THE GOOD IN CHALLENGES

MEMORY VERSE: say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings, Isaiah 3:10 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 19, 1 Thes 2, Dan 1, Ps 40-41 

Pain has its advantages. Although we all dread it, the ability to feel pain or experience pain is crucial to our survival. I never knew the ability to feel pain was a favor from God until I heard the story of a sister. Her mum had challenges in the area of her health and her feet went numb. Mama lived in the country side and preferred to walk barefooted. Since most of the roads were not tarred, there were sharp stones and objects everywhere.  If she dashed her feet on a rock, she wouldn't feel anything. It was so terrible that one of mama’s toes had to be cut off because of a deep cut. No one could really explain how she sustained the cut, but she had a cut and mama did not know until people saw mama’s leg bleeding. By the time they rushed her to the hospital it was too late. Because of her condition, they had to hire a nurse to inspect her feet for any cuts or wound from time to time. Pain informs you that you are in a territory you should not be in or you are doing something you should not do. Pain at times informs our decision. The pain of failure is what motivates some to work hard and succeed. 

Do you know that challenges have its advantages? Only the living face challenges. God already knows that the challenges you are going through will not kill you or mark your end. Isaiah 3:10 says say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.  It shall be well with you. One of the reasons why God permits challenges is because He knows that those challenges will cause us to fast and pray which will in turn develop us spiritually. Years ago, I used to see dogs chasing me in my dreams. During that period I faced a major challenge which caused me to really pray and fast. The Lord dealt with the challenge and I had my peace. I noticed that after the rigorous fasting and praying, I stopped seeing dogs chasing me in my dream. By the special grace of God, when I now see leopards in my dream I chase them and they run, praise God. The Lord knew that the challenge was not going to mark my end, He permitted it to that so that I would fast and pray which helped me to develop my spiritual muscles. Challenges also help in developing one’s faith. Every time God takes care of challenges in your life, your faith in Him grows. The next time you see a man of faith, remember you are looking at man who has faced many challenges. 

SUMMARY: Without test there will not be a promotion. Without trials there will not be a testimony. You are facing that challenge because God is setting you up for a mega testimony.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus

WHAT IS IN THINE HAND

MEMORY VERSE: and the Lord said unto him, what is in thine hand? And he said, a rod, Exodus 4:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 17, Col 4, Ezek 47, Ps 38

BIBLE STUDY: Exodus 4:1-4

The Lord saw how the Egyptians treated the children of Israel; he picked Moses to lead them out. For a reason or two, Moses felt he was not up to the task so he began to give God excuses. He asked for a sign to show to the children of Israel. Exodus 4:2 says and the Lord said unto him, what is in thine hand? And he said, a rod. The Lord told him to drop the rod .He did and the rod turned into a snake. The Lord told him to pick up the snake by its tail, Moses did and the snake turned into a rod.

Firstly, you will never realize the potential in what is in your hand until you release it to God. The rod of Moses in Exodus 4:2 became the rod of God in Exodus 4:20. In Exodus 14:14-22, Moses lifted the rod and the sea parted into two. The rod became a tool for dividing waters (taking care of challenges). If Moses had not obeyed God and released the rod, he would not have realized the potential in his rod. To realize the potential in that connection you have, use it for God and for the gospel. There are many who think their life is useless, friends your life is not useless. If you want to realize the potential in you, release yourself to God and you will be amazed. That seed (money) in your hand has the potential of yielding hundred fold returns. You will never realize that potential until you release it God. Paul realized the potential in him when he gave himself to the gospel. By the time we get to Acts 19:11, we see aprons from the body of Paul casting out demons.

The rod of Moses had the potential to kill i.e. become a snake (an angel of death). That rod had potential to destroy Moses but he did not know until he obeyed the voice of God and dropped it. The rod became a snake and Moses fled. There are things in our hands that have the potential to destroy us. For instance anger has the potential to destroy a blossoming relationship or growing ministry and many do not know. That is why God is saying drop it. Ecclesiastes 7:9 says anger rest in the bosom of fools. Bitterness and unforgiveness have the potential to put a fellow into spiritual bondage. The spirit of bitterness and unforgiveness hand people over to tormentors. Until you drop them at the feet of Jesus, you will not know true peace. Sin has the potential of turning a son into a slave and God is saying flee away from all appearances of evil, 1 Thessalonians 5:22.

NOTE: The only way to realize the potential in a thing is by giving it to God.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

REWARDED BY REACTION

MEMORY VERSE: and he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come, Luke 19:13

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 15, Col 2, Ezek 45, Ps 36

BIBLE STUDY: Luke 19:12-24

A certain noble man had ten servants. Because these servants had served him well over the years, he decided to set them up in business. He gave each servant a capital of one pound to trade with. When he came back, one of the servants had turned the pound into ten pounds. The impressed nobleman rewarded him with ten cities. Another brought a return of five pounds and the nobleman gave him five cities. There was an unwise one who did not bother at all. You know the end of the story.

Ten servants were giving the same capital to trade with i.e. opportunities but their returns varied. The reason for this was because they reacted to the opportunity to trade differently. One grabbed it with his two hands, another didn’t even bother. How come a man is singled out of many for promotion? They do the same job; they probably started at the same time; they face the same challenges at work daily; they were given the same opportunities to prove themselves, how come? Their reaction to the opportunity to serve or work at that company varied. While some were complaining about the management, he minded his business and did his work. While others were arguing with the managers, he listened and ran with the instruction he was given .While others do only what they are paid for, he does extra. Before you know it, the manager will start singing his praise before senior managers and in no time he will be recommended for promotion.

The servants of the noble man were rewarded based on how they reacted to the opportunity to trade. How do you react to the opportunity to come and worship in the house of God? On Sundays, do you only attend family service and miss Sunday school? Do you only attend revivals and skip bible studies? How do you react to medical advices? You have been advised to stay away from certain food, whilst praying for divine healing are you still taking the food the doctors have warned you against? As believers, we are instructed to produce fruits and our fruits must abide, John 15:16.There are two types of fruit here 1) fruit of the spirit – love, patience, kindness etc. Are those fruits visible in your life? 2) Soul winning. How many souls have you won to Christ this year? How many follow up have you done?

NOTE: The noble man in the parable is God and He rewards based on our reactions to the opportunity He has given to us.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus

ESSENCE OF THE LAW PART 1

MEMORY VERSE: because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression, Romans 4:15. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 13, Phil 4, Ezek 43, Ps 34 

Romans 4:15 says because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression. If there were no law, we would all be innocent. According to Romans 5:13 , sin had already been in the world long before the law was given, but it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. If that was so, why was the law introduced then? I mean if there were no law there would not be any need for hell (although hell was created for Satan and his hosts anyway), but no human would end up there if there were no law. 

Was the law then created to penalize? No, the law was created for the common good of all. The law was to protect. God gave the law for our common good not for His benefit. For instance the law – thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13) is there to protect you, your family and friends; we all know no one can kill God. The reason why some of us are alive is because of that law. Considering some of the things we did before we met Christ, we should have been stoned to death. Recently a lady was sharing with us how Exodus 20:13 saved her life. Her mother became pregnant with her at a time when things were very bad. The mother considered abortion, but the law did not permit her. She finally gave birth to a baby girl; today that baby girl is now a 22 year old lawyer. Before you abort that baby think twice; you could be aborting the only child you would have in life or the next prime minister or doctor. Exodus 20:14 saysthou shall not commit adultery. God does not have a wife so He is not trying to protect His wife from you. The essence of that law is to protect your wife. 

All of God’s law is to protect us from harm. The law also encourages us to give honor to who honor is due. If not for Ephesians 6:1 – children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right, there are some who would have beaten up their parents in the Lord and inherit a curse. Ephesians 6:2 says honour thy father and mother, (which is the first commandment with promise). This is another law which encourages giving honor to who honor is due. Thank God for this law, I have seen crazy children beat up their parents and parents –in-law. The law of God is not to reveal our faults. If before you gave your life to Christ, you had beaten up your parents either verbally or physically you better go and apologize before the heavens above your head turns into brass. 

SUMMARY: By obeying the laws of God, you are making the world a better to live. Not only that, you are also protecting lives and properties.

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus.

APPEARANCE MATTERS

MEMORY VERSE: then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh, Genesis 41:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 12, Phil 3, Ezek 42, Ps 33

Pharaoh had two dreams, when he woke up his heart was troubled. He told the dreams to his wise men, but none of them could interpret them. The chief butler remembered how Joseph had interpreted his dream in the king’s prison so he recommended Joseph. The king asked for him, within minutes Joseph was standing before Pharaoh. After interpreting the dreams , the King made him a prime minister. Before appearing before the king, Joseph did two things. Genesis 41:14 says then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon; and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

The first thing Joseph did was he shaved himself. A young man was sharing with us how his beards worked against him at interviews. His barber suggested he shaved it but he didn't pay any attention to it. Out of curiosity, he decided to check the pictures of all the successful men in the world and he found out that most of them had a clean shave. He attended his next job interview clean shaven and got the job. Have you ever seen a president or king with a goatee? Clean shave makes you look younger, neater, kingly and respectable. Joseph stood before Pharaoh clean shaved and Pharaoh saw the prime minister in him.

The second thing Joseph did was he changed his raiment which tells you different clothes have different purposes. There is a way to dress when you are in the bedroom with your husband or wife, there is a way to dress when you have visitors, and there is a way to dress  when you are going for interviews. For example avoid too many bright colors and please don’t wear a green suit or yellow suit or purple suit to a job interview. There is a way to dress when you are going for evangelism. When you are coming before God you put on your best because you are coming to meet the King of kings. When you are going for evangelism, you dress well. The changed raiment also signifies a changed mentality. When Joseph stood before Pharaoh, he spoke with authority like a prime minister not a prisoner. Joseph’s physical appearance played a major role in Pharaoh’s decision to make him a prime minister.

ACTION POINT: Always comb your hair and women should keep their hair neat.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.

THE ROLE OF THE BRIDE

MEMORY VERSE: and the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him, Genesis 2:18

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 4-5, Eph 2, Ezek 35, Ps 23-24

When we hear the word ‘bride’, what comes to mind is marriage. After creating Adam, the Lord observed that this man was lonely. To solve his problem of loneliness, He created Eve. Adam and Eve got married and this problem was solved. Loneliness was the problem marriage came to solve not the lack of sex so please do not get married because of sex or because it will be good for your ministry or because you feel you are getting old. Do not rush into marriage because your parents are mounting pressure on you or because you want to be respected .Please and please do not get married because you want to put on a wedding ring and marriage doesn’t always solve financial problems. It has been proving that marriage does not really solve the problem of lack of sex or any of the above points mentioned. 

Genesis 2:18 says and the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. The number one duty of a wife is to be a companion to his husband in other words solve his problem of loneliness, all others are secondary. As a godly wife, your husband must come first not the ministry, business or children. The moment your husband comes second, the purpose of marriage is defeated. Children cannot solve the problem of loneliness and God did not give them to you to solve the problem of loneliness. As a godly man, it is deemed ungrateful not to appreciate or to frustrate the help or companion God has given to you. Your companion is a good thing and favor from the Lord (Proverbs 18:22). Because she is your companion and your best friend, there must not be any secrets. As your companion, she is meant to be the closest person to you on earth.

God created Eve to meet the needs of Adam. God created brides to meet the needs of the grooms. As brides of Christ, our relationship with Him should not be to solve our problems but to meet the needs of Jesus. Our number one duty is to minister to Christ i.e. be His companion. We are to spend time with Him in prayer and praises. Other activities are secondary. Time with Jesus must always come first, the ministry, evangelism, work in the church e.t.c are all secondary. Many of us are now putting ministry before Jesus. Many of us labor day in day out at the church, but we never spend quality time with Jesus and that should not be so. Just as putting anything before the husband can have a detrimental effect on the marriage, putting anything before Jesus has detrimental effect on our relationship with Him.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please help me to spend more time ministering to you.

Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus.

RIGHTEOUS PAYS

MEMORY VERSE: little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous, 1 John 3:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1Kgs 3, Eph 1, Ezek 34, Ps 22

We live in a world that promotes ungodliness. The systems in place are so crooked that it is either you bribe your way out or you are denied what rightly belongs to you. In a world that rewards dishonesty; many wonder is it really worth it to be righteous? Friends, a life of righteousness is not an option but compulsory. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 says for God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. As sides from the obvious that Christ demands a life of righteousness from every believer, sin on the other hand withholds good from us. According to Jeremiah 5:25, iniquities have the ability to turn away God's blessings from a fellow. Not only that, regarding iniquity in our heart can cause God to turn a deaf ear to our prayers ( Psalm 66:18).

When you go through the scriptures you will observe that the Lord discusses His plans with His righteous friends. Psalm 25:14 says the secret of the Lord are with those that fear Him. Before the Lord destroyed the earth with water, He told Noah, Genesis 6:11- 22. Before He destroyed Sodom with fire, He told Abraham (Genesis 18:19-33). Before returning the second time, He told us He is coming with His rewards for every man according to His works ( Revelation 22:12). What kind of reward do you think your work will attract?

What is righteousness? A man once defined righteousness as the nature of God imparted into the human spirit that gives him the ability to stand before God without any sense of guilt or inferiority complex. In other words, if a righteous man sins he still remains righteous because righteousness is a gift of God. He further explained that the nature of goat does not change because he swam in an overwhelming ocean. THE ABOVE EXPLANATION IS NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE BIBLE! Righteousness has its basis in actions. 1John 3:7 says little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. To act right is to be righteous. Would you call a believer who fornicates, a righteous person? I doubt not! A goat swimming in the ocean is not a righteous goat because goats are not meant to be swimming in the ocean just like a fish that chews grass is not a righteous fish either because it is not right for fish to chew grass. It is not right for a believer to live in sin.

REMEMBER: We are in the world but not part of the world.
Bro Samuel - Reaching the world for Jesus