THE LIVING HAS A HOPE

MEMORY VERSE: For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. Ecclesiastes 9:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Num 10, Ps 46-47, Sng 8, Heb 8

In elementary school we learnt about living things and non living things. The difference between living things and non living things is that living things make decision. Plants and trees make decisions, one of the decisions they make is that they grow towards sunlight. Animals also make decisions; they purposely decide to move away from burning fire. There are three seasons in the life of a man – the past, present and future. Out of these three seasons we have control over the present, the past and future are out of our control. The most important of these three seasons is the present because we make decisions in the present i.e. we are alive in the present. After that, is the future because the decisions we make today affects our future. This is why Proverbs 22:29 says those who decide to be diligent today will sit before kings tomorrow (the future). Those who decide to be idle today will suffer hunger tomorrow (the future), Proverbs 19:15. To avoid a future of hunger, please get busy with your work or studies today.

The least important of these three seasons is the past. There is no one alive today who does not have a past. We all have past experiences – some of which are good and some of which are bad. We have all been let down and disappointed in the past. Many of us have been taken advantage of, and deeply hurt from events of the past. Some have made terrible mistakes in the past maybe in relationship or business or in career. Many have been abused in the past and molested by those who are meant to protect them. Friends I want you to know that we all have a past and we all have reasons to look back into the past. 

The past is considered dead. It is dead because we have no control over it. We cannot make decisions in the past and no matter what we do today, we cannot change the past. When you look to the past or think about it, you are just grasping the wind or chasing after shadows. Ecclesiastes 9:4 says for to him that is joined to all the living there is hope .Anyone that focuses on the past is joining his or herself to the dead. The dead has no hope of a better tomorrow, only the living has hope. Dwelling in the past is a step in retrogression. Looking back keeps you on the same spot for a long time. When you keep your focus on the past, it discourages you and stifles your initiatives. The reason for many depressions today is as a result of people failing to let go of the past. Do you know looking back prevents you from moving into the glorious future the Lord has for you? The only way out is for you to focus on the future and that is a function of the present. Change in circumstances is a possibility for those who focus on the future. Focusing on the future propels you to get into your future. Join yourself to the living today by dropping your past!

PRAYER POINT: Father I drop my past at your feet, and pick your future for my life.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus

THE LACK OF VISION PT1

MEMORY VERSE: where there is no vision, the people perish, Proverbs 29:18a 

 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 12, Rom 10, Jer 49, Luke 17

 

BIBLE STUDY: Genesis 21:17-19

 

What is vision?  Vision is seeing things as God sees them or seeing things through the eyes of God. Hagar was stranded, perplexed, exhausted, confused, perturbed and disturbed because of her lack of vision. She was sitting by well yet she was thirsty and her son also. It wasn’t because she was blind; it was because of her lack of vision. From our bible study we observed that the solution to the problem of Hagar was right beside her but yet she suffered. Until the Lord opened her eyes to see the well , she sat by it crying. The solution to the problem of many is right beside them. All some of us need is make a telephone call and that challenge will be over. A man of God had been looking to buy a church building for several years. The number of the agent to call was stored on his mobile but he never called the agent. One day while eating he heard the voice of God saying make the call and his eyes opened. He remembered a fellow pastor colleague gave him an agent’s number; he stopped what he was doing and made the call. Around six weeks later they were worshiping in their own auditorium.

 

Water represents life. How unfortunate for Hagar, she was sitting by a well of life yet she had no life – she and her son were about to die of thirst. The husband and wife of some singles are in the same church they have been attending for years, but because they cannot see they keep going from singles gathering to another. I pray that if you are in that shoe the Lord will open your eyes in Jesus name, Amen.

 

There are several lessons to learn from our bible study. Firstly when a fellow has no vision or is spiritually blind, he suffers unnecessarily. Hagar shouldn’t have experienced thirst in the first place because right beside her was a well. This woman cried and cried because she could not see the well. If care is not taken the people around a fellow who has no vision or who is spiritually blind i.e. his family and those that depend on him may suffer. If the husband is suffering, it will affect the wife and the children. Ishmael was thirsty because her mother could not see. Secondly, Hagar was originally on a journey but had to cancel it when Ishmael began to cry for water. The time she should have used to cover some of distance was spent crying by the well. If one is not careful, the lack of vision can cause a fellow to remain at the same position for a while. If Hagar had seen the well in time, she would have drawn water out of it and continued her journey but because she could not she had to remain at the same position of a while.

 

PRAYER POINT: Father please open my eyes today.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus

IF WE FAINT NOT

MEMORY VERSE: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not, Galatians 6:9 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 11, Rom 9, Jer 48, Luke 16

People join the gym for different reasons. Many join to lose weight. Some join to keep fit. Others join to build muscles and few join to maintain their stature. Everyone joins the gym for a reason or the other. The first day at the gym is always the hardest. It is unusually tough because one is not used to the workouts and exercises. From experience the first day is usually characterized with body pains and muscle strain. As you work out regularly the body gets used to the routines and work out. The pains, strains experienced also reduce. Also from experience, you can’t do much on your first day at gym. As you train, you become stronger and fitter. It takes at least eight weeks depending on your body shape to notice any significant change in your body. Many get discouraged when they can’t see changes within three weeks and quit.

Getting the desired result you want from the gym takes a lot of patience and persistence. Within the first eight weeks you might not notice any significant changes but as you continue to work out, you will begin to notice changes in your body. With time, fellow gym users will begin to notice changes and encourage you. As you continue to work out your friends and family will begin to notice the changes too. At this point many relax or just take it easy but if you continue to work out you could end up as a professional body builder or instructor or something. The key thing in body building is persistence.

The same principle of body building applies to every other part of life. The key to success or breakthrough is persistence – keep on doing the right thing even when you cannot see results. Do you want a particular gift of the spirit, grow spiritually, overcome addiction, memorize the whole bible or build a ministry? Any good and purposeful thing you have set your mind to do requires persistence. The first trial is always the hardest and the least productive but don’t give up. Many a times because there are no results, it may seem like a waste of time, energy and resources but don’t give up. With time you will see results. One terrible thing about quitting is that by the time you return to try again, it becomes ten times harder than the first time. This is what happens when we pray. Every time you pray, you make spiritual progress. As you send spiritual missiles, walls of barriers to your blessings start to crack and fall. If you persist after a day or two or weeks depending on the wall, it will fall and you will get your breakthrough. The moment you stop praying, the enemy rebuilds the wall with harder material which means you require more praying and fasting to break the wall so please brethren persist in prayers. Hence pray without ceasing, 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

WISDOM: One terrible thing about quitting is that by the time you return again, it becomes ten times harder than the first time.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.a

DISCERNING THE VOICE OF DISCOURAGEMENT PT2

MEMORY VERSE: for with God nothing shall be impossible, Luke 1:37. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 27, 1 Cor 8, Ezek 6, John 7 

In part one of these series we learnt that the voice of discouragement will always come when breakthrough is around the corner. We also learnt that the voice of discouragement is not of God but of the devil. The voice of discouragement can come in form of a thought as we discussed in part one. It can also come through a total stranger. An example of this can be found in 2 Kings 7:1-17. There was a terrible famine in the land. The situation was so bad that people began to eat their children. Elisha ran to God. The Lord told him that in 24 hours there will be abundance. Things will become so cheap that two measures of barley will be sold for a shekel i.e. something that used to cost ten units before the famine will now be sold for one unit. The man of God ran to tell the king this great news. While he was addressing the king, one of the experts at that time – a financial analyst said it is impossible. Even if God were to open the windows of heaven, two measures of barley will never be sold for a shekel. Thank God Elisha rebuked him. This man tried to discourage Elisha that it can’t be done. 

Brethren, all around us today are voices of discouragement from strangers. The voice of discouragement could be from medical practitioners telling us that disease cannot be cured; it can only be managed. The voice of discouragement could be from the economists, financial specialists telling us because of the recession it will be difficult for us to get a job. 

The voice of discouragement could be from people telling us we are not good enough. Walt Disney was fired from the Kansas City star (news paper) because the voice of discouragement through the editor back then said he lacked imagination and had no good ideas. Today, the whole world wants to visit Disneyland to see the work of Walt Disney. The voice of discouragement could be from experts telling us it cannot be done. A great man of God wanted to build a 50,000 seat edifice for the Most High God. When experts around the world saw the design, they said it can’t be done. They told the man of God it will take a minimum of at least three years to complete and there are no guarantees that it will be a success. With the help of God, the auditorium was built within a year. Guinness Book of Records said Faith Tabernacle is the largest church auditorium in the world with inside sitting capacity of 50,000 and outside overflow capacity of 250,000 plus.  Friends there is nothing that can’t be done as far as God is in it. The bible says for with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37). 

PONDER:  With God all things are possible.

THINK & THANK (T& T)

MEMORY VERSE: i will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High, Psalm 7:17 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 10, Rom 1, Jer 47, Luke 15

The reason why many of us do not give thanks to God as we should is because we focus on where we are going not where we are coming from. We forget how far the Lord has taken us, we forget where he took us from, and we forget His faithfulness in the past. Friends , instead of complaining about your current situation – you are yet to be married , yet to get a job, yet to be give birth ,yet to own a house or a car , yet to speak in tongues , yet to have one gift of the spirit or the other ,yet to start your own business , yet to get a breakthrough in ministry , take time out and think about where you are coming from. Let us compare where we were ten years ago and where we are today.

Anyone who knows how to reflect on his past will definitely know how to thank God. David was a thankful man because he reflects on his past i.e. where he came from. Bible scholars told us that he was an embarrassment to his father. The old man had an affair and David was the product of the affair. Because he was an embarrassment the old man preferred to keep him away from the house when he had guests. No wonder when Samuel asked Jesse to bring out all his sons, the old man purposely left him in the field because he didn’t want the prophet to know about the product of his illicit affair. Despite the past of David, the Lord anointed him king over Israel. This was why David was always thankful, even when he had challenges he still praised God. As long David as gave thanks, the Lord kept on lifting him above his challenges.

Part of been grateful is to acknowledge our past (some of which was terrible – talking about before we gave our life to Christ). If only we will think back, we will have cause to praise God. The same route we take to work every day, some take it and have accidents. One of the biggest causes of type 2 diabetes is the consumption of sugary drinks i.e. soft drinks. Many of us rarely drink water; we consume an average of eight to nine soft drinks a week. Some after eating don’t bother with water; they substitute water with sprite or coke. Many of our bodies should have broken down and stop functioning because of the consumption of fizzy drinks but yet we are hail and hearty. This is a reason to thank God. Those that are sick with wasting diseases or other incurable diseases are not sinners; it is by the mercy of God that we are alive. We sleep and wake up every morning not because of our alarm clock but because of God’s mercy. There are many who own alarm clocks that sleep and do not wake up.

ACTION POINT: Reflect back and give thanks.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus

ALL CHANGE PLEASE

MEMORY VERSE: he answered and said, whether he be a sinner or no, I know not; one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see, John 9:25 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 9, Rom 7, Jer 46, Luke 14

When you search through the scriptures, you will find out that every one Jesus met experienced a change in one area of their life or the other. In Luke 13:10-17, Jesus met a woman who could not walk well because her back was bent. Immediately she was healed, her walking pattern and posture changed. In the Matthew 8:1-4 Jesus met a leper who had sore all over the body. I do not need to tell you that the clothes on him were torn and the parts that were meant to be covered were exposed. From the day he was healed, his clothe and the way he dressed changed. In John 5:1-16, Jesus healed a man by the pool of Bethesda. This man had been sick for over thirty years, but after spending a minute or two with Jesus his location changed. Jesus met two terribly violent boys – James and John, Mark 3:17. They had so much anger in them that Jesus called them sons of thunder but by the time He was through with them they became advocate of love and peace. John was so transformed that he wrote a 1 John, 2 John and 3 John. Peter on the other hand was not interested in the things of God. He was so bad even Jesus had to call him Satan, Mark 8:30-33. The same Peter became one of the pillars of the early church.

Brethren, we cannot meet Jesus and not experience a change. The moment we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and savior, people around must notice the change or difference. The moment Jesus becomes the captain of our ship, the way we carry our self must change. Do you know that once Jesus truly comes in, you begin to feel uncomfortable to wear some clothes you used to wear or dress the way you used to dress? Once Jesus comes in, you become a lover of peace.

The man that was healed said something, ‘whether he be a sinner or no, I know not; one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see (John 9:25)’. In other words before I met Jesus I lived in darkness i.e. I had no love inside me. According to 1 John 2:11 anyone who hates resides in darkness and the darkness blindfolds them. But after I met Jesus, light came i.e. the love of God has now been shed abroad in my heart. Once Christ comes in, there is no room for hatred anymore or unforgiveness or bitterness or malice or envy. All must change when He enters. The reason why many of us do not experience these changes is because we ask Him to come in and put Him in the store or basement. For that change to take place, Jesus must occupy the whole house – the room, sitting room, e.t.c. of your heart. We must allow Him free access not only when we are in church on Sundays or during weekly service.

TO PONDER: Until He truly takes over, the world will not see His presence in our life.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus

JESUS GREW

MEMORY VERSE: and Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man, Luke 2:52

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 7-8, Rom 6, Jer 44-45, Luke 13

From the moment a pregnant woman puts to bed, the baby starts growing. The body weight increases by about 30% and the length by 20%. At a point the baby starts crawling, from crawling to standing unassisted, from standing unassisted to walking, from walking to running or jumping. As the baby begins to grow in height and weight, his immune system too develops. With time the boy grows into a teenager, from a teenager to a youth and finally becomes a man. As the boy passes from a boy to a teenager, the parents begins to assign some responsibilities to him. Not only that, they also begin to commit one or two resources into his hands too. As he grows, the responsibility increases so also the resources.

The same thing happened in the life of Jesus when He was on earth. The bible records that He grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man, Luke 2:52. What Jesus was able to do at the age of thirty, He could not do them at the age seven. As a teenager, He did not raise the dead or walk on water or open the eyes of the blind. It wasn’t because the power was unavailable; it was because He needed to grow to a certain level before the power was committed to Him. No matter how much a father loves his son, he will never buy him a Jaguar. It is not because he cannot afford it or because he hates him, it is because the son is not matured enough to own a Jaguar.

The Most High is a responsible father; He will never commit His resources into the hands of a baby Christian. The Lord has great plans for each and every of His children but the plans will not come to fruition until we grow spiritually. The reason why many promises are delayed is because the recipients of such promises are not matured enough to handle the fulfillment of the promises. If the Lord should grant the request of some of us, we will abuse it because we are not matured spiritually to handle the blessings. He will rather wait until we are matured enough to handle them than give it to us and we mess up. The blessings of many are been delayed because the recipients need to grow in humility and love. All some sisters’ need to grow in is humility and the Lord will bring the brother. All some brothers need to grow in is love and the Lord will bring the sister. Your spiritual prosperity will determine your physical prosperity, 3 John 1:2. There are two activities that have been found to be very helpful when it comes to growth spiritually – meditating on the word of God and praying in tongue. If you would meditate on a chapter daily and speak in tongues for an hour daily, within weeks you will be amazed by your spiritual growth.

ACTION POINT: Meditate on a chapter of the bible daily.