IT IS A BIG PRIVILEGE

MEMORY VERSE: for I speak to you gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the gentiles, I magnify mine office. Romans 11:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 61-65, Proverbs 13

One of the secrets of Paul’s success in life, especially in ministry, is found in Paul’s epistle to the church in Rome. Romans 11:13 says: “ for I speak to you gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the gentiles, I magnify mine office.” Paul was a seasoned preacher of the word. He was in the ministry for donkey years. His children in the Lord were the likes of Titus and Timothy who later became great men of God. He was a mentor to great teachers like Priscilla and Aquila. These great teachers, Paul mentored and discipled, mentored other great teachers. (Priscilla and Aquila mentored and discipled Apollos - another great teacher of the Word in Acts 18:24-28). Through Paul’s ministry, many who were sick – mentally, physically, emotionally – were healed. Acts 19:11-12 says: “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” In terms of revelation, Paul was miles ahead of those he met in the ministry. Peter said this of Paul, “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction(2 Peter 3:16).”

In all ramifications, Paul was considered a success yet he said, “I magnify mine office.” In other words, I see my office as a big privilege so I bring honour to my ministry. Paul saw his position, especially in the body of Christ, as a privileged position. How we see things inform our attitude towards things. Our perception of a thing informs our attitude towards that thing. Paul saw everything God had given to him, including his achievements, as a privilege. God has brought ‘helpers of destiny’ to some, but because they did not see them as a privilege, they began to speak to them anyhow and take them for granted. At the end, these ‘helpers of destiny’ left without being able to do what God brought them to do. Church members that go out of their way to support the ministry are a privilege. Pastors whose priority is the well-being of their church members is a privilege. A good wife is a privilege. A good husband is a privilege. A well behaved child is a privilege. A well paid job is a privilege. A good mother in law is a privilege. So also is a good father in law. A supportive wife is a privilege. That friend that is always there when you need them is a privilege. All these things are privileges. There is someone out there who will literally give an arm to have them. Your good health is a privilege. Your life is a privilege because many die daily. Paul never for once thought that he deserved anything; he saw everything, even his success, as a privilege. The reason why many get godly counsel and still go and do what they want is because they do not consider that godly counsel as a privilege. Action they say speak louder than words. It is easy to tell a fellow who sees his job or post as a privilege from a fellow who does not see it as a privilege. If you see your job as a privilege you will not play with it. You will channel everything you have into it. You will do everything not to loose it. A fellow who sees his marriage as a privilege will do everything to make it work. It is easy to tell if a fellow sees a godly counsel as a privilege or not. Those who see godly counsel as a privilege usually act on the counsel given almost immediately.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: One of the biggest privileges is the death of Christ on the cross for mankind. Today, you and I can repent and give our lives to Christ, fallen angels can not because God did not make provision for their redemption.

TO DO: Thank God for making provision for your redemption.

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THE MOST CARELESS MAN THAT EVER LIVED 2

MEMORY VERSE: And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth. Judges 16:15

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 56-60, Proverbs 1

BIBLE STUDIES: Judges 16:15-20

In our devotional titled ‘THE MOST CARELESS MAN THAT EVER LIVED 1,’we looked at how Bro Samson’s carelessness almost cost him his life. Shortly after God delivered Samson in Judges 15:10-16, he started a relationship with a strange woman. Despite all the sermons, despite all the marriage counselling, despite all he had heard in single’s meeting, Bro Samson still went ahead and started a relationship with Delilah. I believe some brothers in his fellowship must have quoted 2 Corinthians 6:14, which says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness,” to him but he did not listen. I believe the pastor must have called Bro Samson into his office and shared stories of great men like Solomon who married strange women and got into trouble. Bro Samson said to the pastor, “Delilah is different, she cannot hurt a fly.” Because God loved Bro Samson a lot, He must have spoken to one or two brothers in the dream and sent them to Samson. When those ones delivered the message to Samson, he told them that they were only jealous of him because Delilah was a beautiful young girl. Samson thought within himself, “it is my life, it is no one's business”. One morning, he packed his bag and moved in with Delilah. She accepted him into his house and they began to live as husband and wife.

After a week or two, Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee” (Judges 16:6). Without mincing words, she asked Samson to tell her how he could be harmed. Why would anyone ask such questions if not to cause harm? She literally told him, i want to destroy you, tell me how to go about it. Brother Samson replied jokingly, “bind me with seven green withs that were never dried, then shall i be weak, and be as another man (Judges 16:7).” He said this hoping that would be the end of the conversation. Few days later, Delilah got seven green withs, bound him and shouted “the Philistines be upon thee.” Samson got up and broke the withs, thus his strength was not known. After this, i thought Bro Samson would sense danger and withdraw from Delilah. I expected him to go to God in prayer and ask for wisdom on how to end the relationship. No, Bro Samson remained in the relationship. From time to time, she would asked Samson for his secret and that one would lied to her. She would try what Samson said and fail. Yet, Samson did not see in anything wrong in his relationship with Delilah. At a point, “And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth” (Judges 16:15).  At last, Samson told her the secret and she arranged for the seven locks on his head to be shaven. After this, his enemy grabbed him and took out his eyes. Many of us are like Samson in that we see trouble and we pass on into it. You are in courtship with a sister and anytime she gets angry she turns into a beast. What do you think will happen when she gets angry after marriage? You know that sister is uncontrollable, she listens to neither God nor man. Whatever she purposes in heart is what she would do regardless of what anyone says. You know it is her way or no way. Anytime she does not have her way, trouble will start. What do you think will happen after marriage? Brother, do you not know that those little white lies she is always telling will not stop after marriage?

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: If you are unable to fix it before marriage, you may never be able to fix it after marriage.  

PRAYER: Let us commit our single brothers into the hands of the Lord that they will not choose wrongly.

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THE MOST CARELESS MAN THAT EVER LIVED 1

MEMORY VERSE: A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. Proverbs 27:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 51 -55, Proverbs 1

BIBLE STUDIES: Judges 15:11-14

Proverbs 27:12 says: “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” A prudent man, also known as a careful man, sees evil from afar and hides from it but a careless man will not see evil until it is too close and many at times he cannot hide from it. At times, a careless man will see evil from afar and not take decisive steps to avoid it. In Judges 15:11-14 is the story of Samson – the man who holds the record for the most careless man that ever lived. Three thousand men of Judah, his brothers, went up to the top of rock Etam to bind Samson. When they met Samson, the bible records thus: “And they said unto Him, we are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them, swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves” (Judges 15:12). These men spoke in plain language to Samson not in parable. They told Samson, we are here to hand you over to the enemy who wants you dead at all cost i.e. we are here to kill you. They literally told him that his existence was a threat to their own existence so they would rather see him die than live. Their actions implied that they neither cared about what becomes of him nor the vision of God for his life.

The men of Judah also made it abundantly clear that they are going to bind him. If all they wanted was to hand Samson over to the Philistines, let us say for the sake of peace, they could have taken him there without binding him. Better still, they could have tied his hands alone, why bind him i.e. tie his hands, legs, etc? They wanted to bind him so that he will not be able to escape from the hands of the enemy. This was how much they hated him. I expected Samson to challenge this men but to my utmost shock, his response was, “swear unto me, that ye will not fall up upon me yourselves.” What kind of response is this? I thought Brother Samson would have said to the men of Judah, there is no point binding me, just tell me where they are, i will go and personally hand myself to them. After his response, they described how they were going to bind him, “but we will bind thee fast” (Judges 15:13), they said. In other words, we will tie you in a way that it will be impossible for you to escape or break the rope. Samson agreed. Some of us are like Samson in that we see trouble from far and we pass on into it. You are in courtship with a brother, and he has slapped you twice in the last two weeks, what do you think will happen after marriage? Don’t you know that he is trouble in waiting? The brother who cannot control his temper before marriage will turn you into a punching bag after marriage. Every time you are alone with that brother, he tries to touch you in an indecent manner, what do you think will happen if you go and spend a night at his place? Don’t you know that brother is up to something? If he is bold enough to touch you in an indecent manner in the public, what do you think he will do behind closed doors? In the first place, should you even agree to go and pass a night in another man’s house? What type of message do you think you are sending to him? You have just met a brother and strange ladies are calling you, warning you to leave their husband alone and you said you are seeking the face of God to see if he is the right man. That is fire you are playing with. Sister in Christ, that brother that is always receiving strange phone calls around you and does not want you to know who is calling is not genuine.

WORD OF THE DAY: If you are unsure about any brother, do not go ahead and marry him.

PRAYER: Let us pray for our spinsters that the Lord will guide them in the choice of their marriage partner.

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KNOW YOUR ENEMY

MEMORY VERSE: For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 21-23

Who is an enemy? According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, an enemy is someone who hates another: someone who attacks or tries to harm another. We have an enemy and it is important that we identify that enemy. We need to identify him in case we want to plan an attack against him or defend ourselves. Once we have identified this enemy, identifying other things - his weapon, tactics, strengths, and weaknesses – becomes easy. It is difficult, if not impossible, to defeat an enemy you have not identified. God is not your enemy. The Most High God is for you. He is on your side. Your mother-in-law is not your enemy. Your husband’s brother is not your enemy. That neighbour who complains every time you pray aloud at night is not your enemy. Besides, you should not be disturbing your neighbors with your prayers. Jesus, in other not to disturb His neighbors, would wake up very early in the morning, go to an isolated place and pray. Mark 1:35 says: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” That manager, at place of work, who refused to grant your annual leave request, is not your enemy. Neither is the traffic warden who gave you a parking ticket for parking wrongly.

Who is this enemy? 1 Peter 5:8 says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” The devil is your enemy. Ephesians 6:12 says: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Flesh and blood i.e. people are not your enemies. They sometimes act like enemies- but they are not. They are only relatives in darkness who are believing lies and are being influenced by the devil. That fellow is wicked towards you because he has believed the lies of the enemy. Why does the devil hate humankind? Firstly, he hates us because every time he sees us, he sees God. Man is the only creation made in the image of God, even the angels, who he (Satan) used to be, were not made in the image of God. Secondly, he hates us because we stole his job and we are better at it than he was. Satan used to be a worship leader in heaven; after he rebelled against God, he lost his job. So now, when you and i praise God, he gets jealous. Lastly, he hates us so much because God loves us so much. God provided a way for us to be forgiven but He never gave Satan a chance at forgiveness. According to Romans 5:8, God Himself paid our debt for us in the form of Jesus Christ, His son but He did not do that for Satan. All this put together makes him hate man. The main target of the enemy is our faith (1 Peter 5:9). Remember the bible says, without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The enemy attacks our faith with doubts and fear. Because we are involved in a fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), we must do everything in our power to hold on to faith in God’s word (Hebrews 4:14, 10:23), and not give in to fear and doubt.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: We receive God’s provision by faith so we must believe what God says.

CONFESSION:  I refuse to believe the lies of the enemies, the devil, in Jesus Name. Amen.

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BLESSING TIME

MEMORY VERSE: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 16-20

Most people regard offering time as a necessary evil, at best. As usual, our ideas are much different than what the Word of God teaches. Isaiah 55:8 says: “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.”Friend, offering time is a blessing time. Firstly, it is a time to bless the Lord. It is an opportunity for us to worship God and express our love to Him in a tangible way. Our gifts reflect how much we value those we are giving to. If I want to give to my parents, I make sure it is the best because of their efforts over my life. How much more if I want to give to my Creator?  David, a man after the heart of God, once said, “neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing (2 Samuel 24:24).” In other words, I will not give the LORD my God a cheap offering. Secondly, it is a time to receive blessings from the Lord. God being so good, has designed it so that when we do give to Him it also functions like planting a seed, which will produce a harvest of blessing in our life. God designed His creation to work in such a way that money and blessing will come back to us in even greater measure than we give out. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

One way the devil tries to suppress the spread of the gospel is by my making people believe that messages like this are just to get money as if preachers wrote the Bible for their own benefit. No, God planned all this, and He knows that without adequate funding, those whom He has called to teach and equip His people will be held back, unable to be as effective as they should be. Money is needed to do the great commission. We cannot take the gospel to Australia on foot neither can we take the gospel to Papua guinea on a horse or a donkey. Organizing revivals cost a lot – fasting and praying especially. Also a lot of money is needed. Money is needed to rent chairs, music instruments, plan logistics and all. Even in our local churches, we need prayers and money especially to pay the bills. So when we give to those proclaiming the Word of God on earth, God considers it giving to Him, and a seed sown. When we give towards the gospel, God considers us His partners on earth and He rewards accordingly. Mark 9:41 says: “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, shall not lose his reward.” Offering and planting of seeds are very similar. No wise farmer hates planting his crops. Farmers do not murmur or complain about having to put their seed in the ground. No, they look forward with Joy to the time of harvest. They know it is coming because they understand how seeds work. This should be our attitude when give offering.  We should do it cheerfully knowing that our reward is coming.

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: Offering and giving to God helps combat selfishness.

PRAYER POINT: Father, bless me so that I can be a financier of your work.

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PUT A PREMIUM ON THE WORD

MEMORY VERSE: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:41-42 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 11-15 

BIBLE STUDIES: Luke 10:38-42 

Jesus entered into a certain village, with His disciples, and a woman by the name Martha invited Him to her house. Within minutes, rumour began to spread that Jesus, the great teacher, a miracle worker, was around. Before you know it, Martha’s house was filled with people – men, women, single, married, young, old - who came to listen to the powerful teaching of Jesus Christ. Mary, Martha’s sister, was part of the crowd. She sat very close to Jesus. As Jesus taught, the people listened with rapt attention. The whole area was quiet. Suddenly, someone began to open and close the drawers in the kitchen. Who could this be? Sister Martha. She was getting the pots and pans out to prepare food for Jesus. Imagine, Jesus was teaching people things of eternally value; Sister Martha was busy in the kitchen frying meat and cooking stew. (If it were to be in Jamaica, i would have said she stayed in the kitchen to make some saltfish and ackee with fried dumplings. If it were to be in India, i would have said, she was in the kitchen making chicken biryani.) People were in the sitting room crying, confessing and repenting of their sins; this sister was in the kitchen making snacks. The Spirit of God was moving mightily in the sitting room, healing was taking place, broken marriages were being repaired; Sister Martha was in the kitchen adding salt to the soup.

Whatever it is she was doing, she did not put premium on the Word of God. Many of us are like Sister Martha in that we do not put premium on the Word of God. While service is going on in the church, we busy ourselves with unprofitable activities. Because of a La- Liga match, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona, many of us, especially young men, miss mid-week service. Because of a cricket match, Sri Lanka vs. India, many miss Friday night vigil. Some miss Sunday Service all because they want to prepare food for a family friend that is coming from outside town. All these point to the fact that we do not put premium on the Word of God. It simply means we do not regard God. Will you stay at home to watch a football watch, Manchester United vs. Manchester City or Arsenal vs. Chelsea, when you should be at work? No. While service is going on in the church, some are busy shopping for food items. Friend, if you are shopping for food items when you should be in church, it simply means you do not put premium on the Word of God. Sister, how can you miss church service because you went to do your hair? 

 Within minutes, the noise from the kitchen drowned the voice of Jesus. The reason being that, she made a lot of noise as she moved around in the kitchen. In addition, the aroma of the soup she was making filled the whole house. Her business in the kitchen became a hindrance to the work of God. To cap it all up, after cooking, she came to the sitting room to ask Jesus to release Mary to come and help her serve. It was at this point Jesus literally told her she was unserious. Luke 10:41 – 42 says: “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  

WORD OF THE DAY:  Do not put your pedicure and manicure before Choir practice (if you are a Choir member). Do not put ‘washing’ of your car before Sunday school. If you are a worker in the church, your service in the vineyard of God must come before your manicure. You do not barb your hair when you are supposed to be at work so do not barb your hair when you are supposed to be cleaning the church.

PRAYER POINT: Father, we pray for seriousness in the body of Christ.

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HE CHALLENGES GOD’S WORDS

MEMORY VERSE: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die. Genesis 3:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelation 7-10

BIBLE STUDIES: Genesis 3:2-4

Do not be fooled by bible quotations. The devil knows the bible by heart and he quotes it. The fact that a counsel is backed up with a bible verse does not mean it is from God. Asides the fact that the devil twists God’s words to confuse people; he gives it his own interpretation to cause people to err. One bible verse he has given his own personal interpretation is, “for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  (Romans 11:29).” Here is his interpretation of this verse – “once God gives you a gift, He will not take it back even if you disobey Him. You can live in sin and still be used by the Holy Spirit because His gifts are irrevocable.”  Friend, this interpretation is from the pit of hell! Recently, a brother told me of a prophet who after committing adultery would climb on the altar and signs and wonders will begin to happen. His excuse was the gifts of God are irrevocable; God had given, the prophet, the gift of working miracles and will not take it back even though the ‘prophet’ was living in sin. Friend, I want you to know this, the fact that a man is performing miracle does not mean he is a man of God. Simon the Sorcerer also performed miracles (Acts 8:9-14). Actually, some people who lacked the gift of discernment called him a man of God. Acts 8:10 says: “To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God.”

The gifts Paul referred to ,in Romans 11:29, are not the gifts of nature and providence, as life, health, strength, riches, and honour, which God sometimes gives, and repents of, and takes away. A good example is Saul King of Israel. God gave him riches, honour and the throne of Israel. When he disobeyed God’s instruction, God replaced him with David. The gifts referred to are not the external gifts of grace or gifts of the Spirit e.g. gift of prophecy, working of miracles, healings, etc,  which qualify men for ministerial work, for public service in the church; for these may be taken away as the “parable” of the “talents” shows ( Matthew 25:29).  According to 1 Corinthians 13:8, the gifts of the Spirit may pass away. His calling into ministry can also be revoked. He told Eli in 1 Samuel 2:30, “…I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever; but now I (the Lord) say, Be it far from me…. ”. The gifts Paul was referring to are the special and spiritual gifts of God’s grace, which relate to the spiritual and eternal welfare of the souls of men, even that, grace which was given to God’s elect in Christ before the world was, and all those spiritual blessings wherewith they were then blessed in Him: these are without repentance i.e. they are unalterable. God never revokes them in again. Asides these, gifts of the Holy Spirit can be revoked especially when the fellow who is in possession of them fornicates or commits adultery.

The devil also challenges God’s word.  When Eve told him (the devil) what God had said -“ ye shall not eat of it, of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die (Genesis 3:3)”- he challenged it. He said, “It is a lie, don’t mind God.” Genesis 3:4 say: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.”  In 2 Kings 6:25 – 2 Kings 7:2, the king of Syria besieged Samaria and a terrible famine broke out. The famine was so severe that the rich began to eat bird droppings and the poor who could not afford it ate their children. In the midst of this, God spoke by His servant Elisha, “tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.” As Elisha was speaking, the devil challenged it. One of the experts at that time said, it is impossible. The expert did not live to tell the story. Every time God speaks, the enemy will try to challenge it. If you are in doubt of God’s prophecy, do not challenge it. Just keep quiet. Today, the devil is still challenging God’s words. God has said, “no sex before marriage (1 Corinthians 6:9-11),” and I hear people say, you cannot really know a woman until you sleep with her. This is the devil challenging God’s word. I even hear some unserious people say, you need to test the brother/sister to see if you are sexually compatible. This is the devil challenging God’s word.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: God’s commandments are for your own good. When God says do not fornicate, He is trying to protect you from STDs.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please rid your church of demonic doctrines.

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