“OUT OF THE MOUTH OF BABES”

MEMORY VERSE: And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? Matthew 21:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 23-25

It is impossible for God to be stranded. How can the Creator of the heavens and the earth be stranded? He can create something out of nothing. For instance, He created light out of darkness. Genesis 1:2 says: "And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Out of this darkness, God called out light. Verse 3 says: " And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." He called land out of the water. Verse 9 says: “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so." He can make a way where there is no way. For instance, He made a way in the Red Sea (Exodus 14). Verse 21 says: "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided." I pray that God will make a way for you where you least expect in Jesus name, amen. In 1 Kings 17, God employed ravens to feed Elijah. Anyone who knows about birds will tell you that ravens are the stingiest of God's creation – they are even stingy with their children. Job 38:41 says: "Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat." Yet, God used ravens to feed Elijah.

The Lord will never run out of options (to help you). Why? Isaiah 55:9 says: "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The Lord will never run out of people to use for His glory; He always has substitutes. Elijah, in 1 Kings 19, tried to brag about his love and commitment to God. "I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away," he said. The Lord responded and said, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him (1 Kings 19:18)." He can create substitutes where there are none. Jesus, after resurrection, tasked His disciples with taking the gospel to the uttermost part of the earth . What did they do? They remained in Jerusalem because to them, gentiles are unclean. God had to literally use Saul- through persecution - to get them out of Jerusalem. Saul later became Paul, the Apostle, and was sent to the gentiles.

NOTE: Some of us are, now, too big to praise God. We are too big to dance before God or even clap our hands. Matthew 21:16 says: "And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" If the adults refuse to praise Him little boys like us will praise Him.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

THE GOD OF ORDER

MEMORY VERSE: How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 1 Corinthians 14:26

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 21-22

READ: 1 Corinthians 14:26 -36

God is a God of order. By the special grace of God, I have met one or two people who have been to heaven. These are matured Christians who are sold out to Christ and His purposes on earth, not those who claim that they went to heaven and saw baby angels. There are no baby angels in heaven. Firstly, angels are genderless and secondly, they don't reproduce. Those little creatures are demons, not angels. In addition, I have read several accounts of people who went to heaven. They all said that heaven is beautiful. This chimes with John’s revelation of heaven. Revelations 21:21 says: “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”

Also, they said that heaven is a place of order. Several portions of the Scripture allude to this. For instance, Ezekiel described the four living creatures he saw in a vision (Ezekiel 1). These creatures moved in an orderly manner. Verse 21 says: “When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.” John described the twenty-four elders he saw worshipping God in a vision (Revelations 4). Verse 10-11 says: “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Everything they did oozed of order. They knelt, took off their crowns, laid it before God and spoke at the same time. He also spoke about some angels in Revelations 15-16. These angels spoke in an orderly manner - they spoke in turns. The second angel spoke after the first angel, the third angel spoke after the second angel and so on.

God loves order. Wherever there is order, there you will find peace, love, growth, progress, happiness, fruitfulness, prosperity, spiritual growth, etc. Hence, Paul encourages orderliness during worship in the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 14). Verse 26 says: "How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." Disorderliness appals Him. No wonder He cast out Satan from paradise when he tried to break the order in heaven. Wherever there is disorderliness, there you will find hatred, rebellion, animosity, stagnancy, anger, bitterness, even at times - death.

NOTE: If you are going to enjoy a walk with God, then you must be an orderly person.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

GUARD YOUR HEART

MEMORY VERSE: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 11-20

According to Dictionary.com, the word “guard” means to keep safe from harm or danger; protect or watch over. We guard things that are precious or of value to us. For instance, wise women guard their marriages jealously. Unfortunately, some go to extreme length to guard their marriages. They go through their husbands’ mobiles when they are sleeping or check their computers/I-pads to see what they have been up to. Some foolishly employ diabolical means; i.e., charms, love portion, etc., to guard their marriages. Using diabolical means is like seeking help from your enemy. You dare not ask a lion to watch over a goat except you want to lose the goat. Women do these funny things; i.e., spy on their husbands or employ diabolical means because their marriages are precious to them. I pray that the Lord will give such women peace in Jesus name, amen. One of the reasons why I advocate looking to God for a life partner is because He takes responsibility for keeping the man and the marriage. The sister also has to submit to her head, her husband (Colossians 3:18). The primary way to guard your marriage is to pray. Many business owners employ beautiful ladies and ask them to dress in a sexy way; i.e., wear short skirts and tight blouses to keep existing male customers and attract new ones. I don’t subscribe to such practices. Only God through the power of prayer can keep your customers. Besides, your customers will be loyal to you if you render quality service to them.

Proverbs 4:23 says: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” We have to keep/guard our hearts with all diligence because it is the most important part of us. Our hearts literally control our lives. Our hearts inform our confessions. Luke 6:45 says: "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." Our confessions inform the quality of our lives. What you confess is what you are going to have. Numbers 14:28 says: "Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the LORD, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you." A brother confessed to me that he falls sick whenever he pulls a sickie. (To pull a sickie means to take a day off work saying that you are ill when, in fact, you are not.) Our hearts are so important that God asked for it. Proverbs 23:26 says: "My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." God has us once He has our hearts. The human heart is like a soil. Anything you plant on it will germinate. If you plant the wrong seeds it will grow and bring forth the wrong fruits. However, if you plant the right seeds it will bring forth the right fruits. Hence, watch what you plant on it. You can guard what you listen to or read.

REMEMBER: Your eyes and ears are the windows to your hearts.

NOTE: Watch the type of books you read. Ungodly books; viz, novels with erotic contents, will pollute your heart.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

DIVINE GUIDANCE

MEMORY VERSE: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalm 32:8

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 26-30

It is God’s will to guide His children. The Bible is littered with several promises concerning divine guidance;e.g., Proverbs 3:6 says: “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”, Isaiah 30:21 says: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left”, Psalm 32:8 says: “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.”

How does God instruct? One of the ways He instructs is through Scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:16 says: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” God’s general will for all people in all places in all circumstances is revealed in Scriptures. He has told us what He thinks about a whole range of issues. From the Bible, we know that certain things are wrong. Therefore, we can be quite sure that He will not guide us to do these things. He will not guide any man to marry a second wife. Sometimes a single person says, “I have fallen in love with this man/woman who is not a Christian. We love each other so much. I feel God leading me to start a relationship with him/her." But God has already made His will clear. He has said, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14)?” We can be quite sure that God will not guide any Christian to marry an unbeliever. In this particular case and many other cases, God has revealed His general will. We do not need to ask for His guidance because He has already given it. If we are not sure, we may need to ask someone who knows the Bible better than we whether there is anything on that issue. Although God’s general will is revealed in Scriptures, we cannot always find His particular will for our lives there. The Lord also instructs through sermons and books written by anointed men and women of God.

NOTE: If the Lord tarries we will discuss the four ways in which God reveals His will to us. In the meantime, I want you to know that the voice may be many, the message can be but one. If God tells me in one voice to do or to leave undone anything, He cannot possibly tell me the opposite in another voice. If there is a contradiction in the voices, the speakers cannot be the same. Therefore, the rule for distinguishing the voice of God would be to bring it to the test of harmony. Always check whatever you heard with Scriptures first. If it does not agree with Scriptures, I appeal to you to pray again and ask others to pray along with you.

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“AND THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH”

MEMORY VERSE: For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. Genesis 2:24

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 21-25

Genesis 2:24 says: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” There are several lessons to learn from this verse; for instance, marriage – as recorded in the Holy Scriptures - is a union between a man and a woman not a man and several women, Steve and Steve, Mary and Mary or man/woman and an animal. Also, marriage is a union between a man and a woman not a man and a girl or a boy and a woman or worse still, a boy and a girl. There are many brothers with full grown beards who are still boys. Someone once threatened to kill himself because a lady dumped him. You know for a fact that such fellow is a boy. Also, there are many sisters with full developed bodies who are still girls. A man has to leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife.

 Unfortunately, many cultures frown at this. It is seen as a sign of weakness for a man to cleave to his wife.
“They shall become one flesh”, what does this mean? Man (and woman) is tripartite in nature. In other words, man has three parts; namely, spirit, soul and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The spirit is the part of man that relates to the unseen spiritual world; viz, God and Satan. The soul is the part of man that relates to the mental realm; viz, his reasoning and intellectual powers. The body is the part of man that deals with his physical environment . In a nutshell, man is a spirit who possesses a soul and lives in a body. To become one in flesh means to become one in spirit, soul and body. What does it mean to be one in spirit? It simply means to agree in matters relating to spirituality and God; i.e. biblical doctrine and practices. It is advised that husbands and their wives attend the same church, listen to the same sermons, read the same books, attend the same seminars, have the same spiritual parents or disciplers, etc. 1 Corinthians 7:5 says: “Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” Some deliberately fast to punish their husbands or wives. This is not a good practice. Besides,such fast is a hunger strike and nothing worthwhile will come out of it. To be one in soul means to agree in matters relating to vision, purpose, ambition, goals, etc. To be one in body is quite straight forward. Many marriages fail because the man and the woman that are joined in Holy Matrimony refuse to become one in flesh; viz, spirit, soul and body. The husband is heading north and the wife, south. The husband has his goals and the wife has her goals too. They are not united in their vision, purpose or goal. Some couple agree on everything except finances. The husband has his money and the wife has hers.

NOTE: Dear single brother/ sister, if you are not one in spirit with the person you want to marry; i.e. you disagree in matters relating to spirituality and God, please seek counselling before you go to the altar. If you believe in holiness, righteousness or tithing and the person you want to marry does not believe in them, I will advise you tread carefully.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

ARE YOU PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT?

MEMORY VERSE: Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Isaiah 43:4

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 11-20

Please ignore anyone who tells you that God loves everyone equally. That is not true. The Lord said concerning Esau and Jacob, long before they were born, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (Romans 9:13).” The same God who created Esau and Jacob said to Rebekah whilst she was pregnant, “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger (Genesis 25:13).” One will be deluding himself or herself if he or she thinks that God loves everyone equally. He said in Isaiah 43:4, “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.” You will realize from meditating on Isaiah 43:4 that some are precious in His sight and some are not. Many years ago, some men were travelling from Okenne, Kogi State, to another part of Nigeria. As they were about to set off, one of the men who sat in the back seat requested to swap seats with a young man who sat in the front passenger seat. The young man agreed and they swapped seats. Two minutes later, their vehicle was involved in a ghastly motor accident and the man who sat in the front passenger seat died instantly because of the injury he sustained. The man who swapped seats with him (and sat at the back) escaped with a mark to the side of his face.

Isaiah 43:4b says: “therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life”. The question is this, who created the men He promised to give for your life and my life? He created them. Proverbs 11:8 says: “The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead." Whenever trouble opens its mouth to swallow a child of God, the Lord will replace him or her with the wicked. An example that comes to mind is the incident that happened to a Christian brother at his place of work some years back. Whilst he was on holiday, someone drove one of the company vehicles without signing it out and was fined for over-speeding. The police contacted the organization and when they could not produce the fellow who drove the vehicle, they decided to take the organization to court. In other to save their image, the company decided to sacrifice someone and the person they decided to sacrifice was this Christian Brother, the fleet manager. On the day they were going to sack him, the Lord delivered him and the manager, his manager, who wanted to sacrifice him was sacrificed instead. This brings us to the question, are you precious in His sight? Proverbs 8:17 says: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.” Do you love the Lord? Firstly, only believers, born-again Christians, are precious in His sight. If you hate Jesus you are not precious in Lord's sight. Secondly, only those who love Him are precious in His sight. John 14:23 says: “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” Thirdly, only those who fear Him are precious in His sight. Proverbs 16:6 says: “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”

NOTE: You cannot claim to fear God and accept bribe. You cannot claim to love God and fornicate.
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DID HE SEND YOU?

MEMORY VERSE: And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. Luke 10:41

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 41-42

READ: Luke 10:38-42

Luke 10:38 says: “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.” I want you to take note of this sentence - “Martha received him into her house”. Jesus didn’t force His way into Martha’s house; she opened her door to Him out of her own volition. Jesus will never force His way into your life except you open the door to Him. He said in Revelations 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” No one has ever opened his door to Jesus and regretted it. Whoever opens his or her heart to Jesus will receive everything Jesus has to offer. Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17), and He will give them to anyone who asks in faith.

Jesus sat and taught in Martha’s house. Mary, Martha’s younger sister, sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His gracious Words. I want you to take note of where Mary sat – “at Jesus’ feet”. Bro, where are you currently sitted? Mary had a teachable spirit. She sat at Jesus’ feet to learn. Martha, on the other hand, was in the kitchen preparing food. She was busy preparing food for Him without asking Him if He wanted to eat and what He wanted to eat. What if He was fasting? No wonder, Jesus rebuked her when she came to report Mary for not assisting her in the kitchen. Luke 10:41 says: “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.”

Did Martha bother to know what Jesus wanted to eat? NO! Had she asked, Jesus would have told her not to bother. Many of us are like Martha in that we are busy serving without asking the Lord what He wants us to do or in what capacity He wants us to serve. Martha wasted all that food, time and effort doing what she was not sent to do. I doubt she got a thank you from the Lord for the food. Many of us are expecting a "thank you" from God for doing what He has not sent us to do. Who sent you on that mission you are on? Don’t expect a reward for a task He has not given to you. Those unassigned tasks are “weights” and they can pull you down. Hebrews 12:1 says: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Don’t join groups in the church because your friends are part of that group. The Lord may want your friend to be part of the protocol team and you, a choir. You will know if the Lord is leading you to join a group. Many a time, the Lord will speak to your pastor who will then direct you to the right group to join.

NOTE: You must ask yourself from time to time, "Why am I doing what I am doing?" Brother, why are you in the prayer warrior group? Is it because it is convenient or because you want to stand in the gap? If you are doing it because it is convenient, you will leave once it becomes inconvenient. If you are in a group because your friends are there, if care is not taken you will leave when they leave too.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.