks about. It’s a pity however that only few understand it. Most people want to be leaders but only few achieve it. What is leadership? What is spiritual leadership? It can be deduced from today’s Bible reading that spiritual leadership is not the same as inordinate ambition. Inordinate ambition denotes canvassing for promotion with the motive of being seen and approved of by men. Such a person desires to be popular, to stand tall among one’s contemporaries and to exercise control over others. It is perilous to put an ambitious man in office. Ambitious men enjoy the powers that money or authority gives. They lobby for promotion and are carnally minded.
This kind of attitude is strongly discouraged by the scriptures (1 Peter 5:2-3). God and men are constantly searching for leaders who are willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience. There is a rising need for leadership that is authoritative, spiritual and sacrificial. Spiritual leadership is not won by promotion but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confession of sin, soul searching and a humble attitude before God. It is attained by self-surrender, a courageous elimination of every idol, a bold, undying, uncompromising and uncomplaining embrace of the cross, and also by an eternal, unfaltering focus on Jesus Christ. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but rather by counting all things as loss for Christ.
Are you a spiritual leader? Follow the Master’s master principles for effective leadership.
What are the Master’s master principles for effective leadership? The first is the principle of dependence. Jesus voluntarily emptied Himself, surrendering His privileges and the independent exercise of His will to God. His dependence upon the Father was voluntary (Philippians 2:7).
Secondly, there is the principle of approval. Jesus was approved of God. To excel as a spiritual leader, you need the approval of the Almighty (Acts 2:22).The third principle is the principle of modesty. Christ was modest. A spiritual leader should not be strident and flamboyant, but modest and unassuming. Fourthly, we have the principle of empathy. Leadership involves being sympathetic and understanding with the weak and erring. The fifth principle is the principle of optimism. Jesus was full of faith. Leadership requires hope and optimism since a true servant of God battles with the powers of darkness. A pessimist cannot make an inspiring leader. The sixth principle is the principle of the anointing. Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power. Leadership requires a touch of the supernatural (Acts 10:38).
ACTION POINT: Decide to follow the Master’s master principles for effective leadership today.
MEMORISE: This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 1 Timothy 3:1
READ: Mark 10:35-44
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 13:8-14:46
Leadership is a subject everyone talks about. It’s a pity however that only few understand it. Most people want to be leaders but only few achieve it. What is leadership? What is spiritual leadership? It can be deduced from today’s Bible reading that spiritual leadership is not the same as inordinate ambition. Inordinate ambition denotes canvassing for promotion with the motive of being seen and approved of by men. Such a person desires to be popular, to stand tall among one’s contemporaries and to exercise control over others. It is perilous to put an ambitious man in office. Ambitious men enjoy the powers that money or authority gives. They lobby for promotion and are carnally minded.
This kind of attitude is strongly discouraged by the scriptures (1 Peter 5:2-3). God and men are constantly searching for leaders who are willing to suffer for the sake of objectives great enough to demand their wholehearted obedience. There is a rising need for leadership that is authoritative, spiritual and sacrificial. Spiritual leadership is not won by promotion but by many prayers and tears. It is attained by confession of sin, soul searching and a humble attitude before God. It is attained by self-surrender, a courageous elimination of every idol, a bold, undying, uncompromising and uncomplaining embrace of the cross, and also by an eternal, unfaltering focus on Jesus Christ. It is not gained by seeking great things for ourselves, but rather by counting all things as loss for Christ.
Are you a spiritual leader? Follow the Master’s master principles for effective leadership.
What are the Master’s master principles for effective leadership? The first is the principle of dependence. Jesus voluntarily emptied Himself, surrendering His privileges and the independent exercise of His will to God. His dependence upon the Father was voluntary (Philippians 2:7).
Secondly, there is the principle of approval. Jesus was approved of God. To excel as a spiritual leader, you need the approval of the Almighty (Acts 2:22).The third principle is the principle of modesty. Christ was modest. A spiritual leader should not be strident and flamboyant, but modest and unassuming. Fourthly, we have the principle of empathy. Leadership involves being sympathetic and understanding with the weak and erring. The fifth principle is the principle of optimism. Jesus was full of faith. Leadership requires hope and optimism since a true servant of God battles with the powers of darkness. A pessimist cannot make an inspiring leader. The sixth principle is the principle of the anointing. Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power. Leadership requires a touch of the supernatural (Acts 10:38).
ACTION POINT: Decide to follow the Master’s master principles for effective leadership today.
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Beware Of This Enemy: Procrastination - 1/9/2014
Beware Of This Enemy: Procrastination - 1/9/2014
MEMORISE: Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
READ: Luke 9:59-6259 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
One of the worst enemies of progress in life, business and ministry is procrastination. To procrastinate is to put off a currently required action until a future time. It means to defer or to postpone. Procrastination is an attitudinal problem. It is a character flaw that affects millions of people in every walk of life. While it is regarded as normal for people to procrastinate, it can become a problem that hinders progress in life. It affects critical decisions such as accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and many other important things. It is dangerous for a Christian to procrastinate because procrastination can result in loss of fellowship and opportunities. It can also cause loss of souls which should have been won. The dangerous effect of procrastination is lamented in Jeremiah 8:20:
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
KEY POINT: The best way to do things is to do them at the proper time. Stop procrastinating.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 10:17-13:7
There are many reasons why people procrastinate. First is because of their personal convenience (Acts 24:25). This is a major reason many people fail in life, education, business, family and ministry. It is also the reason many do not give their lives to Christ immediately they hear the word of God. Laziness is another reason for procrastination (Proverbs 26:13-16). Many people put off indefinitely what they could have done presently as a result of indolence. A slothful man has many flimsy excuses for procrastinating. These range from imaginary fear to complaints that he or she lacks encouragement. Another reason for procrastination is worldly entanglements (Genesis 19:16, Matthew 19:20-22). Consideration of family pressure at the expense of God’s business could also lead to procrastination of God’s business. A reader of this devotional, who has the call of God upon his life, finds it difficult to surrender his all to God and go into full-time ministry because of family pressure. God should be topmost on your scale of preference at all times. Family pressure, as serious as it could be, should not be considered at the expense of God’s business. Learn a lesson from Elisha. As soon as the mantle fell on him, he ran after Elijah, turning his back on his family business (1 Kings 19:19-20). Another cause of procrastination is environmental distractions. Procrastination can be solved through proper planning and constant reminders (Luke 14:28). Priorities should be set right. Self-discipline could also help against procrastination when applied in areas such as eating, talking, watching TV or movies, use of telephones and other sources of distractions. It is always better to seize the moment and maximize every given opportunity to complete tasks and achieve goals.
MEMORISE: Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1
READ: Luke 9:59-6259 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.
61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
One of the worst enemies of progress in life, business and ministry is procrastination. To procrastinate is to put off a currently required action until a future time. It means to defer or to postpone. Procrastination is an attitudinal problem. It is a character flaw that affects millions of people in every walk of life. While it is regarded as normal for people to procrastinate, it can become a problem that hinders progress in life. It affects critical decisions such as accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and many other important things. It is dangerous for a Christian to procrastinate because procrastination can result in loss of fellowship and opportunities. It can also cause loss of souls which should have been won. The dangerous effect of procrastination is lamented in Jeremiah 8:20:
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.”
KEY POINT: The best way to do things is to do them at the proper time. Stop procrastinating.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Samuel 10:17-13:7
MESSAGE:
There are many reasons why people procrastinate. First is because of their personal convenience (Acts 24:25). This is a major reason many people fail in life, education, business, family and ministry. It is also the reason many do not give their lives to Christ immediately they hear the word of God. Laziness is another reason for procrastination (Proverbs 26:13-16). Many people put off indefinitely what they could have done presently as a result of indolence. A slothful man has many flimsy excuses for procrastinating. These range from imaginary fear to complaints that he or she lacks encouragement. Another reason for procrastination is worldly entanglements (Genesis 19:16, Matthew 19:20-22). Consideration of family pressure at the expense of God’s business could also lead to procrastination of God’s business. A reader of this devotional, who has the call of God upon his life, finds it difficult to surrender his all to God and go into full-time ministry because of family pressure. God should be topmost on your scale of preference at all times. Family pressure, as serious as it could be, should not be considered at the expense of God’s business. Learn a lesson from Elisha. As soon as the mantle fell on him, he ran after Elijah, turning his back on his family business (1 Kings 19:19-20). Another cause of procrastination is environmental distractions. Procrastination can be solved through proper planning and constant reminders (Luke 14:28). Priorities should be set right. Self-discipline could also help against procrastination when applied in areas such as eating, talking, watching TV or movies, use of telephones and other sources of distractions. It is always better to seize the moment and maximize every given opportunity to complete tasks and achieve goals.
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