“AND HE CHANGETH THE TIMES “

MEMORY VERSE: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. Daniel 2:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 5-9

BIBLE READING: John 2:1-11

God has kept everything He created in the hands of time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11). This is why the preacher says: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Every human being is limited by time. Some of us wished we had 32 hours instead of the regular 24 hours available to everyone. Even Jesus, whilst He was on earth, was in one way or the other limited by time. John 9:4 says, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” This is a proof that He was fully human when He was on the earth. There are other proofs that Jesus was fully human when He was on the earth. For example, He had a human body. He was born (Luke 2:7). He grew (Luke 2:40,52). He grew tired (John 4:6), and got thirsty ( John 19:28), and hungry ( Matthew 4:2).  He became physically weak ( Matthew 4:11; Luke 23:26). He died (Luke 23:46), and He had a real human body after his resurrection ( Luke 24:39; John 20:20, 27).

Also, He had human emotions. When Jesus heard the centurion’s words of faith, “he marvelled” (Matthew 8:10). He says in Matthew 26:38 that His “soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” In John 11:35 He wept. John 12:27 says, “Now is my soul troubled", and in John 13:21, He is “troubled in his spirit.” According to Hebrews 5:7 “He offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears”. He even had a human mind. Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man.” Mark 13:32 says, “concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Do you know He even had a human will? The proof is found in Matthew 26:39 when He said, “not as i will, but as you will”. 

John 2:4 says, “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.” There are several lessons to learn from this verse. Firstly, Jesus, whilst He was on the earth, was limited by time. Every man too , whilst on this earth, is limited by time. There was a serious need  but the need could not be met because of time (John 2:1-4). Secondly, Jesus had His own time. John 2:4 says, “.......mine hour is not yet come”. Also, you and i have own time. I am not talking about owning a wristwatch. I am talking of a time the Lord has set apart to either visit us or meet our needs.I am talking of a time God has set apart to work through us or answer our prayers or for an important event to take place in our life. Only God knows our time, as such we must be patient with Him. Thirdly, time can be moved. It can be fast forwarded, paused, or reversed.  Because God wanted to meet the needs of that newlywed couple, He fast forwarded Jesus' time so that He was able to perform that miracle. So also dear brethren, God is able to fast forward our time. He can give a man 2018 blessing in 2015. One may wonder, what will now happen in 2018? Well, in 2018 He will give the fellow another blessing again. 

PRAYER POINT: In the name of Jesus, spirit of delay i bind you in my life, under the Blood of Jesus, pack you bag and never return.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

HE OWNS TIME SO HE IS NEVER LATE

Memory verse: He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 50-52

Yesterday, we looked at the story of Lazarus – the friend of Jesus. He took ill so his sisters – Mary and Martha, sent a message to Jesus , Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. On getting this message, Jesus could have sent His word to Lazarus and he would have been healed right away but he did not. He could have rushed to the home of Lazarus and lay hands on him, but he stayed a bit longer. He purposely delayed so that He can give this family a bigger miracle. Which is bigger, the healing of Lazarus or the raising up of Lazarus from the dead? Obviously, the raising up of Lazarus from the dead. Finally, He arrived a few days later, by this time, Lazarus was now dead and buried. To everyone, it was over. To the family of Lazarus, Jesus arrived too late. Martha said if only you had been here few days ago, my brother would still be alive (John 11:21). Mary said Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died (John 11:32).

One thing everyone failed to realise was that, it is impossible for God to be late. One of the reasons why He can never be late is that He controls time. Daniel 2:21 says He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He owns time. He can pause time, for instance in Joshua 10:12, God caused the Sun to stand still at Gibeon and Moon in the valley of Ajalon. Not only can He pause time, He can reverse time. Sarah had not only passed child bearing, her womb was dead (Romans 4:19). The Lord reversed her time so that the woman who had stopped menstruating for over 30 years began to menstruate again. Within a year, she gave birth to a bouncing baby boy. He can also fast forward time. What you are meant to receive in two years time, He can decide to give it to you today. In John 2:1-10, Jesus was invited to a wedding in Cana of Galilee and the wine finished. When the mother approached Him for a miracle, He said mine hour is not yet come, shortly after that, being an obedient child, He fast forwarded His time just to give the couple a miracle.

As far as you remain steadfast in your service to God and committed to the things of God, I can assure you, God will answer your prayers. As far as you continue to live a pleasing life to Him, He will come through for you. As far as you do not substitute Jesus for something else, you will rejoice at last. One fact of life is, your timing is not His timing. What you are looking at and thinking, I need this right away, God could be looking at the same thing and thinking, this thing will kill this boy if I give to him right away. I will delay it for another six months when He would have grown more spiritually and will be able to handle it. Asides from that, God could even have a better thing in mind than what you are asking for. Do not lose hope, do not relent, do not back slide, keep on serving Him, you will rejoice at last.

ACTION: Pray for all those looking for the fruit of the womb that the Lord will give them their babies soon.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.