PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADS TO EXPANSION

Psalm 22:3 says but You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

One way to get the attention of God is through praise and worship. In Mark 5:1-17 is the story of the mad man of Gadara. For one reason or the other demons just took interest in this man and made his body their abode. The demons inside him invited other demons and before you know it, he was loaded with a legion of demons (over 6000 demons). This man lost control of his life to these wicked demons .A demon is enough to destroy one’s life talk less of legion of demons. One day this man saw Jesus from afar, he ran and began to worship. By the time he finished worshiping; Jesus was already standing by him. The demons were forced out; he got his deliverance and life back. If nothing works try praise and worship. When everything failed in Acts 16:25 -26, Paul and Silas resulted to singing Hymns to glorify the name of the Lord. There was an earthquake and before you know it all their chains were loosed and all the doors in the prison were opened.

When you praise God, He takes His position in your life. Psalm 22:3 says but You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. To enthrone means to occupy a throne or take up a seat. When we praise the Lord, He occupies His throne in our life or He takes up His seat in our life. Once the Lord occupies His throne, the first thing He does is to establish His kingdom. Once He establishes His kingdom in our life, favor, mercy, protection, promotion, victory, abundance, fruitfulness, good health e.t.c will become a daily occurrence in our life. In His kingdom there is no defeat or loss. There is no purposelessness, stagnancy or bareness. Everything in His kingdom function to His will. The will of God for you is to have life and have it in abundance, John 10:10. When the mad man of Gadara began to worship, Jesus enthroned Himself in His life and all the six thousand demons had to run. Immediately Paul and Silas began to sing hymns, God enthroned Himself in their challenges and the chains that stood as bondages fell off. Once God enthrones Himself in your life, your battle becomes His battles. Why do you think the children of Israel marched around Jericho once for six days blowing the trumpet to praise God (Joshua 6:1-21)? They were preparing God’s throne. On the seventh day, they marched around Jericho seven times and lifted up their voices and began to make joyful noise to God. Immediately God took His throne in their lives, the wall came down.

ACTION POINT: Enthrone him today in your life by spending quality time to sing praise and worship to Him, before you know it everything hindering your expansion will begin to give way.

PETER WALKED ON WATER

Matthew 14:29 – and He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:22-33

Fires and waters are often used in the scriptures to denote calamity or challenges. When we talk of Peter walking of water, we are talking of Peter walking on his challenges or overcoming his challenges. The fact that we are now born again does not exempt us from challenges. Peter had a relationship with Jesus yet he had to walk on water. The assurance we have as believers is that we have the Prince of Peace with us so no matter what happens; there will be peace at the end.

Present in the boat were twelve disciples, on the same waters, how come only one managed to get out of the boat and walked on water? How come while others sat in the boat, Peter was able to get down and walk on waters? Firstly, when Peter saw Jesus walk on water, he saw an opportunity for the glory of God to be manifested in his life; he saw an opportunity to walk on water. Others saw ghost and were troubled when they saw Jesus walking on water. The other disciples saw the end but, Peter saw the beginning of a special walk with Jesus. When the storm of life begins to blow, whatever we see will determine the outcome. Everyone who came across Goliath saw defeat, but David saw an opportunity to become the King’s son-in-law and not to pay tax again for life, 1 Samuel 17:1-58. When challenges come, please see an opportunity for testimony not disgrace. Secondly, Peter’s confession was different from that of the other disciples. When the other disciples saw Jesus walking on water towards them, they cried out of fear. They began to say things like they were doom, they were finished and so on but Peter said ‘Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water ‘meaning I know only you can make me walk on water, help me to walk on water. Believe me, whatever we confess during challenges is what will come to past. The Lord says in Numbers 14:28 “as you have spoken in My ear so shall I do”. Thirdly, while other disciples focused on the sea and the storm, Peter set his focus on Jesus. Whatever we focus on becomes big. If we focus on Jesus long enough, He will become bigger than our challenges but if we focus on our challenges long enough, they will be bigger than Jesus. The reason why the faith of many grow weak during challenges is because they focus so much on the challenges not Jesus. We experience fear as a result of focusing on the outcome not Jesus who decides the outcome. Fourthly, Peter accepted the invitation but others ignore it. When Jesus said ‘Come’, what He meant was come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28. Peter left the boat with his challenges and went to Jesus, others held unto their issues and challenges in the boat. While Peter was walking on his challenges, they sat with theirs in the boat battling with it.

KEY WORD – To walk on the storms of life or overcome any challenges, you must : 1 – see an opportunity for God to glorify Himself in your life; 2- you must confess victory ;  3- focus on Jesus alone not the challenges ; 4- take the matter to Jesus .

HOW TO WALK ON WATER

Matthew 14:29 – so He said “Come”. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
To walk on water is a great feat in Jesus. Peter is the only man recorded in history to have walked on water. This man achieved something his fellow disciples could only dream off. He achieved something no man in the history of this world had achieved. The bible is filled with examples of men and women of God who achieved something no man in history achieved. For example, Abraham is the only man in history who cooked for God and God ate his food. Joshua is the only man in history who was recorded to have paused time. He told the sun to stand still upon Gibeon, and the moon in the valley of Ajalon, Joshua 10:12.There are others like Daniel; Shadrach, Meshach and Abed- Nego; Joseph to mention a few. How were they able to achieve this? What was in the life of Peter that was missing in the life of the other disciples?
Firstly, Peter was a man who knew how to take advantage of opportunities. The opportunity came to Abraham to entertain God and he took it. Joshua had the opportunity to work for God and lead Israel; He grabbed with both hands. The opportunity came to twelve disciples but only Peter took it. There are opportunities today to entertain God; opportunities to walk with God; opportunities to work for God please grab them with both hands. Secondly, Peter had faith in Jesus. Mark 9:23 says all things are possible to him who believes. Faith is free and you do not have to pay for it. Faith is not something you look for, you have it already in you, and all you need is just to deploy it. It took a lot of faith in Jesus for Peter to make that request to walk on water with Him. It took a huge faith in God’s ability to save for David to take on Goliath – a giant and a champion. In the history of the world, no man had ever walked out of fire without even his clothes getting burnt except the three Hebrew men. Their strong faith in God made this happen. Thirdly, Peter was willing to step out of his comfort zone. Sitting quietly in the boat was more comfortable than walking on water. The reason why many have not been able to achieve great feats for Jesus is because they love their comfort zone. It is more comforting not to try at all than try and fail. Abraham first had to leave his comfort zone – his land, family and father’s house to an unknown place. Anyone who wants to achieve anything major in Jesus must be ready to get out of his comfort zone. He must be ready to move out of been an ordinary church member to become a worker; from praying for few minutes to praying for at least an hour and also conducting night vigils at home; from just paying tights and offering to giving God gifts that cost them ; and from  been shy to witnessing about Jesus in the public. The three Hebrew men proudly talked about God to the most powerful man on earth – Nebuchadnezzar. Lastly, Peter was able to achieve this feat because he was obedient to Jesus. When Jesus said “come”, He was referring to all the disciples but only Peter came. The other disciples acted like they did not hear Jesus when He said “come”. They Ignored Jesus but Peter did not.
KEY POINT: To achieve anything major in Jesus, you must be ready to: 1- take advantage of the opportunity to work for God; 2 – have faith in Jesus; 3 – move out your comfort zone and 4- obey Him.

JESUS IS LORD

Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Lord is a differential appellation for a deity or person who has authority, control or power over others. When we say Jesus is Lord, what we are saying is that He has authority, control and power over everything. By authority we mean influence or command. According to Matthew 28:18, all authority in heaven and on earth is His. He has authority over non living things, He told a storm 'be still' and it stood still, Mark 4:36-41. He has authority over all living things, which is why at the mention of His name all knees bow, Philippians 2:10. He has or is in control. He has control over all the demons and witches in the world. That is why He Is called the Lord of Host. He presides over the entire host in heaven ,earth and hell, which is why He was able to tell the legion demons who had possessed the man in Gadara to leave and they left without grumbling, Mark 5:1-20. Lastly Jesus has power. Psalm 33:8-9 says let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him, for He spoke and it was done; He commanded and it stood fast. According to Isaiah 13:13 , He is able to shake the heavens and the earth will move out of its place .Nahum 1:4 says mountain quake before Him, the hills melt, and earth heaves at His presence. Because He has power, He is able to bring back to life a corpse that began to decay, John 11:33-45.Every time you say “Jesus is Lord”, what you are doing is you are putting everything that pertains to you under His authority, control and power. By admitting Jesus Lord, what you are doing is you are submitting your challenges and everything bothering you at His feet. The challenges are no longer yours; He is free to do whatever He pleases with them.

A Lord is also someone to be obeyed. When a Lord speaks over an issue, you do not have opinions, you do not question it, all you do is just obey. When it comes to judgment, the Lord can overrule a verdict or a ruling out of mercy. The woman caught in adultery was guilty no questions about it but Jesus out of mercy overruled the verdict to stone her to death. When He said go into the world and preach, it is not negotiable. Whether you like or not you have to do just that because the Lord has spoken. When He says forgive, that is final. So before you put your challenges before Him as the Lord, you must be ready to carry out all His instructions. When He says ‘jump’, you do not ask why? What you say is ‘how high Lord’. When He says ‘go into the world and preach’, your response will be ‘yes Lord’ and off you go. As you carry out His instructions, you will see that He will begin to exercise His authority, control and power over all the issues of your life.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I am ready to carry out your instructions, please exercise Your authority, control and power over the challenges of my life.

ATTRACTED BY CHARACTER

Psalm 147:10 – He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

Heraclitus once said “Character is destiny”. There is a difference between morals and characters. It is possible to have good morals but bad character. There a lot of people with good moral upbringing, they will never tell a lie or steal but they lack integrity or you cannot trust them with secrets. There are people in the churches today who will never smoke or commit adultery but when it comes to keeping their promises or vow they need help. There are people who will never rob God in tithes and offerings but will talk behind their pastor’s back or gossip about fellow Christians. Although they have good morals yet they lack good character . Saul for example had good morals. There was no record of Saul stealing someone’s donkey or committing adultery but he lacked good character. Two hundred and thirty thousand men volunteered to go to war with him (1 Samuel 10:5-9 ), after winning the war he kept only two thousand and sent the rest ( two hundred and twenty-eight thousand men) back home with nothing (1 Samuel 13:1-2). This is bad character. Another example is Uzziah in 2 Chronicles 26:1-2. He had good moral upbringing, never cheated anyone, the bible recorded nothing bad about his morals but he lacked character. He had no regard for common men or the prophets. When he became very powerful he began bully prophets in the temple. At the end Saul was demoted and Uzziah became a leper.

One criteria God uses in selecting people for important assignments or blessing is good character. Psalm 147:10 says He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. That is why at times we wonder why God will pick a person like David to be a man after His heart or Rahab to be the great great grandmother of David or Abraham to be His friend or Paul to write more than half of the New Testament. We all know David needed help in the area of morals. In 2 Samuel 11:1-17 we see David committing adultery with Bathsheba and then killing her husband to marry her. Although David struggled with his morals, he had excellent character. He was very humble and full of integrity. Psalm 78:72 says he shepherd Israel with the integrity of his heart. In 2 Samuel 22:2, Vagabonds and world rejects gathered around David and he made them mighty men that shook the world. This is good character. In Joshua 2:1-17 is the story of Rahab the prostitute from Jericho, morally she needed help but she had good character. She never stole from the spies; she kept her promise to protect them. Through her God delivered Jericho into the hands of the Israelites. She later became the great great grandmother of David. Jesus came from the lineage of David! Today many Christians struggle as a result of bad characters. There are many beautiful sisters and well to do brothers who are yet to find their life partners all because of their character. Good character brings favor; it opens door; and takes you the top. To keep the door open or keep you at the top you need good morals. Good character took David to the top but bad morals almost destroyed him. Good character took Rahab to the top but she worked on her morals and became a responsible wife.

KEY WORD: Good moral without good character leads to frustration. Good character without good moral leads to shame. Good character will definitely open doors but good moral is needed to keep the doors open.

JESUS SAVES

Acts 4:12 neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Jesus saved, Jesus saves and Jesus will continue to save. In Matthew 5:21-34 is a popular story of the woman with the issue of blood. She had been sick for twelve years. She started life as a rich woman but as years passed she spent all her money trying to get a cure for her sickness. The sickness stole her joy, peace and strength. According to the Law of Moses, a woman with the issue of blood is to be set apart, Leviticus 15:19-29. Anything she touches is rendered unclean, anywhere she sits is unclean! If this woman in Matthew was married before this sickness started, she will not be able to go near her household or be able to fulfill her duties as a wife to her husband. If she was single, she would have to remain single for life unless if she is cured. In any way you look at it, for the period of twelve years she was set apart and I do not need to tell you she was lonely. Loneliness for a month is unbearable not to talk of been lonely for twelve years. To make matters worse, it was her responsibility to inform everyone around of her sickness. Failure to inform them could incur death penalty, so she had to warn them so as not make them unclean. This meant she had to personally go from house to house to tell them of her secrets – her sickness. Not only that, she would have to inform visitors and strangers too. If she was visiting an area, she would need to inform them of her sickness. She went through all these for twelve years. I bet she must have considered suicide but one day she heard that the savior was in town. She made up her mind to receive salvation; she touched the hem of the garment of Jesus and was saved. Jesus took away her shame and gave her glory. He took away her sickness and gave her health. He took away death and gave her life. This woman had no future. What kind of future will a woman in that condition envisage? She was not only stagnant but regressing in life. Jesus saved her and gave her a future. He put a smile on her face and took away the source of her loneliness. What a good Jesus! He is interested in your case just like He was in the case of the woman with the issue of blood. The woman tried Jesus with her faith and she found Him to be the savior.

In John 8:1-11 is another popular story of a woman caught in adultery. The Pharisee brought only her to Jesus to pass judgment and left the man. There was no need for them to bring this woman to Jesus because according to the Law of Moses she was guilty and the penalty is death by stoning. The opinion poll said she should be stoned to death. Mercy was the last thing they thought of because they had already condemned her. By the time they brought this woman to Jesus, she was few minutes from a horrible death. What did Jesus do? He saved her. I bet the woman herself must have been shocked by the judgment of Jesus. The woman who was few minutes to death received life. They dragged her to Jesus, spat on her, and beat her. They exposed her sins to Jesus but He simply covered up. Indeed Jesus saves. What are you going through today that looks like the end of the world? Jesus saves. He is right besides you .He wants to save you. He said “I have come that they may life and have it in abundance”, John 10:10. He did not come to give you eternal life alone, He came to restore life to that dead situation.

ACTION POINT: Do not miss the opportunity to be saved, take all those issues and run to Him and He will save you.

MY GLORY AND THE LIFTER UP OF MINE HEAD

Psalm 3:3 -But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

One of the names of our Lord is King of glory, Psalm 24:7-8. To truly understand the meaning of the word glory, one needs to consider its opposite which is shame. Shame is a very terrible thing. A man that knew shame like the back of his hands was Naaman, 2 Kings 5:1-17. He was a decorated general. He had all the badges a Syrian army could have. He had respect of the king and everyone in Syria. He had everything an average Syrian could dream of. He had the brains, name, connection, fame, and everything you could think of but he was a leper. This leprosy cancelled all his life achievements. Because he was a leper, he had to live in Leper’s colony in the thick forest. He could not come near his family or else he would infect them. He could not stand before the king or anyone. Although he had everything money can buy, he was very lonely .I do not need to tell you that Naaman walked with his heads bowed. One day he came across the agent of the King of glory –Elisha, and his story changed. He was cured of his leprosy and the head which was down was lifted. The man whose residence was leper’s colony in the thick forest began to live in the best part of town. Naaman who was not allowed anywhere in the city began to ride on chariots in the city. Naaman who had not smiled in years suddenly began beam with smiles because his shame had been replaced with glory.

Colossians 1:27 says Christ in you the hope of glory. Jesus Christ is the king of glory. Once He enters any life, shame vanishes. One He takes residence in a man, His glory will begin to radiate in the man’s endeavors. One thing common with people who have failed at something or suffered defeat is that they walk with their heads bowed. To be defeated means to lose a battle to someone or something more powerful and stronger. No one looses a battle and walks with his head high. Sorrow causes him to walk his head bowed. If someone fails an examination and begins to jump for joy, you know something is wrong somewhere. Shame and sorrow causes a man who has just failed an examination to walk with his heads bowed. The man at the pool of Bethesda was now used to defeat having suffered defeat on thirty –eight occasions, John 5:1-16. Every time the angel of the Lord came to trouble the water, someone faster, stronger, and quicker got to the pool before him. One day the King of glory paid him a visit and without trying he received his healing. To fail simply means to work very hard and have nothing to show for it. Peter tried all night but had nothing to show for it, Luke 5:1-10. While he was washing his nets with his heads bowed, the king of glory visited him and the same river he had cast his net all night , he cast his net once and caught so much that two boats began to sink. It is shame that keeps a man’s head down but once the shame is taken away;God’s glory begins to radiate and the head that is bowed down will automatically go up.This is why you need to give your life to Christ so that the glory of God will radiate in your life.

PRAYER POINT: King of glory let your presence be felt in my life.

 

MERCY WITHDRAWN OR RENEWED

Matthew 5:8 says blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

God is abundant in mercy. It is His mercy that keeps us alive, Lamentations 3:22. We are saved by His mercy. Romans 5:8 says while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. For every sin we commit there is a death penalty (Romans 6:23), but instead of giving us what we deserve which is death by crucifixion God gave Jesus to die for our sins. God’s mercy over a life can either be renewed or withdrawn. Mercy can be withdrawn if abused or not appreciated. In the case of Uzziah the king of Judah, mercy was withdrawn as a result of abuse, 2 Chronicles 26:1-21. God’s mercy took this sixteen year old boy and made him king. He also prospered him but when he was strong pride set in. Uzziah began to bully the prophets of God and mercy was withdrawn immediately and he became a leper. In the case of Saul, mercy was abused. God’s mercy took this farm boy and made him king. He was giving a simple instruction to wait for Samuel but he decided a king should not be kept waiting so he went ahead to do the sacrifice in the absence of Samuel. Through God’s mercy he received pardon .He graduated to a level whereby he began to pick and choose which of God’s instruction to follow. He was instructed to destroy everything in Amalek; he decided to kill some and spare some and mercy was withdrawn. When David erred by taking a man’s wife and devised a scheme that led to the death of the husband, instead of destroying David God renewed His mercy over him. Why?

Matthew 5:8 says blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. The reason why mercy was renewed in the case of David was because David was a merciful man. David had several opportunities to kill Saul but he did not kill him. Out of mercy David gathered vagabonds and those the world had rejected and made them mighty men of valor. When you study the life of Uzziah, there was not even a single act of mercy recorded against his name. Saul on the other hand was wicked and merciless. The first war he fought, three hundred and thirty thousand children of Israel went to war with him, 1 Samuel 11:8. These men left their occupations to join Saul’s army. After winning the war, Saul choose two thousand out of these three hundred and thirty thousand and sent the rest away with nothing, 1 Samuel 13:2 . He had no need for them again so he just dumped them. Any man who will bask in God’s mercy must be ready to show mercy at all times. Anyone who does not forgive or show mercy will suddenly find mercy been withdrawn from him when he errs. If you are the type who does not give second chance or forgive or you are too harsh, please be careful so that God’s mercy will not be withdrawn when you need it most. I think I have shared the story of my traffic warden friend who was stopped by a traffic police for exceeding the speed limit for a particular stretch of road. He explained to this police officer that he exceeded the speed limit because he was late for work. The officer ignored him and began to write a speeding fine .As the officer was about to hand the speeding fine to him, he asked my friend, as a traffic warden do you give second chance( my friend was in his uniform)? And my friend replied that everyone deserves a second chance. The police officer tore the speeding fine and said there you go your second chance.

KEY WORD: The amount of God’s mercy you are entitled to is dependent of the amount of mercy you are willing to show.

WALKING BY FAITH NOT BY SIGHT

2 Corinthians 5:7 – (for we walk by faith; not by sight)

Contrary to popular belief, seeing is not believing. We cannot see ultraviolet rays, but we know it gives sunburn. We cannot see the wind, but we must have seen it uproot a tree or flatten buildings. We cannot see electricity but we know that it is dangerous to hold a live hot wire. We cannot see carbon monoxide but we know it can kill. Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of thins not seen. Faith is a thing of the heart not of the head. Faith is taking God at His word. It is confidence in God’s words and power to turn a situation around.A man that walked by faith with God was Abraham. Despite the age of Sarah and deadness of his body, when the Lord told him that Sarah was going to conceive he believed God. He did not look at what medical science had to say. He did not dwell on the fact that Sarah had not menstruated in over thirty years; he took God’s word for it and he held on it.

2 Corinthians 5:7 admonishes us to walk by faith; not by sight. Why? According to Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God. Also faith in God is a righteous thing, Galatians 3:6. Another reason why we should not walk by sight is because the things which we see are temporal, but the things which we see not are eternal, 2 Corinthians 4:18. The things we see are challenges and enjoyments. The riches, honors, pleasures, profits e.t.c are temporal and they endure but for a time. So also the pain, sorrow and tears. All that we enjoy, and all that we suffer here are temporal. Every visible thing in this world is temporal but the things which we see not are eternal. God is eternal, the joys and the glories of heaven are eternal. The question today is what are you striving for? Things which are seen or things which are not seen? All your efforts today, are they directed at the things of this world or heaven? Are you currently investing in a property on earth or investing in your heavenly homes and palaces. Whether you believe it or not there are palaces in heaven for everyone winning souls, helping the poor, working for God in one capacity or the other. All your labor of love in your churches are not in vain .For every single thing you do for Jesus, there is a small reward on earth and bigger reward in heaven. Do everything to make it to heaven and not only that put more efforts into whatever you are doing for Jesus today because there is a reward waiting for you. As you labor for the kingdom of God on earth, there are angels building homes for you in heaven.

KEY QUESTION: are you working for the things which are temporal or eternal?

BURNING THE BRIDGES

1 Kings 19:21 – so Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

BIBLE STUDY: 1 Kings 19:19-21

Immediately Elisha received the call to serve, he killed his livestock, gave away the farming implements, and followed Elijah the man of God. He burned the bridge between his past and future. Many today who have giving their lives to Christ are yet to burn the bridge between their past and future. After giving our lives to Christ, the first thing we need to do is to destroy anything that ties us to our former life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore is any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed way; behold, all things are become new. As new birth bachelors and spinsters we no longer need to keep birth control pills and contraception. These things are for fornicators not for singles who are born again. We no longer need to keep clothes that expose parts of the body that is meant to be covered so we need to dispose off those clothing. We no longer need the contacts of our old lovers because we now have a new lover which is Christ.

Why did Elisha kill the livestock and give away his farming implements? He that to avoid backsliding. He knew if kept the animals and farming implements, he could be tempted to backslide. Elisha knew that his attention will be divided between his oxen (past) and Elijah (future). Because of this he decided to forego his past for a glorious future ahead. We need to do away with our sinful past so as to avoid destroying our glorious future. The chances of back-sliding are very high when after giving our lives to Christ, we are still in close contact with our ex-lovers; still keep birth control pills and contraception ; still keep friends we used to commit sin with. If they have giving their life to Christ no problem but if they have not we have nothing in common again. After giving my life to Christ, the first thing I did was to dispose off every material that does not glory Christ in my life. I confiscated CDs, novels, DVDs, cards, e.t.c . After that I went to preach to all my lovers both new and old. I politely told of all of them that I am a new creation and I am no longer who I used to be. I preached to my friends but I was still hanging out with them. I noticed that this was affecting my spiritual life so I gave everyone up and stopped calling them. I noticed that immediately I did this, I began to grow spiritually. It is true I lost very close friends but I gained the most valuable friend any man can have which Is Jesus. Why did Jesus ask the rich man to give all he had away and follow Him, Matthew 19:21? So that once he starts following Him, his riches and wealth will not draw him back from serving Jesus. When Jesus called Peter, he did not destroy his boats . Immediately Jesus was crucified, Peter went back to fishing, John 21:1-6.

ACTION POINT: Make a list of what is affecting your walk with Christ and begin to take measures to deal with them.

GOD’S ATTITUDE TO THE UNIMPORTANT

Proverbs 19:17 says he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.

God did not create anyone to be poor or unimportant. He definitely did not create anyone to be invisible or be a ‘nobody’ (a person of no importance or authority). There are several reasons why people end up as nobody. It could be by virtue of circumstances at birth. The crippled man in Acts 3:1-8 became a beggar because he was born with weak ankle and limbs and his parents were poor. The only way to get money to feed was to beg. Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-16, was a highly respected and celebrated general but because he was a leper he was confined to leper’s colony. A high ranking general became unimportant because of leprosy. No one reckoned with him because he was not fit to leave in the community. Because of life challenges a very wealthy woman became poor and lonely, Mark 5:25-34. The physicians knew medical science could not solve her problem so they resulted to use her as a cash cow, and before you know it, she exhausted all her resources; poverty crept in. At times barrenness can make the favorite wife consider suicide, 1 Samuel 1:1-8. Despite the fact that Elkanah loved Hannah, Peninah her rival made it a point of duty to reduce her to tears daily because she had no child. Also the enemy through their evil schemes can cause the favorite child to become a slave in a foreign land. If you disagree with me, please read the story of Joseph, Genesis 37:1-36.

How does God treat these people- unimportant/poor/ disadvantaged? He treats them with love. Proverbs 19:17 says he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again. Actually He sent Jesus just because of them. Mark 2:17 says on hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. When the poor, disadvantaged, sinners came to Jesus, He treated them with love. When a man comes to Jesus with his heads bowed, he leaves the presence of Jesus with his shoulders held high. When they come to Him feeling invisible, they left with a feeling of importance. The question is when people come to us with their heads bowed, how do they leave – confident or worse? How do we treat the beggar that asks us for a dime? How do we treat the gateman, school janitor, and the homeless on the streets - like humans or leave them feeling suicidal? How do you refer to people that are below you? Jesus who was the savior of the world referred to the woman with the issue of blood (an unimportant woman) as daughter, Mark 5:34. How do we treat those that are not as intelligent, confidence, rich, opportuned or as comfortable as us?

ACTION POINT: During this seasons remember the needy in your prayers. Also let the love of God radiate from you to them.

GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT

Ephesians 4:30 -And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit is a personality. He is not a ‘power’ or a ‘force’ like electricity. The Holy Spirit speaks and hears; thinks and reasons; feel and has emotions; and decides, has a will, and self-determination. The Holy Spirit is God. Since He has emotions, He can be grieved or vexed. Ephesians 4:30 says and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. This brings us to the question of how does one grieve the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit can grieved in the following ways: Making Him sad by behavior contrary to the fruit of the Spirit –anger, hatred, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc ; Quenching the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19) – putting out of the fire of the Spirit by refusal to pray and be on fire for the gifts and anointing of the Spirit to work through you; insulting the Spirit (Hebrews 10:29)-Living a life of continual deliberate sinning after receiving the knowledge of truth; Resisting the Spirit (Acts 7:51)-Going in the opposite direction to the definite guidance of the Spirit; Vexing the Spirit-(Isaiah 63:10)-Living in deliberate rebellion against the leadership of the Spirit; Lying to the Spirit (Acts 5:3)-Telling intentional untruths and half-truths to anointed men/women of God with the intention of deceiving God’s people; Tempting/Testing the Spirit (Acts 5:9)-Teaming up to provoke God’s Spirit to do things he would not normally want to do; Blaspheming the Spirit (Matthew 12:31, 32)-Attributing the works and words of God’s Spirit to Satan and demons when you have a clear witness within yourself; Striving with the Spirit (Genesis 6:3)-Walking in the flesh continually against the promptings of the Spirit; Rebelling against the Spirit (Psalm 106:33)-Refusal to do what God’s Spirit expressly commands.We can also grieve the Holy Spirit by entertaining vain and sinful thoughts .

The fact that the Holy Spirit can grieved or vexed suggests the possibility of the Holy Spirit to be pleased too. Acts 15:28 says for it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things. How does one please the Holy Spirit? By avoiding the sins against the Spirit and majoring in the character traits that reflect the fruit of the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Another way to please Him is by avoiding grieving Him through our thoughts - vain and sinful thoughts. Philippians 4:8 says whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are good report; if there be any virtue , and if there by any praise, think on these things.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please sanctify me today and help to bring to bear the fruit of the Spirit.

HOLY SPIRIT & PURITY

1 Peter 1:16 - be ye holy for I am holy.

The Holy Spirit gives power. Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit performed mighty signs and wonders, Acts 10:38. The Holy Spirit gives strength. In Judges 14:5-6, a lion roared against Samson and the Spirit of God came mightily upon him. He grabbed the lion and tore it apart as if he was tearing an ordinary piece of paper. Also in the strength of the Holy Spirit, Samson was able to catch three hundred foxes, Judges 15:4. Anyone who knows foxes will tell you they are extremely smart and quick moving. To catch a fox alive is a miracle talk-less of catching three hundred foxes .The Holy Spirit gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Daniel full of the Holy Spirit was found to be ten times better than all the geniuses around, Daniel 1:20. The Holy Spirit is able to protect. Isaiah 59:19 says when the enemy shall come in like a flood; the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Also the Holy Spirit impacts unshakeable confidence. The early disciples found it difficult to witness about Jesus because they lacked boldness but immediately they were filled with the Holy Spirit they began to evangelize with boldness, Acts 4:24-31.

One aspect of the Holy Spirit we do not often discuss is the purity aspect. There is no way we will discuss about the Holy Spirit and not talk of purity. One of the symbols of the Holy Spirit is the dove. The dove is an emblem of purity and innocence. The Holy Spirit will only dwell in a clean vessel. He will only dwell in a body that has been kept pure. The Holy Spirit can do a lot in the life of a man but He expects such man to keep himself pure. By purity we mean without spot or sin. We do not need to be pure to receive the Holy Spirit but purity is essential to keep Him or else He will take His leave. When we study the lives of men who attained their potentials in God, they kept themselves pure. Daniel, Shadrach, Mishael and Abed-Nego kept themselves pure by not defiling themselves with the portion of the king delicacies, Daniel 1:8. Jesus kept himself pure by not bowing down to Satan. Jesus was tested in every way and yet did not sin, Hebrew 4:15. The mother of Samson was advised to keep herself pure by not consuming wine or unclean food while pregnant with Samson, Judges 13:3-4. To keep ourselves pure we need to appreciate a life of holiness. We need to do away with sins like masturbation, fornication, lying, backbiting, adultery, gossiping and so on, so that the Holy Spirit dwell in us. We need to keep our hearts pure; no malice, no hatred; no unforgiveness, no dirty thoughts. We need to do away with things that pollute our minds and body.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, please purify my heart, lip, life and conversation.

THE SECRET PLACE OF THE MOST HIGH

Psalm 91:1 – he that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The safest place in the world is the secret place of the most High. It is safer than the White House or any presidential villa you may think of. It is safer than all the royal palaces put together. When a man abides in the secret place of the most High, he becomes untouchable. In 2 kings 6:13- 21, the king of Syria sent a host of army to arrest Elisha. The king was aware of the level of anointing on Elisha so instead of sending just an army or two, he sent several to arrest him. When the host of Syrians got to the residence of Elisha, they could not do anything because Elisha was surrounded by battalions of horses and chariots of fire from heaven. Not only that, the mountain around the house was full of horses and chariots of fire. They were present to protect the man of God. In 2 Kings 1:9-15, the king of Samaria sent a captain of fifty with fifty men to go and arrest Elijah the man of God. When they got to where Elijah was unfortunately for them he was in the secret place of the most High. Immediately the captain tendered the arrest warrant, fire came from heaven and consumed the captain and his army. The king sent another batch and the same thing happened. When the third batch got there, the captain looked around and saw ashes everywhere, instead of tendering the arrest warrant; he knelt down and begged for mercy.

From studying Psalm 91:1, you will come to the conclusion that the Lord has a secret place. The location of this place is a secret that is kept from everyone. To get there one needs an invitation from the most High God. The question is how do I qualify for an invitation? What is the criterion for getting an invite to the safest place the world has ever known? The criterion is to fear God. Psalms 25:14 says the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him. It is only those that fear God that are privy of His secrets. What does it mean to fear God? Proverbs 8:13 says the fear of the Lord is to hate evil. When you fear God, you will hate what He hates and like what He likes. If you fear God, obeying God will be a must for you. Getting an invite is enough, you can decide to honor the invitation or not. Besides an invite only gives the location, it does not tell us how to dwell there. To dwell in the secret place of the most High we must be ready to spend quality time in the presence of God. Quality time is not the ten minutes we spend with Him daily. When you talk of quality, the least is an hour. If you cannot afford an hour daily, make it at least twice a week. The secret place of the most High is found in the presence of God. Start your day with praise and worship. I can guarantee you that as you begin to spend this time with God; He will begin to release the plans and the agenda of the enemy to you. Not only that you will begin to dwell in His secret place.

ACTION POINT: Create time to fellowship with God in praise and worship, bible studies and praying.

THE LACK OF CHARACTER OF MICHAL

2 Samuel 6:23 – and Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

A Greek philosopher called Heraclitus once said ‘Character is destiny’. The character of a man can deny him the fulfillment of God’s plan for his life. It is good to have dreams and aspirations but without a good character one will end up disappointed. To enjoy a walk with God, good character is essential. Michal the daughter of Saul had everything money could buy. She had servants, connections, status, and fame but despite all these she lived a life of misery. She was the only woman in the bible who died without a child.

A careful study into the life of Michal shows us that she was a dishonest person. She lied to her father, her father’s messengers and virtually anyone she could find, 1 Samuel 19:13 -14. Not only was she dishonest, she was full of deception. She told lies on people to get herself out of trouble, 1 Samuel 19:17. She was the one that let David through a window .When she was asked she told Saul that David threatened to kill her. Telling a lie only cover up things, it does not take it away. It is better to say the truth and suffer the consequence or face the embarrassment and be free than lie to save face and be in bondage. There is no point telling a lie because the truth will always emerge. Luke 8:17 says for nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known or come to light. Besides that anyone who tells a lie belongs to the devil, John 8:44. Also she was vain; she attached too much importance to material things. She was only interested in people for what they are not who they are. At the surface level, one will think her attraction to David was out of love but on a deeper level it was because of what they was and his achievements. She loved David because he was handsome (1 Samuel 16:12); Popular (1 Samuel 16:18, 21, 23); Hero (1 Samuel 18:6-7); successful (1 Samuel 18:14-16, 30) and famous (1 Samuel 18:30). Immediately David went into exile she married Palti (1 Samuel 25:44). Once all the fame and looks was gone, she moved on to another man. To crown it all up she was disrespectful to everyone. Out of disrespect she deceived and disobeyed her father; she disobeyed God by worshipping an idol, 1 Samuel 19:13; she disrespected the king and her husband (2 Samuel 6:16). In the end she received judgment (2 Samuel 6:21-22). Abigail on the other hand was very respectful. She was full of wisdom. When her husband died, people thought it was the end for her but her good character earned her place in the palace as a queen. Do you know abusing people in authority depicts lack of character? James 4:11 warns us not to slander anyone, besides God expects us to respect and submit to all authority (1 Peter 2:13-14). We will never change anyone by condemning them, they will only become worse.

ACTION POINT: Let us commit those in power into the hand of God that He will touch their heart and use them for His glory.

JEHOVAH JIREH – THE LORD WHO PROVIDES

Genesis 22:8 - Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Bible study: Genesis 22:1-9

The type of resources at your disposal will determine the type of needs you can meet. Money can buy a lot, it can buy the best medical service in the world but it cannot buy good health; it
can buy a nice comfortable bed but it cannot buy sleep; it can afford the services of the best chef in the world but it cannot buy appetite. God is unlimited in resources. He possesses heaven and earth, Genesis 14:19; all power belongs to Him, Psalm 62:11. Because He is unlimited in resources, there are no needs He cannot meet. Hence with Him, nothing is impossible, Luke 1:37.

God is able to meet all needs and wants. It is a thing to be able to meet needs; it is another thing to want to meet needs. The Most High God is not only able to provide for all your needs, He derives pleasure in providing for your needs. He is generous and enjoys giving His children a taste of His generosity. After Solomon’s thousand burnt offerings, God visited him and told him to ask for whatever for he wanted. The Lord did not only give Solomon all he asked for, he gave him what he did not ask for too. This is what I call generosity! My prayer for you is that God will give you a taste of His generosity, in Jesus name, Amen. Few years ago, the Lord laid it on my mind to bless a particular church with refreshments for their Palm Sunday service. Although I attended a different church, I obeyed and arranged for these refreshments. On Sunday i went to the church very early to hand the gifts to the pastor. When he saw the gifts, the man was speechless. Anyway the pastor prayed and I left. Out of curiosity I asked the Lord why he sent me to the church. Later I got to know that the Lord was just reminding me that He does not take the issue of providing for His children lightly. He makes provision before the need for that provision arises. He provides solution before the problem arises. Before Palm Sunday, the Lord had already prepared refreshments. Can I inform you that long before that challenge, the Lord had prepared a solution. Another lesson I learnt was that, when it comes to the subject of help, God can send help through anyone. He can use a complete stranger, someone you have neither spoken to nor met before to meet your needs. The last thing on the mind of the pastor that day was a total stranger turning up with refreshments for the members. Please stop worrying about how God will deal with that challenge? As the heavens are higher than the earth so are His ways higher than our ways, Isaiah 55:9. God has enough resources to meet your needs. He has enough children; He can send anyone of them to you to help you. The church members expected the same usual Sunday service but on this particular Sunday the Lord visited them with His generosity. This is why it is not advisable to miss church services. You never know when the Lord will visit.

ACTION POINT: during this festive period whilst we are enjoying ourselves let’s remember the needy, poor, homeless and orphans around us. This is the time to excel in good works towards these people.

HOW TO CULTIVATE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

Amos 3:3-can two walk together, unless they agree?

There was a man who owned a small farm. He worked on this farm year in year out and got very little out this farm just to feed himself and his family. Unknowingly or knowingly to this man, underneath this farm was oil. If only he will dig deeper, he will become very rich and would be able to afford good things of life. This man represents many believers today, and the farm represents the Holy Spirit. The oil represents the riches in Christ. If only we will dig deeper, instead of been Christians in poverty we will be Christians with the riches of God. The Holy Spirit is God, acting like God, been Himself God, always is God. He has the same attribute as God. He is God the Spirit; Jesus is God the Son and the Father is God the Father. He is not a force or power but a personality. He speaks and hears; thinks and reasons feel and has emotions; and decides, has a will, a self –determination. Because He is a personality a relationship with Him can be cultivated. The mistake we make is we think one experience of been filled with the Holy Spirit is sufficient and that is enough to know Him. Just like it is impossible to know a man just by shaking hands with him. It will be true if the man is a tree or lamp post but since he has a personality a relationship can be developed to know him. The same thing happens with the Holy Spirit, We can know the Holy Spirit better every day of our life.

Amos 3: 3 asks a rhetorical question; can two walk together except they agree? No. For two people to walk together, they need to agree on certain things. There needs to be agreement on direction, destination and route. If a man is going north and the other is going south it is obvious they cannot walk together or if they are going to the same location but each of them prefers to use different routes. To walk with the Holy Spirit we need to go the direction He is going. Not only that we must ready to go to His destination following His route. The Spirit filled way must be a holy way. A spirit filled life must be a holy life. He will not dwell in an unholy life. The good news is the Holy Spirit does not require a holy place to come in but He requires you be willing that the place should be made holy after He comes. The Holy Spirit does not come to a life to make him famous or make a celebrity out of him. He comes to make a man holy, give him gifts and enable him to witness, Acts 1:8. The greatest gift of the Holy Spirit is a meek, docile heart. He will transform you to a meek, humble, trusted, domesticated person. The result of this relationship is oneness with Him. One in outlook, hope and thought. Two people cannot walk together if they do not have anything in common. Once we become one with Him, He begins to release the riches of God to us. To achieve this oneness with Him , we must surrender to the Holy Spirit to transform us .

PRAYER POINT: Father, I want to be one with you, I surrender my life to you please transform me.

DO YOU KNOW YOUR GOD?

Daniel 11:32 – and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

In Daniel 3:1- 30, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were put to test to check if they really know the God they claimed to serve. Nebuchadnezzar told them to either bow to his golden stature and live or refuse and end up in the burning furnace. It emerged that they know their God because they refused to bow to the stature and the king threw them into the furnace. The God they served delivered them. If you read the story carefully, you will notice that the furnace was so hot that the heat from it killed the men standing by it and yet those that were thrown in it came out without a mark even on their clothes. God has a way of rewarding people who know Him and are willing to stand for Him. By the end of that day, the three men were promoted. In Daniel 6:1-24, Daniel was also giving the opportunity to show that he knows the God of Israel. The king passed a law that no one should pray to any God except to the king. Daniel decided that nothing will separate him from the love of the Holy One of Israel .While he was praying some people saw him and reported him to the king. Anyway they threw him into the lion’s den and His God delivered him.

When you study those who know their God, they talk in a different way. In the midst of strong challenges, the words that come out their mouth will shock you. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego told Nebuchadnezzar “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, Daniel 3:17. This statement really made the king angry but made God proud. How do you know a fellow who knows his God? Watch him when things are not going as planned or seems as if he is about to lost the battle. Those who know their God will never ask God “why me”? They will never be rude to God when the challenges of life come. You will never see them try to help God or go to false prophets for help. Those who know their God confidently confesses that 'our God will help us'. At times they even defend God when people ask them ‘where is your God?’ Their answer is ‘our God is in Heaven and He reigns’. When people start mocking them, they tell their mockers ‘i know my redeemers lives’ just like job. They are so sure of their God; they will say 'even if He decides not to save at this time that does not mean He cannot save, He is the savior! The question is do you know your God? Not only will your confession change once you know your God, you will begin to make unusual progress. Leading people to Christ will be easy because you will be able confidently tell your friends and family ‘with my Jesus nothing is impossible.’ When you know your God, you become an eagle. The fowls have decided to permanently remain on the ground, other birds fly not too high, just below the wind current so as not to fail but the eagle flies in the heavens. Once you know your God, the fear of failure will vanish and once that is gone, the sky is your limit.

ACTION POINT: Since you know your God, change your confession to I know the God I serve, nothing is impossible for Him. He will sort my matter out!

A MAN AFTER THE HEART OF GOD

Acts 13:22 – and when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.

When God wants to show how much He loves a man , He does not do it in the private but public . When He wanted to show Satan how much He loves you, He offered
Jesus on the cross of Calvary publicly for your sins. When He wanted to show the enemies of David how much He loved him ,He prepared a table publicly in the presence of the enemies of David and began to feed him, Psalm 23:5. He did not only do that, He publicly declared “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart”, Acts 13:22. The question is what did David do to earn such a testimony from God? What did this king do to win the heart of the Almighty ?

What kind of man was David ? David was a man who loved God passionately. He loved to spend time in the presence of God. When it was time to go to the house of God , David would start rejoicing , Psalm 122 :1. He loved God to the extent that his heart began to long for God. David had a thirst for God that nothing in this world could quench. He compared his longing for God to a deer panting for the water brooks, Psalms 42:1 . Also David was a worshiper. No man could beat David when it it comes to praising God . When it was time for praise and worship, King David would dance with all his might ,2 Samuel 6:14. He was not ashamed to dance for God in public or in the presence of important dignitaries like some of us.When we talk of important dignitaries , who is more important than God anyway !. David never cared about who was looking, he would dance and jump to the extent that he was almost naked. While everyone restricted worshiping God to only Sundays , David worshiped God seven times daily , Psalm 119:164 . Another quality David had was he was a giver. When it was time to give to God , David would give until it hurts. He needed a field to offer burnt offerings to God so he approached Araunah. The fellow wanted to give the field to David for free ,but he refused . He said "no , i insist on paying the full price, for i will not take for the Lord what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing". Do you know how much David gave towards the building of the temple ? One hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver , bronze and iron beyond measure,timber and stone,1 Chronicles 22:14. He also gave three thousand talents of gold, and seven thousand talents of silver to overlay the walls , 1 Chronicles 29:3-4. Experts have valued what he gave in present day currency to be at least fifty-six billion dollars ( $56,000,000,000) ! Do you think God will not at least say thank you to such a man who gave to Him until it hurts ?Proverbs 8:17 says I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me will find Me. We want to become the man and woman after the heart of God ? We need to first love God and begin to long for Him. We need to learn how to worship Him. We need to be generous to Him.If you love God , He will love you back.

PRAYER POINT: Father , thank you for opening my eyes today , I will love you , praise you and give to you , Please love me in return.

RESPONSE TO MERCY

2 Chronicles 34:31 – then the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the Lord , to follow the Lord, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statues with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book

Bible Studies: 2 Chronicles 34:1-33

Josiah was only eight years old when he became king in Jerusalem. Imagine an eight year old child, becoming the president of USA or any other country? What does an eight year old know? What experiences of life has he got? Mercy gives one an opportunity he does not deserve. The woman caught in adultery in John 8:1-11 did not deserve mercy according to the Law of Moses. Actually allowing her to live is a sin, but when they brought her to Jesus, He had mercy on her and gave her life back. If not for mercy, the Leper in Luke 5:12-13 would have been stoned to death. According to the Law of Moses lepers are not allowed in towns except they are passing through and to do that they need to inform the community priory to passing. The man risked his life to come and meet Jesus and the Lord had mercy on him and healed him. Through the tender mercies of Jesus, one of the two criminals received salvation on the cross, Luke 23:39-42. Lamentations 3:22 says it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. Out of mercy Moses saw God and lived, Exodus 33:17-33.

To appreciate God’s mercy, Josiah went out and completely destroyed everything (idols and gods of the land) that could come between him and this merciful God. God was impressed with the way this young king responded to His mercies, so He promised him that all his life he will never face any challenge or see calamity. Josiah knew what it meant to spend a year without facing challenges and now the Lord was promising that all his life he will neither face any challenge not see calamity. This king decided to make a covenant before God that he will serve God like no one had ever done. He will spend for God and be spent by God. He promised to live holy. In Judges 15:11- Judges 16:1, three thousand men of Judah (brothers of Samson) bound him with a rope and gave him to the Philistines. The enemies with-in caught him and handed him over to the enemy with-out to kill. Out of mercy, the Lord delivered him that day. Instead of thanking God for the victory, he began to question God about his thirst. Out of mercy the Lord provided water again. Immediately he drank the water and was satisfied, he went straight into the house of a prostitute to celebrate his victory. How are we responding to God’s mercy today? The fact that we are alive it is by His mercy. Do we wake up to thank God for the gift of life or we just go about our business. Our salvation how do we take it, do we bring others to Christ, invite people to church or just watch them on Sunday go to play football or sleep of all day long? That business or job, do we tithe on our earning or just spend everything? .The good health He gave to us, do we use it to party and fornicate or join the workers in the church and work for Him in His vine yard? The way we respond to God’s mercy will determine the level of His mercies we will get. The next time the enemy caught Samson they plucked out his eyes immediately, Judges 16:21. Actually he did not leave the camp of the Philistine alive .Not even a single soul mourned Samson but till date it is a custom in Israel to lament about the death of Josiah.

KEY QUESTION: How are you responding to God’s mercies over your life and family?

WHEN IT SEEMS GOD IS SILENT

Psalm 91:15 – he shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him

There are many of us who have been seeking the face of God over one issue or another. We have prayed, fasted, giving tithes & offerings, sown seeds and nothing seems to happen. I want to tell you that God answers prayers and He is still in the business of answering prayers. He will answer you today and you shall rejoice.

There are several reasons why  God seems to be quiet or we do not see the manifestation of what we have asked for. One of the reasons could be God has a bigger and better plan than ours. Despite how hard Jesus prayed before his crucifixion, God did not say a word. Why? Because while Jesus was asking that the cup should pass over Him, God had a bigger plan to exalt Him to the highest place possible and give Him a name that is above every other name, Philippians 2:9. The reason why it seems God is silent over that challenge could be He has a better plan than yours. You might be asking Him for a job but He is planning to make you a business mogul. Another reason could be God has already prepared a solution or way out but it is yet to manifest. Before Daniel was thrown in the lion’s den, God had already shut the mouth of the Lion, Daniel 6:1-28. While Daniel must have been praying for deliverance from the hands of those who wanted to put him in the lion's den, God kept quiet. A sister had serious financial challenge. One morning things got so worse that she cried and cried to God but God did not say a word. Unknowing to her, God had already instructed us to bless her financially two weeks prior. We made every effort to contact her but it was impossible. Anyway that evening we were able to get to her and bless her and her joy was full. Another reason why God keeps silent at times could be due to incomplete obedience to His word. In Genesis 12:1-3, God gave Abram 7 promises subject to obedience to 3 commandments. He told Abram to leave his country, family and his father’s house. Abram left his country, family but did not leave his father’s house because he took Lot with him. Because Abram’s obedience was incomplete, when he began to run into challenges –challenges of famine , challenges in his marriage which resulted to a king taking his wife, challenges in relationships where Lot turned to a thorn in his side , God kept quiet. Immediately he parted ways with Lot, God began to speak and the promises of God came to fruition in his life. Lastly another reason why God is silent at times could be  the presence of sin. Isaiah 59:1-2 says behold , the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy , that it cannot hear but your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you , that He will not hear. God is not interested in any of His child suffering .Micah 3:4 says then they shall cry unto the Lord, but He will not hear them: He will even hide His face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. Sin hides the face of God from His children. Repent today !

KEY POINT: if there is any area where your obedience has been incomplete please deal with it and if it is sin repent today.

WHEN MOVED TO PRAY

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – Pray without ceasing.

A prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian. It is impossible to conquer the world as a child of God without a life of prayer. Praying has so many advantages. It brings deliverance - while Paul and Silas prayed in the prison their bands were loosed, Acts 16:26. We receive un-shakeable confidence through prayers – the disciples received boldness to preach the gospel while they prayed, Acts 4:31.Through prayers we receive the keys to either open or shut the windows of heaven- Elijah through prayers shut the heaven for three and a half years and opened it back. Prayers usher us into the presence of God and God’s glory rubs on us – whilst Moses was praying he saw the glory of God and his face began to shine, Exodus 34:6-8 & 30. Prayer paves the way for transfiguration – while Jesus prayed with his disciples he was transfigured, Luke 9:28-29. When we pray it should not only be in understanding but in tongues also. Praying in tongues should not only be on Sundays or night vigils. One of the keys to spiritual growth is praying in tongues daily. There are a lot of advantages in praying in tongues. While praying in tongues,our spiritual life is edified, 1 Corinthians 14:4; also when we pray in tongues we are speaking to God directly, 1 Corinthians 14:2 and by praying in tongues we magnify God, Acts 10:46.

Most importantly when you are led by the spirit to pray, stop what you are doing and start praying. While singing or praying, if a particular prayer point comes to mind immediately start praying on the prayer point. Most of the challenges in the church today could have been avoided if only we prayed when moved by the Holy Spirit to do so. The Holy Spirit woke a pastor up at night to intercede for a pregnant lady in the church. Unknowingly to him, the sister was in labour and was having complications. The pastor began to pray; two hours later she put to bed safely. The pastor only found out the next morning when the husband called to inform the pastor that his wife put to bed in the early hours of that morning. There are many accidents and mishaps that could have avoided if only people pray when moved by the spirit. Many would have received the answers to their prayers, if only we prayed when moved by the Holy Spirit to do so. A particular sister had a dream, and in that dream she saw a young boy destroy her glasses. From that moment onward she lost her gift of dreams. When she came to us we advised her to pray and if possible conduct a night vigil. Few days later while we were praying at night, the Holy Spirit led us to intercede for her which we did. The next morning she informed us that she dreamt the night before. The Lord needed someone to join her in prayer for her restoration. What if we had refused, unknowingly we would have hindered her restoration. When led by the Holy Spirit to pray, immediately start praying, a life could be in danger and your prayer at that time could save the life.

KEY POINT: When moved to pray please stop everything you are doing and begin to pray, if you do not know what to pray about just pray in tongues.

WHAT TYPE OF CHRISTIAN?

Ephesians 5:23 – for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of church: and he is the saviour of the body.

The world has changed to the extent that it is hard to single out a believer in a crowd. It has gotten to the point where believers are now invisible in the midst of a crowd. According to Matthew 5:14, we are the light of the world. If the light now becomes invisible in the midst of darkness then there is a problem. As big as the city of Antioch was, the disciples stood out despite the fact that they were very few in number. They stood out in the way they conducted themselves. They were men of integrity. They were open, sincere and trustworthy. They dazzled the whole city with their humility and good character.

The most important part of the human body is the head. The head is used for identification. That is why when we apply for a visa or a job, we are required to attach a passport photograph of our head not our arm, neck or leg. In Ephesians 5:23 the bible describes Christ as the head of the church. The church is not the building but the members in it. When people come to us or when they see us, the first thing they should notice is Christ not a celebrity or a circular musical artist. The question we need to ask ourselves as believers is what are we promoting- kingdom lifestyles or worldly lifestyles? When we enter a room, what do people see? Is it our achievement, wealth, degree or business success or Jesus? Many of us have bought into the thinking that Christianity is a thing of the heart, and people around do not need to know. It is impossible to live a life of holiness and people around will not notice. When everyone is having sex before marriage and you say 'no' to sex before marriage they will notice. When everyone is accepting bribes and you say 'no' they will notice. When everyone around is using offensive words and swearing and they never hear you swear or curse they will take notice of you. When they invite you to club on Friday night or disco and you politely refuse and stay at home to study your bible they will notice. Are you a Christian brother who is single and still keeps condoms in the house or wallet? Or a sister who still keeps pregnancy prevention pills. The bible has said no to sex before marriage, what is the need of condoms and pregnancy prevention pills? What are we doing with  nude pictures on our mobiles or pornographic materials ? All these materials only pollute the mind. Christians should not be found with these things. You call yourself a Christian and you have never invited anyone to church, how do you evangelize then? We all need to ask ourselves, are we really practicing Christianity as outlined in the bible?

KEY QUESTION:  When people see us, what do they see? Is it our head which is Jesus or us?

WHO HAS THE FINAL SAY?

Revelations 22:13 - I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

One of the interpretations of the name Alpha and Omega is the One who decides the beginning and ending of a season. He also determines the duration of a season. According to Matthew 10:29 a sparrow will not fall to the ground without His knowledge.

A synonym for the word Omega is the One who has the final say. Whatever situation you may find yourself today, i want you to know that God who has the final say. Death does not have the final say. A dead man in the coffin can still be brought back to life, Luke 7:11-17. Even the one that has been buried for four days, John 11:38-44. It is only God that decides when a man’s ministry is over. The dry bones of Elisha raised the dead, 2 Kings 13:21. It is God that helps or support not our support network. It is also God who decides if you will receive help or not. Those in David’s support network abandoned him for his enemies. They took all the help David could get with them. They thought it was over for David so they came to kill him but God used trees to fight for David and his enemies lost , 2 Samuel 18:8. The One who has the final say over curses whether generational curses or not is God. The source of the curse could be unknown or the one who place the curse might be dead. I want to tell you, such curses can still be cancelled by God. The woman who placed cursed on Jabez was nowhere to be found but he ran to God and God cancelled the curse, 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. The whole world can make up their mind not to show you mercy; just ignore them because it is God has the final say on who receives mercy. The whole community decided that the woman caught in adultery did not deserve a second chance but when she was brought before Jesus, she received a second a chance, John 8:1-11. The One who has the final say on the subject of marriage is God not your place of birth, your parents or social status. After all Esther was an orphan in a foreign land and ended up as the queen. Your case might be similar to that of Gideon, who was disadvantaged in all areas - he didn't look the part, lacks boldness, came from the smallest tribe, smallest family and the least in the family. It is God has the final say on who becomes a leader not physical quality or eloquence or status. The enemies can try but they cannot decide your end. They put Daniel in lion’s den but God said it is not over. They put the three Hebrews boys in the fire, God said it is not over. It is God who has the final say not sickness or status. The One who has the final say wants me to tell you fear thou not , for i am with thee: be not dismayed ;for i am thy God. I will strengthen thee;yea, i will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness, Isaiah 41:10.

PRAYER POINT - Lift up your hands and begin to thank God He has the final say over your challenges . Thank Him because He has promised to help . Thank Him because you all will be help at last.

FASTING VERSUS HUNGER STRIKE

Matthew 17:21 – Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Fasting is not an option for Christians but a must. When Jesus was addressing the subject of fasting with His disciples in Matthew 6:16, He said “moreover, when you fast...” not ‘if you fast’ which means He expected them to fast. Fasting has so many advantages. It is used to increase spiritual strength (Matthew 17:14-21). Fasting disciplines the body and makes it a useful instrument to God. 2 Timothy 2:21 says if anyone himself cleanses from the latter, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for good work. Fasting gives us victory over fleshly desires. Paul said “i keep under my body, and bring into subjection: lest that by any means, when i have preached to others, I myself show be a castaway”, 1 Corinthians 9:27. Fasting has been found to be helpful when dealing with addiction e.g. smoking, drinking, masturbation e.t.c. It has also been used to treat anger problems. By saying ‘no’ to natural appetite (food), you are building up the willpower to say ‘no’ to fleshly appetite. Fasting builds our inner strength and diminishes the power of the flesh over us, Romans 6:12-16. This was why before Jesus began His ministry, He set aside time to pray and fast. Matthew 4:2 says and when He had fasted for forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. There are victories or breakthrough that does not come except through fasting. We can work hard and read all the books on success. Without fasting one will be hitting his head against a brick wall. That was why when the disciples could not heal the man’s child; Jesus told them that this kind does not go except through fasting and prayer.

Fasting must be done in consonance with obedience to the word of God. When fasting is done in sin it becomes a hunger strike. In Zechariah 7:3-7, the people fasted on the 15th and 17th of every month for seventy years and saw no results. When they inquired of God, He told them they were on hunger strike not fasting because of they were living in disobedience. Fasting period is not a time to seek pleasure but to be sober. It is also not the time to fight or partake in unnecessary debates. It is a time to pray and study the bible not to spend four hours watching your favourite drama or sitcoms. It is a time to excel in good works – feed the hungry, give clothes to the naked. When you fast wear nice clean clothes, be radiant and smile not look angry and haggard and people begin to ask if you are alright. Fasting can turn to hunger strike when one keeps a sad countenance or disfigure his or her face so that people can inquire what is wrong and he can boast to them that he has been fasting and will be break by 6pm. What are the results of fasting? Isaiah 58:8-9 says your light shall break forth like the morning, healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall your rear guard and when you call to him He will answer.

KEY POINT: In the middle of the December celebrations, set time out to pray and fast for God’s protection. Also feed the hungry and homeless.

GREATER TOMORROW

Job 8:7 – though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
 For every beginning, there is an ending. For every first, there is a last. For every start, there is a finish. The only One who has no ending is God because He has no beginning. Colossians 1:17 says He is before all things. One common feature of every beginning is they are always small. Huge lions are born as little harmless cubs , mighty giants are born as little babies. Contrary to popular beliefs, your beginning  has nothing to do with your end. How a man starts a race does not determine how he will end the race. Saul started as an ordinary farm boy but he ended up on the throne. One’s position at the beginning does not necessarily determine one’s position at the end. Joseph started as the second to the last born but  he ended up as the first in the family. Gideon started from the smallest tribe in Israel, smallest family in his tribe, least in his father’s house but he ended as the first in the whole nation. One’s status or role at the beginning has got nothing to do with one's future . Daniel started as a slave in a foreign land and ended up as second in Command to the Most Powerful man in the world! By the special grace of God i have seen a toilet cleaner become a manager in the same company. So the beginning has got nothing to do with the ending. Rahab started as a prostitute in Jericho but ended up as the great grandmother of David in Israel.

  Your end is not determined by the support network around you or your experience or what you know or who you know. It is decided by two factors – God and you.Zechariah 4:6 says it is not by power nor by strength but by the spirit of the living God. Strength can fail – Isaiah 40:30, Riches can develop wings and fly away – Proverbs 23:5 but our God remains. God has made up His mind to give you a great future. Jeremiah 29:11 says for I know the thoughts i have towards you says the Lord of Host, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. God’s part is settled, it is our part that we need to worry about. To have a greater tomorrow it takes our willingness and obedience. Isaiah 1:19 says if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. It takes strong faith in God. Mark 9:23 says all things are possible to him who believes. It takes humility and submission to God and authorities. Proverbs 16:5 says a proud heart is an abomination to God. It takes prayers and fasting. Matthew 17:21 says howbeit this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. There are some breakthroughs that come only by fasting and prayer. It takes a life of Holiness. Hebrew 12:14 says without holiness no man shall see God. You want to see God in that challenge? Live holy. God is ready and waiting to take you to the top. Are you ready?

PRAYER POINT: Father , I am ready please give the grace to pay the price to reach the top.

LOVE OF CHRIST

Romans 8:35 – Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution , or famine , or nakedness, or peril , or sword ?

God is love – 1 John 4:8. Out of His love, He gave His only begotten son – Jesus as a sin offering to die on the cross. Out of the same love, Jesus decided to offer His life on the cross – John 10:18. No one can love you the way Christ loved you. Not even your children, husbands or wives, not your friends or families .John 15:13 says greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Jesus did not love us because we were perfect or saints. He loved us because He is love just as the father is. Romans 5:8 says God demonstrated His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Out of love, Jesus allowed Himself to be beaten and hung on a cross like a criminal so that by the stripes sustained from the beating, we will be healed in all areas of our lives. Today He is calling drug addicts , the forgotten ,the cast away and forgotten , the helpless and downtrodden to come to Him so that He might give them life and life in abundance. Out of this same love, He said “whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son -John 14:13.”

1 John 4:19 says we love Him because He first loved us. Because of Christ's  love to us, we are expected to reciprocate this love back to Him. We should not be a summer friends to Him – friends when everything is rosy, jolly and nice. We are expected to love Him when we are under pressure, in great anxiety and distress of mind, in danger, when we are persecuted even when our lives are in danger. What happens when we love Jesus during challenges and trials  is that He loves us more. In Daniel 3:1-30, the love of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego for God were tested .Nebuchadnezzar gave them the option of bowing down to an idol and living or refusing and be thrown in a burning furnace. These three men remembered how God out of love had promoted them from slaves to become administrators in a foreign land. They decided to reciprocate their love to Him by choosing not bow to any idol and be thrown into the burning furnace. God was so moved by their love for Him that He left His throne in heaven  to come and fellowship with these boys in the furnace. By the end of that day, God had so much glorified Himself in their lives , Nebuchadnezzar had no other option than to promote them. Whatever it is you are going through, please do not forsake God. Do not seize serving him. In that present challenge, do not seize to give him praises and show your love to Him. As you proof your love to Him in difficult situations, He will come through and glorify Himself in your life.

PRAYER POINT – Father, help me to love you regardless of what i may be going through.

OUR FIRST LOVE

Revelations 2:4 - Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

In Revelations 2:1-5 God expressed His disappointment in the Church in Ephesus. At the beginning they were very passionate for Jesus. They were committed in the things of God, they loved holiness and righteousness. Out of their zeal to please Christ they worked extremely hard at keeping the church free from false prophets. Somewhere along the line, their commitments to the gospel of the cross began to come into question. Their passion and love for their saviour began to dwindle at an unbelievable speed. The state of this church can be compared to the walk of many in Christ at the moment. Many of us when we first gave our life to Christ, we were very hot for Jesus. We will not miss church services. We will get to the church before the door of the church was opened. When some first gave their life to Christ, they were so pure they will never look at any man or woman lustfully. They will never entertain any rude joke or give place to ungodly thoughts in their heart. They will never swear or curse anyone. They were always busy witnessing on the buses, in the streets, at college, university even at work. Many used to wake up at night to pray and intercede. They will do morning and evening devotion. They will take time out to spend quality time with Jesus just singing praises and worship .They never miss bible study or any other mid week service in the church. Today many no longer serve God the way they used to serve God when they first gave their life to Christ. They have forgotten their first love. When you ask them why? They will tell you they have been busy.

I was taking my bath one morning when the Holy Spirit began to remind me how i used to spend at least an hour singing praises and worship. He reminded me how at times i will spend lunch singing praises but i no longer do that. I began to give flimsy excuses of how i had to this and do that. He apologised for my so – called busy life. I immediately knelt down and i apologised to Him. I forgot that that the dead are not busy neither are the sick. Are you like me who became so busy that He forgot to say thank you? Thank God i am wiser now. Never be too busy to say thank you Jesus. Is yours different in that you have forgotten your first love? You no longer witness as you used to; you no longer wake up to pray; your punctuality is not as it used to be. Are you a shadow of what you used to be in the Lord – holy and pure? Or is yours completely different in that when you were seeking the face of God over your life partner or job or promotion you were fervent but today you are no more. You were a choir before the Lord provided the brother, now you are too busy to even attend choir practice talk less of minister or you were an usher before the big contract , now you have a car and a big house , you are too big to usher in the vine yard of God. Please repent today! The Lord is calling us to go back to our first love.

KEY POINT: Repent and go back to your first love.

ACCEPTING REBUKE OR ELSE

Proverbs 29:15 – The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

Rebuke and chastisement are not to be used for victimization or bullying. They are not to be used to oppress or force people to do things that are wrong. Doing this is an abuse of power and God greatly disapproves of this. Rebuke and Chastisement are to show love. When we notice a son or daughter treading the part of destruction or doing things that may incur the wrath of God out of love let us rebuke and chastise them. The Lord said in Revelations 3:19 ‘as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. God often rebukes and chastens those He loves .One of the advantages of rebuke and chastisement is that it brings about wisdom. When we are rebuked and chastised over a matter, instead of getting angry or take offence, let’s change. It is for our good because once we accept correction and change, we will become wise. Proverbs 3:35 says the wise shall inherit glory. Daniel 12:3 says those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens. You want to shine in your chosen field of endeavour or marriage or business or ministry? Be ready to change and accept correction when rebuked and chastised over a matter . From time to time, God uses our parents physically or in the Lord to rebuke us, instead of arguing and getting angry let us humble ourselves and change. It is pride not listen to correction.

Proverbs 29:15 says the rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. One of the biggest disservice an individual or a family can do to themselves is to refuse to be rebuked. When such individual or family does that, they are left alone and shame is not far from such. In 2 Chronicles 26 is the story of Uzziah the king of Judah. He became so big that He was willing to discipline men of God when they rebuked him for trying to offer incense in the house of God. God became angry with Uzziah and leprosy fell on him. In 2 Kings 13:14-19 Joash was given an opportunity to completely deal with all his enemies. Because of the way this king dealt with the opportunity, Elisha rebuked him and corrected him . Instead of accepting correction and changing ,he became angry and refused. That was how he lost the opportunity to wipe away his enemies . Today,how are you dealing with that opportunity God gave to you to work in His vineyard. Do you get angry and decide not to work again in God's vineyard when rebuked? If you have been rebuked over a matter instead of leaving and courting shame, why not change and be wise so that you can have a glorious future.

KEY POINT: Ask God to forgive you for refusing correction. Every area where you have been corrected, begin to make corrections.