WATCH THAT BACKSLIDING

Memorise: The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. Proverbs 14:14

Read: John 6:66-69, Bible in one year: Judges 20-21, Matthew 28

Backsliding does not happen suddenly. It’s a process that occurs over a period of time, during which a person becomes lax in his thought life and begins to entertain from the path of light to the ways of evil from which one was once saved. There are many prodigal sons and daughters today who have forsaken their first love in the pursuit of materialism. Many workers in the vineyard of God, who started well, have allowed their spiritual fire to grow cold, thereby departing from the faith. Hebrews 10:38 says,

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.”

A backslider loses interest in the Lord, in the Bible, in prayer, fellowship and witnessing, and eventually turns to the world. It is like a dog returning to its vomit. You will not backslide in Jesus’ Name. The flesh will always find expression when people fail to focus on spiritual things. The flesh expression when people fail to focus on spiritual things. The flesh clouds the minds of God’s children with such things as idle past-times, sports and television, and fills their heart with junk at the expense of spiritual growth. Before you know it, backsliding would have commenced. Someone who has always been very zealous for God will then begin to miss churchmeetings when there are crucial match fixes. A sister who has been very productive in evangelism will then begin to come late to meetings because of addition to certain television soaps. As Christians who are Heaven bound, we have to be very careful. Let us keep ourselves away from danger zones as much as we can. You have to be very vigilant and sober so that the devil doesn’t drag you to Hell with little things you think do not matter (1st Peter 5:8). Those detrimental “little things” you fail to terminate may end up terminating your destiny (Song of Solomon 2:15)

Remember that even David, a man after God’s heart, fell for Bathsheba. Samson, the Lord’s anointed from the womb, lost his two eyes and was reduced to a prisoner grinding corn inside the enemy’s prison. One of my sons came to me complaining of a problem. He confessed that as every weekend drew to a close; he would get excited, looking forward to the next Monday morning because he would see his secretary again. I told him to disengage her from the job. A proverb in my native tongue says “Stay away from a snake whose head is still intact.” Whatever you can’t control will truncate your destiny. Whatever is capable of destroying your testimony must be avoided. Sometimes you need to apply wisdom and not strength (Ecclesiastes 9:18).

Action Point

Take wise, decisive action on any relationship that has the potential of destroying your testimony.

CHOOSE TO BE SANCTIFIED

Memorise: And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1st Corinthians 6:11

Read: 1st Thessalonians 5:22-24, Bible in one year: Judges 16:23-18:31, Mathew 27:15-44

It is the express will of God that every believer is sanctified (1st Thessalonians 4:3). For us to become vessels unto honour, fit for the Master’s use, we have to be fully sanctified (1st Timothy 2:21). To be sanctified is to be separated unto the process of becoming like Jesus Christ inn character (2nd Corinthians 3:18). Sanctification helps the believer to live a holy life. Right from creation, God has always been in search of vessels of glorify. The Lord will find you worthy for His glorious use in Jesus’ Name. Today, He is still looking for men to honour by using them. One thing you must know is that the scarcity of men is not the issue; it is the scarcity of sanctified vessels. A holy God cannot fill unholy vessels. A vessel that God will use for doing great exploits in life must be clean always. All those who are still finding it difficult to deal with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life cannot be used of God for honourable purpose. It is a great privilege for God to use a person. God will never play your role even though He wants to honour you. You must be made pure through and through by the Blood of Jesus. You must be willing to resist ungodly thoughts and every other thing that has the potentials of defiling you physically and spiritually. Sin makes a vessel impure. The choice is yours to make.

The one who wants to be used and honoured by God must refuse to compromise by following the norm (Daniel 1:8). You cannot go far if you are not ready to be sanctified. You cannot be an oracle of God if you are not ready to deny yourself of the present in order to buy the future. God’s vessels are not democratically elected. His choices are made based on what He deems fit for His purpose (Hebrews 2:4). The moment He picks you and you are willing to leave your life in His hands, you will never regret that you did. The call to sanctification is a clarion call to all. It is a call of privilege to become a vessel of honour fit for the Master’s use. If you accept and allow God to perfect His good works concerning you, you will become a wonder to yourself. You must be willing to let go and let God work on your weaknesses. You must be ready to decrease so that Christ may increase in you. Give attention to the study of you word of God. Memorise it and do mall that it commands. Do not love the world or the things that are in it. Beware of pride, rebellion, envy, strife, ungodliness and uncontrollable desire for wealth. Watch and pray. Do not allow anything stain your glorious garments. Get back to God and remain connected to Him in all that you do.

Prayer Point

Father, sanctify me wholly from every besetting sin by the Blood of Jesus shed on the cross.

RESTITUTION

Memorise: And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. Luke 19:8

Read: Luke 19:1-10, Bible in one year: Judges 19, Matthew 27:45-66

Restitution is the act of making right that which has been wrongly done to the injury of others. It involves restoring what has been wrongly taken, and repairing or giving the equivalent of any loss or damage. This is very important aspect of Christianity that proves genuine salvation. Even though this teaching is not popular among preachers today, the word of God is forever settled on it. If we are to experience a clear conscience and have a good testimony among those within the Church and in the world, we must obey the teaching on restitution. Restitution is not a 21st century teaching. It has been in practice from Bible days. While salvation is aimed at making your ways right with your Maker. Restitution is aimed at making your ways right with your fellow man. One is not complete without the other. It is the desire of God for us to correct all past wrongs which are correctable. If may be difficult to carry out restitution for wrong done in the past, but the mercy of God is always available to help, even it looks difficult.

if you have been genuinely converted, you should return those things that you may have stolen or converted to your own use which belong to others or to your place of work. This includes your tithes and first fruits, the non-payment of which is robbery. There are things that belong to others which you may have destroyed. Those must be replaced. Restitution includes reconciling with people who may have quarrelled with you in the past. We must make restitution for all lies and things wrongly said about anyone which have resulted in causing troubled for the person involved. Every marriage contracted contrary to the standards of the Bible must be visited and reviewed. There are some sensitive cases of restitution that you do not carry out alone. In such cases, you must seek counsel for those who are spiritually more mature than you. They will guide you through the help of the Holy Spirit on the appropriate way to go about it.

When you obey God making restitution, you will receive His favour. The favour of God removes all your years of labour and makes your life a blessed one. Also, when you restitute your ways, you will experience speedy answers to all of your prayers. This is because you have made peace with God and you have a clear conscience towards man. When you make restitution, you will no longer live under the bondage of fear, because there is nothing else to hide.

Action Point

Prayerfully take steps to carry out restitution in every applicable area of your life.

Blessed you'd be when -.

Psalm 128 King James Version (KJV)

128 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be WELL with thee.

3 Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.

4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.

5 The Lord shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem ALLthe days of thy life.

6 Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

The Benefits of Salvation

The Benefits of Salvation

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -John 14:27

Isaiah 25:8-9

8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Judges 12-14; Mathew 26:47-48

Salvation is a package full of benefit cutting across the three spheres of human existence: the spirit, the soul and the body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). When you experience salvation, the life force of God is released to you. You will begin to have a strong desire of holiness. Rather than condemnation, you will receive justification. Instead of punishment for sins committed, you will receive a credit of righteousness into your account. The new man in you has a lifestyle patterned after and controlled by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter promised by the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives man total victory over sin and empowers him for service in God’s kingdom.

Through the miracle of salvation, the one who was a sinner yesterday becomes a saint today. With his spirit, he begins to relate with God. With his mind, he receives inspiration on issues. With his body, he carries out the dictates of the Great Master. As a child of God, you have tremendous opportunities that others do not. With the assurance of full salvation, everywhere you go, goodness and mercy will follow you. I prophesy to your life today that you will never again be stranded; everywhere you turn to, there will be open doors. No one ever followed Jesus and had regrets (except the son of perdition). If you abide in Christ, you will always flourish. It is time for believers to wake up. God does not want His children running from pillar to post. The mind of excellence is in you. You have the mind of the Son of God; therefore, enter into your inheritance. It is time to balance our growth. In every area of your life, there should be full evidence that God is in charge. The Abrahamic covenant has no limitations (Genesis 13:14-15). You can go as far as you can see. In Christ, there are no limits to the heights you can attain except the ones you set for yourself. We should be envied by unbelievers and not pitied. We should be mobile signposts of signs and wonders. As a child of God, your salvation makes you a candidate for miracles. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is still very much alive. Be prepared to yield to what He says to you. He is willing to turn every hopeless and unpleasant situation in your life into a great testimony. Stop relying on your sense. Focus on the word of liberty that is able to set you free. As a believer, is your business crippled or do you find it difficult to make progress in anything you do? I command you in the Name of Jesus to rise up and walk now. Let all crippled businesses receive competitive strength now. Let there be rejoicing leaping, Singing and clapping in all areas of your life in Jesus’ Name.

Father, let me experience the full joy of salvation in every area of my life.

Jesus the Saviour

 Jesus the Saviour

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. -Matthew 1:21

John 3:16-18

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Judges 10-11, Matthew 26:26-46

The number-one treasure of the Church is Jesus Christ. Through Him, all things consist (Colossians 1:17). He is the Almighty who on one can make mightier; He is the richest one who no one can make richer. The earth and its fullness belong to Him. Every bit of what He says is always in our own best interest. Jesus teaches that there is nothing more valuable than the soul of a man (Mathew 16:26). The salvation of your soul is worth more than all the treasures of this world. The devil is after this salvation because thieves only go after treasures. The devil would do anything within his power to inhibit our relationship with the Giver of salvation, Jesus the Saviour. There is nothing as great as following Jesus. Following Jesus will cost you a lot of things, just as it cost God the Father the price of Jesus His Son to establish your salvation. Anyone who will follow Jesus the Saviour must be ready for a life of discipleship. This will be measured by the proof of your willingness to go the extra mile. You have to set a high bar of self-denial for yourself. If you want to follow Jesus, you must not allow anything to come between you and your loyalty to him.

The greatest problem of man is nothing else but the issue of sin. This problem was what Jesus the Saviour came to solve. Every benefit we can derive from Jesus is tied to salvation. Without salvation, man is doomed for destruction. When you accept Jesus, you receive the power to become great (John 1:12). Anyone who does not accept this free gift of God cannot attain their full potential in life. May you not leave this world without fully achieving the plan and purpose of God for your life in Jesus’ Name. When you accept Jesus, there will be an instant change in your life. Those who knew you before will not be able to identify you again by virtue of the transformation that would have taken place in your life. Those who were acquainted with your past life will never be able to correlate your past with your present (2 Corinthians 5:17). One of my sons used to be an impossible character. He was so unruly that during holiday periods, parents would keep their children under lock and key the moment they discovered he was around. This was because he would go for anything in a skirt. However, he eventually met with Jesus the Saviour and surrendered his life to Him and immediately, his life was transformed. Those who knew him before wondered how the change happened. You too can experience Jesus the Saviour today and overcome all sins (Galatians 5:24). As long as you are sincere, help is very close to you. All you need to do is ask Him to come into your life and change your negative experience to a positive one.

List 3 transformations that have occurred in your life since you met Jesus the Saviour.

Sin: Consequences & Cure

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; -Romans 3:23

Ezekiel 18:20-24

20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

Judges 8:29-9:57; Matthew 26:6-25

Sin is disobedience of God or a deviation from His ways. From the account in Genesis 3, we understand that sin cannot be hidden. Every secret sin will always be discovered; it’s only a matter of time (Numbers 32:23). When sin comes in, there is a loss of relationship with God. When we house sin in our lives, no matter the amount of time we spend in the place of prayer, the heavens will remain shut. Sin is not a lifter; rather it leads to demotion. It brings shame and reproach to someone with a glorious future as seen in the case of Samson.Proverbs 14:34 says,
“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”Although Samson was born great, by including in sin, his destiny was truncated (Judges 16:20-21). God has been warning a lot of people about the consequences of their actions, but they have refused to depart from the path of iniquity. Some people remain in disobedience until they experience a negative turning point in their lives. King Saul was a king who happened to be handsome, rich, healthy, powerful and prominent. His word was law, but he disobeyed God and kept going contrary to God’s divine will until tragedy struck.
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” -2 Chronicles 7:14The only way a lost relationship with God can be restored is obtaining pardon for sin through genuine repentance. The good news is that the death of Jesus on the cross has made adequate provision for the remission of our state of hopelessness against sin. We must be convinced of the need for pardon and be willing to confess out sins, no matter how numerous and terrible they are. God is ever willing to grant pardon to a genuinely repentant soul. Genuine repentance involves a change of mind that leads to a change of conduct. This change of conduct will lead to a life of holiness, through which the repentant soul becomes a vessel unto honour for the Master’s effective use. Such a person will then begin to work towards the attainment of perfection in Christ Jesus. Having done all these, there is a guarantee of an inheritance in Christ and an assurance of everlasting life.

Father, I thank you for the Blood of Jesus that was shed for the remission of my sins. I accept this provision of Yours, and ask that it wash away all my sins.

Standing with Jesus

Standing with Jesus

Standing with Jesus
Luke 10:16

“Then he [Jesus] said to the disciples, ‘Anyone who accepts your message is also accepting me. And anyone who rejects you is rejecting me. And anyone who rejects me is rejecting God who sent me’ ” Luke 10:16 (NLT).

SOWING BEFORE REAPING

SOWING BEFORE REAPING

Memorise: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Galatians 6:7

Read: Galatians 6:7-10, Bible in one year: Judges 5:1-6:35, Matthew 25:14-30

Our God is great. Not only is He great, He is the greatest. He possesses all wisdom, riches and glory. The plan of God and His delight is for you to prosper (3rd John 2). Prosperity here implies abundance, fullness and sufficiency. One thing we need to know is that prosperity does not come by speaking in tongues, but by the wisdom of sowing and reaping. At a particular time in my ministry, by necessity, I started giving out neckties to elders who were ministering along with me. I then noticed that all my close associates started giving me only neckties upon their return from foreign trips. Out of curiosity, I asked God why this was so. He told me “Son, if you sow a tie, you will reap ties.” I then switched to sowing good shoes into the life of those I was sure were of the same shoe size with me. However, the return I got from this did not come as fast as the neckties did. I went back to God to know why, and He told me “Son, if you plant maize and also plant yam, both harvest will come, but not at the same time.” Then, I understood the lesson that it is the quality of your sowing that determines the quality of your harvest.

There is a category of people who want to reap without sowing. They can best be described as thieves. It is very wrong to expect a harvest when you have not sown. Make efforts to sow into that particular area of life where you desire a harvest. Entering into your financial breakthrough may not come easy. You have to provoke Heaven to act on your behalf by sowing. No one is poor enough to have nothing to sow. If you check yourself very well, you will realise that there is a seed in your hand you can sow. The Church in Macedonia had so little, yet, they were committed to giving to the work of God (2ndCorinthians 8:1-2). In the early days of my joining the Redeemed Christian Church of God, there was a meeting in which my father-in-the-Lord, the late founder of the church, asked all workers to empty their treasury because of an urgent need in the church. Out of excitement of being privileged to be part of the saints, my wife and I as workers emptied our accounts with nothing left. At the workers meeting the following Sunday, my father-in-the-Lord asked “How many of you have done what I instructed?” Out of excitement to be counted among those who had complied, my wife and I raised our hands and we received the greatest shock of our lives. We discovered that we were the only ones that had complied! Ashamed, we quickly brought down our hands; but see what the Lord has done with our lives today. The many seeks of those days needed a lot of patience to become the great harvest of God’s blessing today.

Key Point

Nobody is entirely poor. There is always a seed in your hand that you can sow

JESUS THE WISDOM OF GOD

JESUS THE WISDOM OF GOD.

MEMORISE:
But we preach Christ crucified,unto the Jews a stumbling block,and unto the Greeks foolishness;1 Corinthians 1:23.

READ:1 CORINTHIANS 1:21-24.

21.For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe.
22.For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23.But we preach Christ
crucified, unto the Jews a
stumblingblock, and unto the
Greeks foolishness;
24.But unto them which are
called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JUDGES
3:7-4:24 AND MATTHEW
24:36-25:13.

MESSAGE
When wise men from the East
discovered the phenomenon that indicated the birth of Jesus, they abandoned everything they were
doing and commenced an
immediate search for Him
( Mathew 2:1-2). These were
noble men who were feared and highly respected. They were of the priestly caste, and they were spiritual counsellors to the kings
of their time. Yet, on hearing of the birth of Jesus, they decided to abandon their own wisdom and search for the superior wisdom of God manifested as Jesus. This is why I pity those who know the truth but allow foolishness to keep them in
darkness. Romans 1:28 says this about such people:
'And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient;' For this reason, everyone who
comes into this world must make a decision to submit to the superiority of God's wisdom which is personified by Jesus. To benefit maximally from this life,
you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord. He is willing to give you divine wisdom concerning all issues of life. He is ready to guide
you into greatness. Don't allow the devil to keep you in the foolishness of self government .
If you do, you will experience
great loss and destruction
especially in the world to come. After a branch is severed from a tree, its leaves will still remain
green, but it is only a matter of time before they wither and die. Is someone asking you to
embrace the wisdom of the
world? Is anyone asking you to forsake the congregation of the righteous? Are you been lured by religious sects with a promise that you will be free? You are only about to lose your freedom if you subscribe to such lies. It is
only in Jesus Christ you can
experience the true wisdom that brings freedom. If there is any place to search for wisdom, it is in Christ alone, because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Him ( Colossians 2:3 ). The wisdom of
God is like light that repels
darkness on its arrival. When this wisdom comes into your life, every reproach automatically gives way. As a child of God, you must allow wisdom to control all
that you do. When it appears
things are not moving in the
direction you expect, don't try to ' help' God; there is nothing
beyond His wisdom. Don't accept the alternatives of the devil, and don't subscribe to the suggestions of men. The wisdom of God is the greatest of all wisdom.

ACTION POINT:
Are you perplexed by any
situation? Look to Jesus and ask God for wisdom on how to handle it.

The Kingdom of God on Earth

The Kingdom of God on Earth [Monday April 20, 2015]

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10

Matthew 6:9-10

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Judges 1:1-3:6 and Matthew 24:15-35

The nature of our expectations from God directly depends on His promises to us. Some promises of God may sound incredible, but He is always committed to bringing them to pass. If your expectation does not agree with His promises, you may forfeit its fulfilment. Our God is good and gracious. He does many things to prove His divine power. There are times when God unravels some mysteries to make us believe and know absolutely that His plan and purpose for us cannot be compared to our current struggles and toils. This is why every child of God must pray the kingdom of God into their life (Matthew 6:10). When you make such prayers, you are saying to God: “Let there be no difference between your promises for me and the situation of my life.”.
God has special and specific promises for the righteous alone. These promises are great, and they transcend the condition of any national economy. Righteousness is the only key that ensures the enjoyment of God’s blessings in this world, with the guarantee of making heaven. When the kingdom of God comes and His will is done on earth, then there will be no defeat, failure, sickness, lack, regret or hopelessness. The scripture does not say that the will of God will be done for everybody. It says it will be well with the righteous (Isaiah 3:10). That is to say, only those who are doing the will and the pleasures of God will enjoy His blessings.

“Thy Kingdom come” is a desperate call by someone in need of change. It is a cry for hope in the midst of hopelessness, a cry for healing in the midst of sicknesses and a cry for deliverance in the midst of bondage. It is a deep cry seeking for the intervention of Heaven when earth has failed. Have you been in the bondage of debt for some time? That shame is removed now in Jesus’ Name. Do you know that your time of favour is coming? It is just around the corner. God will remember you and make you overtake those who have earlier gone ahead of you. Once you forsake the government of self and that of the devil; God will begin to administer the affairs of your life. You will then realise that there is no challenge or difficulty too great or too bad for God to fix. As you thirst after His Kingdom, He gives you permanent victory and your life begins to reflect His original plans and purpose in every area. God’s power is supreme. His power cannot be compared or equated with any other power. That is why I am sure that every power working against the fulfilment of God’s will in your life here on earth shall be consumed by the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Father, let your kingdom come in my life, and let your will be done in all of my ways.

BACK TO YOUR VOMIT?

BACK TO YOUR VOMIT?

Memorise: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

Read: 2nd Peter 2:20-22, Bible in one year: Joshua 23:24, Matthew 23:29-24:14

Often, we find someone who starts off very well in the Christian race and then cools off later. Sometimes, some people who used to be very hot for the Lord may even leave the Lord completely. When such things happen, thoughtful minds wonder, “Who will be the next to leave the Lord?” invariably, the answer is “Not me!” We are all kept standing by the grace and strength of the Lord. Another word for going back to your vomit is backsliding. It means to turn away from the Lord (1st Kings 11:9). It also means to grow cold and leave your first love (Revelations 2:4). When a person returns to his vomit, there will be a loss of joy, happiness, peace of mind and power. Darkness and murmuring will replace light and songs of praise. That will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. When I was meditating on Elisha’s decisions to kill off his oxen, I realised that he did this to demonstrate the burning of the bridge that could lead him back to his vomit (1st Kings 19:21). The one who is going to become great must make up his or her mind never to look back. Whatever will not let you follow Jesus through and through will be destroyed in Jesus’ Name. I am never sympathetic to anything that could stop me from becoming what God wants me to become. Whatever will not let you ascend to the greatness that God has for you must give way. Any friendship with the world or association with anyone that will impede your progress to the place of greatness must be removed.

The past is gone, and the present must be faced with proper zeal and commitment. Anyone driving a car cannot afford to concentrate. Anyone driving a car cannot afford to concentrate on the rear mirror if they want to avoid catastrophe and disaster. This is why Paul said that he forgets those things that are behind (Philippians 3:13). There are many reasons why some people go back to their vomit. The major reasons why Lot went back to his vomit was because he lusted after something that was not God’s will for him. The love of money has made many people sell their future. This was the case with Judas Iscariot (John 12:4-6). You cannot serve God and please the world at the same time. When you find someone who has always been fervent in the things of God now giving excuses for being absent from church programmes, it is only a matter of time; the person will soon return to his or her vomit. If you find yourself in such a situation, God is saying to you like the prodigal son, return and be forgiven. God does not want any sinner to die in his sins; neither does He want His children to be at the mercy of the devil. It doesn’t matter how far down you have gone; He is ready to make you a better child of His.

Action Point

Examine yourself; if you have backslidden in any way, repent and return to your first works.

Waiting for you ...

Jeremiah 3:7 (NIV)
7. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.
What sin have you committed that kept you away from GOD, hmm, He is merciful and waiting for you ...

KEEP YOURSELF HUMBLE

KEEP YOURSELF HUMBLE – Friday April 17, 2015

Memorize:
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: -l Peter 5:6

Read: l Samuel 15:17-19
17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
18 And the LORD sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.
19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

MESSAGE:

Several years ago, I was on a visit to a parish of our church in Ilesha (a town in southwest Nigeria) on the same day that a Bible Study service was to take place. Because I wanted to be blessed, I sat down in the congregation waiting for the Bible Study teacher to commence the lesson for the day. However, an overzealous usher announced that I was around, and so that Bible Study teacher refused to teach while I was sitting in the congregation. When he insisted, I offered to interpret the message for him. In spite of this, he still would not teach. I then ordered, “As the General Overseer, I command you to teach.” Not wanting to disobey me, he started teaching, though he was uncomfortable having me as his interpreter. It was a humorous scene, but we had a wonderful time.

One great undoing of present-day minister is pride. Humility can be discerned from your relationship with your superiors and subordinates. When you respect your subordinates as though they were your superiors, you are beginning to learn the principles of a humble life. There is nothing good that can come out of arrogance and pride: only destruction. Some people are humble when their ministry is still modest, but the moment they gain publicity and popularity, they become so proud and see themselves as infallible. The same Saul that was hiding when he was being made king started disobeying God without remorse when he becomes settled. Do you know that a simple “I am sorry, Lord” from Eli could have saved him from being rejected and destroyed by God? Instead, his responses to the situation at hand showed that he was not bothered about God’s judgement (1st Samuel 3:18). Rather than asking for God to show mercy, he told God to “do as he pleases.” May God not “do as He pleases” in your life in Jesus Name. if God is to do as He pleases, nobody will be able to stand (Psalm 130:3). When you clothe yourself with humility, your life becomes blessed and favoured (James 4:6&10), and you become a channel of blessing to everyone around you. Jesus Christ, our Master and King, humbled Himself to die a shameful death (Philippians 2:8). Let the mind of Christ be in you always. He made himself of no reputation. He took the posture of a servant through the spirit of humility. It is against this backdrop that God decided to exalt Him highly and gave Him a Name that is above every other name. Pride usually goes before a fall. Pride is excessive self-esteem. It brings about the misconception that one is better than others. This is dangerous because God is the only one who can help you in the fulfilment of your destiny. With humility, you can conquer the world.

Key Point:
It is better for you to humble yourself than for God to humble you.

Bible in one year: Joshua 19:40-21:45, Matthew 22:15-46

MONEY & THAT LOVE OF IT

Memorise; For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1stTimothy 6:10

Read: 1st Timothy 6:6-11, Bible in one year: Joshua 18:1-19:39, Matthew 21:33-22:14

God knows no lack, and He expects His children to reach a height of financial greatness where lack will be forgotten forever. The one whose name is El-shaddai can provide for all of your needs. Gathering wealth by honest means is the path to increase. Those who get rich quick by bribing their way or engaging in fraudulent means are only digging their own pit. Wealth gotten by vanity will diminish. Many are secretly envying unbelievers because of their wealth. This is foolishness. You have to wait upon the Lord to show you your source of wealth so that you don’t overrun yourself. Wealth from the Almighty God is supposed to be a blessing, but when the search for wealth is taken to the extreme, it becomes a curse. You must never pursue wealth to the detriment of your soul. There are many people looking for wealth for the wrong reasons. Some wait to be rich because they feel wealth commands respect. For some others, it is to satisfy the thirst of belonging to a certain social class. Some people want wealth so as to use it as an instrument of oppression or revenge. God will not support such motives. The devil is always out to exploit your insincerity. He will give you options of getting fast wealth outside the will of God. Once you fall for it, you may never come out of his trap except God decides to have mercy on you.

Many rich people are never satisfied. There is something in them that pushes them to want to accumulate more wealth for reasons they can’t explain (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Contentment is a virtue that cannot be bought with money (1st Timothy 6:6). If you have contentment, you can never trapped in the deceitfulness of riches. Do you know that there are many people out in search of wealth, struggling in places where God has not put them? Isaac thought of escaping to Egypt to avoid famine or scarcity, but God asked him to remain in Garar (Genesis 26:1-2). He obeyed God and sowed his seed right where he was, and there was a great harvest for him. He became so great that the natives of the land envied his wealth. All you need to do is to cultivate the right relationship with God, and He will always direct you to where your blessing will locate you. Another problem for the wealthy is the temptation of using their money to buy what will destroy them. You need to know how much the devil is taking from many through the medium of cigarettes, alcohol and hard drugs. Some people never planned to have extra-martial affairs until they started having money. The kind of wealth that will disconnect you from God will never come into your hands in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer Point

Father, keep me from wealth that will lead to my destruction.

TEAR THAT GARMENT!

Memorize:

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; -Ephesians 4:22

Read: Colossians 3:8-10
8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

MESSAGE:

After experiencing salvation, the heart city of every child of God should be to live above sin. The Bible teaches that glorious victory over sin is available for every believer (Romans 6:14). The moment we are serious about tapping into the grace of that Christ has made available to us, all that was evil in us will remain permanently buried. Some Christians have never even heard of the victorious life of holiness, so they continue sinning and confessing their sins from day to day. You need to know that God has made us to triumph always in Christ Jesus (2nd Corinthians 2:14). However, recognise the fact that despite the provision of victory over sin, you still have your own free will. You can choose to accept or reject a life of victory over sin. If you yield to Christ, you will be free from the power of sin (Romans 6:7-8), but if you yield to sin, you will go down from iniquity to iniquity (Romans 6:19). Temptation is one of the most familiar experiences of a true child of God, and no one can totally escape from it. This is why the Lord taught us in Matthew 16:13a to include this petition in our daily prayer:
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:”
Temptation is not sin until you yield to it. When Joseph found himself cornered by Potiphar’s wife, he ran away, tearing his garment (Genesis 39:12). Thank God his destiny was not torn. Tear off the garment of those things that can cause you to backslide.

The salvation of your soul worth more than all the wealth of this world. The devil is aware of this and that is why he wants you to lose your salvation. From 1st John 2:15-17 we understand that, the root of all besetting sins is the love of the world. This is expressed through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Lust runs against God’s expectation. Lust will not allow us to see the One leading the way. Concerning pride, the Bible says that those who exalt themselves shall be abased (Matthew 23:12). We must be wary of gossip and those who make it their past time. There is danger in idle words. God is not against laughter and humour as some wrongly believe, but he frowns at jesting, which are unholy jokes (Ephesians 5:4). Following the Lord’s footsteps requires self-denial, which is an exercise that must be done daily. We must acknowledge that we are helpless and hopeless without the mercy of God, and confess our sins no matter how numerous and terrible they are (Proverbs 28:13). We must seek God’s face for pardon to give room for the Blood of Jesus which alone can be the cleansing.

Prayer Point:
Father, as I yield myself to your spirit, tear away every garment that makes me susceptible to sin.

BREAKING GENERATIONAL CURSES

Memorise: And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. Number 20:12

Read; 2nd Kings 5:25-27, Bible in one year: Malachi 1-4, Matthew 16:13-28

The sin of one man can sometimes lead to national disasters and tragedy (Joshua 7:1-5). One person’s sin can also bring trouble generations unborn. The story of how Gehazi because leprous in our Bible reading buttresses this fact. With the recent innovations in science, scientists believe that problems in the genes of a great grandfather can be seen in the genes of his offspring. The good news is that once you give your life to Christ, you automatically become a member of God’s family. A curse is like a river that flows downstream. It begins from its source and is passed down to other people. I decree in the Name of Jesus and through the authority vested in me as the minister of the gospel, that every generational curse still operating in your life be broken now.

The idolatry of Ahad and his family brought untold hardship and agony to a lot of people for three and half years (1st Kings 18:17-18). This is why you must learn to accept your faults anytime you are rebuked for your sins, because the eyes of the Lord are too holy to behold iniquity. A foolish person thinks that he or she is always right. One of the first things a mathematician learns is that it is possible for you to be wrong. I know that I can be wrong. When anything goes wrong. I quickly check myself. Because a fool thinks that he is always right, he hath correction and instruction. A refusal to readily accept and admit your faults might lead to untold anguish and agony at the end.

At a point in time, King David sinned against the Lord because he conducted a census with God’s permission (1st Chronicles 21). God was unhappy with this, and when the punishment came, thousand of people died. When a national tragedy! This is why we must always pray for the people in power, because whatever decisions they take have far-reaching effects on the entire citizenry. The consequence of a generational curse is terrible. A curse normally begins to destroy from the root, and a lot of damage is done before it is noticeable. Barrenness in business can be as a result of a curse. Joblessness and lack of progress could be due to a curse. When someone is always almost succeeding but never succeeds, it is the sign of a curse. Some people repeatedly gather money to build a house or start a project, but as soon as they begin executing their plans, a problem comes up that takes all the gathered money away. This also is indicative of a curse. As a mouthpiece of the Most High God, I decree blessing to replace every curse in your life in Jesus’ Name.

Key Point

Obedience brings the blessings of the Lord

THE WISE & THE FOOLISH

Memorise: Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1st Thessalonians 5:22

Read: Judges 16:15-21; Bible in one year: Joshua 1-3, Matthew 17

Imagine you are driving on an unfamiliar road, and you see a sign that reads “narrow bridge ahead”. As soon as you see this sign, you have gained the knowledge that there is a narrow bridge in front of you. What you choose to do with this knowledge will determine whether you are wise or foolish. If you are wise, you will slow down immediately. If you ignore the sign and increase your speed, you are foolish. This illustrates the state of many lives. Wisdom is the correct application of knowledge. When you begin to apply knowledge correctly, you will reach your goal. Fools always end badly even if they start well. The wise builds, while the foolish pulls down (Proverbs 14:1). All the things that happened to generation of Israelites that did not make it to the Promised Land were written for us as examples and for our admonition, so that we will know what to do and what not to do at every given time. We are to learn from these examples and be prepared.

There are many kinds of false prophets today, even among those who call themselves Pentecostals. Despite their shallowness and heretical teachings, their churches are prospering numerically and financially. If you are not careful, the tendency is there to think “since they are prospering so much; God must be behind them!” such a mindset can lead to weariness and ultimately spiritual slumber. A sleeping man is at the mercy of his enemies, as was the case with Saul (1st Samuel 26:7-8). A sleeping man can also lose things that are very precious. Samson lost his hair while he was asleep, and by the time he woke up, all his power had left him (Judges 16:19-20). Samson dozed off many times before he slept. He did not act against the appearance of evil. He did not act when Delilah kept pestering him. She asked him for his weak point and Samson was so careless not to realise that her request wasn’t a joke. He kept on dozing until he finally slept off on her laps. There the enemy overcame him and plucked out his eyes. It is true that his hair grew again, but his eyes were never restored. The foolish person is careless, while the wise one is careful. The fool will want to sin and ask for forgiveness, but he who is wise will abstain from sin and everything that has the appearance of evil. You never know where your next test will come from. Once you lay your hand on the plough, you cannot afford to look back (Luke 9:62). Do not relax when you have not finished the race. Make up your mind to pray, study the word of God and fast more than others. Meditate day and night on the word of God. Be extra careful. With total surrender to God, He will carry you and make sure that against all odds, you reach your goal.

Prayer Point

Father, have mercy upon me and help me to act with wisdom at all times.

BREAKING GENERATIONAL CURSES

BREAKING GENERATIONAL CURSES

Memorise: And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. Number 20:12

Read; 2nd Kings 5:25-27, Bible in one year: Malachi 1-4, Matthew 16:13-28

The sin of one man can sometimes lead to national disasters and tragedy (Joshua 7:1-5). One person’s sin can also bring trouble generations unborn. The story of how Gehazi because leprous in our Bible reading buttresses this fact. With the recent innovations in science, scientists believe that problems in the genes of a great grandfather can be seen in the genes of his offspring. The good news is that once you give your life to Christ, you automatically become a member of God’s family. A curse is like a river that flows downstream. It begins from its source and is passed down to other people. I decree in the Name of Jesus and through the authority vested in me as the minister of the gospel, that every generational curse still operating in your life be broken now.

The idolatry of Ahad and his family brought untold hardship and agony to a lot of people for three and half years (1st Kings 18:17-18). This is why you must learn to accept your faults anytime you are rebuked for your sins, because the eyes of the Lord are too holy to behold iniquity. A foolish person thinks that he or she is always right. One of the first things a mathematician learns is that it is possible for you to be wrong. I know that I can be wrong. When anything goes wrong. I quickly check myself. Because a fool thinks that he is always right, he hath correction and instruction. A refusal to readily accept and admit your faults might lead to untold anguish and agony at the end.

At a point in time, King David sinned against the Lord because he conducted a census with God’s permission (1st Chronicles 21). God was unhappy with this, and when the punishment came, thousand of people died. When a national tragedy! This is why we must always pray for the people in power, because whatever decisions they take have far-reaching effects on the entire citizenry. The consequence of a generational curse is terrible. A curse normally begins to destroy from the root, and a lot of damage is done before it is noticeable. Barrenness in business can be as a result of a curse. Joblessness and lack of progress could be due to a curse. When someone is always almost succeeding but never succeeds, it is the sign of a curse. Some people repeatedly gather money to build a house or start a project, but as soon as they begin executing their plans, a problem comes up that takes all the gathered money away. This also is indicative of a curse. As a mouthpiece of the Most High God, I decree blessing to replace every curse in your life in Jesus’ Name.

Key Point

Obedience brings the blessings of the Lord

SET-UP FOR IRREVERSIBLE BLESSING

SET-UP FOR IRREVERSIBLE BLESSING 

Memorize:
His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. -John 2:5

Read: l Kings 17:10-16
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.
12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.
13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.
14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.
15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.
16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

MESSAGE:

My life is living proof of the goodness of God. The testimonies of God’s blessings in my life are uncountable. My journey to becoming what God has made me today has not been as easy as you may think. Each time I remember where I started from and how I started, I’m usually overwhelmed with gratitude, and it beats my imagination. I remember with nostalgic feelings how God dealt with me in the past and how He is still using me as an instrument in His hands. In 1985, when I started living at the Redemption Camp with my family, there were times that I would not have =N=1 in my pocket. Do you know that there were times my wife and I would not be able to go to Lagos because we had no =N=2 to pay toll fee? I would comfort my wife on such days by telling her that God might have restricted us from going to Lagos because an accident would occur on the road. However, the fact was that I could not afford to pay the toll fee of only =2= both ways. I thank God because that condition has gone forever. Poverty is no longer a threat to whatever I want to do in life because God has placed me and all my children, both biological and spiritual, on the pedestal of irreversible blessings. The womb of lack has been completely shut forever and my cup of blessings is running over day by day. I pray that as you get committed to the work of God entrusted to your care, you will never know lack again in Jesus’ Name.

Do you know that God can choose to divert wealth to your side? If you have given your life to Christ, this is one of your benefits for being in the commonwealth of Israel by faith. Without any iota of doubt, believers can be blessed by the Lord greatly. God could decide to arrange the transfer of wealth that unbelievers have laid up for years to you without much problem. In fact, if you understand the glorious agenda of wealth transfer, unbelievers could even be struggling to bless you. Sometimes ago, I told all my children at the auditorium of the Redemption Camp that I did not want anyone to give me cars were no longer an issue for me. Before I got home on that very day, four cars were already waiting for me and two of these cars were from Muslims. When God decides to set you up for irreversible blessings, poverty will become a total stranger to you. However, you must live a life that will glorify God. You must maintain a constant, unbroken fellowship with Him. Live a life that will be a blessing to the Lord if you don’t want His prosperity to be withdrawn from you. Are you in the doldrums of debt and poverty? Believe God for a divine set-up. It will be an encounter that will position you for the blessing that will cause your cup to run over.

Prayer Point:
Father, please give me an explosive miracle today that will make my cup run over.

WEAPON OF THE MIGHTY

WEAPON OF THE MIGHTY

Memorise: Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossian 2:14

Read: John 3:1-5, Bible in one year: Zechariah 9-11, Matthew 15:1-31

God is a specialist in using people who the world has rejected. He picks up those who have been written off, polish them and turns them into great warriors of His kingdom. This is to let you know that it is not over with you yet. As long as you know whose report to believe, those who have written you off have made their greatest mistake. The name of Rahab, the harlot whose prostitution business was located where all eyes could see, was included in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:5-6). Uriah’s wife, an adulteress, was also mentioned. This is to let you know that God has a purpose for each and every one of us. His purpose can only come to pass when we accept the Lordship of Jesus. The moment Jesus come into your life, He blots out the handwriting of the past. Your past becomes past and the former sinner becomes a saint.

David as a weapon of the Almighty God went and picked five smooth stones when he was to confront Goliath. Not five regular stones when he was to confront Goliath. Not five regular stones but smooth ones. Anyone who will become a weapon of the Almighty cannot afford to be ordinary. God will not use ordinary Christians but smooth ones. It is interesting to note that when Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace, the fire refused to burn them because they were special children (Daniel 3:16-25). They were smooth weapons of the Almighty God. Joseph refused the lures of the wife of Potiphar because he was a smooth stone. He said he could not compromise and sin against God (Genesis 39:9). This statement landed him in prison, yet God was waiting for him there. Colossians 3:5-6 says this

“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:”

As a weapon of the Mighty, you should be able to control your body. Anyone who wants to operate under the anointing of the Most High God must not only love righteousness, but must hate iniquity. To deal with the Goliaths of this world, you need to become a smooth stone. If you discipline yourself enough to be a weapon of the Almighty, the enemy will always fail against you. Allow the Almighty to help you pass through fire. God is interested in you and wants to bless you. He wants to use you for His glory. If you permit Him, He will do it. He can use the fire of the Holy Spirit to burn away any dross from your life so that what remains is pure and smooth.

Prayer Point

Father, I submit myself for purification by the fire of your Spirit; use me for your glory.

THE NEW ANOINTING DEMONSTRATED

THE NEW ANOINTING DEMONSTRATED

Memorise: And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. Isaiah 10:27

Read: Luke 5:1-11, Bible in one year: Zechariah 1:1-5:4, Matthew 13:45-14:12

Just one encounter with the Holy Spirit can change your life. When Jesus Christ stepped into the life of Peter, his life never remained the same again. On that particular day, several yokes were broken in Peter’s life. The first one was the yoke of failure. A fisherman who catches no fish is a failure. You may have failed before now, but the moment the new anointing comes upon your life, you will become an all-round success. The second yoke broken in peter’s life was the yoke of poverty. The moment the Anointed One got into his boat, his boat began to sink with blessings. For a reader of this devotional, God will embarrass you with His blessings. God is His own wisdom picks the person He chooses to anoint (Hebrew 2:4). After Saul fell out of the divine plan and purpose, the grace of God picked David. It is my prayer that you will not be among the rejected in Jesus’ Name. when the oil from God lands upon your head, every burden becomes lifted and the new anointing begins to destroy yokes you never knew existed around you.

Another yoke that was broken in the life of Peter was the yoke of frustration. He was a frustrated man. He threw his nets into the sea several times and he caught no fish. However, upon the appearance of Jesus Christ, he began to experience open doors that erase the setbacks of the past. The new anointing will put an end to your many years of labour and you will begin to operate in the favour of God (Psalm 102:13). Peter had been called by Jesus to be a fisher of men, but he did not fully enter into the divine destiny for his life until the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14&41). What Peter could not achieve prior to this time came to pass at the set time of the new anointing.

Take time to pray for the new anointing so that you will not live as a shadow of your true self. Everything you touch begins to prosper when God is the one who has anointed you. He will stand behind you and ensure you never lose a battle. Those who thought you will end up begging are in for a shocker because what is not enough now is going to be more than enough tomorrow. It does not matter what anybody thinks, just ensure you are at peace with God and you will see how God prosper a person right in the midst of detractors.

Prayer Point

Father, anoint me afresh with the new anointing. Let me not live as a shadow of my true self in Jesus’ Name.