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.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP LEADS TO EXPANSION

Psalm 22:3 says but You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

One way to get the attention of God is through praise and worship. In Mark 5:1-17 is the story of the mad man of Gadara. For one reason or the other demons just took interest in this man and made his body their abode. The demons inside him invited other demons and before you know it, he was loaded with a legion of demons (over 6000 demons). This man lost control of his life to these wicked demons .A demon is enough to destroy one’s life talk less of legion of demons. One day this man saw Jesus from afar, he ran and began to worship. By the time he finished worshiping; Jesus was already standing by him. The demons were forced out; he got his deliverance and life back. If nothing works try praise and worship. When everything failed in Acts 16:25 -26, Paul and Silas resulted to singing Hymns to glorify the name of the Lord. There was an earthquake and before you know it all their chains were loosed and all the doors in the prison were opened.

When you praise God, He takes His position in your life. Psalm 22:3 says but You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. To enthrone means to occupy a throne or take up a seat. When we praise the Lord, He occupies His throne in our life or He takes up His seat in our life. Once the Lord occupies His throne, the first thing He does is to establish His kingdom. Once He establishes His kingdom in our life, favor, mercy, protection, promotion, victory, abundance, fruitfulness, good health e.t.c will become a daily occurrence in our life. In His kingdom there is no defeat or loss. There is no purposelessness, stagnancy or bareness. Everything in His kingdom function to His will. The will of God for you is to have life and have it in abundance, John 10:10. When the mad man of Gadara began to worship, Jesus enthroned Himself in His life and all the six thousand demons had to run. Immediately Paul and Silas began to sing hymns, God enthroned Himself in their challenges and the chains that stood as bondages fell off. Once God enthrones Himself in your life, your battle becomes His battles. Why do you think the children of Israel marched around Jericho once for six days blowing the trumpet to praise God (Joshua 6:1-21)? They were preparing God’s throne. On the seventh day, they marched around Jericho seven times and lifted up their voices and began to make joyful noise to God. Immediately God took His throne in their lives, the wall came down.

ACTION POINT: Enthrone him today in your life by spending quality time to sing praise and worship to Him, before you know it everything hindering your expansion will begin to give way.

PETER WALKED ON WATER

Matthew 14:29 – and He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:22-33

Fires and waters are often used in the scriptures to denote calamity or challenges. When we talk of Peter walking of water, we are talking of Peter walking on his challenges or overcoming his challenges. The fact that we are now born again does not exempt us from challenges. Peter had a relationship with Jesus yet he had to walk on water. The assurance we have as believers is that we have the Prince of Peace with us so no matter what happens; there will be peace at the end.

Present in the boat were twelve disciples, on the same waters, how come only one managed to get out of the boat and walked on water? How come while others sat in the boat, Peter was able to get down and walk on waters? Firstly, when Peter saw Jesus walk on water, he saw an opportunity for the glory of God to be manifested in his life; he saw an opportunity to walk on water. Others saw ghost and were troubled when they saw Jesus walking on water. The other disciples saw the end but, Peter saw the beginning of a special walk with Jesus. When the storm of life begins to blow, whatever we see will determine the outcome. Everyone who came across Goliath saw defeat, but David saw an opportunity to become the King’s son-in-law and not to pay tax again for life, 1 Samuel 17:1-58. When challenges come, please see an opportunity for testimony not disgrace. Secondly, Peter’s confession was different from that of the other disciples. When the other disciples saw Jesus walking on water towards them, they cried out of fear. They began to say things like they were doom, they were finished and so on but Peter said ‘Lord if it is you, command me to come to you on the water ‘meaning I know only you can make me walk on water, help me to walk on water. Believe me, whatever we confess during challenges is what will come to past. The Lord says in Numbers 14:28 “as you have spoken in My ear so shall I do”. Thirdly, while other disciples focused on the sea and the storm, Peter set his focus on Jesus. Whatever we focus on becomes big. If we focus on Jesus long enough, He will become bigger than our challenges but if we focus on our challenges long enough, they will be bigger than Jesus. The reason why the faith of many grow weak during challenges is because they focus so much on the challenges not Jesus. We experience fear as a result of focusing on the outcome not Jesus who decides the outcome. Fourthly, Peter accepted the invitation but others ignore it. When Jesus said ‘Come’, what He meant was come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, Matthew 11:28. Peter left the boat with his challenges and went to Jesus, others held unto their issues and challenges in the boat. While Peter was walking on his challenges, they sat with theirs in the boat battling with it.

KEY WORD – To walk on the storms of life or overcome any challenges, you must : 1 – see an opportunity for God to glorify Himself in your life; 2- you must confess victory ;  3- focus on Jesus alone not the challenges ; 4- take the matter to Jesus .