THE ATTIRE OF AN HARLOT

MEMORY VERSE: And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. Proverbs 7:10

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 119:19-24, Proverbs 31:4, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

The words in the bible are not the words of drunken men or someone hallucinating. 2 Peter 1:21 says this: “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (Maybe one of these days, if the Lord permits, we will discuss about how the bible was written and you will see the process involved. God instructed prophets – when to start writing, when to stop writing, what they should write, etc.) However, for the purpose of our studies today, I want you to know that “all scriptures is given by the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16),” even the book of Songs of Solomon. Every single word was given by God’s inspiration. There is a reason for every illustration, example, parable, etc, used in the scriptures. Because it was given by the inspiration of God, it “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

In Proverbs 7: 6-23 is a story, inspired by the Holy Spirit, of a young boy who lost his life on his way to fornicate with a woman. Today i want us to focus on a thing or two about this woman. Proverbs 7:10 says this: “And, behold, there met him a woman.............”There met him a woman implies she was not a girl but an adult. The author did not tell us her name, which meant that she could have been anyone - someone’s daughter, someone’s sister, someone’s wife, someone’s aunt, etc. The author was silent about her background, which meant that she could have come from any background. The author also did not talk about her race or the church that she attends, which meant that she could have come from any part of the world. In addition, she could have been a Baptist, catholic, protestant or anything. The bible says, at first, a woman, which meant that she could be single or married. It is safe to assume at this point that the bible could have been talking about any woman.

The bible then proceeds to tell us that she had the attire of a harlot. Proverbs 7:10 says, “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot....” I want you to know at this point that this woman was not a harlot. If she were a harlot, the bible would have said so. Although, she was not a harlot, she wore the attire of a harlot. This implies that, clothes do not make a person but they speak for the person. I thought the next thing after “there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot” would be a detailed description of what she wore. Although, the bible did not tell us what she wore, we were told of the condition of her heart – “and subtle of heart” I.e. crafty heart. These points out to us that the ‘attire of an harlot’ is not really about the clothes, it is the totality of how one presents his or herself which is definitely informed by one’s heart. Because she wanted the attention of the opposite sex, she presented herself in a way that will attract the attention of the opposite sex and recommend her to them for sex. Am i advocating that women should wear drab, dark or dull clothes and strive to be unattractive always? NO! Actually, the virtuous women in Proverbs dressed quite nicely and dressed their family so as well (Proverbs 31:21-22). Despite the fact that this woman was married (Proverbs 7:19-20), her clothes revealed her heart i.e. what was inside was revealed through her dressing. Luke 6:45 says this: “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.”

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: Outward beauty does not always equate inward beauty.

QUESTION: What does your attire say about you?

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

                

PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS VS JUDGMENT FOR WICKEDNESS

MEMORY VERSE: Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 119:13-18, Proverbs 31:3, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

If anyone tells you that once you give your life to Christ you will never face any challenges, they are telling you a big lie. Jesus, whilst on earth, said to His disciples, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world, ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).” (In the world, ye SHALL have tribulation not ye MIGHT tribulation). It is a guarantee that you will face challenges in your walk with Christ; it is also a guarantee that you will be victorious every time a challenge arises, as far as you remain in Him. You have no reason to fear challenges because the One who can solve all problems is with you. (Long before the challenges arrives; He would have prepared a way of escape.) You see in John 16:33 that almost immediately after He said “ye shall have tribulation,” the next thing He said was, “but be of good cheer; i have overcome the world.” One of the things that will come your way, as you consecrate yourself for the use of the master and live holy, is persecution for righteousness. Even as you witness about Jesus Christ in your offices or colleges, people will challenge you. Sometimes back, a sister was sharing with me how her managers, at work, were persecuting her for not dressing sexy. They wanted her to wear tight clothes and expose parts of her body that is meant to be covered and she said no. They started calling her names. When that did not work, they began to threaten to move her to another department. We thank God for not permitting the enemies to have their way over her job. The moment you decide to really take your Christian life serious and obey God to the letters, people – friends, family, colleagues – will persecute you. What are you expected to do? Endure it. Matthew 5:10 says this: “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Something very similar to persecution for righteousness is judgment for wickedness. Whilst persecution for righteousness comes upon the righteous from the wicked, judgment for wickedness comes from God, who is righteous, upon the wicked. We, believers, are all called to endure persecution. None of us who are believers, however, should ever endure God’s judgments upon the wicked. Luke 21:36 says this: “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Jesus indicated that it was the will of God for His disciples – you and I - to escape the judgments of God that were coming upon the wicked earth. However, His disciples – you and I- better watch and pray, otherwise we will not qualify to escape. Were we worthy to be saved? No, we were saved by grace. You and I neither merit it nor deserve it. However, now that we have been saved, we are required to lead such a life of righteousness that it would be unrighteous of God to judge us with the wicked.

QUESTION: Are you still leading a life of righteousness?

PRAYER POINT: Father, please keep my household from evil.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.                    

ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED

MEMORY VERSE: To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 119:7-12, Proverbs 31:2, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

READ: Ephesians 1:3-6

One of the conditions for answered prayer is that we must pray in the name of Jesus. John 16:23-34 says this: “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” When we pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ, three things are implied. Firstly, when we pray in the name of Jesus we are coming to God based on what Jesus has done on our behalf. What did Jesus do on our behalf? He took our place on the cross i.e. He died for our sins. 1 Peter 3:18 says this: “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” Jesus paid the penalty for our sin when He died in our place. He also took our guilt and our condemnation, which open the way for us to come to God without feeling guilty or ashamed. We now have the right of access to God. According to Ephesians 2:13, the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross of Calvary brought us near to God. The blood of Christ is the visible and eternal evidence of His sacrifice. When we come in the name of Jesus, we come in the merits of the blood that He shed on our behalf.

Secondly, when we pray in the name of Jesus we are coming to God based on who Jesus Himself is, not who we are. Jesus is our High Priest. Hebrews 4:14 says this: “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Jesus is also our advocate before the Father. 1 John 2:1 says this: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;” Hence, when we pray in the name of Jesus, we are coming to the presence of God with Him as our High Priest and Advocate. As our High Priest, He offers up our prayers to God on our behalf- and because they are offered by Jesus, we know that they reach God. As our Advocate, He speaks directly to God on our behalf. He pleads our case better than we could ever do ourselves. When we make mistakes and errors and even sin, we do not need to stay away from God and feel ashamed. We can come freely because of Jesus. Lastly, when we pray in the name of Jesus we are recognizing the relationship that we have with God through Jesus. According to Ephesians 1:3-6, God foreknew us and determined that through Jesus Christ He would adopt us into His family as His Children. All this was worked out in time and human history when Jesus came and died on our behalf. When we come to God in the name of Jesus i.e. in the Beloved (John 3:16), we are accepted by God. We are not accepted because of what we were but because of what Jesus is.

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: When we come to God in Jesus, we are not rejected. God never rejects His children. We are accepted in the Beloved, and that makes all the difference in the way we come to God. Romans 8:32 says this: “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things.” With Him, with Jesus, God will freely give us all things.

TO DO: Go ahead and ask Him something in the name of Jesus (in faith). In the name of Jesus, before the end of the week you will testify.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

THE FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY (TO ALL PARENTS)

MEMORY VERSE: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. Genesis 18:19

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 119:1-6, Proverbs 31:1, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Your children belongs to God not you. Psalm 127:3 says this: “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” You are only a caretaker or guardian to your children and as such, you are expected to raise them to be useful for their parents i.e. God. You are expected to train them in a particular way. Proverbs 22:6 says this: “train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The question is this, what is the way they should go? In the way of the Lord i.e. in the right path – to fear God,to be humble, to respect God and man, to serve God first, men second and their nation, to be a law abiding citizen, to be loving and kind towards people, etc. This is where many parents fail; they train their children to hate certain people. Some single mothers train their children especially daughters to hate their fathers. Some fathers do this too. Some train their children to tell lies and play tricks. One thing most parents do not know is that children learn by observation a lot. They see how mummy talks behind Dad’s back and they learn it. They see how dad talks to mum and they learn it.

Another mistake many parents make is they tell their children about the way they should go. God did not ask you to tell your children about the way they should go, the instruction is "train them in the way they should go." Training is more than telling. Training is making sure someone does something correctly until it becomes a habit. Train that young girl on how to cook and take care of the house until she learns it and it becomes her second nature. Train that young boy on taking responsibilities until he learns it and it becomes his second nature. Train those children on how to take care of things. Many children act as a ‘devourer’ because they have not been trained to look after things. If you do not train your children on how to look after things, you will end replacing the furniture and gadgets at home every 6 months. They must be trained to be honest. Honesty must rewarded and deception must not be tolerated. Training may involve the use of the rod of correction but it must be in love. Proverbs 19:18 says this: “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” Training can become too late. There is a time to train your children; the bible puts it as "while there is hope" i.e.while they are young.

Children must be trained to respect the words of their parents. If they are not trained to respect the words of their parents, they will not respect anyone -including God -without first experiencing the painful consequences of their actions. When a child is not properly trained, it affects everyone negatively. Eli’s failure to train his children affected not only his own family very negatively, but also caused disaster for the nation of Israel (1 Samuel 4:10-11). When Eli’s sons behaved badly, the Lord held Eli accountable not their mother. God places primary responsibility on fathers to make sure their children are trained according to God’s Word. Mothers are not exempt from this responsibility, but God does hold fathers ultimately responsible. God said,“For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him”(Genesis 18:19). God expected Abraham to lead as Sarah was his helpmeet so He placed the primary responsibility on Abraham . (Sarah – a good mother will definitely help her husband in achieving this great task).

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: It may seem easier at the time for a parent to let their child do whatever they want -- without restraining them or training them to do right. However, that harms the child because it trains them to do wrong. As a result they are robbed of the peace and blessing they should enjoy.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I pray that the parents in our land will train their children according to the Word of God.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

HE UNDERSTANDS

MEMORY VERSE: For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Hebrews 5:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 146-150, Proverbs 30

High priest is one of the many titles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:14 says this: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” To appreciate His title - High priest, we must get some basic understanding of a thing or two. Who is a priest? It is someone who mediates i.e. stands between God and the people, in religious services. He takes sacrifices from people, and offer them up to God (Leviticus 4:20, 26, 31 & Hebrews 8:4). He intercedes on behalf of the people before God (Leviticus 9:22-24 & Numbers 6:22-27). In addition, he inquires of God for the nation (Exodus 28:30). Among the priests, one is selected as the High Priest, and he enters into the Most Holy Place once a year on the Day of Atonement to place the blood of the sacrifice on the Ark of the covenant (Hebrews 9:7). He represents the whole nation before God (Exodus 28:12).

According to Hebrews 5:1, every high priest is taken from among the people. This is because he, the high priest, understands the challenges and weakness of the people. Therefore, if someone brings his sin offering to him, he does not insult him or break out into anger and indignation but pities him, and sympathizes with him. Jesus, so that He might serve as our Great High Priest before God, became man and suffered death. As a man, He was subject to all the weakness and temptations that we are, so He could personally relate to us in our struggles (Hebrews 4:15). Whatever you are going through now, Jesus went through them or something similar when He was on earth. This is why, He is able to relate to you in that challenges you are facing. Are you hungry? Jesus knows what it is to be hungry. He was hungry after forty days and forty night of fasting (Matthew 4:2). Are you facing rejection? He faced it too from His own people. John 1:11 says this: “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” Are you sad because a friend betrayed you? Jesus’ friend and disciple, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Him and sold Him to His enemies (Luke 22:48). Are you down because you have just lost something valuable? In John 11:33-36, Jesus lost His beloved friend – Lazarus. Are you emotionally and physically tired? Jesus was so tired in Mark 4:36-38 that He slept during a storm. Are you facing shame? Have you not read that He was crucified like a criminal for a sin He did not commit? Have you become frustrated after several attempts with nothing to show for it? Jesus was so frustrated that He said this: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37). The bible is able to say this, “cast your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7), because He understands all the emotions you are going through. You are unhappy because your wife is not submissive, well Jesus understands the feeling. How many of His children truly submit to Him? Very few. As a wife, you are unhappy because your husband does not appreciate you enough, Jesus understands. How many of us wake up every morning and say “thank you Jesus for keeping me alive? Very few too. Jesus knows how you feel and will not leave you in that current situation without helping you.

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: Jesus understands your pain because He tasted pain whilst on earth.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please heal me of every pain in my life.

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JESUS ENDURED THE CROSS

MEMORY VERSE: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 141-145, Proverbs 29

The moment one hears the word ‘endure,’ what comes to mind is pain, hardship, sorrows, suffering, to mention a few. Hebrew 12:2 says this: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” “ ...Him (Jesus) endured the cross...”, implies that the cross experience, which later led to His glorification, was not a palatable experience. If the Holy Spirit opens your eyes to see what Jesus went through from the point of His arrest to His crucifixion, you will be forever grateful to Him. He was scourged until He began to bleed badly from the back, face, neck, legs, chest, etc. After that, He was forced to carry a cross - a heavy piece of furniture - to Golgotha. (Mind you, the wound He sustained from the scourging was not dressed). He was hungry and thirsty, as He had not eaten or drank anything in more than 24 hours; He was tired and weary, as He had lost a lot of blood; He was in great pain as His wounds were fresh. (I think He must have passed out a couple of times). Jesus, at this point, could have easily called down angels to defend Him and destroy the armies. This would mean that humanity is doomed but He did not. He endured the pain, torture, shame, etc. Philippians 2:9 says this: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”

Just as Christ endured a lot – pain, shame, sorrow – on His way to His glorification, you and I must endure these and many more too. In our Christian walk, we will be required to endure a lot of challenging situations, especially as we await the second coming of Christ. There are times in my life where i have had to eat cooked rice with no stew or soup or any seasoning, just cooked rice for many days because i had no food at home. Even the rice was a gift from someone. I did not complain or refuse to go to church because of that. Neither did i resolve to sin to get food. Thank God, things have now changed but my point is, even in your Christian walk, you will have to endure things. I do not know what you are facing now, but i want to admonish you to endure. Are you in full time work and studying at the same time? Do not give up on your education and focus on your work alone. Endure it; you will graduate soon. Are you struggling in your marriage, there is constant argument and it is taking a toll on you? Divorce is never the solution. Whatever it is that is happening, endure it because Christ is working in the background to restore peace into your marriage. Are you of a marriageable age and there is pressure to compromise? Please do not do that! Are you facing persecution at work due to your faith? Are people calling you names like 'Mother Mary' or 'Sister Martha' because you have made up your mind that your beauty will not be of outward adorning but the hidden man of the heart ( 1 Peter 3:3-4)? Endure whatever name they are calling you. Remember, you are not trying to please man or meet man’s standard of dressing. Let everyone wear whatever they like, you - daughter of the Most High - stick to godly ways of doing things. The master is coming and in that day, you will get your reward.

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: It is not enough to endure briefly, we must endure to the end (Matthew 24:13)

PRAYER POINT: Father, please give me the grace to endure to the end.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

LET HIM DECIDE WHAT YOU WILL HAVE AND WHAT YOU WILL NOT HAVE

MEMORY VERSE: In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.Isaiah 38:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 136-140, Proverbs 28

God is the only One who knows everything. Not only does He know the beginning from the end, according to Isaiah 46:10, He knows the end from the beginning. The Lord knew me long before my parents met each other. Jeremiah 1:5 says this: “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”Many a time, it appears as if the devil knows a lot but he does not. Except something is revealed in one way or the other, the devil does not know it. Do you know he does not even know the thoughts of your heart? However, God knows what you are going to say even before you think of saying it. Psalm 139:4 says this: “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Because of the volume of information before Him, He is able to guide you aright. He is able to tell you when to start something and when to stop. He is able to tell you when to hide from the enemy and when to attack the enemy. He is able to tell you when to invest and when not to. Because of the depth of riches of both of His wisdom and knowledge, He is able to give you the expected end He wants you to have (Jeremiah 29:11). He is also able to decide what you should have and what you should not have.

When God does some things, we - mere mortals- question Him as if He does not know what He is doing. May God have mercy! When He tries to take some things away from us, we fight Him and many a time, He lets us have our way not because He is weak but because He hates to force Himself on us. Hezekiah became a king at the age of twenty- five. By the time He celebrated his thirty –eighth year birthday, He had successful turned the heart of a whole nation back to God (2 Kings 18). He walked before God with a perfect heart. God saw some things in his future and decided to take him home early. Isaiah 38:1 says this: “In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.” God wanted to take Hezekiah home early to avert what was going to become of him but he refused and the Lord kept him alive. Few months after, pride enter into his heart and he began to boast about his wealth before the servants, of the king of Babylon, who were sent to greet him after his recovery (Isaiah 39).Three years later, he gave birth to a son called Manasseh. This boy, when he became king, destroyed everything Hezekiah had built. In his 55-year reign, he single-handedly turned the whole nation back to idols. He rebuilt all the high places his father had destroyed. Not only that, he turned the house of the Lord into a place to offer sacrifices to idols. At the end, he destroyed his father’s legacy. Hezekiah's perfect record before God was tarnished in the remaining 15 years he spent on earth.

THOUGHTS OF THE DAY: If you had all the information God has, you will make the decision He makes.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please let me never have what you do not want me to have.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.