SERVICE AND PROSPERITY

MEMORY VERSE: If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.Job 36:11

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 96-98

It pays to serve in the vineyard of God. During one of our Sunday services in church, a young beautiful girl, 'D', ministered; she did choreography to a popular gospel song. ( Name of girl withheld) After her ministration, the man of God ( who was invited from abroad ) climbed the altar to preach. As he preached, he prophesied by the Spirit of the Lord: “The (Lord says that) the young girl that had just ministered is going to be a lawyer and she is going to receive scholarship to study law in ‘X’ university”. (Name of university withheld). He gave a powerful sermon, packed his bag and left. After the service, whilst chatting with ‘D’s’ dad, a brother approached the dad to confirm the prophecy. “Do you know ‘D’ told my wife, when she was at your house a week ago that she is going to be a lawyer when she grows up” he said. Wow! What a confirmation to the prophecy of the man of God. 2 Corinthians 13:1 says, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” I believe the brother must have thought within himself that the parents of ‘D’ were lucky.

Neither ‘D’ nor her parents were lucky. Were they favoured? Oh Yes! But God is not arbitrary. You can’t get something for nothing. You want to be able to resist the devil? First of all submit to God (James 4:7). ‘D’s’ parent served God, especially her dad, selflessly. He is part of at least 3 groups in the church; he is a sanctuary cleaner, outreach team member, usher, etc. When we go on evangelism, he brings ‘D’ and her sister with us and they participate. Actually, 'D' shares more tracts than the adults because she is not shy. D loved the Lord and Lord reciprocated the love. It is high time you considered your service to God. Job 36:11 says, “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.“ Do you just go to church, listen to sermon, pay your tithes and offering, and go home? You are missing some serious blessings by not serving in God’s vineyard. Are you serving in God’s vineyard but not putting your best into it? You only serve when it is convenient or when you feel like? I want you to change because God is watching and He will reward each individual accordingly. Revelations 22:12 says, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Have you been serving with all your heart and it seems as if you are getting nothing for it? ‘D’ parents have been serving selflessly for close to 14 years. God sees your efforts and He will reward you in due time. I Corinthians 2:8 says, “ But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Your testimony will be different and bigger.

NOTE: It is not only about activities in the church. As you serve selflessly, run away from sin. Sin causes God to distance Himself from a family or an individual (Isaiah 59:1-2). You can’t be working in God’s vineyard and be fornicating at the same time, and expect God to prosper you. The fornication has to stop before He will prosper you.

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“AND HE CHANGETH THE TIMES “

MEMORY VERSE: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. Daniel 2:21

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Chronicles 5-9

BIBLE READING: John 2:1-11

God has kept everything He created in the hands of time (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11). This is why the preacher says: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Every human being is limited by time. Some of us wished we had 32 hours instead of the regular 24 hours available to everyone. Even Jesus, whilst He was on earth, was in one way or the other limited by time. John 9:4 says, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” This is a proof that He was fully human when He was on the earth. There are other proofs that Jesus was fully human when He was on the earth. For example, He had a human body. He was born (Luke 2:7). He grew (Luke 2:40,52). He grew tired (John 4:6), and got thirsty ( John 19:28), and hungry ( Matthew 4:2).  He became physically weak ( Matthew 4:11; Luke 23:26). He died (Luke 23:46), and He had a real human body after his resurrection ( Luke 24:39; John 20:20, 27).

Also, He had human emotions. When Jesus heard the centurion’s words of faith, “he marvelled” (Matthew 8:10). He says in Matthew 26:38 that His “soul is very sorrowful, even to death.” In John 11:35 He wept. John 12:27 says, “Now is my soul troubled", and in John 13:21, He is “troubled in his spirit.” According to Hebrews 5:7 “He offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears”. He even had a human mind. Luke 2:52 says, “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and man.” Mark 13:32 says, “concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Do you know He even had a human will? The proof is found in Matthew 26:39 when He said, “not as i will, but as you will”. 

John 2:4 says, “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.” There are several lessons to learn from this verse. Firstly, Jesus, whilst He was on the earth, was limited by time. Every man too , whilst on this earth, is limited by time. There was a serious need  but the need could not be met because of time (John 2:1-4). Secondly, Jesus had His own time. John 2:4 says, “.......mine hour is not yet come”. Also, you and i have own time. I am not talking about owning a wristwatch. I am talking of a time the Lord has set apart to either visit us or meet our needs.I am talking of a time God has set apart to work through us or answer our prayers or for an important event to take place in our life. Only God knows our time, as such we must be patient with Him. Thirdly, time can be moved. It can be fast forwarded, paused, or reversed.  Because God wanted to meet the needs of that newlywed couple, He fast forwarded Jesus' time so that He was able to perform that miracle. So also dear brethren, God is able to fast forward our time. He can give a man 2018 blessing in 2015. One may wonder, what will now happen in 2018? Well, in 2018 He will give the fellow another blessing again. 

PRAYER POINT: In the name of Jesus, spirit of delay i bind you in my life, under the Blood of Jesus, pack you bag and never return.

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HANDLING PROPHECY

MEMORY VERSE: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Numbers 1-4

Who is a prophet? A prophet is someone, actually a mature believer, who speaks the mind of God, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The use of the word ‘mature’ is deliberate. The ministry of prophet is listed as one of the offices to be used to bring the church to maturity. A true prophet will speak out against things that are wrong, whether it makes him unpopular or not. He will draw people to God and not himself. The enemy has counterfeits of all the true gifts, and there are plenty of false prophets in the world. A false prophet is a dangerous person, as he will use his supposed authority to gain wrong influence over people, and keep them in bondage to himself through fear. Jeremiah 23:16 says, “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.” The deceiving prophet will not warn the people to turn from that which is wrong (Jeremiah 23:17-22), and usually immorality springs up where there is false prophecy. The deceiving prophet or false prophet will never talk about holiness or godliness.

We should be careful of personal, directive prophecy, especially outside the ministry of a mature and submitted man of God. Extreme caution should be used in receiving any alleged directive or predictive prophecy. Please don’t undertake any project simply because you were told to or by presumed prophetic utterances or interpretation of tongues, or by a presumed word of wisdom, or knowledge. Never do something just because a friend comes to you and says: “The Lord told me to tell you to do thus and thus!” If the Lord has instructions for you, He will give you a witness in your own heart, in which case the words coming from a friend, or through the gifts of the Holy Spirit in a meeting, will be confirmation to what God has already shown you. Your guidance must also agree with scripture. 2 Peter 1:19 says, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” The save rule is never proceed until you get confirmation. 2 Corinthians 13:1 says, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” The written Word of God is our guidebook, which we must study well, and is the test of all spoken words. Note the caution of the prophet Jeremiah. He was told by the Lord to buy a piece of property from his cousin Hanameel. He took no action, however, until his cousin came and offered to sell him the property, having no idea what the Lord had already said to Jeremiah. ‘Then’ said Jeremiah, “I knew it was the word of the Lord”. If the prophet Jeremiah, that great man of God, was so cautious, not even believing his own prophecy until it was confirmed, we should be all the more ( Jeremiah 32:6-9). Prophecy is different from inspired preaching. Although preaching is inspired by the Holy Spirit, but in preaching, the intellect, training, skill, background, and education are involved and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Prophecy on the other hand means that the person is bringing the words the Lord gives directly; it is from the spirit, not the intellect.

NOTE: The written Word of God is our guidebook, which we must study well, and it is the test of all spoken words including prophecy.

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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS: A MINISTRY IN PROPHECY.

MEMORY VERSE: Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying. Jeremiah 1:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 5-6

We recently looked at the Gift of Prophecy, one of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, which can be manifested in the life of any believer. The gift of prophecy is manifested when believers speak the mind of God, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and not from their thoughts. The fact that this gift is manifested in the life of an individual does not mean the individual is automatically a prophet, NO! As far as one has given his life to Christ, one may manifest any of the seven gifts of Holy Spirit – ‘Word of Wisdom’, ‘Word of Knowledge’, Gift of Faith, Gifts of Healings, Working of Miracles, Gift of Prophecy and Discerning of Spirits. However, after the infilling of the Holy Spirit or overflow of the Holy Spirit, any or all nine gifts may be manifested frequently and in power through the life of the believer. (Note: An infilling of the Holy Spirit or Baptism of the Holy Spirit needs to take place before a believer can manifest the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues.) As a believer matures in the Lord, certain gifts of the Holy Spirit may be expressed more frequently and effectively through the believer. It is then said that the believer have a ministry in those gifts. For example, when a person needs healing, the Lord can manifest the gifts of healing through any yielded believer to the person who needs healing. This does not mean the believer has a healing ministry. However, as this believer mature, the gifts of healing may be expressed more frequently and effectively through this believer. It is then said that this mature believer has a ministry in healing.

Today, we will look at ministry in prophecy. Since we are still in the Apostolic Age and the ministry of the apostle is still going on today, there are still those with the ministry of the prophet today. Just because the Old Testament prophets often spoke out against social and political abuses, and against priestcraft and the hierarchy of that day, does not mean that every protester and militant campaigner for social just is a ‘prophet’. Also, prophecy does not mainly consist of denouncing evil. It is not what a man says in the natural realm that makes him a prophet; it is the fact that he is moved by the Spirit of God to speak the words God gives him. There are many who love the title ‘prophet’ and as such they call themselves prophet. The fact that one can perform miracle or magic does not mean one is a prophet. What makes a man a prophet or woman a prophetess is that he or she brings the mind of God to people. As such, a prophet or prophetess must be able to hear from God. All the people referred to as prophets (in the bible and today) became prophets when the word of the Lord came to them. For example, Jeremiah 1:4 says: “Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,” A real prophet will not find it necessary to announce to others that he is a prophet; he will be known by his ministry. Look at what the bible had to say about Moses, a prophet of God. Numbers 12:3 says, “(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)” Moses did not need to print a flyer before people knew that he was a prophet. He didn’t even need to introduce himself as a prophet before people knew he is a prophet. Real prophets don’t need to announce that they are prophets before the people around know. A true prophet of God will naturally minister in the gift of prophecy often.

NOTE: A true prophet of God will be a mature Christian, as his ministry is listed as one of the offices to be used to bring the church to maturity ( Ephesians 4:8,11-16). No person should be allowed to minister as an established prophet in the Church unless he is thoroughly known by the brethren as to his doctrine and his manner of life.

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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS: THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

MEMORY VERSE: But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 1 Corinthians 14:3

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Thessalonians

The gift of prophecy is a gift manifested when the believer speak the mind of God by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and not from their own thoughts. There are three ways prophecy minister to believers: edification also known as building up, exhortation also known as urging on, and comfort also known as consoling. 1 Corinthians 14:3 says, “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” If an earthly father never corrected his children, it would be harmful and unloving. They wouldn’t grow up and mature normally. On the other hand, if the father was always telling them they were wrong, and never told them that he loved them and appreciated them, love wouldn’t grow between the parent and the children. Prophecy is not only "woe to this", "woe to that". No! It is a balance of exhortation and comfort. Please note that valid prophecy will not be harshly condemnatory of believers, but it may strongly counsel them. Although prophecy is mainly for believers, it can bring unbelievers to God (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).

In the Old Testament, there were men and women who were moved of God to prophesy. These prophets where chosen by God to speak His word to the people, usually ministering combining the gifts of prophecy and knowledge, and often doing other ‘mighty acts’ by the power of God. Many a time God’s will and intention is revealed through them. There are two major types of prophecies: conditional prophecy and unconditional prophecy. Certain conditions have to be met for a conditional prophecy to come to pass. Usually any prophecy concerning the future had an ‘if’ connected with it. A typical example can be found in the book of Jonah. The Lord sent Jonah to prophesy to the people of Nineveh. Jonah 3:4 says, “And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” But, the people of Nineveh repented in sackclothes and ashes. What would have been the point of bothering to send Jonah if there was no chance for them to repent? Since they repented i.e. met the conditions for mercy, Nineveh wasn’t overthrown. Unconditional prophecy concerns God’s definite plan for example, the coming of Jesus. Isaiah 53 is a perfect example – it is one of the greatest prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Lord Jesus. The ‘unconditional’ prophecies are mainly given for guide-posts to believers, so that we may discern the ‘signs of the times’. We are not supposed to be arguing with prophecies, but simply noting them as they come to pass, so that we know where we are in God’s time plan.

Also in Old Testament, God could not yet, by His Spirit, come to dwell in His people, but the Holy Spirit did come down to anoint certain people as they yielded to God. The Spirit rested on them. Ever since the day of Pentecost and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, any yielded child of God can be moved by the Holy Spirit to prophesy. Women are permitted to minister in prayer and prophesy as long as they are under ‘leadership’, that is, submitted to male leadership.

NOTE: Prophecy must always agree with the written Word of God. Please discard any prophecy that is not in consonance with the Word of God. The prophecy to eat grass does not agree with the written Word of God. The only human that ate grass in the written Word of God is Nebuchadnezzar and that happened after the Lord got angry with him and turned him into a beast!

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PRUDENT OR SIMPLE?

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: Daniel 1-6

READ: Judges 16: 6-21

Proverbs 27:12 says, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.” The first thing you need to know about the prudent is that he is not blind. He has a pair of eyes and he sees with them. There was a nurse, some years back, whose daughter was 5 months pregnant and she didn’t know. The shocking thing was this girl lived with her. It was a man of God who brought her attention to the girl's protruding tummy and the change in her complexion. How can a nurse live with a 5 months pregnant girl and not know except that she has eyes but can’t see with them? Friend, can you see?

The prudent has foresight. He foresees things especially evil things. The moment something happens, he knows where it will end because he is alert. Samson had no foresight. Delilah made her evil intentions known from the first day she met him. She literally told him "Samson, i want to finish you". Judges 16:6 says, “And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.” Why did she want to know the secret of his great strength if not she intended on weakening him? On hearing this, i thought Samson would end the relationship but he didn't. He was so blinded by love, i guess, that he moved in with her. Delilah asked the secret of his great strength; at first he told her a lie, she tried it and failed. The same thing happened the second time and Samson still continued in the relationship. After two attempts on his life , a prudent man will run for his deal life but Samson remained. My beloved sister, can you foresee evil? A man once asked a lady (he was in a relationship with), “where are the weak points in your body”? Why will a man ask such a question if not that he intends on doing something with the information? Can you read between the lines? That single lady who is always asking you to come and pray with her when no one is around.... That single man who is always asking you to come and pass the night at his place.... I pray God will open your eyes in Jesus name.

The moment a prudent man foresees evil, he will hide himself from it. The moment a prudent sister hears a brother say he doesn't believe in sexual abstinence before marriage, she will withdraw from the brother. Such a sister knows that the ‘brother’ is yet to be saved even though he maybe a choir master. There are a lot of choir masters and head ushers who are not saved. All these are titles; they don’t represent a man’s heart. The moment a prudent brother hears a sister complaining of ‘mother –in-laws’ , he will retire back to the prayer room to make sure he has really heard from God. The moment a prudent man notices that he is often excited around a particular sister that is not his wife, he will run from her. The moment a prudent sister observes that any time she chats with a particular sister, she feels low in the spirit to the point of not being able to pray, she will withdraw from that sister or avoid long conversation with her.

PRAYER: Father, please open my eyes to see.

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CONCERNING SPIRITUAL GIFTS: THE GIFTS OF TONGUES

MEMORY VERSE: For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 93-95

The gifts of God, when expressed as the Lord intended them to be, are beautiful, and needful in order that the body of Christ may grow and develop. As mentioned earlier in these series, these gifts are not earned but they are freely given by God to His children. Romans 8:32 says, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Before we define each gift, there is an important thing one needs to know and that is the gifts of God will be manifested according to one’s faith: " According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29).

The first gift we will be looking at is the Gifts of Tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:2 says, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” Speaking in tongues has nothing to do with emotion. Speaking in tongues cannot be emotion, for the emotions are part of the soul, the psychological nature, whilst speaking in tongues is speaking from or in the spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:14 says, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” Speaking in tongues may stir the emotions, just as it may sharpen the intellect, and order the will, but you do not have to become emotional in order to speak in tongues. Remember, emotion is a response, an expression, not a cause. There is no compulsion involved in speaking in tongues. God does not compel His people to do things, but He inspires them. It is the enemy who ‘possess’ and compels people against their will. Whenever anyone says: “i do this because God makes do it!” referring to any physical manifestation, it is likely that it is not God at all, but either his own soulish (psychological) nature that is acting, or worse yet, an alien spirit that is oppressing him. I am not denying that the Holy Spirit can sovereignly cause physical sensations. It is not uncommon for a person to feel a supernatural movement upon cheeks, lips, or tongue, or a stammering tongue, or trembling of the body, when praying for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. There are cases of people experiencing a weakness of muscle, even to the point of not being able to stand up. On the day of Pentecost itself they were accused of drunkenness! Nonetheless, no matter how overwhelming the inspiration may be, and whether it is spiritual, psychological, or even physical in nature, the spirit of the prophet is still subject to the prophet (1 Corinthians 14:32). God can and does do unexpected and unusual things, but does not make His children behave in bizarre and grotesque ways that would frighten others. Speaking in tongues is your spirit speaking, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and your spirit is under your control.

Someone once asked, did Jesus speak in tongues when He was empowered by the Holy Spirit? No, He didn’t but He said we would do so. Jesus did not need the edification of speaking in tongues, and there were no barriers in His soul that made it necessary for His Spirit to speak to the Father in a language His mind did not understand. Moreover, speaking in tongues is the manifestation that was to come at Pentecost, in ‘fullness of time’ (John 14:12).

NOTE: Although the Spirit does not compel believers, it can and does compel unbelievers for example those who came out to arrest Jesus were thrown to the ground (John 18:5-6).

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