LEARN TO BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

BIBLE VERSE: God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Genesis 1:39

It is important that you learn to believe in yourself. People tend to believe in individuals who believe in themselves. They support, promote, do business with, want to be served by, give opportunities to, want to be treated by, invest in the vision of, buy products from, learn from individuals or organization who believe in themselves. You wouldn't want to be treated by a doctor who does not believe in himself or herself.

All around us are products of individuals who believed in themselves. These people believed in themselves, worked hard, and God crowned their efforts with success. The founders of Facebook, Microsoft, iPhone, etc., wouldn't have been able to achieve what they achieved if they hadn't believed in themselves.

Believe in yourself. According to Genesis 1, God is the perfect Creator. Many of us are not where God wants us to be not because of demons but because we don't believe in ourselves. You are full of wonders. You are wonderfully and fearfully created by God. You are loaded with abilities far beyond your imagination. You are not hopeless or worthless. There is a lot of good things in you.

Samuel Oluwatoki

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.

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 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

KNOWING JESUS IV

MEMORY VERSE: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Ephesians 1:17

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 15-20

In Luke 24:13-21, two disciples of Jesus, whilst on their way to Emmaus, talking about the death of Jesus and the news of His resurrection, were joined by Jesus and they couldn’t recognise Him. Luke 24:15 says: ‘And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.’ I wonder if we can blame these disciples for not recognising Him. When in the 31st verse their eyes were opened, they recognised Him.

There are one or two lessons we can learn from this story. Firstly, a personal revelation of who Jesus is and all that He is comes from God alone. Matthew 16:15-17 says: ‘He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.’ Secondly, knowing Jesus does not come through simply reading the Bible. It comes through prayer and the spirit of wisdom and revelation. No wonder Paul the Apostle prayed: ‘That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (Ephesians 1:17).’ Friend, you can be a Christian but lack the spirit of wisdom and revelation and therefore not know the fullness of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation that I may know all about Jesus.

Bro Samuel Oluwatoki

KNOWING JESUS II

MEMORY VERSE: When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? Matthew 16:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 9-12

Why is it important to know who Jesus is? How you see Jesus will determine what He will do for you and through you. Jesus asked His disciples, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? ( Matthew 16:13-20).’ Some said, ‘a great teacher, prophet,….’ If you see Him as one of the prophets only, you will not be able to taste of His salvation. If you see Him as your saviour only, so will He be to you.

Jesus first asked His disciples what the people thought about Him. After that, He then asked what they thought about Him. You see, your personal revelation of Jesus is more important than what people say or think about Him. Your personal revelation of Jesus attracts a blessing. Matthew 16:15 says: ‘He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.’ The more you know about Jesus, the more blessed you will be. Also, your personal revelation of Jesus brings about elevation. Peter was elevated after he caught this revelation of Jesus because there is elevation in revelation.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I pray that I will grow in my personal relationship with you through knowledge.

Bro Samuel Oluwatoki

KNOWING JESUS

MEMORY VERSE: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Philippians 3:10

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 25-29

After the death of Jesus, two disciples were on their way to a village known as Emmaus and were talking about the death of Jesus and the news about His resurrection. Jesus joined them and talked with them on the seven miles journey but we are told ‘they were kept from recognizing him (Luke 24:16).’ These men talked about Jesus and then walked and talked with Him but they did not know it was Him. They knew Jesus and believed Him; yet, they could not recognize Him.

There are different levels of revelation about Jesus. There are four categories of people in this regard. Category one: Those who are yet to hear about Jesus. Whether you believe it or not, there are people who have never heard about Jesus. These people don’t know anything about Jesus. We need to go into the world, leave our comfort zones and witness to them. Category two: Those who have heard about Jesus. These people have heard about Jesus through Bible stories, their parents, a friend, media, etc., but they have not accepted Jesus Christ so they don’t have a personal relationship with Him. They don’t really believe in Jesus and have not encountered Him. We need to continue to witness to them and pray for the salvation of their souls. Category three: Those who know and believe in Jesus. This group refers to those who have gone beyond hearing about Him to believe in Him; therefore, they have had a personal encounter with Him. A personal encounter with Him is not enough. Category four: Those who have a deep revelation of Him; as such, they can recognize Him at any time and anywhere. They can identify when He is present, when He speaks, His likes and dislikes. They understand why He came and what they stand to gain from His coming. Philippians 3:10 says: ‘That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.'

PRAYER POINT: Father, please open my eyes that I may recognize Jesus and His presence in every area of my life.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

THE BLESSING IN REVELATION

MEMORY VERSE: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. Ephesians 1:18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 21-24

What is a revelation? When something hidden is revealed, we call it a revelation. There are few things you need to know about revelation. Firstly, revelation can bring about (spiritual) blessings. Jesus asked His disciples, in Matthew 16:13-20, ‘Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?’ Verse 16 -19 says: ‘And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, BLESSED ART THOU, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’

Revelation can bring about financial blessings. In Genesis 31:10 -12, Jacob had a particular dream, a revelation, on how to breed livestock. Jacob did what he was shown in the revelation and became a very prosperous man. A story that comes to mind is that of a man called George Washington Carver. The Lord revealed one hundred (100) uses of peanut to him. That revelation changed his life. Revelation can bring about elevation. In Revelations 2, Nebuchadnezzar forgot a dream he had. As no one could interpret the dream, he decided to kill all the wise men in the land. The Lord gave Daniel a revelation of the dream and its interpretation. On interpreting the dream, King Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel. Daniel 2:48 says: ‘Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.’ One of the keys to receiving revelations from God is praying.

PRAYER POINTS: (Ephesians 1:18 says: ‘The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.’) Father, please let the eyes of my understanding be enlightened.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

TO HATE IS TO LOVE

MEMORY VERSE: Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Psalm 45:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 21-24

What is the ‘oil of gladness’? To be glad is to be joyful, cheerful, delightful, or content. Oil is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. The ‘oil of gladness’ or better put the ‘oil that gladdens’ is the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 says: ‘For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.’ Another synonym for the ‘oil of gladness’ is the ‘oil of joy ( Isaiah 61:13).’

There are one or two things you need to know about the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Firstly, it comes in a measure. We know it comes in a measure because Jesus had it without measure. John 3:34 says: ‘For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.’ Elijah, on the other hand, had it in a measure. We know Elijah had it in a measure because Elisha, his servant, asked for the double portion of his anointing (2 Kings 2:9) and received it. One of the many advantages of the anointing of the Holy Spirit is that it turns a man into a problem solver. In the conventional world, you are paid according to the problems you are able to solve. For instance, a medical doctor earns times four of what a cleaning operative earns (and no disrespect to any cleaner as I used to be one before God helped me) because of the level of problems the medical doctor is able to solve which the cleaning operatives simply cannot solve. Jesus, the Man that had the Spirit without measure, solved the problem of the world; also, He received the biggest pay. Philippians 2:9 says: ‘Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.’ Every child of God has been anointed with the Holy Spirit- some more than the others. The key to increasing the anointing of the Holy Spirit upon your life is to love what God loves and hate what He hates. Psalm 45:7 says: ‘Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.’

NOTE: Good and bad are two opposite things; also, righteousness and wickedness. To love righteousness simply means to hate wickedness and vice versa.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

GOLIATH FELL II

MEMORY VERSE: And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.1 Samuel 17:43

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 13-16

In 1 Samuel 17 is the story of how Goliath was defeated. Knowing how and why he was defeated is important. One of the reasons why Goliath was defeated was because he underestimated his opponent (David). It is impossible to adequately prepare for an enemy one underestimates. 1 Samuel 17:43 says: ‘And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.’ Goliath thought David was a weak young boy; unknown to him, David was a lion and a bear killer (1 Samuel 17:37). Goliath was fooled by David's appearance and stature. Before Goliath knew what was happening, he was on the floor lying unconscious.

You cannot defeat an enemy you underestimate because you will be under-prepared. Many have been defeated because they underestimated the enemy, Satan. Satan is not a fool. He is wiser than you think. He is also very sly and cunning. If care is not taken, he can catch one unawares. As such, you must run from sin and continually live a life that is pleasing to God. Don’t underestimate the power of confessions. Proverbs 18:21 says: ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.’ Your confession can make or mar you. The wrong confessions can bring you pains, losses, untold sufferings, even untimely death. A story that comes to mind is that of a man who always referred to the small growth on his face as cancer. To him, it was only a joke; also, to everyone it was a joke. One day, he had cancer (for real) and died. Don’t underestimate the power of the things you listen to. Firstly, they inform your confessions. Luke 6:45 says: ‘A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.’ Secondly, they inspire faith or fear in you. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17); also, fear comes by hearing. Don’t underestimate the power of relationships. The right ones can draw you closer to God and the wrong ones, far away from God. The right one can bring you up and the wrong one can bring you down.

CONFESSION: I shall not be defeated.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

GOLIATH FELL

MEMORY VERSE: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? Deuteronomy 32:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 9-12

In 1 Samuel 17 is the story of how David defeated Goliath. In these series, I will be sharing what led to Goliath’s defeat, the mistakes he made, and how you can avoid making the same mistakes. Firstly, Goliath was defeated because his rock failed him. Deuteronomy 32:30 says: ‘How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?’ Goliath’s rock was his gods. No wonder, he cursed David by them ( See 1 Samuel 17:43). The rock of David, on the other hand, was the Lord Almighty. Psalm 18:2 says: ‘The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.’ Any rock aside Christ will fail you when you need it most. Jesus never fails. Your wealth can fail you because it can develop wings and fly away (See Proverbs 23:5). Your connections can fail you because as humans we are limited. Naaman was well connected but his connections could not bring him his much-needed healing.

The Philistines were defeated because they put their trust in Goliath. 1 Samuel 17:8-10 says: 'And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.’ If you have been defeated because your rock (ideas, power, wealth, connection, degrees, etc) failed you, all hope is not lost. What you simply need to do is make Jesus your rock. To make Jesus your rock is simple: accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour, obey Him to the letter, witness about Him and lastly, commit that matter to Him.

PRAYER POINT: Rock of Ages, please give me victory where I have been defeated.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

SIDES TO EVERY BATTLE

MEMORY VERSE: Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 1 Samuel 17:45

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 5-8

Man is tripartite in nature. In other words, he has three parts: spirit, soul, and body. The spirit is the part of him that relates to the unseen spiritual world. The soul is the part of him that relates to the mental realm; viz., his reasoning and intellectual faculty. The body is the part of him that deals with his physical environment. The challenges we face has three sides to them; viz., the spiritual side, mental side, and the physical side.

Goliath fought David spiritually, mentally, and physically. Spiritually: Goliath attacked David using black magic and witchcraft. 1 Samuel 17:43 says: ‘And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.’ Thank God, David was a man of the spirit, a prayer warrior. He responded using the name of the Lord. 1 Samuel 17: 45 says: ‘Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.’ Mentally: Goliath employed fear i.e. he tried to intimidate David by issuing threats to him. 1 Samuel 17:44 says: ‘And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.’ David responded using faith and making positive confessions. 1 Samuel 17:45 says: ‘This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.’ Most of the life’s battles are won or lost in the mind. You are defeated the moment you give into fear. Our fear can stand in God’s way of doing wonders in our lives. Peter began to sink the moment he panicked. One of the reasons why Jesus succeeded in ministry was because He was courageous; and, courage is a thing of the heart. Physically: He used a sword and shield but David’s stone brought him down.

NOTE: Had David gave in to fear, he would not have slung that stone that brought Goliath down.

PRAYER POINT: I receive divine boldness in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

DAVID KILLED GOLIATH

MEMORY VERSE: How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? Deuteronomy 32:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 1-4

The story of David and Goliath is a popular one (1 Samuel 17). The Bible described Goliath as a champion. A champion is simply a person who has surpassed all rivals in a sporting contest or other competition. Goliath was not an ordinary fighter. He was an undefeated champion; as such, there was no blueprint for defeating him. Goliath was very successful. He had everything going for him – his height, his equipment, his strength, just name it. David, on the other hand, was the opposite of Goliath. He was inexperienced. He was not tall enough, not strong enough, had no equipment, never been to war, etc. David fought Goliath and won. The story of David and Goliath is a story of possibility. It is a story of hope.

There is a lot to learn from this story. No one is indomitable. Anyone can be defeated. No wonder the Bible warns us not to put our trust in an arm of flesh. Jeremiah 17:5 says: ‘Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.’ Only God is indomitable. Even the indomitable lions of Cameroon were defeated by Togo, a smaller team, in 2009. Any man who is without Christ is defeat-able. David can still kill Goliath. The events in the recent 2016 UEFA European Championship that took place in France reminds us that David can still beat Goliath. One particular match that shocked the football world was the Iceland vs England match. England was the favourite. A top man in Iceland sport said, ‘if we beat England, our lives will change forever.’ According to Sky sports, the combined cost of the Iceland team was £16.4m and England XI, £131.5m. The population of Iceland was 300,000 and England as at 2011, 53.01 million. The match was a modern day David vs Goliath contest. On Monday 27th June 2016, Iceland came from behind to beat England, 2-1. I don’t know what you are going through but what I want to say to you is that ‘you are not inferior.’ Size don’t always matter neither does numbers. One thing I learnt from that match was persistence is one of the keys to success. The fact that you are defeated today does not mean you will be defeated tomorrow. Keep fighting, keep making the effort; it is God and your persistence that will bring the results. Who says you can’t be the next David who will defeat Goliath?

CONFESSION: I am not inferior because I have Christ who is superior to all things.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

BE SLOW TO SPEAK II

MEMORY VERSE: For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. James 3:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 23-25

James 1:19 says: ‘Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.’ There are several reasons why you need to be slow to speak. Asides, the obvious fact God will judge you by your words. Matthew 12:36 -37 says: ‘But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.’ Humans will judge you by your words too. Proverbs 18:6 says: ‘A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.’ That Amalekite man was killed because he claimed to have killed Saul (1 Samuel 1:2-16). Verse 15-16 says: ‘And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died. And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD'S anointed.’ Humans will judge you by what you preach or what you profess. As such, make sure you know your topic very well.

You should be slow to speak because in the multitude of words sin is not lacking. Proverbs 10:19 says: ‘In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.’ In other words, ‘When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable(NASB).’ James 3:2 says: ‘For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.’ Another reason why you should be slow to speak is that your words will outlive you. You don’t want to be remembered for the careless words you uttered when you go to be with the Lord. What do we remember Thomas for? Long after the death of Thomas, why do we still call him doubting Thomas? We call him doubting Thomas because of his words. John 20:25 says: ‘The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ Despite the fact that he repented and took the gospel to India, we still call him doubting Thomas because of the statement he made.

CONFESSION: I will not speak hastily.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

LOSING YOUR SALTINESS

MEMORY VERSE: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 7:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 11-14

Jesus makes it abundantly clear that it is possible for salt to lose its saltiness. Matthew 7:13 says: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.’ It is possible for a believer to lose his influence. We can lose our position as God’s agent of influence or change on the earth. Actually, sadly, it is already happening. Our ability to influence the world is dependent on our connection with the source of influence (God). We are able to influence the world as long as we remain in Christ. John 15:16 says: ‘Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.’

Salt loses its saltiness once its chemical composition is changed or altered. A believer who is influenced by the world will lose its saltiness. Also, the moment a believer begins to question his Christian values, belief, and principles of Christianity, he begins to lose its saltiness. A believer who refuses to live holy will lose his saltines. It is a terrible thing for salt to lose its saltiness. Asides from the obvious fact that the Lord will cast such salt away - Matthew 7:19 says: 'Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire'; men will trod upon such salt under foot.

PRAYER POINTS:
• Father, please help me never to lose my saltiness
• Father, please give me the wisdom of a serpent to know how to live as salt on the earth
• I come against every agenda to destroy my faith.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

INSULATION, NOT ISOLATION

MEMORY VERSE: Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 7:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 7-10

According to the Salt Institute, ‘the multiple chemical and physical properties of salt make possible 14,000 known uses. Its largest use is invisible to the public: about 40% of salt worldwide is used as the raw materials that chemical companies transform into chlorine and soda ash, the foundations of inorganic chemistry.’ Therefore, the usefulness of salt transcends common domestic use we know of to science and industry. In the same vein, believers' influence transcends the four wall of a church. No wonder, Jesus called us the ‘salt of the earth.’ Matthew 5:13 says: ‘Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.’ We are the salt of the earth i.e. salt of families, educational institutions, business organizations, communities, governments, and nations. Just as Joseph and Daniel were positive influences, believers must be positive influences in their families, school, at work, and any other place they find themselves.

As useful as salt is, one cannot realize any of its benefits unless it is applied. For instance, you need to add salt to food to experience its seasoning benefits. The further salt is from the food, the further is its ability to season it. As believers, to influence the world we need to interact with the world. The further we are from the unsaved world, the further our ability to positively influence the unsaved world. A lot of us have adopted the posture of isolation in our bid to avoid being negatively influenced by unbelievers. As genuine as this concern is, the isolated Christian is not an influential Christian. Remember, although salt mixes and dissolves in the food, the food does not influence the salt; rather, the salt influences the food. If you are really a salt and you are determined to maintain your saltiness, no one will succeed in influencing you. Besides, what we need, as the salt of the earth, is insulation, not isolation. Insulation comes through staying continually in the presence of the Lord.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, give me the wisdom to be all things to all men so that I may win some.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki