GOD IS MY PORTION

Wednesday 11 July                             Bible study in one year : Luke 10-13

Memorize : The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. Psalm 16:5

Read:Philippians 1 :19-21

In the devotional for July 4, we saw from John 6:5-13, a young boy offering his lunch to Jesus. It was inferred that at the end of the day the people would have helped him to take home the 12 baskets remains from what he gave. One lesson is that why some giving may take  some time to give its yield, some others can give immediate yields.The boy’s gift got immediate returns.But note that the boy’s giving was sacrificial . He had just his lunch when he went with the crowd to listen to Jesus. When the Lord needed food , he decided to fast- to go hungry so that somebody else-even if it one person, could have something to eat. He did not share his meal; He gave it all like the poor widow did with her mite.  Sacrificial giving is what brings out the extreme giving qualities of God. In 1 Kings 17:8-16, God turned the last meal of an extremely needy widow into long-last supply but remember the widow first surrendered her last meal. She had the choice of eating her last meal and facing death or sacrificing her last meal to live.She chose right. Many people have found themselves in similar state as the widow but their momentary ,fleshly pleasure did not let them choose right, hence they have plunged themselves into more misery, thereby loosing what God had reserved for them.

A lot has to do with your decision.God may tell you what to do but He will not force you to do it. A right decision is a right decision and a wrong decision is wrong irrespective of the circumstances or excuse that are advanced. Ask God for grace to take the right decision  always no matter its immediate effect on you and your family. Sacrifice is a step in the right direction.Romans 12:1 says you should lay your entire life, achievement, family and plans upon the altar of sacrifice. Paul says if i will at all it is to live for Christ and if He wants me to die, there is even greater pain for me ( Philippians 1:21). That means either way, I am a winner. You too can win either way. According to 2 Corinthians 9:6 , to get God’s best , give bountifully. The ultimate of giving bountifully is when you give everything including yourself. If you do this, He will respond and say :’ From today whatever I have is now yours”. Yes , God can be your portion.

KEY POINT: The sacrifice to make God your portion may be enormous but cannot be compared with the unending flow of blessings that will flow

Trust in God

Is it Correction or a Spirit of Criticism?

I have a brother who is a Baptist Minister. I'm Pentecostal and in this all know my brother and I must have some differences in theology. We do, however these differences have never been an issue or a point of contention between us. We agree on the main thing and both of us know what the main thing is concerning salvation.

I received a letter from my brother with a copy of a message he had shared with his congregation that touched my heart. In the letter he granted me permission to share this message with anyone I wish.

The part I will share with you concerns pastors. There has been much said on this site lately about pastors in particular and ministers in general. There is much truth in the proclamation of apostasy in this last day church. There is also a responsibility all members of the body share in this apostasy and a responsibility to His ministers whom He has called and ordained.

The following is quoted from his letter with only some names being altered for their privacy :


Bible students went to hear the great Charles Spurgeon preach while he was in London. They arrived at the church early and met a man who said he would show them around. While taking the tour one of the students said, "If you had to name one reason for the powerful and anointed preaching of Charles Spurgeon, what would it be?" He said, "Come on boys and let me show you the heating room in the basement."

They went to the basement and he opened 2 large doors to the "heating room." There were 700 women and men kneeling in prayer. They were all praying for Charles Spurgeon and his message that would be preached on that day. The man looked at the bible students and said, "I am Charles Spurgeon and this is the room the power of my preaching comes from."



The Bible has much to say about praying for leaders of the church.

Paul was in prison when he wrote 4 different letters. They were to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon.

Paul says,

"Don't forget to pray for us."

It is so easy to take things for granted and forget to do them. I would ask each of you to set aside a time on Saturday and Sunday morning to pray for me.

While my wife and I were visiting in Waco a couple years back, we went to a church with my son and daughter-in-law that was located in a run down neighborhood. A black minister got up to preach. He said, "When I grew up I lived in a 2 room house that only had one cooking stove for heat. All us children would gather as close around that stove as possible to receive the heat. It sure felt good on them cold mornings." He then said, "Would all of you who are right with God come down a little closer so I can be close to the heat?"

I'm asking all of you that are right with God to pray for me. I need it in my preaching and serving each week.

Paul says to pray for me so that he will proclaim the message as clearly as he should.

Billy Sunday once said, "I like to put the cookies on the bottom shelf so even the little children can get one." He was referring to the presentation of the Gospel in such a way that even little children understood what he said.

A preacher once told me that if you preach a sermon that everyone understands, it will pay off in two ways. One way is that everyone listening will understand what was said. Another way is that those that think they are so much smarter than the pastor will feel good. They will sit around the dinner table and say things like, "Bless that preacher's heart. He is so simple until even a little child could understand what he was saying. Well, I guess everyone didn't have the opportunity to be educated like me."

In Luke 19, Jesus tells the parable of the King's 10 servants. The 3rd servant in this story did nothing with the money Jesus had allowed him to have. In other words, he made no investment. He said, "I hid it and kept in a safe" , and then in C9, vs. 21, he said, "I feared thee because thou art an austere man." Austere means hard or strict. Everyone does not know what that word means. Have any of you used that word this week?

An old uneducated preacher was preaching a revival. His scripture was Luke 19:21. He thought that word "austere" was pronounced "oyster." He preached a message titled, "The Oyster Man", referring to Jesus. He described how when diving into the ocean to retrieve oysters one would plunge deep into the water, grapple around in the oysters, their hands would be cut and bleeding and then they would swim to the top holding the reward of their dive. He compared this to Jesus plunging down from heaven and being bruised, beaten, and crucified for our sins but then after His plunge He had the reward and that was souls to be won by Him giving His life for our sins.

After the service a professor with a doctorate degree walked up to the preacher and said, "That was the most butchered sermon of the English language I have ever heard. The word is "austere" and not "oyster" and it means hard, firm, or strict. That was an incorrect use of the English language and you should be ashamed."

The preacher said, "Sir, you can say what you want about me but the Lord used and the Lord retrieved 12 new oysters tonight." The Lord had used the message of an uneducated minister to draw 12 people into His Kingdom.

The Lord is looking for sincere hearts and surrendered hearts.

What about your heart? Has it been fully given to the Lord?


END OF QUOTE FROM LETTER

This message my brother preached really blessed my heart and I pray it does your's as well. It speaks directly and truly to a destructive condition in the body of Christ today. In all too many cases people tend to criticize and fail to pray.

Friends, from my heart I believe "CRITICISM " is of the devil and has no place in the heart of a believer.

Even of our enemies we are instructed to love them, bless them, do good to them, and pray for them. If this is so shouldn't it be so much more for our friends?

And a word from the Lord:

"Touch not mine anointed and do them no harm."

All of us one day will stand before the Lord and answer for every word which has come from our mouths. Careful what you say, especially when you are talking about God's anointed.

Instead of receiving a spirit of criticism take on a spirit of supplication. Instead of wasting your time criticizing and tearing apart, pray and build up.

You are a member of the body, a unique part which is necessary and important, do your part to build and not to destroy.

Instead of being a critical spirit choose to be a part of the body of Christ and build up. Pray for your ministers continuously and have faith in God. God will do the rest. If you are faithful to do your part there will be resolution, God's resolution.

This is the last day Church and the remnant is few in number. Keep praying for the Church as well.

Blessings to all,
Tch

Legalistic vs. Mercy

Here lately I have been sitting back watching people, I am a people watcher by nature. I find humans a fascinating group. I have noticed that when we as humans look at each other we like to judge someone else’s sin in legalistic eyes. But not our own we are very happy to look upon our own sin with mercy, the mercy that the Lord gives us. Funny isn’t it we hold others to a higher standard than we hold ourselves.

I have also noticed a very dangerous game being played not only by the world but by Christians. I like to call it ‘Rank that sin’. Those in the world look at others of the world and reason with themselves that they are a good person because at least they have never done A-B-C. Christians also like to partake in this game when looking at fellow Christians. Don’t we like to think ourselves better. We think hey at least I don’t struggle with the bottle or at least I have never cheated on my spouse or I have never stolen, the list can go on. We loose sight with the fact that sin is sin, black as coal. Doesn’t matter what it is, we are no better than those that we are placing ourselves over in judgement.

We all struggle, my struggles may not be your struggles, your struggles may not be mine. But that does not give us the right to place judgement upon each other. How about helping each other.. Wow there is a thought. If we spent less time playing our little minds games trying to make ourselves feel better about our own sin and more time helping each other overcome what ever it is we are dealing with. Think what a better place this might be to live in. Think about how much easier it might be to go to our Brother’s and Sister’s and ask for prayer, knowing that they will be standing in the gap for us not placing judgment upon us.

I have also noticed that some like to preach Grace and Mercy. Then you have those on the other side of the fence that like to preach Holiness and Righteousness. What would happen if we met each other somewhere in the middle, think about it. Don’t we need all of these elements in our walk?

Grace - Mercy - Holiness - Righteousness

Think about all of the inner bickering that could be cleared up if we were just willing to meet somewhere in the middle. Think about what that could do for the Body. Just maybe healing could begin to take place, just maybe the fracture that has plagued us for so many generations could slowly heal. Then what would Christianity look like.

I read a account from a prophet here recently that said until the fracture in the Body was healed true revival could not take place. After reading this account the Holy Spirit told me this was true. All this time I have been praying for revival, just maybe I need to shift my attention for a season and begin to pray for healing. Maybe all of us need to shift our attention for that season and begin to pray for this, just think what could happen if we all could come together in unity. Think about the difference we could make, think about the lives that could be changed, think about those that could be saved. But to do this it has to start with all of us individually in our prayer room and also in how we deal with one another.

I am not a trained theologian, I am but a humble servant of Christ. My thoughts do not flow as they should but please know that I speak what the Lord places upon my heart. The Spirit has been heavy upon me today, I have been moved to tears a few times, my heart has ached. And this is what He gave me to share with you today, I pray blessing upon each and everyone of you.

In His Love

christineingram

ARE YOU P.O.O.R

Tuesday 10 July                                    Read bible in one year: Luke 7-9

Memorise: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed , rightly dividing the word of truth . 2 Timothy 2:15

Read 2 Timothy 2 :14-16

When Elijah was parted and taken away from Elisha in 2 Kings 2:11-13 , Elisha tore away his old garment. This connotes that for you to take on a new or higher assignment , it is important to change your clothes. if you are still putting on malice,lies,anger or any work of flesh,your new assignment will not fit you. In addition to tearing his old garment, Elisha took up the mantle that fell from his departed master. This means God gave him an opportunity and he grabbed it.God will give you atleast one opportunity but it is up to you to seize the opportunity. Samson was one person who knew how to seize opportunity. When he was taken bound to the Philistines in Judges 15:14-15, the Spirit of God came upon him and he saw the jaw bone of an ass,he grabbed it and used it.The ability to take every opportunity God gives to you is a determining factor in becoming what God wants you to become. The difference between the rich and poor has to do with how they treat opportunities that came their way. Someone defined the word “poor” as Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly. Genuinely rich people are rich today because they did not let opportunities pass them by;while a lot of the poor are poor today because they keep procrastinating and hardly ever seized an opportunity God gave to them.

You can observe this trend in christian faith . Show me a fast growing believer and i will show you a convert who did not allow opportunities for growth to pass by unutilized. Everyone that is born again has an ample opportunities for growth. The issue is : what do you do with such opportunities? 2 Timothy 2 :15 says you should study the scriptures as if you are about to sit for an examination. Bible study, faith clinic, revival services,Sunday services,workers retreat,ministers retreats,ministries conferences, monthly Holy Ghost services, Special Holy Ghost services, Conventions,Congresses,Bible College,School of Disciples, School of Missions, etc., are all avenues for growth. In addition books authored by anointed man and women of God are available for study by the one who wants to be outstanding. Are you grabbing these opportunities? The more you grab the more outstanding you become.

KEY POINT: Opportunities grabbed and utilised add to the user but opportunities ignored diminish the one to which they were sent.

ENLARGING GOD’S SERVICE

Monday 9 July                            Bible in one year:Luke 4-6

Memorise : And i will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly i love you , the less i be loved.2 Corinthians 12 vs 15

When God is looking for those to call, He looks for hardworking people because He is not lazy. God cannot entrust things of eternal value into the hands of lazy people. One thing you can be certain about concerning the 12 disciples the Lord chose, is that they were all hardworking people.Is it Peter, John, James or Matthew the tax collector or even Judas who was their treasurer? Balancing the accounts is not an easy job for the lazy. How hardworking are you ?

Another criteria God uses in selecting those He will use is their determination to serve Him all the days of their lives.Some people serve God now because of their present circumstance,status or location. The day there is a change in any of these , particularly in a negative sense , it will affect their commitment. But there are those who decide to serve Him in all circumstances and until their last breath. In 2 Corinthians 12 vs 15 says:
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you, though the more abundantly i love you , the less i be loved.
He also said in Philippians 3vs 7-8 that all his gains were counted as losses to enable him know Jesus more. Have you resolved to serve him to the end? Some brethren are asking God for an anointing to heal the sick and raise the dead while God is asking them “how many souls have won to me since i saved you ?” Grace meets you on the move, the idle fellow would therefore be bypassed. Paul made a great sacrifice to appreciate God’s salvation. Some people have never made a major sacrifice to the Lord since they got saved. By His grace i got saved in July 1973 . The following year , I was in my village. I did not have much but i repaired a shop  and agreed with the owner that what i spent in that renovations would be converted into renting the shop for church use. It covered for up to 17 years. We did not spend up to that when we built our own church. I also went everywhere preaching the Gospel. God’s grace is meant to be used for God’s kingdom. What are you doing for Him?

ACTION POINT: Take a stock of your achievements for the Kingdom since you got saved. Compare your findings with the goals you earlier set and see the difference.

Peter's Gift

Read : Luke 5 vs 1- 8

The bible passage above is a very popular story about Peter . He had fished all night and caught nothing ,while he was washing his nets Jesus paid him a visit. Later Jesus asked him to let down his net for a catch and he obeyed. He caught so much fish his nets began to break.

When we carefully study the above passage , we will notice that before Peter received his breakthrough there was an exchange. Peter parted with something to get his blessings. Many a times,when we hear of giving and  what comes to mind is money - offering and tithes . It is not only about money , there are things God wants you to give to Him that are more of value than money and I pray that as you read along , the Holy Spirit will inspire you in Jesus name.Amen

Looking at Luke 5 vs 1-8 , Peter gave five things to Jesus in exchange for his breakthrough. The things he gave came at a cost . David says in 1 Chronicles 21 vs 24 , I will not offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing. David knew the essence of giving a costly gift to God no wonder by the time we get to 1 Chronicles 21 vs 26 we see God answering from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offerings. God was so pleased with the offering that He sent fire from heaven to consume the offering.

The first thing Peter gave was his time . Time Is one of the most valuable resources. Business moguls will tell you time is money. Time is so important God works in it . Genesis 2 vs 2 says and on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. The Lord created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This is an example of God working in time. When we study the whole bible we see God working in time and with time. Time is so crucial, when the mother of Jesus told Him the wine had finished , He replied My hour has not yet come -John 2 vs 1-11.

When Jesus got into the boat in Luke 5 vs 3 , He began to teach the multitude from the boat.Meanwhile Peter had fished all night and he needed rest but instead of going home to rest, he stood with Jesus . While Jesus was teaching , he was awake on the boat to carry out instructions for Jesus , spending time with Jesus. The time he could have used to do a million and one things , maybe visit his family , friends, look for other means of getting money , complain about he tried all night and caught nothing or sleep but he gave it to Jesus .It was a very inconvenient time for Peter because he was tired and exhausted. Anyone who is wants a mega breakthrough must be ready to first give their time to Jesus. Brethren God needs our time for a lot of things, for evangelism, for caring for the sick,poor and widows , for interceding , for praying , for praising Him. God will always reward every second we spend for Him. A few minutes with God can solve a life long problem. God is only ready to spend time with us when we spend time with HIM.

Another thing Peter gave was his boat . We all know that the most important thing to a fisherman is his boats. Peter's boat was a prized asset to him but He had to let go off it to Jesus. The question is this if Jesus decides to borrow your house , will you lend Him? We know our Lord is rich, Haggai 2 vs 8 says silver and gold belongs to Him,Genesis 14 vs 22 calls Him the Possessor of the heavens and the earth, Psalm 24 vs 1 says the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness. To enjoy God and His abundance we must be ready to part with our prized possessions. Because Abraham was willing to part with Isaac- his only son , God swore to him , He said in blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the sea-shore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies- Genesis 22 vs17. You want God to bless you beyond limits , be ready to part with your prized possession. The widow of Zarapheth gave her last meal and the Lord fed her through famine – 1 Kings 17 vs 7-16.

Another thing Peter gave was strength. We all know that after fishing all night , by the next morning Peter will be left with virtually no strength.  Luke 5 vs 3 says then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's and asked him to put out a little from the land. Peter had brought his boat to the shore because he was finished for the day but Jesus asked him to push the boat back into the lake. This was not an easy task ,to make it worse Jesus was sitted in the boat which made it heavier. Peter had to summon the last strength he had to push the boat to the sea. Many of us call ourselves christians and we can not remember the last time we spent our strength for Jesus.

A way to use your strength for Jesus is by becoming a worker in your church. Join the ushers, greeters , choirs, cleaners or other departments. The church of God needs workers. We can not expect the pastor to clean the chairs, hoover , be an usher and choir at the same time. We need to support the work of God. A true child of God will be a worker in the house of God. Jesus says in Luke 11 vs 23 , he who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters. Are you with Jesus by working with your pastors and church or scattering what Jesus has gathered ? It is God that fills the church but he needs workers to make the church clean and conducive for those He is bringing .

Another thing Peter gave was his freedom. He became a servant in His own boat by giving all his freedom to Jesus. The reason why many do not want to give their life to Christ is because they do not want to give up their freedom. They want to smoke , make filthy jokes , enjoy their bottle of alcohol and all . They do not want to be told how to live their life. They want to live their life the way they want. Peter served Jesus well , Jesus told him to put the boat out a little he did without question. He asked him to launch into deep , he complied ; Jesus told him to let down his net he obeyed.

Anyone who wants God to move for him must first give up his freedom to Jesus. Once you give your freedom to Jesus , He controls what you do . He tells you can not go to clubs , betting shops or womanize. Once you give your freedom to Jesus , you are not free to live a reckless life ,part of giving your freedom will include giving up your life styles . You have to give up the way you dress ,no more tight fitting skirts and blouses,no more micro mini skirts, no exposure of body parts that needs to be covered. Once He has your freedom , you will not be able to attend parties during church services. If we submit our freedom to Him , we will fulfill our destinies in no time. The secret of David's success is found in Psalm 23 v 5 , He leads me in the paths of righteousness . If the Lord leads you , it is obvious you can not go wrong.

The fifth thing he gave was his family. Anyone who is ready to have a breakthrough that the world will be  called to come and see must put Jesus first. Peter fished all night and you will expect him to go home and see his children and wife but he stayed with Jesus. We will not enjoy Jesus to the fullest until we put Him first in everything we do . A disciple of Jesus told him please let me first go and bury my father and Jesus told him “follow me let the dead bury their own dead”. Our God is a jealous God -Deuteronomy 6 vs 15 , that is why He will not take the second place in any life.

He is either the first in your life or He is not there. Is the Lord asking you to do one thing or other and you are considering what people will say ? Or what your family members will think ? Luke 17 vs 33 says whoever seeks to save his life will lose it and whoever loses his life will preserve it. Abraham put God first , that was why he was able to go and sacrifice Isaac before the Lord provided a substitute. The widow of Zarapheth put the prophet of God first before her son . She fed the prophet first before she thought of her son. Every time we put God first He works wonders for us. David put God first before His throne, fame, respect and honor and began to dance in the presence of the Lord. David danced to the extent Michal complained and the Lord got angry and closed the womb of Michal that she died without a child- 2 Samuel 6 vs 22-23. Put God first and you will not be last.

When an individual gives his freedom,time,strength,prized possessions and his family , what is he left with ? Nothing . What makes an individual's life is his /her freedom, time, strength, prized possession and family. To experience God in a way you have never experienced Him, you need to give your life to Christ. A life without Christ is an empty life . People take  take drugs , engage in a reckless life to fill an emptiness within them. Money can not fill the emptiness , so also is status or fame . We have seen the rich and famous die of substance abuse because they were trying to fill a void within them. The only way to fill the void is accept Jesus. Colossians 2 vs 10 says and ye are complete in Him, which is the head of principality and power . Without Him we can do nothing , Philippians 4 vs 13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Without Him strengthening you , you will achieve nothing no wonder Psalm 60 vs 12 says through God we will do valiantly, For It is He who shall tread down our enemies.

If you have not giving your life to Christ why not do so now because tomorrow might too late. If you have once giving your life to Christ and backslidded why not come back to Him because He is waiting to receive you.

The bible said in Romans 3 vs 23 that for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 6 s 23 says For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The gift was explained in John 3 vs 16 , For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. What shall we do to be save ? The bible says in Romans 10vs 9 that if you confess with your mouth , Jesus is Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10 vs 10 – For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with our mouth that you confess and are saved.

Pray this prayer from your heart today!

Dear Jesus , I believe that You died for me and rose again on the third day. I confess I am a sinner. I need your love and forgiveness. Come into my heart . Forgive my sins. I receive Your eternal life. Confirm You love by giving me peace, joy and supernatural love for others, Amen.

Welcome to Christ brethren, Please join a bible believing church.

Samuel Oluwatoki

Please forward this newsletter to a friend, family or colleague . Remember Matthew 10 vs 32 which says whoever confesses me before me , him I will confess before my father who is heaven.