THU, 30/06/2011 - - WIDESPREAD HEALING POSSIBLE

Thursday, June 30, 2011

WIDESPREAD HEALING POSSIBLE

Memorise: "And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee." (Exodus 15:26)

  

Read: Psalm 105:37-38 

  

When you take the Holy Communion, God will arise on your behalf. The invitation to eat at God's table is really an opportunity for the Most High God to arise and fight for you. This season, the Lord who fought for the children of Israel, will arise and fight for you. If the experience of the Israelites is anything to go by, it is that when they were asked to take the Passover meal, it was to move God to arise against their pains, sickness and diseases. If there were a people who knew pain, it was the Israelites. Exodus 1:11-12 says that they were so afflicted that they adjusted until it became a normal way of life. So, in spite of their afflictions, beatings and torments, they continued to multiply. In the process of being beaten, many of them were inflicted with wounds and intense pain. A number of them would have become sick as a result, but none of their task-masters cared. Sick or not, work must be done. There was no way a sick and weak people could embark on a long trip. There was therefore, need to heal not just a few, but the whole nation. So, when the Lord arose on their behalf, after the Passover meal, He healed a whole nation in a moment (Ps 105:37). By the time they were leaving Egypt, not one of them was sickly.

If a nation could get healed of every form of disease or sickness in one night after the Passover meal, then it is possible for a community, tribe, clan, or family to be healed. Certain sicknesses affect whole families and even go up to several generations. For instance, in some families, there are repeated deaths by a sickness such as diabetes. A particular man suffered for many years from diabetes. After so much money had been spent in the best of hospitals, he died. A few years later, his first son began to battle with the same sickness. It took God for him to survive it. Is your family afflicted by a particular sickness? I bring you good news: by partaking in the Holy Communion and with the prayer of faith, you and your family can be healed. Release your faith today as you attend the next Communion service and you shall be healed together with every member of your household.

Prayer Point:

Father, as I partake of the next Holy Communion, heal me and my family of every sickness.

WED, 29/06/2011 - - FAMINE UPLIFTS

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

FAMINE UPLIFTS

Memorise: "And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great:" (Gen 26:13).

  

Read: Genesis 41:37-44 

  

As bad as economy-based famines may appear, some are really blessings in disguise. One lesson here is that some famines are meant to add value to you and make you more relevant to your world. One Bible character whose life was boosted by a famine was Isaac. Until the famine, there was nothing significant about his wealth and status. He could still pass off as an ordinary man. Then came famine! The gains during the dry period affected him so much that his life was never the same afterwards. His greatness and possessions so increased that he became the envy of everyone in the land of the Philistines. He became wealthier than a nation! The blessing and covenant of being a lender to nation was fulfilled in his life during a famine. Do you know that wealth far beyond your dreams can come to you during a famine?

Similarly, a famine can be God's avenue for the fulfilment of pending prophecies or promises. Let us take Joseph as a case in point. For several years, Joseph wondered when God would fulfil His dreams of greatness. When the time came finally, God used an imminent seven-year famine period to move him from prison to the status of prime minister. Has God made you certain promises and you are wondering whether they will ever come to pass? If so, do not be afraid of famines as long as you are living to His pleasing. That famine could be the medium by which God intends to fulfil that pending prophecy in your life. Moreover, while famines take many down, some are lifted up. The same famine that impoverished Gerar, enriched Isaac. The same famine that impoverished the Egyptians and residents of neighbouring countries enriched Joseph and his family. From today, as others are going down in terms of reserves, wealth and relevance during famines, you will be going up. While others are begging for food around you, you will have more than enough to eat and to give out. Famines will work in your favour. Famines will become avenues to uncover your hidden talents for the benefit of mankind. Celebration is yours during famines from now on.

Prayer Point:

Father, as You used a famine to raise Joseph from being a nobody to a somebody, use the present famine situation to move me from being nobody into somebody.

TUE, 28/06/2011 - - SIN CHANGES EVERYTHING

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

SIN CHANGES EVERYTHING

Memorise: "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." (Gen 3:19).

  

Read: Genesis 3:17-19 

  

After God created Adam, he ruled as a king over the whole earth. He named all the animals with his God-given, unparalleled wisdom. Everything went well and was peaceful. In addition, he regularly received his heavenly visitor - God. All he needed had been provided ever before he was created. Then came sin! The man who wanted to be like God was reduced to dust. While meting out judgement to them, God told him, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return" (Gen 3:19). Nothing debases a man like sin! Sin can relocate the one on the mountain top to the valley! The moment sin surfaced, everything on earth changed. Suddenly, man realized that he was naked. The animals also realized they could now govern themselves and did not need to be under the control of men. The ground hardened up as it resolved to reduce man's harvest. The heavens seemed to move farther from man as divine visitations now become a rarity. Sin changed everything!

There are some people who are still looking at their mother-in-law, or at one relative somewhere as the root cause of their problems, whereas they fail to see the real culprit-sin-which they are carrying about with them. They are busy chasing shadows. Face reality! Is sin in your life? If yes, you are the one undoing yourself. It is an irony that people can go to any length searching for invisible enemies, whereas the visible enemy they are harbouring has become 'invisible' to them. In the Garden of Eden, sin brought nakedness. It also brought disgrace and sweating. Until man's fall, there was no sweat. Progress was without sweat. Little effort delivered great results. But when sin came, great efforts delivered very little result. It was all work, much sweat and little or no progress. Have you not noticed that your gossiping, backbiting and jesting are working against you? As long as you refuse to cut off from sin-lies and deceit-you may continue to retrogress. Check yourself and pinpoint the sin that is hindering your life. Repent and ask God for forgiveness, resolving never to return to it. Live right before God while asking for your covenant benefits.

Key Point:

Sin and righteousness are two things that can rewrite one's destiny, but from opposite angles. Choose righteousness!

MON, 27/06/2011 - - ENDURING FAITHFULNESS

Monday, June 27, 2011

ENDURING FAITHFULNESS

Memorise: "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." (Matt 24:13).

 

Read: Matthew 24:12-13 

  

While addressing the church in Smyrna, the Lord admonished them to be faithful till death (Rev 2:10). Why? First, He was only asking them to follow His example. He served God faithfully and died in His prime, according to God's will and against His fleshly desire. Hebrews 5:8 says He had to learn obedience through suffering. If you do not do what you teach others to do, you are a hypocrite and such ideals will speak against you on the last day. In addition, the Lord asked them to sustain their faithfulness because that is the only way they can get paid for it. If you served God faithfully for a period but were found unfaithful at the time of death or the rapture, your final result would be determined by your last spiritual condition; your unfaithfulness would have eroded the years of faithfulness! This is a very serious reality, and that is why anyone who has placed his or her hands on the plough and looks back would be considered unfit for the Kingdom.

If you look around, you will find some Christians who started with so much zeal and love for God. They could endure any fire, withstand any storm and continue singing on their way to Heaven. They did this for many years. But what is it like today? They are either cold or lukewarm and very touchy. They flare up so easily. Some of them cannot even exercise patience for two minutes. Their fiery zeal has ebbed out and they have become complacent in the things of God. This is a very dangerous situation to be in. If they die in that state of unfaithfulness, and are fortunate enough to make Heaven, they may still lose their rewards. How is it with you today? Are you still as fiery in evangelism and prayer? How hot is your love for God? If these have waned, go back to God and cry out your heart to Him, asking for restoration of your lost fire. You cannot start in the spirit and end in the flesh. If you lose your faithfulness during the course of your Christian race, there may be no reward for you in Heaven. God is more interested in how you finish the race than how you started. You shall end well.

Key Point:

The title deed to all your assets, credits, and rewards in Heaven is faithfulness. Don't die without it!

SUN, 26/06/2011 - - YOUR PAY DAY WILL COME

Sunday, June 26, 2011

YOUR PAY DAY WILL COME

Memorise: "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Heb 6:10).

Read: Hebrew 6:9-10 

  

Apart from the possibility of encountering an extraordinary blessing on an ordinary day, another lesson from the story of Moses recorded in Exodus 2:5-10, is that God has different ways of rewarding His own. Hebrews 6:10 says God does not forget your labours of love. Every seed you have sown into the Kingdom shall attract its reward. Have you been a blessing to your spiritual parents? You shall be rewarded. Every work or effort, as long as it is an act of faith, will elicit Heaven's reward. After Moses was born, his mother was able to see beyond the physical that he was a child of destiny and so, contrary to the king's decree and probably pressures from those around, she decided to hide the child until she could hide him no more. She wanted God's purpose to be accomplished in the life of her son, and so was prepared to risk her life in the process. What if the soldiers had found the boy in his hiding place? She could have lost her life. God saw her act of faith and took over from where she stopped. Eventually, God decided to pay her for her faith and sacrifice.

"And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it" (Exod 2:9). God knows how to reward His children. He also has diverse ways of doing this. He can reward you directly. He can reward you through your husband, wife, child or relative; He can reward you through your place of work; He can reward you through an old but forgotten acquaintance; He can reward you through those you do not know. He can even reward you through your enemies. In the case of Moses' mother, God rewarded her faith by reuniting her son with her under the tightest security arrangement. Also, she was handsomely paid to do what she knew best - taking care of her son. She became the only Israelite woman that the government paid and protected to keep her baby alive, while all other baby boys were condemned to die. Not even the Egyptian babies got one hundredth of such a privilege! Are you afraid to take a step of faith? Go ahead and take it; you cannot tell what it will deliver to you. Are you a teacher of toddlers and teens, or are you a parent taking care of your children? Do it faithfully and the Owner, The Most High, will more than handsomely reward you.

Key Point:

Many parents will lose their earthly or eternal reward for failing to take adequate care of their children.

TUE, 05/07/2011 - - SIN AND CHILDBIRTH

SAT, 25/06/2011 - - STILL MANIFESTING

Saturday, June 25, 2011

STILL MANIFESTING

Memorise: "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body." (2 Cor 4:10).

Read: 2 Corinthians 4:8-12 

  

Through the lives of His children, God tries to reveal Himself to the world. Such revelation may fall either under God's goodness or severity (Romans 11:22). This is why you must be extremely careful about what God wants to use your life to show the world. For instance, God used David to reveal His super abundance. While studying Psalm 23:5, I asked God, "Why the waste? Why did you not stop when the cup became full with oil?" He said He just wanted to show David that there is still plenty of oil left where the oil was coming from. May God use you to reveal His super abundance this season.

Let us consider another Bible character - Elijah. God wanted to show the world through Elijah that He is a prayer answering God (1 Kings 18:21-39). After about two minutes of prayer, fire fell from Heaven. As long as there are no obstructions to a life of sacrifice and holiness, you can always get answers to your prayers. He can even answer your unsaid prayers - mere wishes which were not voiced out. Sometime ago, during our Lets-Go-A-Fishing programme, I was going in company of my children when we ran into a notice, 'Turkey for sale'. I told my children we had never had turkey for Christmas, except chicken. By the time we returned home, there were three turkeys waiting even when I did not pray for them. At Ebute Metta (Lagos, Nigeria), I shared the testimony in church and by the time we got home, they had increased to seven! As you align your desires with God's and please Him, He will give you even your unvoiced requests.

What of Daniel? What people commonly say of him is how he came out of the lions den alive but they appear to not know the main issue. God's purpose was to reveal Himself through Daniel as the All-wise God, hence, Daniel could interpret the dream that the dreamers had even forgotten, as well as hand writing on the wall. Even today, God wants someone through whom He can manifest a higher level of wisdom. Can He choose you for such an assignment? There are levels of God's manifestation. In whatever way He has manifested Himself before in the life of an individual, He can repeat it at the same level, or modify it, depending on the level of cooperation of the seeker. How ready are you to cooperate with the Almighty God for a higher manifestation of His power, or wisdom, in your life?

Prayer Point:

Father, as I serve you this season, grant my prayers and desires, even those unsaid.

FRI, 24/06/2011 - - SOUL-WINNING IS TO BE SUSTAINED

Friday, June 24, 2011

SOUL-WINNING IS TO BE SUSTAINED

Memorise: "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise." (Prov 11:30).

  

Read: Proverb 11:27-30 

  

You can know a wise fellow by his willingness and ability to serve God till his last breath. The hands of the wise remain on the plough till the end. Although many start a race, not all get to the finishing line. Part of wisdom is to endure to the end so that you can see the end of what you started. Our Christian race starts on earth but finishes in Heaven. May you not tire until you see the end of your Christian journey!

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise" (Prov 11:30). Another mark of a wise fellow is continuous soul winning. It is good to win souls, but stopping after a few is not wisdom. The wise fellow is the one who never stops winning souls. Some Christians were regularly winning souls when they were not ordained ministers. After they were ordained, they decided they had outgrown soul-winning. How wrong! Why were you anointed if not to make you more effective in soul-winning? Some pastors, particularly senior pastors, cannot recall when last they spoke to and led a sinner to Christ one on one. This is one reason ordinary workers who are committed to evangelism may earn greater rewards in Heaven than some senior pastors. God never planned that attaining an ecclesiastical position will become a hindrance to effective soul winning. As far as He is concerned, soul winning is for the wise. The week or month you win souls, you are adjudged wise. The week or month you don't win souls, you are adjudged foolish.

Moreover, there are Christians who won souls in their youth but stopped after they became elders. To such believers, age is a good reason to be unfruitful. But Psalm 92:14 says, "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing". It is wisdom to continue to win souls even as you grow older. Naturally, when you become an elder, one thing you will be praying for is to see your grandchildren. An elder who has no grandchild feels he or she has failed as an elder. The quest to see such a bundle of joy makes such elders to force their children into marriage. When the grand child arrives, the grandparents will be full of joy. Do you know that having converts in your old age brings greater joy and dividends to the soul winner? If you don't believe it, try it today. Become an incurable soul winner. Ask God for the grace.

Key Point:

Some die fornicating, some die stealing, some die eating, some die sleeping. One great way to die is to die winning souls.

THU, 23/06/2011 - - A HEARING SHEEP?

Thursday, June 23, 2011

A HEARING SHEEP?

Memorise: "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" (Jn 10:27).

  

Read: John 10:25-28 

  

Our Lord Jesus Christ enjoins us to study Him. To do this, you must be able to give Him quality time. You must be focused and have listening ears. Revelation 2:7 says those with ears should put them to work. Your ears are not meant to adorn your head but to receive spoken words. Unfortunately, not everyone with ears effectively engages them. One thing that differentiates a sheep from a goat is that the former hears the shepherd and follows Him (John 10:27). One thing that can heighten the fullness of your joy, which Psalm 16:11 talks of, is the ability to hear God speak to you. You cannot buy this with money. The first time I heard God's voice, I was filled with unspeakable joy. Hearing God's voice marks a turning point in the life of the hearer. Until that day in my life, I had several personal vigils during which I told God I did not want to be an ordinary minister. I wanted Him to use me mightily. This continued for six months. Then one night, the Lord said to me, "Shut up!" When I heard that, you cannot imagine my joy, because at last, the jinx of silence was broken. To me, it did not matter that the answer I got appeared like 'Stop making noise'. At least we were now talking.

The Lord asked, "What have you done with the power I had given you?" I replied, "If You have given me power I would not be asking for power all these past months". Then He said, "Have you not been baptized in the Holy Spirit? Go ahead and use that power". From that day, I resolved to lay hands on anyone who came my way. The first beneficiary was a member of our church who came with her child that had not slept for two weeks. Doctors had given up on the baby. When they brought the baby, I was a little scared, but when the Holy Spirit reminded me of my resolve the previous night, I finally yielded. I took the baby, closed my eyes and began to pray. Then the baby went limp. I thought he was dead but he had only fallen asleep. That was the end of the problem! If you have not been hearing God's voice, from today, the Lord will speak to you in clear terms. However, what effort are you making in order to hear His voice? Close up every gap between you and God today! Are you a hearing sheep?

Action Point:

Spend quality time seeking his direction on important issues in your life.

WED, 22/06/2011 - - EXITING FAMINE

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

EXITING FAMINE

Memorise: "And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:" (Gen 26:2).

  

Read: Genesis 26:1-3 

  

One thing you must watch out for during a famine is your spiritual state. Famine time is no time to backslide. The one who backslides in the time of famine may never recover from its devastating effects. In addition, there are certain locations that cannot guarantee your welfare during a famine. According to Isaac's experience, one of such places was the land of Egypt. Yet, in those days, Egypt was one of the most civilized and promising of countries. This means that going to the richest country of the world during a world-wide famine is no insurance against the ravaging effects of a famine. But how do you know which country is not in the list of famine-prone countries? It is only God that has the list. If you go to Him and seek audience with Him, He will tell you where not to go. Anyone who goes to the place he or she should not, will sing a dirge. Many people are singing a sad tune today because they went to countries, cities and villages that have nothing in store for them.

Another lesson from today's reading is that God is privy to those countries, cities, villages, businesses, etc., that will not be affected by a famine. In other words, in every famine, while some things, people and places are negatively affected, others are not. While we may be experiencing the famine, God is seeing the way out of it. In that present state of dryness, God sees a way out. In your joblessness, God sees a way out. Concerning that endemic disease, God sees a way out. Apart from seeing the way out, He wants to show you the way out. Unfortunately, not many people bother to ask Him. Among those who ask, not many do so passionately. Of the few who ask passionately, a good number are impatient. Are you ready to ask earnestly and persistently until God shows you the way out of that famine? Are you quiet in spirit? If you ask but you are not quiet in spirit, you may not know when God will give you the solution you crave. This season, the Lord will open your eyes and ears to see and hear the way out of your famine situation. You are coming out of famine this season. Your life shall not be the same again!

Prayer Point:

Father, lead me out of my financial and spiritual dryness.

TUE, 21/06/2011 - - GLORY AND CHARACTER

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

GLORY AND CHARACTER

Memorise: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Ps 8:4).

Read: Psalm 8:4-5 

  

Colossians 1:27 says "...Christ in you the hope of glory". It did not say the presence of Christ in your life gives you the assurance of glory. In other words, it is possible to have all of God's gifts and still not end gloriously. Spiritual gifts without good character traits will only lead to shame. A woman who is gifted and beautiful but is lacking in character may most likely turn out to be a whore. Similarly, a man who is powerful, intelligent and highly gifted but is lacking in character may end up in prison. If you doubt this, ask Samson. He was gifted and had tremendous power but became a prisoner to his captors and died blind, in his prime. If you are gifted but lacking in character, it will be difficult for you to produce glory, but very easy to produce shame.

Take for instance, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Before the fall, they were both naked but did not even notice it because God crowned them with glory and honour (Gen 2:25). When God covers you with His glory, there will be no room for shame. No wonder the Psalmist wondered why God was paying so much attention to man (Ps 8:4-5). Before man's sinful career, Adam wore Heaven's designer wear - glory. Adam knew true abundance. Imagine, God planted a garden which, according to Bible scholars, is about the size of Lagos State (Nigeria) and he was put in charge. He could eat any of its fruits except one. Adam lived in that first earthly paradise and had tremendous rest. He also had so much strength. He could work without getting tired. Besides, he had tremendous wisdom. When God brought the various animals to him during this most remarkable naming ceremony in the Garden, his wisdom was unparalleled! He named them one after the other without repeating himself. His brain surpassed that of any professor of zoology. When you are clothed in God's glory, you can access uncommon wisdom that will make you to stand out. Do you know that even today, there are people who are carrying this glory who are being instructed by the unction of the Spirit (1 Jn 2:20, 27)? What is more important to you - the gifts of the Holy Spirit or the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Ask for the grace to develop your Christian character through the fruit of the Spirit in you.

Prayer Point:

Father, fill me with the Holy Spirit and help me develop the fruit of the Spirit in my life.

MON, 20/06/2011 - - HE TASTED HUMANITY

Monday, June 20, 2011

HE TASTED HUMANITY

Memorise: "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted." (Heb 2:18).

  

Read: Hebrews 2:14-18 

  

Hebrews 4:14-16 says that because our Lord Jesus Christ has gone through the difficulties, disappointments, sorrow and pains that we go through, He empathizes with us and makes help available. Help is ready for you now! "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb 4:16). "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). One reason the Word took a human form was to have a personal experience of what human beings go through. The one who was born with a silver spoon and has lived all of his or her life in affluence, will find it difficult to understand the ordinary conversation of the poor. When you tell such a fellow you have no strength because you could not afford your meals for several days, he will be wondering what hunger pangs feel like. Jesus felt hunger pangs while on earth. God the Father and God the Holy Spirit can never be hungry. The Lord was so hungry one day that He saw a leafy, blossoming fig tree from a distance and hurried towards it, to pick of its fruit. When He got there, there was no fruit. He was disappointed! He cursed that tree and it dried up (Matt 21:18-19).

Have you been going through hunger? There has been no food to eat and nothing for the children? Call on Jesus today! He knows what hunger is all about, and He will ask the Father to do something about your situation. Are you going through hunger? Help is coming your way now. Jesus cares so much about you. Moreover, have you ever been tired? He too went through it. In fact, the Lord was so tired that He slept and had to be shaken awake during a storm (Matt 8:24-36). Are you tired or feeling weak? Call on His name and He will renew your strength. I command strength to come upon your tired body now! What of thirst? He was very thirsty as He hung on the cross (John 19:28). He had been beaten and scourged. He knows what it is to be disgraced, to be punished for doing no wrong. He went through pain and death yet, He came out of it all victorious. Whatever unpleasant situation you are going through today, take courage; the Lord will see you through. You shall overcome because He has overcome.

 Prayer Point:

Father, help me that I might put all of my experiences to good use.

SUN, 19/06/2011 - - GOOD AWAITS YOU TODAY

Sunday, June 19, 2011

GOOD AWAITS YOU TODAY

Memorise: "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps 118:24).

  

Read: Acts 9:1-9 

  

In Exodus 2:5-10, at the height of Israel's persecution, Pharaoh's daughter went to the river, just as on any other day, to take her bath. In those days, it was the custom of highly placed Egyptian women to bathe in public, flanked by their maids. However, on this ordinary day, something extraordinary was in the offing, unknown to Pharaoh's daughter and her entourage. It was the day God's messiah for the nation of Israel needed to be salvaged from a death sentence from the ruling Egyptian king. One lesson here is that it is on ordinary days that extraordinary events take place. This is why you must not underestimate any day. In Exodus 3:1-10, it was on a day like any other day that Moses went about his regular assignment at the backside of the desert; he met with God in a burning bush, and was commissioned to lead a nation. Similarly, in 1 Samuel 16:11-13, young David went out with his father's sheep into the bush on a day like any other day. There was no special rain that day. There was no unusual brightness in the skyline. No special sign. But at the end of that ordinary day, an extraordinary event took place - David was hurriedly sent for and he was anointed the next king of Israel.

Just as Moses and David experienced the extraordinary on ordinary days, an extraordinary event awaits you as you go out on ordinary days. A destiny-changing event is about to happen to you this season. You will go out just as on any other day but will return with a mind-blowing experience. Saul, the certified church persecutor, went out on such an ordinary day, and encountered the Lord of Heaven and became Paul, the incurable missionary. A supernatural encounter awaits you as you go out this season. However, go out with your faith in the Almighty God. Take each day as one designed for your breakthrough. "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Ps 118:24). Realize, believe and confess that each new day is under the control of your God. Believe that God brought that day just because of you. Expect to meet with joy and gladness as you go out. Never go out without expectations from God for each day. Your expectations shall not be cut off.

Key Point:

Lord, as I go out on this ordinary day, let me return with a pleasant extraordinary experience. Thank God for all fathers world wide. Pray that they will fulfil God's plan for fatherhood.

SAT, 18/06/2011 - - NOT BY POWER

Saturday, June 18, 2011

NOT BY POWER

Memorise: "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." (Zech 4:6).

  

Read: Zechariah 4:5-8 

  

God has revealed Himself to mankind through the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. But He did not end there. He did that so that He can also use ordinary people like you and me. When you consider this, you will find that it borders on destiny. For instance, why did God send Joseph to the world? It was just to reveal His faithfulness through his life - that He keeps His promises. That is a powerful revelation! Similarly, all God wanted to show the world in the life of Samson was His power (Judges 15:11-15). He wanted to tell the world that if He could get a human vessel to hold the jaw bone of an ass, He could level a thousand soldiers. God is still looking for weak and foolish things of the earth to manifest His strength and wisdom (1 Cor 1:26-29). Can He use you to show forth His power? If you really want Him to do so, then you must be ready to become a fool in His hands. You must be ready to carry out every instruction He gives, even if they appear foolish. Another person who demonstrated God's power was David. It took the power of God in this youngster to kill a giant that a whole army quaked before (1 Sam 17:45-47).

Furthermore, God may want to use an individual to show the world that success is attainable through the name of the Lord. A particular brother went through Bible College. He was not brilliant but rather adjudged the dullest in class. Somehow, he managed to obtain his certificate and left for Europe. As a pastor, he had just one sermon and his text was always Hebrew 13:8. Every Sunday, he would cite that text and sometimes, his congregation would recite it. Thereafter, he would speak about a leper who met Jesus and got healed. After that, he would invite the sick to the altar and many would be healed. The following Sunday, after citing the same text, he would talk of how Peter got a breakthrough in his fishing business. Thereafter, he would invite those trusting God for jobs to come forward for prayers. By the following Sunday, people would come and testify. Today, he is a very successful pastor, not because he is clever. With just one verse of scripture, his church is overflowing. Have you found out why you were born? Do you know what God wants to reveal through your life?

Action Point:

If only you can allow God to have His way in your life, you will become outstanding. Let him have his way!

FRI, 17/06/2011 - - ARE YOU OCCUPYING?

Friday, June 17, 2011

ARE YOU OCCUPYING?

Memorise: "And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?" (Lk 12:42).

  

Read: Luke 12:42-48 

  

Besides giving the right counsel, a wise fellow can also be identified by the kind of heart he or she has. Broadly speaking, there are two types of hearts - foolish and wise hearts. The foolish hearted are those whose hearts reject wisdom. If your heart repels the thought of God and His Word, that heart is surrounded by foolishness. On the other hand, if your heart easily receives God's Word and thoughts, that is a wise heart. The one whose heart is made up, that God does not exist has a foolish heart. Also, the fellow who downplays God over crucial affairs in his or her life has a foolish heart. According to Proverbs 22:15: every child is born with foolishness tied to the heart. But through the application of the rod, foolishness is removed and replaced with wisdom. Just as the physical rod removes foolishness, so also does the rod of God's Word deal with every kind of foolishness and leave us with the wisdom that is far beyond comparison. This, therefore, means that the foolish heart is simply, an untrained heart. It is a heart that has not been pummelled by God's Word. What type of heart do you have?

Another way to identify a wise fellow is by his or her ability to occupy until Christ's return. It is wisdom to know God's will and expectations. It is wisdom to satisfy them. It takes wisdom to be saved and to come into God's vineyard as a labourer, and it takes a higher level of wisdom to occupy until one's death, or until Christ returns. For lack of wisdom, many have abandoned their Heavenly assignments for earthly tasks. According to today's reading, Jesus says the one He meets doing His assignment is a wise servant. This means it is only foolish servants of Christ who discontinue from service when He has not stopped them. Have you retired yourself from God's service when the One who assigned you has not retired you? If you have, get back to the work now! Rapture or death must meet you still active for Jesus. Have you downed tools in your department because you are not pleased with what your leader is doing? Or, is your growing involvement in secular work fast eroding time for spiritual assignments? It takes wisdom to balance these so that your eternal reward will be intact.

Key Point:

Any believer who allows anything or anyone to truncate his or her trip to Heaven is most foolish. He or she will pay for such foolishness eternally in hell. 

THU, 16/06/2011 - - JESUS: MORE THAN A COURSE

Thursday, June 16, 2011

JESUS: MORE THAN A COURSE

Memorise: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matt 11:29).

  

Read: Philippians 3:7-11 

  

If you are a friend of the Bridegroom, you will hear His voice. There is hardly a time you stay close to somebody without engaging in some discussion. And if you stay longer with the fellow, you will likely get to know one or two of his or her secrets, either through jokes or straight talks. There is no way you will stay close to Jesus without learning something most useful about Him. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus asks us to learn of Him. His personality, life and times are more than a subject or course of study like Christology. If you can keep His company, you will surely learn from Him. There are several things you can learn from Him. You can adopt His habits in exchange for your bad habits. You can learn from His wisdom in tackling sensitive issues that were brought to Him. You can learn from His total submission to His Father's will. You can learn from His complete dependence on the Holy Spirit in order to succeed in life and ministry. You can learn what gave Him joy, and what caused Him sorrow. You can learn from His attitude to the government and civic responsibilities.

What of His relations with His enemies? That is another area to learn from. You can learn from His attitude towards ministry. How did He select His 12 disciples whom He later named apostles? You can learn from His tears. You can learn from His industry. You can learn from His eating pattern and habits. You can learn from His attitude to rest. What of His divinity? That is another great course on its own! Your ability to succeed in life and ministry depends on the closeness you share with Jesus Christ and how much you are able to learn from Him. Paul's goal in life was to study Jesus and learn from Him as much as possible. No wonder the miraculous became common place in his life and ministry! How close are you to the Lord? Or are you still keeping your distance from Him? If you keep a distance from the Bible, church gatherings and personal fellowship with Him, you may never be relevant in God's end-time plan. What have you learnt so far?

Prayer Point:

Pray: Father teach me life lessons and help me apply what I'm taught.

WED, 15/06/2011 - - DOWN IN EGYPT?

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

DOWN IN EGYPT?

Memorise: "Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!" (Isaiah 31:1).

  

Read: Isaiah 31:1-3 

  

One time to be extremely thoughtful and prayerful is during a time of famine. Apart from suffering irrecoverable losses due to unguarded decisions during a famine, unguarded responses to famine can equally breed the opposite of your promise or potential. An example of this was Naomi. Her name-Naomi-means the 'pleasant one'. But when she left Israel for Moab during a famine, she lost all that meant something to her - her husband and sons and was left with only bitter pills. On her return to Israel, she was barely recognized. Misery had rewritten her countenance. By this time people were wondering if the person they were seeing was the Naomi they used to know. She told them her name had changed to Mara - bitterness. If you want the promise and possibilities attached to your name and destiny to be realized, do not take unguarded steps during a famine. Never jump or run anywhere else until you have heard from God.

"And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of" (Genesis 26:2). In Genesis 26:1-16, Isaac encountered a famine but unlike his father, he had great testimonies to share from his experience. If you asked him, he would probably pray for more famines. One lesson here is that to overcome a famine, you must be spiritually up and in shape, not down and out of shape. Backsliding is no way out of a famine. God warned Isaac against going down into Egypt. Some believers become so discouraged during hard times that they compromise their faith. Sister, do you say because you lack money for your University education, you have therefore decided to keep a boy friend? You have gone down to Egypt! Have you resorted to lies-listing several things you were not required to buy, or inflating the prices, so that you can make some gains? You have gone down to Egypt. Or are you secretly employing charms and other diabolic measures to secure a job, husband, wife, child or success? You are down in Egypt! If you go back into sin, you are saying that you are not interested in coming out of the famine. Embracing worldly methods or measures in coming out of a famine would permanently keep you there. Are you already down in Egypt? Repent and come out. Return to God today and He will lead you right.

Key Point:

If your survival plan during your period of hardship is not Bible-compliant, dump it!

TUE, 14/06/2011 - - IS CHRIST FORMED?

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

IS CHRIST FORMED?

Memorise: "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you," (Gal 4:19).

  

Read: 1 John 3:8-10 

  

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Col 1:27).

The person in you has great effect on your performance. Whether your potentials will be realized or not, depends to a large extent on who is in you. If Christ is in you, it means the Anointed One is in you. It also means the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, the fire generator is in you. With the presence of Christ in you, there is great power inside you. 1 John 4:4 says, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world". Although the Greater One: the Lord Jesus Christ is the Almighty God, yet, inside some of His children, He is only a little seed which has no impact on them. If after receiving Christ, you refused to grow in His grace, He will remain a seed in you. As long as Jesus is not growing in you, He is limited in your life. In that limited state, your external enemies would appear bigger and in control. To take charge of your situation, you must daily make efforts to grow in the grace of Jesus Christ. Grow in His Word. Fill yourself with the Scriptures. Regularly attract His presence and be a carrier of it.

If those around you find it difficult to identify you as a Christian, it simply means the Jesus in you is still in His infancy. If Christ, the Anointed One, is the One inside you, He will surely manifest. You cannot hide the anointing. It will surely speak. Many believers are yet to exploit the possibilities of blessings inherent in Jesus Christ. Are you in that situation today? Wake up! It is time to grow the One inside you so as to take charge of the one outside. It took a young David carrying the Lord of Hosts on the inside of him to defeat the Goliath outside. Until Christ is fully formed in you, you may not see Him manifesting in His glory. His goodness and grace may remain a mystery. When He is fully formed in you, however, He will radiate through you and bring everything else under control. Is Christ formed in you?

Key Point:

Christ needs to take His rightful place inside you in order for Satan and his cohorts to accept their place under your feet. Make maximum room for Him in your life.

MON, 13/06/2011 - - SYMPATHY OR EMPATHY?

Monday, June 13, 2011

SYMPATHY OR EMPATHY?

Memorise: "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin." (Heb 4:15).

  

Read: Hebrews 4:14-16 

   

When someone is going through an unpleasant, sorrowful situation, you can ignore, sympathize or empathize with him or her. The easiest of these is to ignore the person, like the priest and the Levites did to the victim of robbers in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-33). To sympathize is a little more demanding as you would want to take minimal steps or make some effort even when you know it is inadequate. But the most challenging response is to empathize; that is, to put yourself in the shoes of the victim at the receiving end and ask: 'If I was the one in this situation, what would I expect others to do to me?' Based on such expectations, you will assist the fellow. This was what the Samaritan did (Luke 10:33-35). Empathy is borne out of compassion. Compassion can be said to be mercy in action. If your claim of having mercy lacks expressive action, then it is merely sympathy, not compassion. One very active trait you will find in our Lord Jesus Christ is compassion. Virtually every move He makes concerning us is driven by compassion.

According to today's reading, one major reason He is able to identify with us in all our trials, troubles, and tribulations is because He has been here. He has passed this way we are now taking. He knows exactly what we feel. Sometimes, while going through some pains that cannot be described, you wish you had the right adjectives to convey the message. Some people at such trying moments say, 'Lord, I wish you could feel what I feel so that you will understand what I am going through'. He does. He knows every bit of pain in that leg. He knows the difficulty you are going through. He understands. But unlike us, He does not ignore, and will not sympathize with us. Rather, because He is driven by compassion, He empathizes. Just remember that as you go through unpleasant moments, you are not alone. Jesus has passed through what you are undergoing and understands. This helps to hasten a change. Are you going through pain, sorrow or difficulty? The Lord will make a way for you today!

Key Point:

Compassion makes you intercede for others with a heavy heart, carrying their burden in your heart. When last did you pray with a burden? 

SUN, 12/06/2011 - - A VOICE IN YOUR FAVOUR

Sunday, June 12, 2011

A VOICE IN YOUR FAVOUR

Memorise: "But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." (Acts 5:39).

  

Read: Acts 5:33-40 

  

In Exodus 2:5-10, despite the prevailing death decree hanging over newly born male Israelites, Pharaoh's daughter favoured baby Moses. Irrespective of your enemy's negative decrees over your life, God will grant you favour before them this year. One thing we learn from this story is that the purpose of your enemies is to serve as God's instruments amidst other enemies, to stop them from harming you. This shows that not all enemies are enemies indeed. Some are your potential helpers, domiciled among your staunch enemies. It is my prayer that your helpers within the enemy's camp will be active in your favour this year.

"And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water" (Exo 2:10). Can you imagine that the same baby Moses that was being hunted down from the palace was returned to the same palace to be raised up as a prince? From this we learn that wherever a death sentence was issued against you, a life warrant can also come your way from these. Apart from Moses, one person who experienced this was David. While King Saul sought to kill him with the backing of the army of Israel, his son, Jonathan sought to protect him with all at his disposal. In the name of Jesus, protection shall arise for you where a decree of death or destruction is sent against you. Similarly, among the enemies of the early Church, God raised up a voice to speak for the preservation of the Christian faith. That man was Gamaliel. He was highly regarded in their midst (the Jews). His advice was not something they could easily ignore. He warned them to leave the disciples of Jesus alone lest they found themselves fighting against God. He told them that, time would prove the genuineness or otherwise of the new Christian faith. That was the counsel that restrained them from embarking on a mass massacre of the disciples. In the coven where evil is being planned against you, God will raise for you a voice. Where your enemies are gathered in the four corners of the globe, the Lord will raise for you a voice. God will use somebody they cannot ignore among them to speak for you. It shall be well with you.

Prayer Point:

Father, where a death sentence has been issued against me, let a life warrant be issued for me from the same stable.

SAT, 11/06/2011 - - THE GODHEAD UNVEILED

Saturday, June 11, 2011

THE GODHEAD UNVEILED

Memorise: "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: " (Col 1:15).

Read: Colossians 1:15-19 

  

Nobody can search God out. He is far beyond our reasoning. Yet, in order to reveal the Godhead, God sent Jesus Christ to earth. Colossians 2:9 says, "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily". So one effective way of making human beings understand who God is, what He likes, what He looks like, how He reasons, what He hates, etc., was by sending His only begotten Son - Jesus Christ. In John 3:16, God reveals His generosity and love through Jesus His Son. Also, through Jesus, the disciples got a glimpse of God's glory and what Heaven is like on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt 17:1-2). In Acts 10:38, God showed the world that He is full of goodness through the good acts of His Son. He also showed the world that His goodness is free through the encounter Jesus had with the impotent man of John 5:2-9 who had been sick for 38 years but had no man to help him.

God's ability and willingness to forgive was demonstrated when Jesus forgave a paralytic fellow who did not even ask for forgiveness (Mark 2:1-12). Also, God revealed that He was not interested in the death of sinners by the encounter of Jesus with the adulterous woman of John 8:3-11. In addition, at the marriage in Cana of Galilee, God revealed that He often reserves the best till the last moment (John 2:1-11). Through the life of Jesus Christ, God's several attributes are displayed to the world. Our Lord Jesus Christ was and still is an able representative of the Godhead. He never disappointed God the Father in any way, hence, the Father publicly acknowledged Him as the One who should be heard (Matt 17:5). Just as Jesus revealed God the Father and God the Holy Spirit to us by His lifestyle, so are we expected to reveal Jesus Christ to the world through our lifestyle. The world wants to know about Jesus Christ but they do not want to read about Him from the Bible. They are looking for living epistles-you and I-and want to know how Jesus would react to situations and challenges by how we handle such. Men are reading you. Is your life truly representing Jesus the way His life represented His Father's?

Prayer Point:

Father, just as Jesus revealed the Godhead, let my life truly reveal Jesus Christ to the world.

FRI, 10/06/2011 - - IDENTIFIED BY COUNSEL

Friday, June 10, 2011

IDENTIFIED BY COUNSEL

Memorise: "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Col 4:6).

  

Read: Genesis 41:33-38 

  

Another way of identifying a wise fellow is by the counsel he gives. You cannot give what you don't have. It takes somebody with some level of wisdom to give wise counsels. In Genesis 41:33-41, Joseph not only interpreted Pharaoh's disturbing dreams, but also gave advice on how to solve the problem. His solution package exposed the level of wisdom that he had within. If you are a wise person, you will not only see a problem, but also propose a way out. People easily see the problem, difficulty or challenge but not many people can see the solution. If you are a wise fellow, you will always give rest to your superiors because when they are seeking a solution to the problem, you have the solution. What kind of advice do you give to your counselees? If your advice is bereft of wisdom, it shows that you are not wise. If your advice to people is what is driving them away from your local assembly, it may be that you lack wisdom. Some pastors or prophets receive revelations about members of their churches but hardly exercise wisdom in relaying such messages. The way a message is delivered to its recipient affects the way it will be received. If your presentation puts more fear into the receiver, or turns the fellow from doing what God wants done, it is because you lack wisdom.

If you are wise, only words that edify your fellow men and words that glorify God would emanate from you. Hence, Colossians 4:6 says, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man". This tells us clearly that in order to get your desired response from people, first study them before knowing how best to reply each person. Answering everyone the same way will definitely not deliver you your expected response. In 2 Samuel 16:23, we read of one man who was one of the wisest counsellors of his day-Ahithophel. All over the land, his counsel was reputed for wisdom. Anyone who met him for counsel was bound to be shown the way out of the woods. His counsel was so good that it was compared with hearing from God. This means that, if you are so full of wisdom, the counsel that emanates from you will be in consonance with God's word and will. Are you a leader? What kind of counsel do you give to those under you?

Prayer Point:

Ask that the Lord will give the Spirit of counsel to leaders in your local assembly.

THU, 09/06/2011 - - WORRYING IS UNPROFITABLE

Thursday, June 9, 2011

WORRYING IS UNPROFITABLE

Memorise: "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" (Matt 6:27).

  

Read: Matthew 6:25-32 

  

Using your mental faculties or mind to worry about things or events, is an abuse of God's purpose of giving you such great resources. Generally, human beings are concerned about the past, the present and the future. They fear that their negative past can suddenly catch up with them. Concerning the present, people also carry loads of worries. If things are bad, they begin to worry whether there would ever be improvement. If things are good, they fret about continuity. The fellow without a car worries whether he will ever own a car in his life time. When he gets one, his worry becomes whether it will last-will it be stolen or will it be involved in an accident? If any of these happens, would he be able to raise enough money to replace the car? In Matthew 6:25-32, our Lord Jesus Christ commands us not to be worried, fretful or over-anxious about our past or present. Worrying over the past blinds your heart concerning all of God's past goodness and victories, leaving only fear. Similarly, worrying over the present robs you of the joy of the moment, leaving you with hopelessness, doubt and fear. Verse 27 of our reading clearly tells us that if there is one activity that is totally unprofitable, it is engaging in worry. It takes all your time and in turn delivers you nothing but hypertension. If you channel the time wasted in worrying into praising and worshipping God or some other healthy spiritual activity, you will be close to the solution. Worrying takes you further away from the solution.

For many, another subject of worry is the future. "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matt 6:34). Most people worry about the future. What will tomorrow bring? What happens after my retirement? Who will take care of me when I am too old to take care of myself? What is the guarantee that I will reach old age? Is it safe to relax now that my parents have lucrative jobs or hold powerful positions? If I am rich today, is there any guarantee that my wealth will sustain me and my children in the future? Stop worrying about your future! Worrying about the future robs you of joys ahead. It also robs you of hope, fills you with fear and can lead to untimely death. Worrying takes your heart from God and hands it over to your enemy: the spirit of fear. It robs you of your prayer life. Take all those issues that you are mindful of to Jesus and look up to Him for direction and solution.

Action Point:

 Worry, fear and anxiety are Satan's weapons. Give them no place in your life!