DON’T PERSONALIZE IT

MEMORY VERSE: Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Numbers 14:28

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Titus 3-Hebrews 3

In our daily devotional titled: ‘Don’t feed the pigeons,’ we said, “Whatsoever a man feeds, grows, and whatsoever he starves of food, dies.” If you want something to grow or die, firstly identify its food i.e. what makes it grow and then feed it, if you want it to grow or starve it, if you want it to die. Take for instance, our human spirit. Its food is praying in tongues, studying the word of God, meditating in the word of God, obeying the word of God, and obeying the promptings of the Holy Spirit. To grow your human spirit to hear from God, you must pray in tongues regularly, study the word of God daily, do the word of God, and obey promptly the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you starve your human spirit of its food, it will literally die. Faith and fear are two entities. If you feed one, the other will automatically die. If you feed your faith through hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17), your fear will automatically die. In addition, if you feed your fears by listening to the doctor’s report, your faith will automatically die. Friend, listen to God’s report.

Whatsoever a man strengthens becomes strong and whatsoever he does not strengthen becomes weak. Take for instance your immune system - your body’s system for fighting off disease and illness. If you strengthen it by regularly washing your hands, quit smoking and avoid the company of smokers, avoid alcohol, exercise regularly, eat vegetables, avoid processed food, cut down your sugar consumption and all, it will become strong. If you do not strengthen it, by doing the above, it will become weak. This principle, applies to our relationships with people and God. You can strengthen your relationship with God by regularly talking to Him. The more you pray to Him, the closer He will be to you. In human relationships, communication is a key. If you want to be close to your children, find time to sit and chat with them.

The best way to end a fight is to say sorry. Many marriages would have remained i.e. not end in divorce, if only the parties involved learnt to say sorry. As a husband, learn to say sorry. As an employer, learn to say sorry. Recently, i read in a business journal that apologies aid in the resolution of a variety of legal cases, including wrongful firings, injury cases, and malpractice lawsuits. As a leader, learn to say sorry. Lastly, do not personalize a medical condition or challenges. I hear people say, “Oh my back pain… my head ache has started again… I can’t walk properly because of my dodgey knee…” Friend, that back pain is not yours but the devil’s. That headache is not from God neither is the dodgey knee. Stop claiming what is not yours. Whatsoever you say is what you will get. Numbers 14:28 says: “Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you:” It is not your fever but the devil’s fever. Good health is your inheritance. Whatsoever is short of good health is not of God. Confess good health not your back pains. Stop saying “my problems,” it is the devil’s problems; he brought it to afflict you and frustrate you, command him to take his problems and leave your life.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Watch your confessions because what you say is what you will have.

PRAYER: Father, please uproot every tree you have not planted in my life.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

WATCH YOUR CONFESSIONS

MEMORY VERSE: Say unto them, as truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you. Numbers 14:28

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lev 4,Ps 1-2, Prov 19, Col 2

If anyone tells you that once you give your life to Christ there will be no problems they are telling you a big lie. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we should expect challenges. Psalm 34:19 buttresses this point by saying that the righteous will have many challenges. Do you know that as a Christian, if everything is going on sweet and nice at all times with no challenges once in a while you should be worried? Oh yes you should be worried because it could be that enemy does not see you as a threat to his kingdom. If you are a threat to the kingdom of darkness, the enemy would want to challenge you once in a while. Anyone who will amount to something in life will face challenges or opposition. If God has got big plans for you, expect the enemy to challenge you or shake you a little. The bigger the plan of God for your life, the bigger the challenges or opposition you might face but do not entertain fear because the Holy One of Israel has already said that no weapon that is formed against you will prosper, and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn, Isaiah 54:17.

During these challenges watch your confessions because whatever God hears you say is what He will do. Your confessions will decide if you will overcome the challenges or not. How you answer during adversity will determine the end result of the adversity. Moses and the children of Israel faced a big challenge or opposition in Exodus 14:9-31. Before them was the red sea, behind them was the host of the Egyptians, to the sides were mountains. When everyone began to scream and cry, Moses told them ‘fear not and hold your peace, the Egyptian you see today, you shall see them no more’. Moses confessed victory and at the end of the day all the host of Egyptians perished in the red sea. When David stood before Goliath, instead of saying I am doomed or I am finished, he told Goliath I will cut of your head, 1 Samuel 17:46. I bet Goliath must have been shocked by this statement because the tiny fellow who was promising to cut his head had no sword. Actually all he had on him was a little sling and stones but guess what before the evening of that day David cut of Goliath’s head!

Not too long ago I had a major challenge at work and it seemed that I was going to be sacked. I was suspended from work and while I was at home, people would call to check on me. I told them ‘  I will not be sacked’. I told them it is written in the bible Christ in me the hope of glory not shame, Colossians 1:27. I kept on confessing that I will return to work and by the special grace of God, God gave me my job back.

KEYWORD: How you respond in adversity will determine the outcome.

CONFESSION BRINGS PROSPERITY

Proverbs 28:13 he that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 22, John 1, Job 40, 2 Cor 10

 

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 3:6-13

 

In Genesis 3:6-13 is a story we all know. Adam and Eve sinned against God by disobeying Him; they ate from the forbidden tree. Suddenly their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked. They began to run from the same God they use to sit and fellowship with. The Lord knew what they had done so He asked Adam if he had eaten from the tree He commanded them not to eat from. Instead of Adam answering in the affirmative, he tried to cover up his sin by telling God that it was the woman He gave to him that gave him of the tree and he ate. He tried to play a fast one on God by trying to shift the blame on God. Eve (wife of Adam) did exactly the same thing when the Lord asked ‘what is this that thou hast done?’ Instead of confessing and asking for mercy she tried to cover her sins by blaming the serpent. Because they refused to confess their sins, their relationship with God began to suffer. Instead of blessings they received curses.

 

Proverbs 28:13 says he that covereth his shall sins not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. A man cannot cover his own sin. It is only God who can cover a man’s sins and it would be an instance of His grace. It is also right in one good man to cover the sins of another, reproving him secretly and forgiving him; but it is wrong in a man to cover his own sin. What God expects is when a fellow is charged with sin, and reproved for it by his fellow Christian; such fellow should not cover it to save their honor. He expects them to own up to it. Failure to acknowledge a sin you committed when confronted is an attempt to cover the sin. Denying the sin you committed which is covering a sin with a lie is like adding sin to sin. Justifying sin as if you have done the right thing is an attempt to cover up a sin. Worse still giving excuses for a sin you committed or imputing it to others that they made you sin is an attempt to cover up sin like Adam did.Prospering in soul or body, in things spiritual or temporal is almost impossible for a fellow who covers us his sin. Such a fellow would not have peace of mind and conscience. Every covered up sin robs one of God’s mercy. How much can a man achieve without God’s mercy? If you successfully manage to cover it on earth, it will be reveal on the Day of Judgment. Luke 8:17 says for nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. On the Day of Judgment every secret will be revealed. If you have cheated on your partner or stolen from the church, you better go to your pastor and confess to Him. Not only that also confess to your partner because whether you like it or not he or she will know one day. The reason why many have not been able to walk in to their prepared prosperity is because of covered up sins.  

 

KEYWORD: Every covered up sin robs one of God’s mercy. How much can a man achieve without God’s mercy?

CONFESSION BRINGS PROSPERITY

Proverbs 28:13 he that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 22, John 1, Job 40, 2 Cor 10

 

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 3:6-13

 

In Genesis 3:6-13 is a story we all know. Adam and Eve sinned against God by disobeying Him; they ate from the forbidden tree. Suddenly their eyes were opened and they saw that they were naked. They began to run from the same God they use to sit and fellowship with. The Lord knew what they had done so He asked Adam if he had eaten from the tree He commanded them not to eat from. Instead of Adam answering in the affirmative, he tried to cover up his sin by telling God that it was the woman He gave to him that gave him of the tree and he ate. He tried to play a fast one on God by trying to shift the blame on God. Eve (wife of Adam) did exactly the same thing when the Lord asked ‘what is this that thou hast done?’ Instead of confessing and asking for mercy she tried to cover her sins by blaming the serpent. Because they refused to confess their sins, their relationship with God began to suffer. Instead of blessings they received curses.

 

Proverbs 28:13 says he that covereth his shall sins not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. A man cannot cover his own sin. It is only God who can cover a man’s sins and it would be an instance of His grace. It is also right in one good man to cover the sins of another, reproving him secretly and forgiving him; but it is wrong in a man to cover his own sin. What God expects is when a fellow is charged with sin, and reproved for it by his fellow Christian; such fellow should not cover it to save their honor. He expects them to own up to it. Failure to acknowledge a sin you committed when confronted is an attempt to cover the sin. Denying the sin you committed which is covering a sin with a lie is like adding sin to sin. Justifying sin as if you have done the right thing is an attempt to cover up a sin. Worse still giving excuses for a sin you committed or imputing it to others that they made you sin is an attempt to cover up sin like Adam did.Prospering in soul or body, in things spiritual or temporal is almost impossible for a fellow who covers us his sin. Such a fellow would not have peace of mind and conscience. Every covered up sin robs one of God’s mercy. How much can a man achieve without God’s mercy? If you successfully manage to cover it on earth, it will be reveal on the Day of Judgment. Luke 8:17 says for nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. On the Day of Judgment every secret will be revealed. If you have cheated on your partner or stolen from the church, you better go to your pastor and confess to Him. Not only that also confess to your partner because whether you like it or not he or she will know one day. The reason why many have not been able to walk in to their prepared prosperity is because of covered up sins.

 

KEYWORD: Every covered up sin robs one of God’s mercy. How much can a man achieve without God’s mercy?

BE YOUR OWN PROPHET

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 7, Matt 7, Ezra 7, Acts 7

Proverbs 12:6 the words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

BIBLE STUDIES -2 KINGS 4:18-37

Many of us listen to newspaper reporters-wonderful people; prophets in their own right. We listen to economics – wonderful people; prophets in their own right. At times we even listen to doctors – lovely people; highly educated people; qualified professionals; prophets in their own right. The question is why don’t we learn to prophesy to ourselves?

The great Shunamite woman in our bible studies prophesied to herself. She did not even wait for Elisha to tell her all will be well. She kept on prophesying that it shall be well. On her to see the man of God, her husband asked if all is well and her reply was “it shall be well”. Again when the man of God saw her coming afar off, he sent his servant to check if all is well and she told the servant “it shall be well”. Despite the fact that her son was dead she kept on prophesying to herself that it shall be well and at the end all was well because her dead son lived again. When you study the scriptures you will notice that almost everyone who had a major breakthrough prophesied to themselves before the breakthrough. In Genesis 22:1-18, God told Abraham to go and sacrifice Isaac to Him as a test. On his way to the mountain, Isaac asked Abraham where the lamb for burnt offering was and Abraham said “my son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering”. He prophesied into his own life and that was the exact thing that happened. In 1 Samuel 17:26-56, David told Goliath “this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you”. He prophesied that he was going to severe the head of Goliath from his body. Do you know that when David prophesied, he did not even have a dagger on him talk less of a sword? But because he had prophesied that was the exact thing that happened. Immediately Goliath fell he ran to him, since there was no available sword around, he took Goliath’s sword and used it cut of his head. The woman with the issue of blood prophesied to herself, she said “if only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made whole” (Mark 5:25-34). That was the exact thing that happened when she touched the clothes of Jesus. Proverbs 12:6 says the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. Before Jesus got to the house of Lazarus, he prophesied to Martha, John 11:17-45. He said “your brother will rise again” and that was the same thing that happened that. Your prophesy in adversity will determine the result. Joel 3:10 says let the weak say “I am strong” meaning let the weak should prophesy strength to themselves. Cultivate a habit of prophesying good things yourself. Ignore people’s opinion on your challenges; just continue to prophesy the result you want. Be your own prophet this year, it is what God hears you say that he will do not what the doctors say or people around you.

KEY WORD: It is what God hears you say that he will do not what the people around you say or the expert about your challenges.

ALL IS WELL

  BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 1, Matt 1, Ezra 1, Acts 1

2 Kings 4:23 – so he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.”

BIBLE STUDIES: 2 Kings 4:18 - 27

In 2 Kings 4:8-27 is the story of the great Shunem woman and Elisha. One day this woman saw the man of God passing by and she invited him for a meal. Although the man of God refused, she persisted and the man of God came in to eat. Because the man of God enjoyed her food so much  anytime he was passing by, he will come in and eat at her place. Later this woman increased her giving and built a house for the man of God. The God who Elisha served visited this woman and gave her a son. One day death came and snatched this boy and she ran to the man of God. The man of God cried to God and death released what it had stolen from the Shunem woman.

Firstly,  I want to you to know  the fact that you love God does not mean there will not be problems. Challenges are part and parcel of life, be it a believer or an unbeliever. The only difference is that when the storms of life begins to blow, as a believer we have the One who Isaiah 9:6 calls the Prince of Peace. Who is the Prince of Peace? Jesus. When we study Mark 4:35-41, we will see that despite the fact that Jesus was in the boat, there was a great windstorm but a word from Him stilled the storm. Brethren there will be storms but the assurance we have as believers is that our boat will never sink. Psalm 34:19 says many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. John 16:33 says in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. All is well is simply telling the devil to try his best but at the end all will be well with me. Secondly , please watch your mouth. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 6:2 says our mouth can be a snare to us. It is important to watch what we say because whatever God hears us say is what He will do. Numbers 14:28 says “say to them, ‘as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.” It does not matter what the whole world says, God is not interested in what everyone is saying about the challenges you are going through. He is only interested in what you are going to say and whatever you say is what He will do. When the son of the great Shunem woman died and her husband asked her hope all is well? Her response was ‘it is well’. When the prophet of God saw her coming afar off and asked his servant to go and check if all is well. This woman told this servant ‘it is well’. At the end of the day all was well. Instead of confessing the negative, she kept on saying what she wanted. She used the power of her tongue to change her destiny. What this woman said with her mouth was what God did for her.

CONFESSION: This year will be a prosperous year for me. I will not lack anything good this year. This year I will know God better. This year the world we will see the glory of God in my life.