MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING

MEMORY VERSE: Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Isaiah 6:5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 5-8

Why do we measure? We measure for various purposes. We measure to keep track of things. For instance we measure time to keep track of it. Psalm 90:12 says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” We gauge our health based upon all sorts of measurements. Some common examples include height, weight, pulse, and blood pressure. These measurements can tell a doctor a lot about one’s general health. We measure to know the size or the amount of something. We measure so that we can have a point of reference that allows us to compare things. The tallest man living, by Guinness, is Sultan Kosen from Turkey who measured 251 cm (8ft 3in). How did Guinness book of records reach that conclusion that Mr Sultan Kosen is the tallest living man? By measuring tall people.

If we could not or did not measure and measure to a standard consistently and to a high degree of accuracy our modern world would ‘not’ exist. To get accurate results, there is a need to measure using the right yardstick. Imagine a person measuring room temperature with a barometer or measuring wind pressure with stethoscope. The results will never be accurate because barometers are built to measure atmospheric pressure not room temperature. Using the wrong yardstick to measure will always generate inaccurate results. This is exactly what happened to prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1-6. Prior to the death of king Uzziah and his vision of heaven, he had always seen himself as a righteous man because he was using the people around him, individuals who practiced sexual immoralities, rich men who oppressed the poor, workers who stole from their masters, judges who pervert judgement, as a yardstick to measure his walk with God.

He was always quick to castigate and reprimand people. He literally went about saying 'woe to this fellow for this , woe to that fellow for doing that.' Isaiah 6:11 says, “woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with them, for what their hands have done shall be done to them”. One day the Lord showed him a vision of heaven and he saw himself. Isaiah 6:5 says, “Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” For the first time, his unclean lips became obvious to him. When one uses the people around him or her, probably brothers and sisters who come to church late or are not punctual, as a yardstick to measure one's walk with the Lord, it will appear as if one has reached perfection. If care is not taking, one may even go round boasting about one's righteousness. The moment Prophet Isaiah saw himself before the Lord, he became sober. He suddenly realized that there were issues in his own life that he needed to work on. The good thing is immediately Isaiah saw his unclean lips and became sober, the Lord sent an angel who used hot coals to burn his lips thereby cleansing his lips. Not until we see ourselves and ask the Lord for grace to make amendments, we will not become who the Lord wants us to be. Not until we hold our lives against the living Word of God, we will not see our true state. Not until we use Christ as our yardstick, we may not truly appreciate the work required to become rapturable. Not until God opens our eyes to see our current state and helps us too, as He helped Isaiah, we may do all the hard work here on earth and miss heaven. I pray that will not be our portion in Jesus name.

NOTE: Christ is our yardstick to measure our life with.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please open my eyes see my state and give me the grace to make amendments.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

THE BEST MEAL

MEMORY VERSE: But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.1 Corinthians 11:28

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 9-10

The best food in the world is not the Massaman curry of Thailand, neither is it the Neapolitian pizza of Italy. It is not the Japanese Sushi, neither is it the Peking duck of China. It is not the Shepherd’s pie or Fish ‘n’ chips of England, neither is it the Chicken biryani of India. It is not the Jollof rice common with Nigerians, neither is it rice and peas with stew chicken and fried dumplings of the Afro-Caribbeans. The best food is not the Singapore fried rice, the Gabonese Chicken muamba, the American Donuts or the Iranian Kebabs. It is none of these foods. The best meal in the world is the Holy Communion. It is a meal of bread which symbolizes the broken body of Christ and wine which symbolizes His shed blood. Luke 22:19-20 says, “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”

The best that would happen if anyone tries any of the dish listed above, no matter how palatable, sweet, delicious and yummy it may be, is feel good. None of these dishes can cure any disease - curable and incurable. If one is under a yoke and he eats of any of these delicious meals, nothing will happen. If one has been stagnant for years and he eats any of those delicious meals, his stagnancy will still continue. The Holy Communion, on the other hand, is a symbolic meal. It is not only symbolic but powerful. If eaten worthily, one’s spiritual eyes will open. Luke 24:31 says, “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.” Not only that, one will receive divine health and sickness will disappear. After the children of Israel ate Passover (which is what we now call Holy Communion (Exodus 12)), all their sickness vamoosed. They left Egypt with a clean bill of health. Psalm 105:37 says, “He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there wasnot one feeble person among their tribes.” And if eaten unworthily, one may fall sick. 1 Corinthians 11:29 -30 says, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” Before eating such a powerful meal, one must carry out a thorough examination on one's life. Are you still on the 'narrow' path that leads to heaven or the 'broad' path that leads to destruction? 1 Corinthians 11:28 says, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” Before approaching the Lord's Table to partake in Holy Communion, one must ask himself or herself , ‘am i still a child of God?’ Are there any un-confessed sins in my life? Are there any brothers, sisters or family members i am not in talking terms with ? Are there any restitution am yet to carry out? Is my heart pure? Are my hands clean? The reason is that one cannot approach the Lord’s Table with an unclean hand or an impure heart or whilst bearing grudges. One cannot come to the Lord’s Table whilst living a life of immorality. One cannot come to the Lord’s Table whilst living a double life, no. One must first examine himself and make amendments where necessary before coming to the Lord’s Table.

NOTE: The Holy Communion is not a church ritual. It is an invitation to dine with the Lord.

WARNING: Don’t come to the Lord's Table with an unforgiving heart.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

GETTING BIG?

MEMORY VERSE: And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 1 Samuel15:17

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Mark 7-8

It is not a good thing to be reminded, by a colleague or a friend, of how one used to behave or carry his or herself before promotion. I will be cautious if a friend reminds me of how i used to be humble. If it comes from someone older or higher, then i will be concerned. If it is coming from my spiritual parents, i will be worried. If it comes from God, Creator of heavens and the earth, i would cry out for mercy. I know you will do the same too. This is similar to what happened when Saul returned from partially disobeying God i.e. disobeying God. In 1 Samuel 15:1-3, God sent him to destroy the Amalekites because of their wickedness. Several years prior, without being provoked or anything, the Amalekites attacked the children of Israel killing several of them. When he got to Amalek, he destroyed the worthless things and kept the good and valuable things for himself and his men. When he returned, the Lord sent Samuel with a message to him. 1 Samuel 15:17 says, “And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?” On hearing this, I thought Saul would bow his head and cry for mercy. I expected him to immediately put things right because it was obvious that the Most High was really displeased with him. Saul did not do any of this. Instead he gave excuses. At the end, he was replaced.

Are you like Saul? He never used to challenge his father in the Lord, Samuel, until he became king. Not only that, he used to obey God until he became king. You used to be small in your own eyes before you went to bible school. You never used to argue with your spiritual leaders i.e. pastors and bishops. You never used to challenge your pastors in public? Now that you have returned from bible school, you now see faults in virtually everything. You see faults in how the pastor preaches, you see fault in how he pronounces Greek names. Not only that, you are now beginning to challenge him in the open. Saul became familiar with the prophet when he became king - something that never happened before his ordination. He became so familiar with the man of God that he could tear his clothes. Have you now become familiar with your spiritual leaders that you now treat them as equals? Have you now become familiar with them that you no longer give them their due honour? Have you now become familiar that you now keep malice with them? Have you now become so familiar that they are now scared to correct you because you can do and undo? There was a time in Saul’s life when he used to fear God. There was a time when he used to put God and God’s work before anything else. Now, Saul had become so big and God had become so small in his eyes that he could now displease God to please man. What ‘man’ thought of him was more important to him than what God thought of him. How 'man' perceived him was more important than how God perceived him. Do you now serve God at your convenience? When God gives you an instruction, do you carry them out immediately or at your convenience? Pride starts from the heart before it manifests out in actions. What’s your heart like as you are reading this? How do you now treat the Word of God?

ACTION: Carry out a self assessment of your life. Is God still number one in your life? Are you still willing to go out of your way to please God?

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me never to become an ex-child of God.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

MEETING HIS EXPECTATIONS?

MEMORY VERSE: And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but whereare the nine? Luke 17:17

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Corinthians 11-12

BIBLE STUDY: Luke 17:11-19

The Lord expects a lot from His children - both young and old. Who are His children? Romans 8:14 says this: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” The Spirit of God leads people to do things which are in consonance with the Word of God. He leads people to live honest, open and transparent lifestyles. The spirit of the Lord will never lead a brother to propose to two or three sisters at the same time. No! He is not a spirit of confusion. Neither will He lead any sister to accept marriage proposals from two brothers at the same time. He is a God of order. The Lord is entitled to expect much from us, His children, because of His investments in our lives. We were heading for destruction before someone preached to us and He touched our hearts and we accepted Him as our personal Lord and savior. With the kind of lifestyles some of us were living before we met Christ, we were on the fast lane to sudden destruction. Many of us have failed and failed before He came into our life and turned it around. Many used to be sick before Jesus entered into their boat and sickness disappeared. I remember before i met Christ, i was living in fear – fear of the unknown. Now that i am in Christ, i have no fear because i know my future. Oh yes, i know my future because Isaiah 3:10 says, “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.” I also know that Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), so i have nothing to worry about. You also don’t have anything to worry about because you are a child of God.

What are His expectations? He expects us to be grateful for all He has done. After healing those ten lepers, He expected them to return to say thank you. He was shocked when only one of them returned. Luke 17:17 says, “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but whereare the nine.” That thing He did for you maybe small in your eyes, but to some, it is a big testimony. Besides, there are no small testimonies. Even if He is yet to answer that particular prayer request, you still need to be grateful for those things He has done. Another way to show Him our appreciation is through our payment of tithes and offerings. God owns the whole world so He is not broke. Let’s say He needs money (which He doesn't), He can touch the heart of any billionaire and they will give Him as much as He needs. When we bring our tithes and offerings, we are not doing the church a favor neither are we doing God a favor. No! When we bring our tithes to Him, it is a sign of our appreciation. What we are saying is ‘out of the much You have given to me, i am bringing this little gift to appreciate You’.

Another way to appreciate Him is to use our skills and expertise for Jesus. Some are good at designing websites, use that skill to design a website for your church or a ministry. If you are a doctor, organize free health seminars in your parish or ministry and teach people about healthy living. You may be a good business person, organize free seminars to teach fellow believers how to start a business. Some are good at organizing programs, don’t wait to be called before you go and meet the minister and volunteer to be part of the organizing committee. The Lord also expects us to be grateful to the vessels He has used to bless us. Someone waited on the Lord for several hours ( and even fasted) before God gave him or her that 'life transforming message' you heard. If you can’t bless them with material gifts, at least you can say thank you to him or her. These things encourage men and women of God. If the Lord uses a brother or sister for you, appreciate God in their life and appreciate them.

NOTE: Anytime you appreciate people, you are opening a door for God to use them for you and others.

ACTION: Call someone who God has used to bless you in the past and thank them.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

IN A DREAM

MEMORY VERSE: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:20

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Jeremiah 7-11

BIBLE STUDY: Matthew 1:18-23

There are several sources of dreams. Dreams can come as a result of our activities during the day. Ecclesiastes 5:3 says, “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.” Maybe you have been shopping and getting things ready for your holiday, you may sleep and find yourself already on holiday. The source of this type of dream is the mind. At times, if one is in love with a particular sister or brother, one may sleep at night and find himself or herself getting married to that brother or sister. The fact that one slept and saw himself or herself getting married to a brother or sister does not mean it is from God. Such dreams may come as a result of what is already in one’s heart. This is why, when praying about a brother or sister, always get other believers to pray along with you. Or you received an offer for a job that you want badly; you may dream and find yourself working in that job. That does not mean God has given you a go-ahead. If i were you, i will get other believers to pray along with me. According to Deuteronomy 19:15, at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. I know as a child of God, you don’t indulge in pornography, nude pictures or sex talks, but those that do may sleep and find themselves fornicating or committing adultery with people in their dreams. In a nutshell, our dreams can come as a result of things that are on our mind.

Dreams can also come as a result of hunger or thirst. If one feels like eating porridge before going to bed, he or she may dream of eating porridge. In addition, if one goes to bed on an empty stomach, i would not be shocked if the person finds himself eating in the dream. Isaiah 29:8 says, “It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.” Dreams can come as a result of spiritual attack. For example, if you sleep and you find a big snake chasing you when you don’t work in a zoo , then that could be a spiritual attack. Or you find dogs chasing you in your dreams and you are neither a vet nor a dog owner or have dogs around you, then that could also be a spiritual attack. My advice is this; once you wake up cancel the dream and plead the blood of Jesus. Also, share it with your father or mother in the Lord or your pastors. Today, we want to look at dreams that come from God. Dreams from God come for various reasons. At times, God gives answers to questions through dreams. One of the thoughts that Joseph must have entertained in his heart, when he found that Mary was pregnant, would have been, ‘who is responsible for the baby?’ In the dream, the Lord provided him with an answer. Matthew1:20 says, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” At times, He re-assures and encourages one to be calm through dreams.The angel told Joseph, “....... fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife....” As you can see, He can decide to tell one his or her marriage partner through dreams. The Lord can give instructions through a dream. He can also give a vital information that could lead to a major breakthrough. These are some of the things He does through a dream. One thing is very crucial with dreams and that is the ability to remember dreams.

NOTE: If God gives an individual information that could lead to breakthrough in a dream, and the fellow forgets, that fellow may miss a major breakthrough.

PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to always remember my dreams as from today.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

WHAT LEVEL OF REVELATION?

MEMORY VERSE: And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. Exodus 33:18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 27-28

There are different levels of knowledge. Take for instance, the knowledge of a particular brand of car called ‘Mercedes Benz’. There are different levels of knowledge of a Mercedes Benz car. Firstly, there are people who have no knowledge of Mercedes Benz at all. Some have never heard that name before in their life. You may find it hard to believe but there are some indigenous tribes in the Amazon rain-forest who don’t wear clothes. They have never seen a car in their life talk-less of know a Mercedes Benz car or any car whatsoever. Secondly, there are some of us who know Mercedes Benz. Although, we may not be opportuned to see them every day like those who live in big cities but at least, we can tell the difference between a Mercedes Benz and Toyota or BMW. Thirdly, there are some who own or drive a Mercedes Benz car. These people know Mercedes Benz at least better than some of us who don’t own a car and definitely, far better than our brothers and sisters in the Amazon rain-forests. Lastly, there are people who make Mercedes Benz cars. These are the people, who we can say, truly knows Mercedes Benz. If a Mercedes Benz develops fault, they know what is wrong with it and can fix it.

This applies to humans too. Take for instance the Prime Minister (PM). There are people who have never heard of the PM in their life. They don't even know if a country called England exists. These people don’t have any knowledge of him. Secondly, there are people who have seen his picture, probably in the newspaper or poster. These people know the PM to some extent. Thirdly, there are people who went to the same school or worked with the PM. These people know the PM better than those of us who see him on TV, and definitely far better than those good people in the Amazon rain-forests. Fourthly, there are the PM's family and friends. These people, especially parents, know the PM better his colleagues. They raised the PM. They watched him grow from a boy to become a man. Fifthly, there is the wife. She knows a lot about the PM especially intimate things. This is because they share the same bedroom. But God, who created the PM, knows the PM more than himself. He knows the PM's future.

Just as our knowledge of people or things are in levels, so also our knowledge of God. Firstly, there are people who don't believe in God. Secondly, there are people who believe in God’s existence, they may or may not practice any religion. To some extent, these people know God. Thirdly, there are people who have read the bible or go to church. These people know God and they can say a thing or two about God e.g. they know God is love. Fourthly, there are people who have experienced God's power, maybe they had a serious challenge and God came through for them or they received a miracle. These people know God at least better than people who believe God exists. Fifthly, there are people who have walked with God for several years e.g. Enoch, Moses, etc. They are regularly led by the Spirit of God. They even hear the audible voice of God once in a while. The bible records that Moses spoke to God face to face like a man speaks to his friend ( Exodus 33:11). That is a very deep knowledge of God. Beyond this very deep knowledge of God is yet a deeper knowledge of God. Exodus 33:18 says, “And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Except God, Himself, reveals His glory unto us, we have not truly known the Lord.

NOTE: Although, there are still more revelations that awaits us in heaven, but whilst we are here on earth, we must yearn to behold the glory of the Lord.

PRAYER POINT: Father, show me your glory.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

RECOGNIZING AND BREAKING EVIL PATTERNS

MEMORY VERSE: And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? Luke 9:54

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 39-41

What is a pattern? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as a reliable sample of traits, acts, tendencies, or other observable characteristics of a person, group, or institution. A teacher with thirty years of teaching experience, during an end-of-the-year programme of a school, encouraged parents to keep an eye on their children and stamp out any behavioral pattern that could be detrimental to their progress in the future. According to her, young children grow up to be bigger pictures of who they currently are and unless there was some kind of intervention – parental or divine. Just as a child’s life is predictable, the outcome of a person’s life, whether as a success or a failure, can also be determined beforehand (to a very great extent). Just by observing patterns in one’s biological or spiritual family, whether one will fail or succeed can be determined beforehand. Unless one is able to recognize any evil patterns present, pray and (in some cases) fast to break these patterns, one may end up facing the same challenges one’s parents or family faced in their marriage, finances, health, etc. Not until the Holy Spirit opens one’s eyes to see these evil patterns, untold sorrow, failure –at- the- edge- of- success, divorce, marital delay, etc, is inevitable.

Remember, “ 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)”, and as such, the moment the Holy Spirit open’s your eyes to recognize any evil pattern(s) in your life or family, prayerfully break these patterns. (Note: These patterns are no one’s faults except the devil that steals, kills and destroys). Looking at the life of Abraham, Isaac (his son) and Jacob (his grandson), we find an evil pattern of 'delay in childbearing'. Abraham’s wife (Sarah) was barren and did not give birth until the age of 90 years. Isaac’s wife (Rebekah) was barren. Genesis 25:21 says, “and Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.” Jacob’s second wife (Rachel) also experienced bareness (Genesis29:31). Had each of them not cry to God, they may have ended up childless. In the family of Zebedee, it was fiery and destructive anger. Although the bible did not tell us about their parent’s temper, we don’t need to travel far to know the source of their anger. Where else would they have gotten that fiery and destructive anger from except home? Luke9:54 says, “And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” For two brothers of the same parents, to exhibit that kind of anger, i doubt they didn't inherit it. Besides, research has proved that children do inherit their parent’s anger. Some of the reasons why many of us are unable to recognize these evil patterns, even when the Holy Spirit highlights them to us is because we see them as coincidences. I want you to know that evil patterns can be broken. It was broken in the life of Abraham and his children. It was also broken in the life of John and James. Do not give the enemy a foothold in your life.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: You can break that evil pattern of failure-at-the- edge-of-success with prayer. You can break that evil pattern of divorce with prayer. You can break that evil pattern of impecuniosity with prayer. You can break that evil pattern of marrying late with praying and fasting. You don’t have to face what others faced. You don't have to go through what others went through. Good things can begin with you. You can become the first to get it right in marriage.

PRAYER POINT: Father, i break every evil pattern in my life in Jesus name.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.