BE OF GOOD CHEER

Memorise:

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13

Read: Matthew 14:23-27

14:23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

14:24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

14:25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

Message:

The message in today’s memory verse is food for thought for those children of God who think that being sorrowful or morose is a Christian virtue. A glooming spirit is of the devil, who wants us to be in sorrow continually. In contrast to this, God wants all His children to be happy. The Holy Spirit in Isaiah 61:3 said that God gives joy to the sorrowful:

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”

The Lord Jesus Christ, who came to demonstrate the nature and character of God, read the above scripture in a synagogue on a certain day, and He declared:

“This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” Luke 4:21b

By this declaration, as a child of God, you should not live in sorrow anymore.

All through the course of Jesus’ earthly ministry, one statement that was common with Him was, “Be of good cheer”. In other words, “Have a merry heart”. He continually said this because He knew that a merry heart results in a smiling face and is like medicine to the body and soul (Proverbs 15:13, Proverbs 17:22). For example, in John 16:33, Jesus told the disciples to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world. This means that, as children of God, we should not go about in life wearing a sorrowful face in self-pity - not even when we are confronted with the challenges of life. In the story of the man afflicted with the palsy, Jesus told him to be of good cheer because his sins were forgiven (Matthew 9:2). In other words, "Son, although your sins brought this sickness to your life, you are now forgiven, and you are made whole." I prophesy to you today, irrespective of the agonising condition your past life has brought into your present, the Lord will redeem you today. You are forgiven by the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, and you will be happy again in Jesus’ Name. In today’s Bible reading, the disciples were in the midst of the sea and its waves tossed them here and there. In the midst of palpable fear and despair, Jesus came to them and rebuked their faithlessness, before rebuking the destructive wind. He then encouraged them to be of good cheer. In like manner, the Lord is speaking to you today that you will not drown in that situation. Be cheerful because Emmanuel is with you. Your joy shall come, and it shall come in full measure in Jesus' Name.

Prayer Point:
Father, flood my heart with unspeakable joy today and for ever more.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Corinthians 15-16
Daniel 5:13-28

OCCUPY TILL HE COMES.

Memorise:

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2

Read: Luke 19:11-13

19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

19:12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Message:

God’s expectation of you in these end times is that you would live for a cause that is greater than yourself - and cause that will serve the purpose of advancing His Kingdom on earth. What worthy cause in God’s kingdom keeps you awake at night? What burden are you carrying in your heart? When Nehemiah heard that his people back home had been put to shame and that worship services in the temple of God had been halted, he was overwhelmed with a burden to “occupy” for God and his people (Nehemiah1:4). He immediately wanted to effect the necessary changes that would restore the image of God’s people. Many Christians are not bothered about making it a duty to occupy in the place of prayer for those in authority. Many Christians are not even concerned about the rate at which many sinners are going to Hell. As long as they are comfortable, they care less about the situation of others. Some people are so self-centered that as long as their immediate family is saved, the salvation of their extended family members is far from their mind. It is our duty as believers to bring all people to the knowledge of God. We must occupy by directing the souls of men to God through prayers and by witnessing to them until they give their lives to God. Although Nehemiah was comfortable in the king’s palace, he was troubled by the discomfort of God’s people. We ought to share this same spirit.

The burden for revival in the hearts of men was what led to the outburst of many moves of God in the world since the days of the apostles. The burden for holiness has led many to occupy in the place of prayer for certain territories. Our burden for the business of God's Kingdom should lead us into prayer and fasting, so that we can become fruitful in our missionary assignments. As a branch of the Vine, you must be ready to bear fruit if you don’t want the Vine to cast you off. The Vine is committed to supplying all you need for the assignment; there is therefore no excuse for you not to occupy till His return (Philippians 4:19). Also, everything that the Vine expects you to do as His branch is done through the strength supplied by the Vine (John 15:5). As long as the branch remains attached to the Vine, it will be able to fulfill all that is expected of it (Philippians 4:13). I remember when I was in the university and I was trusting God for his help in winning the soul of one of the professors. I would do a lot of rehearsals on how I would present the message to him, but each time I saw him, I would lose my confidence. However, God helped me and I eventually succeeded in this assignment. It is only through God’s help that you can occupy till the very end.

Prayer Point:
Father, may I not have to give excuses on the day of accountability.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Romans 14-16
Daniel 3:8-23

THE WORKS OF THE FLESH

Memorize:

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” John 3:6

Read: Galatians: 5:16-21

5: 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Message:

As Christians who are Heaven-bound, the works of the flesh are things we should watch out for, so that they do not bring our soul into damnation. We must do all we can to cherish the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). If we continue to stir up the fruit of the Spirit in our lives daily, it will be difficult for the flesh to have dominion over us. On a daily basis, our thoughts, words and actions must be guided by this scripture which says:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

If you give your heart to these words, it would be difficult for the flesh to have rule over your mind, and consequently, the work of the flesh will not find expression in your life. Such sins as hatred towards others, envy for what is happening in other people’s lives, pride and arrogance will not have a hold on you because you are walking in the Spirit of God.

All those who engage in the works of the flesh have no place in the Kingdom of God. If you want to please God, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the lust for materialism, all of which do not allow the word of God to find its rightful place in the hearts of men, will have to go. God commands us to run the Christian race with patience (Hebrews 12:1). There are many who have turned sin into sport. They believe that they are very smart and cannot fall victim of sin. This was the same thinking that Adam and Eve had when they allow the voice of the serpent to override God’s instructions for their lives (Genesis 3:1-6). Samson also had an idea of the destiny he was meant to fulfill on earth, but he gambled with the anointing of God on his life and died with his enemies (Judges 16:28-30). These examples are there for us to learn from and be wise. As a child of God, you have to drop those weights of sin that easily drag you down. Don’t allow the works of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the mundane things of life to deny you of God’s plan for your life. The moment you decide not to walk in the Spirit, you have resolved in your heart to be independent of God and from that moment, the real life in you dies! This is a deadly path to take. No one who took this path has ever had a good story to tell, but that will not be your lot in Jesus’ Name. You have to be watchful, prayerful and engage in spiritual discipline from time to time, so as not to fall prey to the wiles of the devil manifested through the works of the flesh.

Key Point:
The flesh profits nothing, but the Spirit gives life.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Romans 9-10
Daniel 2:31-45