OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, DATE: WEDNESDAY 15th JULY 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: WEDNESDAY 15th JULY 2015

THEME: ACCOMPLICE TO SIN?

Memorise:
Who knowing The Judgement of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Romans 1:32

Read: Romans 1:29-32
29. Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30. Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31. Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32. Who knowing The Judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Message:
In trying to rationalise and condone certain types of sin, some people have painted them in different colours.
1. Take lying for instance.
2. This evil act has been categorised by some into white, black and so on.
3. Whether it is a grave lie or a lie that cannot hurt a fly, a lie is a lie.
4. Leviticus 19:11 says it is wrong to lie to other brethren.
5. The devil is the father of all liars according to our Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:44).
6.  John 8:44
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.
7. If you wilfully engage in lies, you definitely have the devil as your father.

B. The Bible declares that outside the gates of Heavens are liars:
1.  “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” Revelation 22:15
2. If a lie is as trivial as people say it is, why would liars be categorised with fornicators, murderers and idol worshippers?
3. If a lie is not grievous, why would the gated of Heaven be shut against liars?
4. Also, in the above Scripture, a distinction is made between those who love lies and those who tell the lies.
5. In other words, some people are branded liars and not because they told a lie, but because they are in accomplice to a lie.
6. If you cover up someone who has lied, you are an accessory to the lie and as a result, a liar yourself.

C. We understand from our memory verse that while two people may commit a particular sin, ten others may be punished along with them for complicity.
1. This is why you must be very careful.
2. In the process of recommending someone for ordination for example, the fellow may lie that he is a house fellowship leader and provide an address, whereas he is not.
3. If his pastor knows the truth but turns a blind eye and goes ahead to present such a candidate for ordination, he has become an accomplice to a lie and might be on his way to Hell unless he repents.
4. This goes for everyone who knows the truth but cover it up.
5. Do not be taken over by the sin of others! 6. If some people choose to sin, let them face its consequences all by themselves.    7. Never support, sponsor or encourage anyone over sinful act.
8. You must be able to tell the fellow that he or she has sinned and condemn that action with all gravity.
9. Never become the pillow on which the sinner will find solace whenever he or she wants to sin, or else, you will partake of divine judgement and end up in Hell together.  

Key Point:
A lot of people will go to Hell because they take pleasure in those who sin.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 13:15 and LUKE 22:63-23:17

AUTHOR : Pastor E. A ADEBOYE

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
  Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Emmanuel=GOD With Us!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, DATE : TUESDAY 14th JULY 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE : TUESDAY 14th JULY 2015

THEME: PHILIPPIANS 4:19 WAS EARNED

Memorise:
"Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account." Philippians 4:17

Read: Philippians 4:14-19
14. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.
15. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of The Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.
16. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.
17. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.
18. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
19. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Message:
A. If you are enjoying God’s Love, you must be ready to give something in return to Him as a demonstration of your love for Him.
1. This was demonstrated by the church at Philippi in today’s Bible reading.
2. Paul reported that they were the only ones who stood with him during the period of his trial and need.
3. After he left Macedonia, some churches used that as an excuse not to support him anymore, but not the brethren at Philippi.    4. Even after he travelled to Thessalonica, they repeatedly sent provisions to meet his need there.
5. Today, some people still hide under the cover of distance to shy away from showing love through giving.
6. They would say “You are so far away and that is why it is so difficult to send assistance to you.”
7. If it is difficult to send assistance now, it was much more difficult to do so then.
8. As challenging as it was then, the brethren in Philippi found a way around the difficulties and supported Paul.
9. They knew what they were doing.
10. They become a major financial backbone of the ministry of Paul.
11. Paul declared that by virtue of their being so sacrificial in giving, he was full, having all his needs met.
12. It was based on this that he prayed that God would supply all their needs in Philippians 4:19.

B. Just as you have needs, so does God have needs.
1. If you can meet Gods needs, He will surely meet yours.
2. The project of expending God’s kingdom on earth has needs.
3. There is therefore a need to support anymore or any cause that is dedicated to meeting these needs.
4. Why did Paul not pray the same prayer for the other churches?
5. It is because a person has the responsibility to provoke the blessings that come to him or her as an individual, family or church.
6. Before you expect so much from God, ask yourself what you have done to provoke what you are expecting.
7. As revealed in Philippians 4:17, know that everyone has an account with God:
8. “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”
9. Everything you give to God grows that account.
10. It is when your account is full that your harvest will come.

C. The church at Philippi got their harvest.    1. What about you?
2. What have you given to God in demonstration of your love for Him?
3. What contributions have you made to grow your local parish and meet their needs?
4. How have you met the needs of your pastor and his family?

Key Point:
Can your pastor say like Paul that he is full and has no needs as a result of your care?

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 CHRONICLES 9:29-12:16 and LUKE 22:39-62

AUTHOR : Pastor E. A ADEBOYE
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."
EMMANUEL=GOD With Us!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, DATE: TUESDAY 7th JULY 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: TUESDAY 7th JULY 2015

THEME: LOVE MUST BE RECIPROCATED

Memorise:
If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My Love; even as I have kept My Father’s Commandments, and abide in His Love. John 15:10

Read: John 15:9-10
9. As The Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My Love.
10 If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My Love; even as I have kept My Father’s Commandments, and abide in His Love.

Message:
A. God loves us so much the He gave us Himself as a gift.
1. Giving Jesus Christ to die for us was the same as giving Himself to us (1Timothy 3:16).
2. 1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
3. But He did not stop there, He went further, pointing out to us in Romans 8:32 that:
“He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.”
4. However, love should be a two-way exchange, and not one-sided.
5. If you love someone and your love is not being reciprocated, after a while, something will happen to that love.
6. That love may grow cold or even die.
7. The same applies to the relationship between God and us.
8. If you check through the scriptures, you will learn that whenever God does something for someone, He expects them to do something in return.

B. It is one thing to be loved and another thing to abide in that love.
1. While you were in your sins, God demonstrated His Love for you by sending Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, to die for you.
2. When you respond to this divine initiative by repenting of your sins and accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, you will be washed by His blood and forgiven.
3. After this, God increases His love towards you, and when you reciprocate, that love increases.
4. Love begets greater love.
If you want to sustain or increase The Love that God has for you, reciprocate His Love. 5.  In today’s reading, Jesus tells us that when He came to earth as a man, He was loved by the Father; but to sustain that love, He had to keep The Father’s Commandments.

C. What The Father expected of Jesus is what He expects of us today.
1. There is no way you will continue in God’s love when you deliberately break His commandments or refuses to obey Him.
2. If He has loved you, He expects you to love Him too.
3. He expects your obedience.
4. He also expects you to love other brethren.
5. How have you reciprocated The Love of The Lord?
6. Even though afflictions, persecutions, angels, Satan, what we see and what we can’t see cannot separate us from The Love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39)!
7. Disobedience, manifested by violation of His word, can deal that love a terrible blow.

Action Point:
List some things you have never done that you can start doing to reciprocate The Love of God. Do them from today!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CHRONICLES 23:25 and LUKE 18:35-19:10

AUTHOR: Pastor E. A ADEBOYE
He Loves Me I Cannot Say Why! He Loves Me I Cannot Say Why! On Calvary Cross He Suffered For Me! He Loves Me I Cannot Say Why! On Calvary Cross He Died For My Sins!  He Loves Me I Cannot Say Why!
Emmanuel=GOD With Us!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, DATE: WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: WEDNESDAY 1 JULY 2015

THEME: RETURN REDUCED WAGES!

Memorise:
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled The Law." Romans 13:8

Read: Genesis 31:36-42
36. And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? What is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37. Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? Set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38. This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39. That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40. Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41. Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42. Except The God of my father, The God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.

Message:
A. God is a righteous God, and as a result, He hates all forms of fraud.
1. According to Leviticus 19:13, it is a crime to delay your worker's salary for 24 hours.
2. Leviticus 19:13
"Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning."
3. Do you promptly pay your staff – whether church or secular?
4. Another aspect of fraud is manipulating your workers’ salaries.

B. One Bible character who was a victim of this was Jacob.
1. All the years he worked for Laban, he suffered a great deal.
2. He was deceived, cheated, made to bear the losses his boss should have borne and earned an ever-decreasing wage.
3. Laban was extremely wicked.
4. But do you know that some employers today are like Laban?
5. They take all the gains of their businesses and push all the losses to their staff, irrespective of what caused such losses.     6. Also, while they plan to make more profit and push their staff to work hard at it, they hardly ever plan to increase their salaries.
7. If anything, they continue to come up with excuses as to why such salaries should remain at the same level, or even be reduced.

C. Laban reduced Jacob’s wages 10 times.
1. If you are happy to cut down your staff salaries rather than increase them, though your business is not diminishing, you are toying with Hell.
2. If your business cannot afford an employee anymore, it is better to let such staff go after paying their entitlements.
3. Take note of The Words of Romans 13:8:
“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth another hath fulfilled The law.”
4. Every cent, kobo or penny you fraudulent cut off the wages of your staff amounts to a debt you owe them.
5. Also, the fact that you owe your staff shows your lack of love for them. 
6. You cannot be cutting down the salary or wages of those you love, while your business is doing fine.

D. Do not be surprised that some employers who claim to be believers in Christ will die and get to the gate of Heaven, only to be told that they cannot enter in because of the debt they owe their staff.
1. At that checkpoint, the entire amount owed will be found on them.
2. They will then say “I am sorry; I am now prepared to pay the debts I owe my staff”, but the angles will say “Sorry, it’s too late.”
3. The money such persons fraudulently stole from their staff will follow them to Hell-fire and torment them there for eternity.
4. For your own good, go and restitute all the wages you have cut off without just cause!

Key Point:
Besides pride, another vice that God cannot stand in people is breaking of agreements. If you make a promise, you must keep it.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:1 CHRONICLES 7:14-9:34 and LUKE  15:1-24

AUTHOR:  Pastor E. A ADEBOYE
Pay Attention To Those You Meet On Your Way To The Top! Be Extra Careful To Treat Those Who Gave You A Helping Hand On Your Way Up The Ladder Of Success! You May Need Them To Remain Successful! Or On Your Way Down The Ladder!
Emmanuel=GOD With Us!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, DATE: TUESDAY 30th JUNE 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: TUESDAY 30th JUNE 2015

THEME: DO IT AS TO THE LORD

Memorise:
"Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as The Servants of Christ, doing The Will of God from the heart; Ephesians 6:6

Read: Ephesians 6:5-8
5.?Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6. Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as The Servants of Christ, doing The Will of God from the heart;
7. With good will doing service, as to The Lord, and not to men:
8. Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of The Lord, whether he be bond or free.

Message:
A. The story was told of a preacher who went to church one Sunday morning, fully prepared to deliver his sermon, only to find out that the bad weather had prevented members from coming to church except one little boy.
1. This preacher, as the story goes, preached as if the whole auditorium was full of members.
2. After the sermon, the preacher made an altar call and the boy gave his life to Christ that glorious Sunday morning.
3. It was one morning, one preacher, one-member congregation and one convert.
4. That little boy became a world-renowned evangelist.

5. Today’s Bible reading encourages us to render our service, either in church or outside of church, as to The Lord, not with eyeservice or as men-pleasers.
1. Unfortunately, there are men-pleasers today in Church, who would rather offend God instead of offending the feelings of people, even when this is un-scriptural.
2. Such an attitude affects our service to God negatively.
3. It taints our Holy Service to God.
4. Paul in Romans 12:1 says thus about Christian service:
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by The Mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

C. The work ethics in our church organisation should require little or no supervision.
1. This is one of the first things we were taught when we applied as volunteer workers in church.
2. There is danger in working with eyeservice, because when the one you intend to impress is not around, you will do something else.

D. Some civil servants short-changed themselves when they think that Government work is not to be done wholeheartedly as if one’s life depends on it. 1. If you work in an organisation, particularly a government establishment, and you think you can loaf around and still get paid at the end of the month without repercussion, you must have been deceived.
2. The law of natural justice and equity established the fact that if your work is worth 50,000 of your country’s currency but you receive 1,000,000 by the time you have spent the last unit of the money, you will realise that the value of what the 1,000,000 obtained is not more than what is obtainable with 50,0000.

Prayer Point:
Father, deliver me from eyeservice, and please help me to serve You acceptably from now onwards in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1CHRONICLES 5:23-7:13 and LUKE 14:12-35

AUTHOR: Pastor E. A ADEBOYE!
I Work With Jesus! Day After Day! I Work With Jesus! Come What May Be! The Holy Spirit! I Will Obey! I Work With Jesus! Day After Day! I Live For Jesus Day After Day! I Live For Jesus! Come What May Be! The Holy Spirit! I Will Obey! I Live For Jesus! Day After Day!
Emmanuel=GOD With Us!

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL DATE : MONDAY 29th JUNE 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
DATE : MONDAY 29th JUNE 2015

THEME : IT’S NOT OVER YET

Memorise:
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12
Read: Philippians 3:10-14
10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Message
The Christian journey is more often than not a long distance race. This is particularly true because of the long life that our Heavenly Father has promised us (Psalm 91:16).

We therefore need a lot of patience to run the race. Apostle Paul in today’s Bible reading gives insight in the nature of the race we are engaged in. it is a non-stop marathon. Once you start, you cannot go on sabbatical leave. Because you are already grafted into Jesus Christ once you start the race, you must ensure that you don’t pull yourself away from Him who first ran this race and finished well (Hebrew 12:2).

How do we sustain the tempo and determination to finish well? Paul answers this question in Philippians 3:13-14:
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this once thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Many Christians live in the glory of their past achievements, and this has resulted in their undoing. The various indictments Jesus levelled against the seven Churches in Asia in Revelation 2-3, should be food for thought for all end-time Christians.

In the past, when a Christian mistakenly said something that was not untrue but also not 100% true, he quickly corrected himself with an apology. For example, in the days when my father-in-the-Lord was still alive, I remember travelling to Ilesa, a city in south-west Nigeria, and forgetting to buy some oranges along the way as I used to. I remembered after I got to Lagos and quickly bought some in Lagos. I gave them to my father-in-the-Lord and he asked if I bought the oranges on my way. I said “yes sir”. Immediately, the Holy Spirit rebuked me that I was not telling the whole truth. I bought them on the way, yes, but not on the way from Ilesa as the old man meant to ask. I quickly corrected myself and he exclaimed “Holy Spirit” in adoration of the Holy Spirit’s rebuke of love.

Today, many children of God tell lies with impunity and they do not feel the pain of lying even against the Holy Spirit. Their first love is all gone. Be warned that the race is not over yet. Ezekiel 18:24 says:
“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.”

Prayer Point:
Father, please uphold me to the very end of my Christian race.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : 1 CHRONICLES 3:1-5:22 and LUKE 13:31-14:11

AUTHOR : Pst E. A ADEBOYE

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL, DATE: SUNDAY 28th JUNE 2015

OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL.

DATE: SUNDAY 28th JUNE 2015

TOPIC: DEATH IS NOT THE END

Memorise: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.         1 Thessalonians 4:14

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12. Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ: whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Message:
A. Everything in this life will come to an end one day.
1. However, the life of a man does not end inn death, it continues in eternity, either with God in Heaven or with the devil in the place of torment.
2. Those who believe in The Resurrection of Jesus Christ and live by the expectation of experiencing the same someday, have The hope of Eternal Life.
3. The Bible in 1John 3:2-3 says:
“Beloved, now are we The Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.”

B. Jesus Christ promised that He will come back to take us home after preparing a place for us.
1. Here are His words in John 14:2-3:
“In My Father’s House are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
2. Those who have this hope in them will conduct themselves in a way that is expected of saints.
3. “LORD, who shall abide in Thy Tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy Holy Hill? He that walketh uprightly, and workerh righteousness, and speaketh The Truth in his heart.” Psalm 15:1-2
4. This Scripture reveals the condition to be met by those who will triumph over death.   5. While Revelation 21:1-7 gives a brief description of The Eternal Life of Bliss awaiting those who give their life to Jesus Christ.
6. But for those who remain resistant to The Invitation of Jesus, what awaits them is the second death.
7. This is described in Revelation 21:8:
“But the fearful, the 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.”

Prayer: I pray that an eternity in the Lake of fire will not be your portion in Jesus’ Name. Amen!
  
Prayer Point:
Father, let me find Eternal Rest in Your Kingdom in Jesus’ Name. Amen!

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 CHRONICLES 1-2 and LUKE 13:10-30

AUTHOR : Pastor E. A ADEBOYE
When We Get To Heaven! At The Marriage Supper! All Saints Shall Gather! At The Last Assembly! No More Sad Parting! No More Heart Breaking! Farewell To Sorrows! Victory At Last! Victory Ahead! Victory Ahead! Farewell To Sorrow! Victory Ahead!
Emmanuel=GOD With Us!

THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH – Monday April 20th 2015

THE KINGDOM OF GOD ON EARTH 

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

Read: Matthew 6:9-10, Bible in one year: Judges 1:1-3:6, Matthew 24:15-35

The nature of our expectation from God directly depends of 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 same 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. This 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.  

Prayer Point

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

BACK TO YOUR VOMIT? – Sunday April 19th 2015

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: 2^nd 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 (1^st 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 (1^st 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.

GIVE WISELY – Saturday April 18th 2015

GIVE WISELY 

Memorise: The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverbs 11:25

Read: Genesis 23:12-24, Bible in one year: Joshua 22, Matthew 23:1-28

 

There are certain things people don’t know about sowing and reaping. This lack of knowledge has denied some people their harvest. There is a need therefore to always ask God for the wisdom of sow and reap rightly in every area of life. It is one thing to know what to sow and it is another thing to know how to sow it. Of importance also is the need to know where to sow and how to water what has been sown to produce the desired harvest. Ask any farmer who understands natural farming principles, he will tell you that reaping a good harvest is usually a walk in the park once the correct principles are followed. There are people who will sow today and want to reap today. According to Scripture, such an expectation is not applicable to great harvests. There was a time I was sowing a particular item into the life of people and I was worried because the harvest was taking time. I therefore asked God what was happening and He said “Son, if you plant maize, you can harvest it within three months, but if you plant yam, you will have to wait a little longer.” The greater the quality of seed sown, the longer you will have to wait to enter into your harvest.

Entering into your ultimate financial breakthrough may not come as easily as you think. It may involve sowing at a time most inconvenient; it may even involve seemingly endangering your today and tomorrow through a selfless seed. I have discovered that it is not poverty that stops some people from giving but their unwillingness to give. The good news for those who sow in tears is that they will always reap in joy. Many people have lost their harvest because of impatience. If you have sown quality seeds, give them enough time to mature so that you can enter into your desired harvest. Also, it is important for you to know that God does not expect you to meet every need out there. You have to be sensitive to locate the grounds that will give you your desired results. The ability to offer something big is a choice. Stop limiting yourself. When God has brought you ton a level where you can give a =N=10,000 offering and you are dropping =N=1,000, what you are indirectly telling God is that you don’t deserve to be on the level He has placed you. Don’t demote yourself by your attitude to giving to kingdom projects. Do you complain that you cannot give because you are poor? That is the excuse the devil uses to deny many from entering into their breakthrough. You may not sow money all the time, but you can offer your commitment to the work on ground. All those volunteered their service at no cost towards various projects at the Redemption Campground have been mightily blessed of the Lord. All the artisans who had only their skills to sow at that time have now become channels of blessings to others.

Key Point

Whatever you sow may leave your hand, but it cannot leave your life.