FOR THEY SAID, HE IS OUR BROTHER’

MEMORY VERSE: And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. Judges 9:3

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 17-20

After the death of Gideon, one of his sons, Abimelech, hatched an evil plan to kill his brothers and become the king. Because he didn’t have the resources to carry out his evil agenda, he approached his mother’s relations for help (Judges 9:1-3). His mother’s relations spoke to the men of Shechem who agreed to help him because he was their brother (See Judges 9:3). These men contributed money and gave it to him. He hired some thugs and made his way to his father’s house. He killed his step-brothers; only Jotham, the youngest, escaped.

Judges 9:3 says: ‘……and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.’ His mother's relations knew that what Abimelech was about to do was wrong; however, they supported him because he was their brother. They knew that Abimelech was going to kill innocent people, but they supported him because he was their brother. They knew that Abimelech did not deserve to be the king because he was not the firstborn; yet, they encouraged him to carry out his evil agenda regardless. Don’t support an evil cause because it will favor your brother. Even, if that evil cause will favor a Christian and disfavor a non-Christian, please don’t support it. God is a righteous judge and He will not support evil. The men of Shechem could have rebuked Abimelech, instead,  they supported him because his evil action won’t affect them. Many of us don’t speak against evil practices because we will not be affected by them. If you are in the position of authority, and you are a Christian, God expects you to represent Him there. He expects you to be His mouthpiece, speaking against evil practices and fighting for the weak.

NOTE: You are indirectly supporting what you don’t speak against.

REMEMBER: What is wrong is wrong regardless of who is doing it.

Samuel Oluwatoki

A MEMORIAL FOR YOURSELF

MEMORY VERSE: And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house. Judges 8:27

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 13-16

Everything God does is for His glory. Revelations 4:11 says: ‘Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.' As such, how we celebrate (things) matters. Gideon celebrated his victory over the Midianites by acquiring wives for himself (See Judges 8:30). Did that benefit God? No! One question we must always ask ourselves is this, 'how does this thing that I am doing benefit God.' A brother told me a few years ago that he would like to become the finance minister of his country. 'How will that benefit God', I asked; unfortunately, he could not give an answer.

There is nothing wrong with throwing a big party (if you have the money) to celebrate your birthday or your wedding anniversary or any other good thing; however, is God’s name glorified? How does that big party benefit God? Is it an avenue to bring souls to Christ? In addition, Gideon celebrated his victory over the Midianites by making a golden ephod (See Judges 8:27). He celebrated his victory by making a name for himself: the first man to make a golden ephod. His victory was meant to lead many to the true God; sadly, it turned many into idolaters. Your celebrations must turn the hearts of men to God, not away from God. Your celebrations must bring glory to God alone, not yourself.

NOTE: The day of your wedding, if you are single, is a day to glorify God. Look beautiful not sexy. May I remind you that God’s definition of beauty is clearly defined in 1 Peter 3:3-4.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

THE HOLY SPIRIT II

MEMORY VERSE: But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1 Samuel 16:14

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 28-31

The Holy Spirit is a ‘MUST HAVE’ for every believer. Do you want to excel in your career? You need the Holy Spirit. Daniel through the power of the Holy Spirit excelled in politics. Do you want to excel in your studies? You need the Holy Spirit. A story that comes to mind is that of a Christian sister who was studying for her Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. Whilst studying a night before her Biology papers, a strange mosquito began to disturb her and she killed it. As she was about to put it in the bin, the Holy Spirit told her to study the mosquito. She opened her Biology textbook, read about mosquitoes, learnt how to draw and label mosquitoes, and went to the exam room. The next morning when she received her exam booklet, the first question was ‘draw and label a mosquito.’

To be fruitful at your old age, you need the Holy Spirit. To conquer the enemy, you need the Holy Spirit. To fulfil God’s plan for your life, you need the help of the Holy Spirit. Even to create wealth, you need the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 8:18 says: ‘But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.’ This brings us to the question, how do I receive the Holy Spirit? You receive the Holy Spirit when you give your life to Christ. Acts 2:38 says: ‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’

NOTE: If you grieve the Holy Spirit, He will leave. As such, you must not grieve Him.  Because nature abhors  a vacuum; the moment He takes His leave, an evil spirit will enter and torment the fellow. 1 Samuel 16:14 says: ‘But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.’ One disturbing fact about the Holy Spirit leaving a man is that you won’t know when He takes His leave. Many a time, it is always too late before one realizes that the Holy Spirit has left.

PRAYER POINT: Holy Spirit, please help me never to grieve you.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

FEAR, A ROBBER

MEMORY VERSE: Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand. Judges 7:3

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 9-12

After the children of Israel repented of their sins and cried to God for help, He raised a judge for them, Gideon. Thirty thousand men volunteered to fight alongside Gideon. Judges 7:2- 3 says: ‘And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.’ There are one or two lessons we can learn from this story. Firstly, victory is decided by God, not by the size of an army. Proverbs 21:31 says: ‘the horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.’ As far as God was concerned, the twenty thousand were not needed.

Secondly, boldness and courage are 'must-haves' for anyone who will work for God or work with God. God used ‘the presence of fear or absence of faith’ as a yardstick in deciding those He will use and those He won’t. Judges 7:3a says: ‘Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead.’ 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.’ To rephrase this, with fear (without faith) it is impossible to please God. Fear is a robber. It robbed the twenty thousand of an opportunity to be used by God. Fear robbed them of an opportunity to be everything they can be for God. It robbed them of an opportunity to be numbered among the greats, the 300 God used to deliver Israel. It robbed them of an opportunity to become record breakers and pacesetters. Fear robbed them of an opportunity to become a victor.

NOTE: Fear – fear of failure, fear of the unknown, etc. – can rob one of greatness or good things.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I receive the spirit of boldness.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

QUALITY (ALWAYS) TRUMP QUANTITY

MEMORY VERSE: And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place. Judges 7:7

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 5-8

Judges 6:1 says: ‘And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.’ The children of Israel saw horrors in the hands of the Midianites. When the suffering became unbearable, the children of Israel cried unto God and He heard them; He raised a judge for them, Gideon. At first, Gideon was reluctant to lead the children of Israel against the Midianites, but the Lord demonstrated to him through various signs that He was going to deliver the Midianites into his hands. Gideon gathered 30, 000 men and went to war against the Midianites.

Judges 7:7 says: ‘And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.’ Out of the 30000, only 300 were quality soldiers. The other 29,700, as far as the Lord was concerned, were just numbers i.e. quantity. Their hearts were not right; they were fearful. No wonder, majority of them turned back when Gideon announced that anyone that is fearful and afraid to leave. With 300 men, the Lord delivered the Midianites and the Amalekites and the children of the east, armies too much to number, into the hands of Gideon. A large army does not always guarantee victory as you saw in the case of Gideon and the Midianites. Also, military experience does not always guarantee victory. David, an ordinary civilian, defeated Goliath, the champion of Gath. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong (Ecclesiastes 9:11). As afar as you have God on your side, you can achieve much with a few. Jesus achieved much with a few (twelve quality disciples). It is not the number of children one has that matters, but what God does through the children. Old Elizabeth had only one child, John the Baptist. The Bible records that he is the greatest of all the Old Testament prophet (Luke 7:28).

NOTE: It is not the number of things you know how to do averagely that matters, but the number of things you know how to do very well. Many a time, they are very few probably one or two. Be a master at something!

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

THE HOLY SPIRIT II

MEMORY VERSE: But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1 Samuel 16:14

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 28-31

The Holy Spirit is a ‘MUST HAVE’ for every believer. Do you want to excel in your career? You need the Holy Spirit. Daniel through the power of the Holy Spirit excelled in politics. Do you want to excel in your studies? You need the Holy Spirit. A story that comes to mind is that of a Christian sister who was studying for her Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination. Whilst studying a night before her Biology papers, a strange mosquito began to disturb her, and she killed it. As she was about to put it in the bin, the Holy Spirit told her to study the mosquito. She opened her Biology textbook, read about mosquitoes, learnt how to draw and label mosquitoes, and went to the exam room. The next morning when she received her exam booklet, the first question was ‘draw and label a mosquito.’

To be fruitful at your old age, you need the Holy Spirit. To conquer the enemy, you need the Holy Spirit. To fulfil God’s plan for your life, you need the help of the Holy Spirit. Even to create wealth, you need the Holy Spirit. Deuteronomy 8:18 says: ‘But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.’ This brings us to the question, how do I receive the Holy Spirit? You receive the Holy Spirit when you give your life to Christ. Acts 2:38 says: ‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.’

NOTE: If you grieve the Holy Spirit, He will leave. As such, you must not grieve Him.  Because nature abhors  a vacuum; the moment He takes His leave, an evil spirit will enter and torment the fellow. 1 Samuel 16:14 says: ‘But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.’ One disturbing fact about the Holy Spirit leaving a man is that you won’t know when He takes His leave. Many a time, it is always too late before one realizes that the Holy Spirit has left.

PRAYER POINT: Holy Spirit, please help me never to grieve you.

twitter@BroOluwatoki

Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.

THE HOLY SPIRIT I

MEMORY VERSE: But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 1 Samuel 16:14

BIBLE READING: 1 Samuel 24-27

As believers, we are nothing without the Holy Spirit. We are empty, vulnerable, clueless, powerless, and hopeless without the Holy Spirit. Also, we can achieve nothing without Him. John 15:5 says: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." Jesus, when He was on the earth, fully depended on the Holy Spirit. His miracles were often Spirit-empowered. Luke 5:17 says: ‘And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.’ The power that was present (with Jesus) to heal was the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ reliance on the Holy Spirit enabled Him to resist sin. Luke 4:1-2a says: ‘And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being forty days tempted of the devil.’ Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit, not will-power or New Year resolutions to live a life of holiness. If Jesus relied on the Holy Spirit to perform miracles and resist sin, how much more should we depend on Him? Praying (according to God's will), requires the help of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26 says: ‘Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’ The Holy Spirit helped David, the underdog, to defeat Goliath. 1 Samuel 16:13 says: ‘Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.’

NOTE: The Holy Spirit is for believers, people who have given their lives to Christ. It is for those who have said goodbye to a life of sin and embraced a life of righteousness and holiness. Do you want to say goodbye to sin? Give your life to Jesus Christ. Let Him take over your challenges. Jesus never fails

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world.