WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC?

MEMORY VERSE: Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him. 1 Samuel 16:23

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Philemon

READ: 1 Samuel 16:14 -23

There is power in music. The right kind of music or song can bring down the Spirit of God. It can bring down the healing power of God. I have heard testimonies of dead people being raised back to life during powerful music ministrations.  Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." The praise includes songs of praises, worship, thanksgiving. Some kings were stranded in the middle of nowhere so they invited the man of God, Elisha, to bring them a word from God (2 Kings 3:13-19). May you hear a word from God today in Jesus name. When Elisha arrived he couldn't do much because some demonic boys had earlier provoked him by calling him all sort of names (2 Kings 2:23-25). Out of anger the man of God put a curse on them and two she bear came out of the wood and ripped up forty-two of them. This outburst of anger affected Elisha's spiritual life. He was down spiritually and could not prophesy. As a man of God watch out for anger because it causes anointing leakage. What did the man of God do to lift his spirit again? He requested for a minstrel who played his harp and the hand of the Lord came down mightily on Elisha. Within minutes, Elisha began prophesy again. May you have restoration today in Jesus name. I remember during one of our long fast several years ago, i entered the church very weak and tired so i sat down all through . The moment the choir began ministering in songs, the hand of the Lord came down mightily on the church and i found myself standing, dancing and clapping my hands.

However, the right kind of music can drive demons away. An evil spirit began to torment Saul after the Spirit of the Lord left him. 1 Samuel 16:23 says, “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.” Just as the right kind of music can drive demons away, the wrong kind of music can open one to demonic attacks or attract demons. God created Satan and gave him a lot of musical gifts to produce melodious songs and praise Him with it. Bible scholars even told us that he was actually a choir master in heaven. Due to pride, he was cast out of heaven and his musical gifts became corrupted. Ever since then, he has been using his musical gifts to lure people into hell. Most of the secular songs people listen to today are from satan. This is why you see some secular artist comparing themselves to Jesus. Music is very important in the spiritual life of a child of God and the wrong music can spiritually destroy the child of God. Before Christ apprehended most of us, we know the kind of music we used to play whenever we want to fornicate or commit adultery. I mean we know those soft songs with sexual lyrics. Unknown to many, those songs invoke the spirit of lust whenever it is played. There are certain ungodly behaviors associated with some kind of songs. Take for instance rap music. Gun crimes, drugs, alcohol, are associated with it. Heavy tattoos, body piercing, lust, weird clothes, are all associated with rock n roll.There are certain spirits invoked in rock music secular or Christian – and it is NOT the Holy Spirit. Not all gospel albums are inspired by God. Recently i  read about a gospel album with over 2,000 words and the name of Jesus was not mentioned even once! Watch out for songs that promote sensuality.

NOTE: Hymns are very good. Sing them from time to time as they are good for the soul and spirit.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

WHAT TYPE OF REPENTANCE?

Memory verse: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Joel 2:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 31-33

In Exodus, God sent Moses to Pharaoh with a message: “let my people go.” When Pharaoh heard, he was wrath. Exodus 5:2 says And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will i let Israel go. Every attempt to convince Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go was ignored. Because he refused to let them go, the Lord began to plague Egypt. He started by turning their water to blood (Exodus 7:19); Pharaoh was unmoved. The Lord plagued the land with frogs (Exodus 8:2-4); Pharaoh did not budge. The Lord sent lice (Exodus 8:16), because his magicians were able to reproduce these plagues, he ignored the plea to let the children of Israel go.

The Lord sent flies (Exodus 8:21), these flies began to trouble all the Egyptians, Pharaoh repented and called for Moses and Aaron. He said; i will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away: intreat for me (Exodus 8:27).” This is called “EMERGENCY REPENTANCE.” Pharaoh permitted the children of Israel to go and sacrifice because he was suffering, the moment relief came; he changed his mind. Since he refused to change, the plagues kept on coming. Their livestock perished (Exodus 9:3); they were inflicted with boils (Exodus 9:8); thunder and hail destroyed their fields (Exodus 9:18); locust destroyed their plantations (Exodus 10:4). When the plagues became unbearable, he repented again. This is time around, he permitted only the men to go and sacrifice, leaving the women and children behind. This is called “INCOMPLETE REPENTANCE.” There are many who have repented from robbing the Lord in tithes, instead of paying a tenth of their earning, they pay a fifth of their earning. As far as God is convinced, this is not repentance.

The plagues continued, the Land was covered with thick darkness (Exodus 10:21) and then the Lord killed all the firstborn of the Egyptians (Exodus 11:4-5). This time around, he repented and took an action; he literally chased the children of Israel out of Egypt. One would have thought that Pharaoh had finally repented but it was a “FALSE REPENTANCE,” after the children of Israel left Egypt, he went after them to bring them back to Egypt.God is interested in genuine repentance not repentance by mouth. Is your repentance an emergency one, an incomplete one, or worse still a false repentance? You said you have repented, no more fornication and adultery again, after a while you called your ex to come and pass the night at your place. Is that repentance? Because you wanted something desperately from God, you vowed never to do certain things again, the moment the Lord answered your prayers, you went back and continued in them. You said you have turned a new leaf but not completely, you no longer smoke but you drink. You no longer watch pornography but you look at nude pictures. Is that repentance?

ACTION: Pray that the Lord will truly give you a change of heart.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.