Saturday, 19 September 2015

AND YE SHALL BE THE CHILDREN OF THE HIGHEST

MEMORY VERSE: But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Luke 6:35

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Colossians 1-2

READ: Luke 6:31-35

As a married woman, it is easy to submit to a man who celebrates you. It is easy to submit to a man who puts you first. In other words, it is easy to submit (to one’s husband) when one's needs are being met and one is happy. As a brother, it is easy to love a woman who respects you. Who wouldn’t love a woman who is an epitome of a virtuous woman (Proverb 31)? Who wouldn’t love a woman like Sarah, the Great Shunamite woman, Rebekah, or Abigail? Who wouldn’t love a young pious sister like Mary?

It is easy to obey God’s commandment (especially when it relates to marriage and relationship ) when one feels loved and appreciated. As a sister, it is easy to submit to a man who loves and respects you. Also as a brother, it is easy to love a woman who is submissive and humble. According to Luke 6:31-35, nothing differentiates you from a pagan if you treat people as they treat you. You, my brother or sister, have not done anything spectacular when you love a woman who submits to you or submit to a man who loves you. Even pagans and atheist do that. A woman who has never walked through the doors of a church before in her life will submit to her husband (without him asking for it) if he loves and respects her. Also an atheist man will love his wife if she is submissive and humble.

Luke 6:35 says, “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.” Christ demonstrated how to be a true child of God by dying for us while we were yet sinner. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” While we were yet hopeless and worthless sinners, Christ died for us. He demonstrated how to be a godly husband by dying for us, while we were yet to submit to Him. This is Christ's expectation of every man. Ephesians 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” The best time to show one’s love to his wife is not when she is humble and submissive. It is when she is most obnoxious. The best time to submit to one’s husband is not when he provides money. It is when you are most offended by something he said or did. This is how the children of the Most High should behave. However, it is not something anyone can do by will power. The same thing applies to loving people who are either unlovable or obnoxious or unrepentant. Loving such people is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. Zechariah 4:6 says, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” It is the Holy Spirit that gives one the ability to love the unlovable i.e. become the sons and daughters of God.

PRAYER: Father, please help me to love those who are unlovable.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Friday, 18 September 2015

IN WHOSE HANDS IS IT?



MEMORY VERSE: Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Ezekiel 25-30

A basket ball is useless in my hands. If i walk into a jam-packed basket court holding one, no one will take notice of me. But, the same basket ball in the hands of Michael Jordan, in his prime, his worth several millions. If he walks into a basket ball court holding a basket ball, within minutes the court will be jam packed with people screaming and shouting ‘Air Jordan’. Not only that, all the major sports channel in the world, SKY, ESPN, EURO-SPORT, etc, will rush there with their cameras to video him doing wonders with basket ball.It all depends on whose hands the basketball is. How about a tennis racket? In my hands it is useless. But in the hands of Roger Federer, when he used to be called ‘FedEx’ (FedEx was his nick name when he was the world number one ) , it is worth millions. It all depends on whose hands the racket is.

A pinch of salt in my hands is worth nothing. At best, it is used to give flavor to food. The same pinch of salt in the hands of Elisha was used to solve a national problem. In 2 Kings 2:19-21 Elisha applied a pinch of salt to the source of water in Jericho and a problem of over 100 years was solved. The bad water was healed! It all depends on whose hand is the salt. A slingshot in my hands is nothing more than a toy. The same slingshot in the hands of David is like a M9 Bazooka Anti-Tank Rocket launcher. In 1 Samuel 17, David brought down Goliath with one. Just one shot, Goliath was down and the battle was over. It all depends on whose hand is the slingshot. Two fishes and 5 loaves of bread in my hand is just enough for a child's breakfast. The best the greatest cook in the world can do with 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread is a snack not even a meal for an adult. The same 2 fishes and 5 loaves of bread in the hands of my Lord fed 5000 men not counting women and children (Matthew 14:13-21).

Nails in the hands of an individual will cause injury. Nails in the hands of Jesus produced salvation for the whole world. It all depends on whose hand is the nail. As you can see now, it all depends on whose hands things are. As such, i want to encourage you to put your ministry, family,  visions, dreams, challenges, issues, weakness, lack, worries, financial debts, barrenness, etc, in the able hands of God because it all depends on whose hands these things are. The Psalmist says, “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Psalm 55:22). 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” The only One who can take that pain away is Jesus. Why not give your life to Him and watch Him turn it around. Several years back, a couple who were on the verge of divorce decided to give their lives to Christ. They put their alcohol problems, divorce, and the repossession of their mortgage in the hands of God by faith and He solved it all.

NOTE: I don’t know whose hands you have put that difficult challenges but I want you to put it in the hands of Jesus by faith.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I put all I have in your hands by faith.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER 2


MEMORY VERSE: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Proverbs 10
The Holy Spirit, inside us, gives us guidance. John 16:13 says, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” He guides us into all truth of the word of God. The Holy Spirit is the author of the bible. 1 Peter 1:21 says, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” Many of us found the bible very boring before we gave our lives to Christ. Although back then, we used to enjoy novels like Mills & Boon, James hardly chase, and all that, the bible was very dry. The moment we gave our lives to Christ, all these changed. The Holy Spirit makes the bible come alive when we read it. At times whilst studying the bible, a verse will seem to leap out of the page at us. As one meditates on the verse, the Holy Spirit starts to explain the bible verse to one. I have found in my life that at times a verse i have read over 15 times will just suddenly come alive and the Lord will start to explain it to me.
The Holy Spirit, inside us, guides us in all affairs of life. Romans 8:14 says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” He does this through several ways. For example, He may give one a strong desire to do something or take an action. Recently, i was in need of a particular information and i didn’t know where to get it. While i was praying, on something not related to the information i was seeking, i had a strong desire to call a brother and ask him if he knows anything about what i was seeking. The brother didn’t seem to me like a person who would have such information because that was not his field but i obeyed the Holy Spirit and called him. Ten minutes later, the brother sent the information i wanted to me on email. Just as a human guide, the Holy shows us certain things and the way to go. To benefit maximally from any human guide, one must obey the guide to the letter. It can be costly if one decides to disobey one’s human guide especially whilst on a tour. Recently, a group of young tourists disobeyed their tour guide and took off their clothes ( to take some 'selfies') on a sacred mountain. Somehow their pictures got out and all hell broke lose.They spent three nights in jail and there parents were fined heavily. They also had to apologize in public for their ward's conducts. This is an example of what can happen when one disobeys a human guide. Now, imagine if one disobeys the Holy Spirit (our divine Guide ). The Holy Spirit through His guidance will prepare us for things to come.
NOTE: There are certain conditions one must meet to receive guidance from the Holy Spirit. Firstly, one must be born again. An individual who is not born again is dead spiritually, as such his or her spirit can't communicate with the Holy Spirit. Also, one must cultivate a habit of prayer. Lastly, a life of Holiness is essential. You can’t be living in sin and expect divine guidance. Romans 6:1 says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”
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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Sunday, 13 September 2015

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER 1


MEMORY VERSE: Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 81-83
What happens when an individual accepts Jesus as his or her personal Lord and saviour? By the Holy Spirit, Jesus comes into the life of the individual, his or her sins are washed away through His poured-out Blood, and he or she is given a new kind of life i.e. eternal life. The Holy Spirit having joined Himself to the individual’s spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17) brings it back to life; it is ‘born-again’ and becomes what Paul calls a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). The indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer causes nine manifestations of the fruit of the regenerated human spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Fruits don’t grow on the trees but on the branches. According to John 15:5, Christ is the vine and we are the branches. As such, it is our regenerated or born again human spirit that produces this fruit as a result of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit or the life of the Holy Spirit within.
The Holy Spirit in the life of a believer does more than fruit bearing. For examples, He comforts. John 16:7 says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” (Please permit me to use myself as an example. It is not to show off or anything but to show you how the Holy Spirit comforts). Several years back, i sensed in my spirit, whilst at work, that something was about to happen. Few minutes later, a man walked into the office with a brown envelope and i knew he was there to suspend me. How did i know this? Through the Holy Spirit that resides in me. A hour later, i was suspended. As i was literally marched out of the office, the Holy Spirit comforted me with these words: "don't worry you will not loose your job. You will return." He told that morning that He deliberately permitted it so that we, myself and Him, can have time together. Immediately i heard these my fear dissipated. What a comforting word i received that morning.
Two months into the suspension, He gave me a dream, one night, and i saw myself return to work. Few days later, i received a letter, from my employer inviting me for a hearing for gross misconduct in other words i may be loosing my job. Had not the Lord shown me that dream, a few days earlier, i would have been thrown off balance. I read the letter and smiled because i had already been comforted even before it arrived. Because i was so sure of my victory, i began to tell everyone that i would be returning back to work on Monday - as Friday was my hearing. Another brother who received comfort from the Holy Spirit was Gideon. He was going to fight the Midianites with 30, 000 men and the Lord cut it down to 300 men (Judges 7). That brother began to panic and shake. To comfort him, the Lord told him to go with his servant to the camp of the Midianites and hear the conversation that was going on there. When he got there, he heard a Midianite soldier sharing a dream he had with his friends. The soldier, in the dream, saw a loaf of bread tumbling into the camp of the Midianites destroying it. Gideon was the loaf of bread. When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, strength returned to him and he worshiped the Lord.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please comfort me and the brethren.
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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Thursday, 10 September 2015

NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME



MEMORY VERSE: (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2 Corinthians 6:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:2 Kings 6-10

There are seasons to life. Genesis 8:22 says, “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” We have two seasons in the part of the world where i was born: raining season and dry season. In UK, there are four seasons: autumn, spring, summer and winter. Everything in life is time bound. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” There is a time to be single, and there is a time to be married. When you are in High school preparing for your O’ levels, or in the university studying to get a degree, is a time to be single not a time to run after ladies or keep boyfriends. It is not the time to invest in expensive shoes, bags, accessories and enjoy yourself. No, it is the time to study hard and graduate with a good grade. Many of our youths think that the university is a place to enjoy but unfortunately it is not. The university is not designed for you to enjoy but to mold you and prepare you for your chosen discipline. Sir/ma, your children don't need expensive cars in the university. Once they graduate with good grades, you can buy them any car of their choice.

Young man and woman, there is a time God wants you to be single, and there is a time God wants you to be married. The Lord did not give Adam a wife the first day He created him (Genesis 2:8). The first thing God gave to Adam was work, after that He gave him a wife (Genesis 2:16-25). Single brother, now that you are looking for a job is a time to be single. No matter how small, get a job first. Instead of marrying and then expecting God to miraculously provide for you and your wife, why not use that faith to get a job first and then settle down for marriage. There is a time to train a child and that is when he or she is young. Once that time passes, it becomes extremely difficult to train that child. All you can do then is wake up every night and pray asking the Lord to touch his or her heart. Why not safe yourself that stress in the future by doing everything you can to train that child now. Although, everything is time bound in life, there are one or two things that are not time bound. For example, salvation is not time bound. 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation).” According to Hebrew 3:15, if you hear His voice today don’t harden your hearts. Don’t postpone the day of your salvation because you don’t know tomorrow. Not too long ago, i heard the story of a man who complained of stomach ache at 8 pm and by 3 am he was gone. According to Ecclesiastes 12:1,now is the time to remember God and serve Him with everything you have because a time is coming when you will not be able to do that. Now is the time to deal with that habit of lateness and procrastination. Now is the time to deal with anger. Now is the time to make peace with your family members. If you are not in talking terms with your parents or siblings, call them and make peace. Now is the time to call your pastor and apologize to him or her. Now is the time to deal with that pornography habit. Now is the time to end that relationship with that man who you are not married to. Now is the time to win souls. Now is the time to pay attention to your wife and love her. Now is the time to be a real father to your children. Now is the time to work hard. Now is the time to take your spiritual life serious.The time is now!

PRAYER POINT: Father, i have heard your Word please help me.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Tuesday, 8 September 2015

CONTAINER AND CONTENT


MEMORY VERSE: And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. Matthew 8:24

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Leviticus 13-15

READ: Matthew 8:24-27

Just of recent, i read the story of an extravagant city trader who spent 125, 000 pounds on a 99L bottle of champagne. (I think he could have helped the poor and needy with the money – although it is his money and i don’t have a say on how he spends his money.) What was this flamboyant trader after, the container (the crystal bottle) or its contents (champagne)? He was after the content i.e. champagne in the bottle. When a Christian brother walks into a departmental store or supermarket and buys a bottle of non alcoholic fruit wine, what is the brother actually after, the container (the bottle) or the content (the fruit wine)? The content i.e. fruit wine. People are after the content not the container. Do you know the enemy is also after our contents (the precious gifts that God has deposited in our lives, his great plans for our lives, our visions and dreams)? In the bible passage that we read, Matthew 8:24-27, we see that the enemy was after what the ship carried not the ship. What did the ship carry? Jesus.

No matter how expensive a bottle of non alcoholic fruit wine is, after consuming its content we throw away the bottle i.e. the container. It is the content that gives the container its value. Years ago, I and an older housemate went to buy provisions. When we got to the milk section, we saw two types of milk. One was 25 pence and the other was 45 pence. Whilst my housemate went for the 45 pence milk, i settled for the 25 pence milk. As we were about to leave, he asked me a question. "Sam", he said, "do you think the ‘white man’ – referring to the manufacturing company – is foolish? The ‘white man’ who created both milk decided to sell one at 45 pence and the other at 25 pence for a reason. Don’t you know that the 45 pence milk is more healthier than the 25 pence milk?" It is the content that determines the price. Why is it that in the same country, one man is paid 1.5 million pounds with 500,000 worth of company shares as salary and the other man is paid 25,000 pounds only. It is their content ( what they know ) that determines their salary. The content determines the worth of the container. It is unfortunate that i see a lot of single men chasing after container (a lady's physical appearance); they ignore the contents (a ladies character –her inner beauty). Many of them later discovered that they made a big mistake and by this time it is too late. Women do the same, they run after looks. No matter how good a container looks, if the content is bad it is useless. The container may fool a lot of people but once they see its content, they will move away. People will see what you carry and automatically draw towards you. They may even put you in a position of authority. Be humble. That good thing inside you was put there by God. Without that good thing in you, you are just an empty container.

NOTE: Do everything possible so that the owner of the content don’t take it away and you become empty and people begin to treat you as an empty can of drink.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

Sunday, 6 September 2015

WISDOM AND SEEING


MEMORY VERSE: And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. 1 Samuel 3:8
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 19:20
A spiritually blind man or woman will inevitably end up in a pit. Luke 6:39 says, “And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” A fellow who cannot see will ultimately end up in a ditch. The reason why a lot fall into the hands of fraudsters is because, although they have eyes, they can’t see. I will never forget the story of a greedy lady who lost her house rent to fraudsters. The husband gave her the house rent, 500 pounds, to give to the Landlord. On her way back from work, some men approached her to sell a Mac laptop, a Camcorder, and a phone (all worth around 1800 pounds) for only 700 pounds. After checking the items, she priced it down to 500 pounds and paid them. They gave her the bag containing the items and left. She could not believe her luck so she checked the bag again only to find onions in it . At this point, she began to cry! This lady fell into the hands of fraudsters because she was blind. Why will a man sell items worth close to 2000 pounds to anyone for only 500 pounds if not that he is up to something? Unfortunately, she was blinded by her greed.
What an individual sees or what an individual will be able to see will be determined by a lot of factors for example it will be determined by the level of maturity of the individual. Maturity does not come with age but with experience and exposure. There is a Yoruba adage which says: “What the elder sees sitting, the young can never see it, even from on top of the tree!” In other words maturity brings wisdom. To see, one needs to be matured. At times, there are some things one cannot see even with anointing. Samuel was anointed and he could hear the voice of God, but he could not tell the difference between the voice of God and the voice of man. Whenever God called him, he will run to Eli. It happened coupled of times and the old man, out of experience, perceived that God must be the one calling the young boy. 1 Samuel 3:8 says, “And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child." There are certain things one sees with experience and exposure not with anointing. Moses was highly anointed. He speaks to God face to face but it was Jethro an elderly man with experience who saw that he needed to change the way he was running his ministry ( Exodus 18). It is possible for a man to be heavily anointed and still be blind at the same time. This is why no matter how anointed you are, befriend older ministers of God. They may not be able to raise the dead, but they can counsel you on how to manage ministry and marriage together.
PRAYER POINT: Father, please give me the spirit of wisdom..
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