STIRRING UP THE GIFT OF GOD

MEMORY VERSE: Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.2 Timothy 1:6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 23-25

Paul, in his second epistle to his son-in-the-Lord, Timothy, said, “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.” There are several lessons we can learn from this verse. Firstly, the gifts of God can be transferred through the laying of hands. Acts 8:17 says: “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” Acts 19:6 says: “And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” The laying of hands involves the senior laying hands on the junior or someone higher in the spirit laying hands on his son-in-the-Lord or daughter-in-the-Lord or younger in the Lord. For instance, a senior pastor can lay hands on a worker or a junior pastor. However, there is a caveat associated with this. Just as one can transfer the gift of God through the laying of hands, one can also transfer evil spirits through the laying of hands. Just as laying-of-hands can change your life drastically for good; if the wrong person or an evil person lays hands on you, it may turn your life upside down. Not only that, just as something good can be taken out of your life through the laying of hands, something good can also be removed from your life through the laying of hands. Make sure you know who is laying hands on your head or your children’s head. The reason is that they will transfer whatever spirit inside them into you or your child.

Secondly, the gift of God, in you, needs to be stirred up if you want to realise its full potential. 2 Timothy 1:6 says: “Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God ...” To stir up something simply means to fan something. If there is a need to stir / fan the gift of God, it automatically means that the gift of God can lie dormant in a man. It means one’s fire can grow dim due to certain reasons. It means the potency of the gift of God lies in its stirring up. For the gift of God to grow, it has to be fanned or stirred up. Thirdly, it is your responsibility to stir up the gift of God inside you. Each of us started with the same level of faith at salvation or we all received a measure of faith. The question is this, how come some have the faith to move mountains and others don’t? This brings us to the question: how can I stir up the gift of God in my life? Firstly, by reading – reading the Bible, reading books written by anointed men and women of God. The moment I gave my life, i began to yearn to hear the audible voice of God. I prayed and prayed and prayed until I heard a man of God talk about reading the bible and hearing the voice of God; that message changed my life. One way to stir up the gift of God in your life is by studying your Bible. One of the major reasons why we are seeing less and less of the demonstration of God in our midst is because most of us don’t read our Bibles. There is a blessing attached to bible studies. Revelations 1:3 says: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” As you feed your spirit with the word of God, your faith automatically grows. By reading books written by anointing men of God, you understand how some gifts of the Holy Spirit operate in a man’s life. Reading books written by anointed men of God will help your spiritual growth but it should not replace your Bible. You can stir up the gift of God by regular prayers. Lastly, you can stir up the gift of God through frequent exercise of them.

ACTION: Draw out a Bible reading plan and follow it. Also, seek for opportunities to exercise your spiritual gift.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

“ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST”

MEMORY VERSE: But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Ephesians 4:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 25

I will like to share something a brother sent to me. “If you leave a man with a vision and follow a man with a television you will soon be watching a man with a vision on your man's television.” Dear single sister, don’t marry a man because of what you can see now. Don’t marry a man because of his bank balance or what he owns today. Do you know the source of his wealth? Remember, wealth gotten by vanity or by fraud will dwindle away (Proverbs 13:11). Even if you know the source of his wealth, do you know tomorrow? According to Proverbs 23:5, riches do develop wings and fly away. If you marry a brother because of the big car he drives today or because of his wealth, and his wealth disappears what will you do? The fact that a brother is struggling today does not mean he will struggle forever especially if he is a genuine child of God. Let God guide you when it comes to the choice of who to marry and also listen to godly counsels. It will be well with you.

Ephesians 4:7 says, “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Firstly, every one of us, Christians, is in receipt of grace (God’s unmerited favour). I have been given God’s grace, and you have been given God’s grace. This grace is defined as “the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit.” Secondly, this grace is given to every one of us according to the measure of the gift of Christ. In other words, we were not given equal amount of grace. Or, some were given more grace than the others. The grace given to me is different from the grace that was given to you. The level of grace i carry is different from the level of grace you carry. Who decides the level of grace each man receives? Jesus Christ. This decision was made even before the world began. 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” We were given this grace in a measure suited to His good purposes for us and for the body of Christ.

Although we were all given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ, none of us knows the amount of grace we received from Christ. I don’t know the amount of grace i received, you also don’t know the amount of grace you received. As such, you and i must never compare ourselves to anyone. The fellow you are comparing yourself with may carry a lesser grace than you. Maybe you have the grace to release twenty gospel albums and you are comparing yourself with someone who has the grace for only three albums. This is also why you must run your Christian race individually. This is why you must never serve God the way your friends are serving God or the way people around you are serving God. This is why you must never give to God the way your friends are giving to God. The grace we carry varies. As such, always strive to give your best to God. Recently, a brother stepped out and began to witness for Jesus. In 24 hours, he led two souls to Christ. Encouraged with the results, he began to witness to more people. Had this brother decided to keep quiet like most do, he would not have discovered that he was called to be an evangelist.

PRAYER: Father, please help me to maximize Your grace upon my life.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

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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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

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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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

GIFTS OF HEALING

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: 2 Timothy 1-3

BIBLE READING: 1 Corinthians 12:7-10

It is important that you and i learn about the gifts of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:1 says, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.” It is important that you and i know that they - gifts of the Holy Spirit - are not earned i.e. they are not a reward for good behavior. However, if we want the Holy Spirit to manifest His gifts through us, we must be yielded to Him and that involves presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God ( Romans 12:1). Today, as the Holy Spirit helps, we will talk about the gifts of Healing. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are divided into three: Inspirational or Fellowship Gifts, Gifts of Power and the Gifts of Revelation. The Gifts of power are healing, miracles, and faith.

The gifts of healing are for the supernatural curing of injuries, handicaps, and diseases without the aid of natural means or human skills. They are manifestations of the Holy Spirit working through compassionate human channels to the person in need. Those who are used as channels of God’s healing should not claim to have the gifts of healing, nor claim to be healers. Rather, they should realize that any of the nine gifts could be manifested through them as the Holy Spirit moves to meet needs around them. There is a real interdependence between God and man in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In other words, man has a part to play and God has a part play . As we play our part, He will play His part. According to 1 Corinthians 3:9, we are laborers together with God. In the case of healing, God guides us on how to go about it, and uses our work, but He is the Healer. Mark 16:20 says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.”

A Christian does not have to have the baptism with the Holy Spirit in order to pray for the sick, nor is the fact that a person has prayed for the sick a sign that he or she has received the baptism with the Holy Spirit. Mark 16:17-18 says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Any believer can pray for the sick and see them healed by the power of Jesus. However, it is after the baptism in the Holy Spirit that increased faith for healing comes, and the Christian begins to minister to the sick. Like the other gifts, healing seems to be released with a far greater intensity and reality after the receiving of the Holy Spirit.

NOTE: If you are moved to pray for a sick person, do so. Don’t worry about whether the person will get healed immediately or not. Some healing are progressive whilst others are instant. The lepers were not cleansed immediately Jesus prayed for them, but as they went they were cleansed. Luke 17:14 says, “And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”

PRAYER POINT: Father, please use me to heal the sick.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

A MAN AFTER THE HEART OF GOD

Acts 13:22 – and when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.

When God wants to show how much He loves a man , He does not do it in the private but public . When He wanted to show Satan how much He loves you, He offered
Jesus on the cross of Calvary publicly for your sins. When He wanted to show the enemies of David how much He loved him ,He prepared a table publicly in the presence of the enemies of David and began to feed him, Psalm 23:5. He did not only do that, He publicly declared “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart”, Acts 13:22. The question is what did David do to earn such a testimony from God? What did this king do to win the heart of the Almighty ?

What kind of man was David ? David was a man who loved God passionately. He loved to spend time in the presence of God. When it was time to go to the house of God , David would start rejoicing , Psalm 122 :1. He loved God to the extent that his heart began to long for God. David had a thirst for God that nothing in this world could quench. He compared his longing for God to a deer panting for the water brooks, Psalms 42:1 . Also David was a worshiper. No man could beat David when it it comes to praising God . When it was time for praise and worship, King David would dance with all his might ,2 Samuel 6:14. He was not ashamed to dance for God in public or in the presence of important dignitaries like some of us.When we talk of important dignitaries , who is more important than God anyway !. David never cared about who was looking, he would dance and jump to the extent that he was almost naked. While everyone restricted worshiping God to only Sundays , David worshiped God seven times daily , Psalm 119:164 . Another quality David had was he was a giver. When it was time to give to God , David would give until it hurts. He needed a field to offer burnt offerings to God so he approached Araunah. The fellow wanted to give the field to David for free ,but he refused . He said "no , i insist on paying the full price, for i will not take for the Lord what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing". Do you know how much David gave towards the building of the temple ? One hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver , bronze and iron beyond measure,timber and stone,1 Chronicles 22:14. He also gave three thousand talents of gold, and seven thousand talents of silver to overlay the walls , 1 Chronicles 29:3-4. Experts have valued what he gave in present day currency to be at least fifty-six billion dollars ( $56,000,000,000) ! Do you think God will not at least say thank you to such a man who gave to Him until it hurts ?Proverbs 8:17 says I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me will find Me. We want to become the man and woman after the heart of God ? We need to first love God and begin to long for Him. We need to learn how to worship Him. We need to be generous to Him.If you love God , He will love you back.

PRAYER POINT: Father , thank you for opening my eyes today , I will love you , praise you and give to you , Please love me in return.