THE HOUSE OF PRAYER

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 35-36, Mark 6, Job 2, Romans 6

Mark 11:17 and he taught, saying unto them, is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations of prayer? But ye have made it a den of thieves.

Bible studies: Mark 11:11-17

In our bible studies we read a very disturbing account of what transpired between Jesus and the church. Jesus the head and the owner of the church visited a temple to fellowship and have a good time with them. Because the visit meant a lot to Him, He got there very early hoping to perform signs and wonders , raise dead situations and marriages , restore lost opportunities , impart them, bless them and most importantly spend the night with them . He came fully prepared having spent quality time in praying and fasting and all that. When He got to the temple, He decided to inspect the temple and what He saw grieved Him greatly. He saw religious ceremonies carried out with no relationship to the Spirit. He saw commercialism, injustice, exploitation, hypocrisy and a disregard for the holiness of His Father. This made Him very sad; no one even acknowledged Him and by the time it was evening He left the church grieving in His heart. Just as He visited the temple, He visits churches today to inspect and bless them but He leaves disappointed. He sees the church turning into a social gathering instead of a spiritual gathering. He sees the church turning into a fashion centre, a place to display wealth and success. He sees a lot of activities that has nothing to do with the Spirit. He sees people fighting to the extent of hurting themselves over church posts; He sees the shepherd interested in what the sheep has to offer rather than feeding the sheep and He returns back to heaven in tears. A young girl died and went to heaven.She described an incident were Jesus was crying over souls going to hell . In her own words, she said “Jesus does not cry like humans, when He cries you can feel it even to His heart!”. She said it is a painful thing to see yet many churches make Him cry every Sunday. He visits many services and while everyone is busying having fun, He is at the back weeping because He is now invisible even in His church i.e. His house.

After the inspection, Jesus left. He returned the next morning and we saw a side of Jesus that I pray that no one will ever see. You see Jesus can be very loving .1 John 4:8 calls Him love. He can also be a consuming fire too. Hebrew 10:31 says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Three particular activities made Him very angry – buying and selling; money changing and dove selling. There should be no buying and selling inside the church. Outside the church you are free to buy and sell. There should be no money changing, if you need to change money do it before you come into the church. Dove selling is selling of anointing handkerchiefs, apples e.t.c. and it is prohibited in the house of God! No commercial activity should take place inside the church. After throwing out the money changers, dove sellers, He taught them and told them that the church is a house of Prayer. The church is a place for serious business with God not man. It is not avenue to socialize at all. There is nothing wrong chatting with your friends after the service but whilst in the presence of the Most High it is serious business. The centre of attraction in the church should be Jesus not you or me or the pastor.

PRAYER POINT: Father, send revival into all your churches all over the world.

KINGDOM PRINCIPLES Part 1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 33, Mark 4, Est 9-10, Romans 4

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

God is a God of principles. Anyone who will experience heaven on earth must be addicted to following God’s principles. Firstly, every word that comes out of the mouth of Jesus needs to be taken seriously. According to John 6:63, the words that He speaks are spirit and life. When Jesus begins a sentence with verily (verily means truly), take that sentence very serious. When He says verily, verily i.e. truly, truly, please pay careful attention to the statement that follows because something of eternal value is about to be released. For example He says in John 3:5 verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and savior and you are yet to be baptized, you better run to your pastor and register for baptismal classes. Today I will be dealing with a principle found in the book of John. The Gospel according to John is filled with so many principles. John 12:24 says verily, verily, I say unto you, except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. How does a farmer turn a grain of corn into several? He plants it. The corn dies and germinate into a corn plant where he can now get enough corn to feed himself and his family. How does a man multiply what is in his hands? by sowing it. Matthew 13:12 says whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. The question is why is it that those who have will have more and out of the little people who don’t have has, it will be taken away? The answer is found in John 12:24. Those who have will have something to sow to bring forth increase and those who do not have will have nothing to sow. The truth is there is no one who does not have anything to sow. You may not have money but you have time. You have the strength to work in the vine yard of God or your mouth to witness.

I have always fancied studying abroad but the resources to do that were not available. My parents were blessed but their yearly earning could not even pay for a term’s school fees talk less paying for my yearly tuition and all that. The Holy Spirit inspired me to go and join the work men working at our church convention ground for free and I did. Six months later I was on the plane to UK to study. Back then I could not give an offering but I gave my time and strength. The Most High God even used this principle. He wanted many sons and daughter so He gave His only Son – Jesus to die. Today the Lord has several children all over the world all because He gave Jesus Christ. John 12:32 says if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. I know of a sister who wanted to get married. While other sisters were busy attending musical concerts, special church programs hosted by different churches with the hope of meeting a godly man, this sister joined all the departments in the church and began to work tirelessly. Within a year or two, the Lord brought her husband and she is happily married. Those attending concerts are still attending concerts.

KEY WORD: Sow what you have , to get what you do not have.

HE MUST INCREASE Part 2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 32, Mark 3, Est 8, Romans 3

 

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease

 

Yesterday we learnt that to become a new creature i.e. born again, Christ must increase in our lives and we must decrease. The desire to feed the flesh must reduce and the desire to feed our spirit must increase. Today we will look at another two areas where Christ needs to increase and we decrease. Christ must increase is in our conduct. There is a way true believers conduct themselves. Philippians 1:27 says only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I can and see you, or else be absent ,I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. Believers conduct themselves as if Christ is watching at all times. This was how the first disciples conducted themselves. They conducted themselves in such way that people in Antioch began to call them Christ-like i.e. Christian. Christ so much increased in their lives that all their achievements became invisible. When people see us, what do they see? Our degrees, business success or the signs and wonders the Lord had wrought through our hands or Jesus Himself. For a student to succeed in the medical profession he must decrease and the doctor in him must increase. The cool, calm, caring, meticulous, collected part of him must increase and the rough, untidy, un –serious, lazy part must decrease. This is what the medical school strives at. The law school ensures that the shy, timid, subservient part of the student decreases and the bold, aggressive, argumentative side of the student increases. Unless this part of the student increases, he will struggle in the legal profession. For Christ to become visible in our lives, the part of us that loves to show off must decrease.  The part of us that submits to authority both at work and church must increase; even at home. As a wife you might be the breadwinner but for Christ to increase you must submit to your husband –head. As a husband for Christ to increase you must love your wife to the extent of laying your life for her if need be, Ephesians 5:25. Not only that you must also serve as Christ did. Matthew 20:28 says Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as ransom for many.

 

Another area where Christ must increase is in how we spend our time. No serious medical student spends his or her time in the club partying. Any law student who means business will spend his or her time in the library reading. Christ will not increase in our lives if we continue to miss Sunday school or mid-week service or night vigil. When you miss Sunday school you become an uneducated Christian. Not only that you read the bible and miss a lot of informations. Many of us do not even know that Abram used to worship fire before the Lord called him in Genesis 12:1-3. I learnt this from Sunday school. It was during one of our mid week services, i learnt the factors that leads to a turning point in one’s life. Point 1- what you heard; point 2 – your response to what you heard and point 3- the outcome you experience. I will not go further into this but there are other life changing messages you are missing by not attending Sunday school or weekly services.

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to become an ambassador of Christ. Also help me to stop missing services that will change my lives.

 

HE MUST INCREASE Part 1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 31, Mark 2, Est 7, Romans 2

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease

2 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. To become a new creature, Christ must increase in our life and we must decrease. The spirit needs to increase and the flesh must decrease. John 6:63 says it is the Spirit that quikeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. The first place Christ needs to increase is in our thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. We are what we think off. If an individual thinks of committing adultery with a woman, he is an adulterer. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. This also applies to women too. If an individual thinks of lying in his heart, he is already a liar because as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. This is why the psalmist says if I regard iniquity in my heart; the Lord will not hear me, Psalm 66:18. Transformation only comes when we renew our thoughts .Romans 12:2 says and be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. You are not a new creature if there is still a brother or sister you are wishing that something terrible to happens to. To become a new creature Christ needs to increase in our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 says finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Another area Christ needs to increase is in our conversation. Ephesians 4:29 says let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. There are some words or slangs that should never proceed out of the mouth of a believer. There are some jokes a believer should not even entertain. Ephesians 5:3-4 says but fornication , and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not once named among you, as becometh faith saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Colossians 3:8 says but now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy talk out of your mouth. As wise children of God, our word needs to be full of grace. Ecclesiastes 10:12 says the words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious. When someone cuts you in traffic and you swear at them or curse them, such words are not full of grace. The reason why Christ needs to increase in our thoughts is because our thoughts control our speech. Luke 6:45 says out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Our speech can either bring justification or condemnation on us. Matthew 12:37 says for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. In other words our thoughts can bring condemnation on us or justification. I pray that our words will bring us justification on the day of judgment in Jesus name, amen.

PRAYER POINT: Father, rid of every evil thoughts and increase in my thoughts.

EFFECTIVE PRAYER

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 30, Mark 1, Est 6, Romans 1

Nehemiah 4:9 nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

BIBLE STUDIES: Nehemiah 4:7-18

There are different kinds of prayers. There are some God does not even entertain at all for example the prayer of a fellow who is living in sin and refuses to repent. John 9:31 says now we know that God heareth not sinners. If you are still living in sin please repent today so that your prayers will be answered. There also some cries He does not even hear at all. Psalm 66:18 says if I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me. Before you go to God make sure there are no bitterness or unforgiveness or hatred in you. Then there are some prayers while it is still been offered, God hears and answers immediately; these are the prayers of the righteous. Psalm 34:15 says the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry. James 5:16 says the effectual fervent prayer of a prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Bible scholars have told us that the word effectual in this passage means energoumene in Greek which translates to energetic. An example of this type of prayer is found in Luke 22:44, where Jesus prayed and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. A prayer that produces sweat as of great drops of blood is not a gentleman’s prayers (not the one we pray sitting down or casually), it is a very aggressive, energetic prayer and the bible says such availeth much.

An effective fervent prayer needs to be backed by an action. Just as faith without work is dead, prayer without an action is dead. What parted the red sea was not the cry of Moses to God; it was the action he took after praying. Exodus 14:15 says and the Lord said unto Moses, wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. Many of us have prayed and fasted, it is now time for action. Many of us have prayed for financial breakthrough, it is now time to learn a trade or add value to our lives by getting education or start a business. In our bible studies, we see Nehemiah backing up his prayers with an action. After praying for protection, he began to watch day and night. In 2 Kings 2:14 when Elisha got to River Jordan, after calling on the God of Elijah, the next thing he did was struck the water. Many are at their river Jordan calling on the God of Elijah but not taking any action. Before embarking on that journey, after you must have prayed and committed the journey into the hands of God, take action by driving carefully and abiding by speed regulations. After praying for success in that exam, take action by studying hard. Praying alone is not sufficient to pass an exam. Paying tithe alone is not enough to prosper you; it needs to be backed up with diligence and hard work. After payment of your tithes, make sure you get to work early and do your job properly. Not only that, our services in the vine yard of God needs to be backed up with righteousness. After winning souls or working in the vine yard of God, as children ensure you obey your parents; as wives ensure you submit to your husbands and as husbands ensure you love your wife. It will be counterproductive to evangelize and not obey one’s parents or submit to one’s husband or love one’s wife just as Christ loved the church. After praying for a marriage partner, take necessary actions to take care of yourself. Be well groomed. Wear neatly pressed clothes. They do not have to expensive but they must be ironed not rough .

KEY WORD: Fervent prayers need to be backed up with actions!

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.

I AM MY BELOVED’S

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 28, Matt 27, Esth 4, Acts 27

Songs of Solomon 6:3 I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: He feedeth among the lilies.

What the Shulamite woman meant by I am my beloved’s is I no longer own myself again, I belong to my beloved. She was saying i am no longer in charge of my body, my time and resources. What she was saying was that I have giving up my identity and taken the identity of my beloved in other words i have become invisible so that my beloved will become visible. What she saying was that I having giving my aspirations, my past, present and future, even my decision making to my beloved. In other words I have giving all to my beloved. After giving up everything, the next thing she said was ‘and my beloved is mine’ which means I own all my beloved has. This woman had to first give herself to get her beloved in return.

There are one or two lessons to learn from this verse. Firstly, to get anything you must be ready to give yourself to it. There is a price for everything. There is a price for success, good husband or wife, good home, even to get to heaven. The price to get to heaven is by been born again. John 3:3 says except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. To get anything in life you must ready to give all. Secondly, whatever you will own will be determined by what you are willing to give. God is not a respecter of persons but a respecter of principles, Acts 10:34.There are two important principles for receiving anything in life- giving and asking. Luke 6:38 says give and it shall be given unto you. It is only when you give that you can expect something in return. There are many who go to God with long list of prayer requests daily but they are not ready to give up their time to serve in the vine yard of God or evangelize. That is not how things work in the kingdom of God. Even God had to give something to save our soul. John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that He gave. The second principle is asking. Matthew 7:8 says ask, and it shall be given you. You only stand a chance of receiving when you ask. Brethren, after giving you are required to ask. God knows all your needs before you come to Him, but He expects you to ask. God knew what Solomon was going to ask Him, but He still said to him ‘ask, what I shall give thee, 2 Chronicles 1:7’. The bible says ask not complain. It says ask not grumble or get angry at God. We are limited by request! The reason why many get into problem is because they do not seek counsel or ask questions. It is not a sin not to know actually there is a saying which goes it is better to ask a stupid question than to make a stupid mistake. Proverbs 15:22 says without counsel purposes are disappointed. Proverbs 11:14 says in the multitude of counselors there is safety. How did the Shulamite get her beloved? She gave herself, Songs of Solomon 6:3.After that she asked for her beloved. The whole book of Song of Solomon is filled with the Shulamite asking for her beloved. How can I get Christ on my side? Firstly give yourself to Him and secondly ask Him to come to you. It is impossible to have Christ by your side if you are not willing to give yourself to Him. It will be a waste of time to give yourself to Him and not ask Him to come into your life or challenges . Matthew 7:8 says for everyone that asketh recieveth. Before you go and ask, ensure that are truly His.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I want you in every facet of my life.