POTENTIAL VS GREATNESS

MEMORY VERSE: verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my father, John 14:12

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 9, Ps 140-141, Jer 3, Matt 17

Every child has the potential to be great, but not all become great. Every male child has the potential to become a father, but not all become fathers. Likewise every female child has the potential to become a mother but not all become mothers. Every child of God has the potential to do the works that Jesus did while he was one earth. Mark 16:17-18 says and these signs shall follow them that believe; in my names they shall cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing , it shall not hurt them; they shall lays on the sick, and the shall recover them. Despite the fact that every child of God has the potential to do all these, there are still few who are yet to speak in tongues.

There is no one alive without a potential, whether they will fulfill their potential is another issue. There are many who know their future. For example I know my tomorrow will be alright because the book of Isaiah 3:10 says that say to the righteous it shall be well them. There are few who the Lord has shown a glimpse of their future. Many have dreamt that they laid hands on the dead and the dead came back to life; many have received prophecies that they are going to become great evangelists; many have seen themselves getting married with kids and living in a big mansion. All these are potentials, fulfilling them is another issue.

There are two factors that will decide whether you will fulfill your potential or not – words and action. The words you speak to yourself and the words spoken to you. Numbers 14:28 says as you have said in my ears, so shall I do. It does not matter what God has in store for you, if you confess something negative I can assure you that is what you will get. God has given some people authority over your life. They are your parents – spiritual and biological. Their words can shape your life. If your father or mother says it shall be well with you, i can assure you it will be well with you but if he says the opposite, God help you. If you please your spiritual father and he blesses you from the bottom of his heart, the Lord who called him will say a big amen. If you do otherwise and he curses you, you are in big trouble. This is why you should do everything to get a blessing not curse from your parents or pastors. Your actions will also decide whether you will fulfill your potential or not. Proverbs 22:29 says seest thou a diligent man, he will stand before kings not mean men. A brother with potential who refuses to work hard will become slaves to the diligent who has no potential. Romans 6:1 say shall we continue in sin and ask for grace to abound? Shall we continue to disobey God and expect Him to make us the head and not the tail? God forbid.

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me fulfill my potential in you.

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WONDERS OF HIS TOUCH

MEMORY VERSE: and the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel, 1 Kings 18:46

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 5, Ps 132-134, Is 65, Matt 13

BIBLE STUDIES: 1 Kings 18:41-46

A wonder is anything that makes you to wonder. According to Isaiah 9:6 one of the names of the Most High is wonderful i.e. full of wonders. There are hands and there are hands. I want to tell you that not all hands are the same. The bible says and it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed, Exodus 17:10-13. The reason why Moses let down his hands was because his hands were aching; he was well over 80 years when this happened. The question is this since Aaron and Hur were standing by him, why didn’t they hold up their own hands when Moses let down his hand? Aaron was a priest and Hur was an elder so any of the two could have held their hands up and expect victory. These two elderly men knew that the hands of Moses were not ordinary hands or common hands. There is a hand far more powerful than the hands of Moses and that is the hands of the Almighty. Psalm 136:12 describes God’s hand has a strong hand.

When the Lord touches a life , that life becomes a wonder. In John 9:1-10 Jesus anointed the eyes of a blind man with clay and told him to go and wash it off. The man came back and everyone opened their mouths and could not close it. Bible scholars told us that the man was not only born blind; the man was born without eyes. This was why the disciples asked Jesus ‘whose sin it was for this man to born this way?’ Since Jesus was the creator, He made clay out of mud and anointed where the eye was meant to be. The man went to wash and came back with two pair of eyes. The whole neighborhood began to argue that it was not the man who was born without eyes. Just by virtue of His touch of Jesus, this man became a wonder within an hour.

When the Lord touches a fellow, the fellow begins to do wondrous things. In 1 Kings 18:41-46 the Lord touched Elijah and he outran the best chariot in Israel. Bible scholars said the distance between Mount Carmel and Jezreel was 17 miles. Elijah was not dressed in athletic gears neither did he have trainers on. He had never had athletic training and neither had he competed in such before. He was not a young boy but an old prophet of God. Now imagine such a man outrunning a chariot pulled by the best horse in Israel over 17 miles? That is a wonder!

PRAYER POINT: Father, please touch my life, business, relationship, finance, spiritual life with your mighty hand.

WONDERS OF HIS VISIT

MEMORY VERSE: and when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him, Exodus 34:30

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 28, Ps 119:25-48, Isa 55, Matt 3

What is a wonder? A wonder is someone or something that amaze people. A simpler definition of a wonder is anything that makes you wonder. One of the names of our Lord is Wonderful, Isaiah 9:6. Wonderful means full of wonders. Our God is full of wonders. Everything about Him is a wonder. He created the heavens and the earth. The heaven is a wonder and the earth is wonder too. It is cold in one part of the world and at the same time hot in another part of the world. It is morning in one part of the world, afternoon in another part and midnight in another part of the world all at the same time. God is indeed wonderful.
Everything the Lord does is a wonder. When He visits a fellow or a family, that fellow or family becomes a wonder. If you don’t believe check the story of Sarah, Genesis 18. It would be an understatement to say Sarah was barren because at the age of ninety her womb was stone dead. After the Lord visited her, Sarah became a wonder. For a ninety year old woman to nurse a child, that is a wonder! Everyone who saw Sarah knew the Lord had paid her a visit. If you see anyone boasting that He has received visitation from the Lord, they are probably prophesying. You don’t have to open your mouth before people will know that you have encountered the Most High God.

This was the case of Moses. Immediately He returned from the presence of God the whole nation knew that Moses had seen something no eye had ever seen. Exodus 34:30 says and when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. Moses did not tell anyone what he saw, when people saw the skin on his face shining like the Sun, they put two and two together and came to the conclusion that Moses was in receipt of a visitation from the Bright and Morning Star. Only a visitation from God is needed to transform you and your situation around. How did Saul a sworn enemy of Jesus become a disciple of Christ? A divine visitation .The man who was going from synagogue to synagogue to arrest believers suddenly became an evangelist because the Jesus Christ visited him on his way to Damascus. Paul later became a wonder; demons saw aprons that had touched the skin of Paul and they began to run, Acts 19:12.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, please visit me today so that I will become a wonder in these generation.

SONGS OF FOOLS OR REBUKE OF THE WISE

MEMORY VERSE: it is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools, Ecclesiastes 7:5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 27, Ps 119:1-24, Isa 54, Matt 2

The friends of the wise are always wise. Proverbs 13:20 says he that walketh with the wise shall be wise but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Not only that, a wise fellow circles himself with people that will tell him the hard truth not people that will tell him what he wants to hear. A wise fellow is always wary of people who flatter him. First of all, the wise don’t use flattery. Job 32:21-22 says I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my Maker would soon take me away. If I were you I will stay far away from people who use flattery. Proverbs 29:5 says a man who flatters his neighbors spreads a net for his feet. Wise sisters will watch out for brothers who use flattery.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 says it is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the songs of fools. The problem with many is that they do not want to be told off, they prefer sweet lies to bitter truth. The rebuke of the wise will save you a lot of embarrassment and shame. It will help you fulfill God’s plan for your life. Naaman received his healing because of the rebuke of his wise servant, 2 Kings 5:2-15. At first he became furious because the man of God told him to go and dip himself in river Jordan 7 times. As he was about to leave, his servants told him that if the prophet had asked him to do something harder he would have done it, so why not just obey the simple instruction of the man of God. He listened to his servant and he was healed.

Uzziah on the hand surrounded himself with fools, 2 Chronicles 26:16-21. He walked in to the temple to burn incenses – something which was abomination for anyone who was not from the descendant of Aaron. Instead of his servants to warn him, they kept on saying long live the king. They kept on reminding him that he was the king of the land and whatever he says was final. When the priest were warning him , the followers kept on reminding him that he was the king and kings do not take orders from anyone. Since he would not listen, the Lord disciplined him and he became a leper. I pray that you will not end up like Uzziah in Jesus name. The psalmist says let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head, Psalm 141:5. The rebuke of the wise may be harsh and unpleasant but there is a safety in it.

PRAYER: Father, please give me the grace to turn at the rebuke of the wise.

IT DOES NOT PAY TO BE WICKED

MEMORY VERSE: with the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright, Psalm 18:25.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 25, Ps 116, Isa 52, Rev 22

What is wickedness? Wickedness is a spirit. So also Goodness is a spirit. Psalm 23:6a says goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. ‘Goodness’ and ‘Mercy’ referred to are angels of the Lord. Anywhere you are in the world reading this message, I want to inform you that these two angels are standing right behind you. They will be there as far as you do not rebel against God. The difference between these two is that wickedness is of devil and goodness is of God. This is why we call the devil a wicked devil and God – a good God.

Luke 6:31 says as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. Wickedness is simply doing things you would not want others to do to you. It is wickedness to delay the salary of your staff on purpose. How would you feel if an employer refuses to pay your son or daughter for no good reason? It is wickedness to give what belongs to A to B. An employment opportunity comes along, you know Mr A has the necessary qualification and experience but you give it to Mr B because he is the same color as you or because he is your friend or family member. Please put yourself in the shoe of Mr A, would you be happy if someone does that to you? You borrow money from a friend or a colleague, instead of appealing for more time to pay back you begin to hide or ignore their calls. The question is would you like someone to do that to you?

It is wickedness not to forgive. The person may have hurt you and all that, but haven’t you done worse to God? Psalm 130:3 says if thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? If the Lord were to mark iniquities, the world would not exist again.Do not abuse that brother or sister because he or she is vulnerable. There was a particular abusive senior in High School. This senior hated a particular junior with a passion. He made life hell for him; at times he would beat mercilessly for either petty things or no good reason. The boy graduated and joined a martial arts club. He later became a professional. On his way home one evening, he noticed a figure that looked just like his old senior approaching. When he got close, lo and behold it was the old wicked senior. The senior recognized him and didn’t know what to do. Since it was in a lonely park, he began to shake because there was no one around. The senior forgot that there will be a tomorrow.

ACTION POINT: Remember there is always a tomorrow so don’t be wicked.

BEARING THE BURDEN WITH CHRIST

MEMORY VERSE: and as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross, Matthew 27:32

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 24, Ps 114-115, Isa 51, Rev 21

Many have asked that why would such a good and loving God create hell? Brethren, Hell was not created for man but for Satan and his angels, Isaiah 14:12-15. We are all predestined to go to Heaven; God created us to spend to eternity with Him but the fall of man changed that. We are given free will just as the angels – a third of who chose to follow Satan and rebel against God. We are predestined to go to heaven and be with our creator but the choices we make on this earth are what determines where we will go. God sent Jesus so that we might have everlasting life, John 3:16. John 10:10 says the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Jesus gave His life willingly on the cross of Calvary. He gave his life not because He wanted to be a superhero but out of love. John 15:13 says greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Everything Jesus went through from the moment Judas Iscariot betrayed Him to the cross of Calvary was for you. He was mercilessly beaten for our sake so that by His stripes we will be healed, Isaiah 53:5.

Jesus lost a lot of blood when He was beaten, when the time came to carry the heavy cross He could not because there was no more strength in Him. Theologians and Bible scholars said He fainted several times because of the weight of the cross. Out of nowhere a man called Simon appeared and agreed to carry the cross for Jesus. God strategically positioned this man to help Jesus bear the burden. Only God knows if Jesus would have made it to the cross, if Simon had not carry the cross that day. Today the Lord is looking for men and women like Simon who will bear the burden with Jesus. Simon gave up his time, energy, ambition, family, freedom e.t.c. to bear the burden with Christ. He could have been anywhere in the world but He chose to bear the burden with Jesus. He could busy doing a thousand and one things, but he abandoned all to carry the cross of Jesus. You might not be able to work as a missionary but you can support mission work by sponsoring a missionary today. You can give food, clothes, shoes, bags, bibles, used toys and other things the Lord lays on your mind to mission work. You can also pledge to give a small amount to support missionary monthly. Nothing is too small. Your gift of love would be used to win souls for Christ.

ACTION POINT: Support missionaries with your resources. They also need your prayers too.

GOD ALWAYS ALWAYS HAS SUBSTITUTES

MEMORY VERSE: Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?, Isaiah 43:13

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lev 2-3, John 21, Prov 18, Col 1

 

When God decides to do something on earth whether in a life or a church or a place or country, there is no one or Jupiter who can stop Him. Actually Psalm 33:9 says once He says it, consider it done. When God wants to do something, please never sit on the fence. It is very dangerous to neither be for Him nor against Him. He hates lukewarm attitude with a passion. Revelations 3:16 says so then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. That is why if you want to serve God, serve Him wholeheartedly if you don’t want to serve Him no problem with that but please, do not be a lukewarm Christian. 

 

It is unwise to be against God. The Lord told the children of Israel to go and posses the land of Canaan but they refused. The whole nation cried and said they were not going because there were giants in the land, Number 14:1-45. The Lord said no problem, I have promised to take the children of Israel to Canaan land – a land flowing with milk and honey. If you elders don’t want to go, I will take your children. Everyone from age twenty and above died but the young ones got to Canaan. If the Lord is asking you to do something and you are refusing to do it, no problem He will get another person to do it. If He is asking you to go and start a ministry or do one thing or the other for Him and you are acting like a big man or big woman to Him, He will just leave you and ask someone else. If you decide not to partake in God’s project or refuse to contribute financially to it, He will finance His projects with or without you.

 

Every time God calls a man or woman to do one thing or the other for Him, He prepares a substitute in case they misbehave or suddenly get too big for Him. When He called Moses, He had Joshua. Moses worked with God for forty years but at a point he allowed his anger to get the better part of him and the Lord decided that Moses was no longer fit to carry on so He picked Joshua. It was God that picked Saul. Saul grew too big and began to pick and choose which of God’s instruction to follow. God replaced Him with a substitute- David. I remember while I was growing up we had a young boy in the choir who was very good at playing drums. When this young man mounted the drum sets, praise and worship changed. At a point, he began to come late to church and at times he would go and play football during the service and there will be no one to play the drums. After every little thing he will get angry and people will have to beg him to play the drums. Few months later, the Lord brought a family and their son was a drummer. This boy was not as good as our drummer but the Lord so much anointed this boy that in a short while this boy took our drummers place. Our drummer will be in the field playing football but this boy will be busy playing for Jesus. Today that boy plays at concerts but our ex-drummer only sits and watches!

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, help not to be too big for you to carry.

PHYSICAL ATTRACTION … A CRITERIA?

MEMORY VERSE: for we walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 18, Ps 105, Isa 45, Rev 15

Believers are spiritual beings not sensual beings. Sensual beings depend on their five senses but Spiritual beings depend on the Holy Spirit. To grow spiritually you need to cut down your dependency on your senses especially sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Not only that your dependency on the Holy Spirit needs to increase. Our senses can’t pick spiritual signals. Many a time our senses do fail us. This is why the bible admonishes that that we walk not by our senses i.e. sight but by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7. If you are waiting for physical manifestation before you know the Lord has answered your prayers then you have missed it. Mark 11:24 says therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The bible says believe that you have received them not wait for physical manifestation before you know you have received them.

Should physical attraction play a role in my choice of a life partner? Is it a must that I must be physically attracted to the brother or sister before proposing or before saying I do? I am yet to find that verse of the bible that says there must be physical attraction before you propose or say I do. First of all physical attraction is a function of our senses – sight. If we do not walk by sight then the subject of physical attraction should not come up when making life changing decisions such as the choice of a life partner. Adam did not choice eve based on physical attraction, he choose who his creator (God) brought. Isaac did not have a say in who he married, he simply accepted who the Holy Spirit brought through the servant of Abraham. It was only Jacob who decided that the lady God brought was not good enough. To him Leah- God’s choice was not good enough because she had delicate eyes i.e. blear eyed but Rachel was beautiful and well favored in her shape and stature and in her complexion. He succeeded in marrying Rachel but Rachel brought her father’s household gods into his family, Genesis 31:19.

The reason why many are yet to hear from God concerning the choice of a life partner is because they have given God the specification of sisters or brothers they want. If that’s what you are doing, you are only wasting your time. Whether you believe It or not, whatever it is that you’re physically attracted to will not be there forever. People get old and beauty will fade away. This is why the bible says your adornment should not be merely outward but hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God, 1 Peter 3:3-4.

ACTION: Character should be the criteria not the beauty.

INTERCEDING FOR THE ‘HEAD’

MEMORY VERSE: When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn, Proverbs 29:2.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 9, Ps 92-93, Isa 37, Rev 7

The most important part of the body is the head. The head is responsible for vision. Proverbs 29:18 says where there is no vision the people perish. The head is responsible for hearing. Romans 10:17 says faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Romans 14:23c says whatever that is not of faith is sin. The head is responsible for making decisions. To make wise decisions, wisdom is required. The head is responsible for intercession. Matthew 7:8 says for everyone that asketh recieveth. The reason why God created the head is to serve the body.
The body greatly depends on the head for a lot of things. If the head succeeds, the body will succeed but if the head fails, the body will fail. If the head makes a mistake, the body will pay dearly for it. This is why we need to always intercede for our ‘heads’- Pastors, Bishops, Teachers, Governors, Presidents, Heads of States, General Superintendent or Overseas e.t.c. The enemy knows the importance of the head to the body and he understands that once the body is separated from the head, the body will die. Anytime he wants to destroy a fellow, he encourages the fellow to rebel against his head i.e. leader. When he wanted to destroy Judas Iscariot, he encouraged him to rebel and betray his master –Jesus; we all know the end of Judas. This is why we need to ensure that we are not part of any rebellion or we don’t make friends with rebels.
There is a real need to intercede for world leaders today. The problem of recession all over the world is a result of our heads - finance ministers, chancellors, specialist e.t.c. getting it wrong. The only way out of recession is just to pray for them so that they will get it right. Without the fear of the Lord in their hearts, getting it right will be impossible. Psalm 111:10 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Increase in crimes, high rates of unemployment, corruptions e.t.c. are all end products of wrong decisions made by our heads. We need to pray for the salvation of our heads. Many of us would rather curse them than pray for them. The truth is this, if they are saved we will all enjoy. Proverbs 29:2 says when the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please have mercy and save the souls of world leaders.

LOVE FULFILLS THE LAW

MEMORY VERSE: Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law, Romans 13:8.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 4, Ps 86-87, Isa 32, Rev 2.

The fact that a brother is part of the ushering team does not mean he knows God. The fact that a sister is part of the choir does not mean she knows God. The fact that a fellow speaks in tongue for an hour every morning does not mean he knows God, after all demons also speak in tongues. The fact that a group of people meet every Sunday for Sunday services and every other day in the week for mid week services, does not mean they know God after all occults meet during the week too. How do you know a fellow who knows God? 1 John 4:8 says whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. I want you to pay attention to the word ‘whoever’. When the bible says whoever no one is exempted - evangelist, pastor, prophet, choir master or mistress , general overseer just name it. There are many tongue speaking believers who are not in talking terms with their neighbors , such people are only fooling themselves if they think they know God. There are many pastors who are not in talking terms with their spouses , it does not matter how many years they have spent in ministry they don’t know God.

1 Corinthians 13:2 says and though I have the gifts of prophecy, and understand all mysteries , and all knowledge ; and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains , but have no love, I am nothing. Spiritual gifts without love leads to problems. If you don’t believe me ask Samson. There is no record of Samson forgiving anyone or giving anyone a second chance in the bible. If you offend him, you are as good as dead. Samson did not love God either. If He loved God, he wont be committing adultery. According to John 14:15 , if you love God, you will obey his commandments. Despite the fact that he was dripping with anointing, he still ended up in the hands of his enemies because he had no love in him. Faith only works by love. Galatians 5:6 says for in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

A father who is living in love will never curse his spiritual or physical son . Romans 13:8 says Owe no man anything, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. If you love your neighbours as your self, you will never hurt them. When you truly love someone , you will not lie to them. All of God’s law is summed up in love. If you love , you will not cheat , you will not steal , you will not kill , you will not gossip. You are not only expected to love God and your neighbour, you are expected to love yourself. No one loves himself and destroy his liver with alcohol . A fellow who loves himself will never smoke cigarette, not only that he will never permit anyone to smoke around him because second hand smoke causes diseases, disability and death.

PRAYER POINT : Father , please give me the grace to love you , my neighbour and myself.

SOW THE SEED

MEMORY VERSE: Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit, John 12:24.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 2, Ps 83-84, Isa 29, Jude 1

It is compulsory for every born again Christians to evangelize. A believer who does not evangelize is simply not a friend of Christ. Matthew 12:30 says He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. A believer that is not evangelizing on a regular basis is not fulfilling the terms and conditions of his salvation. John 15:16 says ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye 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 to you.

Seed sowing and evangelism are very similar. There are one or two things you need to understand about evangelism. Firstly, just as it is God that makes things grow, it is the Holy Spirit that convicts and saves a fellow. Our role as believers is to witness and do follow up, it is the role of the Holy Spirit to perfect the work of Salvation. Souls are not won by spiritual gymnastics or what you say, they are simply won by the Holy Spirit. Souls are not won by multitude of words or social skills; they are won by the Holy Spirit. You do not need any skill to win souls for Christ; all you need is the Holy Spirit and your willingness to be used by God.

Secondly, just as seeds don’t grow in a day don’t expect people to give their lives to Christ the same day you preach to them. It takes a bit of time and continuous watering for a seed to grow. It takes prayers and follow -ups for a fellow to be saved. All Christ expects from you is to witness, leave the rest to Him. A brother was taking drugs in a lonely place on top of a hill, when the seeds of evangelism that had been sown into his life began to grow. From nowhere the thought about whether Christ was really alive or not came into his heart. Immediately he felt the mighty presence of the Jesus and began to cry. That same day that brother gave his life to Christ and stopped taking drugs. There is no one who the Lord cannot saved, if the Lord can save that drug addict on that hill He can save any soul. Don’t lose hope over that family member or colleague or friend who despite all efforts has refused to give his or her life to Christ. There was a brother who virtually all of us had preached to (talking of people around him) but refused to give his life. This brother wasn’t really interested in the church because of his past experience with a fake pastor. At a point we all lost hope but one day something happened and I witnessed to him again and within 2 minutes this brother gave his life to Christ. Today he now attends church after a 15 year break from church. The seeds we had all sown into his heart germinated.

ACTION POINT: Nobody is too lost to be saved , just witness to them and leave the rest to the Holy Spirit.

REACT NOT IN ANGER

MEMORY VERSE: he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city, Proverbs 16:32

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 34, Ps 78:39-72, Isa 26, 1 Jn 4

The wise rarely react in anger because wrath is cruel and anger is outrageous, Proverbs 27:4. Not only that, anger resides in the lap of fools, Ecclesiastes 7:9. Reacting in anger increases your chances of making a bad decision. In 1 Samuel 14:25-45 Saul out of anger sentenced his son (Jonathan) to death because he licked honey. Thank God for the people who rescued Jonathan from his hands. Making a bad decision as a result of anger can be very fatal. I heard the sad story of a man who paid the ultimate price for the wrong decision he made out of anger. He saw his brother surrounded by four police men. Instead of approaching the policemen to ask questions, he got very angry, grabbed a club and ran towards the police men. One of the policemen saw him running towards them with a big club and shot him in self defense. Sadly this man did not survive the shot.

Reacting in anger can cause you to lose valuable things. In Exodus 2:11-15 Moses saw an Egyptian beating up a Jew. Of all things to do in the world, Moses killed this Egyptian and buried him. This single act turned Prince Moses into a vagabond in the desert. Also reacting in anger only complicates a matter not settle it. Because Saul disobeyed God, Samuel decided to path ways with him, 1 Samuel 15:24-28. As Samuel turned to leave Saul out of anger grabbed his garment and it rent. Because Saul rent the garment of prophet of God, the Lord rent the kingdom of Israel from his hands. Reacting in anger can also cost an individual God’s plan and purpose for his life. God’s plan was to take Moses to the promise land. Moses could not because he reacted in anger, instead of speaking to the rock he struck it twice and the Lord decided to replace him.

An important reason why you should not react in anger today is because your reaction could be used against you tomorrow. Because Moses reacted in anger and killed the Egyptian, at the end he became a murderer .After the death of Moses; Satan used the death of the Egyptian against Moses but thank God he did not succeed, Jude 1:9. Proverbs 16:32 says he that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city .This is the main reason why you must run from people that are advising you to react in anger. Rebuke that spirit that is asking you to care less about the consequences and react in anger.

PRAYER POINT : Father, help me to rule my spirit.

WATCH WHAT YOU CALL THAT CHILD

MEMORY VERSE: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold, Proverbs 23:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 33, Ps 78:1-38, Isa 25, 1 Jn 3

Names are very important. When you give a name to something, you are indirectly prophesying into the future of that thing. At birth Solomon was giving the name Jedidiah (which means the Lord’s beloved), 2 Samuel 12:25. The name was a form of prophesy into his life. The life of Solomon was synonymous with God’s love courtesy of his name. He asked for wisdom, and the Lord gave him wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Not only that, the Lord prospered him in all that he laid his hands on. The mother of a young man gave him the name Jabez at birth, 1 Chronicles 4:9-10.Jabez means pain. This name was also a form of prophesy into the life and future of this man. The life of Jabez was synonymous with pain courtesy of his name. No matter how hard he tried, wherever he finds himself something sorrowful or painful must happen there.

Sarah lived in sorrow virtually all her life because she had no child. She tried to have children through Hagar-her slave, it back fired and she suffered humiliation in the hands of Hagar. One day she and her husband hosted the Most High God and everything changed. A year later she gave birth to a boy and gave him the name Isaac which means laughter. Do you know from the day Sarah called her son Isaac till she died, she never wept over him ? Even when the Lord told Abraham to offer Isaac as sacrifice, the Lord had to provide a ram in the place of Isaac because Sarah had prophesied into the life of her son that she will always bring him joy and laughter not pain.

As parents you need to be careful of the names you give to your children because those names are a form of prophesy into their future. The names are not only prophesies into their future but your future too because your children are your future. You need to watch what you say into their lives or what you call them when you are angry. Whatever you say into their life in anger or call them in anger are all prophesies. According to Numbers 14:28, whatever God hears you say is what He will do. As a good parent out of anger don’t call your child a good-for-nothing boy or a useless girl or a worthless child or any other bad name. As teachers in school or nannies please watch the names you call your wards. Don’t out of anger call them names that will destroy their future.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please cancel the effect of every negative names in my life.

THE CALLED AND THE CHOSEN

MEMORY VERSE: For many are called, but few are chosen, Matthew 22:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 32, Ps 77, Isa 24, 1 Jn 2

Matthew 22:14 says for many are called, but few are chosen. Who does the calling? Jesus Christ. Who is He calling? Everyone. What is the purpose of the call? The purpose of the call is to invite you to a dinner with the Almighty. Revelation 3:20 says behold I stand at the door , and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Why do you need to dine with the Almighty? Well in the presence of God is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore, Psalm 16:11. Those that have received the invite to come and dine with Him are THE CALLED.
I have always wondered why God will call so many and chose only a few. The number one reason why He chooses a few is because He is God and He decides who He wants to dine with. The number two reason why few are chosen is because there are certain criteria that must be met before an individual is chosen to dine with the Almighty. Sadly not many are ready to meet these criteria; the few that meet these criteria are those He chooses to dine with.

To dine with the Almighty you must be a true child of God. There is a big difference between professing to be a child of God and been a child of God. Romans 8:14 says as many as are led by the Spirit of God; they are the sons of God. A child of God is led by the Spirit of God because He is born of the Spirit (of God). The Holy Spirit will not lead anyone to disobey the word of God. The Holy Spirit will never lead you to dress in a sensual way. He will rather lead you to dress in decent and appropriate clothing not in clothes that attract attention (especially from the opposite sex). The Holy Spirit will never lead you to call blue, black or call A, B. He will always lead you in a path of righteousness. The children of God are THE CHOSEN. The following are true of THE CHOSEN: (A) they love God, 1 John 5:1. To love God means to keep His commandments, John 14:15; (B) secondly they love their neighbors, 1 John 4:7 i.e. they live in love; (C) their affection is towards the things of God not things of the world,1 John 5:4 and (D) they live a life of holiness,1John 3:9.

PRAYER POINT: Father please baptize me with Holy Spirit and Fire.

MAKING IT UP

MEMORY VERSE: lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, Colossians 3:9.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 29, Ps 73, Isa 21, 2 Pet 2

A lie is a lie no matter how you paint it. As far as it is void of the truth, it is a lie. There is nothing called half truth, it is either a lie or the truth. No matter how you phrase it or put it, as far as it is not the whole truth it is a lie. If there is a tiny bit of a lie in a story, the whole story is a lie. Galatians 5:9 says a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. One aspect of lying is making things up i.e. when something is not there and you say it is there, it is a lie. No liar will make heaven. Why? According to John 8:44 the devil is the father of lies or liars and no child of the devil will be permitted in heaven. Proverbs 12:22 says a lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight.

When we talk of making things up, it does not necessarily have to be telling a lie. There are many who without opening their mouth make things up. All they need to do with their pen is add two extra zeros and 500 becomes 50000. Another example is found in many CV’s today. People want to sell themselves to their prospective employers so they begin to come up with experiences they do not have or funny references. If it is not true then it is a lie! There are some who are still living a life of lies. An example of this is acting holy. Holiness is not an act but a lifestyle. You can fool men into believing anything but you cannot fool God who sees inside and out. To be pure outside you need to be inside first. This is why the holy word of God says that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8.

There are many who who make things up with their actions.There many today who dye their hair immediately they begin to notice grey hair coming out. Whether you believe it or not this is a form of lie. You give people an impression that your hair is dark when it is actually grey! One of the biggest lie in the church of God today is the use of make-up. As the name implies you are making things up i.e. you are making something that is not there appears as if it is there. This is all what ‘make up’ is all about; giving people false impression. As brothers you should not be attracted to ‘make-up’ but character, besides what is the point of engaging with someone who is not sincere with basic things like the length of her hair or her nails. It is better to know that a sister has pimples before marriage than to find out next morning after marriage when the ‘make-up’ is all gone. Sisters be wary of a brother who wants you make-up first before he falls in love with you. The reason why he wants you to make-up first is because he does not like the real you and honestly immediately that make-up goes off that brother will run away. Sisters be careful of a brother who loves to be told a lie because such brother do not value the truth and the chances are he will tell you a lie.

KEYWORD: A lie is a lie regardless of who is saying it and how it is presented.

 

MAKING IT UP

MEMORY VERSE: lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, Colossians 3:9. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 29, Ps 73, Isa 21, 2 Pet 2

A lie is a lie no matter how you paint it. As far as it is void of the truth, it is a lie. There is nothing called half truth, it is either a lie or the truth. No matter how you phrase it or put it, as far as it is not the whole truth it is a lie. If there is a tiny bit of a lie in a story, the whole story is a lie. Galatians 5:9 says a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. One aspect of lying is making things up i.e. when something is not there and you say it is there, it is a lie. No liar will make heaven. Why? According to John 8:44 the devil is the father of lies or liars and no child of the devil will be permitted in heaven. Proverbs 12:22 says a lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight.

When we talk of making things up, it does not necessarily have to be telling a lie. There are many who without opening their mouth make things up. All they need to do with their pen is add two extra zeros and 500 becomes 50000. Another example is found in many CV’s today. People want to sell themselves to their prospective employers so they begin to come up with experiences they do not have or funny references. If it is not true then it is a lie! There are some who are still living a life of lies. An example of this is acting holy. Holiness is not an act but a lifestyle. You can fool men into believing anything but you cannot fool God who sees inside and out. To be pure outside you need to be inside first. This is why the holy word of God says that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8.

There are many who who make things up with their actions.There many today who dye their hair immediately they begin to notice grey hair coming out. Whether you believe it or not this is a form of lie. You give people an impression that your hair is dark when it is actually grey! One of the biggest lie in the church of God today is the use of make-up. As the name implies you are making things up i.e. you are making something that is not there appears as if it is there. This is all what ‘make up’ is all about; giving people false impression. As brothers you should not be attracted to ‘make-up’ but character, besides what is the point of engaging with someone who is not sincere with basic things like the length of her hair or her nails. It is better to know that a sister has pimples before marriage than to find out next morning after marriage when the ‘make-up’ is all gone. Sisters be wary of a brother who wants you make-up first before he falls in love with you. The reason why he wants you to make-up first is because he does not like the real you and honestly immediately that make-up goes off that brother will run away. Sisters be careful of a brother who loves to be told a lie because such brother do not value the truth and the chances are he will tell you a lie.

KEYWORD: A lie is a lie regardless of who is saying it and how it is presented.

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE SNARE HAS BEEN BROKEN

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 28, Ps 72, Isa 19- 20, 1 Pet 5

MEMORY VERSE: Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler: the
Snare is broken, and we are escaped, Psalm 124:7.

What is a snare, a snare is a form of trap for catching birds. There are two main purposes of a snare, 1) to catch a bird and 2) to keep it in the same position for as long as possible. An example of a snare is lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6 says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge is power, what you know can save your life and what you don’t know can destroy you. Fizzy drinks or soft drinks are responsible for at least 200,000 deaths a year worldwide. Many destinies have been cut short as a result of fizzy drink consumption; I pray you that fizzy drink will not cut your life short in Jesus name, Amen. The main cause of most headaches and high body temperature is lack of water. There are many who have replace water with soft drinks, even after eating they take soft drinks. The way to good health is drink water more. Every system in your body depends on water.

We also have spiritual snares. An example of a spiritual snare is sin. According to Jeremiah 5:25 sin withholds good things from an individual. Isaiah 59:1-2 says the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that He will not hear. Another example of a spiritual snare is tormentors. Tormentors like fear, bitterness e.t.c. are functions of unforgiveness (Matthew 18:23-35). Failure to forgive leads to a season with tormentors. Our tongue can also be a snare if we refuse to use them properly. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

A snare is broken through the Holy word of God. The word of God can be likened to a fire that consumes and a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29).
The snare of sin is broken by meditating on God’s word. Psalm 119:11 says thy word I have hid in mine hear, that I may not sin against you. For that snare in your life to be broken you need to dedicate time to studying the Holy word of God. Psalm 124:7 says our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler: the Snare is broken, and we are escaped. After the snare has been broken, what do you do next? You escape. To escape means to run away from the snare. The reason why many are still in bondage today is not because the Lord has not broken the snare; it is because they remain in the snare after the Lord has broken the snare through His holy word. The Lord has broken the snare of tormentors in many lives by asking them to forgive, instead of escaping i.e. forgive those who have wronged them they refuse and remain in the snare.

PRAYER POINT: Father, as you break the snares in my life through your Holy word please help me to escape too.

WHEN YOU RENDER HELP Pt 2

MEMORY VERSE: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, Galatians 6:9.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 25, Ps 68, Isa 15, 1 Pet 3

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 2:11-22

In part 1, we discussed that rendering help is a must for all believers. We also discussed that you stand to gain a lot if you allow yourself to be used by God to render help. Not only that, the fellow who the Lord uses to render help benefits the most, even more than the fellow who was helped. The story in our bible studies is a very familiar one. Moses was sitting by a well when some ladies approached to fetch water from the well. The overzealous shepherds around chased them away, Moses been a gentleman stood up and helped them. He also watered their flock. There are a lot of lessons to learn from our bible studies one of which is when we render help, it brings us closer to our destiny.

When we render help, it brings us closer to God’s plan for our life. According to 3 John 1:2, the plan of God is that we prosper and be in good health. Jeremiah 29:11 says His thoughts are to give us a future and a hope. The plan of God for Moses was to give him a job, a home and a wife and I believe that is His plans for you too. Just by rendering help to those ladies, the plan of God for Moses came to fruition. The reason why some brothers are still single is because the Lord knows that they will not help their wives. The Lord knows that they will use their wives as a slave so He decided that it is better they remain single until they change. Immediately the Lord noticed that Moses would make a good husband not a wife beater or slave master, He provided a wife for him immediately.

Another reason why we need to render help is because we only qualify for God’s help when we render help to people. The world runs by a law called the Law of Reciprocity. This means to give and take mutually; to return in kind or even in another kind of degree. What you make happen for people is what God will make happen for you. Psalms 18:25 says God is merciful to those who show mercy, and with an upright man He shows Himself upright. To those who render help, God shows Himself as a helper. Last year the Holy Spirit laid it on my mind to bless a church near my house with some items. Since it was a Palm Sunday, I bought some items and some Easter eggs (chocolate in egg form) for the children at the church. When I got to the church, it was obvious that they the Lord had truly sent me because they had nothing .Anyway I gave the pastor the food items and he prayed for me and I left. During the Christmas period I had a bit of challenge at work and this really touched my pocket. I could not afford to buy food stuffs at all. After the service on December 25, a woman I had never spoken to except just say hi and hello to called me to her car and gave me a big bag. I thanked her and I left. When I got home and checked the bag, I found a 10 kg bag of rice and 5 liter of olive oil. Within minutes I was already with a plate of rice celebrating. What I am trying to say? You only qualify for help from God when you have cultivated the habit of helping others.

PRAYER POINT: Father, as I render help to people in need please send helpers to me too.

WHEN YOU RENDER HELP Pt 1

MEMORY VERSE: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, Galatians 6:9.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 24, Ps 66-67, Isa 14, 1 Pet 2

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 2:11-22

Rendering of help is not negotiable for heaven minded believers. We have to help people. We have to help the needy, the poor, orphans, e.t.c around us. One of the commandments of Christ is that we render help. Matthew 5:42 says give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. Galatians 6:2 says bear one another’s burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ. Asides from the fact that it is a commandment from God, Matthew 5:16 says when you render help to people, the name of the Lord is glorified in other words by refusing to render help you are blocking the opportunity for the name of the Lord to be glorified. I will not block an opportunity for my Maker to be glorified. I know you will not do the same because you love God and you are very wise.

Every commandment of God is for our own good. For example Exodus 20:13 says thou shalt not kill. Who benefits from that commandment, God or humans? Obviously we humans because no one can kill God, besides there are many of us who before we met Christ would have been poisoned because of the terrible things we did but thank God for Exodus 20:13. Thank God for salvation! When the Lord commands us to render help, it is for our own good and benefit. One thing I have come to understand is that when it comes to rendering help, the fellow who the Lord uses to render help benefits the most, even more than the fellow who was helped. The devil knows this that is why he tries to frustrate us when we render help. When you help people and they do not show appreciation, don’t be angry because the enemy is trying to frustrate you and cause you to lose your reward. You will not lose your rewards in Jesus name. In our message titled ‘DON’T STOP BECAUSE THERE IS A REWARD’ we discussed the benefits of not relenting in doing good. If for some reason or the other, you did not get the message you can send me an email and I will forward it to you. By the special grace of God the Lord will encourage you through that message.

In these series we will be treating the benefits of rendering help. The story in our bible studies is very familiar one. Moses rendered help to a young Israelite and got in trouble for it. The fellow he helped reported him to a fellow, this fellow told another fellow and before you know it Pharaoh heard and began to seek to kill Moses. Moses heard what Pharaoh was up to so he ran away. While running he got tired and decided to rest by a well. Some ladies came to fetch water by the well and the overzealous shepherds chased them away. Moses been a gentleman stepped in and assisted these ladies. He helped them and watered their flock. The father of these girls thanked him and gave him an accommodation, a job and a wife. There are one or two things to learn from this story. Firstly, when you render help it brings you close to your destiny. The destiny of Moses was to lead the children of Israel out of bondage to Canaan. The help Moses rendered to the young Israelite boy triggered a series of events that led to him running away from Egypt and coming back to deliver his people.

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to do something that will trigger a series of events that will lead me to my destiny.

GOOD SUCCESS

MEMORY VERSE: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success, Joshua 1:8.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 22, Ps 62-63, Isa 11, Jas 5

James 1:17 says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. The theory of opposites says that everything has an opposite – this is decided by looking at its function and deciding what the opposite of that function is. The word ‘perfect gift’ signifies the possibility of imperfect gifts. If perfect gifts come from God, then imperfect gifts comes from the devil. So also the word ‘good success’ informs us of the existence of bad success. Not all successes are from God just as not all miracles are from God. This is why 1 John 4:1 admonishes us not to believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Any form of success that takes you away from God or hinders you from serving God in spirit and truth is bad success. Any form of success that forces you to compromise your faith, please be careful of such.

What is good success? Good success is defined as sustained success. To get to the top and remain at the top forever is good success but to get to the top and fall back or to be either an ex or defeated champion is bad success. If you use to read your bible daily and now you no longer do that, you are gradually becoming an ex champion and that is bad success. If you use to pray for four hours or do night vigils and now you struggle to pray for an hour, you need to do something urgently or else you might become a defeated champion. If you used to dream or see visions or exhibit one spiritual gift or the other and  those gifts are no longer evident in your there is a possibility that you are already an ex champion. Thank God we have a Savior who is the champion maker, go back to Him today and He will restore you.

What is required for good success? Joshua 1:8 says this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. The first thing you need to do is own a bible. A believer who is heaven conscious will have a bible not the one with torn out pages. Hard copy bibles are better than bible application on ipads, phones and so on. Research has shown that people easily get distracted when reading on screen and this affects assimilation. There is nothing wrong in installing a bible app but this should not replace your hard copy bible. The second thing you need to do is meditate on the word of God day and night. There is a difference between reading and meditating on the Bible. Reading is primarily assimilation of facts without application. When we meditate on the word of God, we seek to make personal application of the scriptures to our lives and circumstances. The third thing you need to do is obey the scriptures. 

 ACTION POINT: Make it a point of duty to meditate on the scripture more often.