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. 

FRI, 08/07/2011 - - Attitude At Home - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Friday, July 8, 2011

 Attitude At Home

Memorise: "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." (Prov 14:1).

Read: Prov 31:25-29 

Your attitude towards your home will show whether you are wise or not. Proverbs 14:1 says, "Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands". This does not restrict the building of the home to only the woman, as inputs from the man are equally required. What is important here is the attitude of the couple. Anytime you do anything that works against the interest of your family, you are pulling it down. A wise woman invests her time, money, efforts in building up her husband, children and herself. One way you can build up your partner or home is by your words. In Proverbs 31:26, the language of the virtuous woman is full of wisdom and kindness. A woman who combines these whenever she speaks to her husband or children, would earn their respect, support and praise. The way some sisters shout at their children, you would take their residence for a mad house. If you call your children names such as dog, goat, or insane fellow, you are pulling down your house. It is only a foolish man or woman who would call his or her spouse or children anything less than what God calls them. How are you building your home?

Appreciation and commendation are part of the building blocks for the average home. Proverbs 31:28 says, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her". In the house of the wise, you do not hear swearing and cursing. What you hear are words of blessings. When your wife cooks and sets the table, do you remember to say: 'Thank you for this lovely meal?' A simple word of appreciation, go a long way in building your family. Truth must not be compromised. It is only a foolish individual who feeds his or her spouse with lies. By the time the truth is exposed, there may be serious crisis. Anything that does not contribute to the well being of your family must be avoided. In order to build together, a couple must put aside their differences, and work for their common good. By your attitude towards your wife, husband or children, are you building up or pulling down? The virtues in the virtuous woman are worth emulating by modern women.

Action Point:

List 20 things you can do to make your spouse and children happy. Go ahead and do them. 

THU, 07/07/2011 - - HEAVEN UPLIFTS - - OPEN HEAVENS

Thursday, July 7, 2011

HEAVEN UPLIFTS

Memorise: "He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all." (John 3:31).

Read: John 3:30-31 

The supremacy of Heaven over earth is not contestable. Every heavenly product is of greater value than its earthly counterpart. There is nothing inferior in the heavenly planet. Everything there-gold, diamond, precious stones-is at its finest, while the remnants find their way to earth.

In life, you can either get a blessing from Heaven or from the earth. When God sent the first Adam, he was of the earth and he failed God. But when He sent the last Adam, He came as a quickening Spirit from Heaven and He succeeded (1 Cor 15:45-47). This is why Colossians 3:1-2 says if you have truly experienced the new birth, you should desire heavenly things. If after several years of being in the faith, your desires are still on how to acquire earthly things at the expense of true heavenly values and possessions, your Christian growth is in doubt.

Until you have the new birth and your spirit man is recreated in the womb of the Holy Ghost, you cannot gain supremacy over situations, circumstances and demonic forces. If you have Jesus the Lord of Heaven inside you, that gives you an edge of superiority. You are no more limited to the earth like any ordinary earthly citizen; you are now of heavenly citizenship. It affects your lifestyle, language etc. The one whose hope is on the earth speaks only of the earth, and everything he does is earth-bound. His or her hope starts and ends with the earth. That fellow is limited! 1 Corinthians 15:19 says, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable". The best, earth can deliver to those who look up to her is misery. If all your calculations revolve around the earth, you sure need an encounter with Heaven. If your hope is fixed on the Lord of Heaven, it shall manifest. Have you contacted Heaven by receiving Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord and personal Saviour? If you have not done so, go ahead and do so today, then focus on Heaven in order to receive all that God has for you.

Action Point:

He who looks to the earth will soon run out of provision; he who looks to Heaven will never lack. Lift up your eyes unto the hill. 

WED, 06/07/2011 - - IDEAL SOWING TIME - - Open Heavens

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

IDEAL SOWING TIME

Memorise: "If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be" (Eccl 11:3).

Read: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 

Going by Joseph's experience, a famine can be God's avenue to fulfil pending prophecies and uplift an individual. May your negative situation birth your promotion in Jesus name.

Another salient lesson from the life of Isaac during the time of famine is that opportunities to overcome such drought can come during that famine period itself. This is another way of saying that most problems come with in-built solutions. For instance, after God told Isaac to remain in Gerar, he was led to do something: "Then Isaac sowed in that land, and received in the same year an hundredfold: and the LORD blessed him" (Gen 26:12). This passage does not suggest that Isaac never sowed before the famine, rather, it presupposes that sowing had become a part of him-drought or not. It was not the seeds he sowed before the famine that rescued him, but the ones he sowed during the famine. Some people expect the seeds they sowed before a famine to yield for them during a famine. Even when this is so sometimes, the seeds that will generate a harvest during famine may be required during a time of famine.

"In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good" (Eccl 11:6). If you sow only in the morning of your life, you may not be able to take your evening harvest. For effective and continuous harvesting, sow both in the morning and evening. Sow when you have in abundance and sow in your lack. Sow when you are happy and when you are sad. Sow when it is convenient and when it is not. Are you going through very harsh economic conditions? That is the best time to sow in order to overcome that famine. Ask God to guide you on what to sow. Go ahead and sow. Isaac sowed seeds. If you do not have cash, you can sow time, prayers, witnessing to souls. You can sow in the area of following up young converts and new comers in your church. Sow kindness, mercy, love, and forgiveness. A famine season is a good time to sow.

Action Point:

If you operate the principle of effective sowing and reaping on a regular basis, you may never be stranded at any bus stop of life. Therefore sow at all times.

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

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

SIN AND CHILDBIRTH

Memorise: "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety." (1 Tim 2:15).

Read: Genesis 3:13-16 

The entrance of sin into planet earth changed the earthly paradise into an unending war zone. The relationship between man and everything else God made was reviewed. He now had to struggle with the ground in order to take in miserly harvests. His diet changed too! Vegetables that nutritionists commonly recommend as being ideal for human beings were originally meant for animals by God. After sin came, we now have to struggle with animals to eat their food. Have you ever seen an antelope or deer that died in the bush as a result of sickness? The reason is that as long as they maintain the food originally given to them by God, they stay in good health. Today, many people are sick because of the food they eat. Sin also brought poverty, curses, and death. Sin turns a blessing into a curse. Can you imagine that conception and childbearing which evolved as a result of God's blessing in Genesis 1:26-28, became cursed in Genesis 3:16 when sin intruded?

The story is the same today. When a woman goes to the delivery room, she is between life and death. The delivery room can be a delivery room, a labour room or death room. What was meant to deliver great joy to man has become what could cause man's greatest sorrow! That is how terrible sin is! However, 1 Timothy 2:15 gives believing women some respite: It says, "Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety". Women should never harbour resentment, unforgiveness or bitterness at anytime. An unhealthy or sinful emotional state can affect everything in conception, childbirth and the spiritual environment at home. A look at the godly Hebrew women of Exodus chapter one shows that despite their slavery, they did not need the assistance of midwives: they delivered before their arrival. That is your portion today as a godly woman! Are you pregnant and yet keeping a grudge or living in unforgiveness? Repent and release those who have offended you; do it for your sake, if not for theirs. Do not allow sin to complicate your delivery! You shall deliver safely. It is well with you.

Key Point:

The one who hopes to deliver a baby or an idea cannot afford to live in strife. 

MON, 04/07/2011 - - STAND STRONG

Monday, July 4, 2011

STAND STRONG

Memorise: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Eph 6:10).

Read: Ephesians 6:10-13 

In His letter to the church in Pergamos, the Lord Jesus Christ said certain things that should interest us. Those days, Pergamos was the greatest city in Asia Minor and also doubled as its capital. The Lord called it the 'Seat of Satan' because it was a great religious centre steeped in idol worship. The first thing to note in this letter is the fact that the church stood firm for Jesus in the face of strong and widespread idolatry. From this, we learn that believers are not to run from forces of darkness, it should be the other way round. John 1:5 says, "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not". If you are a child of light, you cannot flee from darkness. Darkness has no power over a true believer in Christ. If you are being over-powered for any reason, something must be wrong somewhere. It could be that you are living in sin or disobedience, or that you are not wearing the whole armour. It could even be because your light is barely seen. Some people are afraid to site their churches close to occult shrines. No! You should be happy to do so because it will give the heathen the opportunity to know that your God is far more superior. If they confront you, simply call on your God to answer them. By the time the Lord responds in anger, they will be scattered and confused (Psalm 2:1-5).

Another reason you should not turn your back to the enemy is because, of all the Christian armour, there is none meant to cover your back. This means that your back is exposed. If you turn your back to run from witches or occultists, they will attack you and keep you running. But if you withstand their threats and stand your ground, they will be the ones to retreat. Why? God fights for those who stand in His Name. You cannot withstand the devil in your strength. All God expects you to do is to stand in holiness. Stand in truth. Stand on His Word. Stand up in His Name and be bold. It is when you stand strong in His Name that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah will manifest. Have you been keeping away from your town or village because of opposing evil powers? Fear not! Be clothed in all of God's armour and stand.

Action Point:

If the brethren at Pergamos could withstand the high level idolatry there, the church has no excuse for retreating from idol worshippers. 

SUN, 03/07/2011 - - ENGAGE YOUR HANDS

Sunday, July 3, 2011

ENGAGE YOUR HANDS

Memorise: "Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God" (Col 3:22)

Read: Colossians 3:22-24 

If there is one lesson to take away from Exodus 2:5-10, it is that God rewards acts of faith, and that He can decide to use even your enemies to reward you, like it happened to the mother of Moses. Often, after a good deed has been done, many of us set our hopes and expectations on the particular person or organization that is on the receiving end of the deed. When we wait and receive nothing, we become discouraged. It only shows we are looking the wrong way! God is the real rewarder, not man, but He can choose to reward you from any angle, using any person of His choice, including your enemies. Do you know that the reward belonging to many people still lie in the hands of their enemies? The problem is they may never look that way. Look up to the Lord after every act of kindness, love, and faith, and He will reward you.

Another lesson from the story of Moses is that God can reward you for doing your normal, non-commercial duties. Whoever heard of a mother being paid salaries for raising up her baby? Yet, God can do this out of His superfluous benevolence. This means that if you can only be faithful to God and please Him in all you do, He would use your routine activities, say your domestic chores or even your secular assignments, for which you are being paid, as excuse to reward you beyond your expectations. God can look at you doing some menial job and decide to give you the reward that is above that of a white collar job. Are you prepared to provoke God's superfluous abundance? To qualify for this, you must be diligent in what you do; hence, Proverbs 10:4 says, "He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich". If you perform your routine assignments-sweeping, clearing, mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, doing the laundry, or school runs etc., with all your heart, you can attract a bigger reward from God. This is why manual labour is built into the School of Disciples course. Sometimes, such a reward may not be in monetary form; it could be an unusual talent or spiritual gift; it could be a higher level of His power and presence. To what extent do you provoke God's uncommon blessing upon your life? If you are so high-up there that you cannot be involved in menial assignments, you may detach yourself from higher levels of anointing, and greater blessing.

Action Point:

No matter how highly placed you are and how many servants you have, do not disengage yourself from domestic chores at home and in church.

SAT, 02/07/2011 - - WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE?

Saturday, July 2, 2011

WHAT'S YOUR CHOICE?

Memorise: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (1 Pet 2:9).

Read: Acts 5:14-16

God has different purposes for calling and using His people. For instance, the purpose for which He created Peter was to show the world that in His hands, a nobody can become so anointed that his shadow would heal (Acts 5:14-16). Peter never went to school. He even confessed that it was difficult for him to understand Paul's writings. Yet, if his shirt mistakenly touched the sick, there would be instant healing. Not many educated people would be comfortable with that. This is not to say that God cannot use the highly educated. He took Paul with his outstanding academic credentials, wore him like a garment, and began to use him. God can use you whether educated or not. What is more important is what you want the world to know about God, through His manifestation in your life.

What do you want to be remembered for after leaving planet earth? You have the opportunity of determining it now. As for me, I want God to reveal His holiness through me. If you take a look at God's Generals of our day, you will find that each of them exudes an aspect of God's attributes. For instance, He created Oral Roberts to reveal His healing power to the world. From his sick bed where he was dying of tuberculosis, God healed him and began to use him to heal others. Even at the point of his death and in a coma, Roberts was taken to the Oral Roberts Teaching Hospital and the doctors put his hand on a woman who had just been operated on but was dying. Immediately his hand touched the woman, the bleeding stopped and she was healed.

Similarly, why did He create Kenneth Hagin? It was to reveal faith to the world. Sometimes you may almost think that all he knows is Mark 11:23. Personally, I want His holiness to show forth through me because of its key role in everything. If you are holy, faith is simplified. Also, God's blessing will pursue and overtake you (Deut 28:1). In addition, Deuteronomy 28:1-7 says with holiness, you may not be required to fight your enemies by yourself. Holiness opens the door of Heaven. I don't want to labour in vain. I want to see Him on the last day. Hebrews 12:14 says without holiness, no one can see Him. What do you want God to reveal of Himself through your life?

Action Point:

Consider the cloud of witnesses in Heaven and the present-day Kingdom Generals, and then prayerfully decide your area of specialization in God's work.

FRI, 01/07/2011 - - SPEAKING RIGHT

Friday, July 1, 2011

SPEAKING RIGHT

Memorise: "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." (Prov 12:18).

  

Read: Matthew 12:33-37 

  

One way to identify the wise is by their attitude towards evangelism. Is it sporadic or sustained? The wise believer does not leave evangelism to chance. He plans how many souls he will win every week, month and year. The wise would continue in this venture until the moment of death. May you be wise!

"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health" (Prov12:18). From this scripture, you can tell a wise fellow by the kind of words that come out of his mouth. When some people use certain words on their offenders, the latter could be so hurt they may contemplate suicide. If your words are as sharp as a sword, you are not wise. Words are not to be used as swords and spears but as medicine. It is a wise fellow who speaks and soothes the broken hearted. If your words cannot bind up the broken hearted or give hope to the hopeless, you lack wisdom. It is important to know how to speak right. While speaking, deliberately choose words that are mild, soothing, encouraging and edifying. "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones" (Prov 16:24). Whenever you speak right, your words deliver healing to your hearer. There are certain sicknesses that only words can heal. It is the wise fellow that speaks such words. Do your words heal or kill?

One reason the wise carefully chooses his words is he knows that he shall account for every idle word he speaks. He also knows that all the words men have spoken will be evaluated before being justified to go to Heaven or condemned to hell. It is wisdom therefore to avoid judgemental words. It is also wisdom to use words that do not demean your brother or sister. For instance, when angry, instead of saying, 'You must be crazy', you can say, 'Some of your actions are not as encouraging as expected'; or instead of a judgemental comment such as 'You don't care', you can say, 'It is expected for a reputable leader like you to increase your level of care'. At least, the alternatives are more tolerable. Avoid provocative words. If whenever you intervene in a matter, rather than settle the quarrel, the situation is aggravated, it means your words are fiery. Ask God to douse the fire in your words by the water of His Word.

Prayer Point:

A believer who is not in control of his or her words is allowing destiny to slip off his or her hands. Father, help me to be swift to hear but slow to speak and slow to wrath.