SEVEN THOUSAND PREPARED REPLACEMENTS

MEMORY VERSE: Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.1 Kings 19:18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 91-95, Proverbs 19

We do not know much about Elijah’s background except that he was a Tishbite who resided in Gilead (1 Kings 17:1). One thing we know is that he came from a humble background. The Jews are very proud of their heritage so when they want to write about a great figure e.g. Jesus Christ, they will start with the family genealogy. This is why you see a lot of ‘A’ begat ‘B’, 'B' begat 'C' and 'C' begat 'D', 'E', etc in the bible. If the person is a prophet/prophetess, a king, or some important personality, they will start by mentioning the person’s name followed by the father’s name for men and husband’s name for women. For instance, the bible introduced Elisha the prophet as Elisha the son of Shaphat (1 Kings 19:19) and Deborah the prophetess as Deborah, the prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth (Judges 4:4). Elijah’s father was poor and so insignificant in their community that the author of 1 Kings did not even bother to mention his father’s name. Despite his humble background, he became a man who even the king could not ignore. Despite his not-so-fortunate background, he became a man who God used to start a national revival. At the end of his ministry, God sent a chariot from heaven to bring him home. He was one of two men- the other one is Enoch – who did not die. Friend your background means nothing when God is with you.

Through Elijah’s ministry, we saw the impossible become possible. In 1 Kings 17:11-16, he told a woman who was about to prepare her last meal that her jar of flour shall not spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty and it happened as he said. For many months, without any source of income, the woman fed herself, her son and the prophet without borrowing because her jar of flour was not spent. In 1 Kings 17:17-22, he prayed for a dead boy and he woke up. He was so anointed that he could shut the heaven and there will be no rain for many years (1 Kings 17:1-2). In addition, he could open a shut heaven on his knees (1 Kings 18:46). At the height of his ministry, this prophet began to see himself as indispensable. He began to have an exaggerated view of himself. One day something happened and he told God, “and I, even i only, am left(1 Kings 19:14).” In other words, You (God) are stranded without me (Elijah). The Lord replied and said: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.(1 Kings 19:18)” In other words, I have seven thousand people who i could pick one from to replace you. God had prepared an excess of seven thousand people who He could pick to replace one of the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. If God had seven thousand men who He could pick from to replace Elijah, how many do you think He could pick from today to replace you and i, if we allow pride in our hearts or become too big for Him to carry? Friend, you are not indispensable. You are what you are, where you are because of Him. If the Lord is using you in any capacity, please take it as a very big privilege. I want you to know that He had many people to pick from before giving you an opportunity.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: When we talk of giving to God, many of us think that we are doing God a favor when we give to Him. God can touch the heart of any billionaire to give to Him if He needs money. Besides, He owns the whole world – the gold mines, oil wells, etc. He asks us to give so that He can multiply whatever we give to Him and return it to us.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me never to become too big for you to carry.

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DON’T STRAY AWAY FROM GOD

MEMORY VERSE: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Matthew 23:37

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 86-90, Proverbs 18

BIBLE STUDY: Genesis 34:1-2

The way God protects us, His children, can be compared to how animals protect their babies. I will never forget my experience with a dog that had just given birth. My mum sent me on an errand one early Saturday morning. When i got to her friend’s house, unknown to me her dog had just given birth, i opened the gate and walked in. Immediately her dog saw me, she started to bark and run towards me. (She probably thought i came to steal her puppies). I knew something was not right so i ran for my dear my life and the dog chased me. From that experience, i knew that animals, especially dogs, passionately protect their babies. Matthew 23:37 says: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Jesus compared the way He would have loved to protect Jerusalem to the way a hen protects her chickens under her wings. The mother hen keeps her chickens close to her because she knows that danger menaces them. She is aware that a cold night is a threat to their lives so she keeps them underneath her wings. She provides food, protection, warmth, and nurture.

How Mother hen protects her chickens is similar to how God protects His children. Actually, God does a far better job! The chickens respond to Mother hen’s love by staying close to her. Friend, the only way to respond to God’s love is by staying in His presence. Dinah’s parent did everything any parent could do to protect their daughter. She had everything a young girl could dream of. One day she decided to go out and have fun with the daughters of the land. She left her house, her refuge, God’s presence and strayed into strange territory. Shechem, an unbeliever, a wicked man, caught her and raped her. She had kept her flower to give it to the love of her life – her husband. Shechem, a man without a soul, forcefully took this flower from her. Dinah lost it because she strayed away from where God placed her. Many are beginning to stray away from God and His counsels. Many young men and women are straying away by watching pornography on the internet. Many sisters are beginning to stray away by taking marriage counsel from unbelievers. What do you expect to hear from them? Divorce your husband is all you will hear. Many brothers are beginning to stray away by asking their ungodly friends to show them how to make fast money maybe through fraud or something. Some have already strayed away like Dinah. I believe Dinah must have been straying out of the house to see the daughters of the land for a long time. She must have had one or two friends amongst the Hivites women. You may have strayed away too by committing fornication and adultery. You had better repent before Shechem grabs you. One of the Shechem of our time is STD.

WORD OF THE DAY: What is now sustaining you, out of the presence of God, is the mercy of God and that mercy will not last forever if you seize to return to where God placed you.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please keep me from falling.

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DANGERS OF RESTING BEFORE THE FINISH LINE

MEMORY VERSE: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 11:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 81-85, Proverbs 17

One of the biggest concerns in the body of Christ today is that majority of us are beginning to take our foot off the gas. We no longer pray as we used to. We no longer fast as we used to. We longer witness about Christ to people, especially our colleagues at work and neighbours at home, as we used to. We no longer give as we used to. We now count many spiritual activities as a waste of time. The fervency with which some of us used to serve the Lord is no longer there. Many never used to joke with their quiet time. No matter how tired they are, they will read at least a chapter of the bible daily. Today, many of us cannot remember the last time we read a complete chapter of the bible. When i was younger, i remember that everyone’s New Year goals used to be to read the whole bible in a year. During that time, a man of God read the bible nine times in a year. Today, people no longer set such targets for themselves. It used to be a thing of pride to suffer for Christ or for the gospel. Today, being a child of God is no longer cool. No one wants to be like Jesus anymore. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” In other words, saying the sinner’s prayer is not enough. Being born into a Christian family is not enough. You must be upright to the very end. You must not practice sin. If you fall into sin, you repent right away, ask for forgiveness, and move on. You must run from sin until you go to be with the Lord.

Asides this, there is danger is resting before the finish line. 2 Samuel 11:1 says: “And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” When David was meant to be at the battlefront - leading the armies of Israel to war, defending the nation and conquering new territories - he stayed at home to rest. While he was resting, the enemy caught up with him and set a trap for him. King David woke up from bed and decided to take a stroll around his palace. Whilst strolling, he saw Bathsheba bathing. He saw what he was not meant to see and got into trouble. Before he knew what was happening, he had already fallen into the sin of adultery. This mistake cost him all he had ever worked for even the throne. The man who used to reside in the palace now began live in pits. Friend, the enemy is making more effort than ever to get us to fall into sin. He is doing everything possible for us to make a costly mistake and lose the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is not the time to take your foot off the gas. This is not the time to play with your salvation. This is not the time to stop witnessing. This is not the time to joke with your prayer life. This is not the time to lose your zeal for the things of God. This is not the time to relax. This is not the time to joke with your quiet time.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please revive your church.

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WHO WAS CALLED BARREN

MEMORY VERSE: And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. Luke 1:36

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 71-75, Proverbs 15

Men love to give names to people. They may call one by his unfortunate background e.g. Jephtah the son of a harlot ( Judges 11:1-3).The knew Gilead was the father of Jephtah, yet they called him the son of a harlot simply because his mother was a harlot. They may call one by his problem or predicament e.g. blind Bartimeaus. The bible recorded his name as Bartimeaus Timaeus i.e. Bartimeaus the son of Timeaus ( Mark 10:46). Thousands of years after his healing, people are still calling him blind Bartimeaus. There was a woman called Elisabeth Zacharias, she was the cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Because she had no child and had gone past child bearing, men began to call her barren. Luke 1:46 says: “And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.” Thank God it was people who called her barren not God. It does not matter what names people call you. How the experts described your medical condition is irrelevant. What matters is God’s report. What matters is what God calls you. Men may call you ‘barren’ but God has not called you barren. The Lord said in Exodus 23:26: “there shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.” What men say about you or circumstance is irrelevant. What is relevant is what God says about you. Search the scriptures to see what God says about you or your circumstances. Job 8:7 says: “though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” Men said Walt Disney lacked creativity, some even said he lacked good ideas. God had something different to say about Walt Disney. Experts may have written your case off, God has not written your case off. It is never over until God says so.

Friend, what men say about your spiritual life is irrelevant. There are many who are humble inside the four walls of the church but ‘a tiger’ outsides the four walls of the church. Some only pray in the church, they do not pray at home. What men say about your relationship with God does not matter. To be frank only God can accurately describe your relationship with Him. Only God alone can accurately described our spiritually lives. What men say about your prayer life does not matter. What men say about your giving does not matter. Sadly, what we say about ourselves does not really matter too. 2 Corinthians 10:18 says: “for not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” Men may call you a meek brother, but what does God call you? Men may call you a humble sister, but what does God call you? Samuel called Eliab the Lord’s anointed but the Lord called him a ‘cast away’ (1 Samuel 16:5- 7). Friend, what men say about your attendance does not matter. Many only attend service because they have nothing else to do at home and Champion’s league is not on until the next couple of weeks. What men say about your commitment to the things of God does not matter. You may be doing what you are doing in the vineyard of God because it is convenient. Friend, your service to God must cost you something. Whilst men look at the outward appearance, God looks at the heart. Are you an ordinary giver or a cheerful giver?

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Men changes. Those who shouted ‘Hosanna’ to Jesus were the same person who shouted ‘crucify Him.’ God is constant. He does not change.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, please open my eyes to see myself as You see me.

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WITH THE JAW OF AN ASS HAVE I SLAIN A THOUSAND MEN

MEMORY VERSE: I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Peter 1 – 5

I thought Samson was going to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to God immediately he secured victory over the Philistines. I expected Brother Samson to return home and testify of the Lord’s goodness. What did he do? He started praising himself. He started telling people how he singlehandedly killed a thousand men with an ordinary jaw bone of an ass. Judges 15:16 says: “And Samson said, with the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.” Instead of praising God, Samson began to boast about his great strength. Friend, are you beginning to boast about your strength? Are you beginning to boast about your ability to pray for 3 hours non stop? Are you boasting about your driving skills? Are you boasting about your good handwriting? Are you beginning to boast about your writing skills? Are you beginning to boast about your ability to read and comprehend things easily? 1 Corinthians 4:7 says: “…. What do you have that you do not receive...?”

Friend, have you started sharing God’s glory with Him? When some want to testify after passing their professional exams, they will say, “I thank God for passing my exams, I read and read and read, sometimes I slept in the library…” All they talk about is how they read and read as if those who failed did not read. We know you read for the exam, you did not pass only because you read or because you were brilliant, you passed simply because God showed you favour. Testify about His favour not how you finished the syllabus before the exam. Some parents even do this too. When their wards or children behave well or receives scholarship, they pat themselves on the back and boast about their parenting skills to their friends. Friend, you can make the effort, except God crowns it with success, it will be an effort in futility. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 says: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

Instead of thanking God, Samson began to boast about his good health; how he could jump up and down, how he could dodge blows and all, how he could hit a man at once and the man would drop dead. He boasted to the extent that he threw away the jawbone that brought him victory. Judges 15:17 says: “and it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi.” Friend, I hope you have not cast away that fellow God used to counsel you when you were struggling. I hope you have not destroyed those relationships that brought you where you are now. Those you meet when going up are the same people you will meet when coming down. Samson never thought he was going to need the jawbone again so he threw it away. When he began to thirst, it was the Jawbone he cast away that God brought water from. Shamefully, he had to pick the jawbone and drink from it.

THOUGHT: Watch how you treat people because you may need to go back to them for help in the future.

PRAYER: Father , please send help to all your children all over the world

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

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"AND HE FOUND"

MEMORY VERSE: And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.Judges 15:15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hebrew 13- James 2

BIBLE STUDY: Judges 15:9-16

The Philistines gathered themselves and went up to Judah to capture Samson. At that time, the Philistines ruled over Judah and Samson was a problem to them. When they arrived at Lehi, they instructed the men of Judah to fetch Samson. Three thousand men of Judah went to top of the rock Etam, bound him with two new cords and brought him from rock Etam to Lehi. When the Philistines saw him, they began to dance and rejoice. “Oh, Samson is finished,” they must have thought. They rushed towards him and shouted; fire came from nowhere and consumed the cords that were used to bind Samson. Judges 15:15 says: “And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith.” “And he found …,” implies that Samson was searching for something. Matthew 7:8 says: “….and he that seeketh findeth....”

God was miles ahead of the Philistines (Samson’s enemies). He prepared and strategically positioned a jawbone for Samson, days before the Philistines arrived at Judah. Friend, God has prepared a solution long before that problem started. He has prepared a way out of that unfortunate incident long before it occurred. He had made ready the points you are going to argue with long before the hearing. He has already prepared the tools you will fight that battle with long before the enemy attacked. You can never be stuck in Christ.

Samson searched and found the Jawbone God had prepared to conquer the enemy with. Except you seek the face of God over that challenge, you may not find what He has prepared for you to use. Except you go on your knees and pray you may not find the solution to that problem. Samson was probably looking for a sharp sword or strong bow and arrow to use when he found a jawbone of an ass. God knows the best tools needed to conquer an enemy or a situation. Many of what you consider as likely solutions may not be the right solution. What you are considering as a way out of that problem may not be the way out. After (prayerfully) searching, Samson found his ‘jawbone of an ass’. Your own ‘jawbone of an ass’ could be a bible verse to pray with and confess. In the middle of a particular challenge, several years back, the Holy Spirit laid “Christ in me the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)” in my heart. I began to confess it and pray with it, at the end God gave me victory. Your ‘jawbone of an ass’ could be a song of deliverance. A sister’s shipping container was impounded at a port for no good reason. After praying, the Holy Spirit gave her a song of deliverance. The lyrics of the song was “In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed (Micah 7:11).” She started to sing, twelve hours later, the container that had been impounded for over two months was miraculously released. Your ‘jawbone of an ass’ could be a counsel in the mouth of a friend. The moment you hear the counsel, something inside you will say, "That’s it". Samson used what God provided and became victorious. Friend, use whatever the Lord has provided for that battle and victory will be yours.

NOTE: God has provided sacrificial giving as the ‘jawbone of an ass’ to conquer poverty. He has provided forgiveness as the ‘jawbone of an ass’ to conquer tormentors. Use them and victory will be yours.

PRAYER: Father, as I give sacrificially to your work, prosper me.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

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PRACTITIONERS OF THE WORD

MEMORY VERSE: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James 1:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Hebrew 4- 6

The world is where it is today because a lot of us are hearers of the Word not doers of the Word. Statistics show that the population of Christians in the world today is over 2 billion, which means, 31.0 % of the world population are Christians. Out of this 2 billion, over a million are born again, spirit filled, tongue speaking, Christians. They, the million, have been Christians for over twenty years. They go to church at least ten times a month – two to three times week. In the last twenty years, each of them have listened to nothing less than 2080 sermons. They have heard sermons on Forgiveness, Evangelism, Repentance, Justification, Heaven and Hell, Crowns and Heavenly Rewards, Sowing and Reaping, Holy Spirit, Baptism, etc. If this group of people had done 15 % of what they have heard in sermons, the world would have been a better place. In fact, if this million were committed to winning a soul to Christ each month, within 10 years, more than 75 % per cent of the world would have given their lives to Christ.

Friend, the point i am trying to make is this, most of us only go to church, listen to sermons and make notes, but we do not put to use what we have heard or read. Many of us have heard sermons about praying. We sing Choruses about praying. For example, Prayer is the key x 2, Prayer is the master key, Jesus started with prayer, and ended with prayer, Prayer is the master key. Many of us can preach a full sermon on prayer, yet we do not pray. An average Christian spends only 5 minutes praying to God daily. Most of us only pray on Sundays. Even when we pray, all we ask God to do is kill our enemies – people we are not in talking terms with. If we are not praying to God to kill our enemies, we are asking Him to do A or B. We rarely ask for His will to be done in our lives. Many of us have heard sermons on forgiveness, and yet, some of us are yet to forgive. Some wives are yet to forgive their husband because of a comment he made during their honeymoon in 1982. Some pastors are yet to forgive their workers. They claim to have forgiven the brother, but they are hostile to him. The moment he raises his hands to contribute, the pastor will shut him up and yet the brother has been forgiven. We all know the importance of love, why are some of us still keeping malice. Why is that you cannot stand that sister? Friend, are you a practitioner of the Word? Are you practicing what you are preaching? As the wife of a pastor, you teach women to submit to their husbands, are you submissive? As a marriage counselor, you advise men to “dwell with their wife according to knowledge, giving honour unto their wife” but you give your wife physical counseling. At any slight provocation, you give her a dirty slap. If Christ should slap you, will you live to tell the story? Despite the fact that the Lord says, “Do not be afraid” 365 times in the bible, many of us still live in fear. Some of us are expert worriers. We worry for the sake of worrying. When there is nothing to worry about, we look for something to worry about. Friend, be a practitioner of the Word. Unless we practice what we have heard and read, our situations will not change.

TO DO: Practice casting your ‘cares’ on Jesus.

PRAYER: Father, please help me to be a hearer and doer of the Word.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

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REJOICE, IT IS NOT LOST

MEMORY VERSE: He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 10:39

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Thessalonians 4 – 2 Thessalonians 1

A high ranking military officer once bought a slave boy. This boy was God - fearing, well behaved, reliable, and respectful. Everyone around him – his master, his master’s wife, his master’s children, his master’s friend, other slaves, – loved him. Because of his diligence and integrity, his master put him in charge of his business. One day, his master’s wife invited him to fornicate with her but he refused. Mrs. Potiphar kept on disturbing Joseph but he did not give in. One day, she grabbed Joseph and that one ran away leaving his jacket in her hands. When Mr Potiphar returned, she reported him and Joseph was cast into prison.

Joseph lost all for the sake of righteousness (Genesis 39:6-20). Because he refused to sin against God and fornicate with Mrs. Potiphar he lost everything. There are many like Joseph today who have lost all for the sake of Christ. Sister, have you lost a man, a potential husband, because you wanted to please God? He wanted to engage in sex before marriage but you said no, because of that, he left you for another lady. Have you lost a well-paid job in one of the big banks in the country because you wanted to live a life of holiness? The managing director wanted you to wear short skirts and tight blouse to attract male customers, but you refused and as a result of that he terminated your contract. Brother, have you lost business contracts because you upheld godly standards? Friend, have you lost family and friends because you converted to Christianity? Matthew 10:39 says, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Friend, whatsoever you have lost for the sake of Christ or gospel, you will get them back. Peter said to Jesus:“behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? (Matthew 19:27)”. Jesus assured him that he would receive everything back in hundredfold, and also inherit everlasting life (Matthew 19:29).

Friend, God restored all that Joseph lost as a result of living a life of righteousness (Genesis 41:44-46). Not only that, God gave him more. He went from prison to become a prime minister; from Potiphar's slave to become Pharaoh's father (Genesis 45:8); from a single brother to become a married man with children; from zero to become a national hero. To crown it up, God re-united him with his father and beloved brother, Benjamin. What a wonderful God! I do not know what you have lost for the sake of Christ; I do not know what you have given up for the sake of the gospel; one thing i know is God will restore all back and much more. You may have missed opportunities because you fear God but i want to assure you that better and bigger opportunities are coming your way. David had the opportunity to kill Saul and inherit his throne; he did not because he feared God. Few years later, without fighting or killing anyone, God gave him the throne.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Whatsoever you have lost because of Christ and the gospel is an investment into your future.

PRAYER: Father, help me never to disappoint you.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

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“TAKE HEED WHAT YE HEAR”

MEMORY VERSE: And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. Mark 4:24

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ephesians 2-4

Mark 4:24 says, “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” ‘And he said unto them’ implies that a man spoke to a group of people. Who was the man? According to John 3:2, He is the teacher of teachers. He was a teacher, who Nicodemus, a greater teacher in Israel, John 3:10, called a great teacher. The One who spoke is Jesus Christ, the question is, who was he addressing? The bible says, “Them”. The ‘them’ refers to the disciples of Jesus and every other believer in the world today. What is Jesus saying to us today: “Take heed he what ye hear”.

In other words, watch what you listen to. Friend, not all the songs on the radio are good for you. Most of these songs fill your mind with junks. Majority of these artists are high on hard drugs. What do you expect to hear from the mouth of a fellow who has just finished smoking cannabis? Some of them have written their names in blood and sold their souls to the devil for fame, their lyrics are demonic, they promote lawlessness, living undisciplined life, they encourage sex outside marriage, etc. Friend, be careful what you are hearing because what you hear can increase your faith or kill your faith. I used to believe it is ok to be sick once or twice a year. I used to believe it is impossible to go through a year without taking any drugs until I heard the testimony of man of God who celebrated his 34th year of divine health. That changed my perspective, by the special grace of God, in the last three years I have not taken any drug!

Friend, what you hear today will affect your future. Friend, what are you listening to? Are you listening to people who say all men are the same? Are you listening to people who say there are no good men left; all the good men are married? I hope you are not listening to people who say sisters from a particular area of town do not make good wives? Do you know where your future partner, the bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh, will come from? Friend, I do not want you to have problems. What is important to you is the will of God not where he or she comes from. I hope you are not listening to people who say one cannot serve God properly when one is married. Abraham was married yet he was a friend of God. David was married, yet he was the man after the heart of God. I hope you are not listening to people who say you need to be poor to make heaven. Was Abraham poor? Was David poor? Friend, take heed what you hear. You can be prosperous and still make heaven. You can be prosperous and still live a life of holiness. That illness is curable. There is nothing beyond the power of God.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: What you hear will decide what heights you will reach in life.

PRAYER: Please help me take heed to what i hear.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

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SIBLING RIVALRY: CAUSES AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES.

MEMORY VERSE: and when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. Genesis 37:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Galatians 2-4

Friend, no man is born a giant. The majority of the people you are using as ‘point of contact’ today, started very little. Do not use your beginning as a yardstick to measure your end. Do not use your present situation as a yardstick to measure your tomorrow. Do not be discouraged; continue making efforts, one day it will yield results. Someone once said, “Consistent effort brings luck.”

Where there is sibling rivalry, everyone suffers – the siblings involved, their children, their parents, etc. Not only that, if sibling rivalry is left unchecked, it may affect the work of God. In Numbers 12, Miriam, the first prophetess in Israel, became a leper as a result of sibling rivalry. Also, Moses’ wife, an Ethiopian woman, saw hell in the hands of her sister and brother in law as a result of the rivalry between Moses, Aaron and Miriam. Friend, God is not happy that you are not in talking terms with your siblings. They may have wronged you, please find a place in your heart to forgive them. One of the biggest hindrances to prayer is unforgiveness. Forgive them, not because they deserve it but because Christ forgave your sins and washed you in His blood.

How can we avoid or stem the tide of sibling rivalry in our families? Firstly, treat your children the same. Even If you love one particular one more than the others, do not show it. Due to one reason or the other, you may love one child above others probably because he or she is the child of old age. The bible records: “now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors” (Genesis 37:3). Sibling rivalry did not start amongst the 12 sons of Jacob because he loved Joseph more than the rest. Loving your last born more than your first or second child will not breed sibling rivalry. The rivalry between the twelve sons of Israel started when they began to see that their Father loved Joseph more than them. Genesis 37:4 says,” and when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” The old man loved Joseph and he did not hide it. He made him a coat of many colors in other words he got him a very expensive jacket and got the brothers nothing. Anytime they wanted to go out, Joseph would put on his expensive jacket, others would put on their old tattered jacket. Friend, are you treating your children the same or you buy a brand new coat for John and ignore the rest? When Beatrice speaks, you give her audience but when others speak you shun them. I want you to know that by doing this, you are dividing your family into two.

ACTION: Treat your children the same. Give them equal attention. It will save you a lot of stress when you grow old. Let us remember to pray for parents that God will give them the wisdom to raise their children in a way that will promote love.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

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HIDDEN FOR A PERIOD

MEMORY VERSE: And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.( Matthew 2:13).

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Second Corinthians 4-8

The Lord protects His children in different ways. He can destroy their enemies. In Second Kings 18, Sennacherib, King of Assyria, plotted to take the children of Judah captive. To protect the children of Judah, His children, the Lord sent an angel to kill 185,000 Assyrian army (Second Kings 19:35). When Sennacherib woke up the next morning and saw the dead bodies of his men, he abandoned his plans and returned home with the remaining soldiers. Asides sending an angel, He can cause the enemies of His children to fight each other and destroy themselves. In Second Chronicles 20, the enemies of Judah, the Ammonites, the Moabites and the inhabitants of Mount Seir, fought each other and killed themselves. To protect His children, He can put their dread/fear in the heart of their (potential) enemies. He told Moses: “This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven, who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. (Deuteronomy 2:25)”. To protect His children, He can cause their enemies to live at peace with them. Proverbs 16:7 says, “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”

Better still, He can hide His children from their enemies. For instance, after Elijah, the Tishbite, prophesied against the land of Israel because of their idol worship, the Lord hid him, from the wicked King Ahab, by brook Cherith (First Kings 17:3). When Esau wanted to kill Jacob, his brother, the Lord hid Jacob at Laban's place (Genesis 27). When Herod sought to kill baby Jesus, God hid Him in Egypt. Matthew 2:13 says, “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Friend, is God trying to hide you? If the One who will protect you asks you to hide, you had better hide as commanded. Do not play James Bond with your life. Except God hides you, you will be putting your life at risk trying to hide yourself. Urijah, a man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, tried to hide himself (Jeremiah 26:20-24). His enemy, Jehoiakim the king, sent men to Egypt to fetch him out and kill him. The reason why you keep running from place to place, to hide from household enemy, and yet, they keep getting you is because you are using your wisdom to hide yourself. Friend, why not run to Jesus today. As you sit for those exams, ask the Lord to hide your exam papers from wicked examiners. As you apply for that visa or permit, ask the Lord to hide your application form from racist immigration officers. As you put in your application, maybe for a job or mortgage, ask the Lord to hide your application forms from wicked HR officers and assessment officers. Daily, ask the Lord to hide you from wicked men, bag snatchers, thieves, kidnappers, reckless drivers, people looking for whom to stab or shoot, etc.

NOTE: Except He hides you, no one can hide you.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

LIVING FOR THE MOMENT?

MEMORY VERSE: Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. Hebrews 12:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: First Corinthians 11-13

There are two kinds of people in the world today: those who live for the moment and those who live for the future. Those who live for the moment act hastily. They do things without thinking of the consequences. They talk without thinking. They talk without weighing their words carefully. Whether their words reduce people to tears or not, they do not care. They cannot delay gratification. They are sensual not spiritual. They only think of themselves not others. They are easily angered. They are reckless. Many of them are impulsive shoppers. People who live for the moment find it hard to apologise because they only think of their ego. They are always rude. They are always wicked. Recently, a pastor friend met his ex-boss who was very wicked to him. The ex-boss, now unemployed, could not look into his face. People who live for the moment are impatient. They cannot endure pain at all. They cannot endure pain for an hour. The moment they have a tiny headache, they take painkillers. Friend, too much painkillers leads to painkiller addiction. Why not drink more water. People who live for the moment find it hard to take no for an answer. If you tell them no, they will start to ignore you and treat you as an enemy. Friend, that fellow who could not borrow you 10 dollars today could end up dashing you 100 dollars tomorrow. Why get angry over 10 dollars and loose 100 dollars? Those who live for the moment find it hard to control their body or appetite. They drink, smoke, and humanize.

Many of those who live for the moment end up selling their birthrights for a morsel of bread. One of them was Esau. Hebrew 12:16 says, “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright”. Because Esau lived for the moment, the bible described him as a profane person. Many have exchanged their glorious destiny for five minutes of pleasure because they lived for the moment. They felt like having sex so they went to a brothel where they slept with a strange woman. Many have dropped out of school because one boy in their neighbourhood pestered them to proof their love for him by fornicating with him, without thinking of their future, they agreed, and became pregnant after the affair. A lot of fervent brothers and sisters have lost ministries and gifts of the Holy Spirit because they lived for the moment. A sister, mightily used by God, received an invitation to a program. Whilst she was praying, the Lord warned her not to go. Because she did not want to displease those that invited her, she decided to go and spend ‘only’ ten minutes. Immediately she entered into the building, she felt something leave her body. She lost the gifts of the Holy Spirit. A lot have resigned from their posts, divine assignments, because of a little misunderstanding with their heads or pastors. Unknown to them, they worked out of grace! Friends, do things with God’s plan, for your life, in mind. Do not live for the moment and indulge in exam malpractices. You may pass the exam today; will you pass the job interview in the future? Sister, i hope you have not joined the group of women who wear skimpy clothes and tight dresses. Anyone wearing such is living for the moment. Besides, men who are attracted to you today because of your tight dress and skimpy clothes will leave you for other women in skimpy clothes and tight dresses when your short and skimpy clothes begin to look funny on you because of old age.

PONDER: Are you living for heaven?

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

A RESPONSIBLE FATHER

MEMORY VERSE: Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isaiah 49:15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: First Corinthians 8 -10

God is always on time. He is never late. To you, it may appear as if He is taking forever. It may appear as if He has completely forgotten you. God has not forgotten you and He does not forget His children. He is a responsible Father. He said in Isaiah 49:15, “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.” Even when the bible says, “and God remembered ‘so and so’,” He never forgot ‘so and so’ in the first place. ‘And God remembered’ implies that God had been quiet about ‘a’ matter or ‘a’ person for a brief period not that He forgot the fellow or the matter. Exodus 2:24 says “and God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” Although God did not speak about the covenant for over four hundred years, He had it in His mind. When the children of Israel cried to Him, He decided to take steps regarding the covenant.

Several years ago, an ‘acting’ position, with the possibility of being made permanent after six months, was advertised in my place of work and i applied for it. Whilst praying, the Lord spoke through a pastor that He had given the job to me. I said amen! I went for the interview and was unsuccessful. The first year passed, nothing happened. The second year, nothing happened. Towards the end of the second year, the same ‘acting’ position was re –advertised because those who were acting in the position left the organisation. I could not apply as i was working part time then. Around eight months later, the 'acting' position was re-advertised again, for the third time, because the people acting up in that position were sacked. By this time, i had forgotten what God said three years earlier. Few months later, they decided to make the ‘acting’ position permanent. I applied and was shortlisted for an interview.

During this time, the establishment decided to put a freeze on employment. For the next three years, no staff would be employed into any permanent positions, but there would be secondment opportunities and temporary staffs would be brought in to fill any vacant position. The permanent position, i applied for, would be the last before the three - year freeze kicks in. I prayed and went for the interview. Two months later, the result was announced and i got the job. Friend, i do not know what God has promised you. I do not know what vision or dream he has showed to you. I do not know what He has said, through a man or woman of God, concerning your life, but one thing i know is this: God has not forgotten you and He will do that which He has promised. Friend, in that three years period, i saw horror. To make matters worse, during that period, God never spoke a word, concerning that position, either to encourage me or remind me that He has not forgotten me. Not a single prophesy or dream! The fact that God has not spoken about that matter recently does not mean He has forgotten it. You will not die single. You will not die childless. He will do it, God who said it, will do it.

NOTE: If He says it, He will do it. Remain steadfast and do not backslide.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

ADVANTAGES OF HIS PRESENCE

MEMORY VERSE: and they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. Judges 15:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: First Corinthians 5-7

One of the things you benefit from spending time in God’s presence is fullness of joy. When you spend time with Him, He fills your heart with joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” A lot of us are full of ‘happiness’ not ‘joy’. Happiness comes when something good happens, maybe your wife delivers a set of twins, or you are promoted at work. Joy is that exceeding gladness in your heart regardless of your situation. In the face of serious challenges and problems, you will still be smiling. The only place to get such joy is in the presence of the Lord not in smoking cannabis or consuming alcohol. I remember when i had challenges at work and people were worried because of the ‘so-called’ evidences against me, i told them, “do not worry, i will be back because Christ in me the hope of glory.” I was able to say that because of the joy of the Lord in my heart.

Another thing one benefits from spending time in His presence is unshakable confidence that all will be well. After the Lord gave Samson victory over the philistines, he retired to the top of rock Etam, a natural stronghold, to spend time with His maker (Judges 15:8). When his brethren came to bind him and deliver him into the hands of the Philistines, he did not panic because he knew that all would be well. All he was concerned about was his brethren not attacking him, because if they tried it, he would be left with no other option than to defend himself and that could result in their death. Judges 15:12 says and they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. When you spend quality time in God’s presence, what others see and run, you will see it and smile. The men of Judah saw the Philistines as the alpha and omega; Samson saw them as lunch. The men of Israel saw Goliath as an indomitable giant, but David, a man who had spent quality time praising God, saw him as a little dog (First Samuel 17:43). Do you know, when you spend quality time in His presence, how you perceive your problem changes? What others see and panic, you will see it and smile. What others see and say, “it is over,” you will see it and say, “this is just the beginning”. When you spend quality time in the place of prayer, what others call a challenge; to you it will be an opportunity. What others call threats, you will call it opportunities. When other sees blood during pregnancy, they panic but when you, who have spent quality time with our Father in heaven, see blood, you smile because you know it is the blood of Jesus not that you have had a miscarriage. A sister who recently put to bed testified how, every time she saw blood, she would confess that it was the blood of Jesus. This happened several times during her pregnancy. At the end, she gave birth to a baby girl.

NOTE: For you to spend time in His presence, you need to bring down His presence first through praises and worship. Psalm 22:3 says, “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.”  Bring down His presence into that hospital ward by praising Him.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.       

IF GOD ALLOWS IT, THEN IT IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD

MEMORY VERSE: Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. First Samuel 17:36

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 21-23

There is no coincidence in God. Nothing happens by chance or without reason. Nothing, and again i repeat, nothing happens in this world without God’s knowledge. According to Isaiah 46:10, long before something happens, He knows it. The cause of many problems is sin. The Lord said in Jeremiah 5:25: “your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.” Bribery and corruption withholds good things from us. When terrible thing happens, and we call the Lord, and He refuses to act, according to Isaiah 59:1-2, it is because of our sins. Our sins cause Him to hide His face from us and not hear our cries. Sin causes separation between God and us. What is separating some us from God is fornication and adultery. For some, it is pornography and masturbation. God does not like that separation, and that separation will not benefit you either, this is why the Lord is saying this morning, repent, turn to Me and I will turn to you ( Zechariah 1:3).

However, if you are serving God in spirit and truth, and God allows some challenges in your life, i want you to know it is for your own good. The Lord intentionally permit some things on our way, either to reveal the hidden faults in our life, to build us up for a glorious future, to promote us, to display His power, to break us so that the beautiful things inside us can flow out or to keep us from trouble. In Daniel 3, the Lord permitted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be cast into fire because He wanted to firstly, display His power and secondly, promote them. Friend, the Lord may have permitted that challenges you are facing in your relationship, marriage, ministry, place of work, or business, to display His power and to promote you. Before problem, Peter said to Jesus, “even if i must die with you, i would not deny you” (Matthew 26:35). When the slave girl confronted him, he denied Jesus: the hidden fault was revealed. I thought i was a loving person until some people cooked up some stories and got me suspended. I found myself asking the Lord to strike them down. It was until then i discovered that the love of Christ was yet to be fully shed abroad in my heart. Thank God, i discovered that and went back to the prayer room. Wait until things do not go the way of some sisters, it is then you discover that they are not humble. Wait until someone mistakenly steps on some brother’s toes, it is then you discover that the brother is a thug. Friend, God may have permitted those circumstances to reveal the hidden faults, grudges, and wrong motives in your life.

The Lord permitted a lion and a bear to attack the flock, David was looking after, to train, and get him ready for the ‘Goliath’ that will appear in the future. No wonder when the king said he was incapable, he told him,” Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God”  (First Samuel 17:36). Friend, what you are facing may be some sort of training clutch for your future challenges. Anyone with great destiny must be ready for great challenges. The Lord may have allowed the present challenges to train your hands to war and your finger for battle. He knows the problem will not finish you, that is why He allowed it.

PONDER: Has the Lord revealed any weakness in your life recently? Do not hide it; instead, ask Him to help you overcome that weakness.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.