“FOR IT IS WRITTEN”

MEMORY VERSE: Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. Matthew 26:31

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ephesians 5 – Philippians 3

Whilst keeping Passover, what we now call the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, with His twelve disciples, Jesus shared some things with His disciples that caused them to seriously consider their commitments to Him. Many of us claim that we love Christ, but when you hear testimonies of what some brethren did for Christ, you will be challenged. Your love for Christ will cost you something. What has your love for Christ cost you? Your love for Christ will cost you your tight dress and short skirts. You see, when you give your life to Christ, ‘dressing to kill’ will no longer appeal to you because you want people to see Christ when they see you. Your love for Christ will cost you your social life. No more clubbing or late night parties. It will cost you your freedom. Christ will put His yoke on you and you become His forever. You used to be your own master, but now that you have given your life to Christ, He becomes your new master.

Whilst eating Passover, Jesus told His disciples: “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31). Jesus while on earth spent time with the scriptures. He studied it, meditated on it, memorized it, and applied it correctly. Bible studies was not a ‘Sunday Sunday’ affair to Jesus, it was a regular affair. Jesus was able to speak about His future confidently because He knew what the scripture said about Him. Friend, do you know what the scriptures says about your future? Whether the enemy likes it or not, you will not die before your time. Not only that, you will not die single or childless for it is written: “There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil (Exodus 23:26).” Jesus was able to say, “For it is written” because He had studied the scriptures. I remember when I had challenges at work and was suspended for investigation, I told some brothers, “I will not lose my Job because Christ in me the Holy of glory (Colossians 1:27).”

Daniel was able to deliver his nation from bondage because he studied the scriptures. He said in Daniel 9:2:” I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, where of the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Daniel discovered something that saved a whole nation from his personal study of the scriptures. Friend, what you have discovered in your personal bible study? Unless you spend time with your bible, there are some promises you will never discover. Have you discovered what God said in the scriptures concerning that re-occurring challenges? Nahum 1:9 says, “What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.”  Take this word to Him in prayer and watch that affliction rise no more.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: When you search the scriptures, you find spiritual nuggets

PRAYER: Father, as I study your Word, open my eyes to behold wondrous things out of it.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

SIBLING RIVALRY

MEMORY VERSE: And the children struggled together within her, and she said, if it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord. Genesis 25:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Second Corinthians 9-11

Sibling rivalry can be defined as competition or animosity between siblings. It often starts even before the second child is born, and continues as the kids grow and compete for everything from toys to attention. Every one of us, except if you are the only child, can relate to this. Am sure you will be able to remember a time in your life when you and your brothers or sisters fought, argued, or tried to outsmart each other. Sibling rivalry has brought division in some families today.  You see brothers and sisters not talking to each other, working against each other, blaming each other for their problems, and so on. Let us look at some instances of sibling rivalry in the bible. In Genesis 4:1-8, is an instance of sibling rivalry between two brothers of the same parents, Cain and Abel. Also in Genesis 27 is another account of sibling rivalry between two brothers of the same parents, Jacob and Esau. The rivalry between Jacob and Esau started when they were in their mother’s womb. Both of them fought morning, afternoon and night. Rebekah, their mother, had no peace, when the jostling became unbearable, she ran to God. Genesis 25:22 says, “And the children struggled together within her, and she said, if it be so, why am I thus? And she went to inquire of the Lord.”   In Genesis 21:8-9, an account of sibling rivalry between two step brothers, Ishmael and Isaac, is recorded. Sibling rivalry is also common in ladies. In Genesis 30 is a record of sibling rivalry between two sisters of the same parents, Rachel and Leah. The case of Joseph and his eleven brothers is another instance of sibling rivalry. Sibling rivalry is also present in extended families. For instance, in Numbers 16, an account of sibling rivalry is recorded between some sons of Levi, certain Reubenites, 250 Israelite community leaders, Moses and Aaron. In Numbers 12:1 -10, we see an instance of sibling rivalry between aged prophet and prophetess of God - Moses, Aaron and Miriam.

Sibling rivalry is a tool the enemy uses to breakup families. When he wants to rob a family of something good, kill or destroy them, he employs sibling rivalry. As we will see later in these series, he uses it to inflict pains on siblings and their parents. Friend, is there a rivalry between you and your siblings? Hebrew 12:14 says, “Follow peace with all men…” Unless you do something about that rivalry between you and your siblings, you may miss heaven. Is there a brother or sister you are not in talking terms with? Brethren, make peace with him or her. Parents, has sibling rivalry begun to grow between your children? Pray that the Lord will give you the wisdom to quench it. Also, pray for the spirit of love between your children. That sibling rivalry, if left unchecked could break up your family.

PRAYER POINT: Father, let love grow in our families.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

JESUS GREW

MEMORY VERSE: and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man, Luke 2:52

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 7-8, Rom 6, Jer 44-45, Luke 13

From the moment a pregnant woman puts to bed, the baby starts growing. The body weight increases by about 30% and the length by 20%. At a point the baby starts crawling, from crawling to standing unassisted, from standing unassisted to walking, from walking to running or jumping. As the baby begins to grow in height and weight, his immune system too develops. With time the boy grows into a teenager, from a teenager to a youth and finally becomes a man. As the boy passes from a boy to a teenager, the parents begins to assign some responsibilities to him. Not only that, they also begin to commit one or two resources into his hands too. As he grows, the responsibility increases so also the resources.

The same thing happened in the life of Jesus when He was on earth. The bible records that He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, Luke 2:52. What Jesus was able to do at the age of thirty, He could not do them at the age seven. As a teenager, He did not raise the dead or walk on water or open the eyes of the blind. It wasn’t because the power was unavailable; it was because He needed to grow to a certain level before the power was committed to Him. No matter how much a father loves his son, he will never buy him a Jaguar. It is not because he cannot afford it or because he hates him, it is because the son is not matured enough to own a Jaguar.

The Most High is a responsible father; He will never commit His resources into the hands of a baby Christian. The Lord has great plans for each and every of His children but the plans will not come to fruition until we grow spiritually. The reason why many promises are delayed is because the recipients of such promises are not matured enough to handle the fulfillment of the promises. If the Lord should grant the request of some of us, we will abuse it because we are not matured spiritually to handle the blessings. He will rather wait until we are matured enough to handle them than give it to us and we mess up. The blessings of many are been delayed because the recipients need to grow in humility and love. All some sisters’ need to grow in is humility and the Lord will bring the brother. All some brothers need to grow in is love and the Lord will bring the sister. Your spiritual prosperity will determine your physical prosperity, 3 John 1:2. There are two activities that have been found to be very helpful when it comes to growth spiritually – meditating on the word of God and praying in tongue. If you would meditate on a chapter daily and speak in tongues for an hour daily, within weeks you will be amazed by your spiritual growth.

ACTION POINT: Meditate on a chapter of the bible daily.

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

MEMORY VERSE: take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life, Proverbs 4:13

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 12-13, Ps 145, Jer 6, Matt 20

Your destiny is tied to the word of God. Whether you will reach your potential in Jesus or not will be decided by your relationship with the word of God. One thing everybody wants is success – success in marriage, business, ministry, e.t.c. I don’t think there is anyone who sincerely wants to fail; even the Lord wants you to succeed. According to Jeremiah 29:11, the thoughts of God towards you are of peace and to give you an expected end. Whether his thoughts towards you will come to fruition or not will be decided by the time spent in bible studies. According to Psalms 1:1-3 , a man who delights in the word of God and studies it will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings fruit in his season. Not only that whatever such men does will prosper. Wondering why you always fail despite all your efforts, it could be because you only read your bible only on Sunday or you don’t even have one at all.

Job was the greatest of all men of the east, Job 1:3. I have always wondered how this man managed to do it. The secret to Job’s greatness is in his relationship with the word of God. Job 23:12 says neither I have gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Another reason why you need to study the bible is because it has medicinal value. If only you would dedicate time to study the word of God, your visits to the hospital will greatly reduce. According to Proverbs 4:20& 22, the word of God is life and health to your flesh. Not only that, it is also medicine to your soul. James 1:21 says humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. The word of God is also able to heal and deliver from destruction, Psalm 107:20.

One question people always ask is that is it possible for one to live a life of holiness in this generation? Can a man do without sinning at all? If living a life of Holiness is not possible, then God will not require it of us. 1 Peter 1:16 says be ye holy; for I am holy. It is possible to live a life of Holiness in this generation. The question is how? The secret is meditating on the word of God. Psalm 119:11 says thy word I have hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. You want to live above sin? Hide the word of God in your heart. The word of God cleanses you, John 15:3. What is the minimum required no of times, I need to study my bible as a Christian? Twice a day. When you go through the scriptures for example Joshua 1:8; Psalms 1:1-3, e.t.c. you see the Lord emphasizing that you study the bible day and night. Without bible studies, you may be behind in all you do. The word of God is your life so hold on to it.

QUESTION: When was the last time you studied your bible?