OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION

MEMORY VERSE: for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish, Psalms 1:6

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 11, Ps 144, Jer 5, Matt 19

Tests, trials, challenges of faith, e.t.c. are opportunities for expansion. They are not to break you but to develop you spiritually. Many a time when the Lord wants to fellowship with us, He permits some things to happen so that we can have time for Him. Why do you think the Lord permitted Shadrach, Meshach and Abedn-nego to be cast into the burning furnace, Daniel 3:1-30? The Lord permitted it because He wanted to spend quality time with these 3 boys. Before they were cast into the fire, the God they served was already waiting in the furnace to receive them. After they had spent quality time with the Most High in the furnace, they came out unhurt. Not only that, they were promoted immediately. Sometimes back I was suspended from work for almost 3 months. Immediately I got the letter, I understood that the Lord permitted it because He wanted us to spend time together. No wonder after our fellowship i was able to return back to my post.

Anytime the Lord wants to expand or promote a fellow, He permits some challenges in the life of the fellow. When the Lord was about to give Jesus a name that is above every other name, He permitted the Pharisees to crucify Him, Philippians 2:6-11. When the Lord wanted to take Joseph to His land of fulfillment, He permitted the schemes of his evil brothers, Genesis 37:1-36.Those ones got hold of him and sold him to Egypt. When the Lord wanted to take him to where he was going to meet his destiny helpers, He permitted Portiphar’s wife to lie on him and they cast him in prison, Genesis 39:7-23. It was inside the king’s prison that the Lord lifted him to the throne. I can assure you that the Lord is setting you up for something major; that is why you are having those challenges left, right and centre. As far as you are not living in sin, those challenges were permitted by God.

A man of God was sharing his story with us. When the Lord was about to set him up for greatness, He permitted some people in the church to persecute him. The old matrons made his life hell, when it was time for him to preach the pastor will ask someone else to preach. At a point the water became too hot so he ran for his dear life. Today it is a different story. Psalm 1:6 says for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Whatever it is you are going through, the Lord knows about it. He permitted it so that you can be promoted.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, let my victory be total.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADS TO EXPANSION

Psalm 22:3 says but You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

One way to get the attention of God is through praise and worship. In Mark 5:1-17 is the story of the mad man of Gadara. For one reason or the other demons just took interest in this man and made his body their abode. The demons inside him invited other demons and before you know it, he was loaded with a legion of demons (over 6000 demons). This man lost control of his life to these wicked demons .A demon is enough to destroy one’s life talk less of legion of demons. One day this man saw Jesus from afar, he ran and began to worship. By the time he finished worshiping; Jesus was already standing by him. The demons were forced out; he got his deliverance and life back. If nothing works try praise and worship. When everything failed in Acts 16:25 -26, Paul and Silas resulted to singing Hymns to glorify the name of the Lord. There was an earthquake and before you know it all their chains were loosed and all the doors in the prison were opened.

When you praise God, He takes His position in your life. Psalm 22:3 says but You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. To enthrone means to occupy a throne or take up a seat. When we praise the Lord, He occupies His throne in our life or He takes up His seat in our life. Once the Lord occupies His throne, the first thing He does is to establish His kingdom. Once He establishes His kingdom in our life, favor, mercy, protection, promotion, victory, abundance, fruitfulness, good health e.t.c will become a daily occurrence in our life. In His kingdom there is no defeat or loss. There is no purposelessness, stagnancy or bareness. Everything in His kingdom function to His will. The will of God for you is to have life and have it in abundance, John 10:10. When the mad man of Gadara began to worship, Jesus enthroned Himself in His life and all the six thousand demons had to run. Immediately Paul and Silas began to sing hymns, God enthroned Himself in their challenges and the chains that stood as bondages fell off. Once God enthrones Himself in your life, your battle becomes His battles. Why do you think the children of Israel marched around Jericho once for six days blowing the trumpet to praise God (Joshua 6:1-21)? They were preparing God’s throne. On the seventh day, they marched around Jericho seven times and lifted up their voices and began to make joyful noise to God. Immediately God took His throne in their lives, the wall came down.

ACTION POINT: Enthrone him today in your life by spending quality time to sing praise and worship to Him, before you know it everything hindering your expansion will begin to give way.