“BUT BY PRAYER AND FASTING”

MEMORY VERSE: And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. Mark 9:29

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 1-5

BIBLE READING: Mark 9:20-29

One caring father brought his sick child to the disciples of Jesus (Mark 9:14-29). The boy was possessed with a foul spirit. The disciples prayed and prayed nothing happened. They bound and loosed still nothing. In the midst of all these Jesus came around. “What is the problem”, He asked. The father of the boy explained to Him. Jesus rebuked the foul spirit in the boy and he was delivered. When Jesus and His disciples returned home, they asked Him “why could we not cast him out?” These disciples had casted out several demons in the past so they wondered why they could not cast out that particular demon. Mark 9:29 says, “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” There are several truths we can glean from this verse but we will look at two. Firstly, in the spiritual world, there are degrees in the satanic hierarchy. Some demons are more malignant than others and have greater power over the souls of man.

Secondly, any Christian who does not fast and pray regularly is limited. There are some enemies that one cannot conquer except by fasting and praying. There are some battles that one cannot win except by fasting and praying. A Christian who does not regularly pray and fast cannot enjoy total victory. There are some heights especially in spiritual things that one cannot reach except by fasting and praying. Some problems cannot be solved except by fasting and praying. Some impacts cannot be made in this generation except by fasting and praying. Whether you believe or not, some things will not leave your life except by fasting and praying. That foul spirit did not leave until a man who fasted and prayed regularly commanded it out. Let me say this, fasting and praying must be backed with a life of holiness. Certain things cannot come into your life except by fasting and praying. The enemy had shut away peace from the life of the father of that young boy. When the man who regularly fasted and prayed got to the scene, He casted out the foul spirit and peace came into his life. Dear single sister, what you need is not more tight clothes or revealing clothes. What you need is not more make –up. It is a life of fasting and praying. Tight clothes and revealing clothes only attract strange men. Dear unemployed brother, what you need in order to get a job is not a second degree. It is not even connection. It is fasting and praying. Where marriage counselling has failed, praying and fasting will not fail. Many of us want God to use us like Paul and Peter but we don’t want to fast and pray. Many of us covet supernatural encounters but we don’t want to pray. It will not happen without a life of praying and fasting.

NOTE: As a Christian, you must fast at least once a week if you are serious about your Christian walk.

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"CAUGHT UP TO THE THIRD HEAVEN "

MEMORY VERSE: I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 2 Corinthians 12:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 21-24

BIBLE READING: 2 Corinthians 12:1-4

Paul in his second epistle to the Corinthians wrote thus: “I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2). There are one or two truths we can glean from this verse. Firstly, there is more than one heaven. Several verses in the scripture bear testimony to this fact. 1 Kings 8:27 says, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the ‘heaven and heaven of heavens’ cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” Isaiah 55:9 says, “For as the ‘heavens’ are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” If there is a third heaven, then there is a first heaven and a second heaven. You cannot a have third without having the first ‘two’. One thing we are sure of is that there are at least three heavens ( and some call it three levels of heaven). Some have taught about seven heavens; this view has no basis in scripture.

Secondly, the third heaven is the highest point or the top heaven. It is the location of Paradise and the place of God’s personal dwelling, the most sacred place in the universe. The third heaven is the ultimate destination of all sinners who have truly repented and who have persevered in the life of faith. The second heaven could be the mid heaven or midst of heaven. Revelations 8:13 says, “And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” The second heaven also known as the mid heaven is where spiritual warfare takes place. Ephesians 6:12 says,”For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” It was in the mid-heaven that angel who was sent to Daniel was withstood (Daniel 10:13). Finally, the visible heaven – the heaven that is visible to our natural eyesight – is the first heaven. Genesis 1:8 says, “And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” This is where planes fly or birds fly. All earth’s inhabitants are familiar to some degree with this heaven. The teaching of three different levels of heaven, a level for “super-committed Christians” or Christians who have obtained a high level of spirituality, a level for “ordinary” Christians, and a level for Christians who did not serve God faithfully has no basis in Scripture.

QUESTION: How ready are you for the Master? Remember He is coming to take us home. Hope your garment is not soiled with sins. The Master is coming!

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WHAT YOU MAKE HAPPEN FOR OTHERS, GOD WILL MAKE HAPPEN FOR YOU

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: John 19-21

How you serve those that God has put over you today is how people who God will put underneath you tomorrow will serve you. Does God put people over us so that we can serve them? Yes! Does God put people underneath us to serve us? Oh yes! Psalm 75:6-7 says, “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” According to Daniel 2:21, He changes the times and seasons: He removes one king and raises another. If you serve your pastors / coordinators / supervisors/ managers very well today, when you get to their position tomorrow people underneath you will serve you very well. You will not remain the same. The fact that you are small today does not mean you will remain small forever. The fact that you don’t have or you are struggling to make ends meat today does not mean that is how it is going to be. According to Job 8:7, your tomorrow will be better than your today.

If you are fond of talking or playing with your phone during sermon, one day when you are preaching or leading prayer or giving an important speech, people will do the same to you. Whatever you give today, whether it be good or bad, it will be given back to you. 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.” You say "i will never be a pastor or minister". It is true that you have your plans, God also has His plans. It is you, oh dear beloved sister, who wants to marry a dark-skinned brother, God’s will maybe a fair-skinned brother. According to Isaiah 55:8-9, His thoughts are not our thoughts, so also His ways are not the ways of man. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts our thoughts. There was once a group of 4 young brothers in the church. They were workers who served in a ministry. One was very diligent. He got to church with his family before the church door was opened. Even when his wife was pregnant; he will still get to church early with his pregnant wife. He rarely missed church services but when he can’t mostly due to reasons beyond his control he would ensure that his wife go to church with the children. Many a time he would arrange a taxi to take his family to church and pick them up from church after service. When it came to giving to God, he did his best. Many a time, he out gave everyone. Due to his commitments, his pastors were greatly encouraged. The other three brothers served too but out of convenience. They gave when it was convenient. None of the four friends ever thought that one day they will become pastors talk-less of found churches. As God will have it they all found themselves in the ministry; they all founded churches. Four years into ministry, the brother who served God with His strength and resources observed that his members had the same spirit inside them. They would go out of their way to come to church and give. What he was doing to his pastors was what his members were doing to him. He was greatly encouraged by their commitment. The other three observed that their members were serving only out of convenience, none of them wanted to go out of their way for the ministry. What they made happen for others in ministry, God made it happen for them in ministry.

QUESTION: How are you serving today? Is it out of convenience? Do you go out of your way to help people? If you do that, you can expect people to go out of their way to help you? Are you the rebellious type who is always giving your pastors tough time? You better change.

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BEWARE OF ISOLATED TEXTS

MEMORY VERSE: And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in theirhands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. Matthew 4:6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Titus

READ: Matthew 4:5-7

The bible is a book of principles, and not a book of disjointed aphorisms (pithy observation which contains a general truth). It is not what a particular verse in the Bible teaches that we must focus on, but what the whole bible teaches. Isolated texts (bible verses) may often be made to sanction things to which the principles of Scriptures are totally opposed. One earnest sister who had the text “all things are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:21) so strongly impressed upon her mind in reference to some money belonging to a friend, that she felt it was a direct command to her to steal that money; and after a great struggle she obeyed this apparent guidance, with of course most grievous after-results. Had she submitted her “leading” to the plain teaching of scripture in reference to stealing, she would have been saved. An isolated text is so impressed upon the mind that it seems a necessity to obey it, no matter into what wrong thing it may lead; and thus the principles of Scriptures are violated, under the very plea of obedience to the Scriptures. In Matthew 4:5-7, the enemy is represented using isolated texts to endorse his temptations. Verse 6 says, “And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in theirhands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Jesus repelled him by announcing the principles of the Scriptures.

Most false teachings are built on an isolated verse or verses of the Scripture, taken out of context, and blown up out of proportion. The better you know the whole Book, the better you will be able to deal with the person who uses isolated “proof texts”. For instance, the people who deny the threefold nature of God (the trinity) quote Jesus saying: “I and My Father are One! (John 10:30)” in an attempt to prove that Jesus and the Father are one person. Christians don’t believe in threefold nature of God because of proof texts, but because the Trinity is presented in the Bible from start to finish – even though the word “Trinity” is not used. The bible instead uses the word ‘Godhead’ when speaking of the threefold God: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Genesis 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” According to John 1:1-4, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by him (the Word) and without him was not any thing made that was made.... Who is the Word? The Word is Jesus (John 1:14). So the Word which was in the very beginning with the Father is none other than Jesus Christ – the “Word made flesh.” Thus, we see the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost at the creation. The concept of Trinity is everywhere in the bible
.
NOTE: False prophets use isolated verses of the scriptures to perpetrate their evil work. As such, you need to study your bible regularly so as to familiarize yourself with biblical principles.

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THE GIFT OF FAITH 2

MEMORY VERSE: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:9

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Amos 1-4

As we mentioned yesterday, there are three kinds of supernatural faith. The first, which we looked at yesterday, is the 'saving faith'. The second kind is faith as a 'fruit of the spirit'. Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” This, kind of faith, comes as a result of our salvation: union of Christ. According to John 15:5, Christ is the Vine, and we ,Christians, are the branches. Anyone that abides in Him and He in them, the same will bring much fruit. From the time of our union with Him (the Vine) we have the potential of bearing fruit. Our faith (trust, belief) in Jesus is the work of God the Holy Spirit, and it is He who supplies the faith as we go along in the Christian life. Our part is to respond to Him. Faith in Jesus, both initial faith and continuing faith, is the basis for all other fruit and gifts of the Spirit. The fruit of the spirit called faith is brought about through the process of time. One doesn’t plant a tree, and the next day pick fruit, No! The tree must be cultivated, fed, and watered. This is exactly what ‘abide’ means which is to take up permanent residence. The result of abiding in Him is the fruit of a Godly Christian character.

The last kind is the gift of faith. It is a potential in the believer from the time of receiving Jesus, but like the other gifts, it becomes much more active after the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Unlike faith the fruit mentioned earlier, the gift of faith is given instantaneously. It is a sudden surge of faith, usually in a crisis, to confidently believe without a doubt that as we act or speak in Jesus’ name it shall come to pass. The gift of faith is distinct from the working of miracles though it may produce miracles. If the disciples in the storm-based boat had remained calm and assured in spite of their dangerous situation, they would have been manifesting the gift of faith. As it was, Jesus had to still the storm by a miracle. If Daniel in the lion’s den had slain the dangerous animals with but a gesture it would have been the gifts of the miracle. As it was, he rested unharmed in the presence of the fully active lions, showing an even greater amount of faith. Several years ago in Tanzania, some Christians gathered for Easter services, when suddenly an enraged lioness in a wild mood dashed out of the jungle, attacking everything in her path. She killed several domestic animals, then a woman and a child and headed directly for the assembled believers. She stopped only few yards from them, snarling ferociously. The people trembled with shock! The preacher shouted, “don’t be afraid – the God who saved Daniel from the lions is here – the risen Christ of Easter is here.” He turned to the lioness, and cried, “You lion, i curse you in the name of Jesus Christ!” From the scattered clouds, without a sign of rain, a bolt of lightning struck the lioness and she dropped dead. That day, seventeen people gave their lives to the Lord Jesus. The level of faith in which we are living may ebb and flow. Sometimes we find that we are strong in faith; the Holy Spirit in our spirit is allowed to work, and wonderful things happen in our lives. At other times the ‘hang-ups’, doubts, fears, and the ‘debris’ in our souls that the Holy Spirit is working to remove get in the way, and we are not able to function as we.

NOTE: Though the gifts of faith may be active from time to time in our lives, it should not surprise us if we also experience times of doubts. This should only serve to remind us of the scripture: “it is God who works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Expect the Lord to manifest his wonderful gift of faith through you, just as you expect the other gifts.

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THE GIFT OF FAITH 1

MEMORY VERSE: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:9

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 23-24 

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, faith is believing before seeing. You have not been invited for that job interview but you already believe the job is yours. No brother has approached you for your hands in marriage but you know that you are going to be someone’s wife very soon. Faith brings substance to what you have believed. According to Hebrews 11:1, faith is now. It is present tense; hope is future tense. Faith is not passive but active.

There are two basic kinds of faith: Natural faith and Supernatural faith. People have faith in the things of this world through the experience of the five senses. It takes natural faith to turn on the TV, and to believe we will see and hear something of interest. Even though the average person doesn’t understand the electronics of television, he still has a faith enough to turn it on. Natural faith is simply trusting in something or someone you can see, hear, or touch. “Seeing is believing”. Now you don’t need to be a Christian to have this kind of faith. Even atheists have this kind of faith. The other kind of faith, Supernatural faith, comes from God, or is above the natural senses. 

There are three kinds of supernatural faith. The first is “saving faith”. Might i at this point say this: “Faith is simply believing.” Just as you see something, and thus know that you have sight; you believe something; and thus know that you have faith. The bible makes it abundantly clear that without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). Salvation does not come from our good deeds but from our faith in Jesus Christ. Acts 16:31 says, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” The key to Christian faith is not “seeing is believing,” but “believing before seeing.” Although Jesus is not evident to our physical senses, by the Holy Spirit we are able to experience His love and fellowship here and now. The saving faith is a gift of God not something you and i manufacture (Ephesians 2:8-9). This saving faith comes by the proclamation of God’s Word. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Once we have received Jesus, the Scripture says that each Christian has been given “ the measure of faith”.  Romans 12:3 says, “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

NOTE: We all start out with an equal measure of faith, yet some continue to grow in faith and some don’t, but the choice is ours.

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LET THY HEAD LACK NO OINTMENT

MEMORY VERSE: Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. Ecclesiastes 9:8

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 108-110

The bible uses seven symbols to describe the person and work of the Holy Spirit. These symbols show the nature, character and the work of the Holy Spirit. Today, we will talk about the Holy Spirit as oil. The oil serves several purposes. For instance, it helps to keep components in an engine working smoothly together. What the engine oil does in the engine is exactly the same thing the ‘anointing of the Holy Ghost’ does in the life of the believer. In other words, the ‘anointing of the Holy Ghost’ is to the believer what the engine oil is to the engine. Just as it is literally impossible to run an engine without the oil, it is impossible to do God’s work, run a ministry or occupy a ministerial post, without the anointing of the Holy Ghost. As such, whenever God calls people into ministry or gives them an assignment, the first thing He does is anoint them with the Holy Spirit. The ‘anointing of the Holy Spirit’, which is known as the ‘oil’ on a minister’s head makes it easy for the minister to do God’s work or run a ministry. We are able to write this daily devotional because of the ‘oil’ on our head. That sister or brother who led praise and worship in church last Sunday is able to do that because of the oil on their head.

The Engine oil also serves as a lubricant. It lubricates the moving
parts of an engine. It keeps them cool by lowering friction and carrying the heat away. After a while, the heat in the engine causes the oil to become gummy so that it doesn’t lubricate properly again. The longer it is in the engine, the dirtier and drier it gets. If the oil is not changed in time, the engine may develop problems or ‘knock’. Therefore, the engine oil needs to be changed from time to time. The fresh oil lubricates and cools better. The same thing with the ‘oil’ on a minister’s head, it helps him manage the pressures involved in ministry. It helps him bear the heat, pressure and meet the demands of the ministry. However, there is a need for spiritual servicing and the Most High God is the one who does the servicing. In other to start and finish well in ministry, one’s head must never lack oil. Ecclesiastes 9:8 says, “Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment.” In other to run this Christian race, one must ensure that his or her head does not lack oil. As such, one must always visit the holy hill of God regularly to get one’s head oiled. These are some of the few signs that your head may be lacking ‘oil’, firstly sweating. The moment you begin to find the work of God tedious, difficult and unbearable, it is a sign that your head is lacking oil. Another sign you need to watch out for is dryness in the spirit. For instance, you read the bible but you don’t get any revelation or insight. Anytime you lead prayers it is very dry. Your ministry is no longer impacting lives any more. These are some signs that you need oil. Another sign is the lack of ‘flow’. Maybe songs don’t flow as they normal do when you lead praise and worship. Or you observe that preparing sermons is becoming a burden. Ideas and points no longer flows as it used to. It is an indicator that your head is lacking oil. Instead of trying to make it work or forcing it, please return to the holy hill for some fresh oil.

PRAYER POINT: Father, pour your fresh oil upon me.

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HANDLING DIVINE PROJECTS

MEMORY VERSE: When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. John 6:5-6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 25-30

BIBLE READING: John 6:5-13

Psalm 115:16 says, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.” As such, whenever the Lord wants to do anything on the earth He would use man. Take for instance, when He wanted to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt He used Moses (Exodus 3:10). When the spoilers spoiled them, He raised up judges for them. Judges 2:16 says,” Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.” However, there were instances in the past  where He used angels to carry out some tasks on earth. In 2 Kings 19:35-37, He deployed an angel to destroy 185, 000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. I want you to know that this  is an exceptional circumstance, majority of the time He uses human agents. This is one of the reasons why you must be friendly, respectful and humble. You don’t know who God may want to use for you. 

In John 6:5-6, the Lord physically feed 5000 thousand men not counting women and children with a boy’s lunch (five bread and two fishes). This is an example of a God-given assignment/vision/project/work. John 6:5 says, “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” Jesus was saying “I have a project or vision to physically feed these people, how do you think we can go about it?” We learn from this that all God-given vision or project are geared towards solving general human problems or specific human problems. Every task or project Jesus undertook was geared towards meeting human needs. His journey to Gadara was to solve a human problem – deliver a demoniac man (Mark 5:1-19). His coming to earth, another project, was to solve human problem i.e. save man from sin (Matthew 1:21). Every God-given vision or ministry is meant to be an answer or solution to a human need or problem.

Matthew 6:6 says, “And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.” Jesus knew how He would finance His project even before talking to Philip. I don’t know what project the Lord has committed into your hands but i want you to know this, before He committed that project into your hands, He already knew how He will fund the project. He has already set aside resources He would use to complete the project. Before the Lord gave you that child, He had already prepared what the child would eat. Before God called you into ministry, He had already arranged how to finance it and meet the needs that will arise. Whenever you share your God-given vision with people, you can expect people like ‘Philip’ to ask how you intend to finish or complete the project (John 6:7). They want to know if you have the resources to finish the project before you start. People like 'Andrew' will ask if you have enough resources to start in a grand way (John 6:8-9). What did Jesus do? He simply started His project with the little He had. He asked for the little bread, gave thanks to God and gave it to people to share. In other words, He prayed and started the God given project. 

NOTE: Sir/Ma, you don’t need to wait until you have all the resources before you start that God-given project. Pray and start with whatever you have and  trust God to complete the project. 

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