ALL SHALL BE RAISED.

MEMORY VERSE: marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:28-29 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 36-38

In the beginning, God did not intend for man whom He created in His own image to die. Sin, disobedience to the commandment of God, is what brought about death, and that is what gave the grave, power to hold man down in death. Our Christian faith is based on the fact that Christ paid the full price of our sin, this He did when He died on the Cross and shed His precious blood for our redemption from sin and to restore man to the original plan of God. His resurrection is a mark that God has accepted His atoning sacrifice on the cross. Not only that, His resurrection is a proof that the dead will rise:death is not the end of life. 1 Corinthians 15:17-18 says and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If Christ had not risen, our hope would have been a dead hope but thank God, He rose from the dead.

That Christ rose from the dead is a surety that all shall be raised to life again. One day all shall be raised – some to honour and some to dishonour. Daniel 12:2 says And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Jesus said in John 5:28-29 marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. Therefore, the question is not whether the dead will rise again, but the question now is, unto what shall you be raised? Is it to everlasting joy or to everlasting damnation? The life you are living now, where will it lead to – everlasting joy or damnation? Make haste and repent while the door of mercy is still wide open. A time will come when you will want to give up everything and pay any price but it will be too late.

Because Christ resurrected, your service is not in vain. There is a reward for every service we render unto the Lord. Everyone of us who has accepted Christ as our personal Lord and Saviour will stand before the Judgement seat of Christ and we will be rewarded based on what we have done – good or bad ( 2 Corinthians 5:10). God is not unfaithful to forget our labour of love. Therefore we should spend and be spent for our Master. We must continue to witness about Christ to friends, family, and everyone who is yet to give their life to Christ. We must also live our lives as someone who is expecting the second coming of Christ. We must continue to run from anything that could defile us or stain our robes.

QUESTION: How many souls have you led to Christ this year?

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

WHO IS THE BUILDER?

MEMORY VERSE: For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. Hebrew 3:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 30-35

There are several types of buildings all round us. Some are bungalow, duplex, storey building, mansions, palaces, etc. In big towns, we have estates, skyscrapers and so on. Every building (tangible and intangible) has a purpose. Libraries are built to keep books and Car Parks are built to park cars. Just by looking at a building, you can deduce the class, taste, status, wealth, etc, of the owner/builder. Kings and Queens do not live in ordinary houses; they reside in palaces and mansions. Billionaires prefer to live on private islands. All these reflect class and status. If you will accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour today, your class will change. You will join the class of those who will reside on the streets of gold in eternity (Revelations 21:21). Today, i may not have an island but something is very certain, i am going to live on the streets of gold in heaven and that is more important than a palace or island on earth.

Just as we have tangible buildings all around us, we also have intangible buildings all around us e.g. ministries, families, homes, relationships, lives. No building exists without a builder. Hebrew 3:4a says for every house is builded by some man. As i mentioned earlier, every “building” has a purpose or every “building” was erected for a reason. For all the possible reasons, please do not build due to pressure either from your peers or parents or relatives. Do not study a particular course because your friends studied it or because it is lucrative. It may be lucrative today, what of tomorrow? Also, do not build because of fear. Many “buildings” are the product of fear (not godly fear). Before i gave my life to Christ, i met several people who built due to fear. Because they wanted to keep a particular brother, they fornicated and became pregnant. Ninety nine percent of the cases i saw, despite the fact that they got pregnant, the brother still left them and married some else. That will not be your portion in Jesus Name. They all ended up raising the child alone. I plead to you in the name of God, do not fornicate talk less of get pregnant for any man because you want to keep him. If God brought him, God will keep him. Your life is very precious.

According to Psalms 127:1, except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Friend, is God the builder of your life? Are you building with human knowledge or God’s words? Before you laid that foundation, did you get a go- ahead from the Most High? For a brief period, a "building," built without God or with human reasoning may appear fine. People may even appreciate the “building” but wait until the storm comes. Storms of life are inevitable, if the house is not built on God’s words, am afraid it will fall. Please do not compete with anyone. Let everyone build his or her own way, but i beseech you child of God, let God be your builder. The Most High does not build in a rush and whatever He builds, last forever.

ACTION: Pray that the Lord will build your life.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

CAN YOU SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING?

MEMORY VERSE: Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. John 5:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 25-30

One of the secrets behind Jesus’ success in ministry and all He laid His hands on is prayer. This is not the two minutes ones, we say before going to bed at night. Such prayer lasts for at least an hour. When Jesus found His disciples sleeping when they should be praying, He turned to Peter and said, can you not pray for at least an hour (Mark 14:37)? Before making a move, Jesus would first put it to God in prayers. Please do not do things first and then consult God later. Anytime Jesus wanted to take a life changing decision, He would set out time for serious prayers. When He wanted to choose His disciples, He went to a mountainside and prayed all night. The next morning, He picked twelve men. Those men (except Judas Iscariot) took the gospel to every part of the world. No decision is a small decision so pray before any decision. Learn to pray for yourself. There is nothing wrong in asking brethren in Christ or your pastor to agree with you in prayer but do not leave the business of prayers especially about your life to people. Let us learn to pray for ourselves, our families, business, etc. A lot of us rely on our parents to pray for us instead of praying for ourselves. Some do not want to pray at all, all they want to do is give tithes, offerings, and go. The pastor obviously prays for everyone, but you must also go on your knees and pray too.

In John 5, we see another secret behind Jesus’ success. John 5:19 says then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. Jesus only invested time and effort in whatever God was interested in. Jesus did not visit all the cities of the earth. He did not eat at everyone’s house. He did not do everything; He only did what He saw God doing. He saw God trying to heal a man, He prayed for the man and the man was healed. He saw God trying to save a sinner (Zacchaeus), He said to Zacchaeus, this day salvation is come to your house (Luke 19:9). What do you see God doing in that ministry? A lot are unknowingly working against God because they are trying to destroy what God is building. Success only comes when we invest time, effort, skill, etc, in what God is doing. No wonder the bible says, except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain they that build it (Psalm 127:1). We need to see what God is doing in the lives of our children so that they will not go and study Law when they should have studied Economics. We need to see what God is doing in our lives. He may be setting up a house fellowship or a cell group that will trigger your long awaited promotion in that place of work.

ACTION: Pray that the Lord will open your eyes to see what He is doing in your life.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

BROKEN?

Memory verse: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. Genesis 2:21-22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 22-24

As i mentioned yesterday, Eve in the life of Adam represents a good thing and a favour from God. Proverbs 18:22 says he who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the LORD. A good thing can be a brand new car, promotion at work, success in exam, answer to prayer, mercy, etc. The first thing God did, when He wanted to give Adam (the first man) a good thing was He administered a divine anaesthetic to him. Genesis 2:21-24 says And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. (Yesterday, i explained why He caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam).

After God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, He then proceeded to break Adam. He went to his side, opened it, and took a rib with which He formed Eve. Just as Adam had to be broken, before he could receive Eve (a good thing and God’s favour), you and I will need to be broken before we can receive a good thing and God’s favour. Before God gave Adam a wife, He first broke him. Friends being broken means, we are to DIE TO SELF. Single brothers, before God brings that sister, He needs to break you first. A broken man will never beat up his wife, talkless of abuse his in-laws. A broken man cherishes his wife and in-laws. Sisters, before you say, “i do,” make sure the brother is broken. Before God gave Adam a good thing, He first broke him. Friend, are you broken? Has God destroyed pride in your life? Has He broken your self-will? Has He broken your stubbornness? Psalm 51:17 says the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Until God breaks us, we will not receive those good things. A broken fellow is not wicked. A broken fellow is not prone to anger. Some of us get very angry at little provocation. A broken fellow is not touchy. A broken fellow is not critical. One way to know a fellow who has been broken is that he forgives easily. A broken fellow is neither jealous nor self-seeking. You will never hear that a broken fellow is envious or keeps malice. One way to know a fellow who is yet to be broken is that he focuses on his rights a lot. A truly broken fellow will yield his rights, he has no problem sacrificing. How patient are you? How easy is it for you to forgive those who wrong you? A broken fellow loves to serve. Are you always looking for an opportunity to boss over people or serve?

TO PONDER: Do you find it hard to forgive? Do you find it hard to let go? Are you irritable and touchy? Are you a critical person, always finding fault in people and everything? Do you only care about yourself not others ? If your answer to any of these is yes, you need to ask God to help you become broken.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

ADAM SLEPT

Memory verse: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. Genesis 2:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 20-21

We find an account of how God created Eve in Genesis 2:21-22. Eve is Adam’s wife, and she is God’s favour. The bible says in Proverbs 18:22, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from the LORD.” When God wanted to favour Adam i.e. give him a good thing, He caused a deep sleep to fall upon him. While he slept, the Lord took one of his ribs and formed Eve. When God wants to work in a life, He loves to be given free hand. Had it been Adam was awake, he would have had his way. While God was creating Eve, he would have dictated his specification to God. “ Oh please, i want her head to be like that of a rhinoceros; i want her neck to be like that of a giraffe; i want her legs to be like that of a mouse ; etc...” I cannot imagine how Eve would have looked with such a specification. To do a perfect job, God administered an anaesthetic to Adam. When God later brought Eve to him, he was speechless: she was a perfect creation.

If you want a good and a perfect gift from God, you need to ask Him, first, and then go to sleep.(By going to sleep, i do not mean,live a careless life or become idle). By going to sleep, i mean, put everything in His able hands, and leave it there. The reason why God has not started work in the life of many today is because they are still awake. Some of us are still in the habit of forcing our will into His will. It will not work; it is either His will or our will. Every wise man and woman knows that His will is always perfect, because what informs their will, is wants instead of needs. Over that matter, take it to Him in prayer and leave it there. Many are yet to receive what God has in store for them because of the idols they have set up in their hearts. By idols, i mean , images and ideas of the perfect contract, perfect job, perfect life partner; perfect ministry; perfect business; perfect organisation to work for. Do you know what will become of that organization you are dying to work for now? Only God knows the future, that brother that is struggling today may become a billionaire tomorrow.

As i said yesterday, there many reading this piece (and there are many who will read this piece), God is at work trying to give them His best, but because they are awake, they are giving God problems. Friend, that thing you want by all means, have you for a second asked yourself, is this what God wants for me? Many are wrestling with God, God is trying to take some things out of their hands, and they are doing everything to keep hold of those things. Do not with wrestle with God; there is a reason why He wants you to hand over that thing to Him. Until we all get to that point where we will say, “ Lord , take over the affairs of my life, what you want is what i want”, we will not receive God’s best.

PRAYER POINT: Father, i hand over the affairs of my life to you, please do as you please and give me Your best.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

ADAM SLEPT (TO THE SINGLES)

Memory verse: And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. Genesis 2:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 17-19

In Genesis 2, we see the first instance of an anesthetic being administered. (An anesthetic is a form of drugs administered to facilitate surgery). Depending on the type, it can relieve pain, give you amnesia to knock out your memory of the procedure or how it felt, reduce anxiety (because who doesn't have anxiety when undergoing a medical procedure?) and paralyze your muscles. Without an anesthetic, it will be difficult to perform an operation because the fellow (being operated upon) will cause problems. The moment he sees the surgeons, trying to cut off something from his stomach, he will protest. Not only that, if the operation will last for 16 hours, it will be impossible to keep the fellow still for that long, as such, an anesthetic will be needed to knock out the fellow for the period of operation. In summary, an anesthetic gives the doctor an opportunity to do his job without interference from the patient.

When the Lord wanted to create Eve, the first thing He did was, He administered a divine anesthetic to Adam .Genesis 2:21 says and the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof. Eve represents a good thing and God’s favor in the life of Adam. (Proverbs 18:22 says whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD). Had God not administer an anesthetic to Adam, he will not have allowed God to open him up, talkless of take out a rib. Had it been that, God did not cause a deep sleep to fall upon Adam while creating Eve; God would not have been able to create a perfect female. He might have asked God to make her head look that of a lion; her neck like that of a giraffe; her leg like that of a rat, etc. Imagine how Eve would have looked with Adam's specification. To give him His best, He caused him to sleep and formed a perfect female from the rib He took. The reason why God is yet to work in some of our lives is because we are still awake i.e. we are yet to commit everything into His hands and go to sleep. (By sleeping, i do not mean backslide or live a careless life). Unless we “sleep” and allow Him to work on our life, we will never get His best. There are many reading this devotional, God is trying to build things and give them His best, but because they are awake, they are giving God problems. This applies especially to the singles, God brought a brother or sister to complement them, because the sister or brother does not fit the image they have created in their heart, they reject it. You do not marry for the present but for the future. If you want God to provide a man or woman for you, please, first of all, destroy that idol you have set up in your heart i.e. erase that “ideal”, that image of how your future partner should look. Forget about height, stature, look, beauty, ability to preach or sing. Keep on asking God to bring the man or woman and go to bed over how he or she looks, what he or she does for a living, the educational background of the brother or sister. Even while you are in a relationship, do not try to force things, just commit everything in His hands and go to sleep. A lot try to force things, at the end they marry the wrong person. Do not sleep in his house because you want the relationship to work. Do not start cooking for him because you want the relationship to work.

PRAYER POINT: Father, whatever it is that You are not building that I am trying to build, please collapse it immediately.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

RESIST THAT “THING”

Memory verse: And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.2 Chronicles 26:18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 14-16

Many of us without intending to insult the Holy Spirit; we refer to Him as a “thing”. I often hear people say, that “thing” told me to give an offering, I gave and a miracle happened; that “thing” told me to give that company a call, I did and they offered me a job; that “thing” told me to take an umbrella with me, thank God I did because on my way back, it started to rain heavily; some “thing” told me not to board that vehicle, thank God I did not because I heard the vehicle was involved in an accident. That thing you are referring to as a "thing" is not a thing; it is the Holy Spirit guiding you. Referring to Him as a “thing” is a big insult. He is a person; He has a personality, He sees, hears, and speaks. You need to refer to Him as a person, not as a “thing”. Please note this, not all thoughts that come to you are leading from the Holy Spirit. Many ask me, how can I tell when the Holy Spirit is leading me to do something? The Holy Spirit will lead you in line with the scriptures. He will not tell you to sin against God or disobey God. The Holy Spirit is holy; He will not lead you to take what does not belong to you. If some “thing” is leading you to shout at your colleague or curse, that is not the Holy Spirit. As you pray and study the bible, you will grow in the Lord and discerning God’s voice will become easy.

If some “thing” is telling you to do something funny, please resist it. Failure to resist it may put you in a big trouble. When angry, that “thing” that tells us to say something nasty or do something nasty like send a horrible text or a horrible email is not the Spirit of God. That “thing” telling you not to apologize or back down in an argument is the spirit of pride not the Spirit of God so resist it. That “thing” pushing you to give your employer a piece of your mind, is not the spirit of God. That “thing” telling you to damn the consequences and do it anyway, is trying to destroy you please do not listen to it. Uzziah woke one morning and that “thing” told him to go and burn incense on the altar of incense (something that was a taboo). When he got to the synagogue, the priests reminded him that it was not his duty. 2 Chronicles 26:18 says and they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. Instead of Uzziah to listen to the voice of reasoning, he got angry. That “thing” kept on pushing him to go and burn incense on the altar of incense. At the end, when he would not listen, the Lord disciplined him and he became a leper. 

QUESTION: Are you like Uzziah, you have been warned by your pastors, lawyer, business manager, doctor, etc, not to do particular things, but something keep pushing you to do it. That “thing” wants to destroy you, I beg you in the name of God; please rebuke that “thing” before it cuts your life short.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.