TRUST HIS WISDOM

MEMORY VERSE: And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. Genesis 12:5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 24-27

Don’t marry a brother or sister out of pity. You don’t marry a brother because a lot of sisters have disappointed him. Also, you don’t marry a sister because a lot of brothers have broken her heart. It will be a naive thing to do. It is never too late to stop a relationship if you are not sure if it is God’s will. It is not a pleasant thing to do, actually, it can be very demanding and a lot of emotions are involved. But, if you have prayed and you are convinced that the brother or sister is not God’s will for your life, stop the courtship. It does not matter how far you have gone in the relationship, as far as you are not married and there are no kids between the two of you, i will advise you both to go back to the prayer room. Don’t marry a brother or sister because of what you can see in that brother or sister’s life today. When it comes to the decision of who to marry, wait to hear from God.

Genesis 12:1 says, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:” Abram moved out of his country, his kindred i.e. his tribe or clan, but not from his father’s house. Genesis 12:5 says, “And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.” There was a reason why God told Abram to leave his nation, his kindred and his father’s house. There is always a reason behind God's instruction. The reason(s) may not be obvious at the time of the instruction, but i want you to know that God will never ask you to do something without a reason, and most likely it is always for your benefit. In the case of Abram, God saw what Abram could not see. The Most High saw the future; He saw the fight between Abram’s herdsmen and Lot’s herdsmen even before Lot was born (Genesis 13:4-6). He knew Lot was going to turn against his uncle, Abram, so He told Abram to move out and take no one with him – including Lot. Abram didn’t understand God’s instruction.  To him, Lot was just a boy. Actually, at the time God spoke, Lot must have been a well behaved young man for Abram to have taken him along.

Abram never envisaged that Lot was going to turn out to be an ingrate.  It never, for once, crossed his mind that Lot will become a thorn in his flesh.  When God warns you against a particular relationship or a fellow, please take heed. At the time of warning, you may not see anything wrong in the relationship or with the fellow. Actually, the person may appear very hot for the Lord and you think the fellow is a saint. It is until later that you will realise that God was right. John 7:24 says, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”Trust God’s judgment of a fellow or a situation, because He knows more than you do. If you don’t take heed when He warns you, you will have yourself to blame. I hope you will take heed so that it will be well with you.  God knows what people will do at a time in the future, so He warns us in advance. Abram thought He knew Lot but He didn’t. God knows that sister more than you do. God knows that brother more than you do. God knows that business more than you do. By the time the real Lot came out, Abram was dumbfounded.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: When you allow people who are not meant to be in your life into your life, what is not meant to happen to you will happen.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please uproot every tree you have not planted in my life.

twitter@BroOluwatoki
 

TEST OF TRUST

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee. Genesis 12:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Isaiah 37-40

BIBLE STUDY: Genesis 12:1-3

In Genesis 12:1-3, God told Abram to pack his bag and baggages and leave town for a place He will show him. A lot of us have read this story but not really grasped what God was asking Abram to do. Imagine for a second, whilst busy at work reading your emails, God told you to go home, pack your bags , pick a bus going out of town and drop at a station He will show you. Ordinarily , people don’t like changing their enviroment. One thing I dread most is moving house, it takes a week to pack everything , 2 – 3 days to move , another week or two to unpack and rearrange stuffs and forever to settle into the new enviroment. Asides the fact that God is asking you to move from a familiar enviroment – friends and family, He is asking you to go to an unknown place. At least if you know the place , you will be able to prepare for the new town. If it is a warm area, you will buy some T-shirts . If it is a cold area, you will buy some sweaters and jumpers. More over you will be able to arrange for an accomodation in advance, but in this case , God is saying leave all - your work, family and friends, support network ,everything familiar to you to a place He will tell you. You agree it is a hard one. This was what God was asking Abram to do. His case was harder because he had to go with his family. In every way we look at it, emotionally , mentally, financially, it wasn’t an easy one for Abram.

The question is why did’t God tell him the location before leaving .God did this to check if Abram would trust Him with his life and family. He did that to see if Abram would obey His instruction without arguing. God wanted to see if Abram would depend on His word not his knowledge. Because Abram trusted God with his life and family , God gave him seven blessings. Firstly, He made him a great nation. Secondly, He blessed him. Thirdly, He made his name great. Fourthly, He made him a blessing. This is why today we say Abraham’s blessing are ours. Fiftly, He blessed all those that blessed Him. Sixtly , He cursed all those that cursed him and Seventhly, He ensured that through Abram all the nations of the world are blessed.

TO PONDER: In our walk with Christ, we will be faced with situations and circumstances that will demand that we trust God’s word with all.Can you trust God’s word with your life and family?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

THE GOD OF PEREZ

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 34, Mark 5, Job 1, Romans 5

Genesis 38:29 and it came to pass, as he drew back his hand , that behold , his brother came out; and she said , How hast thou broken forth? This breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Perez.

Bible studies: Genesis 38:27-30

In our bible studies we read an account of events that took place in a particular labor room. Tamar the daughter in law of Judah was pregnant with twins and was putting to bed. The part of the baby that usually comes out first is the head and then the body. In this case one of the twins put out his hands first. The midwives then tied a scarlet on his wrist indicating he was the firstborn. The boy withdrew his hand and the midwives thought he was going to come out with the head but something shocking happened. The other twin in the womb came out instead. The midwives wondered out that happened? They literally asked the baby how he managed to do that i.e. this breach be upon you! They named him Perez. The other twin with the scarlet on his wrist came out and they called him Zerar.

At the beginning Zerar took the lead by putting out his hands and he was recognized immediately. They put a scarlet thread on his hands (form of an award). The midwives concluded he was the first born. They decided his destiny and put him ahead of his brother. As from that day, Zerar would always come before Perez. When it comes to inheritance, Zerar would get the lion share. When it comes speaking in the family, the opinion of Zerar will supersede that of his brother Perez. At that point, the destiny of Perez was also decided that he would be a follower all his life. Even if he tried, the best he can get is second. The God of Perez moved into action and changed things. Zerar withdrew his hands and Perez came out with the head making him the first born. The life of many can be compared to that of Perez; no one has ever paid attention to them because they felt they are second best. There are many who are unhappy because they consider themselves as been behind in life. They are yet to gain admission into the university while all their friends have all graduated and gotten jobs. They are single while their friends are now married with children. They are still applying for jobs while their friends are getting promotion at work or setting up their business and prospering. It is a bad place to be in life because people will start coming up with funny things. Some will say it is because you are too lazy or you are too proud that’s why you are single.At times people even attribute it to sin .The God of Perez is alive and He will help you in Jesus name. The meaning of Perez is making an opening through constant hammering. Whilst in the womb Perez did not give up. Despite the fact that Zerar had already put out his hands and had been recognized, he continued to make an effort. Perez also means to cause an interruption in a pattern. When you continue to make an effort you cause an interruption in pattern. Perez was a product of persistent effort and trust in the Lord. Psalm 25:3 says no one who trusts in the You will be disgraced. You may be behind today but as far as the God of Perez is concerned, the race is far from over. Keep working and trusting the Lord, I will soon hear your testimony, Amen.

KEY WORD: Perez was a product of persistence and trust in the Lord.

GREATER TOMORROW

Job 8:7 – though your beginning was small, yet your latter end would increase abundantly.
 For every beginning, there is an ending. For every first, there is a last. For every start, there is a finish. The only One who has no ending is God because He has no beginning. Colossians 1:17 says He is before all things. One common feature of every beginning is they are always small. Huge lions are born as little harmless cubs , mighty giants are born as little babies. Contrary to popular beliefs, your beginning  has nothing to do with your end. How a man starts a race does not determine how he will end the race. Saul started as an ordinary farm boy but he ended up on the throne. One’s position at the beginning does not necessarily determine one’s position at the end. Joseph started as the second to the last born but  he ended up as the first in the family. Gideon started from the smallest tribe in Israel, smallest family in his tribe, least in his father’s house but he ended as the first in the whole nation. One’s status or role at the beginning has got nothing to do with one's future . Daniel started as a slave in a foreign land and ended up as second in Command to the Most Powerful man in the world! By the special grace of God i have seen a toilet cleaner become a manager in the same company. So the beginning has got nothing to do with the ending. Rahab started as a prostitute in Jericho but ended up as the great grandmother of David in Israel.

  Your end is not determined by the support network around you or your experience or what you know or who you know. It is decided by two factors – God and you.Zechariah 4:6 says it is not by power nor by strength but by the spirit of the living God. Strength can fail – Isaiah 40:30, Riches can develop wings and fly away – Proverbs 23:5 but our God remains. God has made up His mind to give you a great future. Jeremiah 29:11 says for I know the thoughts i have towards you says the Lord of Host, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. God’s part is settled, it is our part that we need to worry about. To have a greater tomorrow it takes our willingness and obedience. Isaiah 1:19 says if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. It takes strong faith in God. Mark 9:23 says all things are possible to him who believes. It takes humility and submission to God and authorities. Proverbs 16:5 says a proud heart is an abomination to God. It takes prayers and fasting. Matthew 17:21 says howbeit this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting. There are some breakthroughs that come only by fasting and prayer. It takes a life of Holiness. Hebrew 12:14 says without holiness no man shall see God. You want to see God in that challenge? Live holy. God is ready and waiting to take you to the top. Are you ready?

PRAYER POINT: Father , I am ready please give the grace to pay the price to reach the top.

IDENTIFYING THE WISE PART 2

Proverbs 12:8 –A man will be commended according to his wisdom but he who has a perverse heart will be despised.
According to Job 28:28, wisdom is the fear of the Lord.

As earlier discussed, there are four ways to identify the wise. We have discussed the first two; we will quickly look at the last the two.

Thirdly, the wise are identified by their actions. 1 John 3:7 says little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. By people’s action we can tell if they are wise or not i.e. if the fear of the Lord is present in their heart or not. Matthew 7:16 says by their fruits you shall know them. Anyone who truly fears God will not commit abortion. Many of us claim we fear God but our actions speak otherwise. If we ask the question who loves the Lord, almost everyone will raise up their hands. Jesus says in John 14:15, if you love me obey my commandments. Anyone who fears God will not have issues with paying his or her tithes.

Fourthly, the wise are identified by they stand for. Isaiah 32:8 says but a generous man devises generous things and by generosity he shall stand. A wise man or woman stands up for wise decisions. A brother or sister who fears the Lord will stand for righteousness.  What do we stand for? Do we stand for revenge or forgive and forget? Do we stand for racism and tribalism? Do we stand for the truth?
Proverbs 8:13 says to fear the Lord is to hate evil. One thing Christians are permitted to hate is the devil and evil things. The wise i.e. those who fear the Lord will not permit dodgey or funny deals to go on around them because they abhor evil. They hate fornication and adultery with a passion.

ACTION POINTS: Take necessary steps to be in the camp of the wise.

TRUST IN THE LORD

Proverbs 3:5 says Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding.

We have seen people who trust in their ability or looks to bring them a particular results. Others have their trusts in material possession, some have put their trust in some rich uncle or well to do family member.
It is only when we appreciate the real meaning of trust , then only we will come to the conclusion that trusting in anything aside God is foolishness.The dictionary defines trust as reliance on the

integrity,strength,ability,surety of a person or thing.How can one rely on the strength of a fellow man when the bible says in Isaiah 40:30 that human strength diminishes?How can a man put his trust in anything on this earth when Luke 21:33 says Heaven and earth will pass away?

Trusting in anything other than God will bring disappointment. Isaiah 31:1 says Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and rely on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD! According to Isaiah 30:7 any other help aside the help from God is utterly useless.A trust in anything aside God will bring fear and shame , Isaiah 20:5.

The only One you trust is God.Psalm 32:10 says the trust in the Lord brings mercy. Psalm37:5 says commit your way to the Lord , trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass. Those who trust in the Lord or His words will not be put to shame. Psalm 34:5 says they look to Him and they were radiant and their faces were never ashamed.

Do you know that those who trust in God , trust in His timing and do not mind waiting on Him?

PRAYER POINT: Father ,let my trust in you be total

Vanity of Influential people

VANITY OF INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE

Monday 3 September                              Bible in one year: Esther 8-10

Memorise: The Lord is good,a strong hold in day of trouble;and he knoweth them that trust in him. Nahum 1:7

Read : Hosea 10:13-15

Due to the nature of man,placing your hope on associates can cause the death of your expectations. The reasons some are hopeful of getting a job or a particular contract is because a friend or close associate has assured them of assistance. Never allow any associate take the place of God in your life!In Jeremiah 9:2-4,Jeremiah warned the Israelite that they should not put their trust in their brother or neighbor because their lifestyles was replete with lies.Jesus did not commit Himself to man because He could see how vain they were(John 2:24-25). For those living in these last days, the Bible paints a bleak picture of their character even believers are not spared because,commitment to the truth is ebbing fast. It is increasingly difficult to really have someone to trust among professing Christians today because many have adopted and retained some level of falsehood. Before you enter into partnership with fellow believers, be led of God to the specific believer or else, you would be thoroughly disappointed by the actions of some Christians whose lives have been taken over by the love of money and falsehood.

Similarly , any expectation build on influential people such as those in government ,family,church , academia,trade unions,etc., can easily disappoint because those making the promises are ordinary men. How many people who voted into public offices have truly kept their promises? Basing your hopes on such people could cause a heart attack when they disappoint you.God raised the nation of Israel through the ranks; from humble beginnings with inexperienced soldiers to a greatly fortified nation with mighty warriors . But what did the people do? They took their trust from God and placed it in their mighty men. No wonder God told them they would fail (Hosea 10:13-15). The  confidence of some Christians has shifted from God to their prayer contractors. Even some church leaders now put their trust in their prayer band members forgetting that when men pray, it is left to God whether to answer or not. If He refuses to answer, you cannot take Him to court. Let your trust be in the Lord.

KEY POINT: It is either you trust in God or in man. Who trust determines whether you are blesses or not.

Excerpts from Open Heavens by Pastor E A Adeboye

Trust in God