HAVE YOU TURNED?

MEMORY VERSE: And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.Exodus 3:2-4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lamentations 1-3

From the moment Moses turned, his life and ministry never remain the same. Let us take a brief look at what happened after he turned away from the goat and cattle (issues of the current moment), to behold the glory of God. Firstly, God spoke to him. The bible says: “and when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am i.” Not until Moses turned, the Lord did not say a word. When you study the book of Exodus, you will observe that after he turned; the ministry he had tried and failed at received a new life. Moses knew deep within himself that he was born to deliver the children of Israel from the bondage of the Egyptians. He was convinced that, that was the purpose of God for his life. He made an attempt to deliver his people in Exodus 2:11-15, and got into trouble. After he turned, his ministry received a touch from above. Not only that, where he had failed forty years earlier, he succeeded there.

The question is, have you and I turned? Some of us call ourselves a Christian and still accept bribes. Some do not accept bribe but give bribe. When I hear of people fornicating to get a job or for one favor or the order, I wonder if these people have really turned to Christ. The sad thing is, they come to youth fellowship and lift up holy hands. Lord, have mercy! Have you turned? Some of us call ourselves tongue speaking Christians and yet we keep malice. To make matters worse, some keep malice with their pastors. Is your own turn partial or full? You do not smoke but you consume alcohol; you do not fornicate but you touch ladies at inappropriate places; you do not miss church services but you indulge in exam malpractice; you do not fornicate but you masturbate; you do not commit adultery but when no one is around, you know how you do it with your toys. Is that how to turn to Christ? The reason why a lot of us are suffering is because we have not turned. We turn with our lips not with our hearts. Not until Moses turned, the Lord did not speak. The moment he turned, all changed. God has been waiting for an opportunity to speak to some for over three years, because they have refused to turn , He has decided to keep quiet. If you will turn today to Him, He will speak. There are a lot of us owing vows, pledges, robbing God in tithes and offerings, not until we turn from these things, He will not speak. Turn from beating your wife; turn from not looking after your children; turn from cursing your children when you are angry; turn from being hard headed, and the Lord will speak.

ACTION: Pray for revival, a lot of believers have grown cold in their service to God.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

HE OWNS TIME SO HE IS NEVER LATE

Memory verse: He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 50-52

Yesterday, we looked at the story of Lazarus – the friend of Jesus. He took ill so his sisters – Mary and Martha, sent a message to Jesus , Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. On getting this message, Jesus could have sent His word to Lazarus and he would have been healed right away but he did not. He could have rushed to the home of Lazarus and lay hands on him, but he stayed a bit longer. He purposely delayed so that He can give this family a bigger miracle. Which is bigger, the healing of Lazarus or the raising up of Lazarus from the dead? Obviously, the raising up of Lazarus from the dead. Finally, He arrived a few days later, by this time, Lazarus was now dead and buried. To everyone, it was over. To the family of Lazarus, Jesus arrived too late. Martha said if only you had been here few days ago, my brother would still be alive (John 11:21). Mary said Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died (John 11:32).

One thing everyone failed to realise was that, it is impossible for God to be late. One of the reasons why He can never be late is that He controls time. Daniel 2:21 says He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He owns time. He can pause time, for instance in Joshua 10:12, God caused the Sun to stand still at Gibeon and Moon in the valley of Ajalon. Not only can He pause time, He can reverse time. Sarah had not only passed child bearing, her womb was dead (Romans 4:19). The Lord reversed her time so that the woman who had stopped menstruating for over 30 years began to menstruate again. Within a year, she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. He can also fast forward time. What you are meant to receive in two years time, He can decide to give it to you today. In John 2:1-10, Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the wine finished. When the mother approached Him for a miracle, He said mine hour is not yet come, shortly after that, being an obedient child, He fast forwarded His time just to give the couple a miracle.

As far as you remain steadfast in your service to God and committed to the things of God, I can assure you, God will answer your prayers. As far as you continue to live a pleasing life to Him, He will come through for you. As far as you do not substitute Jesus for something else, you will rejoice at last. One fact of life is, your timing is not His timing. What you are looking at and thinking, I need this right away, God could be looking at the same thing and thinking, this thing will kill this boy if I give to him right away. I will delay it for another six months when He would have grown more spiritually and will be able to handle it. Asides from that, God could even have a better thing in mind than what you are asking for. Do not lose hope, do not relent, do not back slide, keep on serving Him, you will rejoice at last.

ACTION: Pray for all those looking for the fruit of the womb that the Lord will give them their babies soon.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

AND SAW HIM, SHE FELL DOWN AT HIS FEET

Memory verse: Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. John 11:32

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 47-49

While on earth, Jesus had a friend named Lazarus. This friend had two sisters - Mary and Martha. Because of His love for their family, He would visit from time to time, spend time with them, fellowshipping and teaching about the Kingdom of God. One day Lazarus fell sick, so his sisters (Mary and Martha) sent a message to Jesus. John 11:3 says therefore his sisters sent unto him saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. One thing about this family is, despite Jesus’ relationship with them, they respected him. Do not look down on a man or woman of God because he or she is close to your family or because you now know one or two things about them. If a man of God frequently visits your home, do not take him for granted. Despite the fact that Jesus was close to this family, these girls still referred to him as Lord. Because your church pastor spent 45 minutes with your family at your place, is that why you now refer to him by his name when discussing with your wife? Instead of referring to him as pastor L, you refer to him as L. Some have even taken it to another level by nicknaming men of God. The Lord will have mercy.

Shortly after, Lazarus passed away. These girls were in pain. You can imagine how these girls felt, Jesus received the message that their brother, Lazarus, was sick and did not show up. Jesus, who had been there for total strangers, was nowhere to be found when his beloved Lazarus fell sick. The first day passed, Jesus did not turn up or send any message. The second day, the same. The third day, no sign of Jesus, even to come and mourn His beloved friend as custom demanded. Finally, on the fourth day, Jesus arrived at Bethany. When Martha heard, she went to him. John 11:32 says Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. Instead of Mary to abuse Jesus, she worshipped him. Immediately she got to where Jesus was, she fell down at His feet. Mary could have cursed Jesus, she could have said things out of anger but she did not. Although she was in pain, she still called Him Lord. She did not ask Him any questions, she just bowed at His feet. When you are in pain, what do you say to Jesus? Do you threaten to stop serving Him? Do you talk to Him to rudely? Do you talk to Him as if He is your servant? Do you still call Him Lord when it seems that you have lost the battle? Do you worship Him after you must have prayed and prayed and nothing happened? Have you stopped going to church because He did not answer that prayer? Have you stopped paying your tithes because Jesus was nowhere to be found when you needed Him most? Jesus purposely waited so that Lazarus would die and raise him. Had it been, Martha had decided to curse Jesus out or stopped worshipping Him, she would have lost her brother for life and missed that miracle

NOTE: In pain worship God not denounce Him.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

BUT I SAY UNTO YOU

Memory verse: But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Matthew 5:32

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 44-46

Yesterday, we talked about what God said concerning Jesus. He said: “this is my beloved Son, in whom i am well pleased (Matthew 3:17).” Jesus is God’s Son and God is well pleased with Him. In Matthew 17, the Lord gave the same testimony but this time around, He added an instruction. Matthew 17:5 says While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. The Most High is instructing you and i to listen to Jesus. Friend, saying the sinner’s prayer is not enough to get you to heaven. You must listen to Jesus too. If He says forgive, please forgive. If He says you must witness, please witness.

In Matthew 5 Jesus preached a powerful sermon, I want us to look at some of the things He said. According to the Law of Moses, adultery is a sin. Matthew 5:28 says But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. The moment you look at a woman and imagine things, you are already guilty of adultery or fornication. If the bible says a man is guilty of adultery if he lusts after a woman, as a woman, should you encourage men to lust after you through the way you dress? Dress modestly so that men will not see you and begin to imagine things. To the men that feed their eyes by looking at women, you are not feeding your eyes but committing adultery.

According to the Law of Moses, once you don’t like a woman, issue her a divorce letter. Matthew 5:32 says but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. You cannot divorce because of irreconcilable difference. The only ground for divorce is adultery and you cannot just wake up one morning and accuse your husband or wife of adultery without being able to proof it. You cannot divorce your wife because your mother said so. You cannot divorce a woman because she has failed to give you a male child. It is not your wife that gives a male child, it is God. So also you cannot divorce your wife because she has failed to give you a child, it is not your wife that gives children, it is God. You cannot divorce your husband because He has changed. Before you start courting that divorced man or woman, investigate what happened. If you marry someone who left her husband because of irreconcilable difference, you will be guilty of adultery.

ACTION: Let us remember marriages that are going through storm that the Lord will restore peace.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Memory verse: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 14:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 41-43

BIBLE STUDIES: Ezekiel 14:13-15

As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment, heaven opened and a voice was heard. Matthew 3:17 says and lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Heaven gave two important testimonies about Jesus Christ. Firstly, He is the son of God. Jesus is not a slave of God neither is He, a prophet of God. Secondly, God is well pleased with Him. There are few instances in the scriptures where we find God referring to an individual or a nation as His sons, none of them lived up to His expectation. In Exodus 4:22, God referred to Israel as His firstborn. By the time we get to Exodus 32, the children of Israel had begun to worship a molten calf. Before Solomon was born, the Lord choose him to be His son. 2 Samuel 7:14 says i will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men. After God blessed Solomon, he went and marry strange women, these strange men led him into Baal worship. Jesus is the only One who never disappointed God for once. The Most High was not only pleased with Jesus; He was well pleased with Him. This was heaven’s public testimony of Jesus.

All through the scriptures, we see God giving public testimony about people. He said of Abraham in Genesis 18:19 : “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.” Concerning Moses, He said, Moses was meek above all the men on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3). Concerning Job, He said to Satan, that boy Job eschews evil (Job 1:8). Can God give such testimony about you and me?

In our bible studies, God gave a wonderful public testimony about Noah, Daniel and Job. He said the righteousness of these three would deliver them from harm. They were so righteous; God could not allow anything to harm them. Can God testify that if you find money on the floor, you will not keep it? Can the Most High say, I know that boy, if you slap him on the right cheek, he will turn the left. If you are a politician, can God say that if you get into power, you will not embezzle public money? In this age where oppression is the other of the day, can the Lord say, if I bless that family, they will not oppress anyone? Can God say of you, if I give her a child, that child will not replace Me in her life? Can God testify that if you become the MD, you will not only promote people from your ethnic group? Can God testify that, wealth will not take you from Him?

TO PONDER: Is my lifestyle pleasing to God?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

BUILD ACCORDING TO PATTERN

MEMORY VERSE: Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, see, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount. Hebrew 8:5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 37-40

When God wanted to dwell among the children of Israel, He commanded Moses to build a tabernacle for Him. A tabernacle is a place of worship. God loves worshippers. He loves those who worship Him in truth and in spirit not those after Him for bread and butter. It is easy to worship God when you have just gotten a raise in your salary. Shouting Hallelujah comes naturally, when you have just passed your driving test. Worshipping God in the beauty of His holiness is easy when your wife finally gets pregnant after five years of delay. Praising God becomes extremely difficult when you receive a letter of redundancy from your place of work. Shouting Hallelujah becomes difficult when your visa application has just been refused. A true worshipper will still praise God even after he has lost his job.

Before building the tabernacle, the Lord called Moses up to a mountain and gave him the pattern of the tabernacle. Just before work started, God reminded him to build according to the pattern shown to him. Exodus 25:40 says and look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed in the mount. God wants to build you to become His tabernacle. He wants you and I to be His residing place. He wants to change the world through us but to do that; we must build our life according to pattern. Who are we to pattern our life after, Jesus Christ. He spent 33 years on earth showing us how to live our lives, how to conduct ourselves, how to relate to our parents, how to speak, how to behave in marriage, how to relate to God. Are you building that relationship after the pattern of Jesus when you and your fiancé kiss and do all sorts when alone? You said he has never slept with you but you undress before him. He has never slept with you but he touches you in inappropriate places. Would Christ have built that way?

The only way to build according to the pattern of Jesus is by doing what Jesus did and avoiding what he did not do. Jesus lived a life of prayer. He prayed at all times. Anyone doing what Jesus did not do or doing what Jesus will not do is building his life after his own pattern. Many build their life after the pattern of a great man of God. They want to talk like the man of God, behave like the man of God; there is no problem in this as far as you know the man of God is building his life according to the pattern of Jesus. However, the truth is, we are not to build our life after any great hero, not even after Martin Luther, John Wesley or John Calvin. Building our life after a particular man or woman is dangerous. If they get it wrong, you will get it wrong also. Jesus never for once got angry unnecessarily; He never said a wrong word once. If someone cuts Jesus in traffic, I can assure you; He will not swear at them or show them the middle finger. Jesus will not see black and call it white. Jesus will not attend a nightclub or go to a strip club. Jesus will never get into a physical fight or verbal abuse. He will never use the ‘F’ word, the ‘C’ word, or any offensive language. Jesus was not a rebellious youth; He was into neither the pop culture nor punk culture. He was not a Rastafarian. Many of our youths today are building their lives according to the pattern of a rock star. Many are building their life according to what they see on soap operas and movies. We cannot build our life after the pattern of a character in a secular soap opera or romance novel and expect the Lord to make us His tabernacle.

TO PONDER: What are the things you are doing that you know Christ will never do , repent immediately and turn a new leaf.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

SAYERS OR DOERS

Memory verse: Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 34-36

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 21:28-32

In our bible studies, Jesus told the story of a father and his two sons. One day, the man approached his first son and said: “Son, i need help in my vineyard, go there and work for me.” The boy answered and said: “Dad i am tired, please send my brother.” The old man said no problem and left. Shortly after this, being convicted by his conscience, he repented and went straight to the vineyard. The old man then approached the second son and said: “i need your help in my vineyard.” Oh, that is not a problem, he said. The moment the old man turned his back, he continued his business. The question is this, which of these two boys did the will of their father, the one who refused but later repented, or the one who promised to go and never went? Which of these two deserved a reward, the “sayer” (the fellow who promised to go but never went) or the “doer” (the fellow who refused to go but later repented)? Obviously, the “doer” i.e. the son who refused at first but later repented.

There is a popular saying: “actions speak louder than words.” It is not what a man says that matters, but what he does. A lot say A but do B. Matthew 7:21 says not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Jesus is not interested in those who will quote the Word alone; He wants believers who will do what the Word says. Are you a “sayer” or a “doer”? Not everyone that says the sinner’s prayer will enter into the kingdom of heaven but those who do the will of God.

In what ways are you and I, saying Lord, Lord but not doing the will of the Father? The Lord said in Romans 12:19, vengeance is mine and I will repay, you said no way, you must pay that fellow back in his coin. Are you doing the will of God when you pay that brother back in his own coin? The bible says pursue peace with all men (Hebrews 12:14), you said you will never speak to that sister –in-law who called you barren because you experience delay in childbirth. Is that the will of God? God promoted a family friend, instead of rejoicing with them; you started envying them. Is that how you do the will of God? You are not married to that man but you live together under the same room, are you doing the will of God? The whole church calls you a brother, but you secretly steal from the offering bag. Is that how to do the will of God? You said you wanted to build an orphanage, people contributed towards the project, you took the money and married a second wife. Is that how a Christian should behave? You were tasked to go and pay some money into the company accounts; you took the money and ran away. Is that the will of God?

TO PONDER: Are you a doer of the Word?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

WHAT TYPE OF REPENTANCE?

Memory verse: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 31-33

In Exodus, God sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: “let my people go.” When Pharaoh heard, he was wrath. Exodus 5:2 says And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will i let Israel go. Every attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go was ignored. Because he refused to let them go, the Lord began to plague Egypt. He started by turning their water to blood (Exodus 7:19); Pharaoh was unmoved. The Lord plagued the land with frogs (Exodus 8:2-4); Pharaoh did not budge. The Lord sent lice (Exodus 8:16), because his magicians were able to reproduce these plagues, he ignored the plea to let the children of Israel go.

The Lord sent flies (Exodus 8:21), these flies began to trouble all the Egyptians, Pharaoh repented and called for Moses and Aaron. He said; i will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me (Exodus 8:27).” This is called “EMERGENCY REPENTANCE.” Pharaoh permitted the children of Israel to go and sacrifice because he was suffering, the moment relief came; he changed his mind. Since he refused to change, the plagues kept on coming. Their livestock perished (Exodus 9:3); they were inflicted with boils (Exodus 9:8); thunder and hail destroyed their fields (Exodus 9:18); locust destroyed their plantations (Exodus 10:4). When the plagues became unbearable, he repented again. This is time around, he permitted only the men to go and sacrifice, leaving the women and children behind. This is called “INCOMPLETE REPENTANCE.” There are many who have repented from robbing the Lord in tithes, instead of paying a tenth of their earning, they pay a fifth of their earning. As far as God is convinced, this is not repentance.

The plagues continued, the Land was covered with thick darkness (Exodus 10:21) and then the Lord killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exodus 11:4-5). This time around, he repented and took an action; he literally chased the children of Israel out of Egypt. One would have thought that Pharaoh had finally repented but it was a “FALSE REPENTANCE,” after the children of Israel left Egypt, he went after them to bring them back to Egypt.God is interested in genuine repentance not repentance by mouth. Is your repentance an emergency one, an incomplete one, or worse still a false repentance? You said you have repented, no more fornication and adultery again, after a while you called your ex to come and pass the night at your place. Is that repentance? Because you wanted something desperately from God, you vowed never to do certain things again, the moment the Lord answered your prayers, you went back and continued in them. You said you have turned a new leaf but not completely, you no longer smoke but you drink. You no longer watch pornography but you look at nude pictures. Is that repentance?

ACTION: Pray that the Lord will truly give you a change of heart.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

SET IN SLIPPERY PLACES

Memory verse: surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction. Psalm 　73:18　

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 　Jeremiah 29-30　

BIBLE STUDIES: Psalm 73: 3-22　

At one point or the other, you must have wondered, how come the wicked is prospering and the righteous have nothing to show for their righteousness.You are single , you have kept yourself pure by not defiling yourself with the opposite sex before marriage, you attend service regularly, you pray and fast, you sow seeds - time, energy, money, etc and nothing is happening in your life, no brother has come to say hi. 　Meanwhile, your friends or colleagues who are living a wayward lifestyle – drinking, smoking, partying, etc are getting married. You are diligent at work, you do your work well, never done fraud or forge any records and yet for over five years, you have not been promoted but your friends who participate in dodgey dealings, are the ones getting all the recommendation and promotion. In ministry, you preach the truth, keep God's standard , work very hard and yet ,the church is scanty. Meanwhile, others who are playing games and wasting the destinies of their members by not preaching the truth to them keep expanding. One may be tempted to wonder if righteousness really pays. 　

You are not the only one who has entertained such thoughts; the psalmists in his time observed that, only the wicked made progress, the righteous despite working really hard was stagnant. This man saw the righteous going from one challenge to another, as he is leaving one problem he is entering into another problem but the wicked enjoyed peace. He saw the wicked, leaving in affluence, their children doing well in school; he said "I envy the wicked". Psalm 73:3 says for I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 　Later, when the Lord opened his eyes, his confession changed. Instead of envying them, he began to pity them. 　Psalm 73:18 says surely thou didst set them in slippery places; thou castedst them down into destruction. 　A slippery place is a place full of danger. Because they have been marked for destruction, the Lord permitted them to prosper temporarily 　to aid their destruction. They were like cows fed for slaughter. The Lord permitted challenges on the path of the righteous to prune him. He refines him in fire so that by the time he comes out of it; he will be shining like gold. After He must have worked on him, taught him patience, endurance and humility, He will now elevate him.　

NOTE: 　What you are facing at the moment, is your desert experience. Moses went through it, Abram passed through it, Jesus while on earth went through it too, you and I must go through it before we can become great.　

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

FOUR INDICTMENTS AND JUDGEMENT AGAINST DAVID

Memory verse: Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, doing evil in His sight? You have slain Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife. You have murdered him with the sword of the Ammonites.2 Samuel 12:9 　

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 　Jeremiah 25-27　

David was strolling around his palace one evening, he saw a naked woman bathing, he called his men to get her for him. When they brought her, he committed adultery with her and she became pregnant. To cover up his wrongdoing, he set up the husband (an army); at the end, Uriah fell by the hands of the Ammonites. David thought that was the end of the whole matter, but it was not. Our God is not a respecter of persons (Romans 2:11), He sent Nathan to David. The prophet asked him,

Why have you despised the commandment of the Lord, doing evil in His sight? You have slain Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife. You have murdered him with the sword of the Ammonites.2 Samuel 12:9.　

David received four indictments and each indictment carried a judgment. Indictment 1- you killed Uriah; Judgement – the sword will never depart from your house. Indictment 2- you despised Me and took Uriah’s wife to be your wife; Judgement – I will raise someone against you, he will take your wife and lie with them in the presence of the whole world. Indictment 3- you did it secretly; Judgement – someone will do the same to you in the public. Indictment 4- you allowed the enemy of the Lord to blaspheme because of your deed; judgment – the product of that illicit affair will die.

In what ways, have you killed Uriah the Hittite (an innocent man)? In what ways, have you killed (judged) people in your heart? Someone came to report a fellow to you, without investigating, you passed judgment. In what ways have you taken "Uriah’s wife"? You are single and in a relationship with a married man or woman; you are married and in a relationship with single men or women; you are married and in a relationship with a married man or woman; these are all part of taking "Uriah’s wife". Someone else’s idea, you turn it to your own idea and colonize it. Instead giving honour to who honour is due, you are boasting about the whole place, you have taken Uriah’s wife (something that does not belong to you). In what ways, have you and I given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme? You give occasion to the enemies of the gospel to blaspheme when you do things that cause people to say and you call yourself a Christian.　 Anytime you are angry, you act in a way that causes people to wonder if truly the "pastor" before your name is a nickname or your real title in church. When it comes to the issue of money, you act in a way that cause people to doubt if you are truly saved or just pretending. What are you doing, that is making people to say, if this is how Christians behave, I will never become a Christian?

TO PONDER: am I a carbon copy of Christ or an exact opposite?　

Bro Samuel- Reaching the world for Jesus.

FOR THEY HAVE SOWN THE WIND

Memory verse: For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. Hosea 8:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 22-24

We have been looking at the subject of sowing and reaping recently. As a Christian, you must be sowing; no amount of praying and fasting can make a fellow reap what he has not sown or reap from where he has not sown. Start your day with prayers , pray for yourself, your husband, your wife, your children, your family (close and extended), your neighbours, your colleagues at work, your managers, the state you live in, your country, your church, your church pastors, your leaders (church, state, country), missionary, just pray for everyone. Let us always remember to pray for our leaders, the enemy is working ceaselessly, he wants them to get it wrong so that you and i can suffer. Let us also pray for those running our financial institutions, if they get the policies right, it is you and i who will benefit.
One truth about sowing and reaping, all things being equal, harvest is always greater than the seeds sown. This is why you and i must be careful about what we are sowing. Hosea 8:7 says for they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up.

Let us take a look at two bible characters that sow wind and reaped whirlwind. For a long time, Esau had been sowing venison and other types of games into the life of his father (Isaac). When the day of reaping came, Rebecca and Jacob schemed and ended up with the harvest of Esau. They both sow wind and reaped whirlwind – trouble and heartache. This minute Jacob was safe, the next minute his life was at risk because Esau swore to kill him the moment his father (Isaac) passed away. This minute Rebecca’s mind was at rest, the next minute she was panicking because her first born had decided to kill his junior brother for robbing him of his harvest. Both (Rebecca and Jacob) did not know peace all because they took what did not belong to them. Do you know that for over twenty years, Rebecca did not set her eyes on her beloved son? Jacob had to flee to another location, as far as Esau was concerned, he was a dead man walking. Every parent knows what it means not to set eyes on their favorite child for a year; Rebecca went through that for over twenty years. The same way, Jacob caused Isaac emotional pain by tricking him; his own sons caused him emotional pain. They sold Joseph to slavery and lied to him that a wild beast had torn him apart. Friends, is it really worth it? That thing does not belong to you, why take it? That project work was prepared by another colleague, why rub off his name and put your name there, everyone is praising you for someone else’s effort and you are feeling big. A friend borrowed you some money, when it was time to pay back, you denied borrowing money from him. They gave you money to make a dress; you spent the money and did not make the dress. Now, the owner of the dress is calling you and you are ignoring her calls.

NOTE: The word of God cannot be broken, to avoid reaping whirlwind, every wind we may have sown, lets us begin to make restitution immediately.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

WHY TITHE? (RESPONSE TO A LETTER)

Memory verse: Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:10

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 19-21

Sometimes back, a brother wrote to me asking for my views on tithes and offerings. I have no personal views on tithes and offerings. My view on tithes and offerings is the biblical view on tithes and offerings. There are one or two things; we need to know about tithing . Firstly, tithing honours the Old Testament principle of how God provided for the ministers He called and the expenses of their ministry. Out of the twelve tribes of Israel, God called the Levites out into temple and tabernacle ministry. You will recall that when the land was shared between the eleven tribes of Israel, the Levites were not given a portion of land. Instead of giving them a portion of land, the Lord said that these vocational ministers of the tabernacle should live off the tithes of the other eleven tribes (Numbers 18:20-21). When you and I tithe, we honour this principle found here. Some of God’s people are called not to do moneymaking business in the ordinary ways i.e. called to full time ministry. The rest of God’s people are to be gainfully employed and support the “vocational ministers” i.e. full time ministers – and the cost of that ministry. Many people ask about tithing in the New Testament. Jesus endorsed tithing as we see in Mathew 23:23 so do not neglect it. Although He said, it is not as essential as justice, love, and mercy; but it is to be done. Apostle Paul also echoed the same thing in 1 Corinthians 9:13-14 when he said even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. The church of God needs my tithes and your tithes to pay full time ministers and run the ministry,pay rents, bills, etc.

Secondly, when we release a tenth of our income and give it over to the ministry and mission of Christ in the world, we honour the Creator rights of God who owns everything, including all our income. We all know that the world belongs to God (Psalms 24:1); by tithing, we are proving it. Take for instance, a wife accuses her husband for not giving her any time. The man may argue that he gives all his time to her and the kids, he spends all his time at work trying to earn a living for her and the children. That may be correct to an extent , but to proof that he gives time for her; he needs to spend evenings with her and from time to time, take her on a date. Giving God a tenth of our income does not deny that all our money is God’s, it proves that we believe it. Lastly, our giving (tithes and offerings) prove and strengthen our faith in God’s promises. There is an absolute correlation between faith in the promises of God and peace of mind in giving to God. Tithing is a faith issue. If you and i really have faith in the promises of God, that He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus ( Philippians 4:19), we will not have problems giving a tenth of our earnings and much more to God.

NOTE: A fellow who truly has faith in the promises of God, the least he will give will be a tenth of his earnings.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

LAYING UP TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Memory verse: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. Matthew 6:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 13-18

BIBLE IN STUDIES: Matthew 6:19-21

A treasure is something you place great value on; it could be a painting, gold, jewelry, person (s) who you love dearly. Today, the treasure we are focusing on is wealth or riches. From our bible studies, there are only two places, one can store his or her treasures (wealth or riches) - heaven or earth. Storing one’s treasures on earth is full of disadvantages, on earth there are thieves who break in and steal, moth and rust may destroy it, kidnappers may kill one and take possession of it, etc. 

The safest place is heaven. Matthew 6:19 says ` But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. This brings us to the question, how do I store my treasures in heaven. One way to store your treasure in heaven is by giving to the poor and needy. Luke 12:33 says sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. Giving to the poor and needy is not negotiable for any heaven minded believer. 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. When we give to the poor and needy, it should not be to show off or else we will lose the rewards (Matthew 6:1-4). Jesus even said, when you do your charitable deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that the Father who sees in the secret will reward in the public. As a married couple, there should not be secrets ,this applies to your giving too. You are no longer two but one, you can discuss with your husband or wife what you are giving. 

Many after giving will tell everyone in church what they gave; oh, that shirt bro A is wearing, we bought it for him ; oh, that shoe sister B is wearing, I bought it actually; my family have been buying food stuffs for the pastor for a over year; my husband and I bought the big keyboard in the church. No one in church should know what you have given to another person. The whole church does not need to know that you are the one who bought the big keyboard. They are not the one who will reward you anyway. Some will only give when they know that they will announce the names of donors. Many give to be recognized, such will not attract any reward from heaven. Some give to make a statement; such also will not attract any reward. Many do charitable deeds so that they can have something to boast about, such too will not attract any reward. 

NOTE: Those who give to the poor are lending to the Lord.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

PROMOTION IN DISGUISE

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:10 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 1-3

Many a time, when God wants to promote a fellow , He starts with what looks like a demotion. The fellow will first go down before coming up. As far as God is concerned, the way up first and foremost is the way down. There are a lot of things that prevents God from carrying us, one of them is pride. Actually, pride makes us heavy in His hands. James 4:10 says Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. The moment God decides to promote a fellow, He will first take the fellow down to get rid of things like pride and other things preventing Him from carrying the fellow.

Let us look at Job, he was a very successful man. God prospered him in all He laid his hands on. Although this man was righteous , deep inside , there was element of pride in him. In Job 30, Job said he would consider it an insult to put a man’s father with his dog. Job 30:1 says but now they that are younger than I have me in derison, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock. When the Lord wanted to elevate him, He allowed the enemy to bring him right down to get rid of the pride . This man lost all he had but at the end , the Lord doubled all He had.

I remembered when I first joined my current employer, within 6 months, my managers began to consider me for a promotion. Deep within me , I thought I was special and the people i met there did not know what they were doing. When the job advert came out, I spoke to some brothers and we prayed, the Lord spoke and said, He had given me the job permanently. Mind you the job was a temporary appointment not a permanent one. Anyway I applied for the job and I was unsuccessful. Not only that, I was literally demoted. During this period , the Lord permitted somethings on my way. Some of those i trained on the job were promoted and they made life hard for me. It was then I learnt humility. After God was satisfied that I had learnt the lesson, the post came out permanently, I applied and I got it! That current embarrassing situation you find yourself could be that God is taking you down to get rid of somethings in your life before taking you very high. You maybe wondering why that ‘thing’ is happening to you, friends and people around you are insulting you with style , they know you are single yet they ask after your husband in public so that you can say I am single. If you are facing such, do not get angry and marry the next guy that comes along. Keep on praying and the Lord who has done it for others will surely do it for you.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please remember me.

Bro Samuel- Reaching the world for Jesus.

SACRIFICE WHILE AGAG IS STILL ALIVE?

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 1 Samuel 15:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 64 -66

Saul’s rejection story is one any reader of this devotional will be familiar with. As instructed by God, Samuel told King Saul to go and destroy the Amalekites. He said yes sir, and left with his armies. When he got to Amalek, he destroyed all the worthless things – sick goats and sheep, lame donkeys and camel, and left the good things – fat sheep and goats, well fed donkeys and horses. He destroyed everyone except King Agag. When he returned, the prophet rebuked him for his half obedience (not destroying all). Instead of Saul to repent and set things right by killing Agag and destroying all he brought back, he said it is true i have sinned against God but come with me to sacrifice to the Lord. 1 Samuel 15:30 says Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. What is more important, sacrificing to God or obeying God? Saul wanted to disobey God and still offer sacrifice to God. Will God accept such sacrifice? He spared the fellow who the Lord asked him to kill and still had the audacity to offer God a sacrifice.

Saul was more interested in offering sacrifices than pleasing God. Thank God for Samuel, immediately after the sacrifice, he killed wicked Agag (1 Samuel 15:31-33). There are many of us like Saul today, we want to disobey God and offer Him sacrifices. We want to keep Agag alive and yet offer sacrifice to God. Many want to fornicate and still be in the choir. Many want to steal from their employers and still lead prayers in Church. Saul’s sacrifice was a wasted effort because he intentionally spared the life of wicked Agag. Are you and I like Saul in anyway? We want to secretly flout God’s commandment and yet at the same time be a worker in the house of God. Unfortunately, things do not work that way. Saul wanted to be seen offering sacrifices to God in the public and yet secretly keep Agag alive. Are you and I like Saul in this way? We want to openly mount the altar and preach powerful messages and yet in our secret closet live a life that Christ disapproves of? We want to openly play guitar in the church and secretly commit adultery with another woman. We want to publicly sing a special number to the glory of God, yet lie on our time sheets. We want to openly invite people to our church programs and yet secretly speak against the man of God. Are you and I trying to be openly loving at church and secretly wicked to our spouses? Because Saul wanted to openly sacrifice to God and yet, secretly spare wicked Agag, God distant Himself from him and publicly rejected him.

PONDER: In what ways are you secretly hiding Agag and openly sacrificing to God?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

SLOW IN TURNING

And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Ruth 1:3-5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 61-63

Ruth 1:3-5 says and Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years. And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. Yesterday, we discussed about Elimelech’s move to Moab – a pagan nation. The move was against God’s will for his life. How can a man leave God’s care for a pagan nation and call it the will of God? Anyway, he moved his family out of God’s care and all sorts began to happen to his family. Firstly, he died. This was the perfect opportunity to set things right by relocating back to Israel. One would have thought that they will return to Israel to bury Elimelech and stay there but they did not. Instead, they buried him in Moab and married wives in the land. At times God uses painful instances to speak to us but the reason many of us cannot hear is that we are set in our hearts to do that thing.

Mahlon died in Moab, they buried him there and still stayed put in this land. Chilion also died, it was at this point, Naomi’s eye opened and she decided to return to Israel. This was all avoidable, at the time Elimelech died, they would have returned home but they did not. Naomi waited until all her sons died leaving her with two daughter in laws before going back to Israel. Each of those deaths was a strong message and signal to return to God and to the land even if it meant pain and hunger. What kept Naomi in Moab until she lost all is unknown to anyone, we may never be able to answer this question but those who are insensitive to the voice of the Spirit of God and who are unrepentant or slow in turning from a wrong thing, wrong place, wrong steps, wrong decision, etc, usually pay heavily for it.

Is God speaking to you, through your present situation and you are refusing to change? Some of the excuse people give is i have invested so much in it – relationship, investment, business, etc, and i have no other option than to remain. It does not matter how much you have spent, if God is speaking to you to change, do not be slow in turning. Have you left the assembly where God has placed you because of scarcity of husbands or some other thing? I beg you in the name of the Lord, move back.

NOTE: Please do not procrastinate any further, act fast and decisively, repent and move away from all that represent Moab and move back to the will of God for your life.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.

NO KING IN ISRAEL

In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 54-60

Judges 21:25 says in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes.This was a time in Israel when lawlessness was at its peak. There was no king i.e. ruler, everyone did what they liked. There was nothing like parenting, pastoring, disciplining, counselling and so on. During this period, every man was his own lord ; they were responsible to no one and did what they pleased. It was at this time, Bro Elimelech took his family and relocated to Moab – a pagan and God forsaken land. Had it been, Bro Elimelech had a mentor or was under a pastor, he would not have relocated to Moab, his mentor or pastor would have counselled him against the move. But because he was not under any authority - a discipler or a pastor, he moved into a strange territory. At Moab he perished, his two sons perished also leaving Naomi (his wife) with two daughters in laws. It is this kind of independent spirit that does not recognize any authority over one’s life that has led many to take steps that they later regret and in some instances, they lost their lives.

We live at a time where people crave independence; no one wants to be under any authority; no one wants to be told how to live their life ; everyone wants to do things their way not the way of the Spirit. Our sisters do not want to be told how to dress modestly or how to conduct themselves in a relationship. Our brothers no longer want to serve. A lot of us say we want to be like Christ, to be like Christ means we must be ready to serve not to be served. Matthew 20:28 says even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. We live at a time where virtually everyone wants to be free as air, to do what they like, move at will and to where they want. Everyone wants to be independent from their pastors and parents. Some sisters get pregnant before bringing the brother to meet their parents. This spirit of independence , the spirit of it is my life and i will live it they way i want, the spirit of no one can tell me when to come to church ,etc , must be shunned. They are destructive spirits; they have destroyed the life of many, if we do not wage war against them, they will rob us of our glorious destiny.

Had it been, Bro Elimelech was under authority, he would not have moved into trouble and calamity. God has put every one of us under authority in our churches, homes, families and work places. Let us remain under that authority He has put us. If we become independent and leave, the end result may be disastrous. There is a reason why God has put that pastor or youth leader over you. Let us remain under the authority God has placed us.

PRAYER POINT: Father, every spirit that wants to take me away from where you have planted me , please deal with them.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 47-53

Before every man and woman, boy and girl, young and old, believer and unbeliever, white and black, educated and uneducated, master and servant are two gates –the strait gate and the wide gate. Whether you and I like it or not, we must go through one of the gates, it is not negotiable. The choice of the gate to enter through is our decision.

Matthew 7:13- 14 says enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. In our memory verse, Jesus talks of two gates. Not only that, He also gave characteristics of both. Gates are used to limit access into a building. The first gate, wide gate, has a wide entrance. The wide gate leads one to a broad way. This broad way leads to destruction. The second gate, strait gate, has a strait entrance. The strait gate leads to a narrow way. This narrow way leads to life.

The wide gate leads to hell. The way to hell is very broad in other words everything goes. Because the entrance is so wide, one can come in with as much as bag and baggage as possible.One can come in with the bag of malice, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, pride, just name it. Because the way is very broad, walking in it very easy. On the other hand, the strait gate leads to heaven. The entrance is so small, not everyone can go through it. Hebrew 12:1 says wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. To go through the strait gate, one must first lay aside every weight and the sin that easily besets him or her. The road that leads to eternal life is so narrow; two people cannot travel on it at the same time. This is why the decision to reign with Christ in heaven is not a group decision but a personal one. Each individual must make up his mind and begin to work towards it. One of the characteristic of the narrow road is that it is a very difficult road to walk on. Jesus Christ gave a hint of how difficult walking on this path is when He said only few people find this path. It is a shame; people are now broadening the narrow way with teachings such as you do not need holiness to make heaven. Hebrews 12:14 says without holiness no man shall see God. Friend, to make it to heaven there is a price you have to pay after salvation. Jesus says in Matthew 24:13, he that shall endure to end shall be saved. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to endure to the last.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

YET HONOUR ME NOW, I PRAY THEE, BEFORE THE ELDERS OF MY PEOPLE

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, i pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 1 Samuel 15:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 44-46

God’s plans are always better than our plans. According to Isaiah 46:10, He declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done. Therefore, it is better for us to leave Him with the planning. The Lord had a good plan for the children of Israel; no human king would rule over them, He would be their king. The children of Israel rejected His plan and requested for a human king like the neighbouring nations.1 Samuel 8:5 says and said unto him, behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. Since they requested for a human king, God gave them a human king. The first king (Saul) tore a prophet’s garment ( 1 Samuel 15:27) ; the second king (David) killed Uriah and took his wife although, he later repented ( 2 Samuel 11:5-27) ; the third one (Solomon) married so many strange women ( 1 Kings 11:1-2) , in other to cater for them , he increased the taxes and the people groaned ; the fourth one ( Rehoboam) swore from the first day that he would increase taxes even more (1 Kings 12:11-13). If only they had allowed God to be their king, they would have enjoyed peace.

Saul had one big problem; he was a people pleaser. God told him to destroy everything in Amalek, when he got Amalek, he left the fat cows, and Agag because the people persuaded him to do that. Because he did not want to offend man, he ended up offending God and that cost him his throne. When he got back home, he invited Samuel to a sacrifice and that one refused to go with him. Samuel’s presence at the sacrifice would have validated him before the people. Because Samuel refused, he began to beg. 1 Samuel 15:30 says Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, i pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. Instead of begging God for forgiveness, he was begging Samuel to honour him.

Saul was only concerned about receiving honour before men not before God. He cared about people’s opinion of him not God’s opinion of him. In what ways are we acting like Saul? We know what is right; because we want to please people, we do what is not right. As a Christian, you know you should not go to nightclubs, because you do not want to offend your friends, you went to the birthday they threw in a nightclub. Is one not honouring his friends and dishonouring God? As a Christian, you know it is wrong to dress provocatively, because of your fans; you dress provocatively to entertain them. Because you want to sell albums or want to be accepted by the media, you lower your standard. May God have mercy! Humans may accept us but they cannot take us to heaven. We cannot disobey God because we want to be accepted. We cannot lower God’s standard just because we want to be recognized
.
PONDER: In what ways are you and i lowering God’s standard just to be accepted in our places of work, family, and church?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

AND THOU SHALT ANOINT ME HIM WHOM I NAME UNTO THEE

And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom i name unto thee. 1 Samuel 16:3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 41-43

The Amalekites were a wicked set of people. For no just reason, they attacked the Israelites and killed some of them (Exodus 17:8). God was not happy with this, when Saul became king, He instructed him through Samuel to wipe out the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:1-35). When Saul got there, he and his men destroyed the worthless things and kept the valuable things for themselves. The next morning when Saul met Samuel, he told him that he had destroyed everything as God commanded. Oh really, what is the noise of sheep and goats am hearing, the old man asked. They are the animals we brought to offer sacrifice to God, he responded. The Lord saw that Saul was unserious so He told Samuel to go and anoint his replacement. 1 Samuel 16:3 says And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom i name unto thee.

On reading 1 Samuel 16:3, one may wonder why God did not tell Samuel who he was going to anoint before he left home. Why wait until Samuel got to Jesse’s house before telling him who to anoint? God withheld that information from Samuel to teach him some life lessons. Firstly, God does not see as man sees. Men always look at the outward qualities, the stature, the suit, the degree, but God looks at the heart. Samuel was looking at Eliab’s stature but God was looking at his heart. Secondly, a man’s heart is far more important than his outward appearance. Eliab and Co’s outward appearance was great but their heart was not right with God. The Lord rejected them all and selected a young boy whose heart was right with Him. Thirdly, not all that glitter is gold. Eliab and Co were shining; they looked every part like the perfect candidate but they were rotten inside. This is one lesson all singles must learn. The fact that a sister can sing does not make her an angel and the fact that a brother wears a nice suit does not make him a gentleman.

Fourthly, failure to wait on God results in mistakes. God categorically told Samuel, anoint who i will show you in other words do not anoint until i show you. If Samuel had waited on God to speak before making a move, he would not have made the mistake of trying to anoint Eliab. Fifthly, mistakes are inevitable when you and i choose by the flesh. Samuel chose by the flesh at least twice and got it wrong. Just as Samuel experienced God’s silence, we are going to experience His silence too. He does that, not because He hates us but to teach us life lessons. Mistakes are opportunities to learn, Samuel learnt from his mistakes, have you and i learnt from ours? Mistake is inevitable for anyone who tries to walk ahead of God.

PONDER: In what ways are we moving ahead of God? Let us repent now and wait.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

TEST OF TRUST

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee. Genesis 12:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 37-40

BIBLE STUDY: Genesis 12:1-3

In Genesis 12:1-3, God told Abram to pack his bag and baggages and leave town for a place He will show him. A lot of us have read this story but not really grasped what God was asking Abram to do. Imagine for a second, whilst busy at work reading your emails, God told you to go home, pack your bags , pick a bus going out of town and drop at a station He will show you. Ordinarily , people don’t like changing their enviroment. One thing I dread most is moving house, it takes a week to pack everything , 2 – 3 days to move , another week or two to unpack and rearrange stuffs and forever to settle into the new enviroment. Asides the fact that God is asking you to move from a familiar enviroment – friends and family, He is asking you to go to an unknown place. At least if you know the place , you will be able to prepare for the new town. If it is a warm area, you will buy some T-shirts . If it is a cold area, you will buy some sweaters and jumpers. More over you will be able to arrange for an accomodation in advance, but in this case , God is saying leave all - your work, family and friends, support network ,everything familiar to you to a place He will tell you. You agree it is a hard one. This was what God was asking Abram to do. His case was harder because he had to go with his family. In every way we look at it, emotionally , mentally, financially, it wasn’t an easy one for Abram.

The question is why did’t God tell him the location before leaving .God did this to check if Abram would trust Him with his life and family. He did that to see if Abram would obey His instruction without arguing. God wanted to see if Abram would depend on His word not his knowledge. Because Abram trusted God with his life and family , God gave him seven blessings. Firstly, He made him a great nation. Secondly, He blessed him. Thirdly, He made his name great. Fourthly, He made him a blessing. This is why today we say Abraham’s blessing are ours. Fiftly, He blessed all those that blessed Him. Sixtly , He cursed all those that cursed him and Seventhly, He ensured that through Abram all the nations of the world are blessed.

TO PONDER: In our walk with Christ, we will be faced with situations and circumstances that will demand that we trust God’s word with all.Can you trust God’s word with your life and family?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

LORD, LORD, HAVE WE NOT PROPHESIED IN THY NAME.

Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 34-36

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 7:21-23

The bible is full of kingdom truths! One of them is, if we do not sow, we will not reap. Galatians 6:7 says be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. We can pray and fast for 100 days, if we do not put something in the soil, nothing will germinate. If you and i do not sow, we will harvest nothing. This is why you and I must abhor such things as pool betting and lottery. People that get involved in these are those trying to get money without the sowing the seeds of labour and hard work. They are doing something wrong because they are flouting the divine principle of sowing and reap.

In the book of Matthew, Chapter 7 verse 21 is another kingdom truth. Jesus says, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.” I want you to know that those Jesus was referring to here are not the people in the occult or hired assassins. They are not Atheists or Agnostics. Jesus was referring to those who say they are Christians but not doing the will of God. He was speaking of churchgoers or workers in the vineyard of God; choir masters who are fornicating with choir members; ushers who are stealing from the church; deacons who forge invoice to get extra cash. Jesus said not all those who call Me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. There are those calling Lord, Lord, who are married and still committing adultery; there are singles especially brothers who call Lord, Lord, who visit brothels and watch pornography; there are pastor’s children who call Lord, Lord, who smoke Indian hemp and crack cocaine, some even commit abortion. If we are calling Lord, Lord, we must do the will of God!

Jesus then went further to say, many would say to Him in that day, Lord, Lord, I prophesied in Your name and it came to pass; i prayed for the sick in Your name and they became healed; i conducted revivals in Your name and many souls were won. Jesus said in that day , He would look them in the eyes , eyeball to eyeball and say i don’t know you, depart from Me, you that work iniquity ( Matthew 7:22-23). I pray that will not be your portion in Jesus name, amen. A lot of us use our spiritual gifts to measure our relationship with God. God still used to me heal the sick so i am all right; God still used me to minister in the church and everyone began to cry, after that, they became sober, really? After fornicating, Samson was still able to take hold of the doors of the city gate, together with two posts, put them on his shoulders and carry them to the top of a hill (Judges 16:1-3).

TO PONDER: Am i truly, doing the will of God?

Bro Samuel- Reaching the world for Jesus.