DELAYED GRATIFICATION

MEMORY VERSE: He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. Proverbs 21:27

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 143-145

There is a popular term in psychology called ‘Delayed Gratification’. It refers to the ability to put off something mildly fun or pleasurable now in order to wait for something that is greatly fun, pleasurable, or rewarding later. Delay Gratification simply means making a choice which limits the ability of getting something now, for the pleasure of being able to have something bigger or better later. For example, you could watch TV the night before an exam, or you could exhibit delayed gratification and study for the exam. The latter would increase your chances of getting an 'A' in the course at the end of a semester, which is much more satisfying long-term than a night of watching TV.

There are some pleasures you have to deny yourself now if you want to have a glorious future. 3 John 2 says: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” For this verse to be fulfilled in your life, there are some pleasures you have to deny yourself. Some of the pleasures are sweet and sugary food – food full of fats and sugars. Another pleasure is fizzy drink. Medical doctors have warned that sugary drinks increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Water is cheaper and better. By delaying gratification and choosing the more healthy option, the glass of water over the glass of coca-cola, you will reap the rewards of delayed gratification by being more healthy in your life, have less illness and have more energy to live your life to its fullest. Do you want to have breakthroughs? Do you want to do well in life? Do you want to do well in your studies? Do you want to be strong at your old age? Do you want to have more than enough or prosper? You need to start delaying gratification from now on. Do you want to fulfil destiny? Do you want to finish that project you have started? Do you want to be filled with the Holy Ghost? If you are like me, you may want to raise the dead. Then, you have to cut down on food. First of all, eating cuts down your life; eat to live not live to eat. Your inability to fast will limit you. Mark 9:29 says: “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Another pleasure you need to deny yourself of today if you want to have a glorious future is 'sleep'. How can you sleep 8 hours a day - 4 months a year - and expect to achieve much? Besides, those who love sleep are at the mercy of the enemy. Matthew 13:25 says: “But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.” That aside, poverty is not far from a man who loves to sleep. Proverbs 20:13 says: “Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.” Some battles are only fought at night, you will remain stagnant if you don't wake up to pray. The wrestling match that changed Jacob’s life forever took place at night (Genesis 32:22-32). The crossing of the Red Sea took place at night (Exodus 14). You have to work hard now so that you can rest later. Whilst everyone is going out to party and have fun, use that time to develop yourself.

ACTION: Make it a point of duty to develop an area of your life this year.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

MEMORY VERSE: When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? John 5:6

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Deuteronomy 26-28

Bible scholars told us that Jesus, while he was on earth, asked 307 questions. One of the questions He asked, time and time again, whenever people in need of a thing or the other come to Him is “what do you want Me to do for you?” For instance,in Matthew 20:30-34, two blind men heard that Jesus was passing by and they called on Him. Verse 32 says: “And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?” Jesus could see that these men were blind yet He asked them, what do you want Me to do for you? Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by and he began to scream at the top of his voice “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me” (Mark 10:46-52). Verse 51 says: “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.” Again, Jesus was aware of the condition of this man's eye. He knew why Bartimaeus was persistent when people tried to shut him off. Yet, when Bartimaeus arrived He asked him, what do You want me to do for you? Jesus was at the pool of Bethesda one day when He saw a certain man who had been sick for thirty-eight years ( John 5:1-15). The bible records that Jesus knew that the man had been there a long time in that case. Jesus knew the man was at that pool to get healed and yet He asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole?" The question is why does Jesus ask people these questions?
The truth is you don't know what people need or want unless they tell you.

What you think they need is not always what they need even though the need is obvious. When Jesus asked that man at the pool of Bethesda “Wilt thou be made whole”? He said No! I don’t want You to heal me. All i want is a man to put me into the pool when it is stirred. John 5:7 says: “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” You really don’t know what people want until you ask them. I will never forget an incident that happened when I was still in the world - before I accepted Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. My girlfriend told me she had some problems. She mentioned the first problem; I told her what to do and she said "i know". She mentioned the second problem; again, i told her what do and she said "i know". I was baffled. She mentioned the third one; i told her what do and she said "i know". "If you know the answers to these problems why ask me", i asked. She said I am not looking for answer to the problems; i am looking for someone to sit quietly and listen to me. I thought she wanted solutions but she wanted someone to listen to her share what she was going through. Bro, maybe what sister wants is someone to share what she is going through with not someone to analyze her challenges and solve it in a second. Many many years ago, some pastors went to pray for a sick sister. She was a believer but her husband was not at that time. They prayed for days and the sister did not recover so these pastors went to the Lord to ask what the problem was. The Lord said to them, “have you asked her what she wants?” “Oh Lord, we know what she wants... She is sick... she is in pains.. She wants healing,” they responded. The Lord said to them , “ask her for what she wants.” To their shock, the sister said "i don't want to be healed". “My husband only gives me attention when i am sick; I will rather be sick and have his attention than be healed and lose his attention" she continued. I pray that you will not labor in vain in Jesus name.

NOTE: Don't be naive. Don't assume because a sister is friendly to you, she is interested in you. Don't assume because a brother is nice to you, he is trying to say something. He is not trying to say anything until he opens his mouth.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

THE FINEST OF WHEAT

MEMORY VERSE: He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. Psalm 81:16

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Acts 23-25

READ: Psalm 81:13-16

Psalm 81:16 says: “He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.” The phrase “finest of wheat” implies there are at least three types of fine wheat and the “finest of wheat” being the best of the three i.e. the best of the best. The Psalmist, in our memory verse, reveals God’s intention to give His children the best of the best wheat (blessings). What a good Father we have! God knows the best of the best wheat. He knows where they are. The Lord wants you, His child, to have the best of the best. Is there a father who does not want his children to have the best of the best? Jesus, in a bit to drive home this point, said: “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:9-11).” God has the best of the best single brothers and sisters –singles who will add value, colour and quality to anyone they marry. He has the best of the best business ideas to make your business prosper. He has the best of the best things and He wants you to have them all.

However, there is a condition you must meet before you can receive the best of the best and that is absolute obedience to His word. Anyone who is ready to receive God's best must be prepared to obey God at all times even when it is inconvenient. The problem is not with God or His words. The problem is always with the man. We suffer defeat, fail exams, and lose valuable things because of our disobedience to His Words. Psalm 81:13 -14 says: “Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries.” Many a time, the “best of the best” things don’t always appear as the best of the best initially. Many of us will walk past diamonds in their crude form because they don’t glitter in their crude form. They have to go through several processes before they come out glittering. Several years back, a young man, very thin with no real job, no car or good clothes, proposed to a lady. The family of this lady discouraged this sister. Even the brother’s family, although they were polite about it, told the sister to look somewhere else if she wants a bright future. The lady believed the Word of the Lord and married him. Today, the brother is one of the world leading worship leaders. He goes around the world to minister and takes the sister with him. There is no continent in the world she has not visited with her husband. The best of the best don’t always look like the best of the best initially. Whatever God gives to you is the best of the best for you; if you receive it from Him with joy you will not regret it. God has set a standard for Himself and He will not drop that standard for any man. It is either His way or no way. He can’t be bribed or anything. To receive His best (the best of the best), firstly you must give your life to Christ. Secondly, you must obey Him. Read your bible, see what He hates and run from them. Check what He likes and begin to do them. Thirdly, give generously to Him. Fourthly, worship Him.

NOTE: Worship causes one to experience God in a powerful way.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

MEMORY VERSE: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 John 4-5

As I mentioned in part one of these series, how you handle situations matter. One thing I ask God for, from time to time, is wisdom. Wisdom will teach you how to handle a conflict situation. Wisdom will tell you that you don’t have to shout to resolve that issue. Proverbs 15:1 says: “a soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” The fact that you are right and the other person is wrong is not a license to be rude or intimidating. The fact that you had a terrible day at work is not a license to shout at everyone that come your way. Be nice to people you meet. Be nice to that bus driver, that gate man, your secretary, that customer adviser, that cashier, that policeman, etc. A man, in a high-powered Mercedes sports car, was stopped by the police sometimes back. It was a random check; the police officers just wanted to check his insurance details and all that. Instead of being polite, he started giving the police officers attitude and they decided to teach him a lesson. A check that should have lasted for three minutes took for over ten minutes. They did everything to waste his precious time; there was no way he won’t be late if he had an appointment. If you try to make people feel small, they will respond by making you feel worthless. The police officers had nothing to lose but he had a lot to lose because he was standing doing nothing whilst the police officer wasted his precious time.

Learn to resolve issues in a non-violent way. Kohath, Abiram, Dathan and co felt the sharing of tasks in the house of God needs to be reviewed; they wanted more assignments (Numbers 16). Instead of meeting with Moses and Aaron to ask for more tasks, they rebelled. Verse 3 says: “And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?” That rebellion led to their death (Numbers 17). Whenever a man handles a matter wrongly, the matter will be blown out of proportion and at times, they may even lose out. A brother was owed 3000 pounds. The borrower had been promising to pay for a while but for one reason or the other, he could not keep to his word. One day, he gave his lender 500 pounds and promised to pay 2,500 pounds later. Instead of accepting the 500 pounds first and then get angry later, the lender got angry first - he refused the 500 pounds. Somehow, I heard about it and I advised the lender to take the 500 pounds because a bird in the hand is worth 10 in the bush. Grudgingly, he took the 500 pounds. Do you know the borrower has not paid the balance of 2,500 pounds till date and this happened five years ago? Thank God the borrower accepted the 500 pounds. Had the lender not accepted that 500 pounds that day, he would not have received a dime out of the money. In your anger, be wise. If someone owes you money and brings part of the money to you, please accept whatever he brings first before getting angry because that could be all that you will get.

PRAYER POINT: Father, please fill me with the spirit of wisdom.

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BUT GRIEVOUS WORDS .... PT1

MEMORY VERSE: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Revelations 1-6
One thing you cannot avoid in your relationships with people, from time to time, is little misunderstandings. It is either what you said was misunderstood or you misunderstood what someone said. It is either someone misinterpreted your action or words, or you misinterpreted what someone did or said. These usually happen especially when chatting with people through text or WhatsApp or BBM. One of the reasons why these misunderstandings occur is because we see life differently, we have different passions, we have different priorities, we have different perspectives to things. Always have this at the back of your mind; you don’t know what the other person is going through. Even if you know what they are going through, you don’t know the pain they are in. A brother told a sister that her friend was rude to him - he greeted her several times and she didn’t respond. The sister then asked him, where were you standing when you greeted her? “To her left”, he said. The sister smiled and told him that her friend was deaf in the left ear. When a misunderstanding occurs, ask God for wisdom. Some misunderstandings are arrows from hell to destroy relationships that God wants to use to bless you.
As such, how you handle a matter/situation/misunderstanding matters. Why? How you handle it will determine whether it will be resolved or not. According to Proverbs 22:10, the moment you cast out the scorner contention will end. If you don’t handle that matter well, it may get out of hands. A couple once divorced over a milk tin-can. The husband punched a can of milk in a way the wife didn't like. The wife said something out of anger and the husband responded. The next thing was, "are you talking to me like that?"- "Yes, and so what..." Before they knew it the marriage was over. In some instances, little misunderstandings have resulted into a full blown war. This was the exact thing that happened in Northern Ireland some thirty years ago. The war between the Catholics and Pentecostal in Ireland could have been prevented had the police officers who were called to the scene handled it with godly wisdom. That little misunderstanding led to a thirty-year war. Part of handling a matter with godly wisdom is watching how you react to things. Several years back, some police officers went to arrest a young man at home. The young man felt he was innocent so he refused to go with the police officers to the station. Since he was refusing arrest, the police men decided to use force. A neighbour who saw what was happening and called the boy’s senior brother. He told him that the police were trying to arrest his brother without a cause. The senior brother grabbed a big stick and ran to the scene. The police officers saw him approaching with a big stick and opened fired and killed him. The case went to court and the police officer who fired the bullet said he fired the bullet in self-defense; he was discharged and acquitted. Later the boy was released. If the senior brother had done things differently he would still be alive.
NOTE: Don’t fight violence with violence.
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ASK, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE

Memory Verse: Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Songs of Solomon 1-2
Jesus, in John 16:24, said: “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” When it comes to asking and receiving, there are certain things we have to consider. For instance, receiving is dependent on who you ask. Man is very limited but God is not.Psalm 108:12 says: “give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.” According to Jeremiah 17:5, anyone who puts his trust in man and makes human flesh his strength is doomed. Thank God there is a God who can do all things. According to Luke 1:37, with God nothing shall be impossible. Receiving is dependent on how you ask. Jesus whilst teaching His disciples how to pray taught them to start with praise and thanksgiving (Matthew 6:5-13). Verse 9 says: “in this manner, therefore pray: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name”. One of the synonyms for the word 'hallow' is praise. The first thing that mad man of Gadara did when he got to Jesus was he worshiped Him (Mark 5:1-19). Verse 6 says: “when he saw Jesus from far, he ran and worshiped Him”. Worshiping is one of the keys to receiving from God. Also, receiving is dependent on the time of asking. If you ask at the wrong time, you may not receive anything. Isaiah 55:6 says: “seek ye the Lord whilst He may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”. Proverbs 8:17 says: “I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me”.

There are several reasons why people don’t like to ask. For instance, people don't like to ask questions to hide their ignorance. It is better to ask a stupid question than to make a stupid mistake. Many of the challenges people are facing today could have been avoided if only they asked questions or sought counseling. Proverbs 15:22 says: “without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counselors they are established.” Another reason why many don’t ask is because they don’t want to disturb people. Some even feel by asking God for a thing over and over again they are disturbing God. The bible says ask until your joy is full. Some believe since God knows what they want there is no point asking Him again. God knows what you want but He still expects you to ask Him for it. Matthew 7:7 says: “ask, and it will be given to you....” Some of us expect people to know what we want and give them to us. Friend, people cannot read your mind. Besides, they have a lot of things going on in their mind so it is better you ask. One major reason why people don’t ask for help especially from their friends is because they don’t want people to take glory over their lives. What is most important thing to me is i get the help i need. Whether you take glory or not is not an issue to me; help is all i need. After rendering the help you can tell the whole world you helped bro Samuel no problem. At one point or the other in your life, someone will have to take glory for something they did for you anyway.

NOTE: Before asking, start by thanking God for all He has done for you in the times past. Don’t just go to Him and say I want this; I want that. Start by worshiping Him.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world

TRUE OR LIES?

MEMORY VERSE: It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalm 140-142

READ: 1 Kings 22

As a Christian, honesty is non-negotiable. You cannot be a follower of Christ and be a liar. No. No. No. I heard that some ladies lie about their age and all that. If you want to make heaven then you must desist from telling lies. Firstly, anyone who tells lies, as far as God is concerned, is a child of the devil. John 8:44 says: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” And as such, no child of the devil will be allowed in heaven. Revelations 31:8 says: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” You must be honest to people and most importantly, to yourself. Asides from saying the truth, you must also love to hear the truth. Many are very good at telling the truth but they are not good at hearing the truth. It is true that the truth may hurt at times. It may even cause you to reflect on your own life; however, it is better than lies. Ecclesiastes 7:5 says: "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools."

If you are going to reach the top in your career; if you are going to fulfil destiny and finish your race on this earth well; if you are going to make heaven (most importantly), you must surround yourself with people who will tell you the truth. When you go through the scriptures, you will find that majority of the great generals in the Bible surrounded themselves with men who told them the truth. Take David for instance, he had Joab around him. When he wanted to count the people of Israel Joab told him no. How about Naaman, he had servants who told him the truth in the most polite manner. When Elisha told him to dip in River Jordan, and he began to rant all over the place, the servant said to him, "my father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? (2 Kings 5:13).” Had that man kept quiet, Naaman would have died a leper. You need to surround yourselves with people will tell you the truth at all times and you must also listen to them.You may lose out on something great if you don't.

A man who surrounded himself with liars - because he hated the truth - was King Ahab. When he wanted to go to war against Ramoth Gilead, he deliberately sent for prophets who would tell him what he wanted to hear - leaving out Micaiah. They came and began to say thus saith the Lord of host. Friend, not all "thus saith the Lord of Host" is really "thus saith the Lord of Host". Some are just thus saith my flesh. Thank God for Jehoshaphat; he asked for a real prophet. The moment Micaiah's name was mentioned, Ahab’s response was “he never prophesies anything good about me”. Ahab didn't argue with the fact that he was a honest man; he just didn't like him because he never says what he wanted to hear. If you are the type who always like people to tell you what you want to hear, then be prepared to hear  a lot of lies. Also, if you are the type who always love people to tell you what you want to hear not the truth, you will end up in a place where you don't want to be.

NOTE: The truth is always bitter at first but sweet at last whilst lies are always sweet at first but bitter at the end.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world