Daily Devotionals...

TRULY BLESSED?

2011-08-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

Bible in A Year: 2 Kings 18-22

MEMORIZE: "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant” (Ps 35:27).

READ: Luke 5:1-7

There are different categories of blessings, depending on their sizes and how enduring they can be. Some blessings are barely enough for the recipient, while some are so much that it would take the assistance of neighbors to carry them. There are also boat-sinking blessings like the one Peter experienced in today’s reading. May you experience a boat-sinking catch of God’s blessings this season in Jesus name.

Taking a look at the spectrum of wealth, there are several possibilities. As the lowest rung is the category of the poor. These have needs and wants just like everyone else but can barely afford to meet them. They may not have what to eat or what to wear. They may also not have a shelter over their heads, and as such may look for somewhere to sleep—under overhead bridges, bus-stops and in the open. The Scriptures say that no matter what happens, this category will always coexist with the rich. May your name be relocated from this category of the poor to the highest rung in Jesus name. The next level is the category of survivors. In a city like Lagos, they are tagged ‘Book me down.’ They may be engaged in some job but due to insufficient wages, their money would be spent before the middle of the month. As a survival strategy, they will go to buy foodstuffs on credit and ask the sellers to list their names among debtors. The survivors live from hand to mouth. Are you in this category? A positive change is coming your way this season!

The next level on the spectrum of wealth is the comfortable. These people’s income and salaries conveniently meet their monthly needs, and a little left over which they can save. You may think that all is well with them until they have a crisis. At such times, they would spend their little reserves and then be faced with lack, which demotes them to lower rungs on the spectrum of wealth. Without a moment of crisis, this is not a bad level. But can you prevent an emergency? Nobody can tell when there will be an emergency regarding health breakdown, fire outbreak, natural disasters, or even extended family demands. If you belong to any of the above classes, ask God to take you higher.

PRAYER POINT:
Father, this season, move me to the higher levels of the spectrum of wealth and terminate poverty in my life.

LIKE SHEEP

2011-08-07T00:53:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture" (Ps 100:3)

Read: Psalm 100:1-3

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1). An example of a good shepherd is David. A shepherd is someone who caters for the sheep. He identifies and satisfies the needs of the sheep. By virtue of their make-up, every sheep has these basic needs: To sustain its life, it needs food, good food. It needs guidance. The average sheep looks foolish and so would require the shepherd to lead the way by being in front. That means sheep follow more by example - looking on to the shepherd to guide on how to do things. It also needs lots of water. Occasionally when it strays, it may not be able to retrace its way. If the shepherd fails to go after it, that could be the end of that sheep; it will be lost.

The sheep is defenceless. It was not created with abilities of self defence hence, it easily panics when confronted with a fight unlike a dog, goat or ram. Hence, the shepherd must always be present especially when they are threatened or face danger. Being unwise, the sheep is susceptible to error hence, it needs to be corrected even by beating sometimes. But being a weak and docile animal, a sheep cannot withstand being beaten too often as it could die.

"Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture" (Psalm 100:3). Man is the crown of all of God's creation. As strong as we are, God did not compare us with the king of animals - the lion, but with the weakest of animals - the sheep. He, being our creator, knows what He put inside of us. And He says we are the sheep of His pasture. As a leader, you need to adopt shepherding principles in leading God's flock in your care. Never leave them to themselves. Do not say, 'They are of age: they can sort themselves out': They cannot! When they do wrong, correct in love but do not kill them. Do not use a sledge hammer on an ant. Feed them regularly with good food. Lead your children by example. It is so easy to learn from a leader's example. What example are you showing to your congregation, subordinates or children? Are you leadable?

To be a sheep, you must submit to the authority of a shepherd. To whom are you yielded?

LIFE OR DEATH?

2011-08-07T00:52:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1 Cor 11:31)

Read: 1 Cor 11:28-31

There is a difference between eaters and non-eaters of the Holy Communion. A line of demarcation is drawn the moment you partake of it. When you read Exodus 12:11- 12, you will observe this difference on the night the Israelites partook of this meal. When God's glory descended, the Egyptians experienced a 'passing through' while the Israelites experienced a 'pass over'. When God's glory descends, it will pass through the enemy. When the wind is blowing and something stands on its way, it will be uprooted. What is that token of the liar that has been standing in God's way in your life? It is uprooted now. It was Passover for the Israelites. To pass over is to pick from one place and move to another location. A meal that can kill or heal should be feared and handled with extreme caution. When the Israelites and the Egyptians went to bed that night, both experienced different things. While the former experienced unlimited joy, the latter experienced unlimited sorrow. While the former were given what was denied them for over 400 years, the latter lost the most important members of their families - the first born - both of animals and human beings. As you partake of this meal this season, all your enemies will encounter great losses.

The Holy Communion triggers a loss or a gain. It is either taking something you have or giving you what you don't have. It is either opening doors to you or shutting doors already opened. It can kill or give life. Never joke with it. Eat it according to the prescription. Many years ago, while my father in the Lord was still alive, we had a Holy Communion Service at Ebute Metta. Papa warned that anyone who was not yet a child of God should not take it. But there was a particular woman at that service who said to herself: "Is it not ordinary bread and wine?" She ate it and by the following morning, she developed a growth on the neck. Every enemy of God that eats it is in trouble. Every believer toying with sin that eats it may become sick or even die, but if a sick believer eats it, the fellow becomes healthy. What is your attitude to the Holy Communion? Examine yourself, your deeds, conduct etc. before you partake of every meal. You can have life instead of death.

Father, as I partake of the next Communion, I receive life, not death.

WHEN TREES FIGHT

2011-08-07T00:50:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured" (2 Sam 18:8)

Read: 2 Samuel 18:6-17

In Revelation 22:16, the link of the Lord Jesus with plants, vegetation and trees was established by His title Root of David. Another benefit of having Jesus as your root is that He can mobilize trees to fight for you. David was a beneficiary of this. In 2 Samuel 18:5-15, when Absalom revolted against his father and sought hard after his life, he thought he had everything. He really had all the details. He knew his father's strengths and weaknesses. He turned one of his father's greatest strengths - Ahithophel against him. The only missing aspect in his battle strategy was that he forgot that his Father had roots. That day, the Root of David simply mobilized all the trees in the bush and told them it was time to display their war talents as His army. Boy! You wouldn't believe how valiantly the trees fought human soldiers! 2 Samuel 18:8 puts it this way: "For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured".

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Root of David! Can you imagine trees tearing soldiers into pieces? Can you imagine branches becoming sharper and more dangerous than swords? One of the trees took Absalom and hung him by his hair. Since his father had asked for his life to be spared, the oak tree refused to kill him until some young men killed him there. Are you connected to the Root of David? Is He your root? Then He will mobilize His tree army to fight for you. Any of your oppressors that requires the services of a tree will have a dirge to sing. In addition, when connected to the Root of David, no charm made from leaves, the bark of trees, etc will work against you. He will simply withdraw their power! In the same vein, He will frustrate every meeting of witches and wizards held in trees meant against you. Their plans against you will fail. The Root of David will arise on your behalf and mobilize the trees to fight witches and wizards meeting in trees concerning your matter. It is well with you.

Trees can be more devastating and dangerous than modern weapons when under the mobilization of the Root of David.

THE LIFE GIVER

2011-08-07T00:46:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep" (John 10:11)

Read: John 10:9-11

The Prince of Peace can give you victory over the battles of life. He can perform wonders materially and maritally. Never say you are too old to conceive. Sarah said so but got a shocker. Recently, in one of my visits to America, I heard this testimony: There was this lady who had been barren for years. I went to minister in their parish. From the hotel where I lodged, I went for church service but forgot my offering envelope. So I sent for an usher who incidentally was the husband of the lady in question, to go to my hotel room to bring my offering envelope. On his way, his wife asked where he was going and he told her. She screamed that her opportunity had come at last. She pleaded that she should have access to the envelope for a few minutes before he dropped it into the offering basket. She rubbed the envelope on her stomach before it was dropped and that month she became pregnant. The Prince of Peace who gave her victory over barrenness will give you victory this season over barrenness of whatever kind that is operating in your life.

Moreover, besides physical, material and marital wonders, the Prince of Peace also performs wonders spiritually. In Mark 5:1-20, He turned a mad man into an evangelist. This means He moved this man from the most shameful level of insanity into the most honourable profession recognized by Heaven. The Lord will move you from that unpleasant level to a highly desired one in Jesus' Name. One of my sons who is a pastor in the United States came to share this testimony recently: He said that during a particular Congress where I was led to declare that everyone's dress had been anointed, he was around: He believed it and on getting home, he laid the 'anointed dress' on the altar and told members of his congregation who wanted to tap into the anointing that was released at the Congress to touch it with their handkerchief. Coincidentally, another pastor was there on that day. When he heard this, he removed his jacket and laid it on my son's 'Congress dress' before returning to his church. While ministering the following Sunday in his church, an old lady fell down and passed on. The doctors examined and certified her dead. So the pastor took off his jacket he had laid on his friend's anointed 'Congress dress' and laid it on the woman and within minutes, she came back to life. Are you dying? Is your business dying? Is your spiritual life ebbing? The Lord of Peace is restoring life to you now. That spirit of death sent against you has lost the battle against your life.

Command every mission of the spirit of death against your life, family and business to be destroyed in Jesus' Name.

HONOUR AND DESTINY

2011-08-07T00:42:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed" (1 Sam 2:30)

Read: 1 Samuel 2:29-30

When you are privileged to see the end from the beginning, it empowers you to achieve in a significant way. As I searched the Scriptures, I discovered that those whom God showed something concerning their goal or future victory but who still failed to reach it were very few. The fact you have this negligible few shows that it is possible to see the goal and not reach it. It is possible to be shown the goal in a match and never be able to score. The Lord will count you out of those with frustrated destinies in Jesus' Name. Among those who saw the goal but could not reach it was Eli. 1 Samuel 2:30 says, "Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed". God had planned to raise priests from Eli's immediate and extended family. God showed him a future of priestly succession that would have immortalized his name forever but at some point he began to misbehave. God warned him several times but he had grown deaf to God. Eventually, God changed the plan. Honour and destiny are linked.

One thing we learn from this is that how you relate with God after He shows you His plan for your life will determine whether that plan will materialize or not. If you want God to fulfil His beautiful plan for your life, you must not dishonour God, despise Him or violate His Word. It will rock your boat! If you fail to honour God with your substance or to give Him all the glory for every good thing you achieve in life, it will affect you. If you fail to take His Word and warnings seriously, you can never get to His planned destiny for your life. If you honour God, He will honour you. Another victim of this was Moses. At the mountain of God's presence, he saw the promised land. He saw the end of his laborious journey. He saw the fullness of His joy yet because he failed to honour God, He missed it. There is a spirit of seeing but not possessing. Every mission of such spirit in your life is terminated now in Jesus' Name. You will see and possess your possessions. How many of the glorious future goals have you wasted? Stop this today! Recover your future from God and pursue it with your life.

Anyone who cannot honour the Almighty God cannot enter into His rest. Do you honour Him?

EFFECTIVE AGREEMENT PRAYERS

2011-08-07T00:39:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?" (Deut 32:30)

Read: Deut 32:29-30

"How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?" (Deut 32:30).

There is power in agreement prayer. When you have made singular prayer efforts that have failed to yield the expected result, team up with somebody - your spouse, pastor or prayer partner to agree with you and it shall be done. Agreement prayers can take care of 70% of prayer needs of the average family. Some couples hardly pray together. In fact, some tell their spouse, 'I don't agree with you' on very crucial issues. As long as there is no meeting of the minds on an issue, such a couple could suffer for long and be at the receiving end of demonic manipulations. For agreement prayer to work, you must be born again and in right relationship with God. Also, there must be cordial relationship between the parties to the agreement. Your request concerning that issue must be one and the same. You must not be asking for a male child while the other is asking for a female. Eradicate all areas of conflict and disagreement. Create time to discuss and agree on what would benefit your family the most. Openly confess your agreement with your mouth to each other, saying for instance; 'We both agree that stagnancy has come to an end in our family'. Convey your point of agreement to God in prayer. Back up your agreement with the seal of God's promises on agreement prayers. Thank God for answers. Never accept anything contrary to your agreement. Expect it to be established. Wait on it even when time flies. It shall be so.

A young man once came to request that I agree with him to be one of the three people who will be sponsoring the Convention. I agreed because that would reduce my financial burden. A week later, he ran back to say he had been sacked from his work place. He was concerned. He most probably expected a salary increase but got a sack instead. I laughed and asked how much he was earning monthly and he told me. So I asked how he could have sponsored the Convention from such a meagre salary. God had to shut that door in order to open another. Not long after, the Lord opened a bigger financial door to him and he was able to substantially support the Convention. Through prayer of agreement, you can lock and open doors. Ensure however that there is no sin in your heart and hands. Also ensure that you are agreeing with someone whose heart is with you.

For the next two weeks, agree on definite issues with your spouse or prayer partner and lift them before God.

WORKING RIGHT

2011-08-07T00:37:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:" (1 Cor 9:26)

Read: John 21:1-6

The one who would flourish must find grace in God's sight. Also, the fellow must be prepared to work hard. When God has opened the door, it is not time to sleep, but time to work. In addition to these, to flourish, you must work right. Working hard is not as important as working right or else, labourers would have been the richest people on earth. Although Peter fished all night, he caught nothing because he was in the wrong place. He had to be guided on the right location and timing so that his hard work would yield a good harvest. Today, many people are working with all their heart and might in a wrong place, job or business hence, no harvest. When at the wrong job, your efforts virtually go down the drain. In any way you are labouring at a wrong location, the Lord will guide you to your appropriate place of harvest in Jesus' Name.

In John 21:1-6, Peter went on another fishing expedition with his friends and got the same result. They toiled all night but caught nothing. The problem may not necessarily be with the size of your team but the location of the business. Sometimes, it is even the type of business. Many people have gone to the university to read courses that cannot offer them anything. Some people are in jobs or businesses whereas their financial harvests are somewhere else. Peter was fishing on his left side while his harvest was on the right side. Sometimes, you could be in the right business but you may be targeting the rich while you should be targeting the poor. Or your products or services may be targeted at the adults whereas your financial harvest is awaiting you in the children's belt. If you are not getting your desired harvest, pause a little and consider your location. If you continue to make the same inputs in the same location that has failed to give you the right yield, you may not get a different result. In 1 Corinthians 9:26, Paul said when he fights, he makes sure he fights right and not uncertainly. That is a good fighter. It is not enough to be seen to be struggling or making efforts: You must work right. If you are willing to pay the price, God is willing to move you to the top. It takes two to tango. Do your part and the Lord will do His. Many of us blame God for the lack of harvest after so much labour. Henceforth, look at the direction or location, reconsider what you do and find out from God. You will enter your harvest this season.

Father, do not allow my efforts to go down the drain: direct me on how to work right.

THE COMMUNION DEMARCATES

2011-08-07T00:36:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matt 26:28)

Read: Exodus 8:22-23

Some thousands of years ago, a particular meal was eaten by an enslaved people and it brought down the glory of God. Whenever God's glory descends, it has different effects on people. For instance, on that fateful night, when the glory of God came down after that meal, it brought death to the house of their captors. None was exempted. On the other hand, that same meal brought freedom, deliverance, healing, financial breakthrough and promotion to the Israelites who ate the meal. As you take the Holy Communion this season, it will give you life and bring death to every token of the liar in your life- oppression, loss, sorrow, etc. A particular man battled with insomnia for weeks. He took sleeping pills based on medical advice yet, could not sleep. After meeting his pastor for prayers one day, he was able to sleep for about two hours; after which he stared at the ceiling throughout the night. Eventually, he was invited to partake of the Holy Communion Service. He later testified that immediately after that meal, insomnia was gone and he resumed his normal sleep. Have you been battling with insomnia or any health condition? As you go in faith to the Lord's table this season, you will be healed.

On the night of Passover, the Israelites ate the uncommon meal roasted with fire, but the Egyptians did not. So when the glory of God descended, there was already a line of demarcation. Even till now, there is a line of demarcation between eaters and non-eaters of the Holy Communion. That line of demarcation could be spiritual or physical. In Egypt, while God was bringing plagues upon them, He created a line of demarcation (Exo 8:22-23). If you don't partake regularly of this uncommon meal, you put yourself on the other side of the divide. You could get hurt. Like the Egyptians, you could become a victim of the Consuming fire that should have protected you. How often do you go to the Lord's table? Jesus established a link between the bread and His body, and the wine and His blood (Matt 26:26-28). There is also a link between the wine and the Holy Spirit and fire. This means, when you drink the wine, you will be in the same situation as the Israelites when they ate the lamb roasted with fire. And as a result, expect the glory of God to come down and do what it did on that night because Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ remains the same. As you take this meal, you will be demarcated for good.

Father, as I partake of Your table this season, let there be a divine demarcation between me and the Egyptians in my life.

NECESSARY CHALLENGES

2011-08-07T00:33:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Rom 8:37)

For certain reasons, while telling us about the end, God reserves the real nitty-gritty to His chest. David is one example here. In 1 Samuel 16:11-13, David was anointed as king of Israel by that nation's authentic king maker - prophet Samuel. God did not tell him that he would have to wait for long before ascending the throne. He did not tell him of the intense persecution awaiting him to the point of going on exile. God did not tell him of the lion, bear, Goliath, king Saul, or cave at Adullam. Suffice it to say that between where you are and where God is taking you to, are several bus stops which come with their different challenges. Whether pleasant or not, each of such experiences has an important part to play in your life or destiny. You will not be taken through courses you do not need in the university of suffering. God has a place for every course. Jesus went through all and emerged with excellent grades. There is a place for you to be persecuted or denied. There is a place for you to be marginalized and made to feel very unimportant. There is a place for confronting your giants, lions and bears. All add up to prepare you for your destiny, without which you will be unfit for that place.

Another important thing here, is that those who would end up happier at last, start by facing the worst. Those who would be very wealthy start from extreme poverty. Have you been facing rejection, marginalization and denials? It could be because God is taking you to a place of prominence where nobody can afford to ignore you. David was rejected. He was sidelined yet, he was chosen to be king. To get the best of gold, you must take it through the fire. For your best devotion, commitment, love and service to come up, you must go through fire. Stop grumbling about that Goliath because he is an assignment that you must take care of on your way to the throne. There are battles to fight and rivers to cross and some of them are fiery, yet, you are assured of His presence. If you do not go through such tough situations, your preparation will be incomplete. You cannot become a general without facing war. Everything you go through in life is necessary for you to become what God wants you to become if you are in His will. The greater the challenges, the higher your destination. Ask God for grace to handle your challenges appropriately in order to deliver the right dividend to you.

The fellow who is not adequately prepared for a journey will suffer beyond measure. Ask God to prepare you for the task ahead.

DOUBT TERMINATES ABUNDANCE

2011-08-07T00:31:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;" (Rom 4:20)

Read: 1 Kings 17:8-16

When you make the Prince of Peace your ally, you have lots of things to benefit from. Today's reading tells us of a widow with a son and all they had was a meal. Her situation was beyond hopeless. But when she made the God of Elijah her ally, things took a dramatic turn. She moved from abject poverty into superfluous provision. The food that was just enough for one meal refused to finish; it lasted throughout the period of famine! Do you know such things still occur to those who have the Lord as their ally? When my father in the Lord started the RCCG, things were very tough. He will be praying at home while his wife sell empty bottles in the market before they could eat. On several occasions, when she was unable to sell any bottle there would be no food at home. One day, the Lord said to my father in the Lord, "Tell your wife to be dishing from that pot of soup without looking inside". Mama began to dish out from the pot and out came assorted meats, fish, chicken. This continued for one week, two weeks, and after about one month, mama in her curiosity decided to peep into the pot to see the secret of such endless bountiful provision and the soup dried up. There is a user of this Devotional who will enter into a season of limitless supernatural provision this season. When it comes, abide by divine instructions and give God the glory.

The Prince of Peace has not ceased to perform wonders materially. As long as He is on the throne, He who brought out water from the rock will ensure that from today you will not suffer lack. In addition, He can perform wonders maritally. Don't think you are too old to have a baby. If you doubt it, ask Abraham and Sarah. Their bodies had retired but when the Prince of Peace stepped in, their aging bodies were rejuvenated to fulfil God's promise. When your time comes, with God as your ally, nothing can stop your joy. Like Abraham, do not consider the deadness or negative physical evidence available (Rom 4:17-21). It will change. God's Word is forever settled. Physical things have no choice but to respond to the voice of the Wonder. Do you have Him as your ally? Then be fully persuaded that what He has done for others, He can and will do for you.

When you have the Unchanging God as your ally, every unpleasant situation in your life will change.

DIVORCE, NOT A PLUS

2011-08-07T00:29:00.001-07:00

YOU WILL BE SOUGHT AFTER

2011-08-07T00:27:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel" (Isa 60:14)

Read: 1 Samuel 22:1-2

The new anointing can be so powerful. It can repeat whatever it has done for your spiritual father. It can re-open closed doors and turn the mocked into a celebrity. Similarly, the new anointing can turn a nobody into one who is much sought after. In 1 Samuel 16:11-13, when Samuel came to the house of Jesse shopping for a kingly candidate, nobody presented David. His father did not. Not even his brothers considered him for such an honourable office. It took Samuel to ask specifically for him before his name could be mentioned with ignominy. But in 1 Samuel 22:1-2, after David was anointed and went on exile to cave Adullam, the same brothers who saw nothing good in him initially came to submit themselves under his authority to become their captain. Have people written you off as a nobody? Do they marginalize, deny you your rights and consider you unfit for any meaningful position? The anointing will reverse that situation in your life this season. You that the builders and king makers have rejected will soon become the chief corner stone in Jesus' Name. You will be sought after. You will be transformed into a very important personality by the anointing.

While lecturing at the University of Lagos, after taking my Maths class, I usually walked with my students to their next class so that I could have an opportunity to tell them about Jesus. One day, the daughter of a notable Muslim leader told me: "You are paid to teach Maths: Teach it and shut up". After this encounter, as I was preparing for my class one day, this female student looked at her two hands and saw some strange Arabic writings under her skin. Frightened, she rushed to my office weeping and asking for help. I told her I was paid to teach Maths and my students were already waiting. By the time I returned from the class, she was rolling on the ground weeping. So I told her I could now tell her about Jesus. Immediately, she gave her life to Jesus and we prayed a simple prayer. She looked and still saw the writing there but I told her not to worry but return to her campus. By the time she reached for her key to open the door, she glanced at her hands and the mysterious writing had disappeared. She once despised me but the anointing made her to seek me. Those despising you will seek you. Ask God for the new anointing to increase upon your life.

Father, by your anointing, cause all those who despise me to both honour and look up to me from today.

AGREEMENT PRAYERS

2011-08-07T00:24:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matt 18:19)

Read: Matthew 18:19-20

There is power in prayer. There is much power in agreement prayers. In Luke 1:37, the angel Gabriel told Mary that conceiving a baby boy without having sexual intercourse with Joseph was not an impossibility with God. Most things that are done on earth come in different stages. God can skip one or more stages to effect what He wants and nobody can challenge Him. When Jarius was told that his sick daughter has died, Jesus simply told him not to fear (Mark 5:35-42). What is that evil news that was delivered to you? The Lord is saying to you, 'Fear not. It shall be well with you'. God's Word must be taken seriously. My father in the Lord once went to conduct a revival service in our church in Ilorin, Nigeria. During the meeting, he was moved by the Holy Spirit to ask those who were trusting God for the fruit of the womb to go shopping for baby's things. A woman heard this, believed the man of God and agreed with his prophetic declaration. As she got home, she bought a baby cot and clothes for a baby boy and kept them in a conspicuous place for all to see. Not long after, she became the laughing stock of the community. Undeterred, she held on to the pronouncement of the man of God. Exactly nine months later, when the baby boy was born, it was now her time to laugh. Have you become an object of ridicule? Sorrow not! It is your turn to laugh.

Those who have written you off have forgotten the power of faith and agreement prayer. Genesis 11:6 says there is a kind of agreement which even God will be compelled to honour. Matthew 18:19-20 says if two shall agree - you and your husband, you and your pastor, on anything, it shall be established. Deuteronomy 32:30 says agreement can cause two people to have power of control over 10,000 while one person is only able to control 1,000. In Daniel 3:23-25, three young men were in agreement as they faced a fiery furnace and through their agreement in faith, they overcame the fire. Matthew 18:20 says the agreement of two or three people brings down God's presence. How often do you use this tool of prayer? Some families are undergoing tough times simply because the couple fail to agree on some issues. If you can agree in prayer whether physically or on phone, the Lord will establish your desires. From today, make peace with your spouse and regularly tap into the benefit of agreement prayers.

70% of problems families are suffering today can be resolved through effective agreement prayers. Do you agree regularly with your spouse and children?

MAXIMIZING OPENINGS

2011-08-07T00:22:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men" (Prov 22:29)

Read: Ephesians 4:26-28

The one who will flourish will need God's favour. That fellow will also need to be hard working because God cannot prosper the lazy. I have seen several people who want to flourish but they don't want to work hard. Sometimes, when I go round in the Redemption camp at 10 am, I see some church workers lazying around and eating. Those who will flourish are early risers. They work while others are asleep. To excel or reach the top, you must know how to effectively channel your energy towards work. Hebrews 11:6 says for God to reward you, you must first demonstrate diligence in seeking Him. Proverbs 22:29 says God has one place for the diligent - the top.

Many people ask God to open doors of breakthrough to them. But when He does, laziness stops them from entering and garnering all the harvest they could have from them. Open doors means it's time to work hard. It means more assignments, responsibility and hard work. It means taking on more assignments that will add to your income without necessarily stopping what you are presently doing, or withdrawing your commitment to God's service. This calls for hard work and effective time management. Some people who cannot effectively manage their time, end up becoming less committed to God when He opens a door of blessing to them. That is wrong. That open door should not draw you away from your present level of commitment to God's Kingdom. Many years ago, while still lecturing, my Dean came to me one day and said that he had discovered from the students that I was the best lecturer in Mathematics. I thanked him for the compliment. Then he told me the faculty was about to start a correspondence course and that I have been chosen to prepare the course materials and would be well remunerated. Later, he said I was nominated to take some technical students in Maths. In addition, Lagos Anglican Girls Grammar school ,Lagos needed a Maths teacher and I was sent. CMS Grammar school also needed me for their HSC Advanced level Maths. I took up all these openings in addition to my normal duty yet, every weekend I would still travel to go and preach. At the end of the day, what I earned from these extra teaching engagements was more than my salary. When God opens doors to you, do you make His work to suffer? You should maximize the advantage of open doors to the Glory of God and your enhancement.

Father, grant me grace to maximize every door you open to me without reducing my commitment to You.

COMMUNION AND ETERNITY

2011-08-07T00:20:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come " (1 Cor 11:26)

Read: 1 Corinthians 11:24-30

Since man is a tripartite being comprising spirit, soul and body, challenges equally come to him from those areas. Two major challenges that will confront man in the spirit realm are spiritual bondage and eternity. Concerning spiritual bondage, you will notice that immediately after Israel ate the Passover meal in Exodus 12:33, an end came to their slavery of over 400 years. Those who held them and had vowed to hold them forever began to beg them to leave. They were in a hurry to let them off. They could not stand them any more, not even for a second! John 8:36 says, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed". One major avenue for accessing freedom from bondage is through the Holy Communion. As you take the next Communion with the Lord, everything holding you bound will let you go in Jesus' Name
.

How does the Holy Communion tackle the challenge of eternal destination? 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 says partaking in the Holy Communion compels us to remember the Lord's coming. It also makes us remember His promises. For instance, in John 14:1-3, the Lord assures us of His return to take us to our eternal home. Also, before you take the meal, you ought to examine your spiritual life and see if it is right with God. If there is sin in your life, taking the uncommon meal brings sickness and death hence, you must immediately make your ways right with God (1 Cor 11:27-30). A Christian who avoids the Lord's table may live carelessly and therefore risk losing Heaven. But a regular communicant who keeps his or her life in line with the Word is being prepared for Heaven. Do you regularly partake of the Holy Communion? However, you must eat this meal with caution because, even though it can make you an all-round winner, it can also make you an all-round loser. This meal can heal any sickness in your body, life, family, ministry, finances, etc. Yet, it can also kill. Those who know the conditions for taking the Holy Communion yet, ignore them, are simply playing with fire. There are some Christians and even ministers who eat the meal unworthily - either out of shame or to make an impression that they are living right when they are not; today, they have problems that defy solutions. Examine yourself before you eat.

Ask that you and everything concerning you be released from the hands of your captors and oppressors as you partake of the next Communion.

ANOINTED FOR A PURPOSE

2011-08-07T00:16:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "The spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18)

Read: Isaiah 61:1-3

According to Isaiah 61:1-3, there is a purpose for anointing to come on an individual. You are not anointed to wear flamboyant clothes and begin to globetrot. You are not anointed to make merchandise of the gifts and calling of God on your life. On the contrary, the anointing is for healing the sick, setting the captives free, making the barren fruitful, replacing sorrow with joy and moving the impoverished into prosperity so that the One who anointed you may be glorified. To what extent does the anointing on you impact those in need of it? In 1 Samuel 1:17, prophet Eli made a simple pronouncement on Hannah's request. He said, 'May your request be granted'. It was the anointing on him that brought that pronouncement into reality. Similarly, when confronted with the generous rich woman of Shunem whose 'but' was a long standing case of barrenness, Elisha simply said, 'This time next year, you will embrace a son'. Although she expressed doubt, he however did not waste his time trying to convince her of the power in his decrees because he knew that pronouncement would be effected by the power of the double portion anointing on him. Today, by the anointing of God upon my life, I decree that it shall be well with you.

During the Holy Ghost night of a particular Convention held in the old auditorium of the Redemption Camp, Nigeria several years ago, the Lord asked me to pray over a piece of cloth and hold it so that the barren could come and touch it. The crowd that responded was beyond my expectation. They came out in hundreds. At a point, I became tired and decided to discontinue. Just then this woman came weeping profusely that I only became tired only when it was her turn. Reluctantly, I asked the ushers to give her the cloth. The following year she came to testify with her baby. The Most High God is higher than any problem confronting you. In Jeremiah 32:27 He asks: ' Can anything be too hard for the God of all flesh?' Matthew 3:9 says God can bring children out of stones. Those who thought you will die in poverty have forgotten that God can bring water out of the rock. They have also forgotten that as the sovereign Lord, He does whatever He pleases. So it does not matter what the enemy or that impossible boss may think; Nobody can hinder God's workings (Is 43:13). What is important is what God thinks about you. Like Joseph, every good word the Lord has spoken concerning you will come to pass.

Ask that the purpose of the anointing on your life be fulfilled in Jesus' Name.

THE UNLIMITED ALLY

2011-08-07T00:11:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham" (Matt 3:9)

Read: Matthew 3:7-9

"But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Romans 7:23).

In Romans 7:15-25, Paul talks of the ongoing battle he was caught up in. Inside him was an ongoing war. It was a winner takes all situation. If he lost, he would be enslaved to his flesh permanently. But thank God he was able to get a reliable ally - the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave him the victory. Are you having problems with the flesh? Run to the Lord today!

Moreover, another form of battle is failure. Anyone who fails usually returns home in sorrow. Failure robs you of the right to move to the next level. Yet, some people have experienced failure several times. In the military, it is acceptable practice to employ the aid of allies particularly when fighting a battle you cannot win on your own. When afflicted with a sickness you cannot handle alone, you would meet a medical doctor as an ally to fight against the sickness. Jesus confirms that the sick needs a physician as an ally to overcome sickness (Matt 9:12). Unfortunately, the doctor is limited. There is a limit beyond which a doctor cannot be useful to his patient. For instance, the woman with the issue of blood sought an ally in doctors and moved from one to another, yet, her efforts were futile. In fact, instead of a positive turn, she got worse until she made the Prince of Peace her ally. By mere touching the fringe of His garment, she won her battle against sickness.

Medical doctors are the mechanics of the human body and we thank God for the wonderful work they are doing. However, it is obvious that whenever a mechanic cannot repair a part of a car, he looks for the spare part. The Prince of Peace is your Maker. He has the spares of any part of your body. Are you in need of a bodily spare part? The Lord will give it to you today. In the same way, the barren looks up to the doctor as an ally to fight barrenness. But sometimes, after the specialist has examined the woman and her husband, he would declare all is well, yet, the baby is not forth coming. At other times, such human ally would say the womb is in a bad shape or that the man cannot produce children. But Matthew 3:9 says God can raise children out of stones - dead wombs. Are you barren? As you make Jesus Christ your ally and rest in Him, He will raise children out of stones for you. For a user of this Devotional, this will be your portion this season in Jesus' Name.

Father, be my ally in all the battles of life confronting me.

CASTING LOTS?

2011-08-07T00:07:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Heb 13:4)

Read: Acts 1:15-26

"Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge" (Heb 13:4).

Marriage is an honourable thing. God created it so. But when the honour in marriage is lost, what is left becomes a thing of shame. Today, the homes of many are left in shameful ruins. Two major ways of destroying the most important virtue of the marriage institution are: premarital sex- especially during courtship and extra- marital sex which is having sexual relations with one who is not your lawfully wedded spouse; either way, your honour is eroded and your marriage left in shame. If you keep your bed undefiled before or after marriage, you are not doing anyone a favour except yourself. Sins committed during courtship always hinder prayers after marriage. The devil will ask: 'With what mouth are you asking?' The scourge of HIV/AIDS does not even put fear in the hearts of some people. Like an advert says, AIDS does not show on the face. You do not know if that person asking you to sleep with him is about to deliver that dreaded disease and ruin your beautiful future. Be warned!

Another area of note is the process of selecting one's partner. Some people will toss a coin over two brothers or sisters to know which to choose. They are preparing for trouble! Let God guide you on your choice. When you employ the wrong method for doing something, you are most unlikely to get the expected result. In Acts 1:15-26, when the apostles wanted a replacement for Judas Iscariot, they prayed but casted lots. In those days, they would put the names of the candidates on stones, parchment or wood into an urn and after prayer, somebody would dip his hand and whichever one was picked would be considered the right choice. They did that and the lots fell on Matthias. They thought that was God's choice after all, they prayed, but it was their choice. That was the last time that name was mentioned in the Bible. He was appointed into oblivion. That is what happens when you use a 'lucky dip' or fleece method in choosing your partner. Marriage is too serious a matter to handle by lots. Go to the Author of marriage and He will give you your partner. If He can do so for many, why not you?

Those who use fleece or lots as basis for choosing in important matters like marriage are only displaying their spiritual laziness.

DOUBLE DESCENT

2011-08-07T00:05:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world" (1 Cor 11:32)

Read: Judges 16:20-21

Samson rose from fornicating with an harlot and the anointing kept flowing. He kept violating God's laws without any obvious repercussion until his cup was full. If you are defaulting in tithes and your business appears booming, fear! If you are lusting after the opposite sex, harbouring unclean thoughts or possessing an unforgiving spirit yet everything appears normal, fear! It could be that God has abandoned you like Ephraim. "But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house" (Judges 16:21). This scripture describes what happens to the one forsaken by God. First, the fellow becomes a captive of the enemies. If Christ is no longer your Lord, Satan will take over the government of your life. And Satan is the worst slave driver ever known. Are you in your enemy's net? How did you get there? It is possible you were captured because of your persistently descending into sin and disobedience. If you once had something to live for, the moment you descend into sin, it will no longer be your priority. Spiritual goals will be abandoned. Sometimes, even secular, material or academic goals could be abandoned. Sin is the greatest robber of vision and spiritual sight! Do you have a vision for your life?

Another repercussion of being forsaken by God is retrogression. Samson was brought 'down'. Anytime you descend into sin, it is a double descent: you descend into something unpleasant. You retrogress. In addition, you become bound by what you cannot easily break free from. Living in sin ties you down to the same spot. Sin is tougher than fetters of iron. Lastly, it makes you a laughing stock to your enemies. Samson, a divine champion began to dance before the idols of his enemies. 1 Corinthians 11:32 says one reason God chastises us is to prevent us from perishing with the world. But Samson died with his enemies at his request (Judges 16:30-31). Are you sinning without repercussion? Don't think you are clever. It could be that you are heading for an irredeemable destruction. If God does not chastise you for wrong doing, go to Him today and find out what is wrong and where you missed it. However, each time God chastises His own, He suffers too. Are you a bona fide child of God?

If you sin but nothing pricks your heart, that heart has been deadened. Ask God for a living and sensitive heart.

RELEASING PENDING BENEFITS

2011-08-07T00:04:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians" (Exodus 12:36)

Read: Exodus 12:35:36

The Holy Communion can bring healing to your sick body. Besides physical sickness and pains, man also faces material challenges. Proverbs 10:15 says poverty destroys. This means that the poor is already being destroyed. This is why God did not allow the children of Israel to leave Egypt empty handed; freedom without wealth is meaningless. The rich will always rule over the poor. No matter how many times the poor proclaims his freedom, he remains a slave of the rich. Proverbs 13:22 says the wealth of sinners are reserved for the righteous. In Exodus 12:35-36, the Bible records that the spoilers became the spoiled. After taking that uncommon meal, the wealth of the Egyptians was forcefully transferred to the Israelites and the wages of 430 years were paid up. Are you being owed some money? Did you execute a contract and up till now you have not been paid? Do you know that taking the Holy Communion could compel your debtors to pay you? As you go for the next Communion, key into this and ask that all your pending salary arrears, contract payments, and benefits be released to you immediately. Have you retired and the government has not paid you your entitlement? Do not fight them physically; take it to the Lord's table and release your faith during this Supper and all your entitlement will be forcefully released to you. Whoever is owing you will lose sleep, peace, rest or even good health after that meal until full payment is made to you. The Lord is about to give a user of this Devotional a testimony in this direction this season.

Moreover, the areas of challenges for the soul are fear, worry, anxiety, sorrow, etc. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind". When you take the Communion wine which is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of power comes into you and boldness, courage and strength are stirred up in you. This way, through the Communion, the Holy Spirit gets rid of the spirit of fear in you. Have you been under the torment of fear? Are you so worried or anxious about life or your family? As you go to the next Communion by faith, key into receiving your deliverance from fear. Every hold of fear over your life is broken now in Jesus' Name.

Father, as I partake of the next Holy Communion, let all my pending benefits be released to me.

COMBINING FAITH WITH SEED

2011-08-07T00:02:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:20)

Read: Romans 8:27-28

A brother had some dollars which he had purposed to use for something. He kept the money in the inner pocket of one of his jackets. Later, while going for a special church service, he 'mistakenly' put on the jacket he had planned not to use. During offering time, a call was made for a special offering. Everyone was asked to give their best. As he dipped his hand into his inner pocket, he brought out the dollars. He almost screamed as he realized his 'mistake'. While attempting to return the money, the Lord asked him to drop it. That was a hard buy! After moments of struggling, he finally dropped all the dollars into the offering, blaming himself for the mistake. A few days later, he got a financial breakthrough that exceeded his expectations. He immediately by the witness of the Holy Spirit traced the harvest to that offering. Then he thanked God for his 'mistake'. The mistake that will compel you to enter into your harvest, the Lord will cause you to make this season in Jesus' Name.

If you sow in tears, you will reap in joy (Psalm 126:5). If you combine your seed with your faith, you will achieve a good outcome. Sometime ago, I went to visit our missionaries in Ghana. After the visit, they accompanied me to the airport. Since my driver will be waiting for me at the airport at Ikeja, Lagos, I decided to give all I had to the missionaries. Moments later, it was announced that the airbus that should take us to Nigeria will first stop over in Sierra Leone. Suddenly hunger pangs hit me hard. I was not fasting and now I had no money to buy some food. At some point it occurred to me to make a decree. So I decreed that the officers of Ghana Airways will not rest until I left Ghana. Five minutes later, all the officers rushed to us upstairs and asked if those of us going to Nigeria were hungry. They served us cake and soft drinks and gave me double portion. Before I was through with the meal, it was announced that the airbus taking us would now first stop over in Nigeria before heading for Sierra Leone. While about to board the plane, I reversed my earlier decree and said the airline officials can now have their peace. If your sacrificial seed is backed by faith, it can work wonders for you.

Faith without a seed delivers scanty or empty harvest but faith backed by a sacrificial seed yields great results.

IT IS WAR

2011-08-07T00:01:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members" (Rom 7:23)

Read: Romans 7:15-25

Life is full of battles. What determines whether you would be a victim or victor in the battles of life is who you choose as your ally. May the Prince of Peace be your ally. Take sickness as an example: In Mark 5:25-34, we read about a woman with the issue of blood. She went through a lot in her battle with that sickness. If sickness is fun to you, just ask for stomach pain for just one hour then you will know it is war. Every agent of sickness fighting against your health shall be destroyed. Poverty is also war. Proverbs 10:15 says, "The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty". This means that poverty destroys. The poor is a victim or captive of the spirit of poverty. The poor who refuses to fight the spirit of poverty will die poor. Besides, poverty makes your relations to hate or look down on you (Pro 14:20). That means if you refuse to fight against poverty, those who should have become your friends will turn enemies. If you do not want to lose your loved ones, you must win the battle against poverty. Poverty shuts you up. It robs you of your right to freedom of speech. The foolish ideas and opinions of the rich are heard at the roof tops while the most brilliant ideas of the poor are unheard. In anyway poverty has shut you up, the Lord will help you silence that spirit.

Barrenness is also war. When Hannah was still childless, she was put in perpetual sorrow. She lost her right to joy. Is barrenness denying you of the joy of the Lord? The Lord will intervene and deliver it into your hands this season in Jesus' Name. Another thing to fight is bondage. The man in Mark 5:1-15 was in bondage. He lost the right to do what he wanted. When Paul saw himself doing what he hated, but could not do what he really liked, he knew he was in the same bondage as the mad man of Gadara (Rom 7:15-25). Yet, in both cases, God gave victory. Paul did not mince words; he called it war. Are you struggling with sin? That is a fight against bondage. The Lord who rescued Paul and the Gadarene demoniac will give you victory over sin and your flesh today in Jesus' Name.

Father, take over the war against my life and deliver victory to me today.

ERODING YOUR VALUE?

2011-08-07T00:00:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's " (1 Cor 6:20)

Read: 1 Corinthians 6:13-20

Marrying an unbeliever is no option for anyone who has truly believed in Jesus Christ. If your partner is already making life unbearable during your courtship, go back and pray before it is too late. In addition, do not agree to choose somebody just because he says he has been born again for three or more years. Check out the fruit! Why? Many people give being born again different meanings. This is why I employ you to choose believers within the Body of Christ so that you can speak the same spiritual language. Today, there are some armed robbers who claim to be born again but still engage in their nefarious activities. There are fraudsters who make a lot of money through internet scams yet claim to be born again. It is possible that because of their financial backing, their pastors have refused to investigate their sources of income but rather placed them in positions of leadership. Beware! Some years ago, in one of the universities where I taught and fellowshipped, we declared a fast. During this spiritual exercise, one of the lecturers who claimed to be born again came out to testify. He said he used to smoke 17 sticks of cigarettes per day but now smokes only 15. Reduction in sinful indulgence is not the same as salvation. It is a complete overhaul of your spirit man. In Genesis 24:1-4, Abraham warned his servant not to choose a wife for Isaac from among the Canaanites but from his people. Avoid the Canaanites even in your church!

Another issue of note is that during the courtship, you must keep yourself holy. Never yield to any request for sex. After marriage, there will be plenty of time for this. A lady must not sell herself cheap. No man regards a lady who easily yields to his sexual advances. They may not tell you but to them, there is no difference between such a lady and women of easy virtue (prostitutes). Of course they may promise you marriage as basis for requesting for premarital sex, but the fact that you yielded could eventually become the reason for cancelling their marriage plan. Even if they go ahead to marry you, you will never be treasured. You will be like another piece of furniture! Sister, uphold the value God has placed on you. Falling into fornication makes you to lose it. No man should touch or sleep with you until the right man says 'I do'. You are expensive to God. Don't become cheap to men!

It is better men are afraid to approach you for marriage because you are highly priced than because you are cheap. Keep yourself pure!

SPENDING LAST GRACE?

2011-08-06T23:58:00.001-07:00

Memorise: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? " (Romans 6:1)

Read: Romans 6:1-2

"But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons" (Heb 12:8).

There is a pit of error many are falling into without realizing it. When you claim to be a child of God yet commit sin but do not get disciplined, and you are beginning to think that God is overlooking your sin, you are in error! You have descended from sonship into bastardhood. Samson fell into that pit. In Judges 16:1-3, Samson went to commit fornication with an harlot, yet on rising, the anointing was still there to uproot the enemy's gate and carry it to a hill. Some people are doing all sorts of abominable things today and it seems like they are getting away with it. Some are stealing and cheating and still performing miracles. In fact, some have turned the vestry into a brothel. They don't need to go out; they turn some female counselees into prostitutes and from there mount the podium to preach. Yet, it appears the anointing is still flowing like Samson, they continue in their descent into the pit of sin until they exhaust God's grace. If you continue in sin and you are not being disciplined, you are facing the most dangerous scenario of your life. There are some men who will divorce their wives and remarry someone else, yet things appear better for them
.

An usher of several years standing had a running battle with his wife. The situation became complicated because he could not realize certain expectations from the marriage, including having a child. Besides, he kept listening to the advice of bad friends who were either fellow believers or family members and he finally divorced her. Later, he remarried and appeared to have the peace he never had with his original wife. He appeared to prosper. To avoid correction, he moved church. Anyone who wanted to tell him of his error became an enemy. His heart was set on destruction. Any appearance of peace, happiness or progress you obtain from sin is ephemeral and will ultimately culminate in a fall you will not recover from. Grace ends for the one who continue in sin. Some people are spending the last remnants of grace before they go beyond redemption. If you are in such a situation, immediately return to God in humility, fasting and prayer. Break off from that sin. Make necessary restitution and face Heaven.

When a working electric fan is turned off, it appears to still be working. However, because its power source is disconnected, its speed will gradually reduce until it finally stops. Don't be that fan!