“THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL”

MEMORY VERSE: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 1-2

There is a connection between ‘asking’ and ‘receiving’. The Lord Jesus said (in Matthew 7:7a), “Ask, and it shall be given you;” He went further, “For every one that asketh recieveth (Matthew 7:8a).” The reason why you don’t have could be because you have not asked. James 4:2b says, “ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” You may not be believe it but there are people who don’t like asking questions, asking people for help, asking for direction, asking for counselling, etc. One of the reasons why they don’t ask questions or ask for direction is because they don’t want people to know that they don’ know. In other words, they don’t ask to hide their ignorance. It is deception to pretend to know something you don’t know. Anyone doing this is only fooling himself and very soon, the truth will come out. No one knows it all. Even Paul – a learned man – confessed that there were areas he didn’t know as much as he should know. No wonder he said, “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). The fact that you don’t know something is nothing to be ashamed of. Another reason why many of us don’t like asking for direction, guidance, etc, is because we don’t want to disturb people. Many erroneously think it is impolite to ask for direction from strangers. Friend, it is not impolite to ask questions from people as far as you are not rude about it. Actually, a lot of people are willing to help. They don’t mind when you ask them questions. Some of them will go out their way to get you the answers you need. If you are around me and you know something i don’t know, God help you. Because I will ask you – oh yes, and you won’t go until i get my answers.  

People don’t ask for help because they don’t want anyone to take credit for helping them. What is more important, to you, getting an answer to your question or people taking credit that they helped you? All i need is answers, if people want to take credit they should go ahead. It is very common especially in lecture rooms to find students who don’t want to appear stupid so they don’t ask questions. Friend, it is better to ask a stupid question than to make a stupid mistake. Firstly, a stupid mistake costs more than a stupid question. Secondly, the embarrassment of making a stupid mistake is bigger than that of asking a stupid question. Thirdly, some stupid mistakes could leave a permanent mark on your life. Fourthly, some errors are irreversible. Once you make them, you have no other option than to live with the consequences for life. Some don’t ask questions because they don’t want people to think they doubt them. The fact that you are asking questions or challenging a report does not mean you don’t trust the person. It simply means you are seeking greater understanding. There are several advantages of asking questions for instances, the more you ask the more you know. The more you know the lesser time it will take you to make progress. Also, the more questions you ask, the fewer the mistakes you will make in life. John 16:24 says, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” The best time to start asking is the moment you discover that your joy is not full over a matter. And, you stop only when your joy is full or when you are satisfied that God has answered you. One thing many of us do is we stop asking too early. We erroneously believe that when we ask God for a thing twice or thrice and we don’t get the answer, it means that thing is not God’s will for us. That’s not true.  

NOTE: Persistence is one of the keys to receiving answers to prayers. 

twitter@BroOluwatoki 

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

IT WILL SURELY COME TO PASS

MEMORY VERSE: For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk2:3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 48-50

There are a lot of agitations and palpitations all around us. The moment our single sisters enter into any social gathering or a church, unconsciously, they begin to glance around to see if there are any eligible bachelors there. Not that they intend to approach them or something, and most of them are very decent, they won’t stoop so low to do anything that is not befitting for a daughter of God. It is just an unconscious thing. They want to be settled as soon as possible. I know that most single brothers will pretend and say they don’t do this or they have never done this before, but many a time, the moment they see a sister, the first thing they do is check her finger to see if she is wearing a wedding ring. Also, it is an unconscious thing.These reveals the deep desire for the will of God, concerning their marital life , to come to pass.

There are a lot of inner cries to God. Oh Lord i am getting old, when will i meet that man? Oh Lord, my younger cousins have children, when will i meet that woman? Lord, when will those things you said about me come to pass? Oh Lord, when will the doctor take me off these medications? Father, when will i become a citizen of this land? Lord, when will those doors open unto me? Oh Lord, when will this business grow? Father, you called me to start this work, when will this ministry grow? When will our congregation grow? Father, i saw myself preaching to a multitude of people, healing the sick and raising the dead in a dream, when will this dream come to pass? I dreamt that i owned a business, when will that materialize in my life? Lord, i am getting old as a parent, when will my daughters and sons meet their partners? When will my son-in laws give birth? When will i become a grandparent? When will my son-in-law get a job? When will my daughter-in-law get promoted? When will my situation change? When will i get a job? When will i start to work with my degree? When will my abusive husband give his life to Christ? When will my husband begin to see my sacrifices and appreciate me? When will my children love me? When will my children begin to respect me and reciprocate my love to them? When will this siege be over in my life? These and many more are the cries of many hearts to God.What is the Lord saying this morning, in response to our cries to our Father in heaven? IT WILL SURELY COME TO PASS. Habakkuk2:3 says this: “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

To those questions of ‘when will this be’ or ‘when will that be’? The Lord is saying to us this day, "wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Sir, you will surely become a grandfather. Ma, you will surely become a grandmother. Friend, you will surely become a father. You will surely become a mother. God’s will for you in marriage will surely come to pass. Beloved sister in Christ, that brother will surely come. Beloved brother in Christ, you will surely meet that sister. That ministry will surely grow. You will surely work with your degree. You will surely be a citizen of that country. That siege will surely be over. God is working things out for you. You will surely be celebrated. You will surely give a testimony. The doctors will surely take you off that medication and declare you fit. You will surely pay off that debt. And to those saying, 'God, if only You will do this for me, this and that is what i will do for you' . God is saying, 'I will surely do that thing you have asked for ,for you'. God is the controller of seasons. Your season has surely arrived! You may have made a mistake and gotten pregnant, don’t abort that pregnancy. God will surely look after that child. That fellow will surely remember you. Those God has sent to help you will surely remember you and render the help. Those who are owing you money will surely pay.

NOTE: God has not forgotten you. Don’t compromise your faith because God will surely do that thing for you.

TO DO: Father, thank You for Your Word

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

“THOUGH THY BEGINNING WAS SMALL”

MEMORY VERSE: Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase. Job 8:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 40-43

Don’t worry about your humble beginnings. Don’t worry about starting small. You don’t need to start that project in a grand style to finish it in a grand style. The fact that you started small does not mean you will end small. Job 8:7 says, “Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” Every giant is born as a baby. Even Goliath, champion of Gath, was born as a kid. He went from being a child to become a youth and then a mighty warrior. 1 Samuel 17:33 says, “And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” One of the biggest shrubs in the world is the mustard. They sometimes grow as a big as a huge tree. It will amaze you that mustard seeds are one of the smallest in the world. Has the Lord given you an assignment and you are losing sleep because you want to start it in a mega way? Forget about starting mega, just start small and leave the rest to God. One of the best secondary schools in Africa – most of their students end up in Harvard University or Cambridge University – started with only one student. The founder started the school with her daughter as the only student, today it is a different story. Don’t be afraid to start small. Don’t compare how you started with how others are starting. You don’t have to start your marriage life with a big wedding. A big wedding does not equate a happy and long lasting marriage.

Don’t despise your small beginning. Recently, i heard about a top military brass that started life as an orphan. That orphan of yesterday is now a General today. Starting small is not a bad omen. It is not something you should dread. Joseph started life in Egypt as a slave and ended up as a Prime Minister in the same Egypt. He was brought to Egypt in chains but when he left Egypt to go and bury his Dad, he went on a royal Chariot. Genesis 50:9 says, “and there went up with him both Chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.” People may despise you because of your stature. Sisters may even look down on you because you are not rich and you don’t wear the latest designer outfits. Brothers may look down on you because they can’t see your beauty. Because you don’t dress sexy or ‘show some skin’, they may even call you old fashioned. Don’t worry about all that. A day is coming when they see you, they will wish they had married you. Some thirty something years ago, a skinny law student walked up to a very pretty sister and spoke to her. The sister said to him, “Even you, a skinny mosquito wants to date a lady” and she walked out on him. Few years later, that law student graduated and founded a thriving law firm in the heart of a city in West Africa. One day, a man walked into his law chamber, seeking employment. Since he was brilliant and knew what he was doing, he was offered employment. Several months later, the wife of this employee begged him to invite the founder of the firm for dinner, to show their appreciation. The brother invited his boss and he agreed to come. The boss arrived at their small apartment (compared to his huge mansion) and they welcomed him. When the wife of the employee saw the founder, she almost fainted. The man she called a ‘mosquito’, years back, was his husband’s boss and the founder of the firm. It does not matter what names they are calling you today. A time is coming when they see you, they will open their mouths wide because of what the Lord must have done in your life. Just remain connected to God. Remain humble. Remain diligent. Keep serving God and ensure that you are always available for God to use in whatever capacity. Keep on living right. Don’t compromise your faith; very soon you will be a wonder.

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: How a man ends is what matters not how he starts. Ecclesiastes 7:8 says: “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

PRAYER POINT: Father, please make me a wonder.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

ENTER YE IN AT THE STRAIT GATE

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13-14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 47-53

Before every man and woman, boy and girl, young and old, believer and unbeliever, white and black, educated and uneducated, master and servant are two gates –the strait gate and the wide gate. Whether you and I like it or not, we must go through one of the gates, it is not negotiable. The choice of the gate to enter through is our decision.

Matthew 7:13- 14 says enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. In our memory verse, Jesus talks of two gates. Not only that, He also gave characteristics of both. Gates are used to limit access into a building. The first gate, wide gate, has a wide entrance. The wide gate leads one to a broad way. This broad way leads to destruction. The second gate, strait gate, has a strait entrance. The strait gate leads to a narrow way. This narrow way leads to life.

The wide gate leads to hell. The way to hell is very broad in other words everything goes. Because the entrance is so wide, one can come in with as much as bag and baggage as possible.One can come in with the bag of malice, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, pride, just name it. Because the way is very broad, walking in it very easy. On the other hand, the strait gate leads to heaven. The entrance is so small, not everyone can go through it. Hebrew 12:1 says wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. To go through the strait gate, one must first lay aside every weight and the sin that easily besets him or her. The road that leads to eternal life is so narrow; two people cannot travel on it at the same time. This is why the decision to reign with Christ in heaven is not a group decision but a personal one. Each individual must make up his mind and begin to work towards it. One of the characteristic of the narrow road is that it is a very difficult road to walk on. Jesus Christ gave a hint of how difficult walking on this path is when He said only few people find this path. It is a shame; people are now broadening the narrow way with teachings such as you do not need holiness to make heaven. Hebrews 12:14 says without holiness no man shall see God. Friend, to make it to heaven there is a price you have to pay after salvation. Jesus says in Matthew 24:13, he that shall endure to end shall be saved. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to endure to the last.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

THE LACK OF VISION PT1

MEMORY VERSE: where there is no vision, the people perish, Proverbs 29:18a 

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 12, Rom 10, Jer 49, Luke 17

 

BIBLE STUDY: Genesis 21:17-19

 

What is vision?  Vision is seeing things as God sees them or seeing things through the eyes of God. Hagar was stranded, perplexed, exhausted, confused, perturbed and disturbed because of her lack of vision. She was sitting by well yet she was thirsty and her son also. It wasn’t because she was blind; it was because of her lack of vision. From our bible study we observed that the solution to the problem of Hagar was right beside her but yet she suffered. Until the Lord opened her eyes to see the well , she sat by it crying. The solution to the problem of many is right beside them. All some of us need is make a telephone call and that challenge will be over. A man of God had been looking to buy a church building for several years. The number of the agent to call was stored on his mobile but he never called the agent. One day while eating he heard the voice of God saying make the call and his eyes opened. He remembered a fellow pastor colleague gave him an agent’s number; he stopped what he was doing and made the call. Around six weeks later they were worshiping in their own auditorium.

 

Water represents life. How unfortunate for Hagar, she was sitting by a well of life yet she had no life – she and her son were about to die of thirst. The husband and wife of some singles are in the same church they have been attending for years, but because they cannot see they keep going from singles gathering to another. I pray that if you are in that shoe the Lord will open your eyes in Jesus name, Amen.

 

There are several lessons to learn from our bible study. Firstly when a fellow has no vision or is spiritually blind, he suffers unnecessarily. Hagar shouldn’t have experienced thirst in the first place because right beside her was a well. This woman cried and cried because she could not see the well. If care is not taken the people around a fellow who has no vision or who is spiritually blind i.e. his family and those that depend on him may suffer. If the husband is suffering, it will affect the wife and the children. Ishmael was thirsty because her mother could not see. Secondly, Hagar was originally on a journey but had to cancel it when Ishmael began to cry for water. The time she should have used to cover some of distance was spent crying by the well. If one is not careful, the lack of vision can cause a fellow to remain at the same position for a while. If Hagar had seen the well in time, she would have drawn water out of it and continued her journey but because she could not she had to remain at the same position of a while.

 

PRAYER POINT: Father please open my eyes today.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus

GLORIFYING GOD

MEMORY VERSE: Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God, Psalm 50:23

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 35, Ps 79, Isa 27, 1 Jn 5

Anyone can praise God. Anyone can decide to sing a special song when God has just done something big in their life. Anyone can decide to give God a special offering especially when God does the unimaginable in their life. I read on a Facebook page called Testimony board, the mighty thing the Lord did in the life of a sister. The sister was employed as a cover for a month. One way or the other the Lord turn this one month contract into a two years contract and this two years contract turned to a permanent contract. If the Lord does such thing in your life or in the life of someone close to you, you will definitely praise God.

Psalm 50:23 says whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. When you study this verse very well, you will notice that the Lord was not actually referring to those that praise Him when something good happens to them or when all is well. He is referring to those that praise Him in difficult situations or when things are not going as planned. An example of this is found in Acts 16:25-34. Paul and Silas found themselves chained inside prison. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves they began to offer praise to God. Although these men were in bondage they sang like free men. While they were singing the Lord sent an earthquake that shook the prison and the chains fell off.

When you ignore your problem and praise God, you are glorifying Him. When you glorify God, He will take on those things that are troubling you. Two mighty nations - Ammonites and Moabites came to trouble a small city called Judah, 2 Chronicles 20:1-24. Jehoshaphat led a team of choirs and some instrumentalist to war against them. As they were praising God, the Ammonites and Moabites began to fight each other. Before you know it, the whole place was littered with the dead bodies of the enemies of Jehoshaphat. Two hours to a very tough exam, the Holy Spirit led me to praise God. The songs did not flow but I tried to sing as many songs as i could. Ten minutes into the exam, the hall was empty because the questions came from a past paper none of us had studied. I did the best i could with the help of the Holy Spirit and at the end i passed.

KEYWORD:  During challenges praise God more.

COOPERATING WITH GOD

MEMORY VERSE: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land, Isaiah 1:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lev 23, Ps 30, Eccl 6, 2 Tim 2

God has good plans for you. Jeremiah 29:11 says for I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. According to Psalms 40:5, the plans of God for your life are too much to number. He wants you to prosper and be in good health just as your soul prospers, 3 John 1:2. He also wants you to have eternal life, that was why He sent Jesus to die for your sins, John 3:16.Whether the enemies like it or not , the plans of God for your life will come to fruition. Isaiah 43:13 says when He decides to do a thing; there is nothing anyone can do about it. According to Psalms 33:8-9, all He needs to do is just say the word and it is done.

Isaiah 14:27 says for the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall dis annul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? When God decides to bless you, no witch or wizard or demon or man can stop Him except you. The only one who can stop God from blessing you is you. One thing with God is that He will never bless anyone against their will . Instead of forcing His way into your heart, He will stand by the door and knock. You are free to answer and if you decide not to, it is up to you. Just remember that if He knocks on the door of your heart and there is no response, when you knock on the gate of heaven, there will be no response. That will not be your portion in Jesus name. I know once He knocks , you will hear Him and open the door to Him.

For those lovely plans God has for you to come to past , you need to cooperate with God. Isaiah 1:19 says If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. Without your willingness and obedience, there is very little the Lord can do to assist you. To be willing means readiness to get to God's destination for your life using His own route. There are several who want to get to God's destination for their life using their own route. The only disadvantage in doing these is that, one never get to God's destination using his route. Also for the plans of God to materialize in a life, there must be total obedience - 100 percent not 99.9 percent. God will never reward incomplete obedience. If God begins to reward incomplete obedience , it means He is encouraging incomplete obedience and He will never do that. If God begins to reward wickedness, what is then the incentive for living a life of holiness.

PRAYER POINT: Father as I cooperate with You , please bring your plans to fruition in my life.

JOY OF A CHRISTIAN MANIFOLD

MEMORY VERSE :My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations.James 1:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Lev 17, Ps  20-21,Pr 31, 1 Tim 2.

Challenges are part and parcel el of life, be it a believer or an unbeliever . The Lord said in Isaiah 43 : 2, when you pass through waters I will be with you not if you pass through waters. Isaiah 54:17 says no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper not if a weapon is fashioned or in case a weapon is fashioned. Weapons will be fashioned but the good news is it shall not prosper. Most people dread challenges. Many pray not to even have them at all but challenges are not such a bad thing. If they are bad the bible would not say count is all joy when you face challenges , James 1:2

Why do we face challenges? One of the root causes of challenges is sin. Jeremiah 5:25 says sin withholds good things from us. According to 2 Chronicles 6: 21-36, sin causes unanswered  prayers, famine, problems e.t.c. Another reason why we face challenges is because Jesus said so. John 16:33 says but in the world you will have tribulations,but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world for you. Matthew 11:12 says from the day of John the Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violence take it by force. Another reason for challenges is that it helps us to grow in the Lord. It is fire that purifies. James 1:3 says it is the trying of our faith that produces patience. It is this patience that makes is mature in the Lord.

Another reason why we face challenges could be that the Lord wants to glorify Himself in our life publicly.When you study Daniel 3:1-30, you will see that the Lord permitted the three Hebrew boys to be cast into fire because He wanted to glorify Himself in their lives publicly. At the end, the emperor left his thrown and prostrated before these boys praising the Most High God.

 Another reason why we face challenges could be because we are a threat to the Kingdom of darkness. Many people have asked me, why is it that believers face more challenges than others. I always ask them, if you have ten chickens in your cage and one of them escapes what do you do? Their replies has always been 'I will go after it'. The same thing applies to believers, we used to be in the cage of the enemy. >From the moment we give our lives to Christ, we escape death. The enemy would not bother about his own, he knows they are his already but he will go after those that have escaped.The good news is that he can do his worse but over us he will fail. Do you know even before you face challenges, the Lord has provided a way out? Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. This verse was written over a thousand years ago which mean that long before the challenge came, you had already been declared a victor.

PRAYER POINT : Father thank you for making me a victor, please help me never to loose my advantage in You.

TYPES OF VESSELS – VESSEL UNTO HONOR AND DISHONOR

 

2 Timothy 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 25, John 4, Prov 1, 2 Cor 13

BIBLE STUDIES: 2 Timothy 2:20-22

 

We have discussed about borrowed vessels. They are instruments the Lord uses to bring joy, cause a turnaround in a life or win souls. Through them the Lord changes lives but their lives are never changed because of sin. Borrowed vessels are either discarded or relegated to the background. I pray that you will not be a borrowed vessel in the mighty name of Jesus. 

 

In our bible studies we read of a great house. Present in this great house are vessels of various types. There are some that are relegated to the kitchen e.g. vessels or pots used for cooking – cooking pots e.t.c. Since they are in the kitchen, the owner of the house rarely sees or touches them. Because they are in the kitchen, anyone can go in and touch them. The owner of the house never really invests his resources on them. These vessels do not really worth much and they are replaced from time to time. They are known as vessels unto dishonor. The great house referred to is the house of God or church. The owner or the house is Jesus. Colossians 1:8 calls Jesus the head of the church. The vessels are believers or workers in the vineyard of God. The vessels unto dishonor are vessels that are to the dis-reputation of the church, the dishonor of religion and scandal of the gospel. By them God is dishonored, His ways evil spoken of, His doctrines blasphemed, and His name reproached. Such vessels Jesus (the owner of the house) never invest His resources on them. He never touches them i.e. anoint them. They are at the mercy of different kind of demons. Jesus rarely bothers about them. They are vessel unto dishonour because they bring shame to Christ. They commit abortion, adultery, take bribe just name it. Also in this great house are vessels you find in the dining room e.g. drinking vessels. They contain costly viands. They are always on display for the world to see. The owner of the house heavily invests on them. He touches them daily and kisses them. They are known as vessels unto honour. These are believers who behave honourably and are worthy of honor in the church. They live a blameless life. It is hard to find a fault in them. Jesus invests His resources on them and He daily touches them. If they tell you good morning, you can be rest assured it is morning not afternoon or evening. You can live them in a room with 1 billion dollars and they would not touch a dime out of it. At the end whilst the vessels unto dishonor are covered with shame, vessels unto honour enjoy glory, immortality and eternal life. The question is what type of vessel are you? Is your life bringing honour to Christ or dishonour to Him?

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, the grace to bring You honour all the days of my life please give to me.

WATER TO WINE PART 1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 38, Mark 8, Job 4, Romans 8

John 2:3 and when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine.

Bible studies: John 2:1-11

Water is a symbol of calamities and challenges. Isaiah 43:2 says when thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee. Wine on other wine is a symbol of potency, joy, celebration, bounty, banqueting e.t.c. Isaiah 25:6 says in this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full or marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. The summary of the story in John 2:1-11 is Jesus turned calamities and challenges to joy and celebration.

I have heard many Christians argue that there is nothing wrong in consuming alcohol, after all Jesus turned water to wine. They will round it up with 1 Timothy 5:23 where Paul advises Timothy to take little wine for his stomach problems. In Proverbs 31:4 -5, we see the mother of a King –to- be advising her son that it is not for kings to drink wine ,lest they drink and forget the law, and pervert the justice of all the afflicted. One thing I know for sure is that Jesus did not and will never offer wines that will cause people to forget the law and the wine Paul referred to was not the type that helps pervert the justice of all the afflicted. There is nothing wrong in consuming fruit wines but wines containing alcohol even 0.5 percent is not to be touched by believers. Proverbs 23:29 -30 says who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Proverbs 20:1 says wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. Isaiah 5:11 says woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! Not only that our body is the temple of the living God not a beer pub or alcohol storage facility. The organizers of the wedding at Cana in Galilee did one very wise thing; they invited Jesus to the wedding. One thing the devil hate is joy. He hates to see celebration and shouts of joy. That is why you would never see the devil around places where they are always shouting Hallelujah! He hates that word with a passion. The wedding planners planned the wedding to the best of their abilities but they still invited Jesus just in case. The One who can turn water into wine is Jesus. He only can turn challenges into celebrations. You may have had it all planned up, you have put measures into place, you have done all that needs to be done, dotted all the I's and crossed all the T's ,despite all that you still need Jesus. He only can keep the devil away or turn situations around. You may have everything in the world; once Jesus is missing you have nothing. Accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior today and begin to enjoy a life full of celebrations.

KEY WORD: The only One who can turn water to wine is Jesus.

THE JOY OF THE LORD

Nehemiah 8:10 says do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
There is a difference between joy and happiness. Happiness is an emotion directly related to the circumstances that are currently happening. Joy biblically is not an emotion. Joy is an attitude of the heart. Joy is something that lasts; happiness is something that is temporary. When we overcome a difficult challenge(through the power of God)  what we feel is not happiness but joy.  What the widow of Nain experienced after Jesus brought her son back to life in Luke 7:11-17 was joy not happiness. What the Psalmist was describing in Psalm 126:1 when he said when the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion we were like those who dream was joy not happiness. I remember when I was writing my final year project. The recommended time of the project was at least four months. For one reason or the other I registered very late partly because I sustained a deep laceration to my left palm and could not type. By the time my proposal was approved I had only two months to do a project that should take a full time students four months to complete. I started the project; I would go to work during the day and write my project at night. At times while walking, I will fall asleep. I remember one early morning I was walking by a busy road; because I did not sleep through the night I began to sleep while walking. While sleep walking I began to edge towards the busy road. There was a huge truck behind me approaching at a ridiculous high speed. Because I was so tired, I did not even hear the sound of the truck .As I was about to step into the front of this rushing truck I hit my leg on huge bollard and I woke up. If not for the bollard I would have walked into this truck and that would have been the end but we thank God.  Any way I tried my best to meet the extended deadline for the submission of the project but I missed it. When I called to explain my situation, I was told submissions for the project is now closed. I thought to myself, after going through sleepless nights and almost killed by a truck, I would have to wait till next semester? I said no. I prayed and went to the school, when I got to the school the lady that attended to me  just took the project from me and put it where other projects were kept. What I experienced that day was deep joy not  happiness .
 A lot of things makes God happy like singing praises, offerings, doing  good works to mention a few. But nothing brings God joy like people receiving salvation. Luke 15:10 says there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents.  Salvation cost Jesus His life on the cross and it cost God too – His only son. Every time we bring Him joy by winning souls, He gives us strength to do more. It is in this strength that we go and possess the gate of our enemies; it is in this strength that we live in perfect health and not in sickness. It is in this strength that we get to the top and permanently remain there. Do you want this strength? Begin to win souls.
 ACTION POINT: Make up your mind today that you will be one of the very few people that will bring God joy from time to time.

FORGIVE! FOR YOUR SAKE

Matthew 5:7 says blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Unforgiveness is a powerful tool in the hands of the enemy and he has used it rob many of their healings, breakthrough and blessings. What unforgiveness does is it shuts the heaven over an individual. One can pray but as far as there is unforgiveness, there is a possibility that such prayers will not b
e answered. Mark 11:25 says and whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Before God restored Job, He first dealt with the unforgiveness that could stand in the way. He told Eliphaz and
the other two friends in Job 42:7-9 to take an offering to job so that he can forgive them and pray for them.

You may not belief this but there have been cases of women who the Lord told to go and forgive their husbands or someone who mistreated them before they can conceive and have children. I think I should this testimony of a pastor friend. Several years ago when he was still a brother, he went into transport business with his very close friend. The business was doing well, they normally meet at the end of the year to share profits and plan for the next year. This particular year they met as usual and the friend declared no profits but loss. After investigation, the brother found out that his friend had misappropriated the funds and he was unhappy. He became angry and never forgave this friend. Several weeks later the Holy Spirit fished out the friend in the church and he confessed. He was asked to go and make restitution. The friend approached this brother to apologize but this brother did not want to even see him. No matter what the friend did, this brother did not forgive. Few months passed, the friend began to prosper and buy new cars while things began to go the other way for this brother. This brother petitioned God that why should the man who dupe him prosper while He suffers. The Lord told him listen “your friend is prospering because I have forgiving him but you are yet to forgive. I cannot forgive you and bless you until you forgive him.” Thank God the brother was wise, he quickly forgave his friend and things changed. I think I should share this too. A particular sister suffered break down because her fiancée made another lady pregnant. Her world literally collapsed because that man was the only man she ever trusted in her life. She was so disappointment and this caused a deep wound in her heart. A year later due to the recession; she lost her lucrative job and was employed for almost two years. She was a trained accountant; she applied for all sorts of jobs and got nothing. She prayed and fasted nothing happened. The pastor bounded and loosed nothing happened. While discussing this year, for some unknown reasons I began to talk to her on the subject of forgiveness. She said there is someone that offended her but she forgave but not from the heart. We advised her
to forgive and she did. A month later she got a job after two years and to cap it up God has brought another brother!

ACTION POINT: Forgive that brother, sister, friend, family out of mercy so that God can show you mercy.

LIMITED BY REQUEST

John 14:13 - and whatever you ask in My name,that i will do , that the Father may be glorified in the Son
.
This is an open cheque from our Lord Jesus Christ to all believers. According to Matthew 7:7, it is our responsibility to fill the open cheque. What we fill in it is our business but remember what we fill is what we get. Since we are responsible for our request and limited by what we ask for , we can decide to ask for a child maybe a boy or girl or decide to ask for triplets two boys and a girl or vice versa. We can choose to ask for a bedroom house or a mansion with 7 bedrooms - every one has his or her room and the two left for guests.We can decide to ask for little anointing or mega anointing like that of David . David was anointed until his cup ran over.We can ask for only a gift of the Spirit maybe healing or prophecy or ask for all! Remember there is enough in the heavenly store to cater for all needs.

This brings us to the question of how do we ask ? We can ask through our confession .Numbers 14:28 says as i live says the Lord, as you have spoken in My hearing , so i will do to you. Another way to ask is through sowing,tithes and offerings.Galatians 6:7 says whatever a man sows , he shall reap. According to Proverbs 3:9-10 , anyone who honors the Lord with his first fruits is requesting for expansion and enlargement of coast.We know that payment of tithes is telling God please rebuke every form devourer in my life. Another way to ask is through our actions. The actions include soul winning. According to Proverbs 11:30 those who win souls are wise and Proverbs 3:35 says the wise shall inherit glory. Another action is helping the poor.Proverbs 19:17 says anyone who shows pity on the poor lends to the Lord and the Lord always pays His debts on time. Another action is showing mercy.Matthew 5:7 says the merciful will obtain mercy. We can also ask through our lifestyle.Psalms 75:10 says the horn of the righteous shall be exalted.

ACTION POINT: We now know how to ask , let us take our pens and begin to fill the open cheque from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Launch out into the deep

Luke 5 vs 4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

In our newsletter titled Peter Gifts , we discussed about five things peter gave before he got his breakthrough. He gave his boat,strength,time,freedom and his life. If we carefully study Luke 5vs 1-7, we will notice that after he gave this things nothing happened until he launched out into the deep(as advised by Jesus). What Peter's gift got him was the attention and presence of Jesus . Psalm 62 vs 11 says in the presence of God there is fullness of Joy. Giving what Peter gave to Jesus will earn you fullness of Joy but there is a higher level of Joy as described in Jude 1vs24 called exceeding joy.

Jesus appreciated the efforts and gifts of Peter but He knew that alone will not earn Peter the breakthrough he desired so He advised him to launch out into the deep.

This brings us to the question what is in the deep ? Healing of diseases both curable and incurable. According to Exodus 15 vs 26 , the Lord is the greater Physician / Healer. He can heal the body , soul and spirit. In Mark 5 vs 25-34 , Jesus healed a woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years. I know most of us men might not understand what this means but just imagine a woman who had been menstruating non stop for twelve years. I need not to tell you that after her healing she was filled with exceeding joy. In Luke 13 vs 10-17 , Jesus healed another woman who had a bent back for eighteen years. In eighteen years , she never stood upright or straight for once but the Most High God healed her. In John 5 vs 1-18 is the story of a man who had been sick and been by the pool of Bethesda for thirty eight years. To be sick with fever for two weeks is a lot talk less of sickness that is worse than that for 38 years. I pray today that the Lord will heal every sickness in your body in Jesus name.

Also in the deep, fruitless efforts become fruitful. In Luke 5 vs 1-7 , Peter fished all night but there was nothing to show for his effort but when he got to the deep , he launched his net once and he caught a net breaking ,boat sinking catch. Sarah tried like every other women on earth but had nothing to show for her effort. She tried everything to get a child even she went to the extent of try to get a child through her maid and that one decided to despise her for been barren but one day the One who is so deep that no one can completely understand Him came and visited her and she became a mother of nation . Hannah was constantly reminded by Peninnah that she was barren- 1 Samuel 1 vs 6, but one day she launched into the deep and became a mother of six – 1 Samuel 2vs 21. I believe there is someone reading this newsletter at this point who is been reminded regularly that she is barren , I pray that in the name of Jesus , very soon you will be a mother of twins.

In the deep is wealth. Contrary to many beliefs , God does not give wealth He gives you the power to get wealth. Deuteronomy 8 vs 18 says and you shall remember the Lord your God , for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenants He swore to your fathers. He gave Isaac so much ability and power that He sowed in Genesis 26vs 12-13 and became very rich. Actually He was greater than a nation. He gave Solomon ability too and that one made silver as common as stone- 1Kings 10vs 27

Also wisdom can be found in the deep. James 1 vs 5 says God is the giver of wisdom. Proverbs 4 vs 7 says wisdom is a principal thing ;therefore get wisdom , and in all your getting ,get understand. When we talk of wisdom , Daniel was a man of wisdom .The bible says in Daniel 1 vs 20 that Daniel and his friends were ten times better than the intellectuals of Babylons. By the time we get to Daniel 6 vs 3 , the whole nation began to commend Daniel's wisdom , they said they found an excellent spirit in him. Bezalel was another man who was full of the spirit of wisdom. The man was so full of wisdom the Lord recommended him for work -Exodus 31 vs 1-5. I pray that the Lord will give me and someone such a spirit in Jesus name, If you are that person say amen.

In the deep is divine protection .There is no protection anywhere except in the Lord. Proverbs 18 vs 10 says the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous runs to it and he is save. Psalm 127 vs 1 says a house is only save when the Lord watches over it .Psalm 125 vs 2 says just like mountain surrounds Jerusalem so also He surrounds His people both now and forevermore. In 2 Kings 6 vs13-18 , Gehazi saw that the host of Syrians had surrounded Dothan and he ran to Elisha. The prophet prayed that the Lord should open the eyes of Gehazi and he saw Heavenly host in their multitudes on horses and chariots of fires all around protecting them. This is what I call protection.

Also in the deep is open doors -John 9vs 1-12, deliverance -Mark 5 vs 1-20 ,peace . Jesus said in John 14 vs 27 my peace I leave with you ,My peace I give unto to you;not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled,neither let it be afraid. Isaiah 66 vs 12 talks of God extending peace like a river.

Now the question in most people's heart is how can I launch out into the deep or what does it mean to launch out into the deep ? How did Peter launch out into the deep ? The first thing Peter did to launch out into the deep was obedience. He fully obeyed Jesus .The problem with most of us is half obedience , some of us pay our offerings but we do not tithe, some of us tithe but do not witness or evangelize , many evangelize but do not pay their first fruits. Proverbs 3 vs 9 says Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the first fruits of all your increase. Many of us even pay offerings,tithe ,support other projects in the church and still do dodgey or funny deals at work. All these are partial obedience and God demands full obedience. There are many who sisters who are not submissive to their husbands , there are many brothers who still abhors unforgiveness . The only way to move from fullness of joy to exceeding joy is total obedience.

Another thing Peter did was he stepped up his commitments, he said nevertheless at your word I will let down the net- Luke 5 vs 5. Anyone who wants to breakthrough needs to step up his commitments to God. We have to decide that no more attending church on Sundays alone ( Sunday Sunday tablets) but to attend mid week services,we have to put an end to ten minutes of prayer and step up our prayer lives ,we have to decide that we will not only speak in tongues during church night vigils but everyday , we have to decide that we will read at least a chapter of the bible daily, we have to decide to stop hiding our faith in Christ in our places of work or business or amidst friends,we have to put an end to coming to church late,we have to decide to not to be a church goer alone but a worker in the church. We all need to step up our commitment to Christ , we all need to begin to evangelize.1 Samuel 2 vs 30 says those who honor Me , I will honor. Honor the Lord today and He will honor you.

Another thing Peter did was he stepped up his efforts . Launching out into the deep requires an effort. The effort needed to sail a boat in deep waters is more than the effort needed to sail a boat on shallow waters. Proverbs 22 vs 29 says diligence in business is what makes a man to stand before Kings .Proverbs 12 vs 11 says he who tills his land will be satisfied with bread. Proverbs 31 vs 17 talks of a virtuous wife. The bible says she girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arm. It is a bad thing to be lazy as a lady too. Actually by God's standards a virtuous woman is one who seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands – Proverbs 31 vs 13.

A way of launching out into the deep is completely trusting the word of God. Peter said at thy word, Peter had faith in the word of God. The problem with many of us is we doubt the word of God. Hebrew 11 vs 6 says without faith it is impossible to please God in other words when you do not have faith you are displeasing God. Many of us are in the same place we are last year due to fear and lack of our trust in the word of God. We do not have faith in our ability . Colossians 1 vs 27 says Christ in you the hope of glory. Once you have Christ you can never fail. Make that move today and you will see God in action.

Another thing Peter did was he expected a good result that was what geared him to obey God. Proverbs 23 vs 18 says the expectation of the righteous will not be cut short. You will only get what you expect .If a man expects to fail , he will fail. I expect to succeed in Jesus name. Peter was expectant and he got his rewards .

And finally launching out into the deep means spending more time with Jesus. Peter increased the time he spent with Jesus and it paid off. God is not our messenger we bark orders to .We must learn to first worship Him, thank Him and then table our request or petition before Him. We must be willing to spend time in His presence praising Him, studying the word of God and generally fellowshipping with Him. We cant be too busy to spend time with the One who can solve all our problems.

Romans 6 vs 1 says shall we live in sin and ask for grace to abound ? It is impossible sir. 1 John 3 vs 9 says whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. Anyone living in sin is not of God. Jesus said in John 3 vs 3 except a man is born again He shall not see the kingdom of heaven.

If you have not giving your life to Christ please do so and if you have backslidded you can come back to Christ today.

The bible said in Romans 3 vs 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 vs 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be save ? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth , Jesus is Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 vs 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus , I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart . Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague . Remember Matthew 10 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.

FULLNESS OF JOY

Wednesday 18 July Bible in one year: 1 Samuel 11-13

Memorise: And they departed from the presence of the council,rejoicing that they they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name . Acts 5:41

Read : Acts 5:33-42

God is the giver of joy for in His presence is fullness of joy ( Psalms 16:11) , Romans 15:13 says:

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing ,that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

It is possible to be filled with all Joy. That will be your portion this season. God also wants your joy to be full, not half or quarter ,hence in John 16:24 , He says: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive that your may be full.

If some very important requests are not granted, your joy will definitely not be full.

But you may ask: Why is my joy not yet full? it could just because you are yet to meet with all the requirements. 1 Peter 4:13 says;

But rejoice,inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that , when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

If you are not prepared to suffer with Christ, then be prepared to forego the benefit of exceeding joy. There are some believers who are still hiding their faith in Christ in their workplace. They do not want their bosses or colleagues to know that they are born again Christians for fear of being persecuted.There are sisters who cannot tell their husbands that they are now saved and so can no longer continue things they did together that did not please God. There are people attending white garment churches or non-Pentecostal churches who along the line contacted believers who preached to them and they received Christ as their Lord. Yet, they are afraid of declaring to their unsaved leaders and fellow church members that they are now born again for fear of being branding rebels. In anyway you are hiding your status as a believer, you are denying Christ.If you find it difficult to preach Jesus to others, you are denying Him. If you deny Him, He also will deny you. No one who denies Jesus will be able to have the fullness of Joy that He promised.Are you prepared to suffer for His name? The early church counted it a privilege to suffer for Christ. No wonder their joy knew no bounds.

PRAYER POINT: Father, let there be a manifestation of the answer to all my prayers that i may experience the fullness of joy that you promised

Open Heavens by Pastor E.A Adeboye