BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS .... PT1

MEMORY VERSE: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelations 1-6
One thing you cannot avoid in your relationships with people, from time to time, is little misunderstandings. It is either what you said was misunderstood or you misunderstood what someone said. It is either someone misinterpreted your action or words, or you misinterpreted what someone did or said. These usually happen especially when chatting with people through text or WhatsApp or BBM. One of the reasons why these misunderstandings occur is because we see life differently, we have different passions, we have different priorities, we have different perspectives to things. Always have this at the back of your mind; you don’t know what the other person is going through. Even if you know what they are going through, you don’t know the pain they are in. A brother told a sister that her friend was rude to him - he greeted her several times and she didn’t respond. The sister then asked him, where were you standing when you greeted her? “To her left”, he said. The sister smiled and told him that her friend was deaf in the left ear. When a misunderstanding occurs, ask God for wisdom. Some misunderstandings are arrows from hell to destroy relationships that God wants to use to bless you.
As such, how you handle a matter/situation/misunderstanding matters. Why? How you handle it will determine whether it will be resolved or not. According to Proverbs 22:10, the moment you cast out the scorner contention will end. If you don’t handle that matter well, it may get out of hands. A couple once divorced over a milk tin-can. The husband punched a can of milk in a way the wife didn't like. The wife said something out of anger and the husband responded. The next thing was, "are you talking to me like that?"- "Yes, and so what..." Before they knew it the marriage was over. In some instances, little misunderstandings have resulted into a full blown war. This was the exact thing that happened in Northern Ireland some thirty years ago. The war between the Catholics and Pentecostal in Ireland could have been prevented had the police officers who were called to the scene handled it with godly wisdom. That little misunderstanding led to a thirty-year war. Part of handling a matter with godly wisdom is watching how you react to things. Several years back, some police officers went to arrest a young man at home. The young man felt he was innocent so he refused to go with the police officers to the station. Since he was refusing arrest, the police men decided to use force. A neighbour who saw what was happening and called the boy’s senior brother. He told him that the police were trying to arrest his brother without a cause. The senior brother grabbed a big stick and ran to the scene. The police officers saw him approaching with a big stick and opened fired and killed him. The case went to court and the police officer who fired the bullet said he fired the bullet in self-defense; he was discharged and acquitted. Later the boy was released. If the senior brother had done things differently he would still be alive.
NOTE: Don’t fight violence with violence.
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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

HE CHALLENGES GOD’S WORDS

MEMORY VERSE: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. Genesis 3:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 7-10

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 3:2-4

Do not be fooled by bible quotations. The devil knows the bible by heart and he quotes it. The fact that a counsel is backed up with a bible verse does not mean it is from God. Asides the fact that the devil twists God’s words to confuse people; he gives it his own interpretation to cause people to err. One bible verse he has given his own personal interpretation is, “for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  (Romans 11:29).” Here is his interpretation of this verse – “once God gives you a gift, He will not take it back even if you disobey Him. You can live in sin and still be used by the Holy Spirit because His gifts are irrevocable.”  Friend, this interpretation is from the pit of hell! Recently, a brother told me of a prophet who after committing adultery would climb on the altar and signs and wonders will begin to happen. His excuse was the gifts of God are irrevocable; God had given, the prophet, the gift of working miracles and will not take it back even though the ‘prophet’ was living in sin. Friend, I want you to know this, the fact that a man is performing miracle does not mean he is a man of God. Simon the Sorcerer also performed miracles (Acts 8:9-14). Actually, some people who lacked the gift of discernment called him a man of God. Acts 8:10 says: “To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God.”

The gifts Paul referred to ,in Romans 11:29, are not the gifts of nature and providence, as life, health, strength, riches, and honour, which God sometimes gives, and repents of, and takes away. A good example is Saul King of Israel. God gave him riches, honour and the throne of Israel. When he disobeyed God’s instruction, God replaced him with David. The gifts referred to are not the external gifts of grace or gifts of the Spirit e.g. gift of prophecy, working of miracles, healings, etc,  which qualify men for ministerial work, for public service in the church; for these may be taken away as the “parable” of the “talents” shows ( Matthew 25:29).  According to 1 Corinthians 13:8, the gifts of the Spirit may pass away. His calling into ministry can also be revoked. He told Eli in 1 Samuel 2:30, “…I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever; but now I (the Lord) say, Be it far from me…. ”. The gifts Paul was referring to are the special and spiritual gifts of God’s grace, which relate to the spiritual and eternal welfare of the souls of men, even that, grace which was given to God’s elect in Christ before the world was, and all those spiritual blessings wherewith they were then blessed in Him: these are without repentance i.e. they are unalterable. God never revokes them in again. Asides these, gifts of the Holy Spirit can be revoked especially when the fellow who is in possession of them fornicates or commits adultery.

The devil also challenges God’s word.  When Eve told him (the devil) what God had said -“ ye shall not eat of it, of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die (Genesis 3:3)”- he challenged it. He said, “It is a lie, don’t mind God.” Genesis 3:4 say: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”  In 2 Kings 6:25 – 2 Kings 7:2, the king of Syria besieged Samaria and a terrible famine broke out. The famine was so severe that the rich began to eat bird droppings and the poor who could not afford it ate their children. In the midst of this, God spoke by His servant Elisha, “tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.” As Elisha was speaking, the devil challenged it. One of the experts at that time said, it is impossible. The expert did not live to tell the story. Every time God speaks, the enemy will try to challenge it. If you are in doubt of God’s prophecy, do not challenge it. Just keep quiet. Today, the devil is still challenging God’s words. God has said, “no sex before marriage (1 Corinthians 6:9-11),” and I hear people say, you cannot really know a woman until you sleep with her. This is the devil challenging God’s word. I even hear some unserious people say, you need to test the brother/sister to see if you are sexually compatible. This is the devil challenging God’s word.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: God’s commandments are for your own good. When God says do not fornicate, He is trying to protect you from STDs.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please rid your church of demonic doctrines.

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COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

MEMORY VERSE: bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name, Psalm 103:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 22, Ps 110-111, Isa 49, Rev 19

BIBLE STUDIES: Psalm103:1-12

Many of us have forgotten how faithful the Lord has been to us and our family, when we face little challenges we begin to ask if there is really a God. A lot of people complain when they ask God for just one thing, and don’t get a response immediately. They begin to doubt the power of God, some even threaten to stop going to church or stop paying their tithes. The question we should ask ourselves is how about the countless numbers of things we have asked and He has given to us? How about the countless numbers of things we did not even deserve that He gave us? Many sleep and wake up and think it is normal, there are many who sleep and don’t wake up. There are one or two grumbling to God right now because of their situation, what they do not know is that there is someone right now this minute who will gladly swap position with them. There is someone right now who will give an arm to be in the situation you are in just to show you how worse their situation is.

There are some stories I do not like sharing but I will today so that you will count your blessings. Sometimes ago I was sharing our church flier during my lunch when I met a man who I used to work with. With joy I tried to shake him but I noticed this brother was reluctant and I asked what the problem was. He showed me his palms and I saw several small blisters in his palms. This blisters had pus in them and he had a like a thousand in each of his palms. These blisters are very itchy and every time he touches them they will burst open and spread. I have never seen anything like that in my life. He told me it has spread to his back and virtually every part of his body. When the sun is out it is worse. He has been to the doctor and there is no cure. Because of his condition, He cannot carry his daughter or play with her. I said a short prayer with him and he left. As I began to ponder about this man’s predicament, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said that is someone’s dad, brother, son, uncle, friend, husband e.t.c

As from that day I promised the Holy Spirit I will always be grateful. All the doors in this world had been shut on this brother. He told me that all he wants in life is to get well and nothing else matters. There are many who are petitioning God for promotion at work; life partner; new job; fruit of the womb e.t.c but this brother can not even think of such things. You might now have a car but you have your two legs; you might have a job but you have your two hands; you might be single but you are alive and not under life support; your children might be misbehaving but at least you have a child; your marriage might not be going the way you want but at least you are not a patient in a mental institution. We are not better than the people in these places but it is just the mercy of God.

ACTION POINT: Count your blessings and be grateful to God for the things He has done.

AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT, AS THEY WENT

MEMORY VERSE: and when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed, Luke 17:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 21, Ps 108-109, Isa 48, Rev 18

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:19-21

When the going gets tough, look up to the heavens. When it seems like the enemies are closing in on you look to heaven. When you are weak and lack the strength to continue look to heaven. When you look to the right and to the left and there is no one to call on look up to the heavens. The Psalmist says I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth, Psalms 121:1-2. After looking up to the heaven, what next? First thank Him and then table your concerns before the Almighty. If you cannot think of anything, thank Him for the gift of life. As we discussed yesterday, only the living has challenges and only the living has hope. Job 14:7 says for there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that tender branch thereof will not cease. If there is hope for a tree when it is cut down, there is hope for you!

After Jesus blessed the name of the Lord, He did something interesting. Matthew 14:19 says and he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. After praying, He took actions in other words He took a step of faith. After blessing the Lord He broke the five bread and two fishes and gave His disciples to share them. The problem with many believers is they want the bread and fish to multiply before they start sharing. That is not how it is done, after praying you take a step of faith.

After Jesus prayed nothing really happened. The bread and fishes did not suddenly become a 1000. Before He prayed, He had five bread and two fishes. After He prayed, He still had five bread and two fishes, the question is what then multiplied the bread and fish? His step of faith.Don’t wait for physical manifestation before you know God has answered. Jesus told the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests, Luke 17:11-19. After Jesus prayed for these men, nothing really happened. They were lepers before the prayers, they were lepers after the prayer but the bible records that as they went, they were cleansed. As they took the step of faith, the power of God was activated in their matter. You situation will change when you take a step of faith!

KEYWORD: Your step of faith activates the mighty of power of God.

FIRST GIVE THANKS

MEMORY VERSE: and he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the fives loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples and the disciples to the multitudes, Matthew 14:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 20, Ps 107, Isa 47, Rev 17

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:19-21

In our bible studies is a very familiar story. Jesus was in the desert with his disciples, some people heard about it and they told their friends. Before you know it the desert was jam-packed with people who were seeking solution to the thorny issues of their lives. When Jesus saw them he was filled with great compassion and began to heal them. By the time it was evening everyone was very hungry and there was nothing to feed them with. The disciples suggested that they send the people away to go and get food themselves, but Jesus was against the idea. With five loaves of bread and two fishes, He fed five thousand men not counting women and children.

If your ministry is facing challenges, I want to inform you that the ministry of Jesus faced challenges too. Your ministry is not the first to face challenges and it will not be the last. The challenges Jesus had was He had to feed around 30,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. The bible only mentioned 5000 men but we know that the number of woman always triples the number of men in the church and the number of children always quadruples the number of men. Jesus needed food to feed this crowd. To make matters worse it was in the evening which meant that virtually all the shops in the villages nearby were already closed for the day. Since there was nothing He could humanly do, He looked to heaven.

 When the going got tough for Jesus, He looked up to His Father in heaven. The mistake most of us do when the going gets tough is that we look down and bow our head in shame. We feel sorry for ourselves and some even begin to cry. Brethren, Jesus looked up to Heaven so I admonish you to look up to heaven for that ministry need. The first words that came out His mouth when He looked to heaven were father I thank you. The bible records in Matthew 14:19 that He blessed in other words he said a prayer of thanksgiving. The first thing you must always do when you go to God is thank Him. Thank Him for His faithfulness and other things He has done in the ministry. Thank Him because it could have been worse but He did not permit it. Thank Him for the salvation of your soul and the gift of life. After all only the living has challenges, the dead don’t have challenges. After Jesus blessed the Lord, He took a step of faith. Brethren after you must have blessed the Lord and tabled your request before Him, take a step of faith.

ACTION: Thank God first before you table your request before Him.

PROVISION BEFORE PROVIDER?

MEMORY VERSE: the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 19, Ps 106, Isa 46, Rev 16

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 32:1-10

There is only one provider and that is God. John 3:27 says a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. Whatever the Lord has given to you e.g. gifts, ministry, employment, business, ministry, life partner, please do not show off with it. They are for His glory not for you to show off. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says the race is not for the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding nor favor to men of skill but time and chance happen to them all. Also it is your responsibility not to abuse whatever He has given but to serve Him with it.
As the Lord had promised, the children of Israel left Egypt with great wealth or great provisions. Exodus 12:36 says and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. When the Lord provides for you, His provisions should not take His place in your heart. The Lord’s provision must not replace Him in your life. In our bible studies we read how the Israelite abandoned their provider and made a god out of the provisions their provider had given to them. If for not the strong intercession of Moses, the Lord would have consumed the whole nation.

It is a dangerous thing for God’s provision to replace Him in your life. The job, education, life partner e.t.c. should not take His place in your heart. The ministry should not replace Him. It is sad that a lot of activity has taken the place of bible study or personal retreat. Your soul is more important to God than the ministry He has given to you. Don’t spend hours preparing sermons and just minutes in personal worship. That is not too good. Whenever anything replaces God, challenges and God’s anger beckons. Has His provisions replaced Him in your life? Would you rather obey your Boss than God? Has the Love of money replaced the love for souls and evangelism? Death physically, spiritually, mentally, academically, financially e.t.c is inevitable when anything replaces God. God is not interested in the death of any but all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. Repent today!

PRAYER POINT: Father, from now on nothing will take your place in my heart please help me.

PRICE OF LATENESS

MEMORY VERSE: redeeming the time, because the days are evil, Ephesians 5:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 26, Ps 69, Isa 16, 1 Pet 4

BIBLE STUDIES: John 5:1-9

It pays to do things early. It pays to always get to appointments early. I know a fellow who once got a job for coming early to an interview. Although he could not provide the correct answers for virtually all the interview questions, he still got the job because of his commitment and dedication. The interviewer was impressed by his time keeping ; this fellow arrived an hour early despite the fact that he came from a far distance. He found favor as a result of arriving this. Because of his good time keeping and attitude to work, within six months he was made a supervisor. 

There are people who are habitually late to everything. They are never on time and this is not too good. What this people don’t know is that, no one takes a late comer serious. It does not matter how hard working a fellow is if he has problem with time keeping, getting a promotion at work would be difficult. Just as arriving early for appointments brings you in favor with the people you are meeting, arriving late at times brings disfavor. Such was the case of the man at the pool of Bethesda. Every time the angel of the Lord came to trouble/stir the water, he would get to the pool late. This man did not record any progress (i.e. remained at the same position) for thirty eight years because he kept arriving at the pool late. Thank God for mercy. Jesus attended the pool and healed him.

Ephesians 5:16 says redeeming the time, because the days are evil. The only way to redeem time is by working against time; it is by doing things early. There are a lot of people who dare not go to work late; but when it comes to church services they go at any time they want. This is not too good. If you do not leave work at any time you want, why leave the church during the service?  Not too long ago, I told you of how the Holy Spirit led me to go and bless a church with food stuffs on a Palm Sunday. The time of service at this church coincides with the time of service at my church, so I had to get to this church early to deliver the item and make my way to my church. When I got to the church, the pastor was already there. If the pastor had come late to church that Sunday, the whole church would have missed the blessings God sent to them and the children would have gone home without their Easter eggs.

KEY WORD: Arriving at appointments early brings favor. Arriving at appointments late reveals lack of commitment.

DON’T STOP BECAUSE THERE IS A REWARD

Exodus 2:17 and the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ex 31, John 10, Prov 7, Gal 6

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 2:11-21

There is nothing as discouraging as an individual who does not appreciate a helping hand especially when you go out of your way to render the help. If the individual now repays your good deed with bad deed, you will be disgusted. This was the case of Moses. He was walking around minding his own business when he noticed an Egyptian mercilessly beating up a Hebrew boy. Out of pity he rushed to help this Hebrew boy. One thing led to another before you know it, the Egyptian fell and died. He buried the Egyptian and went on his way. The next day while passing by, he saw two Hebrew boys fighting. He approached the fellow at fault and appealed to him to stop hitting his brother and that one started to insult him. He even reminded him of the Egyptian he killed the day before and began to sarcastically beg him not to kill him like he killed the Egyptian. When Moses heard this he was very sad. He thought it was going to end there but it did not; these men informed Pharaoh and that one began to look for Moses to kill him. Moses had no choice than to run away. Moses got himself into trouble because he helped a Hebrew boy (his brother) who was about to be beaten to death by an Egyptian. This boy instead of thanking Moses for saving his life started spreading a rumor that Moses was a killer. The men of Israel instead of commending Moses for saving a Hebrew boy from death, went straight to report him to Pharaoh. Moses lost all he had as a result of this. He was a prince in Egypt, actually the theologians said he was next in line to the throne of Pharaoh but he lost all of this because he  rendered  help to a fellow Hebrew. He lost contact to his beloved mother and family, not only that he became a vagabond and a wanderer in the deserts. While he was wandering in the deserts, he saw some shepherds acting wickedly to some ladies. He defended these ladies and helped them get water from the well. Before the end of that day, God provided a house and a wife for Moses. 

Today I want to admonish you that whatever good thing you are doing, please do not stop because there is a reward for it. People might not appreciate you. They may even repay evil for the good you have done to them like Moses but don’t stop doing good. Moses like anyone of us could have sworn never to render any help again in his life but he did not. Despite all he suffered, when another opportunity to render help came, instead of refusing to help he rendered help and the Lord rewarded him right on the spot. Don’t let the enemy convince you stop doing good. Thank God Moses did not get tired of doing good and quit been a good person. In your last relationship, people might have taken advantage of your kind heart, please do not grow a tough skin and become mean to people. Continue with your kind heart, the Lord that rewards people with a kind heart will reward you in Jesus name.

PRAYER POINT: Father, give me the grace to continue to do good even people repay it with evil.

WATCH YOUR CONFESSIONS

MEMORY VERSE: Say unto them, as truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you. Numbers 14:28

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lev 4,Ps 1-2, Prov 19, Col 2

If anyone tells you that once you give your life to Christ there will be no problems they are telling you a big lie. Jesus told us in John 16:33 that we should expect challenges. Psalm 34:19 buttresses this point by saying that the righteous will have many challenges. Do you know that as a Christian, if everything is going on sweet and nice at all times with no challenges once in a while you should be worried? Oh yes you should be worried because it could be that enemy does not see you as a threat to his kingdom. If you are a threat to the kingdom of darkness, the enemy would want to challenge you once in a while. Anyone who will amount to something in life will face challenges or opposition. If God has got big plans for you, expect the enemy to challenge you or shake you a little. The bigger the plan of God for your life, the bigger the challenges or opposition you might face but do not entertain fear because the Holy One of Israel has already said that no weapon that is formed against you will prosper, and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn, Isaiah 54:17.

During these challenges watch your confessions because whatever God hears you say is what He will do. Your confessions will decide if you will overcome the challenges or not. How you answer during adversity will determine the end result of the adversity. Moses and the children of Israel faced a big challenge or opposition in Exodus 14:9-31. Before them was the red sea, behind them was the host of the Egyptians, to the sides were mountains. When everyone began to scream and cry, Moses told them ‘fear not and hold your peace, the Egyptian you see today, you shall see them no more’. Moses confessed victory and at the end of the day all the host of Egyptians perished in the red sea. When David stood before Goliath, instead of saying I am doomed or I am finished, he told Goliath I will cut of your head, 1 Samuel 17:46. I bet Goliath must have been shocked by this statement because the tiny fellow who was promising to cut his head had no sword. Actually all he had on him was a little sling and stones but guess what before the evening of that day David cut of Goliath’s head!

Not too long ago I had a major challenge at work and it seemed that I was going to be sacked. I was suspended from work and while I was at home, people would call to check on me. I told them ‘  I will not be sacked’. I told them it is written in the bible Christ in me the hope of glory not shame, Colossians 1:27. I kept on confessing that I will return to work and by the special grace of God, God gave me my job back.

KEYWORD: How you respond in adversity will determine the outcome.

IN THE LIKENESS OF GOD

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 29, Matt 28, Est 5, Acts 28

Genesis 5:1 this is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God

Genesis 1:26 says then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. Man in the image of God means man has both moral and spiritual nature of God. Animals do not have morals. There are no good lions or bad lions, lions are lions; all lions kill. There are no humble crocodiles or compassionate hyenas . Humans can decide to show mercy but a tiger cannot. John 4:24 says God is a Spirit. Man is a spirit being. He has body, soul and spirit. Animals are not spirit being. Man in the image of God also means man has the characteristic of God. To have the likeness of God simply means to be able to function like God. According to Genesis 5:1 , God made man in the likeness of God which means God made man to be able to function like God. God did not create us to be a failure or victim of circumstances. He created us to have dominion.

God functions by faith. Almost everyone who received a miracle from Jesus got it by faith. He told the blind man in Mark 10:46-52, ‘go your way; your faith has made you whole ‘and the bible records that immediately the man was healed. In Matthew 9:27- 30, Jesus was in a house when some blind men approached him. The men told him we know You can heal us, He touched their eyes and said ‘according to your faith be in unto you’ and immediately they saw. As anointed as Jesus was, when He got to His country the bible records that He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief, Matthew 13:54-58. Faith operates by two things – love and speaking. Galatians 5:6 says for in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcised; but faith which works by love. If we are not walking in love, our faith won’t work. The reason why mountains do not move when we tell them to move despite our faith is because we are not working in love. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. It will be impossible to function like God when we are not walking in love. Ephesians 4:31 says let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you , with all malice. These are all opposites of love and once they are present in an individual such an individual will never function like God. Faith also operates by speaking. To function like God one needs to always speak in faith. God speaks in faith. Romans 4:17 says He calls those who are not as though they are. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says we having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak. In John 11:11 Jesus said ‘our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up’. He believed Lazarus was not dead but asleep so He told His disciples that He was going to wake Lazarus up. What God hears you say, is what He will do. Numbers 14:28 says as you have spoken in My hearing, so shall I do.Joel 3:10 says let the weak say 'i am strong' . What God expects to hear from the weak is they are strong. He is expecting you to confess the result you want so that He can say amen!

KEY WORD: To function like God, we need to walk in love and speak faith at all times.

Day of Reckoning

Revelations 22:12 - And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Long before Jesus was born , it was prophesied that He will return .Isaiah 62:11 says The LORD has made proclamation to the ends of the earth: “Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Savior comes! See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.‘“Whether we believe it or not He is coming back.
When He returns everyone of us has to settle our accounts with Him.Just like it happened in Matthew 25:14-30, where the three servants had to give accounts , we will also give accounts.What are we going to account about? According to Matthew 12:36 every idle words that we speak .This is does not exempt anyone even born again Christians!

Also our works,Revelations 20:30 says the sea gave up the dead who were in it,and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them, and they were judged ,each one according to his works.1 Corinthians 3:13 says each one’s work will become clear;for the Day will declare it,because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.Are you gathering with Jesus ? if you are not gathering with Jesus by evangelizing then you are scattering .Luke 11:23 says those who do  not gather with Me scatters.

Another thing we will give an account for is how we spent our time on earth,the nobleman in Luke 19:12-25 told his slaves occupy till i come or do business till i come which means busy yourselves with business until i return.We will not only give an account of how we spent our time but how we managed the resources He gave to us.

How are we preparing for that day?On earth , when a student fails there is an opportunity to repeat the class. When a project is submitted and it is not of the required quality there is a chance to redo such project in the day of reckoning there will be no second chance.That day there will be no Oops! or am sorry , ignorance is not an excuse,no excuse will be accepted. No panel to review the decision , all decisions made by God is final no appeal !

How prepared are you for that day ? will your works survive the test of fire? the resources He has given to you have you done business with it? resources like your strength maybe to help in church work , mouth to witness, money to support the missionaries,kingdom projects and the poor ? If you have not giving your life to Christ or if you have before and have backslidded why not come back to Christ.

ACTION POINT: Review your walk with Christ and begin to work on areas that you know that you are lacking.

YOU SHALL HAVE WHAT YOU CONFESS

Numbers 14:28 “say to them,’As I live,’ says the Lord,’just as you have spoken in My hearing,so i will do to you:
Words are very powerful ,Proverbs 18:21 says life and death are in the power of the tongue. Our words can either bring us goodies for example proverbs 13:2 says From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things; it can also the the opposite ,Proverbs 18:6 says A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for blows.
Jonathan told his armor-bearer that  nothing refrains the Lord from saving by many or by few- 1 Samuel 14:6. By the hands of these two ,the Lord caused the host of the Philistine to flee. The bible records in 1 Samuel 14:15 that there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders trembled;and the earth quaked so that it was a great trembling.
Before the Israelites was the Red Sea behind them was Pharaoh and his host , the children of Israel began to panic. Moses said to them ,”do not be afraid but stand still and see the salvation  of the Lord,which He will accomplish for you today for the Egyptians whom you see today , you shall see again no more forever  .The Lord will fight for you , and you shall hold your peace”- Exodus 14:13-14.That day the Lord fought for them and they held their peace.
When Isaac asked his Daddy (Abraham ) where the lamb of sacrifice was Genesis 22:1-13, the old man replied God will provide. Brethren God did provide.
What are we confessing today ?are they positive things or negative things? There are some people called themselves realist or so , they claim to say things as they are . Well 2 Corinthians 5:7 says we walk by faith not by sight.Joel 3:10 says Let the weak say i am strong.
ACTION POINT: As from today , make it a point of duty every morning to prophesy good things into your life, family, your work , your church and your country.