Sun, 31/07/2011 - - Training Precedes Manifestation - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Training Precedes Manifestation

Memorise: "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." (Psalm 103:7).

Read: Matthew 3:1-6 

In your preparations for ministry, God can use human elements to impact into you what He had already deposited in them. This is the first phase of your training. On the other hand, God can also be the one to do the training. This takes place under the second phase of your training. During this latter phase, the trainee is separated to God. When alone with God, the trainee is exposed to deeper truths, Kingdom secrets, as well as deeper experiences with God. Before embarking on their public ministry, both John the Baptist and our Lord Jesus Christ had to undergo a wilderness experience where they were alone with God. The Bible is silent about the early years of Elijah. However, it is most likely he too, like others, succeeded in ministry because he was trained by God.

Looking at the life of Elijah, we learn that God can prepare the instruments for greater exploits in total secrecy. There are people around us who are undergoing divine training without the knowledge of anyone else. One thing is certain: after your preparation comes your manifestation. 1 Kings 17:1 says, "And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word". Have you been undergoing a period of secret preparation? You shall manifest in Jesus name. It is in the place of training that you become acquainted with God and His ways. "He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel" (Ps 103:7). Before the miraculous acts spring forth, you must first be acquainted with His ways. Not many people like to go through God's training because of the challenges they may go through; yet they want to see themselves flowing in the miraculous. It does not operate that way. Just like secular businesses and governments train their staff on special training programmes for greater efficiency and effectiveness, so also must you be trained in order to become more effective in ministry. The more training courses you take, the better equipped you are for Kingdom assignments. Are you sufficiently trained to cope with your spiritual assignment?

Prayer Point:

Lord, I am willing. Prepare me for the assignment You have for me. Thank God for the past Holy Ghost Conventions and all He has done. Pray, for His uncommon presence in this year's Convention.

Sat, 30/07/2011 - - Man, Not Animal- - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Man, Not Animal

Memorise: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Gen 1:28).

Read: Genesis 1:26-28 

To make a success in life, you must know your identity. Going by John's experience, every child of God is a voice. May you be heard in Jesus name. To have a clear definition of who you are, you must be able to know who you are not. An understanding of this helps to clear misconceptions and wrong notions you have held about yourself. The source of knowing who you are and who you are not is the Bible-the love book of the Almighty God and Father. First, you are not an animal. God created you in His own image. Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them". Science hardly sees any major difference between human beings and animals. In the theory of evolution, it is supposed that man evolved from lower species of animals and then graduated into apes and then man. In other words, human beings are only a step away from animals.

You are not an animal! You exist only in the realm that is peculiar to a human being but unexplored by animals. Some parents and teachers call their children and students by the names of animals, this is wrong! There is no human being that can be so stupid to the point of becoming an animal. In the same way, there is no animal so wise and brilliant that it is accepted as a fellow human being. There is no crossing of kinds. As foolish as the most foolish human being can be, it is rather too late; he could never be an animal. As a human being, you are created in the image of God. This was never said of animals. This means that one way of fulfilling the purpose of your creation is having a godly nature. God never compares animals with Himself, but men are compared with God because they were created to be like Him. Although Moses told Pharaoh that the Israelites were leaving with their cattle in order to serve God in the wilderness, the animals were only meant as objects of sacrifice, and not co-worshippers. You are no animal! You are created in the image of God.

Action Point:

Although we are no animals, many people still operate like animals. Pray that God should uproot every animalistic instinct in you. 

Fri, 29/07/2011 - - Don't Tolerate Mockers - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Friday, July 29, 2011

Don't Tolerate Mockers

Memorise: "Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God" (1 Sam 17:36).

Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-11 

When an ex-champion regains his crown, the experience goes beyond joy; it is glory! Can you imagine how young David felt after bringing down Goliath who terrorized the nation of Israel for 40 days? It was glory! Just as God used David to bring down Goliath, so also will the Lord use you to bring down every cause of shame and reproach in your life, family, community, church and nation. If you can cooperate with the Lord of hosts, there is no giant you cannot floor.

Now, if you were an ex-champion, how can you recover your lost crown? And after recovering it, what can you do to retain it? There are three things you must do. First, stop tolerating mockers. Anything that is asking you, 'Where is your God?' is a mocker. Sickness, poverty, barrenness, and stagnancy, are mockers; they seek to steal the testimony of God from your life. They must not be tolerated. Any mocker you tolerate is in no hurry to leave. In 1 Samuel 17, Goliath continued to torment the nation of Israel for 40 days because they could tolerate him. The day David rose to challenge that mocker, the latter was on his way out. If David had not risen, the Israelites would have continued to undergo mental torture even for years. And if this situation had lingered, it would have become something permanent.

The reason many people are yet to be delivered from the mockers in their lives is because they tolerate them. They think they can cope with the situation since it has not gotten to its extreme level. They say, 'I am managing' (speaking of poverty), 'I am sick but not totally down'. Some even think it is a virtue to endure pain, sorrow, barrenness, sickness or lack. No! It is not! God does not want you to be patient with anything that challenges the reality of God in your life. Which mocker are you tolerating presently? Stamp it out today! Address that mocker and serve it an eviction order. Like David, stand up against every mocker. When you do, you will find they were not so strong after all.

Prayer Point:

Father, every mocker in my life affecting my destiny, destroy by fire in the name of Jesus. 

Thu, 28/07/2011 - - Let Flesh Decrease - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Let Flesh Decrease

Memorise: "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." (Rom 7:18).

Read: Matthew 16:24-26 

John 15:5 and Philippians 4:13 agree on one thing: believers in Christ are powered by Christ. If without Him we cannot achieve anything and through Him we can achieve just anything, then if there is one need in the life of every Christian, it is to have more of Jesus. John the Baptist understood this principle so well; hence, his desire that Christ might increase (John 3:30). The more of Christ you have, the more like Him you will become and the greater will be your achievements. If He keeps increasing in you, you will perform spiritual tasks without stress.

However, before Christ can increase in you, something in you must give. Before there is an increase, there must also be a decrease. John the Baptist says 'I must decrease'. A life that is full of self can never witness an increase of Christ. Some people ask Jesus to increase in their lives, whereas their flesh has not lost any ground. Where then will the Lord spread out to occupy? The Lord can only increase when you make the self to give Him room. As long as you are bent on having your way in major decisions of your life, family or church, Christ cannot increase there. Your flesh is not your friend. No wonder Paul said there was nothing good in the flesh (Rom 7:18). That body you are investing so much time on, intends to lure you out of God's presence. It will make unhealthy demands. Stop cooperating with your flesh! Stop patronizing it! How many times have you decided to engage yourself in studying the Bible, praying at night or fasting, that your flesh did not give you any problem? Hardly any. This is why you must deny yourself if you want to be Christ's disciple (Matt 16:24-26). How can you decrease your flesh in order to give Jesus more room? It is by denying the self of its desires. It is by saying 'No' to every desire of the flesh. You must be able to check what your eyes see and subdue every feeling of pride. You must subordinate your self will to Christ's and ensure He has His way in your life always. Avoid anything that glorifies the flesh and ensure God and God alone is glorified. Let Jesus be seen in you. The more people see Him in your life, the more prepared you are for His coming.

Prayer Point:

Lord, let me die to the desires of my flesh and live unto Your Word and will.

Wed, 27/07/2011 - - Not Forsaken - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Not Forsaken

Memorise: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." (Psalm 37:25).

Read: Psalm 37:23-26 

It is not strange for people to use as many people as they can to meet a need and thereafter discard them. This is one reason to never put your trust in man. However, there is an exception to this rule-the man Christ Jesus. When He makes a promise, it is not to impress like many humans do; He throws His weight behind it. Psalm 119:89 says His words are eternal and settled in the realm of eternity. Anyone contesting God's Word is making a big mistake. Such a man will be contesting against what had been settled before the earth began. Do you know that when God makes a fresh promise to you today, it takes the form of His eternally settled Word? No difference. God is as committed to fulfilling His Written Word as He is in fulfilling His Spoken Word. Has the Lord made you a promise? You can count on it. Some people say it is wrong to count your hens before the eggs are hatched. This is true as far as it relates to man. But if it has to do with God's promises, you can go ahead and count your chickens.

Isaiah 3:10 says it shall be well with the righteous. That is His promise. In response to this, David the Psalmist studied the lives of righteous men, women and their families and had this to say as a matter of finality: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps 37:25). He could not find a simple case! What amazing faithfulness! What an amazing God! If He was faithful to David's generation, He will be faithful to you. If God did not fail David, He will not fail you. If the Lord never abandoned a righteous fellow all the days of David, He will not start with you. As long as you are conforming to His Word and will, even when all others forsake you, God will not. No wonder He promises never to leave you nor forsake you. In your situation of loneliness, God is there with you. Even when you cannot feel His presence, He is still there. He is not there just for the fun of it, but to watch His promises in your life and fulfil them. Cheer up! The Lord is with you.

Prayer Point:

Have you been forsaken by people around you? God is still with you as long as you remain His child. Pray that he will make his presence known to you.

Tue, 26/07/2011 - - Shining In Darkness - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Shining In Darkness

Memorise: "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" (John 1:5).

Read: John 1:4-5 

“When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (Matt 2:10). At what time do you see stars? They are hardly seen during the day, except at night. It is when darkness covers the earth that stars are revealed. In other words, daylight may be so bright to the extent of covering the stars in the skyline. So it takes darkness to expose them. If you recognize that you are a star, you need not fear darkness as that is what will expose your shine. It takes a time of trouble to reveal true stars. That means, as darkness covers the earth and problems multiply, it is your time to shine. When darkness covered the land of Egypt and the Egyptians were about to lose their firstborns, the children of Israel were getting ready to shine forth in joy. In the midst of your darkness, you shall shine. In the midst of poverty, famine and pestilence, you shall stand out. The darkness shall not swallow you up. That problem you are in shall not swallow you up. John 1:5 says, "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not". Stars shine in darkness. Even when darkness intends to cover the glory of stars, it ends up bringing it out. The darkness that was meant to cover your glory shall instead expose it. In that office that is covered by darkness, you shall shine. No darkness can cover your glow from today.

Usually, stars celebrate at night and at such a time, there is a lot of feasting. The stars of this world are usually celebrated in a big way. For instance, in Esther 1:1-8, we read that the king organized a party which lasted for 120 days because he could afford it. However, it is noteworthy that the best meals are not always expensive. In those good old days, our forefathers ate simple meals: they got fresh vegetables from the garden, and water from the brook-simple yet very healthy meals. In Daniel 1:11-15, Daniel and his three friends took water and beans for 10 days and they were better looking than those who ate the delicacies from the king's table. The simple meal they ate also made them mentally superior to their counterparts (Dan 1:19). The best meal is therefore the meal which builds you physically and helps you shine mentally. There is no better meal that can do this than the body of Christ taken during the Holy Communion. How often do you eat this uncommon meal?

Key Point:

It is only a star that sees darkness as an opportunity to shine, while others see it as a hindrance. How do you view darkness? Shine in Jesus name.

Mon, 25/07/2011 - - The Mercy Connection - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Monday, July 25, 2011

The Mercy Connection

Memorise: "O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever" (Ps 136:1).

Read: Psalm 136:17-25 

In Mark 10:46-52, when Bartimaeus prayed, all he asked for was mercy and he received his sight. This tells us that it is God's mercy that guarantees the release of our blessings to us. No matter how good you are or how much you can pray, if God's mercy is taken out of the equation, you may never get what you desire. Besides, many of us know that we do not deserve God's blessings. For instance, the sister who goes to God for the fruit of the womb, or for a new womb, after rupturing her womb through series of abortions can be sure that Satan will be waiting to contest that request. After reminding her of her past atrocities, she will have no stamina or courage to make her request; yet, through God's mercy, that request could be granted.

There was a particular young man who had vast knowledge of the Scripture. For this reason, his General Overseer always engaged him in teaching assignments, including taking marriage lessons for married couples even when he was still a bachelor. The brother taught the couples that when their wives were about to deliver, all they needed to do was to bind the 'bindables' and loose the 'looseables', and command the baby to come forth. Not long after, he too got married and the time came for his wife to bring forth. He applied what he taught-'binding and losing and commanding' for three days but nothing happened. Then he ran to the back of his house, prostrated before God and asked for mercy. Before he returned, the baby had come.

When you look through Psalm 136, one statement that keeps reoccurring is 'for His mercy endureth for ever'. In other words, all God does is by His mercy. God's mercy is the conveyor belt that delivers His goodness to us. It is His mercy that made Him to create the earth for man's good. It is His mercy that brings about salvation, the defeat of our enemies, remembrance of His children, provision of food, protection, etc. There is no blessing that comes to us from God that is not prompted by His mercy. Lamentations 3:22 says it is God's mercy that prevents us from being consumed. Because of us God daily renews His mercy. If there is one thing we need, it is God's mercy. If God's mercy could make Him give to us Jesus Christ, what can that mercy not secure for you? Ask for His mercy daily!

Prayer Point:

Spend at least an hour thanking God for past mercies on you and your family.

Sun, 24/07/2011 - - Accept Your Trainers - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Accept Your Trainers

Memorise: "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart." (Luke 2:51)

Read: Luke 2:48-52 

Before being launched into the ministry, Jesus went through some training under His parents, even though He recognized Himself as their creator. Luke 2:51 says He subjected Himself under their tutelage and control. In the same way, He allowed Himself to be baptized by John. Moses had to undergo training at the backside of the desert after spending 40 years in the palace where he had access to the best of education. If you were in the Master's or Moses' shoes, would you allow yourself to be trained by your subordinates? This is one area leaders are failing today. If you are not humble and patient enough to undergo training, you will end up as a bad leader. Untrained leaders are a major cause of problems in ministry.

Moreover, God's training is in phases: Some done by men, and others by God. In the former, God uses human instruments to train His chosen ones. An example of this was when Elijah took Elisha through some years of training. In the same vein, Moses trained Joshua, Solomon trained Jeroboam and Paul mentored Timothy. This is a very significant aspect of ministerial preparations as it affords the trainee opportunities of learning from a mentor. The trainee is guided according to ministerial requirements. And because of proximity to the trainer, he or she is able to learn from the mistakes of the trainer. It is great to have a good mentor that relates with your experiences on daily basis.

The human instrument for your training could sometimes be your parents as was the case with our Lord Jesus Christ. It could also be your guardians as was the experience of Moses in Pharaoh's court. The person chosen to do the training is not as important as what he is expected to impact on the trainee. Each trainer the Lord has chosen for you has an important assignment: to deposit something of value into your life. He or she has what you need. Rejecting your trainers can lead to unquantifiable loss. It will obviously, impact your destiny in a negative way. God can choose anyone to do the training. Only humbly accept the trainer and ask for God's grace if the trainer is the difficult type. How are you responding to your human trainers today?

Prayer Point:

Pray for divine teachers and instructors.

Sat, 23/07/2011 - - Only A Voice- - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Only A Voice

Memorise: "Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness." (Luke 3:2)

Read: Luke 3:2-3 

When we look at John 3:28-31 and the life of the greatest Old Testament prophet-John the Baptist, we cannot but be confronted with pertinent questions that are fundamental to everyone. The first of such questions is: Who am I? This borders on personal identity. When John came preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom by River Jordan, many people began to wonder whether he was the Christ they were expecting. He told them he was not; he was the one sent to prepare the way for the Christ (Luke 3:1-18). John the Baptist clearly knew who he was. He was only a voice, and nothing more. Do you know that as a servant of God, you are only a voice? Being so, what are you heralding; what tone of voice is yours? John the Baptist as a voice, in the wilderness, cried out the word: "Repent!" What is your cry today? The moment you stop preaching salvation through Jesus Christ, you stop being His voice.

Moreover, as God's voice, you are not the originator of the message. In other words, the communication process does not begin or end with you. You are only a channel or medium of communication. Before John began to preach, he received the word. "Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness" (Luke 3:2). Many people open their mouths to say what they are not sent. As God's voice, your mouth is consecrated for God's use. This is why no evil is expected out of the same mouth that the Holy Spirit can speak through. It is a great privilege for the Spirit of God to speak through mortal man. He loves doing this. But He does not speak through defiled vessels except occasionally, for a very specific reason. This is also why He would use the mouth of a donkey. Are you clean enough to be His voice? Was the Lord speaking through you before, but has now stopped? Find out what you did wrong and mend your ways. As His voice, give attention to His Word. Without His Word you have no message. Keep your tongue from guile - lies, abuses, immoral words and anything that will displease the Lord. As you hear Him, so speak. Ask for wisdom and the gifts of the Spirit to effectively disseminate His messages. Remember that you are only a voice.

Prayer Point:

Father, as You use me for Your glory throughout my earthly sojourn, help me to always remember that I am only a voice.

Fri, 22/07/2011 - - Regaining Lost Glory - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Friday, July 22, 2011

Regaining Lost Glory

Memorise: "For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after" (Jer 30:17).

Read: Judges 16:22-30 

It is common knowledge that there is no glory in defeat. If you have ever been a champion in any game, you would know this. As long as you are the reigning champion, your fans will hail you wherever you go. You will make headlines and your fame will go before you. But the day you are defeated, you lose your title and away goes your glory! The blow that knocks out a champion is hardly seen when it is coming. The fellow will only rise from the ground to discover he is no longer the champion. From that moment, he can no longer lift his head high in the public. In fact, he will do anything to avoid going to such places because of the attendant shame. He has suddenly become an ex-champion. At that moment, his crown, and fame are gone. All his efforts, sacrifices and investments into becoming a champion are gone! May you not be an ex-champion in Jesus name.

In 1 Samuel 17:8-11, Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, asked Israel to produce a champion with whom to duel, and that the one who loses will become a slave to the winner. Defeat is a shameful thing! When our national team goes into contest with another team and wins, the victory resounds. Virtually everybody will want to be at the airport to receive them and drive them around the town or city. But if they lose, they quietly will sneak into town. They will hide their faces. Sometimes, defeat by an opponent causes loss of freedom like in the case of Samson. When a boxing champion has suffered defeat, he would go home alone. After a while, his wounds would heal and his strength will be restored. Then, he could request to watch the video of the match and find out how he was knocked out. He would see his mistakes and shake his head. With a new resolve, he could commence his early morning exercises again. This will continue until he is strong enough to take on another fight. Then he could challenge the new champion. While the new champion will think that he can beat him up again, the ex-champion who had learnt from his mistakes would now emerge as winner. As he stands hands lifted high in the midst of the cheering crowd, with his opponent down on his face, he will feel something beyond expression: it is more than excitement; he will feel the glory! No matter your level of defeat, you can rise again. Get up today and go for your crown! Recover your lost glory!

Key Point:

Are you down in defeat? God is giving you special grace to bounce back. Accept it today!

Thu, 21/07/2011 - - Who's In Your Company? - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Who's In Your Company?

Memorise: "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." (Prov 13:20).

Read: Matthew 25:1-13 

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish" (Matthew 25:1-2).

One outstanding difference between the virgins who made it and those who lost was wisdom-the presence thereof in the lives of the wise and the absence thereof in the lives of the foolish. Wisdom directs us in the appropriate and right way of acting. Similarly, foolishness misdirects life in a wrong way. In other words, your lifestyle and destination will be determined by either the presence or absence of wisdom. In the same manner, your eternal destination will depend on whether you possess wisdom or not. Believers who fail to access the wisdom of God may miss Heaven. This is why wisdom is not optional for us, but a compulsory virtue that must be embraced in all we do. Are you wise hearted? Do you have adequate wisdom to guarantee your entry into the heavenly planet?

It is important to put wisdom in its proper perspective. Are those addressed by the world as wise truly wise? How do you identify a wise person? A wise person is identified by the company he keeps. Proverbs 13:20 says, "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed". Do you know that this scripture was fulfilled in the lives of the ten virgins? All the wise ones formed a group and kept influencing each other positively; hence, none of them was left behind. On the other hand, all the foolish ones formed their own group and no wonder all of them were shut out. If you are foolish but you decide to associate with the wise, you will soon replace your foolishness with wisdom. By merely seeing the kind of friends you keep, one can determine whether you are wise or foolish. If you are always frolicking with smokers, drunkards, gamblers, fornicators and liars, you will imbibe their traits over a period of time. You are not wise. If as a student, you always move with loafers and the unserious who do not appear to understand why they are school, you are not wise. You may never excel. Reconsider your friends and acquaintances. Anyone who cannot move you to excellence will pull you down to his or her level; hence, you must separate from them before they cause you irreparable harm.

Action Point:

Draw a list of your friends according to their impact on you. Delist those influencing you negatively.

Wed, 20/07/2011 - - Man, Very Unreliable - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Man, Very Unreliable

Memorise: "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee" (Isaiah 49:15).

Read: Judges 15:9-13 

Apart from worrying about the past and present, many people worry about their future. For those whose parents are well-to-do, they may ask: 'Can I take my rest since my parents are well placed or live in affluence? Can the position or financial state of my parents guarantee my future?' Isaiah 49:15 says, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee". There are situations that can make a woman to forget the child she carried in her womb for nine months. The elders say if you and your child were to be caught in a fire, you would more than likely try to rescue yourself. In times of trouble, parents look out first for themselves. Since parents can disappoint, what is to be said for close friends who claim you can count on them? The moment the soldiers grabbed the Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 26:56, all His disciples took to their heels including the one who swore to stand by Him. The one who followed, maintained a very safe distance. when Peter was later challenged, he denied ever knowing Jesus. You cannot get true assurance from any human being!

Can you rely on relatives? Matthew 10:36 says one's enemies are usually within one's home. If you don't believe this, ask Samson. When the Philistines besieged Judah because of Samson, the children of Israel tied him up and handed him over to them. They told him that it was better he died so that they could live. Why was Joseph sold? His brothers sold him in order to stop his dream. Can I depend on those I have helped in times past? If you ask Joseph, he will tell you how he was forgotten for two years by the butler whose dream he helped interpret. But for God's intervention, he would have remained forgotten completely. Do not think that your future is secure because you are in a privileged position today and have helped several people? Never rely on any human being; it is man's nature to use whoever they can use as a fan when they are hard up and discard without a stab of conscience. Jeremiah 17:5-6 says that those who put their hope in man are only inviting curses on themselves. The only One you can trust is the Almighty God; He never disappoints. Trust Him with your life today.

Prayer Point:

Thank God for global weather. Ask that by His mercy, natural disasters across the globe will be reduced this year.

Tue, 19/07/2011 - - Holiness Is Required - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Holiness Is Required

Memorise: "To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints" (1 Thess 3:13).

Read: Luke 1:74 -75 

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Rom 3:23). Sin separates man from the One who loves him most - God. Each time you sin as a believer, you lose a measure of the glory of God. And if you persist, there will be nothing left. Some Christians who were once saved are totally bereft of God's glory: no trace of that glory can be found any more. Beware of sin!

Apart from separating you from God, sin is the real culprit responsible for stagnancy, retrogression, sickness, fruitless efforts, etc. The witch or wizard disturbing you is the very sin you still wilfully engage in. As long as you obey and please God, no weapon or scheme of witches or wizards would harm you. So if you decide to live holy from today, all the good things you have lost shall be restored. Exodus 15:26 says if only you can obey the Lord, sickness will be far from you. Believe it or not, many sicknesses in a man's life can be traced to sin. If you ate what He asked you not to eat like Adam and Eve, you will be sick. If you venture where He warned you to keep off from, you will be sick. If you do what He asked you not to, you are simply inviting sickness. In addition, if you engage negative thoughts, worry and anxiety which He forbids, you can have hypertension or some other related illness. Disobedience is therefore the root cause of most ailments. Are you sick? Check yourself and see if there is an area you disobeyed the Lord. Repent and obey Him and you will observe that on rising up from bed in the morning, the sickness would have disappeared. Holiness is the key to restoration of every good thing you have lost. Have you lost anything precious as a result of disobedience? As you settle with the Lord today and begin to obey Him, every good thing you have lost will turn in your direction. They will return. This is your season of restoration. That lost joy is coming back. That means of livelihood that has been snatched shall be restored. The grace of God upon your life that has been grounded shall be revitalized. Straighten your way before the Lord and ensure you abstain from every pollution of the body and soul. Keep yourself pure!

Key Point:

God plagued the house of Abimelech because Abraham's wife was there. Do you know that God still plagues those who have abominations in their house? Medication may be ineffective against such plagues. 

Mon, 18/07/2011 - - Doctrine Of Balaam - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Monday, July 18, 2011

Doctrine Of Balaam

Memorise: "Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;" (2 Peter 2:15).

Read: Numbers 25:1-9 

After commending the church at Pergamos in Revelation 2:12-17, the Lord pointed out some of their weaknesses, one of which was having among them those who held the doctrine of Balaam. In Numbers 23, while journeying to the Promised Land, the Israelites conquered several nations until they came to Moab. King Balak was afraid of them so he consulted Balaam, a prophet, to curse them. This ploy, however, failed. At some point, Balaam advised King Balak to feign friendship with the Israelites, invite them to a feast, and get the most seductive and near-nude ladies around to entice them. It worked; they fornicated with these ladies and later worshipped in their shrines. God was so angry that He killed 25,000 of them (Num 25:1-9). The lives Balak could not destroy initially were handed over to him on a platter of gold when sin intruded. Fornication and idolatry would make you lose your worth and turn you into a piece of bread for your enemies. Sin will always sell you cheap into the hands of your enemies.

When Jesus referenced the above story in His letter to the church at Pergamos, He was saying that there were people there who taught the satanic philosophy that says 'Once saved, forever saved', Meaning once you have been saved, you were free to do whatever you liked. This error was turning God's people into victims and prodding them towards God's judgement. Ironically, the bearers of this error called themselves 'The righteousness of God in Christ', and believed they could take excuse from the Lord to commit adultery, provided they returned later to ask forgiveness. Wherever you worship, be careful what you imbibe. Anyone that tells you that you are free to live as you like is ensnaring you. Anyone who lures you into lust, or fornication, and tells you it's okay is making you a victim of the doctrine of Balaam. Anyone who invites you to serve other gods is about to make you a victim of this doctrine. It does not matter whether it is a fellow minister, or member of your church. The real intention of the devil is to make you so loathsome to your Helper that He turns around to fight against you. Whenever you are being asked to violate God's Word, know that your soul is the main target.

Key Point:

When Satan cannot get to you, he will push you into offending God so that God will be the one to destroy you. Do not be unequally yoked.

Sun, 17/07/2011 - - The Word: What Direction? - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Sunday, July 17, 2011

The Word: What Direction?

Memorise: "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Heb 4:2).

Read: Hebrews 4:1-2 

To get your breakthrough, you can ask God for the way around the roadblocks on your path, as well as be prepared to act on God's Word even when it contradicts common sense. Another lesson from the story of the 10 lepers recorded in Luke 17:11-19 is that God's Word is enough foundation on which to build our expectations. The only reason the lepers obeyed was because Jesus asked them to. Today, many people have great expectations based on the words or promises of men. Man can disappoint you at anytime; hence, Proverbs 25:19 compares such men to a dislocated foot. Every expectation has a basis-a foundation. If the foundation is weak, the expectation will be a mirage. Do you have expectations for yourself, family, ministry or career? What is the basis for such expectations? To prevent any possible disappointment, let your expectations be founded on God's Word.

In addition, for God's Word to take the desired course in your life, it is important to know its direction and toe that line. The Lord told the lepers to go and show themselves to the priest. It was very specific. When the Word was to change Peter's night-long frustration, the Lord asked him to throw his nets at that particular time. When you identify the direction of God's prophetic utterance, never run contrary to that direction if you want it to work for you. Some people hear God but never bother to determine the direction of the Word they received. If you do not know the direction, there will be greater chances of taking the wrong steps and missing out on the blessing. God already knows where your blessing is, even before He sends His Word. If you do not follow that path, it is doubtful you will obtain your desire. Have you received a prophetic word through God's servant? Did you identify the direction and obey it? It is not enough to hear the word of prophecy. Many have heard and did nothing about it and it did not change them. Yet, others heard the same word, saw the direction and followed in faith and obedience and returned with testimonies. What is your attitude today?

Key Point:

Your ability to hear and flow in the direction of God's Word determines its effect in your life. Follow His Word diligently and faithfully.

SAT, 16/07/2011 - - Shining Through Hard Work- - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Shining Through Hard Work

Memorise: "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men" (Prov 22:29).

  

Read: Isaiah 60:1-3

  

Isaiah 60:1 says it's time to arise and shine. Anyone who is ready to shine must be ready to pay a price. There are degrees of shining. Depending on the size of each light and its make-up, light rays are beamed towards a particular location, with a specified intensity. And like battery operated torches that grow dim as the battery weakens, so also do the rays that come from the one who shines. In order to shine, you must make up your mind on the level of rays you want to release, the circumference of your glow, and how long it must be sustained. There are categories of glory. 1 Corinthians 15:41 says, "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory". Apart from paying the price, it must be commensurate with the level of glory expected. Some believers want to radiate the glory of the sun but cannot even pay the price to carry the shine of an ordinary torch. It does not work like that. You can only carry the level of glory you have paid for on your knees, in praying, fasting, sowing, evangelizing, worshipping, etc. The higher the price, the greater your shine.

Ideally, God is really the One who promotes (Psalm 75:6-7). He can choose a beggar from the dunghill and set him among the greatest (1 Sam 2:8). God has destined you for greatness and you shall be great. One thing I like doing is studying those who have gone ahead of me. I want to learn from their success, and mistakes. Proverbs 22:29 says diligence makes you wine and dine with kings. If you are lazy, you may never come close to the top. During our family devotion one morning, while discussing about Hannah and the birth of Samuel, I told my children that although Eli had already prophesied to Hannah that her request was granted and that she should go in peace, Elkanah still had to do his part by being intimate with his wife. If this was not done, Samuel would not have come. Good news is only the beginning of hard work. To what extent do you work? Do you leave what you should do undone?

Key Point:

Your spiritual altitude is determined by the price you are prepared to pay. 

FRI, 15/07/2011 - - Gathering In Summer - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Friday, July 15, 2011

Gathering In Summer

Memorise: "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame" (Prov 10:5).

Read: Genesis 41:25-36 

Besides your attitude at home, your ability to optimize your provisions marks you out as a wise fellow. Proverbs 10:5 says, "He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame". It is not easy to gather during a time of lack or famine. It takes wisdom to do so. It takes wisdom to access abundance when everyone else is crying out of hunger. One Bible character who was able to gather in hard times was Isaac. "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him" (Gen 26:12). Isaac's breakthrough did not come by chance. Abundance does not just come, it is provoked. To be able to access abundance during famine, you must be prepared to sow what others are not prepared to part with. Ordinarily, during famine, most will not want to make any investments. Their main concern would be how to generate more and safe enough food for the austerity period. It takes the fellow who is wise to plan for the future when others are thinking only of today. It is also a mark of wisdom to sow at a time nobody would want to sow. At such a time, the yield is usually above the normal. That was what Isaac did by divine wisdom and he became so prosperous in a time of famine that he was richer than a nation.

Another Bible character who applied the same principle was Joseph. In Genesis 41:25-36, after interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, Joseph advised that a fifth of the produce of the seven years of plenty be stored up to take care of the seven years of famine. But for this step, all the grains of the years of plenty would have been totally consumed or wasted. It is wisdom not to spend up all your earnings or profit. A wise person will set aside at least 20% of his or her profit for savings or future investment. Many people have nothing to fall back on in the time of emergency. That is because they lack wisdom. If you spend all you have, it means you live only for the moment. Should something come up that requires immediate financial attention, you will find yourself begging or borrowing. That is not wisdom. Apply these simple principles today and you will be among the wise.

Action Point:

Open a savings account where you will save 20% of your income for future investments or eventualities.

THU, 14/07/2011 - - Mindful Of Heaven Or Earth? - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Mindful Of Heaven Or Earth?

Memorise: "And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned."( Heb 11:15).

Read: Hebrews 11:9-10 

In John 3:31, John the Baptist said that God is above all. No wonder He is called the Most High (Psalm 91:1) and Higher than the highest (Eccl 5:8). Following this line of thought, Philippians 2:9-11 says His Name is above every other name in every plane of existence-both human and spirit. This has several implications. First, it means that God is higher than you, the General Overseer and any level of authority. Since He is higher than everyone, you can report to Him anyone who is higher than you, who is threatening or oppressing you. To this end, you can report those holding the reins of power to God. No matter how high that human mountain or hindrance is, as long as the fellow is mortal, he has a problem. As you report the one who is making life unbearable for you to the Most High God today, He shall arise on your behalf and fight for you.

1 John 2:15-17 warns us against the love of the world. While it is good for God to prosper us, it is however important to remember that the world is only a bridge. You are just passing through it to get to the other side. Never build your house on it. When God blesses you with a house, enjoy it within acceptable limits. Do not get to the point where you become so attached to it that it becomes an idol. If God says He wants to use the house, release it to Him. That is wisdom. If you refuse, remember that He can call you home and still have access to the house. Then He may say: 'Who is going to enjoy these things now?' God can separate an individual from the material things of life. He can also separate an individual from his harvest. In Luke 12:16-20, the rich fool was forcefully separated from his harvest. If you are wise, you will hold worldly things with loose hands. Why do you think patriarchs of old lived in tents and lived like strangers and pilgrims? It is for this same reason: they did not want to be so entangled with the affairs of earth to the extent of missing out of Heaven. Earth's best could never satisfy them hence, their hearts were fixed on the heavenly planet. But today, the story is different. We are so carried away by the few blessings God has given to us that we hardly even think of Heaven. Don't let Satan replace your heavenly reward with earthly ones!

Prayer Point:

Pray that believers will daily grow in Heaven consciousness. Ask God to turn around the famines affecting the nations of the world.

WED, 13/07/2011 - - Sudden Turn-around - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Sudden Turn-around

Memorise: "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream." (Ps 126:1).

Read: 2 Kings 7:1-8 

In 2 Kings 6:24-31, Samaria was besieged by the Syrian army and so they could not access fresh food supplies. When the food they had was exhausted, there was no way of bringing in more. As a result, the famine was rife to the point that the Israelites began to eat unclean animals and to practice cannibalism - eating fellow human beings. But when God decided to intervene in 2 Kings 7:1-20, nothing could stop Him.

Compared with other famines, it is obvious that there are different levels of famines. Some are more grievous than others. However, from this account, we learn that no matter how terrible a famine situation is, it can be reversed within 24 hours. A song writer says, "It's always darkest before the dawn". True. When a situation gets to unbelievable levels of severity, know that turn-around is just around the corner. Our God can turn around any famine situation. Are you going through a famine? The Lord will turn it around suddenly. You shall go to bed and by the time you awake, the famine is no more. That famine you are experiencing shall end suddenly. You will look for its signs but there will be none.

In addition, we see that the words of prophecy preceded the turn-around. This is why we should not underestimate prophetic utterances from bona fide prophets of God. Usually, God's word of prophecy goes ahead of what God intends to do. Unfortunately, when the word of prophesy that should reverse the famine of some believers is released in a church meeting, they are not there to receive it. When you miss your word of deliverance, it is most likely that you will continue in that negative situation. Do you know that for this reason, some people have repeatedly missed their turn-around, yet, they blame God for not answering their prayers. This is why you must not forsake the gathering of God's people. Furthermore, God used four lepers to terminate famine in Samaria. You can never tell who God will use to terminate that famine you are experiencing. He can use those you consider useless. Nobody is useless in God's hands. This season, the Lord will turn around your famine situation.

Prayer Point:

Thank God for adding another year to Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye. Ask for uncommon grace for uncommon success in all her assignments. 

TUE, 12/07/2011 - - Sin Still Separates - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Sin Still Separates

Memorise: "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." (Isa 59:2).

Read: Isaiah 59:1-3 

The entrance of sin into this world negatively changed everything. Worse, it separated God and man. Until the advent of sin, fear was nonexistent. Adam was happy to welcome God whenever He visited. But after sin intruded, Adam became afraid and started to hide from God. Even today, whenever there is sin in your life, there would be something to be afraid of. Sin is the mother of fear. If you steal, you will no longer be free. If you have extra-marital affairs, you will suddenly become afraid. The purpose of fear in the life of a sinner is to torment and to incapacitate love. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). If you toy with sin, you will live in fear. You will be afraid of that sin being uncovered. The fear of its exposure will further lead you to cover up like David, after defiling Uriah's wife. In addition, because the presence of sin erodes the sinner's protection, you will live in fear of your enemies, robbers, death, etc.; you could even fear your shadow! Are you living in fear? Trace the roots! Maybe sin is being covered somewhere.

The worst thing sin can do to you is to separate you from God. If you were enjoying a blossoming relationship with God and you entertained sin, that relationship will run into troubled waters. Separation, if not checked, can lead to eternal separation. That will not be your portion. When you are separated from God, it will affect His grace on your life. As a young believer, I was blessed with regularly hearing from God. He would tell me what routes to take to avoid serious traffic. In those days, because I was the sole interpreter to the church founder, I became proud. One day, I felt insulted when I had to interpret for one of the pastors and did it grudgingly. On my way to the car, the Lord said, "So you are now too big to interpret for my servant?" That was the last time I heard His voice for a long time. For about a month, I began to run into heavy traffic because I could no longer hear from Him. I pleaded, repented and wept, yet God was silent until I made a covenant that if I was going to offend Him again, He should take me away a day earlier. Then, He resumed speaking to me. Is there any separation between you and God? Bridge the gap today!

Prayer Point:

Every wall of partition created by sin between me and the Almighty God, Father pull it down.

MON, 11/07/2011 - - No Sealed Lips- - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Monday, July 11, 2011

No Sealed Lips

Memorise: "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt 10:33)

Read: Matthew 10:32-33 

If you are running from your enemies, you are making yourself their sitting target and that, brings shame to the Almighty. In spite of the heavy presence of idolatry, to the extent that the Lord Jesus described Pergamos as Satan's headquarters, the church held fast to their faith and stood strong. Is the community you are in bewitched by the powers of darkness? Do not fear! Call on the Lord to manifest His power. The truth is that wherever there is a strong satanic presence, there is by far a stronger divine presence. And God is ready to manifest His power if only you will courageously invite Him. In any case, if the early Church had run, there would have been no Christianity today. If you run today, you might delay the second coming of the Messiah.  

Moreover, the church at Pergamos was so resolute in their faith in Christ that they were prepared to die for it. To this end, Antipas was martyred, yet they held on. True believers in Christ are no cowards. They do not change their minds when it relates to their faith in Christ even in the face of persecution. In Greek, the word 'martyr' is 'matheus' which means 'to witness'. In the days of the early Church, to witness for Christ meant one's readiness to die. So only those who were ready to die witnessed Christ. And this they did, not afraid for their lives. Today, for fear of being ridiculed and called 'Mother of Jesus' or 'Religious fanatic', many keep closed lips. Even today, there are some missionaries who by virtue of their location and level of consecration are living martyrs for Christ. They are so sold out to the Lord that their lives do not count. If they can be so consecrated, at least you can witness Jesus where you reside, school or work. In Matthew 10:32-33, the Lord says one way to become popular in Heaven is by speaking to men about Him as that will make Him to reciprocate your gesture by speaking of you to the Father. The flip side is that you will toe the path of being unknown in Heaven (where all matters most). Do you want to be known and famous in Heaven? It is your choice! Choose right and lead souls to Christ on a regular basis.

Action Point:

Prayerfully lead 5 souls to Christ this week. Pray that God will arrest natural disasters across the globe and save lives and property. 

MON, 11/07/2011 - - No Sealed Lips - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Monday, July 11, 2011

No Sealed Lips

Memorise: "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt 10:33)

Read: Matthew 10:32-33 

If you are running from your enemies, you are making yourself their sitting target and that, brings shame to the Almighty. In spite of the heavy presence of idolatry, to the extent that the Lord Jesus described Pergamos as Satan's headquarters, the church held fast to their faith and stood strong. Is the community you are in bewitched by the powers of darkness? Do not fear! Call on the Lord to manifest His power. The truth is that wherever there is a strong satanic presence, there is by far a stronger divine presence. And God is ready to manifest His power if only you will courageously invite Him. In any case, if the early Church had run, there would have been no Christianity today. If you run today, you might delay the second coming of the Messiah.

Moreover, the church at Pergamos was so resolute in their faith in Christ that they were prepared to die for it. To this end, Antipas was martyred, yet they held on. True believers in Christ are no cowards. They do not change their minds when it relates to their faith in Christ even in the face of persecution. In Greek, the word 'martyr' is 'matheus' which means 'to witness'. In the days of the early Church, to witness for Christ meant one's readiness to die. So only those who were ready to die witnessed Christ. And this they did, not afraid for their lives. Today, for fear of being ridiculed and called 'Mother of Jesus' or 'Religious fanatic', many keep closed lips. Even today, there are some missionaries who by virtue of their location and level of consecration are living martyrs for Christ. They are so sold out to the Lord that their lives do not count. If they can be so consecrated, at least you can witness Jesus where you reside, school or work. In Matthew 10:32-33, the Lord says one way to become popular in Heaven is by speaking to men about Him as that will make Him to reciprocate your gesture by speaking of you to the Father. The flip side is that you will toe the path of being unknown in Heaven (where all matters most). Do you want to be known and famous in Heaven? It is your choice! Choose right and lead souls to Christ on a regular basis.

Action Point:

Prayerfully lead 5 souls to Christ this week. Pray that God will arrest natural disasters across the globe and save lives and property. 

SUN, 10/07/2011 - - A Way Around Roadblocks - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Sunday, July 10, 2011

A Way Around Roadblocks

Memorise: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).

Read: Luke 17:11-19 

The Lord Jesus Christ was heading for Jerusalem and decided to go through Samaria and Galilee. In one of the villages leading to His destination, some 10 lepers met Him. According to the Law of Moses, lepers were not allowed to freely mix with the rest of society. They were to be identified by bells they chimed to warn and keep people off. Besides, they were required to maintain about 300 feet from those without the disease. These ten lepers were so desirous of healing that they thought of a way around the societal embargo. Since they had mouths, they had to shout at the top of their voices in order to be heard by the Lord. And they were not disappointed.

One lesson from this story is that there is always a way around roadblocks. Going by society's restriction on lepers, they would never have been able to come close to the Lord to make their demands known. And nobody cared for them as they had been left to die in the lepers' colony. Whenever they came into the city, people were more scared than concerned. Nobody wanted to come close, so as not to be defiled. Yet, they found a way around their roadblock. Is there a roadblock on your path to breakthrough? Has society, put certain laws in place to prevent your rise, as it was the case with these lepers? Or are there roadblocks to your rise in your office or career? The good news is that God knows the way around every roadblock and if only you can prayerfully look up to Him, He will show you the way.

The second lesson is that they acted on God's Word contrary to common sense. That is faith. The Lord asked them to go and show themselves to the priest and they obeyed. According to Leviticus 14, it was a leper who had been cleansed, that was required to go and meet the priest for check up, as well as to perform the ceremonial cleansing that would enable him to be received back into the society. When they were asked to go, they looked at themselves but saw no improvement on their health situation. They could have refused or said if they were not healed they would not go. But they said, 'Since the Master asked us to go, let us obey and see what would come out of it'. As they obeyed, the healing manifested. When God's Word is sent to you, the power is present with you waiting to see your obedience before it manifests. If you are lacking in obedience, the manifestation of the blessing may not be evident. To what extent do you obey His Word?

Prayer Point:

Father, show me the way around the roadblocks on my path to success.

SAT, 09/07/2011 - - The Judgement Seat - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Saturday, July 9, 2011

The Judgement Seat

Memorise: "Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off." (Rom 11:22).

Read: Acts 12:20-24 

Holiness is central to the present and the afterlife. If God reveals His love, power, faith, wisdom, etc., through your life but you lack holiness, you will be unable to see Him in the end (Heb 12:14). It is certain that no matter how anointed you are, you will die one day. In spite of his double-portion anointing, Elisha still died. Those with healing ministries will die one day. Are you a prosperity minister? One day you will go. Have you been fraudulently amassing wealth and using such proceeds to buy cars or build houses? One day, it's either you leave the houses or they will leave you. Let holiness be your main hunger and desire.

Why was a Bible character like Gehazi born? According to 2 Kings 5:20-27, he was born to show the world that it is possible to be so close to greatness and still miss it. That will not be your portion! When I was told that some pastors still manipulate records in their favour, I told them there will always be someone to follow the footprints of Gehazi and Judas. Some press men once asked me what I have to say concerning one of our pastors who stole government money. I told them that if a Judas could emerge out of only 12 disciples that Jesus had, I should be commended for one Judas out of over 50,000 pastors! They laughed. The truth is if God cannot use you to show His good side to the world, He will use you to teach the world that He is a God of judgement. What is God telling the world through your life? If Gehazi could miss greatness because of a little weakness he failed to tame when he could, you had better work on your flesh today so that it does not disappoint you when it matters most.

Another person that experienced God's severity was Herod. According to Acts 12:20-24, God created him to show the world a glimpse of His anger. Hebrews 10:31 says, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God". The death of this wicked Herod was like watching a horror movie only that this time, the movie was in real life. As he moved from his height of glory to a height of disgrace, everyone there realized that God was to be feared. Do you fear God? Always remember that we will all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.

Action Point:

Father, whatever will make me an example of your severity, take it away from my life today.