BE YOUR OWN PROPHET

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 7, Matt 7, Ezra 7, Acts 7

Proverbs 12:6 the words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

BIBLE STUDIES -2 KINGS 4:18-37

Many of us listen to newspaper reporters-wonderful people; prophets in their own right. We listen to economics – wonderful people; prophets in their own right. At times we even listen to doctors – lovely people; highly educated people; qualified professionals; prophets in their own right. The question is why don’t we learn to prophesy to ourselves?

The great Shunamite woman in our bible studies prophesied to herself. She did not even wait for Elisha to tell her all will be well. She kept on prophesying that it shall be well. On her to see the man of God, her husband asked if all is well and her reply was “it shall be well”. Again when the man of God saw her coming afar off, he sent his servant to check if all is well and she told the servant “it shall be well”. Despite the fact that her son was dead she kept on prophesying to herself that it shall be well and at the end all was well because her dead son lived again. When you study the scriptures you will notice that almost everyone who had a major breakthrough prophesied to themselves before the breakthrough. In Genesis 22:1-18, God told Abraham to go and sacrifice Isaac to Him as a test. On his way to the mountain, Isaac asked Abraham where the lamb for burnt offering was and Abraham said “my son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering”. He prophesied into his own life and that was the exact thing that happened. In 1 Samuel 17:26-56, David told Goliath “this day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you”. He prophesied that he was going to severe the head of Goliath from his body. Do you know that when David prophesied, he did not even have a dagger on him talk less of a sword? But because he had prophesied that was the exact thing that happened. Immediately Goliath fell he ran to him, since there was no available sword around, he took Goliath’s sword and used it cut of his head. The woman with the issue of blood prophesied to herself, she said “if only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made whole” (Mark 5:25-34). That was the exact thing that happened when she touched the clothes of Jesus. Proverbs 12:6 says the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. Before Jesus got to the house of Lazarus, he prophesied to Martha, John 11:17-45. He said “your brother will rise again” and that was the same thing that happened that. Your prophesy in adversity will determine the result. Joel 3:10 says let the weak say “I am strong” meaning let the weak should prophesy strength to themselves. Cultivate a habit of prophesying good things yourself. Ignore people’s opinion on your challenges; just continue to prophesy the result you want. Be your own prophet this year, it is what God hears you say that he will do not what the doctors say or people around you.

KEY WORD: It is what God hears you say that he will do not what the people around you say or the expert about your challenges.

GUARD YOUR MOUTH

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 5, Matt 5, Ezra 5, Acts 5

Proverbs 21:23 whoever guards his mouth and tongue, keeps his soul from troubles.

Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. With the tongue, one can either start a war or put an end to war. With the tongue, one can either ask for help or reject help. With the tongue, one gather people or scatter what has been gathered. The rightful use of the mouth can bring deliverance. In Acts 16:25-27, Paul and Silas were bound and put in prison. In the middle of the night, they began to sing praises to God and before you know it there was an earth quake which lead to their deliverance. The rightful use of the mouth can lead to healing. Joel 3:10 says let the weak say I am strong and Numbers 14:28 says whatever God hears you say is what He will do . Do you know that just by witnessing with your mouth, you can inherit glory and begin to shine like the stars? Proverbs 10:31 says he that winneth souls is wise. According to Proverbs 3:35, the wise shall inherit glory. In other words those that witness (the wise) will inherit glory. Daniel 12:3 says the wise (those that win souls) shall shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to many into righteousness like the stars forever and ever. There is an African proverb which says words can either bring kola from the pocket or clubs from the bag.

Proverbs 21:23 says whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from trouble. The mouth of many has landed them in trouble. A wise man once said “we may forget blows but not words”. Proverbs 6:1 warns us that our mouth can be snare to us. As powerful as Samson was, his unguarded mouth cost him his two eyes, Judges 16:4-21. Samson who was a terror to the Philistine became a grinder in the prison because he could not keep secrets. Proverbs 18:6 says the mouth of a fool calls for strokes. To have relationship with God, one must learn to guard his mouth. There is a time to speak and there is a time to be quiet. If one speaks at the time he is meant to keep quiet he will end up facing embarrassment. Many of the quarrels and the enemies we have today could have been avoided if only we guarded our mouth. They say silence cannot be misquoted. Proverbs 14:23 says in all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty. Unguarded mouth leads to unnecessary arguments and confrontation. Also the unguarded mouths of others can put us into trouble if care is not taken. Herod was an orator. He had his way with words. Because of his eloquence, some people with unguarded mouth started comparing him with God and instead of stopping them, he enjoyed it. They shouted “the voice of a god and not of man!” Right on the spot, the angel of the Lord struck him and he was eaten by worms alive (Acts 12:21-23). David suffered the same fate. After conquering Goliath, some ladies with unguarded tongues began to compare him to the king, I Samuel 18:7-9. Instead of stopping them, he too just enjoyed it and then the King went after him. The king that took him as a son started to throw javelins at him. Thank God he survived but he spent half of his life running from Saul all because of unguarded mouth.

PRAYER POINT : Father , please help me today to guard my mouth.

THE RIPPLE EFFECT

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 6, Matt 6, Ezra 6, Acts 6

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

What is a ripple? A ripple is simply a small wave along the surface of water. An example of ripple is a small wave that occurs when you drop a rock into a pond. Ripple effect is the spreading effects experience as the result of a single event.

Some forty-something years ago, a young promising concert pianist fell in love with an African American boy. She got pregnant and her parents sent her out of the house. Due to the pressure of becoming a dad at a very young age, the boy began to misbehave. Things began to fall apart in the life of this lady and because she had no mentor she began to use drugs. The government of the state deemed her as an unfit mother so they decided to take the baby off her once she puts to bed. This deepened her sorrow. One day a Christian sister noticed this pregnant girl with the burden of the world on her shoulder crossing the road without checking the traffic. She ran to her and helped her. This sister witnessed to this lady and she gave her life to Christ. Several months later, the young lady to put to bed and gave birth to a boy. This boy grew up to become a Grammy Award –winning American Christian singer and a worship leader. Some of his songs include Alpha & Omega; I am a friend of God e.t.c. Later this lady (now an elderly woman) re-united with the sister (now an elderly woman too) who preached to her while she was crossing the road and got talking. It was a powerful re-union. Whilst talking, the Lady asked this sister, “What made you come to my assistance while I was crossing the road? What made you preach to me?” The sister replied “I had just met the Lord recently so I was preaching to everyone I saw”.

Because this sister received Jesus and began to witness, a young pregnant girl who was on drugs gave her life to Jesus. Instead of aborting the baby, she kept the baby and gave a birth to a son who leads millions to the presence of God through praise and worship. Today we have one of the leading Christian gospel artist- ISRAEL HOUGHTON, all because a sister decided to witness to that young pregnant girl who was crossing the road forty something years ago. The decision of this sister to witness caused a ripple effect that is still affecting the body of Christ till today. Today your decision to share Jesus with every one you come in contact with could cause a ripple that could lead to the birth of a world renowned evangelist. Your decision to do good or show kindness or help someone could cause a ripple effect that could change lives. The decision of Jesus to die on the cross caused a mighty ripple that shaped humanity. Whatever you do produces a ripple. It could lead many to Christ or lead many from Christ. It could put food on someone’s table or take food from their table. It could open an opportunity for some to succeed. Today we have men and women mightily used by God all because someone decided to witness to them or invite them to church

ACTION POINT: You can start a ripple today by giving your life to Christ. You can start a ripple today by deciding to be kind to everyone you come in contact with. You can start a mighty ripple today by deciding to share Jesus with everyone you come in contact with.

WAITING ON THE LORD

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 4, Matt 4, Ezra 4, Acts 4

Isaiah 40:31 but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

BIBLE STUDIES: Lamentations 3:25-26

What does it mean to wait on God? A waiter is a person whose occupation is to serve at a table. When you go into a restaurant, waiters serve you. After the waiter must have served you to your satisfaction, on your way out you give the waiter a tip. To wait on God means to serve at God’s table. After waiting on God to His satisfaction, He will give you a tip. What is the tip He gives? Isaiah 40:31 says they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.

The tip God gives after we have waited on Him to His satisfaction is that He renews our strength. The synonyms of strength are power, security, courage, health, stability e.t.c. When God renews your strength (power), prospering financially becomes easy. Deuteronomy 8:18 says it is God that gives power to get wealth. When power is renewed one will become a blessing-spiritually, financially, materially, physically, to anyone they come in contact with. Also one is able to restore joy to homes just like Jesus did when His strength was renewed in Acts 10:38. The bible said He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. When He renews your strength (Security), your security is guaranteed. Psalm 125:2 says the Lord is round about His people from henceforth even forever. When He renews your strength, you will receive courage. Once He renews your strength, you will be able to boast that if God is for me, who can be against me (Romans 8:31). When God renews your strength, you will be free from every disease, Deuteronomy 7:15. When He renews your strength, you will enjoy stability. It will be impossible to move you because God is your help, Psalm 46:5. After He renews your strength, you will begin to mount up with wings as eagles. Which means you will go from crawling to walking; walking to running; running to flying and from flying to soaring like eagles. If at the moment you do not speak in tongue, once your strength is renewed you will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and you will begin to speak in tongues. As you begin to labor in God’s vineyard, give to God, evangelize, your strength will be renewed and before you know it any sick person you pray for will recover immediately. Lamentations 3:25 says the Lord is good to those who wait for Him. Psalm 37:9 says those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth. If at the moment all you do is just go to church on Sundays, why not begin to serve God so that He can renew your strength. Once your strength is renewed, at your place of work your managers will begin notice an excellent spirit in you; in your business everyone will suddenly start patronizing you; at school your grades will tremendously improve, in your marriage things will change for the better and if you are single God will provide partner.

PRAYER POINT: Father I am ready to wait on you , please give me a tip.

A SOFT ANSWER

    BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 3, Matt 3, Ezra 3, Acts 3

Proverbs 15:1 says a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

BIBLE STUDIES: Proverbs 15:1-2

I read a fable about the sun and the wind. They quarreled about which was the stronger, and the wind said, ‘I’ll prove I am. See the old man down there with a coat? I bet I can get his coat off him quicker than you can. ‘So the sun went behind a cloud, and the wind blew until it was almost a tornado, but the harder it blew, the tighter the old man clutched his coat to him. Finally, the wind calmed down and gave up, and then the sun came out from the behind the clouds and smiled kindly on the old man. Presently, he mopped his brow and pulled off his coat. The sun then told the wind that gentleness and friendliness were always stronger than fury and force.

Many of the problems, disagreement we encounter in our relationship with people could have been avoided if only we approached issues with gentleness and friendliness. Proverbs 15:1 says a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Many of the problems between couples today could have been avoided if only one of the parties approached issues with gentleness and friendliness. Getting angry and answering in anger has been found to be unproductive in handling situations. Actually it has been tested and proven that our actions and answers inform the reaction and the response of people we are dealing with. Many have made unnecessary enemies due to the way they reacted to issues in the time past. Despite our past, God could have treated us with His heavy hand. He could have giving us what we deserve which was death for every sin we have committed but what did He do? He reacted to us in love. 1 John 4:19 says we love because God first loved us. Love begat love. Jesus has the right to use force and fury to save us but He did not do that, He opted to use gentleness and friendliness by gently knocking on the door of our heart to save us. Many have been on the right and did not get the justice they deserve all because they approached the other party in anger. Opt for the soft answer approach today. Do not react to things in anger, if you are angry it is better to just keep quiet. It is not profitable to argue or get angry. The Chinese have a saying, ‘he who treads the ground softly goes far’. The sun can make you take off your coat more quickly than the wind; and kindliness, the friendly approach and appreciation can make people change their minds more readily than all the bluster and storming in the world.

REMEMBER: ANGER IS THE ENEMY OF PERSUASION

LET THE FIRE FALL

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 2, Matt 2, Ezra 2, Acts 2

1 Kings 18:33 – then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

BIBLE STUDIES: 1 Kings 18:25-40

In 1 Kings 18:25-40 is a story we all know. Elijah and the prophets of Baal met at Mount Carmel to decide who the true God was. The prophet of Baal called on Baal but there was no response.Elijah called on God and He sent down fire. The fire consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

Let us now carefully look at what the fire consumed. The first thing the fire consumed was the burnt offering. In the olden days, when God accepts an offering, He will send fire to consume the offering and also say thank you. During the dedication of the temple, Solomon offered uncountable number of sheep and oxen (2 Chronicles 5:6) and brought it before the Lord. The Lord accepted this offering by sending fire, 2 Chronicles 7:1. After the fire He also said thank you by ensuring that Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom, 2 Chronicles 9:22. The only offering God accepts is an offering from a cheerful heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says God loves a cheerful giver. God will never accept any offering giving grudgingly. The second thing the fire consumed was the wood. Science will tell you that when fire touches a good wood energy is released. When the fire of the Lord falls, your potential is released. Peter had potential but no fire. In Luke 5:1-7, he fished all night and caught nothing. But immediately the carrier of the Holy Ghost came into his boat, his potential was released. He was then able to cast his net once and caught so much fish that two boats began to sink. I pray that the fire of God will fall and your potential is released in Jesus name, amen. The next thing the fire consumed was the stone. The stone represents unfruitfulness or unrepentant heart. Once the fire falls, unfruitfulness or bareness is consumed and you will begin to bring forth fruit. Also the unrepentant heart i.e. heart of stone is consumed. The next thing that was consumed was the dust. We are created from dust and dust represents the flesh. Once the fire fall, living a life of holiness will be easy because fleshly desires will be consumed. Also diseases in the flesh are consumed. The fifth thing that happened was that the fire licked the water. The water represents your tears. The fire will dry up all you tears. The only one who can tell you weep not is the One who is capable of taking care of what is causing you to weep.The fire from God is capable of dealing with what is causing you to weep. Before Elijah called down fire, he prepared the altar i.e. he put things in other. The fire will not fall until we put our walk with God in order. We need to begin to obey Him. The fire will not fall when are living in disobedience. We also need to prepare our bodies through fasting and prayers. If fire touches a bad wood nothing is released but if it touches a good wood, energy is generated.

ACTION POINT: Before you call down fire, put things right with God and prepare your body so that when the fire falls, your potential is released.

ALL IS WELL

  BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 1, Matt 1, Ezra 1, Acts 1

2 Kings 4:23 – so he said, “Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath.” And she said, “It is well.”

BIBLE STUDIES: 2 Kings 4:18 - 27

In 2 Kings 4:8-27 is the story of the great Shunem woman and Elisha. One day this woman saw the man of God passing by and she invited him for a meal. Although the man of God refused, she persisted and the man of God came in to eat. Because the man of God enjoyed her food so much  anytime he was passing by, he will come in and eat at her place. Later this woman increased her giving and built a house for the man of God. The God who Elisha served visited this woman and gave her a son. One day death came and snatched this boy and she ran to the man of God. The man of God cried to God and death released what it had stolen from the Shunem woman.

Firstly,  I want to you to know  the fact that you love God does not mean there will not be problems. Challenges are part and parcel of life, be it a believer or an unbeliever. The only difference is that when the storms of life begins to blow, as a believer we have the One who Isaiah 9:6 calls the Prince of Peace. Who is the Prince of Peace? Jesus. When we study Mark 4:35-41, we will see that despite the fact that Jesus was in the boat, there was a great windstorm but a word from Him stilled the storm. Brethren there will be storms but the assurance we have as believers is that our boat will never sink. Psalm 34:19 says many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. John 16:33 says in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. All is well is simply telling the devil to try his best but at the end all will be well with me. Secondly , please watch your mouth. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 6:2 says our mouth can be a snare to us. It is important to watch what we say because whatever God hears us say is what He will do. Numbers 14:28 says “say to them, ‘as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.” It does not matter what the whole world says, God is not interested in what everyone is saying about the challenges you are going through. He is only interested in what you are going to say and whatever you say is what He will do. When the son of the great Shunem woman died and her husband asked her hope all is well? Her response was ‘it is well’. When the prophet of God saw her coming afar off and asked his servant to go and check if all is well. This woman told this servant ‘it is well’. At the end of the day all was well. Instead of confessing the negative, she kept on saying what she wanted. She used the power of her tongue to change her destiny. What this woman said with her mouth was what God did for her.

CONFESSION: This year will be a prosperous year for me. I will not lack anything good this year. This year I will know God better. This year the world we will see the glory of God in my life.