GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE NAKED

MEMORY VERSE: Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Genesis 3:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Lev 22, Ps 28-29, Eccl 5, 2 Tim 1

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 3:1-21

After Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruits and their eyes were opened; they discovered that they were naked. When they heard the voice of God in the garden, they ran to hide from the presence of God. After the Lord had thoroughly addressed the issue of their disobedience, He made tunics of skin to clothe them i.e. cover their nakedness. It is true that Adam and Eve were the architects of their own misfortune. They became naked as a result of their disobedience to God. It can also be argued that they became naked because they refused to listen to the counsel of the Lord .The Lord warned them not to touch the forbidden fruit but they refused and ate of the fruit. Adam became naked as a result of following the multitude to do evil. He knew that eating the fruit was forbidden, but because his wife gave it to him, he ate it.

Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, the glory of the Lord that was a covering unto them departed. There are one or two lessons to learn from this, the product of disobedience to God is shame. So also the product of obedience to God is glory. Proverbs 3:35 says the wise shall inherit glory but shame shall be the promotion of fools. Not only that, failure to follow godly counsel exposes us to unnecessary hardship. Adam and Eve failed to follow God’s counsel and the ground was cursed for their sake.

When you study this passage carefully, you will come to the conclusion that Adam and Eve were not only physical naked, they were also emotionally naked.The reason why they hid from God was because the mistakes of their past was made known to God. Their terrible past, their misdeeds , the errors of their past , things they did out of foolishness , their wrong decisions came to God’s knowledge. What do you when people’s terrible past comes to your knowledge? What do you do when you become aware of things people did out of foolishness before they met the Lord? What do you do when you become privy of the wrong decisions a fellow took in the past? Immediately God became privy of the past of Adam and Eve, He covered them up. He did not laugh them to scorn, He did not look down on them, He did not even call them names. If for one reason or the other you become aware of a person’s past especially in the church of God, do not segregate them. Don’t turn the stories of their past to a topic of discussion amongst your friends. If you cannot pray for them, don’t compound things by using it to preach or refer to it when addressing a gathering.

PRAYER POINT: Father , in every area of my life I have become naked as a result of disobedience to you, please forgive and cover me up.

PROFITTING FROM WISDOM - A WISE SON MAKES HIS PARENTS GLAD

MEMORY VERSE: A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother. Proverbs 15:20.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lev 22, Ps 28-29, Eccl 5, 2 Tim 1

Psalms 111:10 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. According to Proverbs 16:6, it is by the fear of the Lord men depart from iniquity. A fellow who fears the Lord will do anything to bring joy to his parents. You can be a worker in the vineyard of God, you can be faithful in the payment of your tithe, you can even evangelize, you can do all these and much more but if you are not looking after your parent it means you do not regard God. There are a lot of benefits in making your parents glad. When you honor your father and mother as the Lord commands, it will be well with you, Ephesians 6:2-3. Iif you are not in talking terms with your parents or you do not honor them as the Lord advises, you are only courting problems. There are many believers who are struggling today and they don’t know why. If you are struggling in any endeavor, you better check your life and see if you are making your parents glad. Sir, it does not matter how hardworking you may be; if you do not honor your parents prospering will be difficult.

Also honoring your parents brings long life and prosperity, Deuteronomy 5:16. Do you know that when you lie to your parents you are dishonoring them? Whether you believe it or not, anyone lying to his father or mother is dishonoring his parents. They asked you have you done your assignments and you said yes when you are even yet to start them. Because you don’t want to do the house chore, you tell your parents you have to do some assignments or you have test on Monday. These are lies and they have consequences. Many even lie to get extra pocket money. All because you do not want your parents to ask you for money; you tell them you are out of work when you are actually full time employed, it is still a lie. I know you are a wise fellow and I know you will repent immediately.

Proverbs 3:35 says the wise shall inherit glory. Daniel 12:3 says that those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament. Do you know that the prayers of your parents are very potent? The prayers of your parents carry more power than that of men of God. Do you know that if your father or mother tells you,’my son it shall be well with you’, even the devil cannot change it? When you study your bible very well you will notice that no pastor or prophet prayed for Israel and Isaac yet they became very mighty. The Lord blessed these men because their parents prayed for them. Do everything possible to earn the prayers of your parents. If you are not in talking terms with your parents you better settle with them as soon as possible.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please forgive me for dishonoring my parents. Please let it be well with me.

LUST - SIGN OF DANGER AHEAD PT2

MEMORY VERSE: for all that is in the world, lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.1 John 2:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lev 21, Ps 26-27, Eccl 4, 1 Tim 6

BIBLE STUDIES: 2 Samuel 13:1-21

In part one of these series, we highlighted the difference between love and lust. One of the major differences between love and lust is that, lust is impatient but love is patient. We learnt that lust often leads to unwholesome actions to fulfill one’s desires with no regard to the consequences. In 2 Samuel 13:1-21 is an unfortunate story of Ammon and his sister-Tamar. The spirit of lust entered into Ammon and he raped Tamar. At the end of the day Ammon was murdered. If we carefully study this story, we will see that the end of lust is always a sad one. Untimely death, shame, loss of favor, disappointment, unhappiness, e.t.c. are all end results of lust.

There are two types of lusts – lust of the flesh and lust of the yes. 1 John 2:16 says for all that is in the world, lust of the flesh, and lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. What is lust of the flesh? It is an evil desire for the things of the flesh or desire for things which are forbidden. The desire doesn’t have to be for sex; it can be for any pleasure. Lust of flesh is a sensual and impure desire. The lust of flesh employs our sense of tasting, smelling, touching and hearing. Examples of lust of flesh are overeating, laziness and slothfulness, fornication, adultery, oral sex ,pornography, online sex, gambling, given to drugs – marijuana, cocaine, heroin e.t.c, homosexuality, homosexuality and so on . Romans 13:14 says but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts there of.

What is the lust of the eyes? It means having an inordinate desire for something that someone sees. The lust of the eyes employs our sense of seeing. It was the lust of the eyes that put Eve Into problem in the Garden of Eden. This also resulted in not only in her spiritual death but the spiritual death of her husband- Adam. The bible records that the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, Genesis 3:16. Watch what you feed your eyes with because the enemy could use it to destroy you. The enemy used the organ of sight to reap Eve of her destiny. Eve who used to live in heaven on earth, now began to live with weed, thorns and wild animals. The end of all lust is untimely death as we see in the case of Ammon. The death may not come physically,it could come financially, spiritually, maritally or materially.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please rid me of carnality.

LUST - SIGN OF DANGER AHEAD PT1

MEMORY VERSE: Do not lust after beauty in your heart not let her allure you with her eyelids. Proverbs 6:25

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Lev 20, Ps 35, Eccl 3, 1 Tim 5

Love is a Spirit. John 4:24 says God is a Spirit. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. If God is a Spirit and God is love, then Love is a Spirit. According to 2 Timothy 1:7 fear, power and love are all spirits. Just as love is a spirit, lust is also a spirit. The fashion world today is run by the spirit of lust. You may not believe it but that is the gospel truth.There are many who follow fashion without understanding. They do things because everyone is doing it without knowing the intentions behind them.

What the world calls love is not love but lust. When you begin to feel funny around a particular brother or sister you are not married to, that is not love but Lust. When all you love to do is be alone with someone you are not married to in a room or dark place, that is Lust.

What is the difference between love and lust? Love always wants to give but Lust always want to possess. John 3:16 says for God so loved the world that He gave. Love always want to share but lust always want to take. Love focuses on the individual but lust focuses on the looks and body.My sister if all a brother is interested in is in your looks and body, that brother has the spirit of lust . He may tell you he loves you but the truth is he is lusting after you.Love always think of the other party's happiness but lust does not. Lust focuses on pleasing oneself alone.Lust often leads to unwholesome actions to fulfill ones desires with no regard to the consequences. Lust is about greed and possesion. Most importantly Love is of God and Lust is of the devil. Love is patient but Lust is not. Lust is all about sex. If you are involved in a relationship and you begin to notice Lust instead of love, you better leave that relationship because Lust is the first sign that the relationship will end in disaster.

KEYWORD : Lust is about sex alone. Love is patient but Lust is not.

CHRIST'S ATTITUDE TO THOSE WHO LET HIM DOWN PT1

MEMORY VERSE: But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail, and when you have returned to Me strengthen your brothers. Like 22:32

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Lev 18, Ps 22, Eccl 1, 1 Tim 3

BIBLE STUDIES : Luke 22:55-61

It is not a good thing at all to be let down by people. It can be very painful when people you have invested time, energy, money etc let you down.Such was the case of Jesus and Peter. When Jesus met Peter, he was a failure. Peter had tried repeatedly and failed. When He met him, Peter was just an ordinary fishermen who had no future. Peter was broke, confused, tired of life, unhappy, tired physically to mention a few. Jesus saw him in the midst of all these and turned his situation around - he asked him to launch into the deep and let down his net for a catch. Peter obeyed and his long awaited breakthrough came, Luke 5:1-7. Jesus took their relationship to another level by showing Peter His glory on mount of transfiguration. He finished it off by writing his name in the book book life,Luke 10:20. Jesus did not stop there, He even went a step further to invest time and energy on Peter's extended family.He left His engagements and personally paid Peter's mother - in - law a visit when she was sick,Matthew 8:14. Jesus had a little challenge and Peter disappeared. The same Peter who the Lord had mightily invested on swore that he had not even set eyes on Jesus. Actually Jesus was few feet away when Peter denied Him the third time. 

What did Jesus do when He resurrected? He didn't swear never to greet Peter again. It would be a right thing for Jesus to immediately take his name out the book of life . Jesus did not do that , He forgave Peter. Jesus was so willing to forgive, despite the fact that He knew Peter was going to betray Him, He prayed for Him in advance.

Has anyone betrayed you? Has anyone promised to marry you or promised to be there and let you down? Has anyone taken advantage of your generosity and kindness? Brethren please let's forgive. Heaven is too precious to miss because of someone who let you down. Do you know that even before Jesus ascended to heaven he that to first eat with Peter? Eating with Peter was to proof that, He that nothing against Him and He had moved on from what happened. There is a reward for forgiveness , Peter (who was forgiven) later became one of the pillars in the church? The first sermon he preached, 3000 souls were won for Christ. The question is what if Jesus had not forgiven Peter?

PRAYER POINT :Father please help me so that unforgiveness would not rob me of your plans for my life.

GOOD IDEA VS GOD'S IDEA

 MEMORY VERSE : But the wisdom from above is is first pure, then peaceable,gentle,and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17 

 BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Lev 16, Ps 19, Pr 30, 1 Tim 1. 

 BIBLE STUDIES : Genesis 16:1-6 

 The word 'good idea' is relative. A good idea yesterday could turn out to be a bad idea today e.g. in the area of Nigeria where I came from, it used to be a good idea to have tribal marks. Today it is not so anymore. Also a bad idea yesterday could turn out to be a good idea today. Hundreds of years ago it was a bad idea to educate girls not anymore . Thank God we now have female doctors, pilots even prime ministers. A good idea in one part of the world could turn out to be a bad idea in another part of the world an vice versa. In western culture it is a good idea to keep eye contact when you are been addressed by someone older. It means you are listening and you are not hiding anything. Meanwhile in Africa it is considered rude and could attract the wrath of the fellow addressing you. 

 A good idea in one religion is a very bad idea in another religion. In Christianity it is ok to eat beef but in Hindu religion cows are sacred. One thing with all good ideas is that it may bring an un-intended response or it can turn out to be a bad idea after all. In our bible studies is a prime example of this. Abram and Sarai thought it was a good idea for Abram to have children through Hagar (Sarai's maid) since Sarai had passed child bearing age. That turned out to be a mistake of a life time because immediately Hagar became pregnant she became rude to her boss. 

 When an idea is of God, it will always turn out good. God's idea always has a God ending i.e. joyous ending. The idea may not seem too good at first but the end is always good. An example of this is found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-26. Two mighty nations - children of Ammon and Moab waged against a very small city of Judah. Jehoshaphat reported this matter to God and the Lord instructed him to go to war with choirs instead of soldiers. This did not seem like a good idea but nevertheless Jehoshaphat obeyed .At the end they won the battle and became rich too.

 ACTON POINT : Always follow God's Idea.

JOY OF A CHRISTIAN MANIFOLD

MEMORY VERSE :My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into diverse temptations.James 1:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : Lev 17, Ps  20-21,Pr 31, 1 Tim 2.

Challenges are part and parcel el of life, be it a believer or an unbeliever . The Lord said in Isaiah 43 : 2, when you pass through waters I will be with you not if you pass through waters. Isaiah 54:17 says no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper not if a weapon is fashioned or in case a weapon is fashioned. Weapons will be fashioned but the good news is it shall not prosper. Most people dread challenges. Many pray not to even have them at all but challenges are not such a bad thing. If they are bad the bible would not say count is all joy when you face challenges , James 1:2

Why do we face challenges? One of the root causes of challenges is sin. Jeremiah 5:25 says sin withholds good things from us. According to 2 Chronicles 6: 21-36, sin causes unanswered  prayers, famine, problems e.t.c. Another reason why we face challenges is because Jesus said so. John 16:33 says but in the world you will have tribulations,but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world for you. Matthew 11:12 says from the day of John the Baptist the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violence take it by force. Another reason for challenges is that it helps us to grow in the Lord. It is fire that purifies. James 1:3 says it is the trying of our faith that produces patience. It is this patience that makes is mature in the Lord.

Another reason why we face challenges could be that the Lord wants to glorify Himself in our life publicly.When you study Daniel 3:1-30, you will see that the Lord permitted the three Hebrew boys to be cast into fire because He wanted to glorify Himself in their lives publicly. At the end, the emperor left his thrown and prostrated before these boys praising the Most High God.

 Another reason why we face challenges could be because we are a threat to the Kingdom of darkness. Many people have asked me, why is it that believers face more challenges than others. I always ask them, if you have ten chickens in your cage and one of them escapes what do you do? Their replies has always been 'I will go after it'. The same thing applies to believers, we used to be in the cage of the enemy. >From the moment we give our lives to Christ, we escape death. The enemy would not bother about his own, he knows they are his already but he will go after those that have escaped.The good news is that he can do his worse but over us he will fail. Do you know even before you face challenges, the Lord has provided a way out? Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. This verse was written over a thousand years ago which mean that long before the challenge came, you had already been declared a victor.

PRAYER POINT : Father thank you for making me a victor, please help me never to loose my advantage in You.