FRI 23/12/2011 - - THE FLESH IS WEAK - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Friday, December 23, 2011

THE FLESH IS WEAK

Memorise: "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt 26:41).

  

Read: Romans 7:15-19 

  

If you are able to identify Satan's wiles, it will be difficult for you to fall into the pits of destruction he has carefully laid out for you. In Matthew 4:1-11, the Lord Jesus Christ carefully compared Satan's suggestions with God's Word and easily found him out. If you learn to subject satanic suggestions to the Bible, you will hardly be his victim.

Furthermore, another area you must watch against is that of temptations. Matthew 26:41 says, "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak". To overcome temptations, it is important to understand the nature of human beings. The flesh is too weak to resist the power of temptation. Flesh attracts flesh. Whenever the devil uses the opposite sex to tempt someone, that fellow comes under a strong pull to yield. Some people are so confident of themselves that they boast in their flesh. They may say, 'I have never done this and will never do it'. If that boast is in the flesh, do not be surprised to see that individual doing what he has vowed never to do. Paul struggled with his flesh for so long, and got to a point of frustration-seeing himself at the point he had vowed never to be. Eventually and fortunately for him, he got the secret of victory. Are you struggling with temptations? The Lord will give you lasting victory today.

Furthermore, to overcome temptations, you must perform two activities, involving your spirit and body. You must watch. You must be careful what you see, touch, hear, smell or taste. Watch over your five senses. Watching directly engages your body. Being watchful means deliberately eliminating your chances of being tempted. If you, for example, sense that your boss is lusting after you, deliberately keep him at an arm's length. Ensure you are not alone in his company. If you are being drawn towards pornography, avoid the internet or ensure someone is around you when you browse. Watch! To watch is to select discretely the television programmes you watch. To watch is to avoid anyone who is capable of luring you into sin. To watch is also to pray. Prayer directly affects your spirit and toughens it against temptation. Pray. Don't be tired of praying. Pre-pray to avoid unforeseen temptations. Ask for grace to overcome! Frustrate the tempter's expectations concerning you. Know when to run.

Action Point:

The flesh always wants to yield to sin. Ask God to deliver you from the desires of your flesh. 

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THU 22/12/2011 - - HOPELESSNESS HAS LOST ITS GRIP! - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Thursday, December 22, 2011

HOPELESSNESS HAS LOST ITS GRIP!

Memorise: "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death." (Prov 14:32).

  

Read: Daniel 4:28-37 

  

God is unchangeable (Malachi 3:6). Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever". What He has done in the past, He can repeat today. This is simply because He has a bearing on hope and controls tomorrow. In addition, because He is unchangeable and can do the impossible, with Him there are no hopeless cases. Job 14:7-9 says if a tree is cut down but still retains its roots, the moment it contacts water, it will begin to grow again. Ecclesiastes 9:4 says, "For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion". The lion is king in the world of animals but if it is dead, it loses all its worth. An animal of little or no value which is still alive, is worth more than the dead lion. Are you alive? There is hope for you! Were you knocked down? There is hope for you. Did you fail that crucial test or examination? Don't give up! There is hope for you. It shall be well with you. The Lord who controls tomorrow says your tomorrow shall be okay.

We have an interesting story about King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:28-37. For 7 years, the king walked about naked. His companions were beasts and he ate grass like other animals. Humanly speaking, there is a level of insanity that a mad man would get to that everyone would conclude he is irredeemable. While the king was away, it is possible that some of his chiefs who held on to power could have maltreated his wives. However, because with God, there is no hopeless case, He brought King Nebuchadnezzar back on his throne. Such erring chiefs were probably penalized! After Joseph became Prime minister, one place that would have interested him would be Potiphar's house. If I were in his shoes, that would be the first house I would have visited, not to fight but to see the woman bow to me. If the hair of Samson can grow again, your case is not hopeless. Proverbs 14:32 goes further to say that the righteous has hope even in his death. This means that even when the expectation of the righteous is not met in his or her lifetime, it is not over! It can still be met even after death! Every good expectation of your life shall be granted. Hopelessness has lost grip over you because God is unchangeable!

Prayer Point:

Oh Lord, let every feeling of hopelessness and helplessness disappear from my life. 

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WED 21/12/2011 - - MEETING HIS TERMS? - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

MEETING HIS TERMS?

Memorise: "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." (Rev 3:15).

  

Read: Revelation 3:15-16 

  

After we are saved, for our service to be acceptable to God, there is a need to find out exactly what He wants. Too many of us are serving God on our own terms, not His. Such a service may go unrewarded. In 1963, before I was converted, I kept some girl friends. Those days, I would like to impress them. One of them came visiting one day and I wanted to impress her. So I prepared hot pounded yam with chicken and fish stew. As we sat on the table, I uncovered the plate and she saw stew and pounded yam already set. Instead of appreciating the meal, she was disappointed. Unhappy, I asked what was wrong. Then she asked: "Don't you have garri (Cassava meal)?" It became obvious to me that to make the desired impression on her, I should give her what she likes, not what I hoped she would love. Do you know that if you are to make a lasting impression on the King of kings, you need to find out what He wants and then take steps to satisfy Him? People are still presenting their own idea of service to God. If you fail to meet His expectations or standards, you are only wasting your time. To be close to God, it is either you give all or nothing.

In Acts 5:1-11, a couple met their death the same day just because they sold their land, but brought part of the money to the church. Can you imagine one being killed by one's own gift? Do you know that that couple would have lived if they had decided not to sell their land? They, however, decided to play games with God and paid for it with their lives! Revelation 3:15-16 says it is either you are hot or cold but not lukewarm. Some gifts can cost the givers their lives. The Almighty God who wants you closer to Him is absolutely perfect. He does not compromise with sin at all. If you have made up your mind to give to Him, do not give below His expectations. Also, do not get into playing smart with Him. For instance, some people play games with God when it comes to tithes. They are joking with fire. Be straight in your dealings with Him. Let your ultimate goal be to please Him who has called you to be a soldier of the cross.

Key Point

Heaven has a shocker for those who want to serve and obey God according to their own dictates. Seek and meet, His term only. 

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TUE 20/12/2011 - - SEE BEYOND THE LIMITS - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

SEE BEYOND THE LIMITS

Memorise: "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible" (Heb 11:27).

  

Read: Romans 4:17-21 

  

If you will live a victorious Christian life on earth, it is pertinent that you engage your spiritual senses. This is done by faith in God and in His Word. Why? It is because the only currency available to the believer to run the Christian race is faith. No wonder Habakkuk 2:4 says one way of recognizing the just is by the faith he or she lives by. God is not a talkative. When He speaks once on an issue, that is it. If He repeats it, it is grace. If He says it for the third time, it is amazing grace. Yet, God said 'The just shall live by faith' four times (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38 and Hab 2:4).

"For we walk by faith, not by sight:" (2 Cor 5:7). At one extreme is faith, and at the other end is sight. Sight is synonymous with doubt and unbelief. Those who walk by sight are only open to earthly resources which, in most cases, because of their unbelief, may be inadequate. If, however, you operate by faith, not only will earthly resources be available to you, heavenly resources will also be at your beck and call. If you want to benefit from miracles, you must learn to ignore your prevailing circumstances. To receive help from Heaven, you must not focus on your limited physical abilities. Look beyond your account that is in the red. Look beyond the physical or biological challenges or limitation. Grab His Word and say, 'If God said it, then it is settled'.

When it was time to roof the arena of the Redemption Camp, my situation made no sense. I was calculating how to probably invite a thousand people to dinner who would give a million naira each. If that had been done, that would be a billion naira, which would not be enough for the foundation level. But the Lord told me not to take any special offering for the project. He said it's between just the two of us. The way the Lord did it, nobody can share in His glory. Today, many people are calling the Redemption Camp the Redemption City, but God said the city He wants to build is yet to come. Has the Lord said that you shall be great? Look beyond your circumstance or present level. Hold on to His Word and He will bring it to pass. The Word of God always makes a difference where it is believed and given due honour.

Key Point:

A man of faith refuses to see the hindrance staring at him in the face; he chooses to see the invisible solution. 

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MON 19/12/2011 - - WISDOM IS GENTLE - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Monday, December 19, 2011

WISDOM IS GENTLE

Memorise: "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matt 10:16).

  

Read: Matthew 10:16-17 

  

According to Psalm 85:8, God speaks peace to His children and saints. The peace test is a reliable way of determining whether a counsel or move is of God or not. However, when a child of God takes a trip into foolishness, it is either he or she stops hearing from God or will stop hearing God's peaceful counsel. Why? When in sin, you are classed with the wicked and Isaiah 57:21 says, "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked". If God is no longer speaking peace to you, something is wrong. Trace the cause and make your ways right. On the other hand, if you are currently enjoying God's peace, stay out of foolishness! If, however, the Prince of Peace has not been accepted into your life, you may not benefit from the peace and goodwill He brought to the earth (Luke 2:8-14). Receive Him into your heart as Lord and personal saviour today!

Another attribute of God's wisdom is gentleness. Matthew 10:16 says, "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves". God wants you to be harmless, and one way of achieving this is through gentleness. Psalm 23:1 says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want". Jesus is the Shepherd of sheep, not goats. Goats are so quick to defend themselves, yet they end up in the pot of pepper soup. Sheep are, however, defenceless, yet, it is difficult to see sheep pepper soup in restaurants. When you are gentle, God Himself will defend you, but if you want to show the world that you can defend yourself without His help, He will let you be. Moreover, any counsel that amounts to striving, quarrelling or exchange of words is not of God. If you are known as a troublesome person in your school, workplace or neighbourhood, you are a disgrace to God's Kingdom.

There are Christian leaders who fight. If you fight or beat up your wife, you are a goat, not a sheep. If virtually everyone avoids you like a plague, you are a goat, not a sheep. If you fight or beat up your husband or deny him sex as a means of punishment for his inability to meet with some financial obligation, you are not behaving like a sheep. Ask yourself: Where did I get this evil nature from? It is obviously not from God!

Prayer Point:

Lord, let Your Spirit of gentleness operate in my life from this moment on. 

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SUN 18/12/2011 - - STAY WITHIN THE HEDGE - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Sunday, December 18, 2011

STAY WITHIN THE HEDGE

Memorise: "Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?" (Job 1:9).

  

Read: Job 1:9-10 

  

Another thing we learn from the Lord's Prayer for the disciples in John 17:15 is that evil is prevalent all over the world. Some people erroneously believe that if they can avoid the village and dwell in the city, they would be free from evil. Demons are in operation everywhere. Evil exists among the educated as well as in illiterate communities. Job's encounter with evil simply tells us never to underestimate the extent of evil the devil is capable of. Job was obviously the wealthiest man in his days. He was not necessarily a rural dweller, yet, when Satan was allowed by God to touch him, he lost his business empire, children and health in quick succession. This is why we should pray for the protection of all our leaders.

To be victorious in life, you must be acquainted with the power of God and that of your enemy. True protection for your business, wealth, family, servants and your life itself, rests in God. Until God allowed Satan to afflict Job, Satan found God's wall of protection over him and all he had impenetrable. There is a hedge of protection around the righteous. The enemies cannot successfully attack you without God's permission, if you are living right before God. There have been several attempts by the agents of darkness against my life and ministry that God frustrated. A young man once came to testify of how he was sent on a mission to harm me at the Redemption Camp but God frustrated him on several occasions. Thereafter, he gave up on his sinister assignment and surrendered to the Lord. Whenever the devil has opportunity to attack the saints, he goes the whole hog. You will be shocked at the level of destruction he is capable of within a very brief period he is given. This is why believers and particularly leaders must not toy with sin, even for a second. Do not say you want to toy with sin for some minutes and thereafter, repent. At the time of sinning, the hedge will be broken and you may be open to terrible attacks of the enemy that you may never recover from. How often do you pray for the protection of your leaders? Are you operating within your safe limits?

Prayer Point:

Father, by Your power and outstretched arm, keep our leaders in the Body of Christ out of the reach of the enemy. 

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SAT 17/12/2011 - - WHO CALLED YOU? - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Saturday, December 17, 2011

WHO CALLED YOU?

Memorise: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." (John 6:44).

  

Read: John 6:43-46 

  

God calls His children to separation, consecration and distinction. When God calls a person, He turns everything in the person's life around for good. Hence, Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose". God's call will eventually end you in goodness and not anywhere else, unless it was not God who called you. This does not, however, exempt you from unpleasant events and experiences such as hard times, delays, trials of faith or certain challenges, as they have their place in God's overall plan. For instance, Israel as a nation is a tough skinned, diehard nation today because of the several wars and difficulties that it has gone through. If you are constantly facing battles, a time will come when, after adapting to that situation, you will learn to make progress and do several healthy things in the midst of wars. In other words, wars will no longer be a hindrance to you, but will now facilitate stable and lasting progressive strides. If you are truly called by God, all the unpleasant events that God allows to come your way will eventually contribute something good to your life and destiny.

"And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him" (Mark 3:13). Another fact about God's call is that He calls sovereignly. God is a sovereign God. He does what He likes without receiving a query from any one (Ps 115:3). He decides on whom to call. He also decides on those to be left behind. While the Lord was selecting among His disciples, some who were not chosen must have had a question in their hearts: 'What about me?' In John 6:44, this same truth is emphasized when Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day". This tells us clearly therefore that God's call is not by volunteering. You are not the one to offer your service to God. It is God who will decide to pick you or not. You will be amazed to know that quite a number of ministers in the church of God virtually called themselves. They offered to work for God. Be mindful, however, that when you volunteer like that, God reserves the right to accept or reject your offer. Were you called of God or did you, in your zeal, call yourself into full time ministry?

Action Point:

For a call to be worth its salt, God must be the Caller. Examine your ministry and your call. 

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FRI 16/12/2011 - - IDENTIFY THE WILES - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Friday, December 16, 2011

IDENTIFY THE WILES

Memorise: "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." (Rom 13:11).

 

Read: Romans 13:11-14 

  

In Revelation 3:2, the Lord warned the church in Sardis to be watchful. This is also required of every believer today. Some people decide when to watch and when not to, but it is important to be on your guard at all times because when you feel like there is no need to pray or fast, destruction could be right at the door. 1 Corinthians 10:12 says the best time to watch is when you think all is well. When you think you are at your best, something sinister could be lurking around to bring you down. A particular minister struggled with his flesh. After overcoming fleshly lust for a period, he decided to share with someone close to him that at last he had got the victory. That same day, he fell into the same sin. This occurred several times to the extent that he resolved not to celebrate his momentary victory over the flesh as that could bring about another fall.

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed" (Rom 13:11). The closer you are to your goal, the more watchful you must become. What should you watch against? There are five areas we must watch over. First, watch over the wiles of the devil. The devil has lots of tricks and subtle measures to manipulate people into doing what he wants them to do. Right from Genesis 3, he came in through the serpent to bring Adam and Eve to a monumental fall. The devil is still in the business of deceiving and orchestrating the fall of many, particularly leaders. He targets leaders because if he can get one leader, he can get virtually any sheep he chooses. The watchful believer will study evolving situations to determine the spirit at play. If you cared to find out how Satan operates, you would discover that he repeats his old tricks. Besides, he is very innovative and negatively creative. He has infiltrated the minds of many creative people, and all careers and professions, with the intention of making people sin against God. He has equally used technological development to his advantage. If you use the internet, you must be extremely watchful or else you may start by surfing Christian sites but end up in pornography. Examine your life and note the very wiles of the devil you have fallen prey to. Repent, look into the Bible and list out counter measures for containing them. Do you easily identify satanic booby traps?

Key Point:

No matter how impressive any fresh opportunity looks like, do not rush into it. Prayerfully watch out for Satan's tricks.

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THU 15/12/2011 - - MAKE PEACE! - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Thursday, December 15th, 2011

MAKE PEACE!

Memorise: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Heb 12:14).

  

Read: Hebrews 12:12-15 

  

Godly wisdom means to be without hypocrisy. Anything done with the slightest shade of hypocrisy is unacceptable to God. If you have a hypocrite as a friend, you face great danger (Pro 25:19). Moreover, James 3:18 says, "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace". Peace is very crucial both to us and to those we have personal relationships with. Proverbs 17:1 says, "Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife". Whatever you have to do to maintain your inner peace must be done. Hebrews 12:14 says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:". In other words, in order to see God, you need more than holiness. You also need to follow peace with your neighbour. If you say you are holy but you are not at peace with your fellow man, you may not enter Heaven. Revelation 21:27 says, "And there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life". People are amazed at the ease with which I forgive my offenders. I tell them it is because I do not want anyone to hinder me from entering that glorious eternal abode of the righteous.

Let me share with you the personal experience of my father-in-the-Lord, Pa Akindayomi. He once came across a tract which, after it was read to him, he thought would be good for evangelism. Because he was not a literate person and did not know anything about copyright laws, reproduced the tracts and began to distribute them. One day, someone from the organization which authored the tracts saw people using it and reported to their organization. Consequently, they asked Baba Akindayomi to go fetch the remaining tracts from home and burn everything. This pained Baba to his bones. Later, a member of our church died and during the burial, those who burnt the tracts were present. Baba took this opportunity to preach on what they did and hit them hard until virtually everyone realized what they did. When Baba died, he got to the gate of Heaven and the angels showed him his mansion, but denied him entry until he returned and settled with the men in question. On his return, he immediately sent for them and made peace with them. After that, he went to glory. However, not everyone will be this fortunate. You should make peace with those who have offended you today. Tomorrow may be late.

Action Point:

Prayerfully examine your sour relationships. List those who have wronged you and those you wronged and make peace with both groups. 

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WED 14/12/2011 - - SAY 'YES' TO GOD - - OPEN HEAVENS - - KINGDOM 28

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

SAY 'YES' TO GOD

Memorise: "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." (John 10:4).

  

Read: Acts 10:9-16 

  

The one God loves has to grapple with certain tough challenges. As the last born of my mother, I was her favourite. While other children were playing, she would compel me to sit and read my books. Sometimes, I would remind her that all the other children were playing, but she would reply that all the others were not her business. I thought she was too strict with me but today, I have reasons to thank God for my strict mother. Ephesians 5:1-7 says if you are one of God's own, you should not indulge in sins like fornication, uncleanness, foolish talking, etc., not even for once! In other words, other so-called Christians may be doing it but you cannot afford to follow their evil steps. There are certain things some pastors and church leaders would do and God would appear to be quiet about it, yet, if some believers attempted such, they would receive a bashing from the Lord. It shows how much God loves such a believer. If God no more corrects you, you might have reached a point of no return or be on the way to becoming irrelevant to God.

As a beloved of God, you must learn to say 'Yes Lord' to all of God's instructions. Quite a number of people have lost opportunities for starting large ministries due to their refusal to say, 'Yes Lord'. God is not static. When Heaven moves, it takes those who can drop their old beliefs and dogmas to move to the next level with Him. One major change ever experienced was the movement from the Old Testament to the New Testament. While most of the leaders in the synagogue resisted change and stuck to the Mosaic Law, others who embraced the change became born-again, and began to enjoy the grace and truth that the Lord brought. Do you say 'Yes' or 'No' to the promptings of the Spirit? Yield to Him today!

Key Point:

When God wants something from you, what He expects to hear is, 'Yes, Lord'. What is your response today? Always say yes to Him. 

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