GOOD SUCCESS

MEMORY VERSE: This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success, Joshua 1:8.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 22, Ps 62-63, Isa 11, Jas 5

James 1:17 says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. The theory of opposites says that everything has an opposite – this is decided by looking at its function and deciding what the opposite of that function is. The word ‘perfect gift’ signifies the possibility of imperfect gifts. If perfect gifts come from God, then imperfect gifts comes from the devil. So also the word ‘good success’ informs us of the existence of bad success. Not all successes are from God just as not all miracles are from God. This is why 1 John 4:1 admonishes us not to believe every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Any form of success that takes you away from God or hinders you from serving God in spirit and truth is bad success. Any form of success that forces you to compromise your faith, please be careful of such.

What is good success? Good success is defined as sustained success. To get to the top and remain at the top forever is good success but to get to the top and fall back or to be either an ex or defeated champion is bad success. If you use to read your bible daily and now you no longer do that, you are gradually becoming an ex champion and that is bad success. If you use to pray for four hours or do night vigils and now you struggle to pray for an hour, you need to do something urgently or else you might become a defeated champion. If you used to dream or see visions or exhibit one spiritual gift or the other and  those gifts are no longer evident in your there is a possibility that you are already an ex champion. Thank God we have a Savior who is the champion maker, go back to Him today and He will restore you.

What is required for good success? Joshua 1:8 says this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein ; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. The first thing you need to do is own a bible. A believer who is heaven conscious will have a bible not the one with torn out pages. Hard copy bibles are better than bible application on ipads, phones and so on. Research has shown that people easily get distracted when reading on screen and this affects assimilation. There is nothing wrong in installing a bible app but this should not replace your hard copy bible. The second thing you need to do is meditate on the word of God day and night. There is a difference between reading and meditating on the Bible. Reading is primarily assimilation of facts without application. When we meditate on the word of God, we seek to make personal application of the scriptures to our lives and circumstances. The third thing you need to do is obey the scriptures. 

 ACTION POINT: Make it a point of duty to meditate on the scripture more often.

REASONS TO GIVE

MEMORY VERSE: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again, Luke 6:38.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 23, Ps 64-65, Isa 13, 1 Pet 1

Today’s memory verse is one of the most popular verses in the bible. It is popular because it is used during offering collections and other special fund raising in the church. People by default don’t like to give because every time you give you lose something. There are many believers who doubts that it is more blessed to give than to receive. The questions is how is it a blessing to live in minus? If you own five units of any currency and you give a unit out, you are left with four units which mean you are short by one unit. How is it a blessing to be short by one?

Luke 6:38 says give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. When you give you, it will be given back to you. 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. Whenever you give a gift, you are sowing a seed.A farmer who eats his seeds instead of sowing will inevitably go hungry. It is not a good thing to be tight fisted when it comes to giving. Proverbs 11:24 says that there is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. Micers end up becoming poorer instead of richer. Ecclesiastes 1:7 says all the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. It is those who give to God that God will give back to too.

The second thing you need to know is that when you give, you get more in return. This is why Luke 6:38 says you will get back in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The reason for the pressing down and shaking together is to create more room in the container or sack to receive more. When you sow a seed, you get a tree with fruits which contain several seeds in them. The third thing you need to know is that whatever you give on earth is converted to materials for building your heavenly homes. Matthew 6:19-20 says do not store your treasures on earth but in heaven where neither moth nor rust can corrupt, and where thieves do not breakthrough nor steal. One of the ways to store treasures in heaven is by investing in evangelism. The fourth and the most important thing you need to know is that giving prepares you for God’s blessing. Several years ago I began to hear what the Lord was doing in the lives of people especially in the area of finances and I wanted the same too. One evening as I knelt down to pray I saw a vision. In the vision I saw a woman holding a big cake. Standing in front of her was a little girl holding sweets in her hand. For one reason or the other the little girl could not receive the big cake because she had sweets in her hand. The Lord told me that the little girl needs to drop the sweets first before she can get the cake from her mum. In other words to receive those mighty things the Lord has in store for me, I need to release the little things in my hand.

PRAYER POINT: Father help me to release those things in my hands so I can receive what’s in Your hand.

GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS ADOPTION

GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS ADOPTION

MEMORY VERSE: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, Ephesians 1:5.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 21, Ps 60-61, Isa 10, Jas 4

God loves little children a lot and they love Him too. He gets very angry when people hinder them from coming to Him. In Mark 10:13-16, some parents brought their children to Jesus and the overzealous disciples sent them away. Jesus got very angry and scolded His disciples for hindering the children from coming to Him. Jesus does not appreciate parents who bring their children late to Him on Sundays. I pray Jesus will not scold you for bring your child late to church on Sunday. Jesus has great compassion for orphans and fatherless children too. Exodus 22:22 says ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless children. James 1:27 says pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. As believers, it is essential that we assist orphanage homes and widows. You can not be a friend of God if you hate children. This is why those who practice abortion needs to cry for mercy because they are killing children (God’s little friends).

God also loves and has compassion on the childless too. Psalm 113:9 says He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. You might be feeling unloved because you are childless, please do not cry I want you to know that the Lord loves you and He will show you compassion. One of the questions people ask is, is it alright for a Christian to adopt a child? There is nothing wrong in Christians adopting. Some of the great bible characters were adopted for example Moses (Exodus 2:1-10), Esther (Esther 2:7) and Samuel (1 Samuel 1:22-28). Despite the fact that they were adopted, the Lord used them mightily. While waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, there is nothing wrong in you adopting a child before God gives you your own child. If you are rich and can afford to adopt, please consider adoption. 

Many frown at adoption, they see it as lack of faith in God but the question is this, did God not adopt you? We were not born into the family of God, we were all adopted. The only Child God has is Jesus! Ephesians 1:5 says having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Even though we were adopted by Jesus, He treats us as sons. Revelations 21:7 says he who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be His God and He will be my son. If God treats us (the adopted) as children, we are expected to treat our adopted children as our own sons not mistreat them. God loves adopted children a lot and one way to incur His wrath is by mistreating an adopted child. 

ACTION POINT: If you cannot adopt, support orphanage homes with gifts of food, clothes and other things.

SALVATION ABUSE

MEMORY VERSE: For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 20, Ps 58-59, Isa 9, Jas 3

Myles Munroe once said ‘when the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable. What is then an abuse or what constitutes an abuse? Abuse is using a thing in a way that is not meant to be used or not as prescribed or not as advised by the author. The biggest challenge facing the world today is abuse. The reason why sexually transmitted diseases are so rampant these days is as result of people not knowing the purpose of sex there by abusing it. Teenage pregnancy, rape, fornication, adultery and other forms of sexual sins are all products of sex abuse. Another canker worm that has eaten deep into the fabric of our states, organizations and so on is the abuse of position. Many do not know the purpose of an office, so as a result when they get into public offices instead of serving the people, they enrich themselves while the common man suffers. 

Many today do not know the purpose of a marriage. This is why we have many divorces today. It is either the man is taking advantage of the woman or the woman is taking advantage or not appreciating the man. Today in the body of Christ, the most common abuse is salvation abuse. To avoid this we need to educate ourselves on the purposes of salvation. What are the purposes of salvation? John 15:16 says ye have not chosen me, but i have chosen you, and ordained you, and that you should go and bring forth fruit, that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you. One of the reasons for salvation is for you to bear fruits and ensure that the fruits remain. To bear fruits simply means to evangelize and the only way to ensure that the fruit remains is through follow up. Salvation is not for us to sit and not bother about the souls going to hell. We were not saved to be idle or be a bench warmer in the vineyard of God, we are saved so that we can become active in the things of God. If you are a believer and you cannot point to a soul you brought to the Lord in the last one year, I am afraid you are abusing your salvation. You need to repent immediately and ask the Lord for forgiveness. Not only that begin to actively work on bringing your first soul to Christ. As a believer you should witness to a minimum of a soul per month. If the number of souls you have witnessed to this year is below three then you have a lot of work to do.

The most important reason for salvation is for you to live a life of holiness. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says for God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. This is why it is wrong to assume that once you are saved, heaven is guaranteed. To go to heaven, Salvation is the first of many steps. After Salvation you need to bear fruits that will remain, according to John 15:2 every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut down. To be cut down signifies death and hell is death. Not only that you are expected to live holy. Romans 12:1 says I beseech you therefore , brethren by the mercies of God , that ye present you bodies as a living sacrifice , holy , acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. When people tell you that you don’t have to be holy to get to heaven just ignore them. Once Jesus enters your heart, your conduct can either keep Him in or drive Him out. You were not saved to tell lies or do frauds. You were saved to a live a life of Holiness.

PRAYER POINT: Father , initiate the process of sanctification in my life.

YOUR AND YOUR IN-LAWS

MEMORY VERSE: and Moses went out to meet his father in law, and did obeisance, and kissed him; and they asked each other of their welfare; and they came into the tent, Exodus 8:7.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 19, Ps 56-57, Isa 8, Jas 2

BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 18:6-24

Genesis 2:24 says therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. After marriage the bride and the groom becomes one. They no longer have two parents but a parent. The bride’s parent automatically becomes the groom’s parent and vice versa. In other words the groom sees his father and mother in laws as his own dad and mum and vice versa. Whatever the groom cannot do to his parent, he should never do it to his in laws because they are his parent. Exodus 20:12 says honor your father and mother; so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. The father and mother referred to in this passage are not only your biological parents but your in laws as well. Disrespecting your in- law is the same as disrespecting your parent and they both carry the same penalty. The question is this; how far in life can a brother who disrespects his in-laws (parents) go?  From our bible studies, you see that the Lord was able use Jethro to give Moses a life changing advice all because Moses took Jethro – his father in law as his own father.

Many sisters today dislike their mother-in- laws with a passion. Some will do anything to avoid their mother-in-law. The daughters of the devil will even wish death for their mother-in-laws. No true child of God will dislike her mother-in-law, talk less dishonoring her. Asides that how much can a lady who dishonors her mother (in law) amount to? She will amount to nothing. A prime example is Ruth and Orpah the daughter-in-laws of Naomi. Ruth loved her mother-in-law but Orpah could barely stand her; both of the ladies were Moabites. After the death of their husbands, Orpah used that opportunity to get as far as possible from her mother-in-law but Ruth was wiser. She stayed to look after the poor old woman –Naomi. At the end, God looked at the actions of Ruth and made her the great grandmother of David (a man after the heart of the Lord). One of the reasons why God is yet to answer the prayers of some sisters concerning life partners is because of what they intend to do to their mother-in-laws. Some of have sworn that they will give their mother-in- law a tough time. No problem, just remember that the Most High too will not give any mother a daughter- in- law from hell. Asides all these, sisters remember that one day you will become a mother too and the bible says give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again, Luke 6:38. I know you will love your mother –in- law and the Lord will bless you for that. At the end, there was nothing to write about Orpah who disliked her mother –in-law. As a matter of fact, from the moment she ran from her mother-in-law the bible kept silent about her. 

ACTION POINT: Go back to your in laws and settle any quarrel with them.

INTERCESSORS REQUIRED

MEMORY VERSE: and I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it: but I found none, Ezekiel 22:30 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 17-18, Ps 55, Isa 7, Jas 1 

Who are intercessors? Intercessors are individuals who stand in the gap to pray to God on behalf of friends, families, colleagues, churches, pastors, countries, leaders’ e.t.c. Intercessory prayers have been practiced by all of God’s saints throughout the scriptures. God loves people who are preeminent in their anxious desires for the good of others and fervent in prayer to that end. When you take an inventory of people who God used mightily, you will find out that they were all intercessors. Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Solomon, Peter, Paul to mention a few. One of the criteria God looks at when promoting a fellow spiritually is his attitude to intercession for brethren. One of the reasons why Moses was able to see God and live was because of his exploits in intercession for the children of Israel. At a point while interceding for the children of Israel, he told God ‘If you will not forgive the sins of the children of Israel, please blot me out your book, Exodus 32:32. ’ God did not blot his name out of His book because He knew that Moses was not trying to be rude but he was just passionate about the children of Israelite. 

Intercessory prayers open the doors of restoration for intercessors. Job 42:10 says and the Lord turned the captivity of job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave job twice as much as he had before. The long awaited restoration and breakthrough of Job did not come until he enrolled as intercessors and began to pray for his friends. The reason why many are yet to get their restoration is because they are selfish or don't intercede. They only think of their needs alone and not the needs of others. Another reason why you need to intercede is because of the laws of returns. The law of returns is also known as the law of giving and receiving. It basically states that what you give, you receive. When you intercede for people, God blesses those you are interceding for and you get double blessings too. A wise believer will spend more time interceding than praying for himself. 
Whether you believe it or not, one of the reasons why the world is where it is today – recession in almost all the countries, lack of jobs , wars and rumors of wars is because of the increase in the number of complainers and reduction in the numbers of intercessors . The body of Christ lacks power and fire because people instead of interceding are busy chasing after money and wealth. Crimes is rising by the day not really as a result of lack of job opportunities but because people have refused to stand in gap for their friends and family. Complaining and blaming the government rarely solves any problem, it is prayers that changes things. Ezekiel 22:30 says and I sought for a man among them that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land that I should not destroy it: but I found none. If we do not take responsibilities and begin to intercede for our families, friends and nations things will get worse. This is why we need to go back to intercessory prayers for families and our nations. God requires serious and dedicated children who would intercede for the nations, leaders, pastors, family and friends daily so that He can bring about change. 

ACTION POINT: Set time out from time to time to intercede for our countries and people in power that the Lord will put His fear in their hearts.

CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION – GET RID OF ANTI PROMOTION THOUGHTS/ BELIEF

MEMORY VERSE: and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect, Romans 12:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 16, Ps 52-54, Isa 6, Heb 13

There are many true child of God who should be CEOs or chief executives in big organization who are ordinary supervisors, team leader or section leader. There are many believers who should be employers of thousands who are currently looking for jobs. There are many spirit filled Christians who should be lending to nations who are still struggling to pay their house rents. There are many sisters and brothers who should be married with at least two kids who are still looking for the right partners. There are many faithful tithers who by now should be living in abundance who cannot afford three square meals. There are many faithful workers in the vineyard of God who are long due for one kind of promotion or the other who are at the same level they were five years ago. Why is this so, is it that God has seized to be faithful? God has not seized to be faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.

God has opened big doors for many but they have not been able to take advantage of these doors because of their thoughts and beliefs. These thoughts are known as self limiting beliefs or thoughts. The enemy has been using these thoughts in one way or other to keep believers at the same level year in year out. Proverbs 23:7 says for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. You are what you continually think about. If you continue to think of falling sick, before you know it you will fall sick and vice versa. If you entertain success thoughts, don’t be surprised when you become successful and vice versa. Romans 12:2 says and do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Promotion comes once your thoughts changes. Transformation comes when the thoughts of the hearts are renewed. 

One of the self limiting beliefs that have kept many stagnant in life is the ‘I am not good enough’ belief. The enemy has used this belief to rob many of their open doors. An opportunity comes along; instead of taking the opportunity they begin to doubt their ability. You are good enough because the bible says every creature of God is good, 1 Timothy 4:4. Not only that, you are full of wonders, Psalm 139:14.Since the bible cannot tell lie, whatever the bible has to say about is true then. A thought that has prevented many from taking important decision is the thought of failure – what if I fail, what if something goes wrong, what if I don’t measure up to standard e.t.c. A child of God cannot fail because it is impossible for God to fail. There is no single case of a believer ever failing in the bible. If no believer has ever failed, it will not start with you. You have God on your side so you cannot fail. All you need is just belief. Mark 9:23 says all things are possible to them that believeth.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, rid me of every self limiting beliefs and thoughts.