HE GOT IT BUT LOST HIS PEACE

MEMORY VERSE: And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer- Sheba.Genesis 21:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Timothy 2-4

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 21:8-14

Genesis 16:1 says: “Now Sarai Abram’s wife bare him no children…..” Sarai was barren. Despite the fact that Sarai had everything money can buy, she was unhappy. She had all – servants, fame, prestige, influence, wealth, a good husband - but lacked a child of her own. Mr and Mrs Abram tried repeatedly, for several years, but all to no avail. Although they made several efforts, yet they had nothing to show for it.

One morning, Sarai got up and told her husband “dear, I have an idea.”  Genesis 16:2 says: “and Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go into my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.” Mr and Mrs Abram decided to disobey God so that they can have children. They threw their salvation away to get solution to their problem. All because they wanted a child, they abandoned God’s promise and pursued human solution to their problem.  Anyway Sarai spoke to Hagar and she consented to become Abram’s second wife. Everything was fine until Hagar conceived. Genesis 16:4 says: “…..when she saw that she had conceived her mistress was despised in her eyes.” She began to disrespect her madam. Mr and Mrs Abram began to quarrel over petty things. By this time, God had stopped speaking to Abram.. He found himself in the middle of two angry women – the mother of his unborn child and his wife. Abram’s world literally began to crumble. The problem continued even after Ishmael was born. The birth of Isaac did not help matters.Friend, Big problems await anyone who throws away his salvation for piece of bread. Loss of peace of mind awaits anyone who throws God away for things. Never ending challenges awaits anyone who compromises to please men.

At a point, Sarah demanded that Hagar must leave. Genesis 21:14 says: “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer- Sheba.” Abram had no other choice than to send Hagar packing. The moment Hagar left, peace returned to Abram now Abraham. Friend, I hope you are not holding unto something God did not give to you. For the sake of peace, you better drop it.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: A man will eventually loose whatever he disobeys God to achieve.

PRAYER: Father, please let Your peace never depart from me.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki 

IT LIES IN HIS HANDS

MEMORY VERSE: The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs 21:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Thessalonians 2- 1 Timothy 1

Proverbs 21:1 says: “the King’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.” Who is a king? A ‘king’ is anyone in position of authority. Ecclesiastes 8:4 says: “where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, what doest thou?” A king is someone who runs the show. When the bible says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,” it means the heart of everyone who is in position of authority is in the hand of God. Several years ago, a senior manager, in my place of work, instructed me to release a particular member of staff back to his agency because he did something wrong. This member of staff was diligent and reliable, besides this was his first time of getting into trouble so I tried to plead with this manager but she refused. Whilst explaining how to go about this release, a colleague came in to see her so she excused herself and attended to him. I began to pray in my heart that she would show mercy. All of a sudden, she just turned to me and said, “Sam, it seems you do not want us to release so and so, in that case give him a final warning”. The Lord touched her heart for me! I left her office dancing.

A ‘king’ is a judge. The children of Israel told Samuel, “give us king to Judge us” (1 Samuel 8:6). A king through judgment decides the fate of others. When the bible says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,” it simply means the heart of every Judge is in the hand of God. When the enemies of David brought him before Achish, King of Gath, Goliath’s master, he feared greatly. Many a times, fear causes people to do the unthinkable. Out of fear David pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down on his beard. The Lord touched Achish’s heart and instead of killing David, he showed him mercy (1 Samuel 21:11-15). A ‘king’ is anyone born of a woman. So when the bible says, “The heart of a king is in the hand of God,” it means the heart of anyone born of a woman is in the hand of God. The heart of your manager at work is in the hand of God. The heart of that man that is always gambling with his children’s school fees is in the hand of God. The heart of that wicked lecturer is in the hand of God. The heart of that stubborn child is in the hand of God. A brother received a particular sister some years back. When he approached the sister to tell her that God had revealed to him that she would be his wife, the sister went ballistic. She shunned him and sent him away from her house. Out of embarrassment and multiple insults, the brother left it in the hands of God. Today, that brother, now a pastor, is married to the sister, also a pastor. Along the way, God touched the sister’s heart and everything changed.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: God can touch people's heart and they will volunteer to help you without you asking for help.

PRAYER: Father, we pray for every believer having interview this week that you will touch the heart of their interviewer.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

REJOICE, IT IS NOT LOST

MEMORY VERSE: He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Matthew 10:39

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Thessalonians 4 – 2 Thessalonians 1

A high ranking military officer once bought a slave boy. This boy was God - fearing, well behaved, reliable, and respectful. Everyone around him – his master, his master’s wife, his master’s children, his master’s friend, other slaves, – loved him. Because of his diligence and integrity, his master put him in charge of his business. One day, his master’s wife invited him to fornicate with her but he refused. Mrs. Potiphar kept on disturbing Joseph but he did not give in. One day, she grabbed Joseph and that one ran away leaving his jacket in her hands. When Mr Potiphar returned, she reported him and Joseph was cast into prison.

Joseph lost all for the sake of righteousness (Genesis 39:6-20). Because he refused to sin against God and fornicate with Mrs. Potiphar he lost everything. There are many like Joseph today who have lost all for the sake of Christ. Sister, have you lost a man, a potential husband, because you wanted to please God? He wanted to engage in sex before marriage but you said no, because of that, he left you for another lady. Have you lost a well-paid job in one of the big banks in the country because you wanted to live a life of holiness? The managing director wanted you to wear short skirts and tight blouse to attract male customers, but you refused and as a result of that he terminated your contract. Brother, have you lost business contracts because you upheld godly standards? Friend, have you lost family and friends because you converted to Christianity? Matthew 10:39 says, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” Friend, whatsoever you have lost for the sake of Christ or gospel, you will get them back. Peter said to Jesus:“behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore? (Matthew 19:27)”. Jesus assured him that he would receive everything back in hundredfold, and also inherit everlasting life (Matthew 19:29).

Friend, God restored all that Joseph lost as a result of living a life of righteousness (Genesis 41:44-46). Not only that, God gave him more. He went from prison to become a prime minister; from Potiphar's slave to become Pharaoh's father (Genesis 45:8); from a single brother to become a married man with children; from zero to become a national hero. To crown it up, God re-united him with his father and beloved brother, Benjamin. What a wonderful God! I do not know what you have lost for the sake of Christ; I do not know what you have given up for the sake of the gospel; one thing i know is God will restore all back and much more. You may have missed opportunities because you fear God but i want to assure you that better and bigger opportunities are coming your way. David had the opportunity to kill Saul and inherit his throne; he did not because he feared God. Few years later, without fighting or killing anyone, God gave him the throne.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Whatsoever you have lost because of Christ and the gospel is an investment into your future.

PRAYER: Father, help me never to disappoint you.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

“FOR YE ARE BOUGHT”

MEMORY VERSE: for ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians6:20

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Thessalonians 1-3

Paul said, “For ye are bought with a price”. The question is from who? According to Galatians 3:13, you and I were redeemed from the curse of the Law. Prior to our purchase, we were under the bondage of the law, sin, Satan and the world. Our master used to be Satan. Not only that, everything we owned used to be in his hands. Our future, plans, marriage, home, business, just name it, were in his hands. We basically existed at his mercy. The next question is who bought us? Jesus Christ. Galatians 4:4-5 says, “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of Sons.” What currency was used and how much was paid? We were bought not with gold and silver, but with the precious blood of Christ. Ephesians 1:7 says, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”Friend, you belong to Christ. I belong to Christ. We belong to Christ because He bought us with His precious blood. We are His property. Serving Him is no longer an option but compulsory. You cannot miss church service because you are tired. You do not miss work because you are tired. You cannot sit at home because you do not feel like going to church. You do not sit at home because you do not feel like going to work. Whether you are in the mood or not, you go to work. So whether you are in the mood or not, you must go to church. The devil does make people feel like not going to church so that they will not hear God’s word. God owns our body and spirit. According to 1 Corinthians 6:15, our bodies are members of Christ. As such, we are expected to glorify Christ in our bodies. Young brother In Christ, why are you ‘sagging?’ The top of your trousers or jeans is always below your waist, sometimes revealing much of your underwear. Is Christ glorified in your body when you ‘sag?’ NO! That body is not yours so you cannot wear anything you like on it. You cannot bleach your skin because it is the property of Christ. As a believer, you cannot draw tattoos on your body. Even if the tattoo is a cross sign, do not draw it. Even if it is ‘Jesus with a crown’ tattoo, it is forbidding. When a man replaces his natural tooth with a gold tooth, is Christ glorified in that? Friend, Christ is not glorified in your body when you do body modification. Why do you want a horn when you are not a cattle or goat? Why do you want a cat’s eyes when you are not a cat? Is Christ glorified in all these? NO! He gave you that skin color for a reason, so do not bleach it.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Every part of your body was given to you for a reason so appreciate it.

PRAYER: Father, help me to always seek your glory alone.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

“SALUTE URBANE, OUR HELPER IN CHRIST”

MEMORY VERSE: Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. Romans 16:9

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Philippians 3 – Colossians 4

In Paul’s epistle to the church in Rome, he spoke about Justification, Salvation, Baptism and other biblical doctrines. Towards the end of his letter, he sent personal greetings to some brothers and sisters in the church. In his greetings, he mentioned their names and said something brief about them. Today we will look at Bro Urbane. Romans 16:9 says, “Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.” Paul did not say much about this brother like he did in the case of Priscilla and Aquila and other brethren. His age, surname, past, background, origin, financial status, employment status, immigration status, etc was not mentioned. When it comes to serving in the vineyard of God, friend, your age, surname, past, background, etc, does not matter. You do not have to be rich or young to serve in the vineyard of God. Even as a granny, you can still serve in one department or the other in the church. You can be the children Sunday school teacher or a greeter. Friend, your children are not too young to serve in the vineyard of God. How lovely will it be to see a six year old boy or girl singing with the choir?

Paul could only find four words, ‘Our Helper in Christ’, to describe this brother and those words speak volume. Who is a helper? The-Free-Dictionary describes a helper as a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose. From this definition, we conclude that Bro Urbane contributed to the fulfillment of a/the need in the church of God. Any time the church in Rome was in need, Bro Urbane would come to the church's rescue. When they need someone to clean the church, Bro Urbane would volunteer himself. When they need someone to go and pick up a visiting pastor from the airport or garage, Bro Urbane would volunteer himself. This brother was not a bench warmer. He was an asset to his pastor, denomination and Christ. Many a times when most of the members miss mid week service, Bro Urbane will be at church. This brother also contributed to the furtherance of several efforts to establish the church. When the church was trying to buy a building, Bro Urbane was part of those who contributed. When the church was trying to organize their anniversary, Bro Urbane did everything he could to make the anniversary a success. His wife must have decorated the church free of charge. His children must have joined the children Choir to sing at the anniversary. All these they did so that the Lord will not be put to shame in the life of their pastor and ministry. So every time his pastor wrote to Apostle Paul, he would say, “Please thank God for the life of brother Urbane, pray for him and his family because they are an asset to the church.” When Paul was writing to the church in Rome, he remembered all Bro Urbane had contributed towards the growth of the church in Rome and wrote: “Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ” (Romans 16:9).

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: If your pastor or leader were to describe you in four words, what would it be?

PRAYER: Father, help me to be an asset in your vineyard.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

“FOR IT IS WRITTEN”

MEMORY VERSE: Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. Matthew 26:31

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ephesians 5 – Philippians 3

Whilst keeping Passover, what we now call the Lord’s Supper or Holy Communion, with His twelve disciples, Jesus shared some things with His disciples that caused them to seriously consider their commitments to Him. Many of us claim that we love Christ, but when you hear testimonies of what some brethren did for Christ, you will be challenged. Your love for Christ will cost you something. What has your love for Christ cost you? Your love for Christ will cost you your tight dress and short skirts. You see, when you give your life to Christ, ‘dressing to kill’ will no longer appeal to you because you want people to see Christ when they see you. Your love for Christ will cost you your social life. No more clubbing or late night parties. It will cost you your freedom. Christ will put His yoke on you and you become His forever. You used to be your own master, but now that you have given your life to Christ, He becomes your new master.

Whilst eating Passover, Jesus told His disciples: “All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad” (Matthew 26:31). Jesus while on earth spent time with the scriptures. He studied it, meditated on it, memorized it, and applied it correctly. Bible studies was not a ‘Sunday Sunday’ affair to Jesus, it was a regular affair. Jesus was able to speak about His future confidently because He knew what the scripture said about Him. Friend, do you know what the scriptures says about your future? Whether the enemy likes it or not, you will not die before your time. Not only that, you will not die single or childless for it is written: “There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil (Exodus 23:26).” Jesus was able to say, “For it is written” because He had studied the scriptures. I remember when I had challenges at work and was suspended for investigation, I told some brothers, “I will not lose my Job because Christ in me the Holy of glory (Colossians 1:27).”

Daniel was able to deliver his nation from bondage because he studied the scriptures. He said in Daniel 9:2:” I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, where of the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.” Daniel discovered something that saved a whole nation from his personal study of the scriptures. Friend, what you have discovered in your personal bible study? Unless you spend time with your bible, there are some promises you will never discover. Have you discovered what God said in the scriptures concerning that re-occurring challenges? Nahum 1:9 says, “What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.”  Take this word to Him in prayer and watch that affliction rise no more.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: When you search the scriptures, you find spiritual nuggets

PRAYER: Father, as I study your Word, open my eyes to behold wondrous things out of it.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

“TAKE HEED WHAT YE HEAR”

MEMORY VERSE: And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. Mark 4:24

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ephesians 2-4

Mark 4:24 says, “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” ‘And he said unto them’ implies that a man spoke to a group of people. Who was the man? According to John 3:2, He is the teacher of teachers. He was a teacher, who Nicodemus, a greater teacher in Israel, John 3:10, called a great teacher. The One who spoke is Jesus Christ, the question is, who was he addressing? The bible says, “Them”. The ‘them’ refers to the disciples of Jesus and every other believer in the world today. What is Jesus saying to us today: “Take heed he what ye hear”.

In other words, watch what you listen to. Friend, not all the songs on the radio are good for you. Most of these songs fill your mind with junks. Majority of these artists are high on hard drugs. What do you expect to hear from the mouth of a fellow who has just finished smoking cannabis? Some of them have written their names in blood and sold their souls to the devil for fame, their lyrics are demonic, they promote lawlessness, living undisciplined life, they encourage sex outside marriage, etc. Friend, be careful what you are hearing because what you hear can increase your faith or kill your faith. I used to believe it is ok to be sick once or twice a year. I used to believe it is impossible to go through a year without taking any drugs until I heard the testimony of man of God who celebrated his 34th year of divine health. That changed my perspective, by the special grace of God, in the last three years I have not taken any drug!

Friend, what you hear today will affect your future. Friend, what are you listening to? Are you listening to people who say all men are the same? Are you listening to people who say there are no good men left; all the good men are married? I hope you are not listening to people who say sisters from a particular area of town do not make good wives? Do you know where your future partner, the bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh, will come from? Friend, I do not want you to have problems. What is important to you is the will of God not where he or she comes from. I hope you are not listening to people who say one cannot serve God properly when one is married. Abraham was married yet he was a friend of God. David was married, yet he was the man after the heart of God. I hope you are not listening to people who say you need to be poor to make heaven. Was Abraham poor? Was David poor? Friend, take heed what you hear. You can be prosperous and still make heaven. You can be prosperous and still live a life of holiness. That illness is curable. There is nothing beyond the power of God.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: What you hear will decide what heights you will reach in life.

PRAYER: Please help me take heed to what i hear.

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

twitter@BroOluwatoki