WHO YOU ARE VS WHO YOU CAN BECOME

MEMORY VERSE: The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.1 John 4:8

Who you are (today) is not who you really are. You are who you are because of how you were raised, the area you grew up, the schools you attended, your current environment i.e. where you live, where you work, the church you go to if you a Christian, your circle of friends, to mention a few. You would have been a different person if you were raised differently, attended different schools, and are in a different environment. Your view of life will be different, your accent could be different, the language you speak will be different, how you pronounce certain words will be different, how you react to situations will be different, your religion could be different, to mention a few.

As you have seen, who you are right now is not who you really are. You can become a totally different person with the help of the Holy Spirit and your determination. You can become a better version of you. For instance, let us look at Apostle John, one of the disciples of Jesus Christ. Jesus named him and his brother (James) the son of thunder because of their thunder-like qualities. The author of Luke recorded an incident where they displayed their thunder-like quality. Jesus and His disciples were traveling through the village of the Samaritans on their way to Jerusalem, and the Samarians did not receive Him. The brothers out of anger approached Jesus for permission to call down fire from heaven to destroy the village (Luke 9:52-52). Jesus rebuked them sharply.  Through determination and working on themselves, they changed themselves. Today, we refer to John as an apostle of love because of the book of 1 John, 2 John and 3 John.

You too through hard work and determination can become a better version of yourself. The fact that you do not know how to cook today does not mean you were created not to know how to cook. You can work on yourself and learn how to cook and become the best cook in the world. You too can work on yourself to develop all those good qualities you see in people. The fact that you do not know how to do something does not mean you were created not to know how to do that thing. It will not be easy; it will not be achieved overnight. However, it is doable through the power of Holy Spirit and a rugged determination to become a better version of yourself.

Remember: All things are possible to him that believes.

Samuel Oluwatoki

ARE ALL RESULTS FROM GOD?

MEMORY VERSE: Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank. Numbers 20:11

BIBLE STUDIES: Numbers 20:8-11

If you are a true child of God, sooner or later the people around you will see the proof in your life. For instance, the sick will recover when you pray for them (Mark 16:17-20). Not only that, demons will obey when you command them to leave. As you work or study diligently, results will begin to flow in – you get good grades, good jobs, promotions, etc. As you work very hard, He will begin to show you ideas on how to solve problems. And as you solve problems, you become wealthy. Remember, the world richest men and women made their billions by solving problems.

Results alone are not proofs of a man or woman’s walk with God. Many of us naively believe that results are a proof of divine favour. Many of us do not believe that one can get results without God. You can definitely get results without God but the end will be terrible. An instance that comes to mind is that of Moses in Numbers 20:8-11. Even though God told him to speak to the mountain so that the rock will bring out water, He struck the rock twice and water gushed out. Although he produced results, he did it the wrong way and was severely punished for it. He did not enter the Promise Land.

NOTE: The point I am trying to make is this: don’t use results e.g. signs and wonders, prophecy, promotion, wealth, big ministry, big crowd, church building, connection, etc., as a yardstick to measure a man or woman’s walk with God. A man or woman can be as far as possible from God and still produce all these results. Don’t use results as a way to check if something is right or wrong. You could do the wrong thing and get what appears to be the right results. The only yardstick is godly principles based on the truth.

Samuel Oluwatoki.

THE POWER OF ASKING

MEMORY VERSE: Ask, and it will be given to you; [b]seek, and you will find; [c]knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 7:7-9

There is power in asking (for help, questions, etc). Our chances of receiving things from God e.g. blessings, help, spiritual gifts, answers to questions, divine guidance, deliverance, etc., increases when we ask Him. Matthew 7:7 says: “Ask, and it will be given to you….” Had the blind man in Luke 18:38-43 not asked our Lord Jesus Christ to restore his sight, the man would probably have spent the rest of his life in darkness.

Our chances of receiving things from people e.g. help, answers to questions, directions, etc., increases when we ask them. Regardless of how prayerful you are as a man, you can miss out on a good woman if you don’t ask her to marry you.

Our chances of increasing our reservoir of knowledge increases when we ask questions. In addition, our chances of improving our quality of life increases by asking the right questions. You can start by asking yourself some critical questions e.g. why do I do what I do? Why do I dress the way I dress? Why do I speak the way I speak? Why do I have the friends I have? What I am about to do, will it add value to my life? What I am about to do, will it move me closer to the purpose of God for my life and my goal? Am i getting closer to my goals ? Am I making the best use of my time? Is this relationship pushing me closer to God and my goals or further away? Am I spending my hard earned resources on things that matter? I spend time praying, do I spend enough time to develop the right skills to achieve my goals? The people advising me, do they have my best interest at heart? The people advising me, will they give the same advise they are giving to me to their partners or their children? The people advising me, have they proven themselves to me that they care about me? Am i spending my time helping others fulfil to their goals and purpose in life while my goals and purpose suffer?

NOTE: Questions can reveal motives and agendas. Question improves knowledge. One question you must always ask yourself is why I am doing what I am doing.

Samuel Oluwatoki

READING YOUR BIBLE 2?

MEMORY VERSE: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Nehemiah 3-8

Friend, your faith will be tried. Also, your professed love for Christ will be tested. A faith that is not tested is not real neither is an un-tested love. Persevere when you face trials because you will receive a blessing from God for your perseverance. James 1:12 says: “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” Some of the things people do when their faith is tried are they stop loving the Lord, reading their Bibles, listening to tapes by anointed men of God, and so on. Some even deny Christ and compromise. Don't do any of these things mentioned because it will not help during a trial of faith. Whatever you are facing, God will deliver you. Persevere because God will bless you for persevering.

Ina addition, put your trust in God when you face trials. Trust Him to deliver you. Trust Him to keep His words. He has promised never to leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6). You get a blessing from the Lord for putting your trust in Him. Jeremiah 17:7 says: “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego received a blessing from the Lord when they put their trust in Him (Daniel 3:1-end). Verse 30 says: “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.”

NOTE: One of the enemies of perseverance is the wrong belief that life should be easy.

Samuel Oluwatoki

READING YOUR BIBLE?

MEMORY VERSE: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

 

As Christians, we receive blessings from God when we do certain things e.g. read the Bible. Revelations 1:3 says: "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." You get a blessing from God every time you read your Bible or listen to it being read. A sister received a news about someone, and she became sad. Whilst thinking about the news she had just received, the Holy Spirit ministered to her to read her Bible. Whilst reading her Bible, a verse leaped up at her. Immediately, she felt peace in her heart. She shared the verse with the fellow who gave her the news and that one shared it with the person something happened to. Within three days, God took control and the matter was resolved.

 

Also, you receive a blessing when you meditate on the Scripture. Psalm 1:1-2 says: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. Instead, his delight is in the LORD's instruction, and he meditates on it day and night." A Christian mathematician tried to solve a maths question unsuccessfully. Whilst meditating on the crossing of the Red Sea, how God parted the Sea into two, the Lord ministered to him to divide the problem into two parts and solve each part. He did and got the answer.

 

QUESTION: How often do you read your Bible? How often do you meditate on Scriptures?

 

ACTION: Make it a point of duty to read and meditate on Scriptures daily.

 

Bro Samuel Oluwatoki.

A HEART AFTER GOD II

MEMORY VERSE: ‘And when he had removed him, he
raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Acts 13:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 3-8

What qualified David to be king of Israel was not his military experience, his family background, his educational background, his years of service in the palace, or a special competency. What qualified him was the state and inclination of his heart. Acts 13:22 says: "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will." There are some blessings that your academic qualifications, beauty, physical stature, money, experience, and achievements will not be enough to get for you- it will require a heart that is after God.

Before God, the state of your heart is more important that the state of your mind and hands. An educated mind and well-trained hands without a heart that desires after God, the things of God and building of character is nothing. As you educate your mind, acquire skills, build relationships with people, and spend even more time with God, desiring Him, knowing Him, and building Christ-like character. When you give God your heart, He will give you what man cannot give to you and qualify you for what man will not qualify you for. There are some things your educated mind and skilful hands will never get for you; it will take a heart that is leaned towards God, a heart of integrity, and character.

PRAYER POINT: Create in me a clean and pure heart.

Bro Samuel Oluwatoki

A HEART AFTER GOD

MEMORY VERSE: But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 1-3

Acts 13:22 says: ‘And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.’ ‘I have found' implies that a search had already taken place; and, David was the product.

What qualified David to be the king of Israel was not his military experience. Saul said to David when he volunteered to fight Goliath, ‘Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth (1 Samuel 17:33)’. In other words, you lack military experience. What qualified David to be the king of Israel was not his (family) background. Bible scholars told us that David was a product of fornication. David (himself) confessed and said, ‘Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5)’. It was definitely not his educational background or his years of service in the palace or a special competency. What qualified him was the state and inclination of his heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says: '...the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.'

QUESTION: What is the state of your heart? Is your heart after God or things?

Bro Samuel Oluwatoki

A CHRISTIAN REBEL?

MEMORY VERSE: And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Luke 6:46

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 26-30

Who is a lord? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a lord is one who has power and authority over others. An example of a lord is a ‘landlord’. Jesus is Lord (Romans 10:9). Isaiah 9:6 says: ‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.’ Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, ‘all power is given to Me in heaven and earth.’ Jesus is not only the Lord; He is the Lord of lords. All other lords bow down to Him. Revelations 19:16 says: ‘ And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’

Jesus must be obeyed because He is the Lord. Luke 6:46 says: ‘And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?’ Anyone who does not accept the lordship of Jesus is a rebel. Any intelligent person who does not accept the lordship of Jesus is an intelligent rebel. So also, a rich person who does not accept the lordship of Jesus is a rich rebel. We reject the lordship of Jesus when we disobey Him. Therefore, anyone who deliberately disobeys Jesus is indirectly rejecting His lordship, and such a person is a rebel. When a Christian deliberately or knowingly disobeys Christ, such a Christian is a Christian rebel.

QUESTION? Are you a Christian rebel? In what ways are you disobeying Christ? Which of the Ten Commandments do you struggle with? Ask the Lord to help you today.

 Samuel Oluwatoki

USELESS UNLESS DOMESTICATED

MEMORY VERSE: Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.Matthew 21:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 21-25

Domestication is the process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use. Domestic species are raised for food, work, clothing, medicine, and many other uses. Domesticated plants and animals must be raised and cared for by humans. Domesticated species are not wild (National Geography Society).

Below are some characteristics of a wild donkey (Job 39:5-8). It is free (verse 5). It does what it pleases when it pleases and where it pleases. It resides in the wilderness (verses 6). It is independent i.e. it belongs to no-one and is responsible to no-one (verse 7). Wild animals are unwilling to serve (verse 9). They are not teachable (verse 10). They are cannot be trusted (verse 11) and are unreliable (verse 12). A wild donkey is full of potentials. It can be used to cart things over a great distance. It can become a great guardian to herds of cattle, goats, and sheep. It can offer companionship to other animals. It can also be used to nanny other animals. A wild donkey has to be domesticated before it can realize its God-given potentials. A man has to be domesticated i.e. discipled/mentored before he can realize his God-given potentials.

NOTE: You must take the yoke of Christ if you want God to use you for His glory. Also, you must be humble and be ready to be discipled/mentored.

Bro Samuel Oluwatoki