BE FRIENDLY

MEMORY VERSE: A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, Proverbs 18:24

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Josh 22, Acts 2, Jer 11, Matt 25

Unfriendliness has frustrated the grace of God upon the life of many. The reason why the glory of God is yet to manifest in the life of some is a result of not been friendly. Whatever it is you are going to become in life, you need humans. To fulfill that glorious destiny of yours you need people. No matter what you cannot do without people. Ninety per cent of the time when the Lord wants to bless a fellow, He sends people not angels. A very successful lawyer was sharing his story with us some months back when he came back from Nigeria. On his way to a town he needed to use the toilet so he parked at a filling station and approached the attendants. He asked the attendant who was at the till if he could use their toilet, she replied no in an unfriendly tone. He then approached the other attendant – a man and that one said no problem. After using the toilet, the lawyer introduced himself to this male attendant and told him that if he ever felt like visiting UK he should contact him. He gave him his business card and left.

There are some people who never smile. The reason why some singles are yet to find their life partners is because they are unfriendly and never smile. The question is who wants to live with a brother or sister who is not friendly? I always joke that whilst praying for a life partner, if i dream and see a sister who is frowning, when I wake up I would use the blood Jesus to cancel the bad dream. Why? Because I know moods are contagious. If you stay around happy people you will become happy and vice versa. Most of what we call the work of demons and house hold enemies are not at all. They are mostly the result of our unfriendliness. The reason why many are yet to be promoted despite how good they are at their job is because they are not friendly. The reason why many fail at interviews is because they are not friendly. I was indirectly involved in the recruitment of some staffs at my place of work. Two of the CVs were from former employees. One of them was unfriendly and the other was very friendly. The unfriendly fellow had the all required training and certificates but the friendly one only had experience. At the end of the day we picked the friendly one over the unfriendly one. Despite the fact that the friendly one had no certificates, my boss had no choice than to bend the rule for this fellow. The truth of the matter is who wants to work with an unfriendly colleague? No one.

I discovered that unfriendly people pay more when they go to buy things in the shop. When the seller is busy offering soft drinks and tea to friendly customers, he will be charging the unfriendly customers exorbitant price. Why? No one wants an unfriendly customer. Once they see that you are unfriendly, they will charge you exorbitant price to scare you away. I went to a shop with a friend to buy some items and the Indian seller told us it cost 140 pounds. My friend in a friendly tone said ‘accha let me give you 40’. The seller replied ‘accha please make it 60’. Accha means something good in Hindi. Anyway before i knew what was happening, my friend took out 40 pounds and the seller gladly handed over the item to us.

WISDOM: It pays to be friendly.

WHAT IS INSIDE WILL SHOW ON THE OUTSIDE

MEMORY VERSE: A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh, Luke 6:45.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Josh 20-21, Acts 1, Jer 10, Matt 24

A lecturer went into a classroom with two oranges of the same size – one was yellow on the outside and the other was green. He asked the students ‘of these two oranges, if i ask you to choose one which one will you choose?’ They all said the yellow one. He then asked ‘why?’ They said because it will be the sweeter. How do you know? You haven’t tasted it; we haven’t cut it open; you cannot see the inside; how do you know that the yellow one will be the sweeter asked the lecturer? Their reply was the outside shows. What is inside will definitely show on the outside. When you see a lady walking around dressed like a harlot you know what is on the inside. When you see a young man dressed like a thug or a hooligan you know what is on the inside.

When a fellow is mad, he is mad on the inside but does it show on outside? Yes of course. In the olden days how do we know when someone is getting mad? The hair on the head will begin to look funny. That will tell you there are several mad people in our offices; all you need to do is take a look at the hair. They may call it style to deceive you but it is what is on the inside that is coming out on the outside. There are some people who think that in other to get the youths into the church we need to dress like them, talk them, behave like them e.t.c. That is complete rubbish. The youths are looking for a role model – an elder they can look up to or copy. The youths want to come up to where the elders are but the elders are going down to where the youths are. There are many who say in other to get the unbelievers into the church we need to be not too spiritual or a bit worldly. Brethren the unbelievers love spirituality. That is why you see them practicing yoga and other forms of meditations. Back in the days unbelievers look up to the believers on how to dress, but now believers are looking up to the unbelievers how to dress. What a shame!

Before i gave my life to Christ, i used to visit brothels. I discovered that there is a way harlots dress when they are on duty and off duty. When they are on duty at nights i.e. at the brothels, they wear skimpy clothes that expose their body parts to attract customers. Once they are off duty i.e. in the morning on their way home they were long skirts and cover up to inform us that they are off duty. Only harlots on duty wear skimpy clothes that reveal their thighs or expose body parts that are meant to be covered. If you are not a harlot on duty, why wear skimpy clothes or expose body parts that are meant to be covered? The sad thing is that it is some parents who buy these dresses for their daughters. These parents fear their child more than they fear God. The truth of the matter is such parents do not love that child. They do not care. The worst part is there are some husbands who allow their wife to dress up like a harlot. They encourage their wives to show a bit of cleavage or wear short dresses. Such men do not value their wives.

PRAYER POINT: Father , have mercy on the world.

WONDERS OF OBEDIENCE

MEMORY VERSE: if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the Land, Isaiah 1:19

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 18-19, Ps 149-150, Jer 89, Matt 23

BIBLE STUDIES: Luke 5:1-7.

A wonder is anything that makes you wonder. I believe the Lord wants to make someone a wonder, that’s why He has permitted these series. One of the quickest ways of becoming a wonder is by obeying God. In Luke 5:1-7 Peter obeyed a simple instruction, he let down his net and caught so much that two boats began to sink. The question is where did all the fish suddenly come from? This is really a wonder. Do you want to become a wonder? Simply obey God. When you begin to obey God, every little effort you make will yield a mighty result, not only that the Lord will begin to do wondrous things in your life.

The key to becoming a wonder is total obedience to the word of God. Malachi 3:10 says bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house. The question is this, are you bringing all? What you bring to the house of God, is a tithe of your gross (total amount before any deductions such as tax) or net pay (total amount when all deductions are made)? Can you tell God you have brought all when you tithe on your net pay not gross? Your tithe is ten percent of your gross pay not your net pay. During a meeting a brother challenged the whole congregation that he would give an equivalent of what everyone gave as offering. When the brother heard the total amount collected that day, he announced that they should take the offering again because the first one was too small for Jesus. After everyone gave, he wrote a cheque equivalent to the total amount collected. Later some brothers met him and asked what the secret of his success was? He told them he decided that it was an insult to give God ten percent and keep ninety so he decided to give God ninety percent and keep only ten.

Proverbs 3:9 says honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase. When you get an increase in salary, the difference between the old and new salary is an example of your first fruit of increase. First fruit is the first agricultural produce of the harvest. In modern day, the entire January salary will be your first fruits. The difference between the first fruit of increase and the first fruit sacrifice is in divine response. In the first fruit of increase, God promised that your barn will burst while in the first fruit sacrifice, you blessing will become global, they will be irreversible and they will extend to your generations to come, Genesis 22:15-18. By the grace of God I can tell you that first fruit sacrifice does not kill. It only forces doors open. James 1:19 says if you are willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the Land.

PRAYER POINT: Father , make your blessing in my life trans-generational

THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE

MEMORY VERSE: for I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died, Romans 7:9

 

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 16-17, Ps 148, Jer 8, Matt 22

 

BIBLE STUDIES: Revelations 20:11-15

 

What is the Lamb’s book of life? The Book of Life is the set of names of those who will live with God forever in heaven. Revelations 20:15 says and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. One of the popular misconceptions is that you need to be saved before your name is written in the book of life. If you get your names in the book of life by salvation then all babies are lost both babies of saved and unsaved people. Not only that, people who have not reach the age of accountability as well. There are people who will never reach the age of accountability no matter how old they are due to challenges in their brain. An example of a fellow who cannot be held accountable for his action is a mad man on the street. James 4:17 says therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not to him it is sin. Mad people do not know right from wrong.

 

First of all there is no place in the bible where the bible talks of your name been written in the book of life. There is a part that talks of it been blotted out, Revelations 3:5. This is why the notion of once saved always saved is totally wrong.Believers will not stand before the Great white throne of judgment only unbelievers. Believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to give an account of their action and deeds in the body. The bible records that anyone whose name is not found in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire, Revelations 20:15. If the names had not been written there before, while will they checking to see if it was there? It will make little or no sense to check the name of a student who had never attended a school before in the school’s register.

 

At one point in time the names of everyone was written in the book of life because God planned a family. At one point all our spirits were alive unto God. Paul said for I was alive without the law once; but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died, Romans 7:9. Paul was not referring to physical death but spiritual death. When the commandment came i.e. when he reached the age of accountability or when he began to know his left from right, he could now be held accountable so he died spiritually. Thank God for the salvation of his soul later. What causes names to be blotted out of the book of life? Been an enemy of God. Matthew 12:30 says he that is not with me, is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. A fellow who refuses to give his or her life to Christ is against Him. A fellow who refuses to repent and walk in holiness and righteousness is against Him because He said be holy for I am holy, 1 Peter 1:16

 

PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me  i do not want my name blotted out of your book.

CRITERIA FOR SEEING GOD

MEMORY VERSE: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God, Matthew 5:8

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 14-15, Ps 146-147, Jer 7, Matt 21

God is absolutely pure. He is as pure as light. 1 John 1:5 says God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. The bible records in Isaiah 6:3 that the angels are always saying Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts. We all know the Lord is powerful. Psalm 62:11 says all power belong to Him. Matthew 19:26 says with God all things are possible. The question is why are the angels not saying Powerful, powerful, powerful is the Lord of hosts? Everyone knows God is love. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. The question is why are the angels not saying Loving, loving, loving is the Lord of hosts? We will all agree that the Lord is merciful. According to Psalm 103:8 God is rich in mercy. The question is why are the angels not saying Merciful, merciful, merciful is the Lord? The reason is that the only thing the Lord wants to be associated with is holiness. That is why the angels are always saying Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts.

Around the throne of God are twenty four elders dressed in white garments, praising God day and night, Revelations 4:3. These elders could have been dressed in pink because pink symbolizes love and God is love. These elders could have been dressed in purple because purple symbolizes royalty and our God is the King of kings. They could have been dressed in blue because blue symbolizes peace one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit but they are dressed in white, why? White symbolizes purity and that’s the condition for seeing God.

Matthew 5:8 says blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. In other words if your purity is on the outside and not on the inside, you are wasting your time. From time to time, we hear people say what matters is the inside not the outside. Please stop fooling yourself. Whatever is on the inside will show on the outside. When a fellow is mad on the inside, does it show outside? Yes of course. How do you know a plantain is ripe on the inside? It is by checking the outside. If it is green on the outside, you know it is unripe but if it is yellow you know it is ripe. How do you know an orange is ripe on the inside? It is by checking the outside. What is inside will reflect on the outside. Luke 6:45 says out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speak. When you see a lady dressed like a prostitute you know what is on the inside. When you see a man dressed like a thug, you know what is on the inside. Once you hear the words coming out of a fellow, you don’t need to be told the thoughts going through his heart. When we talk of purity, we are talking of all through purity. Purity right from inside unto the outside.

PONDER: What is inside will reflect on the outside.

WHY STUDY THE BIBLE?

MEMORY VERSE: take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life, Proverbs 4:13

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 12-13, Ps 145, Jer 6, Matt 20

Your destiny is tied to the word of God. Whether you will reach your potential in Jesus or not will be decided by your relationship with the word of God. One thing everybody wants is success – success in marriage, business, ministry, e.t.c. I don’t think there is anyone who sincerely wants to fail; even the Lord wants you to succeed. According to Jeremiah 29:11, the thoughts of God towards you are of peace and to give you an expected end. Whether his thoughts towards you will come to fruition or not will be decided by the time spent in bible studies. According to Psalms 1:1-3 , a man who delights in the word of God and studies it will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings fruit in his season. Not only that whatever such men does will prosper. Wondering why you always fail despite all your efforts, it could be because you only read your bible only on Sunday or you don’t even have one at all.

Job was the greatest of all men of the east, Job 1:3. I have always wondered how this man managed to do it. The secret to Job’s greatness is in his relationship with the word of God. Job 23:12 says neither I have gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Another reason why you need to study the bible is because it has medicinal value. If only you would dedicate time to study the word of God, your visits to the hospital will greatly reduce. According to Proverbs 4:20& 22, the word of God is life and health to your flesh. Not only that, it is also medicine to your soul. James 1:21 says humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. The word of God is also able to heal and deliver from destruction, Psalm 107:20.

One question people always ask is that is it possible for one to live a life of holiness in this generation? Can a man do without sinning at all? If living a life of Holiness is not possible, then God will not require it of us. 1 Peter 1:16 says be ye holy; for I am holy. It is possible to live a life of Holiness in this generation. The question is how? The secret is meditating on the word of God. Psalm 119:11 says thy word I have hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee. You want to live above sin? Hide the word of God in your heart. The word of God cleanses you, John 15:3. What is the minimum required no of times, I need to study my bible as a Christian? Twice a day. When you go through the scriptures for example Joshua 1:8; Psalms 1:1-3, e.t.c. you see the Lord emphasizing that you study the bible day and night. Without bible studies, you may be behind in all you do. The word of God is your life so hold on to it.

QUESTION: When was the last time you studied your bible?

OPPORTUNITIES FOR EXPANSION

MEMORY VERSE: for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish, Psalms 1:6

BIBLE VERSE: Josh 11, Ps 144, Jer 5, Matt 19

Tests, trials, challenges of faith, e.t.c. are opportunities for expansion. They are not to break you but to develop you spiritually. Many a time when the Lord wants to fellowship with us, He permits some things to happen so that we can have time for Him. Why do you think the Lord permitted Shadrach, Meshach and Abedn-nego to be cast into the burning furnace, Daniel 3:1-30? The Lord permitted it because He wanted to spend quality time with these 3 boys. Before they were cast into the fire, the God they served was already waiting in the furnace to receive them. After they had spent quality time with the Most High in the furnace, they came out unhurt. Not only that, they were promoted immediately. Sometimes back I was suspended from work for almost 3 months. Immediately I got the letter, I understood that the Lord permitted it because He wanted us to spend time together. No wonder after our fellowship i was able to return back to my post.

Anytime the Lord wants to expand or promote a fellow, He permits some challenges in the life of the fellow. When the Lord was about to give Jesus a name that is above every other name, He permitted the Pharisees to crucify Him, Philippians 2:6-11. When the Lord wanted to take Joseph to His land of fulfillment, He permitted the schemes of his evil brothers, Genesis 37:1-36.Those ones got hold of him and sold him to Egypt. When the Lord wanted to take him to where he was going to meet his destiny helpers, He permitted Portiphar’s wife to lie on him and they cast him in prison, Genesis 39:7-23. It was inside the king’s prison that the Lord lifted him to the throne. I can assure you that the Lord is setting you up for something major; that is why you are having those challenges left, right and centre. As far as you are not living in sin, those challenges were permitted by God.

A man of God was sharing his story with us. When the Lord was about to set him up for greatness, He permitted some people in the church to persecute him. The old matrons made his life hell, when it was time for him to preach the pastor will ask someone else to preach. At a point the water became too hot so he ran for his dear life. Today it is a different story. Psalm 1:6 says for the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Whatever it is you are going through, the Lord knows about it. He permitted it so that you can be promoted.

PRAYER POINTS: Father, let my victory be total.