Wednesday, 2 October 2013

WATCH WHAT YOU CALL THAT CHILD

MEMORY VERSE: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold, Proverbs 23:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 33, Ps 78:1-38, Isa 25, 1 Jn 3

Names are very important. When you give a name to something, you are indirectly prophesying into the future of that thing. At birth Solomon was giving the name Jedidiah (which means the Lord’s beloved), 2 Samuel 12:25. The name was a form of prophesy into his life. The life of Solomon was synonymous with God’s love courtesy of his name. He asked for wisdom, and the Lord gave him wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Not only that, the Lord prospered him in all that he laid his hands on. The mother of a young man gave him the name Jabez at birth, 1 Chronicles 4:9-10.Jabez means pain. This name was also a form of prophesy into the life and future of this man. The life of Jabez was synonymous with pain courtesy of his name. No matter how hard he tried, wherever he finds himself something sorrowful or painful must happen there.

Sarah lived in sorrow virtually all her life because she had no child. She tried to have children through Hagar-her slave, it back fired and she suffered humiliation in the hands of Hagar. One day she and her husband hosted the Most High God and everything changed. A year later she gave birth to a boy and gave him the name Isaac which means laughter. Do you know from the day Sarah called her son Isaac till she died, she never wept over him ? Even when the Lord told Abraham to offer Isaac as sacrifice, the Lord had to provide a ram in the place of Isaac because Sarah had prophesied into the life of her son that she will always bring him joy and laughter not pain.

As parents you need to be careful of the names you give to your children because those names are a form of prophesy into their future. The names are not only prophesies into their future but your future too because your children are your future. You need to watch what you say into their lives or what you call them when you are angry. Whatever you say into their life in anger or call them in anger are all prophesies. According to Numbers 14:28, whatever God hears you say is what He will do. As a good parent out of anger don’t call your child a good-for-nothing boy or a useless girl or a worthless child or any other bad name. As teachers in school or nannies please watch the names you call your wards. Don’t out of anger call them names that will destroy their future.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please cancel the effect of every negative names in my life.

Tuesday, 1 October 2013

THE CALLED AND THE CHOSEN

MEMORY VERSE: For many are called, but few are chosen, Matthew 22:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 32, Ps 77, Isa 24, 1 Jn 2

Matthew 22:14 says for many are called, but few are chosen. Who does the calling? Jesus Christ. Who is He calling? Everyone. What is the purpose of the call? The purpose of the call is to invite you to a dinner with the Almighty. Revelation 3:20 says behold I stand at the door , and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Why do you need to dine with the Almighty? Well in the presence of God is fullness of joy and at His right hand are pleasures for evermore, Psalm 16:11. Those that have received the invite to come and dine with Him are THE CALLED.
I have always wondered why God will call so many and chose only a few. The number one reason why He chooses a few is because He is God and He decides who He wants to dine with. The number two reason why few are chosen is because there are certain criteria that must be met before an individual is chosen to dine with the Almighty. Sadly not many are ready to meet these criteria; the few that meet these criteria are those He chooses to dine with.

To dine with the Almighty you must be a true child of God. There is a big difference between professing to be a child of God and been a child of God. Romans 8:14 says as many as are led by the Spirit of God; they are the sons of God. A child of God is led by the Spirit of God because He is born of the Spirit (of God). The Holy Spirit will not lead anyone to disobey the word of God. The Holy Spirit will never lead you to dress in a sensual way. He will rather lead you to dress in decent and appropriate clothing not in clothes that attract attention (especially from the opposite sex). The Holy Spirit will never lead you to call blue, black or call A, B. He will always lead you in a path of righteousness. The children of God are THE CHOSEN. The following are true of THE CHOSEN: (A) they love God, 1 John 5:1. To love God means to keep His commandments, John 14:15; (B) secondly they love their neighbors, 1 John 4:7 i.e. they live in love; (C) their affection is towards the things of God not things of the world,1 John 5:4 and (D) they live a life of holiness,1John 3:9.

PRAYER POINT: Father please baptize me with Holy Spirit and Fire.

Monday, 30 September 2013

CONDITIONS FOR THE GETTING THE ‘NEW’

MEMORY VERSE: therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new, 2 Corinthians 5:17.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 31, Ps 75-76, Isa 23, 1 Jn 1

We all want something new in one area of our life of the other. Some want a new name for example a single bro and sister becoming Mr and Mrs; a student becoming a graduate; a failure becoming a success e.t.c. Some just want to sing a new song. The children of Israel sang a song of sorrow for over 400 years but after they crossed red the sea they sang a song of Joy, Exodus 15:1-21. Some want a new beginning or a fresh start or new walk in Christ for example all the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) wanted was a second chance or a fresh start. Others want a new job, challenge, working environment, career e.t.c. We all want something new either for ourselves or for someone close to us.

God is still in the business of giving His children new things . The bible records that He renews His mercies over my life every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23), I believe He does the same for you too. The word ‘new’ suggests the existence of the word ‘old’. Without the ‘old’, you cannot have the ‘new’. To have the ‘new’, there are one or two conditions you need to satisfy. Firstly, to have the ‘new’ you must be tired of the ‘old’. A change for the better only comes when you become tired of your present situation or state of things. I heard the testimony of a sister who lost the gift of speaking tongues. For several years she prayed and prayed but nothing happened. One night she became tired of her weak spiritual life and began to violently call on God; within an hour she received this precious gift back.

Secondly, to have the ‘new’ the ‘old’ must first pass away. For you to experience a change that will bring the ‘new’, the ‘old’ must pass away - old mentalities, old ways of doing things ; old beliefs ;old attitudes to work and time e.t.c. A wise man once said if you keep doing what you are doing, you will keep getting what you are getting. 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. If you have giving your life to Christ and the people around you cannot notice any changes in you then there is work to do. Once everything becomes new, people around you will notice - your lecturers, managers, supervisors, parents’ e.t.c. A particular sister was making her way home from work when some thugs approached her; they knelt down and asked her to pray for them. Although this sister did not know them from Adam, these thugs saw something different in the way this sister dressed and carried herself.

QUESTION: Can strangers just by observing you conclude that you are a born again Christian?

Sunday, 29 September 2013

MERCY REJOICETH AGAINST JUDGEMENT

MEMORY VERSE: for he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment, James 2:13. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 30, Ps 74, Isa 22, 2 Pet 3

The simple definition of mercy is not getting what you deserve for your sins or transgression. A classical example of mercy is found in John 8:1-11. A woman was caught in adultery and brought to Jesus Christ for judgment. This woman was guilty as charged, whether the Pharisees brought the man she was committing adultery with or not she was guilty and she deserved a horrible death – death by stoning. From the day Moses gave the law, anyone caught in adultery had been stone to death so this woman knew that her case wasn’t going to be an exception. Jesus looked at her and offered her a second chance. That day the mercy of the Lord rejoiced over His judgment. Another example is the death of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. The Lord says in Ezekiel 18:20 –the soul that sinneth, it shall die. For every sin we have committed we deserved a death penalty but Christ decided to die and instead of death penalty we received life.

We serve a God who is full of mercy. Lamentations 3:22 says it is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. In other words we woke up this morning not because we are healthy but because of His mercies. From studying Jeremiah 42:12, we come to the conclusion that God needs to show you mercy first before men can you mercy. In other words His mercy precedes men’s mercy. One important point I want you to know is that God is not obliged to show mercy to everyone . He says in Exodus 33:19 , I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. This suggests that there are certain conditions we need to satisfy before we can expect God’s mercy. The first condition is we must fear the Lord. According to Psalm 103:11, just as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is God's mercy towards them that fear Him. Those who fear the Lord run from all appearances of evil. Proverbs 16:6 says by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. Proverbs 14:16 says a wise man fears the Lord and departs from evil.

The second condition is we must always show mercy. James 2:13 says for he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. God is only oblige to show mercy to those who are in the habit of showing mercy. Sometimes last year one of the staffs in my team did something that he should be sacked for right on the spot. The truth of the matter was it was unintentional, he did what he did with a noble intention but what he did was gross misconduct. To make matter worse it reflected badly on me as his supervisor but for a reason or the other I was not comfortable with the idea of sacking him partly because he was hard working. I prayed and I approached my manager and this staff was offered a second chance. Not too long after that I found myself in the same shoes. I investigated a matter sincerely and my findings where used against me. On technical grounds I should be sacked even without any hearing despite the volume of evidence against me. I had no one to appeal on my behalf but I had Jesus who could show mercy. Today I still have my job. The mercy of the Lord rejoiced against the judgment at the hearing.

PRAYER POINTS: Father as I show mercy please show me your mercy too.

Saturday, 28 September 2013

MAKING IT UP

MEMORY VERSE: lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, Colossians 3:9.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 29, Ps 73, Isa 21, 2 Pet 2

A lie is a lie no matter how you paint it. As far as it is void of the truth, it is a lie. There is nothing called half truth, it is either a lie or the truth. No matter how you phrase it or put it, as far as it is not the whole truth it is a lie. If there is a tiny bit of a lie in a story, the whole story is a lie. Galatians 5:9 says a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. One aspect of lying is making things up i.e. when something is not there and you say it is there, it is a lie. No liar will make heaven. Why? According to John 8:44 the devil is the father of lies or liars and no child of the devil will be permitted in heaven. Proverbs 12:22 says a lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight.

When we talk of making things up, it does not necessarily have to be telling a lie. There are many who without opening their mouth make things up. All they need to do with their pen is add two extra zeros and 500 becomes 50000. Another example is found in many CV’s today. People want to sell themselves to their prospective employers so they begin to come up with experiences they do not have or funny references. If it is not true then it is a lie! There are some who are still living a life of lies. An example of this is acting holy. Holiness is not an act but a lifestyle. You can fool men into believing anything but you cannot fool God who sees inside and out. To be pure outside you need to be inside first. This is why the holy word of God says that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8.

There are many who who make things up with their actions.There many today who dye their hair immediately they begin to notice grey hair coming out. Whether you believe it or not this is a form of lie. You give people an impression that your hair is dark when it is actually grey! One of the biggest lie in the church of God today is the use of make-up. As the name implies you are making things up i.e. you are making something that is not there appears as if it is there. This is all what ‘make up’ is all about; giving people false impression. As brothers you should not be attracted to ‘make-up’ but character, besides what is the point of engaging with someone who is not sincere with basic things like the length of her hair or her nails. It is better to know that a sister has pimples before marriage than to find out next morning after marriage when the ‘make-up’ is all gone. Sisters be wary of a brother who wants you make-up first before he falls in love with you. The reason why he wants you to make-up first is because he does not like the real you and honestly immediately that make-up goes off that brother will run away. Sisters be careful of a brother who loves to be told a lie because such brother do not value the truth and the chances are he will tell you a lie.

KEYWORD: A lie is a lie regardless of who is saying it and how it is presented.
 

Thursday, 26 September 2013

MAKING IT UP

MEMORY VERSE: lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds, Colossians 3:9. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 29, Ps 73, Isa 21, 2 Pet 2

A lie is a lie no matter how you paint it. As far as it is void of the truth, it is a lie. There is nothing called half truth, it is either a lie or the truth. No matter how you phrase it or put it, as far as it is not the whole truth it is a lie. If there is a tiny bit of a lie in a story, the whole story is a lie. Galatians 5:9 says a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. One aspect of lying is making things up i.e. when something is not there and you say it is there, it is a lie. No liar will make heaven. Why? According to John 8:44 the devil is the father of lies or liars and no child of the devil will be permitted in heaven. Proverbs 12:22 says a lying lips are abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are His delight.

When we talk of making things up, it does not necessarily have to be telling a lie. There are many who without opening their mouth make things up. All they need to do with their pen is add two extra zeros and 500 becomes 50000. Another example is found in many CV’s today. People want to sell themselves to their prospective employers so they begin to come up with experiences they do not have or funny references. If it is not true then it is a lie! There are some who are still living a life of lies. An example of this is acting holy. Holiness is not an act but a lifestyle. You can fool men into believing anything but you cannot fool God who sees inside and out. To be pure outside you need to be inside first. This is why the holy word of God says that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8.

There are many who who make things up with their actions.There many today who dye their hair immediately they begin to notice grey hair coming out. Whether you believe it or not this is a form of lie. You give people an impression that your hair is dark when it is actually grey! One of the biggest lie in the church of God today is the use of make-up. As the name implies you are making things up i.e. you are making something that is not there appears as if it is there. This is all what ‘make up’ is all about; giving people false impression. As brothers you should not be attracted to ‘make-up’ but character, besides what is the point of engaging with someone who is not sincere with basic things like the length of her hair or her nails. It is better to know that a sister has pimples before marriage than to find out next morning after marriage when the ‘make-up’ is all gone. Sisters be wary of a brother who wants you make-up first before he falls in love with you. The reason why he wants you to make-up first is because he does not like the real you and honestly immediately that make-up goes off that brother will run away. Sisters be careful of a brother who loves to be told a lie because such brother do not value the truth and the chances are he will tell you a lie.

KEYWORD: A lie is a lie regardless of who is saying it and how it is presented.

Tuesday, 24 September 2013

WHAT TO DO AFTER THE SNARE HAS BEEN BROKEN

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 28, Ps 72, Isa 19- 20, 1 Pet 5

MEMORY VERSE: Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler: the
Snare is broken, and we are escaped, Psalm 124:7.

What is a snare, a snare is a form of trap for catching birds. There are two main purposes of a snare, 1) to catch a bird and 2) to keep it in the same position for as long as possible. An example of a snare is lack of knowledge. Hosea 4:6 says my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Knowledge is power, what you know can save your life and what you don’t know can destroy you. Fizzy drinks or soft drinks are responsible for at least 200,000 deaths a year worldwide. Many destinies have been cut short as a result of fizzy drink consumption; I pray you that fizzy drink will not cut your life short in Jesus name, Amen. The main cause of most headaches and high body temperature is lack of water. There are many who have replace water with soft drinks, even after eating they take soft drinks. The way to good health is drink water more. Every system in your body depends on water.

We also have spiritual snares. An example of a spiritual snare is sin. According to Jeremiah 5:25 sin withholds good things from an individual. Isaiah 59:1-2 says the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear: but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that He will not hear. Another example of a spiritual snare is tormentors. Tormentors like fear, bitterness e.t.c. are functions of unforgiveness (Matthew 18:23-35). Failure to forgive leads to a season with tormentors. Our tongue can also be a snare if we refuse to use them properly. Proverbs 18:21 says death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

A snare is broken through the Holy word of God. The word of God can be likened to a fire that consumes and a hammer that breaks the rocks in pieces (Jeremiah 23:29).
The snare of sin is broken by meditating on God’s word. Psalm 119:11 says thy word I have hid in mine hear, that I may not sin against you. For that snare in your life to be broken you need to dedicate time to studying the Holy word of God. Psalm 124:7 says our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the Fowler: the Snare is broken, and we are escaped. After the snare has been broken, what do you do next? You escape. To escape means to run away from the snare. The reason why many are still in bondage today is not because the Lord has not broken the snare; it is because they remain in the snare after the Lord has broken the snare through His holy word. The Lord has broken the snare of tormentors in many lives by asking them to forgive, instead of escaping i.e. forgive those who have wronged them they refuse and remain in the snare.

PRAYER POINT: Father, as you break the snares in my life through your Holy word please help me to escape too.