Showing posts with label love. Show all posts
Showing posts with label love. Show all posts

Tuesday 6 September 2016

WILL HE FIND YOU? PART ONE


MEMORY VERSE: And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Ezekiel 22:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 11-20

What is prayer? According to Noah Webster’s dictionary 1828 edition, it is a solemn address to the Supreme Being, consisting of adoration, or an expression of our sense of God's glorious perfections, confession of our sins, supplication for mercy and forgiveness, intercession for blessings on others, and thanksgiving, or an expression of gratitude to God for his mercies and benefits. There are several types of prayer. There is the prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Praise is offered to God for who He is and what He does in general. A popular form of praise is a eulogy. “You are the Biggest… You are the Greatest….. You are the Wisest….. You are the Strongest….. You are the Best….”, are forms of eulogies. God loves it when we eulogise Him. Unfortunately, many don’t eulogise Him and some of us who do spend a little time doing it. Going through the Scriptures, I discovered that whenever people eulogise God, He does wonders. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is offered to God for what He has done for us in particular. You thank Him specifically for what He did. You slept last night and He woke you up this morning, thank Him for that. Why? Not everyone who slept last night woke up this morning. Thank Him for your vision. Why? Many lost their vision last week. Now, granted, if you are having an emergency – you are about to slide into another car ahead of you – you do not have time to do a lot of talking. But apart from that, it is a good principle to start prayers with praise and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving gives you access into His court and praise gives you access into His presence. Psalm 100:4 says: “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

Another type of prayer is worship. Worship is not singing hymns or choruses or slow songs; worship is not a declaration of God’s attributes. Vocal expression has to do with praise and thanksgiving; worship has to do with attitude. What’s your attitude in prayer? Different attitudes are represented by different words. One means to bend the head low. Another means to bend the upper part of the body forward and stretch out the hands. A third means to prostrate oneself face downward in the presence of the One whom one is worshipping. NOTE: Thanksgiving and praise are vocal, meaning they come out of our mouths; worship is the attitude or (of position of the body) in which we come. There is the prayer of petition which means asking for physical and material needs to be met. Might I remind you that praying is not just thinking of anything we want and asking for it. Praying is discovering God’s revealed purpose in Scripture, and then praying for the outworking of that purpose. Also, there is the prayer of intercession. The intercessor is one who comes between God and those for whom he is praying. There are several other types of prayers and we have treated them in the past. God willing, sometimes this year, if God delays His second coming, we will repost them. Prayer is one powerful tool believers, all round the world, have to turn things around. Another one is speaking in tongues. John Wesley wrote this in his journal: “ I am persuaded that God does everything by prayer and nothing without it”. Paul, the apostle, said in Phillipians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” You can achieve a lot through prayers. You can destroy the plans of the enemy in advance. Through the power of prayer, Jesus destroyed the plans of the enemy over Peter’s life. Luke 22:31- 32 says: “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Peradventure you have been set up to fail like Jabez, if you will cry to God He will turn that around. Prayer changes things –events, people, situations ,etc. Prayer also fixes things. It fixes a bad marriage. Prayer also corrects things.

NOTE: God is only committed to answering the prayers of His children. Before you go to Him, you need to ask yourself this personal question, am I lamb or a goat. Am I His child? If you have not given your life to Christ you are not His child, period!

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

Wednesday 31 August 2016

BUILT ON SAND

MEMORY VERSE: And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. Matthew 7:26-27

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 4

Jesus, in Matthew 7:24-27, likened everyone who heard Him to a builder. Verse 24 says: “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock”. Verse 26 says: “And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.” He likened those who built their lives, marriages, ministries, homes, etc, on the Word to a man who built his house on the rock (Matthew 7:25). He likened those who ignored His teachings to a man who built his house on the sand.

What type of builder are you? Are you building on the rock or on the sand? Many lives / marriages / ministries / businesses / relationships / homes are built on the “sand of human wisdom and philosophy”. Apostle Paul warns against building on human wisdom / common sense and philosophy. Colossians 2:8 says: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Anything built on human wisdom or philosophy will crumble when the storm of life blows. Any marriage or relationship that is built on love-at-first-sight may crumble when the storm of life blows. Any ministry that is built on intellect, positive thinking and psychology will crumble when the forces of darkness attack. Apostle Paul built his ministry on the spirit of power (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). There is also the “sand of tradition of religion”. Over the years, the church has built up traditions which people base their lives on without asking whether they are scriptural or not. The Pharisees accosted Jesus several times about His disciples violating the “tradition of the elders”. Matthew 15:2 says: Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.” What are some of the traditions of the elders we still practise today? Burning of candles and incenses. Other popular “tradition of the elders” is widows wearing black cloth and shaving their hair for life. All these are not scriptural. Friends, check whether what you are practising is the “tradition of the elders”  or God’s commandment. There is the “sand of fables”. Fables are stories and tales cleverly invented by the human mind. Paul, in his letter to his son-in-the-Lord Timothy, wrote: “Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

QUESTION: Are you building your life on the Word or philosophy? Are you building your life on the Word or nice phrases like “heaven help those who help themselves”?

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

Monday 29 August 2016

THE BEREAN CHRISTIANS

MEMORY VERSE: And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:10-11

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 3:1- End

The author of the book of Acts, Luke, compared two Jewish Christians in Acts 17 vs 10-11: The Christians in Berea and the Christians in Thessalonica. The Christians in Berea were nobler than those in Thessalonica. They received the word of God when it was preached to them. They listened with rapt attention. The brethren in Thessalonica, on the other hand, didn’t receive the word of God. They challenged everything. “Sir, you need to be born again to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” “What do you mean”, they’ll say, “how about those that died without hearing the gospel”. They literally challenged everything even when it was backed up with scriptures. Not only did the Berean brethren receive the Word, they did with it ALL readiness of mind. In other words, they received it with an open mind. They came to church with writing materials to took down notes. Whilst others were busy on Facebook during service, they listened and pondered on the Word. Many can’t receive the Word because although they are physically present in the church, their minds are far away. Some spend the whole service planning how to deal with their wives because of what happened on their way to church. You’ll be amazed to know that whilst the pastor is preaching on godly living and holiness, many are planning how to steal from the offering baskets in the same service.

Just as it was in the days of Luke, so it is today in our modern day churches. Many of us don’t receive the Word with readiness of mind because the brother teaching is an ordinary deacon. Ordinary deacon? Imagine calling the Lord’s anointed an ordinary deacon? Some only pay attention when the church pastor is preaching. Anyone doing that is proud. God can use anyone – big or small – to speak to you. “I gave my life to Christ before him so why should I listen to him”, some say. Brother, you are proud! The brethren in Berea went home after service and studied their notes. Also, they searched the scripture daily. There is a difference between reading and searching the scripture. You can read your bible anywhere even whilst standing in a crowd. You need to literally sit down to search the scriptures. You cannot search the scripture in two minutes. As you search the scriptures, you will begin to unearth nuggets that will transform your life and everything around you. The Berean brethren studied their bible daily whilst those at Thessalonica only read them on Sundays. The Berean brethren quote the bible whilst those at Thessalonica quote books and big men of God. We thank God for great men of God. We thank God for their lives. However, you still need to know the scripture for yourself. You need to know what the bible says on various issues. The bible is your standard for living not a ministry. Today, many are taking America to be “the” standard. Whatever we see them do there, we copy. That should not be so. If it is not scriptural please drop it.

NOTE: You need to search the scripture daily because: 1) it contains God’s standard; 2) It shows you how to get to heaven and; 3) you will be judged solely by the word of God.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

Thursday 25 August 2016

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

Wednesday 24 August 2016

A HEART AFTER GOD


MEMORY VERSE: But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezra 1-3

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.’ ‘I have found' implies that a search had already taken place; and, David was the product.

What qualified David to be the king of Israel was not his military experience. Saul said to David when he volunteered to fight Goliath, ‘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 (1 Samuel 17:33)’. In other words, you lack military experience. What qualified David to be the king of Israel was not his (family) background. Bible scholars have told us that David was a product of fornication. David (himself) confessed and said, ‘Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5)’. It was definitely not his educational background or his years of service in the palace or a spatial competency. What qualified him was the state and inclination of his heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 says: '...the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.'

QUESTION: What is the state of your heart? Is your heart after God or things?

Bro Samuel Oluwatoki

Tuesday 23 August 2016

HE USES LITTLE THINGS TO ACHIEVE BIG THINGS


MEMORY VERSE: And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 1:1-2:13

The story of Jesus feeding five thousand men, not counting women and children, is a popular Sunday school story (John 6:1-13). Several lessons can be learnt from this story. The Lord uses whatsoever you put in His hands for His glory. He used that little boy's lunch - five bread and two tiny fishes - to do wonders. That 'miraculous feeding of five thousand' happened over 2000 years ago but we still talk about it today. Hannah put her little Samuel in the hands of God and He used him to appoint David - one of the greatest king in Israel. Also, He multiplies/ grows whatsoever you put in His hands. That boy's lunch was multiplied to feed five thousand able men not counting women and children and there were twelve baskets left (John 6:13).   Samuel, whom Hannah put in His hands, grew up to become one of the greatest prophets in Israel. Parents, ensure your wards attend Sunday school. They need to know the Lord at a young age so they can become the Daniels, Shadrachs, Meshachs and Abednegos of this generation. The Lord not only uses and multiplies whatsoever you put in His hands, He returns them back to you. Who do you think Jesus gave the twelve remaining baskets to? I believe the boy. Why? Ecclesiastes 7:11 says: “All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.” Whatsoever you put in His hands is not lost. Actually, it is an investment. Hannah gave Samuel to the Lord and the Lord gave her five children – three boys and two girls - in return (2 Samuel 2:20). Besides, she still had Samuel. How about if you put nothing in His hands? You will get nothing back.

Another powerful lesson is God often uses little things to do big things. I am excited because I know God will use little people like me to do mighty things in this generation. I believe He will do the same with you. He used that little lunch to feed a multitude. He is doing great things with those little offerings, tithes, gifts to men and women of God, service in your church, etc. You will be amazed at the number of souls won and how His work had progressed and prospered because you gave yourself and your resources to His use. He often uses little obedient tasks to do big things. A pastor was sharing with us how a little hug saved a life. A woman wanted to commit suicide so she decided to come and see her pastor before taking her life. Before she got there, the Lord had ministered to the man of God to give her a hug. This was a strange instruction to this man especially after preaching against hugging the opposite sex . Thank God he recognised  the voice of God. He reluctantly hugged the lady when she arrived but then something happened. She burst into tears and told the pastor of her plan to hang herself. Had he disobeyed, she would have hanged herself. Is the Lord leading you to encourage anyone? Please do it, you could be saving a life. God often uses little people in little places to do big things. Goliath, the giant, was killed by little David (1 Samuel 17). God used a little girl in the house of Naaman to bring healing to a whole nation (2 Kings 5). In our bible reading, a little boy’s ordinary lunch that was obediently given to Jesus was used in an extraordinary miracle for a multitude. God can take our little efforts to do a lot. Jesus said that giving even a cup of water in His name could bring a reward which would last forever (Mark 9:41). He said even a little faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain (Matthew 17:20).

PRAYER POINT: Please make this year my best so far.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

Sunday 21 August 2016

HOPE FOR THE REJECTED


MEMORY VERSE: The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. Psalm 118:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 10-11

BIBLE READING: John 1:43-50

Nathanael’s response when Philip (his friend) witnessed to him about Jesus of Nazareth (Jesus Christ) was, “can anything good thing come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael,although from Galilee, despised Nazareth. The Pharisees (religious leaders), at that time, disdained it. They rejected Jesus Christ as the Saviour because He came from Nazareth. According to them, no prophet had ever risen out of Galilee (Luke 7:52). Even outsiders called Nazareth a land of Cabul. Hiram King of Tyre, on returning from the twenty unnamed cities of Galilee King Solomon gave to him as a surety for supplying cedar, cypress and gold to build the temple of the Lord, said to Solomon, “what kind of cities are these which you have given me, my brother (1 Kings 9:12-13).” The bible records that he called them the land of Cabul. The name Cabul in Hebrew simply means “good-for-nothing”. Within minutes of meeting with Jesus of Nazareth, Nathanael said: “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.” The Best had come out of Nazareth!

Friend in Christ, there is hope for you after that rejection. I don’t know who has rejected you; I don’t know what was said to you but one thing I know is there is hope for you. Psalm 118:22 says: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” That little town of Nazareth that no one thought much of became the town of our Lord Jesus Christ. It does not matter who has rejected you, they will come back soon to glorify God in your life. Before the end of this year, in that name that is above every other name (Jesus), you are going to become a surprise. Human builders rejected that stone but God (the Greatest Builder) didn’t. Please don’t tie any result or any material to your sense of worth. The fact that you didn’t do well in that assessment doesn’t mean you are not good enough. A police officer, some years back, killed himself because he failed his Police Sergeant Exams. Why? He tied his sense of worth to the result of an examination. PLEASE, PLEASE and PLEASE, DON’T JUDGE YOURSELF BY ANY RESULT. As far as you have not written yourself off, there is still hope for you. The same God who turned that rejected stone to a head stone is with you. He has done it before and He will go it again.They told Oprah she was unfit for TV but today she owns a TV network. Poiter Syndey in his first audition was told by the casting director, “Why don’t you stop wasting people’s time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?” He later became the first African- American to win an Oscar. Beethoven’s music teacher described him as hopeless. He later became one of the most famous influential of all composers. Frank Winfield Woolworth was told by his dry Store Manager that he didn’t have enough common sense to serve customers. This man later became the founder of F.W. Woolworth Company. Not only that, he also introduced the common practice of buying merchandise from manufacturers and fixing prices on items, rather than haggling. If God can do it for the people of the world, why won’t He do it for you- His child?

CONFESSION: There is hope for me!

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

Friday 29 July 2016

BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS .... PT1


MEMORY VERSE: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelations 1-6
One thing you cannot avoid in your relationships with people, from time to time, is little misunderstandings. It is either what you said was misunderstood or you misunderstood what someone said. It is either someone misinterpreted your action or words, or you misinterpreted what someone did or said. These usually happen especially when chatting with people through text or WhatsApp or BBM. One of the reasons why these misunderstandings occur is because we see life differently, we have different passions, we have different priorities, we have different perspectives to things. Always have this at the back of your mind; you don’t know what the other person is going through. Even if you know what they are going through, you don’t know the pain they are in. A brother told a sister that her friend was rude to him - he greeted her several times and she didn’t respond. The sister then asked him, where were you standing when you greeted her? “To her left”, he said. The sister smiled and told him that her friend was deaf in the left ear. When a misunderstanding occurs, ask God for wisdom. Some misunderstandings are arrows from hell to destroy relationships that God wants to use to bless you.
As such, how you handle a matter/situation/misunderstanding matters. Why? How you handle it will determine whether it will be resolved or not. According to Proverbs 22:10, the moment you cast out the scorner contention will end. If you don’t handle that matter well, it may get out of hands. A couple once divorced over a milk tin-can. The husband punched a can of milk in a way the wife didn't like. The wife said something out of anger and the husband responded. The next thing was, "are you talking to me like that?"- "Yes, and so what..." Before they knew it the marriage was over. In some instances, little misunderstandings have resulted into a full blown war. This was the exact thing that happened in Northern Ireland some thirty years ago. The war between the Catholics and Pentecostal in Ireland could have been prevented had the police officers who were called to the scene handled it with godly wisdom. That little misunderstanding led to a thirty-year war. Part of handling a matter with godly wisdom is watching how you react to things. Several years back, some police officers went to arrest a young man at home. The young man felt he was innocent so he refused to go with the police officers to the station. Since he was refusing arrest, the police men decided to use force. A neighbour who saw what was happening and called the boy’s senior brother. He told him that the police were trying to arrest his brother without a cause. The senior brother grabbed a big stick and ran to the scene. The police officers saw him approaching with a big stick and opened fired and killed him. The case went to court and the police officer who fired the bullet said he fired the bullet in self-defense; he was discharged and acquitted. Later the boy was released. If the senior brother had done things differently he would still be alive.
NOTE: Don’t fight violence with violence.
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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Thursday 21 July 2016

IN SEARCH OF WORMS

 MEMORY VERSE: Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff. Isaiah 41:14-15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 7-8

READ: Isaiah 41:13-16

The Most-High God is always in search of worms - weakest of the weak – to showcase what He can do. No wonder, Hannah in her praise said: "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them (1 Samuel 2:8).” The Most-High God is not interested in the likes of Absalom. Absalom is an epitome of a complete man. 2 Samuel 14:25 says, “But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.” As such, he was full of himself. The good Lord prefers the likes of Solomon. The circumstance surrounding Solomon’s birth was not something to be proud of. He was a product of adultery – David, his father, killed an innocent man and took his wife. To make matters worse, he was so foolish that he, himself, acknowledge that he was foolish (1 Kings 3:1-9). God picked that worm, that mentally weak boy, and made him the wisest man that ever lived after Jesus Christ. That weak worm spoke 3000 proverbs in his lifetime (1 Kings 4:32).

Your low IQ is not a hindrance to God. The fact that you don’t have a degree is not a hindrance to God. Your small stature is neither a hindrance nor your humble beginnings. Actually, the good Lord is interested in people like you with a dodgy past. Jesus made it abundantly clear, whilst He was on the earth, that He came for the weak. Mark 2:17 says, “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” He came for those struggling with sin. He came for those who the world has written off. Sometimes back, a brother from India shared his conversion story with us. (Thanks to those who have shared their conversion story with us; we are expecting yours. We will be sharing them. Don’t underestimate the power of testimonies.) This brother went into a forest - as he usually does whenever he wants to smoke marijuana - to smoke. As he smoked, the thought of Jesus, the Man everyone had been preaching to him about , came to his mind. The next thing was he felt a powerful presence around him. Before he knew what was happening, he was on the ground, weeping and asking Jesus to come into his heart. Jesus travelled into that forest to give him an encounter that changed his life forever.

What makes you a good candidate for Jesus to use is your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” What has been hindering the Lord from using many of us, despite our cry to Him to use us for His glory in this generation, is our strength. We are too strong for Him. We know too much. We are too independent. We rely on our tiny brains too much. For many of us, it is our razor-sharp minds. We are too advanced for Him. We are always trying to reason everything out. The Most-High is after worms – weakest of the weak- to turn them into sharp threshing instruments having teeth. Isaiah 41:14-15 says, “Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.”

PRAYER POINT: Father, i surrender to you (raising up my hands), please use me for your glory.

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Wednesday 13 July 2016

THE ATTIRE OF A HARLOT

MEMORY VERSE: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. Proverbs 7:10
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 119:19-24, Proverbs 31:4, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
The words in the Bible are not the words of drunken men or someone hallucinating. 2 Peter 1:21 says this: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (One of these days, if the Lord permits, we will discuss about how the Bible was written and you will see the process involved. God told the prophets when to start writing, when to stop writing, what they should write, etc. However, for the purpose of our studies today, I want you to know that “all scriptures is given by the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16),” even the book of Songs of Solomon. Every single word was given by God’s inspiration. There is a reason for every illustration, example, parable, etc, used in the Scriptures. Because it was given by the inspiration of God, it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
In Proverbs 7: 6-23 is the story of a young boy who lost his life on his way to fornicate with a woman. Today, I want us to focus on a thing or two about this woman. Proverbs 7:10 says this: “And, behold, there met him a woman.............”There met him a woman implies that she was not a girl but an adult. The author did not tell us her name which meant that she could have been anyone - someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s wife, someone’s aunt, etc. The author was silent about her background, which meant that she could have come from any background. The author also did not talk about her race or the church that she attends, which meant that she could have come from any part of the world.The Bible says, "a woman" which meant that she could be single or married. It is safe to assume at this point that the bible could have been talking about any woman.
The bible then proceeded to tell us that she had the attire of a harlot. Proverbs 7:10 says, “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot....” I believe this woman was not a harlot. If she were a harlot, the Bible would have said so. Although she was not a harlot, she wore the attire of a harlot. This implies that clothes do not make a person but they speak for the person or they ascribe an identity to the person. I thought the next thing after “there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot” would be a detailed description of what she wore. Although the bible did not tell us what she wore, we were told of the condition of her heart – “and subtle of heart” I.e. crafty heart. What she wore was a reflection of what was inside of her. She put on the "attire of a harlot" to get the attention of the opposite sex. She presented herself in a way that recommended her for sex. Am I advocating that women should wear drab clothes? NO! Actually, the virtuous women in Proverbs dressed nicely and dressed their family well too (Proverbs 31:21-22). Despite the fact that this woman was married (Proverbs 7:19-20), her clothes revealed her heart. Outward beauty does not always equate inward beauty.
QUESTION: What does your attire say about you?
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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

Tuesday 12 July 2016

ARE YOU FREE?


MEMORY VERSE: If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 John 1-3

BIBLE READING: Mark 5:1-20

Most young people clamour for freedom or independence. They want to be free from dad and mum or their guardians. They want to be responsible to no-one, report to no-one, answer to no-one, and take instruction from no-one. They want to able do their own thing without anyone questioning them. They don’t want to be told how to dress, speak, or conduct themselves in the public. They want to be free to express themselves especially through their appearance, actions, words, etc. They no longer want to be confined or tied down by so-called “constraints”. They argue that “freedom” is necessary for them to be creative and to maximise their potential. You don’t have to be free to be creative. You can be creative whilst you are being discipled. One of the most creative kings in the history of man is King Uzziah. 2 Chronicles 26:15 says: “And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvellously helped, till he was strong.” He invented all those powerful engines whilst he was being discipled by Prophet Zechariah (2 Chronicles 26:5).

One thing I want you to know is that there are people whom God has ordained to disciple you. You need to be under certain people at certain times so as to become who God created you to be. If not for Eli, Samuel wouldn’t have learnt how to hear the voice of God. Just as you can’t be a medical doctor without going to the medical school, you can’t be who God created you to be without attending the school of disciples. It is a dangerous thing not to have someone you report to. A lot of social ills can be traced back to the lack of discipleship or mentoring. A man who is responsible to no-one may end up becoming irresponsible if care is not taken. From time to time, I hear people mention names of authors, they have neither met nor spoken to, as their discipler. That’s not possible. A discipler should be someone you can walk to and ask questions. A discipler should be someone who knows you personally. A man without a discipler is an easy prey for the enemy. Satan has put many, as a result of not being discipled, into bondage without knowing. A lot are in bondage without knowing. For instance, a lady who wears a short skirt she has to pull down every minute is not free. Or, one who can’t sit properly because of her skirt. Why make life difficult for yourself? Behind the clamor for freedom to do anything you want is the spirit of rebellion.

The first step in securing freedom is to accept that you are in bondage, just as the first step in solving any problem is to accept that there is a problem. God have been unable to help many because they have not accepted that they need His help. I hope our leaders will one day realise that they need God to solve our problems. The mad man of Gadara had to first accept that He was in bondage before Christ could help Him. The second step is run to Jesus. John 8:38 says: “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” That mad man saw Jesus and ran to Him. If you are yet to give your life to Christ, do so now. And if you have backslidded, you need to return to Him today. Once Christ sets you free, you need to walk in that freedom. One way to stay free is run from sin. Sin complicates your life.

QUESTION: Are you free? Not until you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and saviour, you are not free.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Sunday 10 July 2016

YOUR ASSOCIATION CAN BRING YOU BLESSINGS


MEMORY VERSE: 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. Psalm 1:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Malachi

BIBLE READING: Psalm 1:1-3

It is very important that you select your friends wisely and carefully. Why? Your friends or association will determine whether you will be a success or a failure. Your friends or association will determine whether you will have a happy marriage or not. Your friends will determine whether you will do well in an examination or fail. Your friends will determine the quality of life you will have. God, and you friends, will determine your lot in this life. How? Firstly, your friends will inform your confession and your confession will inform your lot in this life. According to Romans 10:17, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Just as faith comes by hearing, fear (opposite of faith) comes by hearing. Many today live in fear of people of certain religion because of what they have heard in the media... suicide bombing in this part of the world... suicide bombing in that part of the world... hate crimes being perpetrated by some members of this religion. This tiny group, within this religion, perpetrating this hate crime may not truly represent this religion; however, what we hear in the news about them has informed a lot of things. Everything you hear is a seed that will go into your soul and produce fruits. 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.” Whenever you see a brother saying there are no jobs or there are no good women to marry or there are no opportunities in this country, go and check out his friends. You will find that, 9 out of 10 times, his confessions are similar to those of his friends. If there is a problem with your confession, there will be a problem with your life because whatever you confess is what you will have (Numbers 14:28). If you make sickly confession, you will become sick.

Secondly, your association will inform your behaviour. The elders have a wise saying: “show me your friends and i will tell you who you are.” If you really want to know who a person is, look at their friends. I am always wary of so-called “good people” who have a lot of bad friends. The simple reason is that, the Word of God says: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed (Amos 3:3)?” For the sake of argument, let’s say he does not agree with the bad boy lifestyle; he is only their friend to change them. 1 Corinthian 15:33 says: “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” There is a saying in Latin: “qui cum canibus concumbunt cum pulicibus surgent”. The meaning in English is this, “he that lieth with dogs shall rise up with fleas”. Judas Iscariot’s association with the Pharisees turned him into a rogue disciple. It is easier to turn a good person into a bad person than to turn a bad person into a good person. Your association will affect how you perceive life. It will affect your attitude to life. If you sit around those who whinge, moan and complain, after a while you will unconsciously begin to whinge, moan and complain too. If care is not taken, people will start to avoid you or distant themselves from you because no one loves people who whinge. Thirdly, your association will inform what you get from the Lord. According to Psalm 1:1-3, association with the godly will bring increase and fruitfulness. Verse 1 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.” However, association with the ungodly will cause the opposite.

NOTE: If you are going to be successful in life, make sure you associate with those who will tell you the truth not those who will tell you what you want to hear.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Saturday 2 July 2016

AND THERE WAS FAMINE



MEMORY VERSE: And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land. Genesis 12:10

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Peter

Genesis 12:10 says: “And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.” Famine implies scarcity. You will experience famine whether you are a Christian or not. It could be famine of joy in your marriage, famine of job, famine of money, and as we are beginning to see famine of the Word (unadulterated word of God). These days, there is less emphasis on holiness and great emphasis on prosperity. Luke 12:15 says: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

There is always a reason for famine. Proverbs 26:2 says: “As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.” One of the things that inform famine of money is the lack of payment of tithes. Malachi 3:9-11 says: “Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.” Famine of breakthrough, at times, could be traced back to lack of soul winning. 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.” However, some famines are God ordained to train a man. For instance, the famine of job or unemployment which translates into lack of resources could be to train a man on how to manage his resources. Whenever you experience famine look inward. A famine of the Word or revelation is as a result of lack of altars – especially personal altars or quiet times.

Famine elicits a reaction. For instance, the famine of marriage has led some sisters, who were once convinced that the Lord did not want them to use make-up, to start to use make-up in order to attract brothers. A brother you attract with make-up will leave once the make-up fades away. Some who were convinced that fornication is a sin now fornicate due to famine of marriage. Your reaction to a famine situation matters. The bible records that Abram, as a result of famine, went DOWN into Egypt. Sister in Christ, as a result of famine of brothers, have you now lowered your standard that you are now willing to marry any brother even one that drinks and smokes? Is it because of famine of brothers that you have resulted to wearing revealing clothes and tight gowns? Has the famine of brothers now led you to go on social media to look for a brother? Is it because of famine of marriage that you are now allowing men to touch parts of your body that only your husband should touch? Brother, is it because of famine of sisters that you have now resulted to going to clubs and late night raves to meet women? You don't even pray anymore, the moment you get a number the next thing is you start thinking of how to take them out for a dinner. I pray you will not take a witch on a dinner in Jesus name. Brother, is it because of famine of resources that you have now began to forge invoices ? Man of God, has the famine of resources let you to start raising strange offerings?

NOTE: Whenever there is famine, look inward. Remember, your response to famine matters. You shall not go down in Jesus name.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Thursday 30 June 2016

HIS DISCIPLE OR THE MULTITUDES?



MEMORY VERSE: And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him. Matthew 5:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 9-10

Two categories of people followed Jesus: His disciples and the multitudes. His disciples were His followers; viz, the apostles (Matthew 10:2-4), the seventy- two (72) whom He sent in pairs to towns and places He planned to visit (Luke 10:1), Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), Mary called Magdalene, Joanna wife of Chuza (Luke 8:2-3), etc. The multitudes, on the other hand, were the nameless, faceless people who followed Jesus. They came to Him because they were in need of one thing or the other. They took their leave the moment He answered their prayers.The multitudes were always 'coming and going’; the disciples were with Him because they loved Him. The multitudes only wanted to receive; they never gave back in return. The disciples received and gave back to Him. Whilst the disciples were at His feet learning, the multitudes were busy chasing after things - things they would leave behind when they die. The disciples were always available - always available to run errands for Him. The multitudes, as you rightly guessed, were never available for work. The disciples shared the passion of Christ. They were with Jesus through thick and thin; the multitudes weren’t. Matthew 5:1 says:” And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him.”

Jesus dealt (and still deals) with these two groups - His disciples and the multitudes - differently. For instance, He spoke to the multitude in parables but He spoke to the disciples in plain words. Mark 4:11 says: “And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables.” The multitudes only saw Him when He wanted them to see Him. Luke 5:15-16 says: “But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” His disciples saw Him when they wanted. Jesus shared His secrets with His disciples. Luke 18:31 says: “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished.” Several months back, I walked past a man around our office and the Lord said to me, “that’s your new manager.” We had no manager at the time and I didn’t know the senior managers were recruiting for the position.  I told my colleagues when I returned to the office but they doubted me. Four hours later, the man was introduced to us as our new manager. Jesus rarely hid things from His disciples. He told them that one of them was going to betray Him.

QUESTION: Which of these two groups do you belong? Are you one of His disciples or multitudes?

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Sunday 12 June 2016

YOUR FAITH PLEASES GOD


MEMORY VERSE: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 13-15
BIBLE READING: Romans 4:16-22
There is nothing as insulting as your children doubting you or your ability to take care of them. Imagine for a second that you overheard one of your children expressing his doubts in your ability to look after him or meet his basic needs – cloth, food and shelter- with his friends. How would that make you feel as a loving, responsible father? It will hurt; i mean you will feel really disappointed especially if there are no bases for such. The same thing happens when we doubt the Most High God. There is nothing as insulting to God as doubting His ability or His words. Firstly, He does not tell lies. He has never told one and He has no need to tell one. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” Secondly, He is limited by nothing. He said to Jeremiah: “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me (Jeremiah 32:27)”? Thirdly, once He says something consider it done. Psalm 33:8-9 says, “Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
There was a great famine in Samaria that lasted so long resulting in people eating bird’s faeces and only the rich could afford it (2 Kings 6:25-2 Kings 7). Things were so bad that women began to eat their children. I pray you will never experience famine of any kind in Jesus name, Amen. And, if you are experiencing one at the moment the good Lord send provision your way in Jesus name, Amen. In the midst of this famine, God spoke and promised to turn things around within 24 hours. Everyone will have so much that there won't be need to buy anything, as such the price of food items would drop. One of the king’s advisers, a special adviser in God-knows-what said it was impossible. “Even if the Lord should open the floodgates of the heavens”, he said, “Could this happen?” This man called the Most High God a liar in the presence of all. The man of God said to him, “Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.” What caused the famine was Benhadad (king of Syria) besieged Samaria; no one could go in or come out thereby shutting off food supplies. The Lord caused Benhadad and his men to hear a strange noise and out of panic, they ran away leaving their horses and all they had acquired from their raids. The people heard the news, rushed out and collected spoils for themselves. To manage the situation, the king appointed that man who doubted the words of the Lord to manage and oversee the whole affair. As the people where rushing out they trampled on him and he died. He saw it but did not eat from it as the word of the Lord.
On the other hand, there is nothing that pleases God like faith in Him or His words. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Your faith pleases God. A man whose faith pleased God was Abraham. He was not just old, the bible says “He was well advanced in age”; so was his wife. The Lord said to Him, “I have made thee a father of many nations” and he believed God. As old as he was, coupled with the fact that his wife had stopped producing eggs as she had now reached menopause and passed it - if there is something as such, he believed God and God was pleased with him. Romans 4:22 says, “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
NOTE: No matter how impossible it may seem, if it is coming from God don’t doubt it. Remember, doubt is an insult to God’s personality.
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Thursday 9 June 2016

OF HIM SHALL BE MUCH REQUIRED



MEMORY VERSE: And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 10:12
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Peter 1-3

God is love (1 John 4:8). John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” However, He does not love all equally. The same God who created Jacob and Esau said: “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (Romans 9:13).” He loved Jacob more than Esau. Joseph had two sons: Manasseh (senior) and Ephraim (junior). He took them to his father,Jacob, for prayer. He put Manasseh, the older one, at his father’s right hand and Ephraim, the younger one, at his father’s left hand. When it was time to pray, the old man crossed his hands, and put his right hand on Ephraim, the younger one, and his left hand on Manasseh, the older one. When Joseph saw this, he was displeased. He tried to move his father’s hand from Ephraim to Manasseh but the old man refused. Genesis 48:19 says, “And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.” The Lord loved these two boys but He loved Ephraim more than Manasseh. 

The measure of love He dishes out to individuals varies. For example, Jesus Christ said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:44).” You are in Christ today because the Lord, out of His great love, drew you to Him. The same message you heard that made you give your life to Christ, others heard it and continued in their life of sin. Out of the several billions on the face of the planet today, He drew you to Christ. This is a proof that you are in receipt of a greater measure of His love. He drew you to Christ to give you a glorious future (Isaiah 3:10). He drew you to Christ to turn your shame into glory. Colossians 1:27b says, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” He drew you to Christ so that you will reign with His son in Heaven (. John 3:3-5). The more the measure of love He dishes out to a fellow, the more the amount of love He expects back from the fellow.  Luke 12:48 says, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” The Lord is beginning to pour out of His love in great measure to some of us. He is beginning to use some of us in various ways – ways beyond our wildest dreams. He is beginning to open doors to some of us. He is beginning to turn our lives around. He expects us to reciprocate those love back to Him.  Deuteronomy 10:12 says, “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” The Lord loved Solomon and blessed him. When he asked for wisdom, the Lord gave Him wisdom and riches. What did Solomon do? He reciprocated that love back to God. He offered a sacrifice of 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats (2 Chronicles 6:42). Ephraim,on the other hand, did not reciprocate it back. Instead, he began to follow after idols and the Lord abandoned him (Hosea 4:17). 

NOTE: If for one reason or the other, maybe due to sin,  He has turn His attention away from you, there is still something you can do. You can repent,  rededicate your life to Christ and start afresh. Judah became His favourite because Reuben, Simeon and Levi misbehaved badly. But one day, the whole Israel sinned and Moses said "whoever is on the Lord’s side come to me". Only the children of Levi went to him (Exodus 32:26). From that day, the Lord drew Levi back to Himself. Only Levi was allowed to come near the ark of God. If you demonstrate your love to Him, He will draw you to Himself. 

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Sunday 5 June 2016

PRESERVED BY FOCUS


MEMORY VERSE: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrew 12:2
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Haggai
Vision (the ability to see) is very important. Why? The man who cannot see will inevitably end up in a ditch. Matthew 15:14 says, “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” What a man sees can either make him or break him. For instance, Isaiah “saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple” and that changed him (Isaiah 6). Isaiah, like many of us, used his environment as a yardstick to measure his holiness. Whenever a man uses his environment or people fornicating and committing adultery around him as a yardstick to measure his holiness, he will always come out very holy. On that faithful day, he saw his holiness and God’s holiness and cried “woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). That singular event turned him into a broken man for the Lord. What John, a very hard man, very violent, nicked named son of thunder by Jesus (Mark 3:17), saw in Revelations 1 broke him completely. Revelations 1: 17 says “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last.”
However, what David saw in 2 Samuel 11 almost destroyed him. When David was meant to be at war fighting the Lord’s battle, he tarried back at home and slept. When he woke up, he saw a naked woman bathing and that was it. He committed adultery with her and killed the husband to hide the truth. What you see is important, but more important is what you focus on. Two people can see the same thing but focus on two different things. The twelve spies Moses sent to Canaan saw the same thing - the land of Canaan, the big fruits of Canaan, the men of Canaan, etc- but focused on different things (Numbers 13&14). Ten of them focused on the size of the men of Canaan and the other two focused on the word of God and God Himself. What the ten focused on informed their confession. Numbers 13:33 says, “And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” What the ten focused on informed their decision and actions. Numbers 14:4 says, “And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” All these led to their destruction. Numbers 14:30-30 says, “Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.” Do you know that what you focus on, at times, informs your dreams when you sleep? If you spend the whole day watching horror movies and all that, don’t be surprised if you sleep and find strange creatures chasing after you in your dreams. Or if you indulge in pornography, don’t be surprised if you sleep and find yourself making love to strange people in your dream. Ecclesiastes 5:3 says, “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.” Your focus will preserve you. What kept Jesus going despite the rejections He received was His focus. Luke 23:18 says, "And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas." The bible records “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrew 12:2). What made Jesus say “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42), was His focus. If you focus on your present situation you will be discouraged, and if care is not taken you may fall into sin. Focus on the promises of God for your life, as recorded in the bible, and you will be greatly encouraged. What will keep you going during times of trial is your focus.
NOTE: If you focus on the work to be done to achieve something you will be discouraged, but if you focus on the rewards on completion of that task, you will be strengthened.
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Saturday 4 June 2016

TEN CHEESES



MEMORY VERSE: And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge. 1 Samuel 17:18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ecclesiastes 5-6

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 17:16-19

Noah Webster’s dictionary 1828 defines a key as “an instrument for shutting or opening a lock, by pushing the bolt one way or the other. Keys are of various forms, and fitted to the wards of the locks to which they belong.” Today, due to technological advancements, the definition of a key has changed slightly. A more general definition of a key is anything that grants one entry into a place or something. The moment we hear the word “key” what comes to mind is a door. Then, what is a door? A door is simply anything that is used to restrict access into a place/something or out of a place/something . You need a key to open or lock a door. Certain keys open certain doors. The key to my front door should only open my front door. The same thing with yours. If your front door key suddenly opens my front door then something must be wrong. Actually, it means i need to change my front door lock. The bible contains several keys to open certain doors in our lives. For example, the key to promotion is diligence. Proverbs 22:29 says, “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” The key to heaven is salvation . John 3:3 says” Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Romans 10:9-10 say, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

The key to reaping is sowing. Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” A man who sows nothing will reap nothing. The key to abundance of resources is giving. Proverbs 11:25 says, “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Be a giver. Give to God and give to men also. You can pray from today till tomorrow, if you don’t sow you will not reap.One thing i have found with most billionaires -if not all- is that they give to charity a lot. I am talking of genuine billionaires, those who worked for it not those who stole from the government. The Lord is always prospering 'givers'. He is always opening doors for them. Your gifts will open doors for you. Proverbs 18:16 says, “A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.” Please we are not talking of giving bribes or accepting bribes. A true child of God will neither give bribe or nor accept one. Your gifts will bring you favour before God and before man. Your gifts will open doors to your  children and bring them favour also. What granted David access to the battle ground was his father’s gift to that captain of thousand. 1 Samuel 17:18 says, “And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.” No civilian is allowed into the camp except he has a personal message for the king or the general and in the case of David, he had a message for the captain of thousand. They allowed him in to deliver his message to the general who was at the battlefront. (Generals are always at the battlefront giving out instructions and cordinating things). Whilst there, David heard Goliath boasting, fought him and won the price. Those ten cheeses brought him favour before the captain of thousands. It is possible that it was this captain that granted David access to Saul when he volunteered to fight Goliath.   

NOTE: It is one thing to want to give; it is another to have the resources to give. Pray that God will put resources in your hand so that you can be a giver.

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Wednesday 1 June 2016

THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY GHOST



MEMORY VERSE: Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 1 Samuel 16:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: II Chronicles 33-36

BIBLE READING: 1Samuel 16:13 -23

The Most High God is the best friend any man can have. According to 1 John 4:8, He is love. One thing every loving person enjoys doing is giving gifts especially to those they love. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God, being the definition of love, give gifts to His friends. The costlier the gift is, the greater the love. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” It is very difficult to give one’s life for an innocent person not to talk of a worthless sinner like you and i. Yet, He gave His precious life for us. Romans 5:8 says: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He is the best friend any man can have, He is also the worst enemy any man can have. He is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). According to Psalm 97:3 says,” A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.” To be an enemy of the One who fire goes before and consumes His enemies is suicide. As such, He is an enemy no one wants to have. 

The last thing you want to do is rebel against Him. King Saul became a rebel and the Lord  abandoned him (1 Samuel 15:23). 1 Samuel 16:14 says, “But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.” To calm him down whenever the evil spirit tormented him, they searched for a skilful harp player and found David – a man anointed with the Holy Ghost (1 Samuel 6:13). A look into a David’s life from the day he was anointed reveals some of what the anointing of the Holy Ghost does in a man’s life. The anointing will attract attention to you –  it can be embarrassing at times. As the Lord began to move in David’s life people began to notice him even Saul’s servant. The anointing will differentiate you from your peers. There were several skillful harp players in Israel but David stood out. He was the only one invited to the palace. The anointing turns a man into an instrument of deliverance. David would play an ordinary harp and demons will run. Through the anointing one becomes a solution. When the king had mental problems the Lord used David to heal him. When Goliath terrorised the people of God, the Lord used David to solve that problem. The anointing will also cause a divine relocation. David who used to reside on hills and in caves with sheep began to live in the palace. The anointing causes a shift in circumstances or a change of position. David ,a shepherd boy, became the king’s boy and dined with the king. The anointing attracts favour.

NOTE: Just as the anointing will attract the attention of man, it will also attract the attention of demons. Just as it will attract favour, promotion, and other good things, it will attract challenges – unusual challenges. The moment David was anointed several wild animals began to appear – lions, bears, etc. After the animals came Goliath. The reason why you are facing unusual challenges could be because of what you are carrying within. However, the power to tear lions apart, blow bears to death, cut off the head of Goliath comes with the anointing. 

PRAYER POINT: Father, please fill anoint me with the Holy Ghost.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Monday 30 May 2016

“AND CHOSE HIM FIVE SMOOTH STONES”

MEMORY VERSE: And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.  1 Samuel 17:40

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 10-12

In 1 Samuel 17 is one of the most popular stories – if not the most popular - in the world: the story of David and Goliath. It is a story of good conquering evil. It is a story of possibilities.The story is about a little boy who took on a big man and defeated him. David was a little shepherd boy. One day his aged father, Jesse, sent him to the battlefield to deliver some food supplies to his brothers who were fighting alongside Saul. When he got there, he saw this big strong giant challenging the armies of Israel. 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.” The giant’s name was Goliath. He was a Philistine. He was an undefeated champion as such no one knew his weakness. His voice terrified everyone; his presence caused everyone to run. He was a terror! On hearing his boastful words, David decided to take him on. The small man, an ordinary civilian, a youth with no military experience, decided to take on the big tall man – probably the tallest in the word at that time - a war veteran, a decorated soldier. 

David and Goliath stepped forward. Goliath came dressed for war. He wore a bronze helmet, an impenetrable coat of mail, and shin armour on his legs. David wore a simple shepherd’s cloth made of wool. Goliath came with a massive javelin, a sword strapped to his sheath and the widest shield available – so big that he employed someone to carry it for him. David on the other hand came with a sling and 5 stones. 1 Samuel 17:40 says, “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” David chose "five" stones not "six" or "four". Why? The number 5 symbolizes God’s grace, goodness and favour toward humans. As Goliath drew near to him, he took one of the stones and slung it, and it struck Goliath, sinking to his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. David took Goliath’s sword and cut off Goliath’s head. David accomplished -in hours- what others could not accomplish in forty days using five stones (grace). To accomplish what others could not accomplish, whether in ministry or in your personal life, you need the grace of God. To do the impossible, you need the grace of God. David with the five stones proved the doubter’s wrong. Friend, you will need the grace of God to proof the doubters wrong. It is not enough to be a Christian. After all, there were several Israelites that day but none could take on Goliath except the brother with the grace (Brother David). To come into a team and make so much impact in a very short time takes the grace of God. That’s exactly what happened to David. Within few hours of arriving at the battle front, Goliath was already on the floor. David did not pick any-how stones. He carefully selected five smooth stones. Why? God only uses smooth stones not rough ones. You see, a stone is rough by nature but the ones David chose had been worked on. Those stones had weathered the storm. Rain had fallen on them. They had been kicked about as a result of human activities. They have been through a lot and as a result, all the rough edges had been eroded away. The Most High God will not use a rough man to bring down Goliath. He will always use a smooth stone – a man He has trained and worked on. 

QUESTION: What kind of stone are you? A rough one? Or a smooth one? Have you laid your life so that He can work on you or you are busy running after things?

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world