PRAYER: A MASTER KEY

MEMORY VERSE: Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:14-15

BIBLE READING: 1 Kings 5-8

There is a song we used to sing back in Nigeria: ‘Prayer is the key. Prayer is the key. Prayer is the master-key. Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer. Prayer is the master-key.’ How true are the lyrics of this song? Jesus started His ministry with prayer (in the desert) and ended it with prayer (on the cross). One of the secrets of Jesus' success whilst He was on the earth was prayers. He prayed regularly. Prayer is a prerequisite for greatness.

Anyone who wants a change of story, a change of circumstances, victory, a breakthrough, etc., must pray. By praying for the sick, God can heal them. James 5:14-15 says: ‘Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.’ Fervent prayer can turn a situation around. James 5:16 says: ‘Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.’ There was a conspiracy at work to get rid of me some years back. At a point, it was certain that I was going to be sacked because they recruited someone to replace me. I reported the matter to God and He turned the table around. The person that led the conspiracy was demoted and she left out of shame. Others were sacked. Prayer draws angels closer to you. Jesus prayed and angels came to minister to Him (Luke 22:39-43). Prayer diffuses fear and imparts unshakeable confidence. Acts 4:31 says: ‘And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.’ However, one thing is required for your prayer to be answered and that is faith. Hebrews 11:6 says: ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’

NOTE: Prayer draws you closer to God.

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HE DELIGHTS IN THE PROSPERITY OF HIS CHILDREN

MEMORY VERSE: Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. Psalm 35:27

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 19-22

Matthew 19:24 says: “And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” 1 Timothy 6:10 says: “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Many read Matthew 19:24 and 1 Timothy 6:10 and concluded that riches is bad for Christians. Some actually believe that no rich man will enter heaven. As such, they hate money and do everything possible to ensure that they do not become rich. Jesus did not say riches will take you to hell neither did He say that poverty will take you to heaven. The only condition to get to heaven is be born again (John 3:3-5).

The Bible teaches that God delights in the prosperity of His servants (See Psalm 35:27).  Why would God delight in the “prosperity” of His servants if wealth/prosperity is bad – if prosperity will take them to hell? God wants you to prosper. Abraham, a man described in James 2:23 as the Friend of God, was a rich man. Abraham’s servant said, “And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great: and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and asses (Genesis 24:35).” David, a man God described as a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22), gave close to a billion dollars towards the building of the temple (1 Chronicles 29:1-30). Bible scholars valued the gold and silver he gave to the tune of $867.5 million. After Job passed the test, God greatly prospered him. God wants His children to prosper and as such, He gives them the power to get wealth ( See Deuteronomy 8:18). We have established that God wants you to prosper; however, there is a caveat to it. If you want divine prosperity you must live holy. Isaiah 1:19 says: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” You must be a giver. Proverbs 11:25 says: “The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” You must be diligent. Proverbs 12:24 says: “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.” Lastly, you must not be a lover of pleasure. Proverbs 21:17 says: “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” Many of us are not rich simply because we love pleasure – flashy things.

CONFESSION: I prophesy that this year will be my best year so far.

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GUIDANCE BY PROHIBITION

MEMORY VERSE: After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. Acts 16:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 14-18

Divine guidance is something the Lord promised all His children. Several verses of the Holy Scriptures allude to this fact; 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.”

One of the ways God guides His children is through open doors. Isaiah 45:2 says: “I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron.” John 10:4 says: “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” No door can be shut against The Door (Jesus Christ). Doors automatically open before Him as He leads the way (Psalm 24:9) and you go through easily. One of the ways to know that God is in a matter is things just happen without forcing them. You achieve things without stress because the Holy Bible says, “it is not by power or by might but by my spirit says the Lord.” An instance that comes to mind was when I wanted to travel abroad to study. Due to lack of money, everyone was against the idea and I quite understand. Out of the blue, everyone that was against the idea suddenly bought into it and I was on my way to attend a visa interview. At the interview, I was nervous because I had never seen a white man before in my life. To make matters worse, I could barely hear him when he asked me questions. All through the interview, I was shaking and stammering. The next thing I knew was he asked for my passport and motioned to me to go and wait outside. When God is in a thing, I have learnt with the little time I have spent with Him that things go smoothly - so smoothly that one may think it is that easy. Another way He guides, although many are not used to, is through prohibition or closed doors. Paul wanted to go and preach in Mysia but the Lord did not want him to go so He shut the door at him. Acts 16:7 says: “After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.” Many a time, God speaks to us and we pretend as if we can’t hear Him so He deliberately shuts the door to us- out of love. Friend, what God denies and keeps us away from is as much divine guidance as what He permits and opens to us.

NOTE: Every door that didn’t open, every opportunity you didn’t get and every call that didn’t come, is as much God’s guidance as those that did.

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CAUGHT IN A THICKET BY HIS HORNS

MEMORY VERSE: And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Genesis 22:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 7-13

BIBLE READING: Genesis 22:1-13

Genesis 22:1 says: “And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.” God does not tempt. According to Noah Webster’s dictionary 1828 edition, to tempt means “To incite or solicit to an evil act; to entice to something wrong by presenting arguments that are plausible or convincing, or by the offer of some pleasure or apparent advantage as the inducement.” It is not in God’s character to tempt people – He will never incite a man to do evil. It is Satan that tempts not God (James 1:13). The right translation, I believe, is tried. God tried Abraham not tempt him. If you feel like fornicating with a colleague at work or commit adultery, it is the devil tempting you. I pray you won’t fall so that you don’t lose valuable things in your life.

The story in Genesis 22:1-13 is a popular one. It is one we have heard at one time or the other and if you have not heard or read it, I will encourage you to get a bible and read it. Abraham loved God and Isaac. God wanted to see who he loved more so He tried him by telling him to sacrifice Isaac. Abraham demonstrated his love for God by deciding to sacrifice his only son (Isaac). After all, the God who gave him Isaac is able to give him another one. Abraham was about to sacrifice the young boy when God stopped him and gave him a ram to use instead. Genesis 22:13 says: “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.” I want us to pay a close attention to this phrase: “caught in a thicket by his horns.” You see, when God prepares a blessing for a man, He secures it so that no one can steal it. He secures it so that it is almost impossible to lose it. That ram would have walked away had the angel of the Lord not secured by tying it down. Friend, no man can take a position or what God has given to you. This is not a license to be lazy. This is not a license to relax in the place of prayer or stop praying. If you stop praying, the enemy will delay your blessing like the Prince of Persia delayed the angel God sent to Daniel. The point here is stop scheming – stop playing games. If it is yours no man can take it. Worse still, stop manipulating or stop trying to influence situations / people to get results.

NOTES: God does not do a “half job”. No man can take what He has decided to give to you. However, you can lose it as a result of your laziness. The angel secured the ram for Abraham; he didn’t kill or offer it for Abraham.

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ARE YOU WALKING WITH GOD?

MEMORY VERSE: And Methuselah lived an hundred eighty and seven years, and begat Lamech: And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. Genesis 5:25-27

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 2:11 – 6


The author of Revelation, John the apostle, spoke about a particular book in heaven that contains a record of how you lived on earth. Revelations 20:12 says: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” A record is opened in this great book the day a child is born and closed the day he dies. His activities, words, etc., are closely monitored and recorded in this great book. On the last day, this book will be opened and every man will be judged from this book.

In Genesis 5, we see the record heaven kept on some people of old. Looking at the record, many of them lived a wasted life. The oldest man that ever lived was Methuselah (see Genesis 5:25-27).  His life, his achievements, was summarized in four (4) lines. All the Bible had to say about his life was he lived and begat sons and daughters. He may have built houses, bought horses, had a big farm, probably pursued a political post, attended a good school or gotten some education but as far as heaven is concerned, all these things are zero because none of them are of eternal value! This brings me to the question, what are you doing with your life? What will heaven record against your name? In how many lines will your life be summarized on judgment day? Is it the usual ‘he lived and begat’? Thank God for men like Enoch. Although he lived a very short life compared to the people at that time, he achieved much (see Genesis 5:24). Heaven testified that Enoch walked with God. When you return to be with the Lord, will heaven testified that you walked with God? Friend, are you walking with God? Before you say yes, let me explain the question to you. I am not asking if you were born into a Christian family or if you go to church or if you are a worker in the church, the question is are you walking with God? It is possible to be a worker in the church and not walk with God after all we have seen workers in the church, even choir members, who commit abortion. Be honest with yourself, are you walking with God?

NOTE: If you know that you are not walking with God, repent today and start walking with Him. Ask Him to forgive you and don’t return to a life of sin.

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SPEAK TO THAT MOUNTAIN

MEMORY VERSE: For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Mark 11:23

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 1:1-2:10

Anything that stands between you and the fulfilment of God’s plan and purpose for your life is a mountain (See Matthew 17:20). A mountain can be defined as a barrier standing in your way. One of the things we do with mountains (problems) is we pretend they don’t exist. An example that comes to mind is the Shunammite woman (2 Kings 4:8-37). This woman had everything except one thing, a child. When Elisha asked her, “Ma, is there any problem in your life you want God to solve?” – she responded and said,” No sir!” She pretended as if she didn’t have a problem getting pregnant. To solve any problem, you must first admit that you have a problem and you need help. That problem you are facing will not be solved until you admit that you have a problem and seek help from God. Remember, it is not weakness to admit that you have a problem or seek help. Thank God for Gehazi (Elisha’s attendant) who told Elisha about her problem. Elisha prayed and God answered.

Another thing we do with mountains is we ignore them hoping they will somehow disappear. Let me be frank with you, problems do not go away. They must be worked through or else they remain forever a barrier to your growth and the development your spirit. Some take pleasure in talking about their mountains and some cry about them. Crying about your mountains (problems) will not bring solutions. I have come to realise (and I must confess that I learnt this the hard way) that talking about problems only make them bigger. I have met people who personalize their mountains. They say things like, “my headache”, “my leg pain”, “my migraine”, etc. It is the devil’s migraine, not yours! Christ commands us to speak to our mountains in faith. Mark 11:23 says: “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.” Everything God created has ears and they hear when we speak to them. Jesus, whilst He was on the earth, spoke to the trees (Mark 11:12-25) and the wind (Matthew 8:23-27) and they obeyed Him. Joshua spoke to the sun and the moon and they obeyed (Joshua 10:12). There are several examples in Scriptures of people speaking to lifeless objects and they obeyed.

ACTION: Speak to your mountain by faith and it will obey you.

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“AND YE SHALL FIND THEM” 2

MEMORY VERSE: In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood from the books the number of the years, of which the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. Daniel 9:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 45-50

Daniel 11:32 says: “And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” We can glean several truths from this verse. For instance, knowledge ,wisely applied, gives a man influence. In addition, a man who knows (His God) will do exploits and a man who doesn’t will be exploited. A story that comes to mind is that of a lazy brother who paid a false prophet to fast on his behalf. One evening, he passed by the prophet's house and saw him eating when he should be fasting on his behalf. “Sir, aren’t you fasting,” he asked the prophet - “I am fasting my son, I hung the fast to eat this pounded yam; I’ll resume in few minutes,” the prophet replied.

God has invited us to call Him and He has promised to answer and reveal great things to us. This brings us to the question, how? Firstly, He will reveal things to us when we pray ( See Jeremiah 33:3). Secondly, He will reveal mysteries to us when we meditate on the Scripture. The following are benefits of meditating on Scriptures: it reduces blood pressure, lessens heart and brain problems, increases mental strength and focus, increases memory retention and recall, better information processing, better decision making & problem solving, etc. In addition, God will reveal deep things to us when we meditate on the Scripture. The Lord revealed the duration of the desolations of Jerusalem to Daniel whilst he was meditating on the Scripture ( See Daniel 9:2). The desolations of Jerusalem would have gone beyond seventy years had Daniel not discovered it from meditating on Scriptures. Thirdly, He will reveal or speak to us through sermons, tapes, seminars, books written by anointed men and women of God, etc. What we hear on tapes, in seminars and read in books written by anointed men of God are secrets God shared with the authors. Get books written by anointed men of God and you will be amazed at the number of things God will reveal to you as you read them.

NOTE: Develop a habit of reading. There are things God wants to reveal you through books so read.

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