HE MUST INCREASE PART 3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 49, Luke 2, Job 15, 1 Cor 3

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

To become an ambassador of Christ, Christ must increase and we must decrease. As ambassadors we do not represent ourselves but Christ. Today we will be looking at Christ increasing in what we hear and see. Mark 4:24 says take heed what ye hear, with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. Take heed simply means watch out. What you hear can either make you happy or sad. It can either strengthen you or weaken you. What you hear informs your decision and actions. Romans 10:10 says for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the heart to believe unto righteousness, the ear must have heard something. What you hear can either build your faith or destroy your faith. Hebrew 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. The question is how do I get faith? Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. The more of God’s word you hear, the more faith you will have. This is why we must do away with audio and video materials where they curse and swear, talk about sex or glorify crime. By hearing the word of God, our faith becomes stronger and stronger. The more of God’s word we listen to, the more of it we will have in our hearts and the more of life we will have. According to Galatians 3:5, God supplies His spirit to us and works miracles among us by the hearing of faith. If you want to become fuller with the Holy Spirit, hear more of God’s word. Since His words are spirit and life, every time we hear it life comes to dead situations in our lives.

Christ must also increase in what we see. It is impossible for Christ to increase in our life when we indulge in pornography or materials with sexual contents. We must cut down on TV; most of the programs on TV are not really good for our spiritual growth. Most of these sitcoms and soap operas add no value to us, they only eat up the time we could have spent reading the bible. For Christ to increase in our life, we must read the bible more. The goal of every Christian should be to complete the bible in a year. The bible equips you for good work, 2 Timothy 3:15-16. 2 Timothy 2:15 says study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. When you study the word of God, He approves of you. For Christ to increase, we must read more Christian literatures especially the ones on Holiness and the Holy Spirit.

KEYWORD: The responsibility of growing your faith lies in your hands. You can grow it by hearing by the word of God.

I SHALL BE THE HEAD PT3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ex 3, Luke 6, Job 20, 1 Cor 7

Deuteronomy 28:13 and the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them.

The head is the most important part of the body. The head simply means the leader, captain; one in charge e.t.c. The head bears a lot of responsibility because inside the head is the brain responsible for making decisions. Inside the head are two eyes. For the head to function properly, it needs good eyes. Luke 11:34 says the light of the body is the eye; therefore when thine is single, thy whole body is full of light. Without good eyes, the whole body will be in darkness. Matthew 6:23 says if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. The eye is an organ of vision. Therefore the head is responsible for vision. Proverbs 29:18 says where there is no vision, the people perish. When we talk of vision, we mean spiritual vision i.e. seeing things the way God will sees them. The question is how does God see sin? He sees all sins as sin , there is no big sin or small sin ; all sins are sin. To be head means I will see sin as a sin i.e. I will see a lie as a sin not a white lie or blue lie. How does God see commitment to Him? Revelations 3:15 says I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. To God you either cold or hot, lukewarmness is an abomination to Him. To be the head means I will be very hot for the Lord. Spiritual vision also means following after the direction of God. To be the head means I will guide the people aright i.e. in the way of righteousness. When you say I shall be the head, what you are saying is that I will lead people in the part of righteousness.

There are several advantages of having a good vision or seeing things the way God sees them. One of it is one begins to see his or herself surrounded by opportunities. In 2 Kings 4:1-7 is the story of a woman in big debt. She had a small jar of oil and was surrounded by people with empty vessels. She was surrounded by opportunities but could not see it. She ran to the man of God and that one asked her what she had. She said she had nothing except a jar of oil. Because the man of God could see, he told her she was surrounded with vast number opportunities i.e. there are other people around her with empty vessels. He told her to go and borrow the empty vessels and pour her oil in them; their poverty will make her rich. An individual who sees things the way God sees them will see the need of the people around and from the need of the people become prosperous. The individual will see a need for a service or goods around him, and from providing the goods or service he will become rich. Another advantage is one begins to see a way where there is no way. When the children of Israel saw Goliath, they saw an unbeatable champion, 1 Samuel 17:20-58. Actually they saw challenging Goliath to a fight as suicide. When David came to the scene, he not only saw that Goliath was beatable,he saw that his head could actually be severed from his body too. He aimed at his unprotected skull and immediately Goliath fell, he took his huge sword and cut off his head.

KEY WORD: I shall be the head simply means I will begin to see things as God sees them not as men see them.It also means i will lead people in the path of righteousness.

ACCEPTING CORRECTION

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 47, Luke 1:1-38, Job 13, 1 Cor 1

Exodus 18:17 and Moses’ father in law said unto him, the thing thou doest is not good.

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 18:1-27

The elders have saying ‘we see the back of the head of others someone we will see your own for you’ i.e. we see the faults of others; we need someone to see our faults. Ecclesiastes 7:20 says for there is not a just a man upon earth, that does good, and sins not. What Solomon meant was there is no one who is universally and perfectly good. The only One who is universally and perfectly good is God. James 1:17 says with Him there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. There is no man alive who has never made mistake. No one knows it all or has it all. There are things we do that we think is right that are far from right. At times there are errors in our judgment, we overact and under react. Many at times we do things in the integrity our heart not intending to hurt anyone not knowing we are actually hurting people. We take decisions that seems best to us only to found out few minutes or days later that we should not have taken such decisions.

In our Bible studies we see Jethro (Father in Law of Moses) advising him. Jethro heard the mighty things God was doing in Israel, especially how God was using his son –in- law so he decided to pay Moses a visit. Immediately Moses saw him from afar, he ran to him bowed with his face to the ground. They greeted and he took Jethro in. Jethro noticed how Moses would sit from morning till evening to judge and settle petty disputes between the children of Israel. He called him and advised him to appoint fit and God fearing men, teach them and make them rulers over thousands, hundreds and tens. Moses obeyed and his life was prolonged. There are one or two points I will like to bring to your attention in our bible reading. Firstly, you are been watched. Whether you like it or not people are observing how you talk, react to issues, and conduct yourself. Just as Jethro watched how his son-in-law did things, people are watching how you do things. Secondly, the way you carry yourself will determine if people will correct you or not. It will either encourage them or discourage them. Immediately Moses saw his father in law he bowed down and humbled himself . Jethro was able to correct Moses because he was humble and approachable. If you are humble and approachable, people will point out things you should have done better or things you are currently doing that are not too good. Remember the Lord can use anyone to correct you. Moses was a mighty prophet dripping with anointing. Through the hands of Moses, God performed mighty signs and wonders – parted the red sea; turned his rod to a snake that swallowed snakes and so on. Despite all his achievement in the ministry and the fact a whole nation looked up to him, the Lord used a common man with no anointing and achievement to correct him. Thirdly when people correct you, they are been diplomatic. What they are really saying is that thing you are doing is not good. Fourthly it is not enough to say you have heard; do something about it. Lastly, do not procrastinate because delay could be fatal.

KEY WORD : The way you carry yourself will determine If people will correct you or not.

LOOKS CAN BE DECEPTIVE

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 46, Mark 16, Job 12, Romans 16

 Genesis 13:10 and Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah , even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 13:6-15

There was a big strife between herdsmen of Lot and Abram over wells and pastures. This strife began to affect the relationship between Lot and his cousin – Abram. Abram suggested to his cousin that they separate and Lot should pick a portion of land. When Lot wanted to pick, he employed his eyes instead of God. He relied on his physical vision and common sense to make a life changing decision. The bible records that he lifted up his eye and beheld all he plain of Jordan that it was well watered everywhere. He made his decision based on what he saw – a well watered land not what he heard from God. His wants played a major role in the decision he made that day. Despite the fact that he was aware of the ways and lifestyles of the inhabitants of Sodom, he remained in Sodom because of business. The family of Lot profited a lot from doing business with the people of Sodom.They made him their judge and gave him a seat at the city gate. Lot’s priorities hinged on worldly gains not heavenly gains.

Shortly after he moved to Sodom, another king waged war against Sodom and took him captive, Genesis 14:1- end. God used Abram to deliver him. The next thing that happened was he got into a bigger trouble and began to exchange his daughters for peace. The men of Sodom tried to molest his guests. To protect them, he had to offer his daughters to them for the peace and safety of his guests, Genesis 19:4-8. On the same day, the judgment of the Lord came on the Sodom and he had to run for his dear life. Lot did not know peace in Sodom as he jumped from one problem to another. It was in this process that he lost all he had and his precious wife. He went to Sodom with thousands of cattle, sheep, goat and servants but he left Sodom with nothing. Before you know it, Lot became a drunkard. From that day onward the bible had nothing to say about Lot again. Abram on the other hand waited on the Lord and chose according to God’s plan for his life. He went on to become the father of nations. Today many singles marry based on looks. The ladies want a tall, black and handsome man with a good job. The men want a woman with a perfect figure. Many enter relationships based on what they can get from the relationships not what they have to offer. Financial or material gains should not be a deciding factor when it comes to making a decision. Do not do things because everyone is doing it. What decided the end of Abram and Lot were factors that informed their decisions.

ACTION POINT: Let God inform every decision you make not your wants or looks.

BAD DREAMS, NIGHTMARES AND EVIL PROPHESIES

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 45, Mark 15, Job 11, Romans 15

Genesis 37:10 and he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said to him, what is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down to thee to the earth?

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 37:9-11

In Genesis 37:9-11 is a story we all know. Joseph stood before his father and brethren to tell them about a dream he had. In the dream, he saw the sun, the moon and eleven stars paying obeisance to him meaning his father and brothers were going to be his servants. Immediately Jacob heard this dream, he did something very interesting. Firstly he rebuked Joseph and rejected the dream; secondly he took note of the dream. This man did not wait for any pastor to come and reject the dream, right in the presence of Joseph he rejected the dream i.e. he refused to be a servant. The brothers instead of rejecting the bad dream they got angry at Joseph and his dream.

What do I do when I have nightmares or evil dreams? What do I when I get evil prophecies that something terrible is going to happen to me? The first thing you do is reject it. Immediately Jacob heard the dream, he rejected the dream. When you have a bad dream, immediately you wake up before talking to anyone reject the bad dream. If anyone comes to tell you of any bad dream or give you evil prophesy, right in their presence reject it. Numbers 14:28 says say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you. It is what you say in God’s ear that He will do. Let God hear you say ‘that evil dream or vision is not my portion’. In His hearing, reject that evil prophesy, dream or vision they saw about you. In His hearing, reject the vision or dream of death, failure or loss. The mistake many make today is once they have a bad dream or hear an evil prophesy or hear that something terrible will happen to them or their loved ones, they begin to panic and cry. Instead of rejecting the dream or vision they accept it, and unconsciously begin to expect it to happen. Brethren, it is what you expect that will come to pass. Proverbs 23:18 says your expectation shall not be cut off. Stop expecting evil prophesy or bad dreams to come to pass. Reject them immediately you hear them. The next thing Jacob did was he took note of the dream. He took note of the dream so as to put measures in place to ensure that the evil dream will not come to pass in his life. Take note of those evil prophesy and bad dreams; start praying and fasting. Ask the Lord to bring every counsel of the enemy to nothing over your life. The brothers of Joseph of accepted the dream and began to get angry at Joseph and his dream. By the time we get to Genesis 50:18, we see them bowing with their face to the earth begging to be Joseph’s servant. Jacob on the other rejected the dream, took note of it so as to pray.By the time we get to Genesis 47:10 we see Pharaoh (the most powerful man in the world at that time) bowing down to Jacob for prayers.

ACTION POINT: Reject every evil prophesy, vision, dream about you.

TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITY

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 44, Mark 14, Job 10, Romans 14

Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil

Our life is a sum total of what we have done with opportunities that have come our way. Opportunities are chances for progress or advancement. To succeed in life, one needs opportunities even if it is one. What a man will become will be determined by how he takes the opportunities that comes his way. The amount of souls you won for Christ last year is a function of how you took the opportunity to witness. The amount of souls you will win for Christ this year is dependent on how you to take the opportunities to evangelize. A man’s achievement is a sum total of what he has done with the opportunities he had in life.

Firstly, to take advantage of an opportunity you must be able to recognize the opportunity. In Matthew 14:22-33 is a story we all know. There were twelve disciples in the boat. They were all faced with the same challenges. They all saw a figure walking on the sea and panicked. Jesus told them all to fear not. At the end He said ‘come’; Peter got out of the boat and walked towards Jesus while others watched. A once in a life time opportunity presented itself to these disciples to do something no man had ever done before which was walk on water. Eleven out of the twelve disciples saw the wind not the opportunity. Peter on the other hand saw the opportunity not the wind. Secondly, you need power to take advantage of an opportunity. Power is defined as the ability or capacity to do work or exercise control. The man at the pool of Bethesda saw thirty-eight opportunities to receive his healing but could not take advantage of it because he lacked power, John 5:1-16. Every time the angel of the Lord came to stir the water, someone stronger and more powerful gets into the pool before him. Acts 1:8 says and ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me. A witness is someone who provides evidence. Once power comes taking advantage of opportunities becomes easy.As you take advantage of these opportunities, signs and wonders will begin to happen. Healing, miracle, progress, open heavens will begin to take place. This are the evidences that you will provide when you witness to people about Jesus.The Psalmist says in Psalm 62:11, God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. The only who gives real power is God, the one the devil gives is counterfeit!

PRAYER POINT: Father, fill me your power today.

LIMITATIONS OF HUMAN LEG

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Gen 43, Mark 13, Job 9, Romans 13

Psalm 147:10 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: He taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.

When the elders refer to your legs, they are referring to the people you know, your friends and support network. When they say an individual has long legs, what they are saying is that individual knows people at the top or those that matter in the community. What they are saying is that individual knows power brokers or decision makers e.g presidents, kings, governors, CEOs etc. In the world we live in today, who you know matters. Elisha told the Shunamite woman “wouldest thou be spoken for to the king or to the captain of the host (2 Kings 4:8-17)”? Because Elisha knew those that mattered in the society – the king and the captain, he offered to speak on behalf of the Shunamite woman to them. I pray that the Lord will connect you to people that matter in Jesus name. I also prayer that you too will be numbered among the people that matters.

Physically, the stronger your legs the farther the distance you will able to travel. The more people (decision makers) you know, the more you will able to achieve in life if you are serious. When it comes running, strong and fast legs are advantageous as they would get you to your destination quicker. When you know the right people, you succeed within a very short period. A journey of twenty years will take you a year courtesy of who you know. Also outrunning your competitors becomes easy when you know the decision makers. To stand for a long period of time, strong legs are required. To remain at the top , you need to know and be friends with people that matters. Physical strong legs are needed to carry heavy goods. The stronger your legs the heavier the burdens you will be able to carry. To become the president of a nation, you must really know a lot of highly placed people. Physical strong legs are needed to climb a ladder ,so also knowing the people that matters are needed to rise in life. It is a good thing to know the people that matters but do you know that the Lord does not need your support network or contacts to bless you ?Psalm 147:10b says He taketh no pleasure in the legs of a man. When it comes to rising to the top, you don’t really need to know anyone except the Lord. The only One that matters is Jesus. All human contacts, connections, support network e.t.c all have limitations. When the Lord carries you, you will reach your destination in the shortest possible time; outrunning your enemies becomes easy; remaining at the top becomes easy ;undertaking heavy responsibilities becomes easy because the Lord is your strength (Psalm 60:12); reaching the top becomes easy because His arms are everlasting ( Deuteronomy 33:27) .

PRAYER POINT: Father , please as from today begin to carry me.