MEMORY VERSE: and when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed, Luke 17:14
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 21, Ps 108-109, Isa 48, Rev 18
BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:19-21
When the going gets tough, look up to the heavens. When it seems like the enemies are closing in on you look to heaven. When you are weak and lack the strength to continue look to heaven. When you look to the right and to the left and there is no one to call on look up to the heavens. The Psalmist says I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth, Psalms 121:1-2. After looking up to the heaven, what next? First thank Him and then table your concerns before the Almighty. If you cannot think of anything, thank Him for the gift of life. As we discussed yesterday, only the living has challenges and only the living has hope. Job 14:7 says for there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that tender branch thereof will not cease. If there is hope for a tree when it is cut down, there is hope for you!
After Jesus blessed the name of the Lord, He did something interesting. Matthew 14:19 says and he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. After praying, He took actions in other words He took a step of faith. After blessing the Lord He broke the five bread and two fishes and gave His disciples to share them. The problem with many believers is they want the bread and fish to multiply before they start sharing. That is not how it is done, after praying you take a step of faith.
After Jesus prayed nothing really happened. The bread and fishes did not suddenly become a 1000. Before He prayed, He had five bread and two fishes. After He prayed, He still had five bread and two fishes, the question is what then multiplied the bread and fish? His step of faith.Don’t wait for physical manifestation before you know God has answered. Jesus told the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests, Luke 17:11-19. After Jesus prayed for these men, nothing really happened. They were lepers before the prayers, they were lepers after the prayer but the bible records that as they went, they were cleansed. As they took the step of faith, the power of God was activated in their matter. You situation will change when you take a step of faith!
KEYWORD: Your step of faith activates the mighty of power of God.
Tuesday 5 November 2013
Saturday 2 November 2013
FIRST GIVE THANKS
MEMORY VERSE: and he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the fives loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples and the disciples to the multitudes, Matthew 14:19
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 20, Ps 107, Isa 47, Rev 17
BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:19-21
In our bible studies is a very familiar story. Jesus was in the desert with his disciples, some people heard about it and they told their friends. Before you know it the desert was jam-packed with people who were seeking solution to the thorny issues of their lives. When Jesus saw them he was filled with great compassion and began to heal them. By the time it was evening everyone was very hungry and there was nothing to feed them with. The disciples suggested that they send the people away to go and get food themselves, but Jesus was against the idea. With five loaves of bread and two fishes, He fed five thousand men not counting women and children.
If your ministry is facing challenges, I want to inform you that the ministry of Jesus faced challenges too. Your ministry is not the first to face challenges and it will not be the last. The challenges Jesus had was He had to feed around 30,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. The bible only mentioned 5000 men but we know that the number of woman always triples the number of men in the church and the number of children always quadruples the number of men. Jesus needed food to feed this crowd. To make matters worse it was in the evening which meant that virtually all the shops in the villages nearby were already closed for the day. Since there was nothing He could humanly do, He looked to heaven.
When the going got tough for Jesus, He looked up to His Father in heaven. The mistake most of us do when the going gets tough is that we look down and bow our head in shame. We feel sorry for ourselves and some even begin to cry. Brethren, Jesus looked up to Heaven so I admonish you to look up to heaven for that ministry need. The first words that came out His mouth when He looked to heaven were father I thank you. The bible records in Matthew 14:19 that He blessed in other words he said a prayer of thanksgiving. The first thing you must always do when you go to God is thank Him. Thank Him for His faithfulness and other things He has done in the ministry. Thank Him because it could have been worse but He did not permit it. Thank Him for the salvation of your soul and the gift of life. After all only the living has challenges, the dead don’t have challenges. After Jesus blessed the Lord, He took a step of faith. Brethren after you must have blessed the Lord and tabled your request before Him, take a step of faith.
ACTION: Thank God first before you table your request before Him.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 20, Ps 107, Isa 47, Rev 17
BIBLE STUDIES: Matthew 14:19-21
In our bible studies is a very familiar story. Jesus was in the desert with his disciples, some people heard about it and they told their friends. Before you know it the desert was jam-packed with people who were seeking solution to the thorny issues of their lives. When Jesus saw them he was filled with great compassion and began to heal them. By the time it was evening everyone was very hungry and there was nothing to feed them with. The disciples suggested that they send the people away to go and get food themselves, but Jesus was against the idea. With five loaves of bread and two fishes, He fed five thousand men not counting women and children.
If your ministry is facing challenges, I want to inform you that the ministry of Jesus faced challenges too. Your ministry is not the first to face challenges and it will not be the last. The challenges Jesus had was He had to feed around 30,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fishes. The bible only mentioned 5000 men but we know that the number of woman always triples the number of men in the church and the number of children always quadruples the number of men. Jesus needed food to feed this crowd. To make matters worse it was in the evening which meant that virtually all the shops in the villages nearby were already closed for the day. Since there was nothing He could humanly do, He looked to heaven.
When the going got tough for Jesus, He looked up to His Father in heaven. The mistake most of us do when the going gets tough is that we look down and bow our head in shame. We feel sorry for ourselves and some even begin to cry. Brethren, Jesus looked up to Heaven so I admonish you to look up to heaven for that ministry need. The first words that came out His mouth when He looked to heaven were father I thank you. The bible records in Matthew 14:19 that He blessed in other words he said a prayer of thanksgiving. The first thing you must always do when you go to God is thank Him. Thank Him for His faithfulness and other things He has done in the ministry. Thank Him because it could have been worse but He did not permit it. Thank Him for the salvation of your soul and the gift of life. After all only the living has challenges, the dead don’t have challenges. After Jesus blessed the Lord, He took a step of faith. Brethren after you must have blessed the Lord and tabled your request before Him, take a step of faith.
ACTION: Thank God first before you table your request before Him.
Friday 1 November 2013
GOD ALWAYS ALWAYS HAS SUBSTITUTES
MEMORY VERSE: Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none
that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?,
Isaiah 43:13
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Lev 2-3, John 21, Prov 18, Col 1
When God decides to do something on earth whether in a life or a
church or a place or country, there is no one or Jupiter who can stop
Him. Actually Psalm 33:9 says once He says it, consider it done. When
God wants to do something, please never sit on the fence. It is very
dangerous to neither be for Him nor against Him. He hates lukewarm
attitude with a passion. Revelations 3:16 says so then, because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
That is why if you want to serve God, serve Him wholeheartedly if you
don’t want to serve Him no problem with that but please, do not be a
lukewarm Christian.
It is unwise to be against God. The Lord told the children of
Israel to go and posses the land of Canaan but they refused. The whole
nation cried and said they were not going because there were giants in
the land, Number 14:1-45. The Lord said no problem, I have promised to
take the children of Israel to Canaan land – a land flowing with milk
and honey. If you elders don’t want to go, I will take your children.
Everyone from age twenty and above died but the young ones got to
Canaan. If the Lord is asking you to do something and you are refusing
to do it, no problem He will get another person to do it. If He is
asking you to go and start a ministry or do one thing or the other for
Him and you are acting like a big man or big woman to Him, He will just
leave you and ask someone else. If you decide not to partake in God’s
project or refuse to contribute financially to it, He will finance His
projects with or without you.
Every time God calls a man or woman to do one thing or the other
for Him, He prepares a substitute in case they misbehave or suddenly get
too big for Him. When He called Moses, He had Joshua. Moses worked with
God for forty years but at a point he allowed his anger to get the
better part of him and the Lord decided that Moses was no longer fit to
carry on so He picked Joshua. It was God that picked Saul. Saul grew too
big and began to pick and choose which of God’s instruction to follow.
God replaced Him with a substitute- David. I remember while I was
growing up we had a young boy in the choir who was very good at playing
drums. When this young man mounted the drum sets, praise and worship
changed. At a point, he began to come late to church and at times he
would go and play football during the service and there will be no one
to play the drums. After every little thing he will get angry and people
will have to beg him to play the drums. Few months later, the Lord
brought a family and their son was a drummer. This boy was not as good
as our drummer but the Lord so much anointed this boy that in a short
while this boy took our drummers place. Our drummer will be in the field
playing football but this boy will be busy playing for Jesus. Today
that boy plays at concerts but our ex-drummer only sits and watches!
PRAYER POINT: Father, help not to be too big for you to carry.
Thursday 31 October 2013
PROVISION BEFORE PROVIDER?
MEMORY VERSE: the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some
men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 19, Ps 106, Isa 46, Rev 16
BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 32:1-10
There is only one provider and that is God. John 3:27 says a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. Whatever the Lord has given to you e.g. gifts, ministry, employment, business, ministry, life partner, please do not show off with it. They are for His glory not for you to show off. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says the race is not for the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding nor favor to men of skill but time and chance happen to them all. Also it is your responsibility not to abuse whatever He has given but to serve Him with it.
As the Lord had promised, the children of Israel left Egypt with great wealth or great provisions. Exodus 12:36 says and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. When the Lord provides for you, His provisions should not take His place in your heart. The Lord’s provision must not replace Him in your life. In our bible studies we read how the Israelite abandoned their provider and made a god out of the provisions their provider had given to them. If for not the strong intercession of Moses, the Lord would have consumed the whole nation.
It is a dangerous thing for God’s provision to replace Him in your life. The job, education, life partner e.t.c. should not take His place in your heart. The ministry should not replace Him. It is sad that a lot of activity has taken the place of bible study or personal retreat. Your soul is more important to God than the ministry He has given to you. Don’t spend hours preparing sermons and just minutes in personal worship. That is not too good. Whenever anything replaces God, challenges and God’s anger beckons. Has His provisions replaced Him in your life? Would you rather obey your Boss than God? Has the Love of money replaced the love for souls and evangelism? Death physically, spiritually, mentally, academically, financially e.t.c is inevitable when anything replaces God. God is not interested in the death of any but all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. Repent today!
PRAYER POINT: Father, from now on nothing will take your place in my heart please help me.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 19, Ps 106, Isa 46, Rev 16
BIBLE STUDIES: Exodus 32:1-10
There is only one provider and that is God. John 3:27 says a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. Whatever the Lord has given to you e.g. gifts, ministry, employment, business, ministry, life partner, please do not show off with it. They are for His glory not for you to show off. Ecclesiastes 9:11 says the race is not for the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding nor favor to men of skill but time and chance happen to them all. Also it is your responsibility not to abuse whatever He has given but to serve Him with it.
As the Lord had promised, the children of Israel left Egypt with great wealth or great provisions. Exodus 12:36 says and the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians. When the Lord provides for you, His provisions should not take His place in your heart. The Lord’s provision must not replace Him in your life. In our bible studies we read how the Israelite abandoned their provider and made a god out of the provisions their provider had given to them. If for not the strong intercession of Moses, the Lord would have consumed the whole nation.
It is a dangerous thing for God’s provision to replace Him in your life. The job, education, life partner e.t.c. should not take His place in your heart. The ministry should not replace Him. It is sad that a lot of activity has taken the place of bible study or personal retreat. Your soul is more important to God than the ministry He has given to you. Don’t spend hours preparing sermons and just minutes in personal worship. That is not too good. Whenever anything replaces God, challenges and God’s anger beckons. Has His provisions replaced Him in your life? Would you rather obey your Boss than God? Has the Love of money replaced the love for souls and evangelism? Death physically, spiritually, mentally, academically, financially e.t.c is inevitable when anything replaces God. God is not interested in the death of any but all should come to repentance, 2 Peter 3:9. Repent today!
PRAYER POINT: Father, from now on nothing will take your place in my heart please help me.
Wednesday 30 October 2013
PHYSICAL ATTRACTION … A CRITERIA?
MEMORY VERSE: for we walk by faith, not by sight, 2 Corinthians 5:7.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 18, Ps 105, Isa 45, Rev 15
Believers are spiritual beings not sensual beings. Sensual beings depend on their five senses but Spiritual beings depend on the Holy Spirit. To grow spiritually you need to cut down your dependency on your senses especially sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Not only that your dependency on the Holy Spirit needs to increase. Our senses can’t pick spiritual signals. Many a time our senses do fail us. This is why the bible admonishes that that we walk not by our senses i.e. sight but by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7. If you are waiting for physical manifestation before you know the Lord has answered your prayers then you have missed it. Mark 11:24 says therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The bible says believe that you have received them not wait for physical manifestation before you know you have received them.
Should physical attraction play a role in my choice of a life partner? Is it a must that I must be physically attracted to the brother or sister before proposing or before saying I do? I am yet to find that verse of the bible that says there must be physical attraction before you propose or say I do. First of all physical attraction is a function of our senses – sight. If we do not walk by sight then the subject of physical attraction should not come up when making life changing decisions such as the choice of a life partner. Adam did not choice eve based on physical attraction, he choose who his creator (God) brought. Isaac did not have a say in who he married, he simply accepted who the Holy Spirit brought through the servant of Abraham. It was only Jacob who decided that the lady God brought was not good enough. To him Leah- God’s choice was not good enough because she had delicate eyes i.e. blear eyed but Rachel was beautiful and well favored in her shape and stature and in her complexion. He succeeded in marrying Rachel but Rachel brought her father’s household gods into his family, Genesis 31:19.
The reason why many are yet to hear from God concerning the choice of a life partner is because they have given God the specification of sisters or brothers they want. If that’s what you are doing, you are only wasting your time. Whether you believe It or not, whatever it is that you’re physically attracted to will not be there forever. People get old and beauty will fade away. This is why the bible says your adornment should not be merely outward but hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God, 1 Peter 3:3-4.
ACTION: Character should be the criteria not the beauty.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 18, Ps 105, Isa 45, Rev 15
Believers are spiritual beings not sensual beings. Sensual beings depend on their five senses but Spiritual beings depend on the Holy Spirit. To grow spiritually you need to cut down your dependency on your senses especially sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. Not only that your dependency on the Holy Spirit needs to increase. Our senses can’t pick spiritual signals. Many a time our senses do fail us. This is why the bible admonishes that that we walk not by our senses i.e. sight but by faith, 2 Corinthians 5:7. If you are waiting for physical manifestation before you know the Lord has answered your prayers then you have missed it. Mark 11:24 says therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. The bible says believe that you have received them not wait for physical manifestation before you know you have received them.
Should physical attraction play a role in my choice of a life partner? Is it a must that I must be physically attracted to the brother or sister before proposing or before saying I do? I am yet to find that verse of the bible that says there must be physical attraction before you propose or say I do. First of all physical attraction is a function of our senses – sight. If we do not walk by sight then the subject of physical attraction should not come up when making life changing decisions such as the choice of a life partner. Adam did not choice eve based on physical attraction, he choose who his creator (God) brought. Isaac did not have a say in who he married, he simply accepted who the Holy Spirit brought through the servant of Abraham. It was only Jacob who decided that the lady God brought was not good enough. To him Leah- God’s choice was not good enough because she had delicate eyes i.e. blear eyed but Rachel was beautiful and well favored in her shape and stature and in her complexion. He succeeded in marrying Rachel but Rachel brought her father’s household gods into his family, Genesis 31:19.
The reason why many are yet to hear from God concerning the choice of a life partner is because they have given God the specification of sisters or brothers they want. If that’s what you are doing, you are only wasting your time. Whether you believe It or not, whatever it is that you’re physically attracted to will not be there forever. People get old and beauty will fade away. This is why the bible says your adornment should not be merely outward but hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God, 1 Peter 3:3-4.
ACTION: Character should be the criteria not the beauty.
Tuesday 29 October 2013
PURSUE PEACE WITH ALL MEN
MEMORY VERSE: pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord, Hebrews 12:14
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 17, Ps 104, Isa 44, Rev 14
Matthew 5:9 says blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Why are peacemakers referred to as sons of the living God? Peace makers are referred to as sons of God because God is a God of peace, Romans 15:33. Everything that pertains to God has an element of peace. The dove is the symbol used to depict His Spirit – the Holy Spirit. His residence – Heaven is the most peaceful place. Romans 14:14 says for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Nine of ten when God speaks there is always this feeling of peace in your spirit. Anywhere peace is absent, God is absent.
How do you know a child of God? A child of God always seeks for peace. Any believer who is always fighting or quarrelling will be deluding himself if he thinks he is a child of God. Romans 14:19 says let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. As believers we are not to desire peace but pursue peace. Pursue means to go after something or run after a thing. We are not to segregate when it comes to who to pursue peace with. We need to seek peace with all men including those who do us wrong.
Hebrews 12:14 says pursue peace with everyone, and holiness-without it no one will see the Lord. We must do everything to make for peace even when we are well within our rights and the other party is on the wrong. A fellow who is pursuing after peace will not mind being the first to apologize even when the other party is at fault. When you say sorry, you are making for peace. Many will rather justify their actions than say sorry. It is pride to be at fault and still refuse to apologize. Most of the conflicts between couples could have been resolved with a simple sorry but because both party refuse to apologize and say sorry, things get out of hand if care is not taken it could lead to divorce. It takes a loving husband to say sorry when he is wrong. It takes a submissive wife to say sorry when at fault. In the course of pursuing peace you could be insulted but don’t worry because your heavenly father will reward you. For the sake of peace say sorry when you are at fault. Even when you are not at fault, so that the glory of God will be visible in your life, say sorry.
PRAYER POINT: Father , help me to leave in peace with all men.
Monday 28 October 2013
DANGERS OF REBELLION
MEMORY VERSE: for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and
stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the
word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king, 1 Samuel
15:23.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 16, Ps 103, Isa 43, Rev 13
BIBLE STUDIES: Jonah 1:1-7
What is rebellion? Rebellion is simply resisting authority or any kind of control. God does not condone rebellion of any kind. He frowns at rebellion to parents (spiritual or physical); rebellion to authority (government, work, church) e.t.c. When a fellow rebels against an authority, the fellow is rebelling against God who is the author of that authority. As hard as it is to believe, do you know that none of the world leaders today or in the past got into power without God’s consent? John 3:27 says a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. No one in the world today got into power without God’s knowledge; this is why instead of complaining about a leader you report him to God.
People rarely get away with rebellion against human authority but the One you cannot afford to rebel against is the Most High. Hebrew 10:31 says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God. When a fellow rebel against God, everything God created begins to work against such fellow. In Jonah 1:1-7, God told Jonah to go and witness to the people of Nineveh. Jonah refused and boarded a ship to Tarshish. On his way everything God created began to work against him. First it was the great wind on the sea; this wind almost broke the ship into two. When the men on-board found that Jonah was the source of the problem, they bundled him and threw him into the sea. As if that was enough, a big fish swallowed him and tried to digest Jonah. It was while this fish was trying to digest Jonah that he came back to his senses; he repented and asked for mercy.
It does not pay to rebel against God. A popular type of rebellion is refusal to evangelize. Matthew 12:30 says he who is not with is against me. If Jesus says go into the world and preach the good news (Mark 16:15) and you refuse, you are rebelling against God. I feel pity for young boys and girls who rebel against their parents, what they do not know is that they are not rebelling against their parents but God who gave them to their parents. I strongly believe there is someone the Lord wants to show mercy too. Ezekiel 18:23 says He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, rather that they should return from their ways and live. If you have been rebellious against authority or Jesus please go to Him now and ask for the forgiveness of sin.
TO PONDER: Has the Lord given you an instruction that you are yet to carry out?
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deut 16, Ps 103, Isa 43, Rev 13
BIBLE STUDIES: Jonah 1:1-7
What is rebellion? Rebellion is simply resisting authority or any kind of control. God does not condone rebellion of any kind. He frowns at rebellion to parents (spiritual or physical); rebellion to authority (government, work, church) e.t.c. When a fellow rebels against an authority, the fellow is rebelling against God who is the author of that authority. As hard as it is to believe, do you know that none of the world leaders today or in the past got into power without God’s consent? John 3:27 says a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. No one in the world today got into power without God’s knowledge; this is why instead of complaining about a leader you report him to God.
People rarely get away with rebellion against human authority but the One you cannot afford to rebel against is the Most High. Hebrew 10:31 says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God. When a fellow rebel against God, everything God created begins to work against such fellow. In Jonah 1:1-7, God told Jonah to go and witness to the people of Nineveh. Jonah refused and boarded a ship to Tarshish. On his way everything God created began to work against him. First it was the great wind on the sea; this wind almost broke the ship into two. When the men on-board found that Jonah was the source of the problem, they bundled him and threw him into the sea. As if that was enough, a big fish swallowed him and tried to digest Jonah. It was while this fish was trying to digest Jonah that he came back to his senses; he repented and asked for mercy.
It does not pay to rebel against God. A popular type of rebellion is refusal to evangelize. Matthew 12:30 says he who is not with is against me. If Jesus says go into the world and preach the good news (Mark 16:15) and you refuse, you are rebelling against God. I feel pity for young boys and girls who rebel against their parents, what they do not know is that they are not rebelling against their parents but God who gave them to their parents. I strongly believe there is someone the Lord wants to show mercy too. Ezekiel 18:23 says He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, rather that they should return from their ways and live. If you have been rebellious against authority or Jesus please go to Him now and ask for the forgiveness of sin.
TO PONDER: Has the Lord given you an instruction that you are yet to carry out?
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