CONDITIONS FOR THE GETTING THE ‘NEW’

MEMORY VERSE: therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 31, Ps 75-76, Isa 23, 1 Jn 1

We all want something new in one area of our life of the other. Some want a new name for example a single bro and sister becoming Mr and Mrs; a student becoming a graduate; a failure becoming a success e.t.c. Some just want to sing a new song. The children of Israel sang a song of sorrow for over 400 years but after they crossed red the sea they sang a song of Joy, Exodus 15:1-21. Some want a new beginning or a fresh start or new walk in Christ for example all the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) wanted was a second chance or a fresh start. Others want a new job, challenge, working environment, career e.t.c. We all want something new either for ourselves or for someone close to us.

God is still in the business of giving His children new things . The bible records that He renews His mercies over my life every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), I believe He does the same for you too. The word ‘new’ suggests the existence of the word ‘old’. Without the ‘old’, you cannot have the ‘new’. To have the ‘new’, there are one or two conditions you need to satisfy. Firstly, to have the ‘new’ you must be tired of the ‘old’. A change for the better only comes when you become tired of your present situation or state of things. I heard the testimony of a sister who lost the gift of speaking tongues. For several years she prayed and prayed but nothing happened. One night she became tired of her weak spiritual life and began to violently call on God; within an hour she received this precious gift back.

Secondly, to have the ‘new’ the ‘old’ must first pass away. For you to experience a change that will bring the ‘new’, the ‘old’ must pass away - old mentalities, old ways of doing things ; old beliefs ;old attitudes to work and time e.t.c. A wise man once said if you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. If you have giving your life to Christ and the people around you cannot notice any changes in you then there is work to do. Once everything becomes new, people around you will notice - your lecturers, managers, supervisors, parents’ e.t.c. A particular sister was making her way home from work when some thugs approached her; they knelt down and asked her to pray for them. Although this sister did not know them from Adam, these thugs saw something different in the way this sister dressed and carried herself.

QUESTION: Can strangers just by observing you conclude that you are a born again Christian?

MERCY REJOICETH AGAINST JUDGEMENT

MEMORY VERSE: for he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment, James 2:13. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 30, Ps 74, Isa 22, 2 Pet 3

The simple definition of mercy is not getting what you deserve for your sins or transgression. A classical example of mercy is found in John 8:1-11. A woman was caught in adultery and brought to Jesus Christ for judgment. This woman was guilty as charged, whether the Pharisees brought the man she was committing adultery with or not she was guilty and she deserved a horrible death – death by stoning. From the day Moses gave the law, anyone caught in adultery had been stone to death so this woman knew that her case wasn’t going to be an exception. Jesus looked at her and offered her a second chance. That day the mercy of the Lord rejoiced over His judgment. Another example is the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. The Lord says in Ezekiel 18:20 –the soul that sinneth, it shall die. For every sin we have committed we deserved a death penalty but Christ decided to die and instead of death penalty we received life.

We serve a God who is full of mercy. Lamentations 3:22 says it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. In other words we woke up this morning not because we are healthy but because of His mercies. From studying Jeremiah 42:12, we come to the conclusion that God needs to show you mercy first before men can you mercy. In other words His mercy precedes men’s mercy. One important point I want you to know is that God is not obliged to show mercy to everyone . He says in Exodus 33:19 , I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. This suggests that there are certain conditions we need to satisfy before we can expect God’s mercy. The first condition is we must fear the Lord. According to Psalm 103:11, just as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is God's mercy towards them that fear Him. Those who fear the Lord run from all appearances of evil. Proverbs 16:6 says by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. Proverbs 14:16 says a wise man fears the Lord and departs from evil.

The second condition is we must always show mercy. James 2:13 says for he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. God is only oblige to show mercy to those who are in the habit of showing mercy. Sometimes last year one of the staffs in my team did something that he should be sacked for right on the spot. The truth of the matter was it was unintentional, he did what he did with a noble intention but what he did was gross misconduct. To make matter worse it reflected badly on me as his supervisor but for a reason or the other I was not comfortable with the idea of sacking him partly because he was hard working. I prayed and I approached my manager and this staff was offered a second chance. Not too long after that I found myself in the same shoes. I investigated a matter sincerely and my findings where used against me. On technical grounds I should be sacked even without any hearing despite the volume of evidence against me. I had no one to appeal on my behalf but I had Jesus who could show mercy. Today I still have my job. The mercy of the Lord rejoiced against the judgment at the hearing.

PRAYER POINTS: Father as I show mercy please show me your mercy too.

MAKING IT UP

MEMORY VERSE: lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, Colossians 3:9.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 29, Ps 73, Isa 21, 2 Pet 2

A lie is a lie no matter how you paint it. As far as it is void of the truth, it is a lie. There is nothing called half truth, it is either a lie or the truth. No matter how you phrase it or put it, as far as it is not the whole truth it is a lie. If there is a tiny bit of a lie in a story, the whole story is a lie. Galatians 5:9 says a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. One aspect of lying is making things up i.e. when something is not there and you say it is there, it is a lie. No liar will make heaven. Why? According to John 8:44 the devil is the father of lies or liars and no child of the devil will be permitted in heaven. Proverbs 12:22 says a lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight.

When we talk of making things up, it does not necessarily have to be telling a lie. There are many who without opening their mouth make things up. All they need to do with their pen is add two extra zeros and 500 becomes 50000. Another example is found in many CV’s today. People want to sell themselves to their prospective employers so they begin to come up with experiences they do not have or funny references. If it is not true then it is a lie! There are some who are still living a life of lies. An example of this is acting holy. Holiness is not an act but a lifestyle. You can fool men into believing anything but you cannot fool God who sees inside and out. To be pure outside you need to be inside first. This is why the holy word of God says that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8.

There are many who who make things up with their actions.There many today who dye their hair immediately they begin to notice grey hair coming out. Whether you believe it or not this is a form of lie. You give people an impression that your hair is dark when it is actually grey! One of the biggest lie in the church of God today is the use of make-up. As the name implies you are making things up i.e. you are making something that is not there appears as if it is there. This is all what ‘make up’ is all about; giving people false impression. As brothers you should not be attracted to ‘make-up’ but character, besides what is the point of engaging with someone who is not sincere with basic things like the length of her hair or her nails. It is better to know that a sister has pimples before marriage than to find out next morning after marriage when the ‘make-up’ is all gone. Sisters be wary of a brother who wants you make-up first before he falls in love with you. The reason why he wants you to make-up first is because he does not like the real you and honestly immediately that make-up goes off that brother will run away. Sisters be careful of a brother who loves to be told a lie because such brother do not value the truth and the chances are he will tell you a lie.

KEYWORD: A lie is a lie regardless of who is saying it and how it is presented.

 

MAKING IT UP

MEMORY VERSE: lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, Colossians 3:9. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 29, Ps 73, Isa 21, 2 Pet 2

A lie is a lie no matter how you paint it. As far as it is void of the truth, it is a lie. There is nothing called half truth, it is either a lie or the truth. No matter how you phrase it or put it, as far as it is not the whole truth it is a lie. If there is a tiny bit of a lie in a story, the whole story is a lie. Galatians 5:9 says a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. One aspect of lying is making things up i.e. when something is not there and you say it is there, it is a lie. No liar will make heaven. Why? According to John 8:44 the devil is the father of lies or liars and no child of the devil will be permitted in heaven. Proverbs 12:22 says a lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight.

When we talk of making things up, it does not necessarily have to be telling a lie. There are many who without opening their mouth make things up. All they need to do with their pen is add two extra zeros and 500 becomes 50000. Another example is found in many CV’s today. People want to sell themselves to their prospective employers so they begin to come up with experiences they do not have or funny references. If it is not true then it is a lie! There are some who are still living a life of lies. An example of this is acting holy. Holiness is not an act but a lifestyle. You can fool men into believing anything but you cannot fool God who sees inside and out. To be pure outside you need to be inside first. This is why the holy word of God says that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8.

There are many who who make things up with their actions.There many today who dye their hair immediately they begin to notice grey hair coming out. Whether you believe it or not this is a form of lie. You give people an impression that your hair is dark when it is actually grey! One of the biggest lie in the church of God today is the use of make-up. As the name implies you are making things up i.e. you are making something that is not there appears as if it is there. This is all what ‘make up’ is all about; giving people false impression. As brothers you should not be attracted to ‘make-up’ but character, besides what is the point of engaging with someone who is not sincere with basic things like the length of her hair or her nails. It is better to know that a sister has pimples before marriage than to find out next morning after marriage when the ‘make-up’ is all gone. Sisters be wary of a brother who wants you make-up first before he falls in love with you. The reason why he wants you to make-up first is because he does not like the real you and honestly immediately that make-up goes off that brother will run away. Sisters be careful of a brother who loves to be told a lie because such brother do not value the truth and the chances are he will tell you a lie.

KEYWORD: A lie is a lie regardless of who is saying it and how it is presented.

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE SNARE HAS BEEN BROKEN

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 28, Ps 72, Isa 19- 20, 1 Pet 5

MEMORY VERSE: Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler: the
Snare is broken, and we are escaped, Psalm 124:7.

What is a snare, a snare is a form of trap for catching birds. There are two main purposes of a snare, 1) to catch a bird and 2) to keep it in the same position for as long as possible. An example of a snare is lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6 says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge is power, what you know can save your life and what you don’t know can destroy you. Fizzy drinks or soft drinks are responsible for at least 200,000 deaths a year worldwide. Many destinies have been cut short as a result of fizzy drink consumption; I pray you that fizzy drink will not cut your life short in Jesus name, Amen. The main cause of most headaches and high body temperature is lack of water. There are many who have replace water with soft drinks, even after eating they take soft drinks. The way to good health is drink water more. Every system in your body depends on water.

We also have spiritual snares. An example of a spiritual snare is sin. According to Jeremiah 5:25 sin withholds good things from an individual. Isaiah 59:1-2 says the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that He will not hear. Another example of a spiritual snare is tormentors. Tormentors like fear, bitterness e.t.c. are functions of unforgiveness (Matthew 18:23-35). Failure to forgive leads to a season with tormentors. Our tongue can also be a snare if we refuse to use them properly. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

A snare is broken through the Holy word of God. The word of God can be likened to a fire that consumes and a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29).
The snare of sin is broken by meditating on God’s word. Psalm 119:11 says thy word I have hid in mine hear, that I may not sin against you. For that snare in your life to be broken you need to dedicate time to studying the Holy word of God. Psalm 124:7 says our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler: the Snare is broken, and we are escaped. After the snare has been broken, what do you do next? You escape. To escape means to run away from the snare. The reason why many are still in bondage today is not because the Lord has not broken the snare; it is because they remain in the snare after the Lord has broken the snare through His holy word. The Lord has broken the snare of tormentors in many lives by asking them to forgive, instead of escaping i.e. forgive those who have wronged them they refuse and remain in the snare.

PRAYER POINT: Father, as you break the snares in my life through your Holy word please help me to escape too.

HOW TO REMAIN HEAVEN CONSCIOUS

MEMORY VERSE: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also, Matthew 6:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 27, Ps 70-71, Isa 17-18, 1 Pet 5

The single and the most important goal of every believer must be to make heaven. Whether you believe it or not heaven and hell are real. All other goals are secondary. Matthew 16:26 says for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? The only way to achieve this goal is by living holy. You are also expected to focus on this goal or else one might get carried away and lose his salvation. To focus on this goal, you need to be heaven conscious at all times. Not only that you need to live your life as someone who is expecting the second coming of Christ. The chances of achieving a goal you do not think of every day is very slim.

A fellow who is heaven conscious will live in peace with everyone. Hebrews 12:14 says follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. A brother who is heaven conscious will not rob God in tithes because no thief will be allowed in heaven. The main reason why many are not heaven conscious today is because they have no treasures in heaven. Matthew 6:21 says where your treasure is, there will you heart also be. What are treasures? They are those things which we value most like our resources – time, money, energy e.t.c. Where you channel these resources to, there will your heart be also. The reason why you hardly hear anyone talk about heaven is because their heart is not there. As our memory verse suggests, their heart is not there because they have stored their treasures somewhere else.

There are mansions, palaces, sky scrapers in heaven. John 14:2 says in my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Every resource you channel to the things of the kingdom of God is converted to materials that are used in building your heavenly homes. Every time you evangelize, work in the vine yard of God, do follow up or feed the poor and needy, the angels covert these efforts into materials used in building your homes. This is why every believer must be found doing something for Christ. The key to becoming heaven conscious is start channeling your resources to things of the kingdom e.g. evangelism, feeding the poor, taking care of the widow e.t.c. It will be a shame for a brother to have a house on earth and not have home in heaven. 

ACTION POINT: Commit to building your heavenly homes now because the coming of the Lord is at hand.

PRICE OF LATENESS

MEMORY VERSE: redeeming the time, because the days are evil, Ephesians 5:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 26, Ps 69, Isa 16, 1 Pet 4

BIBLE STUDIES: John 5:1-9

It pays to do things early. It pays to always get to appointments early. I know a fellow who once got a job for coming early to an interview. Although he could not provide the correct answers for virtually all the interview questions, he still got the job because of his commitment and dedication. The interviewer was impressed by his time keeping ; this fellow arrived an hour early despite the fact that he came from a far distance. He found favor as a result of arriving this. Because of his good time keeping and attitude to work, within six months he was made a supervisor. 

There are people who are habitually late to everything. They are never on time and this is not too good. What this people don’t know is that, no one takes a late comer serious. It does not matter how hard working a fellow is if he has problem with time keeping, getting a promotion at work would be difficult. Just as arriving early for appointments brings you in favor with the people you are meeting, arriving late at times brings disfavor. Such was the case of the man at the pool of Bethesda. Every time the angel of the Lord came to trouble/stir the water, he would get to the pool late. This man did not record any progress (i.e. remained at the same position) for thirty eight years because he kept arriving at the pool late. Thank God for mercy. Jesus attended the pool and healed him.

Ephesians 5:16 says redeeming the time, because the days are evil. The only way to redeem time is by working against time; it is by doing things early. There are a lot of people who dare not go to work late; but when it comes to church services they go at any time they want. This is not too good. If you do not leave work at any time you want, why leave the church during the service?  Not too long ago, I told you of how the Holy Spirit led me to go and bless a church with food stuffs on a Palm Sunday. The time of service at this church coincides with the time of service at my church, so I had to get to this church early to deliver the item and make my way to my church. When I got to the church, the pastor was already there. If the pastor had come late to church that Sunday, the whole church would have missed the blessings God sent to them and the children would have gone home without their Easter eggs.

KEY WORD: Arriving at appointments early brings favor. Arriving at appointments late reveals lack of commitment.

WHEN YOU RENDER HELP Pt 2

MEMORY VERSE: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, Galatians 6:9.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 25, Ps 68, Isa 15, 1 Pet 3

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 2:11-22

In part 1, we discussed that rendering help is a must for all believers. We also discussed that you stand to gain a lot if you allow yourself to be used by God to render help. Not only that, the fellow who the Lord uses to render help benefits the most, even more than the fellow who was helped. The story in our bible studies is a very familiar one. Moses was sitting by a well when some ladies approached to fetch water from the well. The overzealous shepherds around chased them away, Moses been a gentleman stood up and helped them. He also watered their flock. There are a lot of lessons to learn from our bible studies one of which is when we render help, it brings us closer to our destiny.

When we render help, it brings us closer to God’s plan for our life. According to 3 John 1:2, the plan of God is that we prosper and be in good health. Jeremiah 29:11 says His thoughts are to give us a future and a hope. The plan of God for Moses was to give him a job, a home and a wife and I believe that is His plans for you too. Just by rendering help to those ladies, the plan of God for Moses came to fruition. The reason why some brothers are still single is because the Lord knows that they will not help their wives. The Lord knows that they will use their wives as a slave so He decided that it is better they remain single until they change. Immediately the Lord noticed that Moses would make a good husband not a wife beater or slave master, He provided a wife for him immediately.

Another reason why we need to render help is because we only qualify for God’s help when we render help to people. The world runs by a law called the Law of Reciprocity. This means to give and take mutually; to return in kind or even in another kind of degree. What you make happen for people is what God will make happen for you. Psalms 18:25 says God is merciful to those who show mercy, and with an upright man He shows Himself upright. To those who render help, God shows Himself as a helper. Last year the Holy Spirit laid it on my mind to bless a church near my house with some items. Since it was a Palm Sunday, I bought some items and some Easter eggs (chocolate in egg form) for the children at the church. When I got to the church, it was obvious that they the Lord had truly sent me because they had nothing .Anyway I gave the pastor the food items and he prayed for me and I left. During the Christmas period I had a bit of challenge at work and this really touched my pocket. I could not afford to buy food stuffs at all. After the service on December 25, a woman I had never spoken to except just say hi and hello to called me to her car and gave me a big bag. I thanked her and I left. When I got home and checked the bag, I found a 10 kg bag of rice and 5 liter of olive oil. Within minutes I was already with a plate of rice celebrating. What I am trying to say? You only qualify for help from God when you have cultivated the habit of helping others.

PRAYER POINT: Father, as I render help to people in need please send helpers to me too.

DON’T STOP BECAUSE THERE IS A REWARD

Exodus 2:17 and the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 31, John 10, Prov 7, Gal 6

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 2:11-21

There is nothing as discouraging as an individual who does not appreciate a helping hand especially when you go out of your way to render the help. If the individual now repays your good deed with bad deed, you will be disgusted. This was the case of Moses. He was walking around minding his own business when he noticed an Egyptian mercilessly beating up a Hebrew boy. Out of pity he rushed to help this Hebrew boy. One thing led to another before you know it, the Egyptian fell and died. He buried the Egyptian and went on his way. The next day while passing by, he saw two Hebrew boys fighting. He approached the fellow at fault and appealed to him to stop hitting his brother and that one started to insult him. He even reminded him of the Egyptian he killed the day before and began to sarcastically beg him not to kill him like he killed the Egyptian. When Moses heard this he was very sad. He thought it was going to end there but it did not; these men informed Pharaoh and that one began to look for Moses to kill him. Moses had no choice than to run away. Moses got himself into trouble because he helped a Hebrew boy (his brother) who was about to be beaten to death by an Egyptian. This boy instead of thanking Moses for saving his life started spreading a rumor that Moses was a killer. The men of Israel instead of commending Moses for saving a Hebrew boy from death, went straight to report him to Pharaoh. Moses lost all he had as a result of this. He was a prince in Egypt, actually the theologians said he was next in line to the throne of Pharaoh but he lost all of this because he  rendered  help to a fellow Hebrew. He lost contact to his beloved mother and family, not only that he became a vagabond and a wanderer in the deserts. While he was wandering in the deserts, he saw some shepherds acting wickedly to some ladies. He defended these ladies and helped them get water from the well. Before the end of that day, God provided a house and a wife for Moses. 

Today I want to admonish you that whatever good thing you are doing, please do not stop because there is a reward for it. People might not appreciate you. They may even repay evil for the good you have done to them like Moses but don’t stop doing good. Moses like anyone of us could have sworn never to render any help again in his life but he did not. Despite all he suffered, when another opportunity to render help came, instead of refusing to help he rendered help and the Lord rewarded him right on the spot. Don’t let the enemy convince you stop doing good. Thank God Moses did not get tired of doing good and quit been a good person. In your last relationship, people might have taken advantage of your kind heart, please do not grow a tough skin and become mean to people. Continue with your kind heart, the Lord that rewards people with a kind heart will reward you in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT: Father, give me the grace to continue to do good even people repay it with evil.

WHEN YOU RENDER HELP Pt 1

MEMORY VERSE: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, Galatians 6:9.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 24, Ps 66-67, Isa 14, 1 Pet 2

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 2:11-22

Rendering of help is not negotiable for heaven minded believers. We have to help people. We have to help the needy, the poor, orphans, e.t.c around us. One of the commandments of Christ is that we render help. Matthew 5:42 says give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Galatians 6:2 says bear one another’s burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ. Asides from the fact that it is a commandment from God, Matthew 5:16 says when you render help to people, the name of the Lord is glorified in other words by refusing to render help you are blocking the opportunity for the name of the Lord to be glorified. I will not block an opportunity for my Maker to be glorified. I know you will not do the same because you love God and you are very wise.

Every commandment of God is for our own good. For example Exodus 20:13 says thou shalt not kill. Who benefits from that commandment, God or humans? Obviously we humans because no one can kill God, besides there are many of us who before we met Christ would have been poisoned because of the terrible things we did but thank God for Exodus 20:13. Thank God for salvation! When the Lord commands us to render help, it is for our own good and benefit. One thing I have come to understand is that when it comes to rendering help, the fellow who the Lord uses to render help benefits the most, even more than the fellow who was helped. The devil knows this that is why he tries to frustrate us when we render help. When you help people and they do not show appreciation, don’t be angry because the enemy is trying to frustrate you and cause you to lose your reward. You will not lose your rewards in Jesus name. In our message titled ‘DON’T STOP BECAUSE THERE IS A REWARD’ we discussed the benefits of not relenting in doing good. If for some reason or the other, you did not get the message you can send me an email and I will forward it to you. By the special grace of God the Lord will encourage you through that message.

In these series we will be treating the benefits of rendering help. The story in our bible studies is very familiar one. Moses rendered help to a young Israelite and got in trouble for it. The fellow he helped reported him to a fellow, this fellow told another fellow and before you know it Pharaoh heard and began to seek to kill Moses. Moses heard what Pharaoh was up to so he ran away. While running he got tired and decided to rest by a well. Some ladies came to fetch water by the well and the overzealous shepherds chased them away. Moses been a gentleman stepped in and assisted these ladies. He helped them and watered their flock. The father of these girls thanked him and gave him an accommodation, a job and a wife. There are one or two things to learn from this story. Firstly, when you render help it brings you close to your destiny. The destiny of Moses was to lead the children of Israel out of bondage to Canaan. The help Moses rendered to the young Israelite boy triggered a series of events that led to him running away from Egypt and coming back to deliver his people.

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to do something that will trigger a series of events that will lead me to my destiny.

GOOD SUCCESS

MEMORY VERSE: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success, Joshua 1:8.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 22, Ps 62-63, Isa 11, Jas 5

James 1:17 says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. The theory of opposites says that everything has an opposite – this is decided by looking at its function and deciding what the opposite of that function is. The word ‘perfect gift’ signifies the possibility of imperfect gifts. If perfect gifts come from God, then imperfect gifts comes from the devil. So also the word ‘good success’ informs us of the existence of bad success. Not all successes are from God just as not all miracles are from God. This is why 1 John 4:1 admonishes us not to believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Any form of success that takes you away from God or hinders you from serving God in spirit and truth is bad success. Any form of success that forces you to compromise your faith, please be careful of such.

What is good success? Good success is defined as sustained success. To get to the top and remain at the top forever is good success but to get to the top and fall back or to be either an ex or defeated champion is bad success. If you use to read your bible daily and now you no longer do that, you are gradually becoming an ex champion and that is bad success. If you use to pray for four hours or do night vigils and now you struggle to pray for an hour, you need to do something urgently or else you might become a defeated champion. If you used to dream or see visions or exhibit one spiritual gift or the other and  those gifts are no longer evident in your there is a possibility that you are already an ex champion. Thank God we have a Savior who is the champion maker, go back to Him today and He will restore you.

What is required for good success? Joshua 1:8 says this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. The first thing you need to do is own a bible. A believer who is heaven conscious will have a bible not the one with torn out pages. Hard copy bibles are better than bible application on ipads, phones and so on. Research has shown that people easily get distracted when reading on screen and this affects assimilation. There is nothing wrong in installing a bible app but this should not replace your hard copy bible. The second thing you need to do is meditate on the word of God day and night. There is a difference between reading and meditating on the Bible. Reading is primarily assimilation of facts without application. When we meditate on the word of God, we seek to make personal application of the scriptures to our lives and circumstances. The third thing you need to do is obey the scriptures. 

 ACTION POINT: Make it a point of duty to meditate on the scripture more often.

REASONS TO GIVE

MEMORY VERSE: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again, Luke 6:38.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 23, Ps 64-65, Isa 13, 1 Pet 1

Today’s memory verse is one of the most popular verses in the bible. It is popular because it is used during offering collections and other special fund raising in the church. People by default don’t like to give because every time you give you lose something. There are many believers who doubts that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The questions is how is it a blessing to live in minus? If you own five units of any currency and you give a unit out, you are left with four units which mean you are short by one unit. How is it a blessing to be short by one?

Luke 6:38 says give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. When you give you, it will be given back to you. John 12:24 says verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. Whenever you give a gift, you are sowing a seed.A farmer who eats his seeds instead of sowing will inevitably go hungry. It is not a good thing to be tight fisted when it comes to giving. Proverbs 11:24 says that there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Micers end up becoming poorer instead of richer. Ecclesiastes 1:7 says all the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. It is those who give to God that God will give back to too.

The second thing you need to know is that when you give, you get more in return. This is why Luke 6:38 says you will get back in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The reason for the pressing down and shaking together is to create more room in the container or sack to receive more. When you sow a seed, you get a tree with fruits which contain several seeds in them. The third thing you need to know is that whatever you give on earth is converted to materials for building your heavenly homes. Matthew 6:19-20 says do not store your treasures on earth but in heaven where neither moth nor rust can corrupt, and where thieves do not breakthrough nor steal. One of the ways to store treasures in heaven is by investing in evangelism. The fourth and the most important thing you need to know is that giving prepares you for God’s blessing. Several years ago I began to hear what the Lord was doing in the lives of people especially in the area of finances and I wanted the same too. One evening as I knelt down to pray I saw a vision. In the vision I saw a woman holding a big cake. Standing in front of her was a little girl holding sweets in her hand. For one reason or the other the little girl could not receive the big cake because she had sweets in her hand. The Lord told me that the little girl needs to drop the sweets first before she can get the cake from her mum. In other words to receive those mighty things the Lord has in store for me, I need to release the little things in my hand.

PRAYER POINT: Father help me to release those things in my hands so I can receive what’s in Your hand.

GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS ADOPTION

GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS ADOPTION

MEMORY VERSE: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephesians 1:5.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 21, Ps 60-61, Isa 10, Jas 4

God loves little children a lot and they love Him too. He gets very angry when people hinder them from coming to Him. In Mark 10:13-16, some parents brought their children to Jesus and the overzealous disciples sent them away. Jesus got very angry and scolded His disciples for hindering the children from coming to Him. Jesus does not appreciate parents who bring their children late to Him on Sundays. I pray Jesus will not scold you for bring your child late to church on Sunday. Jesus has great compassion for orphans and fatherless children too. Exodus 22:22 says ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless children. James 1:27 says pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. As believers, it is essential that we assist orphanage homes and widows. You can not be a friend of God if you hate children. This is why those who practice abortion needs to cry for mercy because they are killing children (God’s little friends).

God also loves and has compassion on the childless too. Psalm 113:9 says He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. You might be feeling unloved because you are childless, please do not cry I want you to know that the Lord loves you and He will show you compassion. One of the questions people ask is, is it alright for a Christian to adopt a child? There is nothing wrong in Christians adopting. Some of the great bible characters were adopted for example Moses (Exodus 2:1-10), Esther (Esther 2:7) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:22-28). Despite the fact that they were adopted, the Lord used them mightily. While waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, there is nothing wrong in you adopting a child before God gives you your own child. If you are rich and can afford to adopt, please consider adoption. 

Many frown at adoption, they see it as lack of faith in God but the question is this, did God not adopt you? We were not born into the family of God, we were all adopted. The only Child God has is Jesus! Ephesians 1:5 says having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Even though we were adopted by Jesus, He treats us as sons. Revelations 21:7 says he who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be His God and He will be my son. If God treats us (the adopted) as children, we are expected to treat our adopted children as our own sons not mistreat them. God loves adopted children a lot and one way to incur His wrath is by mistreating an adopted child. 

ACTION POINT: If you cannot adopt, support orphanage homes with gifts of food, clothes and other things.

SALVATION ABUSE

MEMORY VERSE: For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 20, Ps 58-59, Isa 9, Jas 3

Myles Munroe once said ‘when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. What is then an abuse or what constitutes an abuse? Abuse is using a thing in a way that is not meant to be used or not as prescribed or not as advised by the author. The biggest challenge facing the world today is abuse. The reason why sexually transmitted diseases are so rampant these days is as result of people not knowing the purpose of sex there by abusing it. Teenage pregnancy, rape, fornication, adultery and other forms of sexual sins are all products of sex abuse. Another canker worm that has eaten deep into the fabric of our states, organizations and so on is the abuse of position. Many do not know the purpose of an office, so as a result when they get into public offices instead of serving the people, they enrich themselves while the common man suffers. 

Many today do not know the purpose of a marriage. This is why we have many divorces today. It is either the man is taking advantage of the woman or the woman is taking advantage or not appreciating the man. Today in the body of Christ, the most common abuse is salvation abuse. To avoid this we need to educate ourselves on the purposes of salvation. What are the purposes of salvation? John 15:16 says ye have not chosen me, but i have chosen you, and ordained you, and that you should go and bring forth fruit, that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you. One of the reasons for salvation is for you to bear fruits and ensure that the fruits remain. To bear fruits simply means to evangelize and the only way to ensure that the fruit remains is through follow up. Salvation is not for us to sit and not bother about the souls going to hell. We were not saved to be idle or be a bench warmer in the vineyard of God, we are saved so that we can become active in the things of God. If you are a believer and you cannot point to a soul you brought to the Lord in the last one year, I am afraid you are abusing your salvation. You need to repent immediately and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Not only that begin to actively work on bringing your first soul to Christ. As a believer you should witness to a minimum of a soul per month. If the number of souls you have witnessed to this year is below three then you have a lot of work to do.

The most important reason for salvation is for you to live a life of holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says for God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. This is why it is wrong to assume that once you are saved, heaven is guaranteed. To go to heaven, Salvation is the first of many steps. After Salvation you need to bear fruits that will remain, according to John 15:2 every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut down. To be cut down signifies death and hell is death. Not only that you are expected to live holy. Romans 12:1 says I beseech you therefore , brethren by the mercies of God , that ye present you bodies as a living sacrifice , holy , acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. When people tell you that you don’t have to be holy to get to heaven just ignore them. Once Jesus enters your heart, your conduct can either keep Him in or drive Him out. You were not saved to tell lies or do frauds. You were saved to a live a life of Holiness.

PRAYER POINT: Father , initiate the process of sanctification in my life.

YOUR AND YOUR IN-LAWS

MEMORY VERSE: and Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent, Exodus 8:7.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 19, Ps 56-57, Isa 8, Jas 2

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 18:6-24

Genesis 2:24 says therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. After marriage the bride and the groom becomes one. They no longer have two parents but a parent. The bride’s parent automatically becomes the groom’s parent and vice versa. In other words the groom sees his father and mother in laws as his own dad and mum and vice versa. Whatever the groom cannot do to his parent, he should never do it to his in laws because they are his parent. Exodus 20:12 says honor your father and mother; so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. The father and mother referred to in this passage are not only your biological parents but your in laws as well. Disrespecting your in- law is the same as disrespecting your parent and they both carry the same penalty. The question is this; how far in life can a brother who disrespects his in-laws (parents) go?  From our bible studies, you see that the Lord was able use Jethro to give Moses a life changing advice all because Moses took Jethro – his father in law as his own father.

Many sisters today dislike their mother-in- laws with a passion. Some will do anything to avoid their mother-in-law. The daughters of the devil will even wish death for their mother-in-laws. No true child of God will dislike her mother-in-law, talk less dishonoring her. Asides that how much can a lady who dishonors her mother (in law) amount to? She will amount to nothing. A prime example is Ruth and Orpah the daughter-in-laws of Naomi. Ruth loved her mother-in-law but Orpah could barely stand her; both of the ladies were Moabites. After the death of their husbands, Orpah used that opportunity to get as far as possible from her mother-in-law but Ruth was wiser. She stayed to look after the poor old woman –Naomi. At the end, God looked at the actions of Ruth and made her the great grandmother of David (a man after the heart of the Lord). One of the reasons why God is yet to answer the prayers of some sisters concerning life partners is because of what they intend to do to their mother-in-laws. Some of have sworn that they will give their mother-in- law a tough time. No problem, just remember that the Most High too will not give any mother a daughter- in- law from hell. Asides all these, sisters remember that one day you will become a mother too and the bible says give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again, Luke 6:38. I know you will love your mother –in- law and the Lord will bless you for that. At the end, there was nothing to write about Orpah who disliked her mother –in-law. As a matter of fact, from the moment she ran from her mother-in-law the bible kept silent about her. 

ACTION POINT: Go back to your in laws and settle any quarrel with them.

INTERCESSORS REQUIRED

MEMORY VERSE: and I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it: but I found none, Ezekiel 22:30 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 17-18, Ps 55, Isa 7, Jas 1 

Who are intercessors? Intercessors are individuals who stand in the gap to pray to God on behalf of friends, families, colleagues, churches, pastors, countries, leaders’ e.t.c. Intercessory prayers have been practiced by all of God’s saints throughout the scriptures. God loves people who are preeminent in their anxious desires for the good of others and fervent in prayer to that end. When you take an inventory of people who God used mightily, you will find out that they were all intercessors. Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Solomon, Peter, Paul to mention a few. One of the criteria God looks at when promoting a fellow spiritually is his attitude to intercession for brethren. One of the reasons why Moses was able to see God and live was because of his exploits in intercession for the children of Israel. At a point while interceding for the children of Israel, he told God ‘If you will not forgive the sins of the children of Israel, please blot me out your book, Exodus 32:32. ’ God did not blot his name out of His book because He knew that Moses was not trying to be rude but he was just passionate about the children of Israelite. 

Intercessory prayers open the doors of restoration for intercessors. Job 42:10 says and the Lord turned the captivity of job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave job twice as much as he had before. The long awaited restoration and breakthrough of Job did not come until he enrolled as intercessors and began to pray for his friends. The reason why many are yet to get their restoration is because they are selfish or don't intercede. They only think of their needs alone and not the needs of others. Another reason why you need to intercede is because of the laws of returns. The law of returns is also known as the law of giving and receiving. It basically states that what you give, you receive. When you intercede for people, God blesses those you are interceding for and you get double blessings too. A wise believer will spend more time interceding than praying for himself. 
Whether you believe it or not, one of the reasons why the world is where it is today – recession in almost all the countries, lack of jobs , wars and rumors of wars is because of the increase in the number of complainers and reduction in the numbers of intercessors . The body of Christ lacks power and fire because people instead of interceding are busy chasing after money and wealth. Crimes is rising by the day not really as a result of lack of job opportunities but because people have refused to stand in gap for their friends and family. Complaining and blaming the government rarely solves any problem, it is prayers that changes things. Ezekiel 22:30 says and I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it: but I found none. If we do not take responsibilities and begin to intercede for our families, friends and nations things will get worse. This is why we need to go back to intercessory prayers for families and our nations. God requires serious and dedicated children who would intercede for the nations, leaders, pastors, family and friends daily so that He can bring about change. 

ACTION POINT: Set time out from time to time to intercede for our countries and people in power that the Lord will put His fear in their hearts.

CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION – GET RID OF ANTI PROMOTION THOUGHTS/ BELIEF

MEMORY VERSE: and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect, Romans 12:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 16, Ps 52-54, Isa 6, Heb 13

There are many true child of God who should be CEOs or chief executives in big organization who are ordinary supervisors, team leader or section leader. There are many believers who should be employers of thousands who are currently looking for jobs. There are many spirit filled Christians who should be lending to nations who are still struggling to pay their house rents. There are many sisters and brothers who should be married with at least two kids who are still looking for the right partners. There are many faithful tithers who by now should be living in abundance who cannot afford three square meals. There are many faithful workers in the vineyard of God who are long due for one kind of promotion or the other who are at the same level they were five years ago. Why is this so, is it that God has seized to be faithful? God has not seized to be faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

God has opened big doors for many but they have not been able to take advantage of these doors because of their thoughts and beliefs. These thoughts are known as self limiting beliefs or thoughts. The enemy has been using these thoughts in one way or other to keep believers at the same level year in year out. Proverbs 23:7 says for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. You are what you continually think about. If you continue to think of falling sick, before you know it you will fall sick and vice versa. If you entertain success thoughts, don’t be surprised when you become successful and vice versa. Romans 12:2 says and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Promotion comes once your thoughts changes. Transformation comes when the thoughts of the hearts are renewed. 

One of the self limiting beliefs that have kept many stagnant in life is the ‘I am not good enough’ belief. The enemy has used this belief to rob many of their open doors. An opportunity comes along; instead of taking the opportunity they begin to doubt their ability. You are good enough because the bible says every creature of God is good, 1 Timothy 4:4. Not only that, you are full of wonders, Psalm 139:14.Since the bible cannot tell lie, whatever the bible has to say about is true then. A thought that has prevented many from taking important decision is the thought of failure – what if I fail, what if something goes wrong, what if I don’t measure up to standard e.t.c. A child of God cannot fail because it is impossible for God to fail. There is no single case of a believer ever failing in the bible. If no believer has ever failed, it will not start with you. You have God on your side so you cannot fail. All you need is just belief. Mark 9:23 says all things are possible to them that believeth.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, rid me of every self limiting beliefs and thoughts.

CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION PART 2

MEMORY VERSE: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine, Exodus 19:5 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 15, Ps 51, Isa 5, Heb 12 

What is promotion? Promotion is simply a movement from a level to a higher level. What are the sources of promotion? They are humans, the devil and God. Humans most of the time promote for their own agenda or selfish gains. As far as there is something in it for them, they will promote you. The day they find out that you are no longer useful they bring you down and promote someone else. Thank God for real children of God - they never engage in this type of practices. A man can only lift you as high as his human hands can reach in other words when humans promote you, your promotion is limited. Humans can only offer you temporary promotion, the day your promoter goes down you go down. The devil can also offer what seems like a promotion but it is a regression in disguise. He gives promotion and steals your peace or gives an apple but inside that apple are deadly worms. The only true source of promotion is God. While the devil’s promotion comes with sorrow, God’s promotion comes with no sorrow added. Proverbs 10:22 says the blessings of the Lord, it maketh rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it. 

Men don’t need any criteria to promote you because at the end of the day, they are the one to benefit from your promotion. For a fellow to be considered for promotion by God, that fellow needs to meet certain criteria. Firstly, he needs to be willing. Isaiah 1:19 says if ye be willing and obedience, ye shall eat the good of the land.  Secondly, he needs to be diligent and hardworking. God considers a lazy fellow as a waster of resources. Proverbs 18:9 says he also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. Proverbs 12:27 says slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting. There is a slang that lazy people use, they say let us waste time. How can you waste time? You can’t waste time because time waits for nobody! 

The third criterion for promotion is Holiness which is also obedience to God. Obedience reveals love. John 14:15 says if ye love me, keep my commandments. Every form of promotion from God requires holiness. All the promises the Lord made to the children of Israel (and we are spiritual Israelite), came with a condition which is ‘if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments’ which also means obedience to God. In Deuteronomy 28:1 He says obey Me and I will set you high above all nations of the earth; Exodus 19:5 – obey Me and you will be my special treasure; Exodus 15:26- obey Me and I will heal you; Exodus 23:22 – obey Me and I will be an enemy to your enemies; Isaiah 1:19 – obey Me and you will eat the good of the Land e.t.c. All His blessings come with this condition. A fellow, who is not obeying God, is just undoing himself. You can bring all the sacrifice in the world , even an offering of a billion dollars, without obedience the Lord will tell you to take away your money.1 Samuel 15:22 says to obedience is better than sacrifice. Half obedience is no obedience. He demands full obedience. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, the grace to obey you fully please give to me.

CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION

MEMORY VERSE: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine, Exodus 19:5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 14, Ps 50, Isa 3-4, Heb 11

John 3:27 says a man receives nothing except it be given from heaven. If the Lord has not given you a thing, and you lobby to get it or use your contacts and connections to get that thing, at the end you will regret that you had that thing. If the Lord has not given you a brother or sister or you have not gotten a go ahead from God and you try to woo the sister or brother with gifts or favors, you might end up marrying the brother or sister but at the end you would wish you never met the brother or sister. That is why it is important to wait on God on all things. There are different types of promotion, we have spiritual promotion where the Lord adds to your spiritual gifts or give you assignments. We also have promotion in marriage where a single brother or sisters get married. We have promotion in business, at work, health e.t.c. whatever it is, as far as you are moving from a level to a higher lever it is promotion. So when a fellow who used to use public transport buys a car it is promotion. When an individual who use to rent builds or buys his own house, it is promotion. When a fellow gets a degree it is also promotion e.t.c. Even when you join the group of workers in the church it is a form of promotion.

Psalm 75:5-6 says for promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from west, nor from the south but God is the judge: he putteth down one, and sitteth up another. Human beings can try to promote you but the day you offend them they will bring you down. The media can write good things about you as far as you play their games, the day you refuse to play their game they bring out a story and before you know it the fellow is down. Whatever it is that is promoting you, the day that thing goes down you will go down but thank God we have a God who can never and will never ever go down. There are certain basic criteria a fellow needs to meet before the Lord considers him for any type of promotion. The first criterion is willingness. Isaiah 1:19 says if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. For the Lord to do anything in a fellow’s life, He needs the cooperation of that fellow. God will never go against people’s will. Whether you believe it or not, not everyone wants to be promoted. Some of the reasons why many don’t like to be promoted are the responsibilities that comes with promotion which are more time required to spend in praying, fasting and studying the word of God.

Another reason why people don’t like to be promoted is because of the pity they get. There are a lot of people who love been sick because of the attention they get. I have heard the story of woman who love been sick because every time she was sick the husband would come home early. Once she gets well, the man will return to his former ways and come home late at night. Many love been sick because of the attention they get from people. They just love it when everyone is telling them sorry. Another reason why people don’t like promotion is because they love to be invisible. Promotion puts you in the lime light because people will see what the Lord is doing in your life. They love to operate in the background where nobody knows them. Isaiah 60:1 says arise and shine for the light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Light is not invisible but visible. One of the biggest deceptions from the pit of hell is that to be humble, you need to be invisible. Some don’t want promotion because they won’t have reasons to complain. They love it when they have someone to blame for things that are not going well. Lastly one of the biggest reasons why people don’t want promotion is because of what people will say. They believe if they buy a new car people will complain or if they buy a new house or if something good happens to them people will talk about them. Whether you are making progress or not people will talk about you.

PRAYER POINT; Father please rid of every mentality that is closing the door of promotion on me.

PRICE OF ADULTERY & FORNICATION

MEMORY VERSE: But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house, Judges 16:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 15, Ps 51, Isa 5, Heb 12

BIBLE STUDIES: Judges 16: 19-21

The first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word ‘adultery’ is a married man or woman engaging in extra-marital affairs. The same happens when we hear the word ‘fornication’, we immediately think of a single brother or sister engaging in sex. By God’s standard once a man looks at a woman lustfully, such man is already guilty of adultery, Matthew 5:28. You don’t have to talk to a woman to commit adultery at all, just by imagining her without her clothes on you are already an adulterer and the same applies to women too. Whether you believe or not, woman who put on materials that causes men to err or commit the sin of adultery have cases to answer before God because they are knowingly or unknowingly luring men to hell. Pornography , masturbation, phone sex , oral sex ,looking at pornographic pictures on papers or mobile phones e.t.c. are all classed as adultery and they carry the same punishment. There is another type of adultery called spiritual adultery also known as idolatry. Idolatry is when a man honors and reveres a creature in place of God, whether this be gods, power, pleasure, race, ancestors, the state, money e.t.c. 

When a man commits adultery whether physical or spiritual, such man pays a very high price for his actions. From our bible studies, we notice that six things happened when Samson committed adultery. Firstly the hedge around him was broken. Around every born again Christian is a hedge to keep the enemies away. Once a fellow commits adultery or fornication, that hedge that is meant to keep the enemies away is broken and that is disaster. Secondly, the philistine put out his eyes. Adultery plucks out an individual’s organ of vision i.e. eyes. One of the spiritual gifts people loose when they fall into fornication or adultery is the gift of dreams and visions. Proverbs 29:18 says where there is no vision; the people perish in other words inability to see spiritually leads to physical and spiritual death. Thirdly, they brought him down. Adultery reduces a fervent brother or sister to an ordinary Christian. It empties them of the fire of the Holy Ghost, praying becomes difficult, fasting becomes difficult, soul winning becomes difficult.

Fourthly, they brought him down to Gaza. Gaza signifies the head quarter of the enemy. Once a fellow falls into adultery the enemy grabs the fellow and brings down to the headquarters of the demons to spiritually torment him. Fifthly they bound him with iron. Once a man falls into adultery he loses his freedom, if he is a pastor he can no longer preach against adultery again. He will find it difficult to the look into the eyes of his wife. Not only that, he begins to live in fear of people finding out what he has done. Lastly, they made him grind in prison. Thank God for technology, while I was growing up before my parents could afford a blender I saw people grind pepper with grinding stone. Friends it is a struggle to grind things with your hands. Once a fellow falls into adultery, life becomes a struggle. One thing about struggling is that, the more effort you put, the less result you get. I pray you will never struggle in Jesus name. What do you do after falling into the sin of adultery? Go back to God and ask for forgiveness. After this I will advise you to go and speak to your pastor or a man of God about it who will counsel you. If you are married you need to confess to your partner. Proverbs 28:13 says he that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsake them shall have mercy. The confession is what the enemy uses to hold people from restoration, confess and repent so that the Lord can restore you.

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to stand to the end.

SECRET OF A BLESSED MAN

MEMORY VERSE: Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, not stands in the ways of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful, Psalm 1:1.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 14, Ps 50, Isa 3-4, Heb 11

BIBLE STUDIES: Psalm 1:1-2

Who is a blessed man? Firstly the word blessed also means happy. So a blessed man is a happy man. Secondly a blessed man is man whose life is absent of curses.
Leprosy is a curse. In Numbers 5:2, God commanded the Israelite that they should put out of the camp everyone who is leprous. Poverty is worse than a curse. Proverbs 14:20 says the poor is hated even by his neighbor, but those who love the rich are many. Proverbs 19:4 says wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. I pray that you will never encounter poverty in the mighty name of Jesus. A blessed man is able to meet his own needs and the needs of everyone around him. Not only that, he is able to meet the needs of many nations. Deuteronomy 15:6-7 says if you obey God and do what He says, He will bless and you shall lend to many nations. 

Today I will like to discuss the secrets of a blessed man. Firstly a blessed man watches his association. Psalm 1:1 says blessed in the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful. To become a blessed man your association needs to change. Proverbs 27:17 says iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friends. If you want to achieve anything in life move with achievers not people who don’t want to be responsible for anything. If you are an eagle don’t hang with chickens because chickens can’t fly. Proverbs 13:20 says he that walketh with wise men shall be wise in other words you will end up like those you walk with. You want to make it to heaven? Associate with those who are serious with their salvation. If you lie with dogs, you will rise with flies because dogs carry flies. Not only that your mentors needs to change. Your achievements will be at the level of your mentors. Hebrews 12:2 says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the Joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Secondly, the blessed man has a relationship with the word of God.Psalm 1:2 says but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates days and night. It is impossible to prosper without a relationship with the word of God. Joshua 1:8 says this book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. What many of us do is we read the bible not meditate. There is a difference between reading and meditating. To meditate means to study, to ponder, revolve in mind, imagine, pray, reflect on, dwell on e.t.c. When you meditate you read a particular verse, pray about it, reflect on the same verse, confess it, memorize it, ponder on it until the Lord speaks to you about it. This might take you hours but it is profitable. The bible says you meditate on it day and night, which means you have to do this activity day and night. As you do this, the Lord will begin to give you insights and idea that will bring transformation in your life.

ACTION POINT: Devote time daily to meditate on the word of God.

RETURN TO YOUR DUTY POST

 MEMORY VERSE: Remember therefore from when whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent, Revelation 2:5.

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 12-13, Ps 49, Isa 2, Heb 10

 What are duty posts? They are the areas God has called you to function in the vineyard of God or your ministry. If you are or use to be an usher in the church, that is your duty post. Duty post could be ushering department, choristers, sanctuary keeping, prayer warriors, evangelism, counseling, e.t.c. Every true child of God has a duty post. No true child of God is a bench warmer; he or she must be doing something in the vineyard of God or functioning in one capacity or the other. When you study Isaiah 60:1 (arise and shine; for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee) carefully, God was giving an order to all of His children. The word ‘arise’ and ‘shine’ are verbs (doing words) meaning get up from rest and do something or get up and begin to shine in a department. What most people don’t know is that bench warmers are visitors in the eyes of God not sons and daughter. Visitors do not really business if the house is clean or not; they don’t care if there is food or not; they don’t care about the condition of the house; they don’t business about the progress of the house only sons and daughters worry about these things and get into action by becoming a worker in the vineyard of God.
 It is God that chooses people to take duty posts. John 15:16 says ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, he made give it you. You did not just get up one morning and become a worker; it is God that encouraged you to work for Him. Been a wise son or daughter, immediately He encouraged you, you became a worker in the vineyard of God. The reason why He encouraged you to be a worker is because He wants to bless you. He was just looking for an avenue to bless you that was why He pushed you. He also touched the heart of the man of God so that he won’t turn you down. If you are a worker, be grateful for the opportunity because there are countless numbers of people In the grave who would give an arm just to come back to life and work in the vineyard of God.

 Today the heart of God bleeds and He is highly disappointed with some of His children because they have abandoned their duty post. Because of work, have you abandoned your duty post? Because of business or marriage, have you abandoned your duty post as choir, usher, evangelist e.t.c? I besiege you repent today and run back to your duty post. Revelations 2:5 says remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly , and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. Because of extra shift at work are you beginning to abandon your duty post once in a while? Are you considering quitting your duty post because of what your pastor said to you? Is it because of a disagreement with your group leader you are contemplating quitting? Or have you actually quit because of a reason or the other? As harsh as it may sound, you quit your loss! I know you are too wise and humble to abandon your duty post (God’s assignment) because of what someone said or did. I know that you love the Lord and He loves you, I know because of your love for Him you will go back to your duty post. Don’t worry the Lord is your strength.

 PRAYER POINT: Father, please continue to strengthen me to I can continually mine duty post.

THE UNCHANGEABLE GOD

MEMORY VERSE: For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6


BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 11, Ps 48, Isa 1, Heb 9


Heraclitus (Greek philosopher) once said nothing endures but change i.e. the only thing that is constant is change. Someone once said change alone is unchanging and that’s true. Everything in life is subject to change. Even the bible says to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, Ecclesiastes 3:1. Seasons change from spring to summer, summer to autumn, autumn to winter or raining season to dry season depending on the part of the world you are from. People change for example in Matthew 26:33-34, we see Peter boasting that he will never deny Jesus. By the time we get to Matthew 26:69-74, we see the same Peter swearing that he had never met Jesus. Circumstances also change, I have seen a man on death row become the president of the same country. I have read the story of Joseph who went from a prisoner to become a prime minister in a single day, Genesis 41:1—end. I have also read the story of a barren woman who became a mother of six, 1 Samuel 1:1-21.I want to assure that as far as you remain in Christ, things could and will walk in your favor.


The only One who does not change is God. Hebrew 13:8 says He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. He does not say ‘yes’ today and ‘no’ tomorrow like men. James 1:17 says He does not change like shifting shadows. If He promises to do something, He will do it; nothing can stop Him. According to Psalm 138:2, He exalts His words above Himself. If He promises to bless a fellow and that fellows goes into sin, He will still keep His part of the promise which is to bless the fellow but you can be rest assured that the sin the fellow committed will rob him of the blessing and he will end up with nothing. This is why we all need to run from sin because it hijacks and withholds good things from us, Jeremiah 5:25. If the Lord promises to do something for an individual and that individual doubts, God will still do what He has promised to do because He is faithful to His word but the enemy will block it and the individual will get nothing. The enemy will petition God and remind Him of 2 Chronicles 20:20 which says believe in the Lord your God, so ye shall be established. The enemy will then say this fellow cannot be blessed because he does not believe and has doubted God. In cases like this, God has no other option than to be faithful to His word.

The reason why a fellow living in sin can still manifest the gifts of the Holy Spirit is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance, Romans 11:29. Once He gives something to you, He does not take it away. What most people don’t know is that when you sin against God, you become naked like Adam and Eve which means you are exposed to any attack from the enemy. You might still be able to see vision and prophesy, but you are at the mercy of the enemy because that covering of God has left because of sin. Malachi 3:6 says for I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Do you know that the Lord does not change with time? It is man that gets civilized, God remains the same. His expectations during the bible days still remain the same. According to 1 Corinthians 11:1-15 , God expects every woman to cover their head when they are praying and prophesying, what makes you think it is suddenly okay today to pray with your head uncovered or walk into the church with your head uncovered? When a wife prays with her head uncovered don’t you know that such woman is embarrassing her husband in front of the angels? People might be doing it but is it biblical? Please read your bible and see God’s stand on jewelry, make up and trousers.


PRAYER POINT: Father, help me stop following the multitude to do evil.

THE LIVING HAS A HOPE

  MEMORY VERSE: For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 10, Ps 46-47, Sng 8, Heb 8

In elementary school we learnt about living things and non living things. The difference between living things and non living things is that living things make decision. Plants and trees make decisions, one of the decisions they make is that they grow towards sunlight. Animals also make decisions; they purposely decide to move away from burning fire. There are three seasons in the life of a man – the past, present and future. Out of these three seasons we have control over the present, the past and future are out of our control. The most important of these three seasons is the present because we make decisions in the present i.e. we are alive in the present. After that, is the future because the decisions we make today affects our future. This is why Proverbs 22:29 says those who decide to be diligent today will sit before kings tomorrow (the future). Those who decide to be idle today will suffer hunger tomorrow (the future), Proverbs 19:15. To avoid a future of hunger, please get busy with your work or studies today.

The least important of these three seasons is the past. There is no one alive today who does not have a past. We all have past experiences – some of which are good and some of which are bad. We have all been let down and disappointed in the past. Many of us have been taken advantage of, and deeply hurt from events of the past. Some have made terrible mistakes in the past maybe in relationship or business or in career. Many have been abused in the past and molested by those who are meant to protect them. Friends I want you to know that we all have a past and we all have reasons to look back into the past. 

The past is considered dead. It is dead because we have no control over it. We cannot make decisions in the past and no matter what we do today, we cannot change the past. When you look to the past or think about it, you are just grasping the wind or chasing after shadows. Ecclesiastes 9:4 says for to him that is joined to all the living there is hope .Anyone that focuses on the past is joining his or herself to the dead. The dead has no hope of a better tomorrow, only the living has hope. Dwelling in the past is a step in retrogression. Looking back keeps you on the same spot for a long time. When you keep your focus on the past, it discourages you and stifles your initiatives. The reason for many depressions today is as a result of people failing to let go of the past. Do you know looking back prevents you from moving into the glorious future the Lord has for you? The only way out is for you to focus on the future and that is a function of the present. Change in circumstances is a possibility for those who focus on the future. Focusing on the future propels you to get into your future. Join yourself to the living today by dropping your past!

PRAYER POINT: Father I drop my past at your feet, and pick your future for my life.