THE STRIFE MUST CEASE

MEMORY VERSE: And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward. Genesis 13:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 4:1-25

In Genesis 12:1-3, God gave Abram three instructions: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee”. The instructions were simple and basic. Obedience to these three instructions will bring about seven blessings: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Abram left his country, his relatives but did not leave his father’s house because he took Lot with him. He partially obeyed the Lord's instruction. Partial obedience is disobedience. God actually prefers disobedience to partial obedience. Revelations 3:15 -16 says: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” You are either a believer or an unbeliever. Don't try to be in the middle because God hates that. If you want to fornicate, go ahead and fornicate. If you want to abstain from sex, go ahead and abstain from sex. Don't kiss and touch the opposite sex in a way you shouldn't and say, " I am keeping the marriage bed undefiled." No ! The marriage bed is already defiled. If you want to be a polygamist, go ahead and be a polygamist. If you want to be a monogamist, go ahead and be one. Don't commit adultery.

Later Abram began to reap the reward of his partial obedience. Genesis 13:7 says: “And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.” Lot became a thorn in Abram’s side. What did you do when you were told to fast and pray before you embark on that journey?  You prayed for two minutes and hopped on the bus; that's partial obedience. Maybe that's why you misplaced your wallet on your way back. Before the strife got out of hands, Abram called a meeting. Friend, you need to do something about that misunderstanding that keeps occurring between your wife and the neighbor's wife. Problems don't just go. Someone has to take responsibility and resolve the misunderstanding once and for all. Genesis 13:14 says: “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward.” God stopped speaking to Abram when Lot's herdsmen and Abram's began to quarrel.  Anyone who regularly hears from God knows what it is to stop hearing from God; It is very frustrating. Not until the strife was resolved, God did not speak a word. Sir, God will not speak to you as long as you keep malice with your wife. Actually, there is no point praying because God will not answer. Make peace first and He will turn to you. Our God is a God of unity not a God of conflict. He takes His leave the moment strife begins. Once He leaves, the devil takes over and torment the people involved. He is a gentle Spirit. Sister, there is no point going to minister in songs when you have not resolved that conflict with your husband. Bro Prayer warrior, there is no point going to prayer warrior meetings when you have just beaten  your wife. Make peace. Ask God to forgive and she must forgive you too. If you and the brother/sister you are courting are always striving and quarreling, you better end the courtship and pray again.

NOTE: Strife will destroy your spiritual life. It will leave you deeply hurt and at times, it may leave you with an emotional scar. As such, it is better to avoid strife. You may even need to separate yourself from certain people. It could be your blood brother or sister. It could even be your big uncle or big aunt. If the strife is with your husband or wife, you know you can't divorce but you can seek counseling.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

PARASITES NOT WELCOMED

MEMORY VERSE: Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Matthew 7:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 3:1-24

In our elementary biology, we learnt about relationships between organisms. There are four basic types of relationships between living organisms: commensalism, endosymbiosis and ectosymbiosis, mutualism and parasitism. Commensalism is simply a relationship between two organisms where one receives a benefit or benefits from the other and the other is not affected by it. A typical example of commensalism is a spider building a web on a tree. Endosymbiosis is when one species lives inside another one and Ectosymbiosis is when one species lives on the surface of the other species. Mutualism is a close relationship where both parties benefit. For instance, mutualism exists between dogs and humans. Dogs supply protection and companionship, and humans provide food and shelter. In parasitism, one organism benefits from the relationship but at the expense of the other. A parasitic relationship can be found between ticks and dog. The tick sucks blood from the dog. The dog loses blood and may die. God bless our teachers.

These four basic types of relationships exist between humans too. Mutualism and parasitism are two obvious ones. You find mutualism between employers and employees. Employees work for their employers and employers paid them in return. Mutualism exists between couples - husband and wife. It exists between parents and children; leaders and followers; pastor and members, etc. Parasitism also exists between employers and employees. We have heard of employers who owe their employees ten months salary. Also, we have heard of employees who don’t work yet they get paid; they get their friends to clock in and out for them. Parasitism exists between couples; parents and children; pastors and members; leaders and followers, etc. We respond to these relationships in different ways. Mutualism? We grow them. We nurture them. Parasitism? We abhor. We move far away from parasites. An elderly man of God was travelling one morning, with a big bag on his head, when he met one of his son-in-the-Lord. The boy said, “Good morning sir" and the old man responded, "good morning son”. A minute later, the man met another son-in-the-Lord. The boy collected the heavy bag and carried it. The old man said, "God bless you my son." The other boy heard it and rushed back to get his own 'God-bless-you-my-son'. The old man literally told him that all he qualified for was a good morning not a God-bless-you. Mutualism between man and God brings blessings whilst parasitism brings curses. As you win souls and ensure that the souls remain in Christ, God will grant your petitions (John 15:16). However, if all you want to do is enjoy God's benefit and contribute nothing, He will cut you off. Matthew 7:19 says: “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

QUESTION: How would you describe your relationship with God? Are you a parasite or a laborer with God? In your relationships with people, are you a parasite – always looking for how you can benefit from them and never thinking of how you can be of benefit to them?

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

JESUS IS THE WAY

MEMORY VERSE: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Gen 2:4b-25

A way is simply a path that takes you to a place or out of a place. It is the route you follow to a place or out of a place. There is a way that leads to my house. To visit me you need to follow the way that leads to my house. If you do otherwise you will end up at a different address. There is also a way that leads out of my house. There is a way that leads to success; it is diligence. Proverbs 22:29 says: “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.” There is a way that leads to poverty; it is oversleeping. Proverbs 20:13 says: “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.” There is a way that leads to divine promotion; it is humility. James 4:10 says: “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” There is also a way that leads out of divine promotion; it is pride. James 4:10 says: “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

According to John 14, Jesus is THE way. Verse 6 says: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He is not “A” way but “THE” way. He is the path out of something or to something. According to John 5:1-15, He is THE way out of DEFEAT. The impotent man at the pool of Bethesda had experienced defeat on numerous occasions. He had been defeated so many times that he now expects defeat. John 5:7 says: “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” One day he met Jesus, The Way, and for the first time in many years he secured his first victory. Jesus is the WAY out of FAILURE (Luke 5:1-7). Peter had tried several times and failed several times. Actually, Jesus met him when he had given up. Verse 5 says: “And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.” After that day, Peter became a success. He cast his net only once and he caught so much fish that he had to beckon to his friends to help him. The same river he had fished all night and caught nothing, he tried with Jesus and caught so much fish that his net actually broke. Not only is He THE way out of DEFEAT and FAILURE, He is the way out of PAIN. Jesus was in the temple one day when He saw a woman that was bent double for 18 years (Luke 13:11-13). I don’t need to tell you she was in great pains. Jesus said a short prayer and her pain was gone. Today, I read the testimony of a woman who suffered from uterine fibroid, cramping and painful menstrual periods. She could not do much with her life because of the pains. She could not work or do business. She was in bed for at least 2-3 days, and then had digestive problems after that for the rest of the week. One day, she met Jesus, The WAY, and that pain disappeared. He is THE way out of UNHAPPINESS especially in marriage. Jesus was at a wedding in Cana when the wine finished (John 2:1-12). Wine symbolises celebration and joy. They told the matter to Jesus, The WAY, and He gave them brand new heavenly wine. A woman came to say goodbye to her neighbour as they had been evicted out of the house. The couple were hopeless alcoholics; all their money was gone, the marriage was on the rock. Every evil thing one could imagine was happening in their marriage. The neighbour used that opportunity to tell her friend about the WAY (Jesus). The woman accepted Jesus; two days later her husband too accepted Jesus. What happened? The alcohol problem disappeared. The home was not lost. The marriage did not break up. Friend, I don’t know what you are going through but Jesus is The WAY out of it.

NOTE: The WAY out of that terrible situation is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. If you have backslidded, then you need to return to Him today.

PRAYER POINT: Saviour, please save me.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

“PRAISE ME MORE”

MEMORY VERSE: And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. 2 Chronicles 20:22

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 1:1 – 2:4a

READ: 2 Chronicles 20:1 – 26.

IN 2015

While waiting on the Lord in December 2014, asking Him what He intends to do in my life and in the life of His children in 2015, this phrase “MEANINGFUL ACHIEVEMENT” dropped in my spirit. The title of our message on 1st of January 2015 was MEANINGFUL ACHIEVEMENT. In that message, as led by the Spirit of God, i said, “This year God will remember many. This year many will succeed where they failed last year. This year many will become married. This year our testimonies will be many. A lot will pass their exams and many other things.” God fulfilled all He said. Recently, a sister in Christ, someone very close to me, shared her testimony of 2015 and as i read it, i saw that her testimonies were many - just like many of us. She said one thing that humbled me: “Indeed, this year, to the glory of God, we recorded the highest number of marriages in our midst -over 20 marriages. Many, indeed, became married. In my personal life, it has been testimony galore. Time may not permit but i will share one. In my place of work this year, God promoted me and i went three scales (positions) up in one single day!

LESSONS LEARNT
As someone from a project management background, PRINCE 2 (PRoject IN Controlled Environments), one thing we do at the beginning of every project is we capture lessons learnt in previous projects. In 2015, i learnt a lot of lessons but i will share one with you today (1st of January 2016). Am i calling 2016 a project? Well, looking at some of the characteristics of a project according to PRINCE 2 - something that is temporary in nature i.e. have a defined start and end, plagued by threats ( dangers) and opportunities , cross-functional i.e. working with people from different background, etc – we can call it a project. One of the important lessons i learnt in 2015 is IT PAYS TO BE OBEDIENT. From time to time, you will pray and make plans. The moment you sense God trying to change your plans don’t struggle with Him. Even if you are at the execution phase of the plan and He says stop, please stop. It may cause you some embarrassment, yes, but in the long run you will be happy that you did. I wanted to do a particular IT training to develop myself so I found a trainer. We agreed on the price and a date. Meanwhile i had been praying about this particular training even before i got the trainer. A day to the training, i sensed in my spirit that the Lord was not in it so I called off the training. As expected, the man got really angry and I was embarrassed. Few days later, the Lord led me to do another IT training course and i obeyed. On the first day of my training, i met a man who had already completed the training the Lord told me not to go for. After speaking with this man for 20 mins, i thank the Lord that i listened when He told me to stop. I pray that you will not waste your resources on a project that will not yield any benefits.

IN 2016
One question people kept on asking me in 2015 was, “are you a pastor”? My response hasn’t changed; I am not a pastor. I am just an ordinary brother - a worker in the vineyard of God. What work do I do? I am part of the SANCTUARY KEEPERS. However, God, out of His mercy, shares a thing or two with me. Whilst men look at titles and positions, God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Looking back at all He did in 2015; the accuracy of His prophecies at the beginning of the year, i didn’t need anyone to tell me to wait again to hear what He has to say for 2016. This time, in few words, He said “PRAISE ME MORE”. To confirm this message - the bible says by the mouth of two or three witness shall every word be established ( 2 Corinthians 13:1) - during our end of the year revival, the pastor, on the 30th December 2015, preached a message titled “PRAISES GO BEFORE LAUGHTER”. He repeated the same thing during our watch night service. One of the texts he used is 2 Chronicles 20.

ACTION: Praise Him like never before this year.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

DELAYED GRATIFICATION

MEMORY VERSE: He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. Proverbs 21:27

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 143-145

There is a popular term in psychology called ‘Delayed Gratification’. It refers to the ability to put off something mildly fun or pleasurable now in order to wait for something that is greatly fun, pleasurable, or rewarding later. Delay Gratification simply means making a choice which limits the ability of getting something now, for the pleasure of being able to have something bigger or better later. For example, you could watch TV the night before an exam, or you could exhibit delayed gratification and study for the exam. The latter would increase your chances of getting an 'A' in the course at the end of a semester, which is much more satisfying long-term than a night of watching TV.

There are some pleasures you have to deny yourself now if you want to have a glorious future. 3 John 2 says: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” For this verse to be fulfilled in your life, there are some pleasures you have to deny yourself. Some of the pleasures are sweet and sugary food – food full of fats and sugars. Another pleasure is fizzy drink. Medical doctors have warned that sugary drinks increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Water is cheaper and better. By delaying gratification and choosing the more healthy option, the glass of water over the glass of coca-cola, you will reap the rewards of delayed gratification by being more healthy in your life, have less illness and have more energy to live your life to its fullest. Do you want to have breakthroughs? Do you want to do well in life? Do you want to do well in your studies? Do you want to be strong at your old age? Do you want to have more than enough or prosper? You need to start delaying gratification from now on. Do you want to fulfil destiny? Do you want to finish that project you have started? Do you want to be filled with the Holy Ghost? If you are like me, you may want to raise the dead. Then, you have to cut down on food. First of all, eating cuts down your life; eat to live not live to eat. Your inability to fast will limit you. Mark 9:29 says: “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Another pleasure you need to deny yourself of today if you want to have a glorious future is 'sleep'. How can you sleep 8 hours a day - 4 months a year - and expect to achieve much? Besides, those who love sleep are at the mercy of the enemy. Matthew 13:25 says: “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” That aside, poverty is not far from a man who loves to sleep. Proverbs 20:13 says: “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.” Some battles are only fought at night, you will remain stagnant if you don't wake up to pray. The wrestling match that changed Jacob’s life forever took place at night (Genesis 32:22-32). The crossing of the Red Sea took place at night (Exodus 14). You have to work hard now so that you can rest later. Whilst everyone is going out to party and have fun, use that time to develop yourself.

ACTION: Make it a point of duty to develop an area of your life this year.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

MEMORY VERSE: When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? John 5:6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 26-28

Bible scholars told us that Jesus, while he was on earth, asked 307 questions. One of the questions He asked, time and time again, whenever people in need of a thing or the other come to Him is “what do you want Me to do for you?” For instance,in Matthew 20:30-34, two blind men heard that Jesus was passing by and they called on Him. Verse 32 says: “And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?” Jesus could see that these men were blind yet He asked them, what do you want Me to do for you? Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by and he began to scream at the top of his voice “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:46-52). Verse 51 says: “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Again, Jesus was aware of the condition of this man's eye. He knew why Bartimaeus was persistent when people tried to shut him off. Yet, when Bartimaeus arrived He asked him, what do You want me to do for you? Jesus was at the pool of Bethesda one day when He saw a certain man who had been sick for thirty-eight years ( John 5:1-15). The bible records that Jesus knew that the man had been there a long time in that case. Jesus knew the man was at that pool to get healed and yet He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The question is why does Jesus ask people these questions?
The truth is you don't know what people need or want unless they tell you.

What you think they need is not always what they need even though the need is obvious. When Jesus asked that man at the pool of Bethesda “Wilt thou be made whole”? He said No! I don’t want You to heal me. All i want is a man to put me into the pool when it is stirred. John 5:7 says: “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” You really don’t know what people want until you ask them. I will never forget an incident that happened when I was still in the world - before I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. My girlfriend told me she had some problems. She mentioned the first problem; I told her what to do and she said "i know". She mentioned the second problem; again, i told her what do and she said "i know". I was baffled. She mentioned the third one; i told her what do and she said "i know". "If you know the answers to these problems why ask me", i asked. She said I am not looking for answer to the problems; i am looking for someone to sit quietly and listen to me. I thought she wanted solutions but she wanted someone to listen to her share what she was going through. Bro, maybe what sister wants is someone to share what she is going through with not someone to analyze her challenges and solve it in a second. Many many years ago, some pastors went to pray for a sick sister. She was a believer but her husband was not at that time. They prayed for days and the sister did not recover so these pastors went to the Lord to ask what the problem was. The Lord said to them, “have you asked her what she wants?” “Oh Lord, we know what she wants... She is sick... she is in pains.. She wants healing,” they responded. The Lord said to them , “ask her for what she wants.” To their shock, the sister said "i don't want to be healed". “My husband only gives me attention when i am sick; I will rather be sick and have his attention than be healed and lose his attention" she continued. I pray that you will not labor in vain in Jesus name.

NOTE: Don't be naive. Don't assume because a sister is friendly to you, she is interested in you. Don't assume because a brother is nice to you, he is trying to say something. He is not trying to say anything until he opens his mouth.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

THE FINEST OF WHEAT

MEMORY VERSE: He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. Psalm 81:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 23-25

READ: Psalm 81:13-16

Psalm 81:16 says: “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” The phrase “finest of wheat” implies there are at least three types of fine wheat and the “finest of wheat” being the best of the three i.e. the best of the best. The Psalmist, in our memory verse, reveals God’s intention to give His children the best of the best wheat (blessings). What a good Father we have! God knows the best of the best wheat. He knows where they are. The Lord wants you, His child, to have the best of the best. Is there a father who does not want his children to have the best of the best? Jesus, in a bit to drive home this point, said: “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:9-11).” God has the best of the best single brothers and sisters –singles who will add value, colour and quality to anyone they marry. He has the best of the best business ideas to make your business prosper. He has the best of the best things and He wants you to have them all.

However, there is a condition you must meet before you can receive the best of the best and that is absolute obedience to His word. Anyone who is ready to receive God's best must be prepared to obey God at all times even when it is inconvenient. The problem is not with God or His words. The problem is always with the man. We suffer defeat, fail exams, and lose valuable things because of our disobedience to His Words. Psalm 81:13 -14 says: “Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.” Many a time, the “best of the best” things don’t always appear as the best of the best initially. Many of us will walk past diamonds in their crude form because they don’t glitter in their crude form. They have to go through several processes before they come out glittering. Several years back, a young man, very thin with no real job, no car or good clothes, proposed to a lady. The family of this lady discouraged this sister. Even the brother’s family, although they were polite about it, told the sister to look somewhere else if she wants a bright future. The lady believed the Word of the Lord and married him. Today, the brother is one of the world leading worship leaders. He goes around the world to minister and takes the sister with him. There is no continent in the world she has not visited with her husband. The best of the best don’t always look like the best of the best initially. Whatever God gives to you is the best of the best for you; if you receive it from Him with joy you will not regret it. God has set a standard for Himself and He will not drop that standard for any man. It is either His way or no way. He can’t be bribed or anything. To receive His best (the best of the best), firstly you must give your life to Christ. Secondly, you must obey Him. Read your bible, see what He hates and run from them. Check what He likes and begin to do them. Thirdly, give generously to Him. Fourthly, worship Him.

NOTE: Worship causes one to experience God in a powerful way.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world