FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD

WEEPING FOR SORROW OR JOY

2014-08-28T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: REVELATION 21:2-5

At the judgement seat of Christ, after the fire and others have done their work, those whose works endured the fire, who constitute the brides to be decorated will boldly walk forward, beaming with joy and be publicly decorated. Have you watched when somebody was selected out of the world for a particular award and was publicly decorated? How do you feel?If it was somebody from your town or village, you will feel elated. How then will you feel if you were the one receiving the award as the whole world cheers? But this heavenly decoration is a million times greater than any earthly award. I will not miss my day of decoration in heaven. What about you?
In that day, everybody will weep. While those who will not be decorated will weep when they see what they lost, recipients will weep irrespective of the stars in their crowns when they discover that they could have obtained 1000 fold reward than they got. They will realize they have not done enough. Some years ago, while in the midst of spending quality time in God’s presence at the camp, I had an encounter; I was singing and dancing in the moonlight enjoying my fellowship with the Almighty God. Sometime around 4:00 am, the Lord began to ask me some questions.
Initially, I was thanking Him because I felt I was doing mighty exploits for Him. By the time He finished asking about 20 questions, I realized that by His standards, I had done nothing; I got next to zero level. Over there God will not only show us what we have done but also what we ought to have done. When yousee the reward for the little you have done, then you would imagine and calculate what could have been yours if you had met all His expectations. You will weep at such realization but God will wipe all tears from our eyes. You are privileged to know these things now so that you can adjust fast and conform to His perfect plan for your life. Ask Him what He wants you to do and go all out to do it. You can increase your weeping for joy and reduce your weeping for sorrow. Either wayyou will weep. You can determine the type of weeping you want over there from today. Take a decision that will enhance your good fortunes and stick with it.

MEMORIZE: REVELATION 21:4 –And God shall wipe all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

ENTERING YOUR REST

2014-08-27T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: HEBREWS 4:1-11

“There remains therefore a rest of the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9).
Have you been laboring so hard and wondering when you will enter into your rest? Are the trials, temptations and difficulties you often encounter along the pilgrim’s way getting at you? Are you asking God: when will it all be over so that I can truly heave a sigh of relief? Rejoice, it will soon be over. You will soon enter into your rest. You will soon arrive at your promised land. Do not waste your years of labour. One of these days, it could even be sooner than you thought, you will arise into a glorious dawn. All your worries and struggles will be over. You shall not die before entering into your rest. All the plans of the gates of hell to derail you from making it to heaven will fail. You will reach your goal.
“Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.” (Hebrews 4:11). God is encouraging you to continue the fight. Every move you make in righteousness, faith, service to god is taking you closer to your rest. However, if there was a time to be very careful it is now. You may have gone more than one-quarter, one-third, half or even three-quarters of your journey into the city of rest. You may just have a very short time left hence you need to be more careful now than when you first believed.
Why do you have to be extra careful? Some believers were careless and slipped away when they were very close to their promised land. Some could not enter because of being mentally attached to the Egypt they left years ago (Numbers 11:4-6). Some became offended and began to murmur and complain over every slight problem (Exodus 15:24); some engaged in negative confessions to their destruction (Numbers 14:27-30); others were swept off their feet by lust of the flesh (Numbers 11:4, 18-20, 31-34). It was unbelief that sank the faith of some (Hebrews 4:11), etc. remember Moses could not enter into the promised land he was called to take the Israelites into because of anger. This is the time to check those little, little things in your life capable of hindering your entry. Prayerfully expunge them and yield totally to God. Keep on working for the Lord. Keep on your fight of faith. It will soon be over. You will finish strong!

MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 4:11 – Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

WITHDRAWING FROM YOUR PRAYER BANK

2014-08-26T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: REVELATION 5:6-8

In 1 Samuel 1:7, right in the midst of deep sorrow, Hannah declared a fast. Some Christians cannot fast at all because their stomach has become their god. The day they do not praise and worship it with food, it will appear the whole world is coming to an end. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. There is a time to eat and a time to fast. If youeat when you should be fasting, you may panic when you should be at rest. Some people have their fears about fasting – that they will become ill or have ulcer or even die. Every Christian should fast. Do not let anybody deceive you. Fasting does not kill. If fasting kills, I would have been dead a long time ago. On the contrary, fasting makes you younger, burns off excessive fat and makes you stronger and healthier. Many people experience healing of different bodily ailments including ulcer during a fast. Fasting draws you closer to God and makes you live the life of the Spirit. Fast regularly at least once or twice a week.
For some people fasting is only abstinence from food. They do not have time to pray. This type of fasting is more of dieting. The body still benefits from it but the spirit man hardly profits from it. For greater results, combine fasting with prayer, praise worship, Bible study, etc. Today’s reading talks about prayers entering containers. One thing about fasting and prayer is that if done properly, the effect is never wasted. The more you pray and fast, the more your heavenly container is filled. Just as you can go to the bank to make withdrawals from your savings in time of financial need so also can you make a withdrawal in prayer. Some believers pray too little everyday hence they have nothing to store for future use. But those who pray big daily utilize their daily need of prayer, while the balance goes into their reserves. Have you experienced a period where you always prayed and spent quality time in God’s presence, then for a day or two, due to some reasons, you find yourself not in God’s presence, yet, after a brief spiritual dryness, you began to feel God’s presence for a period? You were only withdrawing from your prayer bank! Hours spent in His presence are not lost. They are reserved for tomorrow.

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 17:21 –However this kind goes not out but by prayer and fasting.

WHAT IS GODLY FEAR?

2014-08-25T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: DEUTERONOMY 10:12-21

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul”(Deuteronomy 10:12).
Godly fear is a great treasure for every born again Christian. When we talk of the fear of God, we do not mean the type of fear you experience when you sight a snake nearby. But it is the fear that is mixed with love. The love of God is the foundation for true fear of God. You cannot fear God if you do not love Him. Also, you cannot love God beyond the level of fear you have for Him. The extent of your love is the extent of your fear of God. Do you love God?
In Deuteronomy 13:4, we are told to cleave to God as a result of our love for Him. When some Christians sin, the fear of punishment drives them away from God? How can you run away from your Father? If you have offended Him, return to Him and plead for mercy. If He decides to give you a knock to prevent a reoccurrence, take the knock in humility and joy. If you run from God, you could end up in the camp of your enemies. You can be sure they will not spare you. I choose to be punished by God than to become a friend of Satan. If the devil tells you how much he loves you, be informed that is the extent he is planning your destruction.
In Acts 5, because the Holy Ghost moved in the early church, judgement fell on sinning believers. Anytime the Holy Spirit is moving, occasionally He may expose sinners. He will also judge and put fear into the hearts of all, while pretenders will, rather than repent, become afraid and take to their heels. No pretender will want to join a church where the Holy Spirit is moving. It is because they are afraid their deeds would be uncovered. Yet earnest seekers will come into such an assembly and receive the benefit of being motivated to do right always. Do you fear God? How much do you love Him? To what extent do you abide by His Word? Ask for a greater fear of God today.

MEMORIZE: DEUTERONOMY 10:12 –And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

CITY OF REVELATION

2014-08-24T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: PSALMS 119:11-18

What you see is crucial, but how you see what you see is very important because, it will determine what you can make out of a given situation. Human beings are used to selective perception – that in a given situation they will only focus on a particular area of interest while they blank out the rest. When people have divergent interests, even when exposed to the same incident, they will give different interpretations to it. How do you see? How broad is your perspective when you see? Your horizon will be determined by your location, the power of your sight and how careful or watchful you are. The man who is on a mountain top will have a broader view than the fellow in a valley. You will see better and be exposed to the issues behind the scenes if you see through God’s eyes than when you use your limited eyes. Also, you will be able to access more details if you are very observant than when you are not so meticulous. May the Lord broaden your horizon.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). David knew the importance of having the appropriate view of God’s Word which his ordinary eyes could not afford him, so he cried in Psalms 119:18, “Open You my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.” He was crying for a revelation of God’s Word which was beyond mere letters. How do you see God’s Word? There are five major ways of receiving God’s Word: Hearing, reading, studying, memorizing and meditating. Each of thesemethods help to view the same passage from different perspectives, and give you different result. For the hearing believer, a good portion of what you hear is lost. The reading believer barely scratches the surface and can hardly access the hidden treasures. The studying believer is able to dig out the hidden treasures and also retain a great percentage of his discoveries from the scriptures. The memorizing believers is able to load his spiritual storehouse with the uncarnal weapons with which to fight the enemy in the evil day. The meditating believer hops on the Word and goes on a ride into the city of revelation. When he returns, everyone will know he has just arrived. There is a city of revelation. Anyone who goes there will from a wider perspective. When last did you go there?

MEMORIZE: PSALMS 119:11 –Your Word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

LOOKING FORWARD

2014-08-23T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: HEBREWS 12:1-3

Many people read about Apostle Paul and they envy him. They covet the anointing on him. If you want to perform great miracles like Paul did, you must be ready to pay the price Paul paid. You can read about his sufferings in Acts 19:11-12 and 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. Nothing goes for nothing. One of my pastors said the General Overseer of a church in his state met him sometime ago. The G.O. told him he had been seeking God’s face for a while so that God would give him the level of anointing on Pastor Adeboye. Nothing more. Then the Lord asked him if he was ready to pay the price Pastor Adeboye paid to get to that level. And he replied that he was okay the way he was. Can you pay the price for the anointing you are asking for?
“Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?” (2 Corinthians 11:29). Some believers mourn the sufferings they go through as a result of their faith in Jesus Christ as if something terrible has happened to them. But Paul differs. Paul conforms to the Lord’s teaching that we should rather celebrate such because of the glory ahead (Matthew 5:10-12). In 2 Corinthians 11:30, Paul says if there is anything he should celebrate, it is every opportunity he has to suffer for Jesus. How many of such sufferings, denials, marginalization, rejection, demotion, retrenchment, losses, etc. encountered for your faith in Christ have you celebrated? If you find it difficult to celebrate suffering for Christ but rather to grieve, complain and engage in self-pity, it shows you are not seeing what they saw. You are viewing it from a different perspective.
In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, Paul considered all the terrible experiences in suffering as light afflictions when he compared them with the reward that awaited him for each of them. He saw beyond the suffering. He looked forward to the glory ahead. Women go through so much pain, vomiting, inconveniences, etc. during pregnancy. Yet for nine months, they carry the burden with no hard feelings because they are looking forward to the glorious day the baby will arrive. Jesus Christ is coming with rewards. If you can look beyond all you are suffering and focus on the great rewards that you will receive, it will release so much grace and energy into you that you will be able to run with patience.

MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 12:2 –Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

REGRESSION

2014-08-22T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: MARK 5:25-34

“Fear you not; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God; I will strengthen you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)
There was a particular sister who had several miscarriages; the most painful of them was a set of twins. Eventually God stepped into her situation. When we met sometime ago, we smiled to each other because God had given her wonderful children. For every user of this Devotional who has been having miscarriages or stillbirths or have never conceived before, the Lord is turning around your captivity now. Have you been struggling to complete a house or to retain a job? Help is coming to you from above. Your struggles are over in Jesus name.
Another external medium of satanic manipulation is Regression. To regress is to keep pushing someone backwards. The enemies can continue to push somebody backwards until the fellow reaches zero level. The woman with the issue of blood is a classical example (Mark 5:23-24). She was once a healthy, wealthy and influential woman. Then one day demons of retrogression visited her with an attack. From that moment, she started losing blood. She went from doctor to doctor. They tried their best but they could not diagnose the cause because it was a spiritual attack. Before long, all her wealth disappeared into various treatments yet she kept getting worse.
There are some businessmen who were doing well when the devil struck. Suddenly, business stopped. Since no new orders or contracts came, they descended on their profits. When profit finished, they started spending the capital until it finished. Then they started borrowing and heaping up debts they had no hope of repaying. That is regression. The good news is that the Almighty Jesus Christ can reverse whatever the enemy has done, if only you can come to Him in repentance and total surrender to His Word. Have you been going backwards? I command them to take their leave now. The Lord will reverse your situation for good. Always remember to give Him thanks.

MEMORIZE: ISAIAH 41:10 –Fear you not; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God; I will strengthen you; yea, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.

YOUR REAL TREASURE

2014-08-21T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: MATTHEW 6:19-21

Any wise investor will protect his investment. As peace-loving as America may appear, one major reason they keep pursuing peace in various countries is because they have a lot at stake. They want peace to reign in those countries so as to protect their investments. That is wisdom. Their investments are their treasure or valued assets and Jesus says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21). If you watch on CNN that a tornado killed tens of thousands of people in remote country, you will be touched, but you will be consoled that none of them is known to you. But if that tornado struck at your village, you will not be at rest until you ascertain that it did not involve any member of your extended family. Your heart is there because they are valued assets.
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal” (Matthew 6:20). God has given you some investments that will earn you great rewards in heaven. Every soul you win to Jesus is your treasure. By the time you eventually get to heaven, with your converts, at the judgement seat of Christ, you will handover each soul to the Lord in exchange for stars. I just wonder how some people who have been very faithful to the Lord in soul-winning will be able to carry all their stars. I have seen brethren winning 100 souls to Christ everyday and for each one, there will be a star. How many stars do you qualify for should the rapture take place today? How many souls will go with you to heaven? Some believers win souls and never follow-up on them. 3 John 4 says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” Apart from Paul, James too was concerned about the state of his converts. Each time he heard that they were doing fine in the Lord, he rejoiced and was assured of his heavenly stars. Do you know the present state of your converts? You too can take the pains to thoroughly follow-up all your converts so that you can be assured of your stars. Is your heart in money and worldly pursuit? Fix it on your converts. That is your real treasure.

MEMORIZE: 3 JOHN 4 –I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

EMPTY SHOUTS

2014-08-20T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: JUDGES16:15-21

“And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord cameinto the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again” (1 Samuel 4:5).In the battle between the Israelites and the Philistines after God rejected king Saul, they brought the ark of God into the battle field and the Israelites shouted a great shout that caused panic in the camp of the Philistines. Yet when the battle commenced, they fled before their enemies. Some shouts are so empowered that they can pull down Jericho walls, while others are empty. If God rejects a man, his shouts will become empty. Are you making empty shouts and running up and down the altar claiming you are overflowing with the anointing when all people can see is the overflow of sweat?
Some pastors will listen to tapes from America and preach them verbatim thinking that is their ability to act as copy cats that brings the power down. Are you preaching beautiful sermons without the backing of the Lord? Matthew 7:21-23 says the Lord is going to disown several popular pastors and miracle (magic) workers on the last day. Why should you become a worker, or minister if you are not going to make it to heaven at last?
“But she that lives in pleasure is dead while she lives” (1 Timothy 5:6). It is possible for somebody to be dead but still think he is alive. Anyone God has rejected is spiritually dead. In Judges 16:15-21, Samson thought he was still full of the anointing but did not know that God had left him. Our service to the Lord is a spiritual task that cannot be done successfully in the flesh. Hence Jesus said without Him we can do nothing. He is the provider of the resources – wisdom, strength, game plan, or strategy, etc. that we need. Is the Master still in the boat of your life? If no, immediately go to Him in repentance and make your ways right before Him. As long as He is with you, there is no need to fear. You will overcome and be victorious. As a servant of God, receive messages from God and soak them in prayers before going to deliver them. But at anytime you feel empty of God, never take on any spiritual assignment – no matter how pressing. First go before the Lord in praise and worship and thanksgiving, praying in the spirit so as to recharge your battery. Empty shouts attract the enemies to identify your emptiness. Stop it.

MEMORIZE: 1 SAMUEL 4:5 –And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

EXPECTATIONS

2014-08-19T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: PROVERBS 24:13-16

“And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground” (Genesis 18:2).
Abraham had some great traits which should characterize our lives if we are truly his children. He was spiritually alert and always expectant. He looked one hot afternoon and saw three men. To anybody around they were just ordinary men but through his gift of discerning of spirits, he knew they were no ordinary men. He immediately identified them as divine visitors. Even today divine visitors come to us as ordinary people but because many believers look but cannot spiritually discern, they miss their divine appointment. You shall not miss your day of divine visitation in Jesus name.
Those who are going to be blessed like Abraham are always alert. Even when they are sleeping, their spirit man is wide awake ready to combat forces and go into prayer mood at anytime. Believers who are heavy sleepers rarely receive divine visitation at night. Even when messages are released to them, they forget it in their sleep and eventually what the Lord tried to warn them about to happens. Some accuse God of being less caring, but the truth is that they were warned but lost the warning to sleep. Are you being robbed of divine messages through sleep? Do you forget your dreams regularly? If you do, do you take time to be in God’s presence long enough for the Holy Spirit to remind you of the message you forgot?
Abraham was always alert; he was ever expectant. He was praying and was equally expecting his answers to come. Some believers would pray but as they leave for work the following morning or for church, they do not expect any good to come. They have no expectation of any possible miracle from God. When you pray but have no expectation, when the blessing comes it will not be able to locate your address. Expectation is the sign post that is spiritually placed on your location which helps to direct the attention of the coming blessings. When it is placed at your door steps, as blessings are released, they will see your place as a blessings stop point. They will stop at your location and verify if the blessing is yours or not. In the process, you can even have more than you bargained for. How expectant are you?

MEMORIZE: PROVERBS 23:18 –For surely there is an end; and your expectation shall not be cut off.

FEEDING YOUR ORGANIZATION

2014-08-18T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: JAMES 3:3-6

The head harbours the eyes and ears. It also harbours the mouth. This may be viewed through different prisms. It can be inferred that the head is expected to feed the organization he is heading because food enters the body through the mouth. Some heads take advantage of their position and suck dry the organization and at the end they are head over emptiness. Some departments and churches face high labour (workers) turnover because their heads have no control over their mouths. When a leader uses his mouth to constantly degrade, disgrace and abuse his subordinates, he erodes his own powerbase, honour, and sensibilities. When they can no longer stand the insult, they begin to leave in droves. Some believers have used their mouths to put to flight their destiny-helpers.
On the other hand, there are heads who use their mouths to feed the organizations they head with ideas, inspiration, hope, prayers, positive confessions and in the process build up a strong and virile organization. At the end, they prolong their headship over those organizations. As the head of your family, school, business, are you feeding it with destructive or constructive food? Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” In the head is also the tongue. The tongue is capable of life and death depending on the direction it is applied. One easy way to destroy an organization is to get the head to say the wrong thing. As a head, you must be very careful about what you say.
James 3:3-5 says the tongue is the steering-wheel of the body. It has tremendous control over the body. Never speak evil of your family, church or organization. Make positive declarations. Only say what you desire to come to pass in the lives of your members. If they are weaklings, do not confess them as weaklings. Rather speak strength to them. Some pastors will say: our members are extremely poor! No wonder they are still battling with poverty. Confess wealth and prosperity upon them. And change their mindset through God’s Word. Back this up with prayers and they shall prosper.

MEMORIZE: JAMES 3:6 –And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

SEEING HIS GLORY?

2014-08-17T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: HEBREWS 11:13-16

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Matthew 13:16).
In Matthew 13:16-19, Jesus said His disciples were blessed because prominent prophets and patriarchs of old; looked forward to the move of God of their day but could not see them. What we consider as common place today, were scarce spiritual commodities some years ago. We have seen miracles which have increased our faith. What you see can make a lot of difference. When Jesus took the trio –Peter, James and John to the Mount of Transfiguration, they saw His glory. What they saw affected their lives, service and devotion to Him until their last breath. The three of them became the real pillars of the Church. While Peter kept on preaching, James kept on overseeing meetings, while John who outlived them not only radiated and affected many with his highly contagious love, he also gave us one of the most important books of the Bible –The Book of Revelation.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
The trio saw His glory, power and agony. What are you seeing? Just as what you see with your physical sight assists you in your physical life, so also what you see with your spiritual eyes greatly strengthens your spiritual walk. In Hebrews 11:27, we are told that it was Moses’ vision of the invisible God that produced the strength and boldness he required to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Also, the patriarchs of old saw the heavenly city with their spiritual eyes hence no physical attraction, distraction or manipulation could stop them getting there. What you see is what you get. If you can see heaven with your spiritual eyes, you can get there. That is, your spiritual vision will become the impetus propelling you onwards until you get there. What are you seeing? If you feed your eyes with junks you will not derive any spiritual benefit. Your messages, life-style and words cannot have maximum impact on those around you until you see God’s glory. Feed your spirit with God’s Word. You too can see God’s glory!

MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 11:27 –By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.

TASTING HIS SUFFERING

2014-08-16T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 11:22-33

“And when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24).
Each time you go for the Holy Communion, this verse would be read. Do you really appreciate the meaning of “Take, eat: this is My body, which is broken for you”? Each time you put the bread in your mouth, remember God is saying, “Taste what I suffered for you”. Philippians 3:10 says, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death”. Paul was one person who shared in the sufferings of Christ. He tells us that if you have ever enjoyed fellowship with God, don’t jubilate yet. Wait until you enter into the fellowship you derive from suffering for Him. That is the peak of fellowship. Holy Communion reminds you to venture into that peak of fellowship available in sufferings for Christ.
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12). The level of glory and reward we shall receive will be equivalent to the level of suffering we encountered for Christ. From this scripture, any born-again Christian who lives right and suffer for Christ; is automatically assured of reigning with Him. Some of us dodge possible openings to suffer for Jesus. It could be by refusing to sow the exact amount the Lord is telling you to, for a kingdom based project. Or by persistently rejecting God’s call into full time ministry for fear of the unknown. Or for fear of serious persecution from family, parents and friends. Whatever is making you avoid sharing in His suffering shows Him that you are denying Him. As a result of such denial, that fellow will also be denied. And this includes an opportunity to reign with Him. Do you qualify to reign with Him? Are you happily suffering for Jesus? When next you go to the Communion table, remember to taste what He suffered for you? And be prepared to suffer for Him too.

MEMORIZE: 2 CORINTHIANS 11:30 –If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

TERMINATING REPRESSIVE FORCES

2014-08-15T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: GENESIS 26:17-23

Repression is another external medium of satanic control over a man’s life. To repress is to control somebody by force. In this classification, it means to push down someone who is trying to come up. This is somewhat different from oppression. Have you been trying to come up but each time some forces push you down? The Lord will arise and push off all the forces pushing you down in Jesus name. John 5:1-9 tells of a man who had been sick for 38 years. He lived in the colony of sick folks who were beside the pool of Bethesda. For the last 38 years, whenever an angel came to shake the waters of the pool it triggered a rat race towards the pool. Several times he came close to being first but suddenly someone else would push him out of the way and step in before him. It has been a revolving circle of hope and loss. It had been a hope that never materialized.
Ladies with frequent miscarriages are under repression. They take in and begin to celebrate. Then their stomachs start to swell. Two, three or four months later, the pregnancy disappears. Then they start the circle all over again. Sometimes the enemies will even wait until the baby is born and it will be a stillbirth. The baby may be born and all of a sudden it dies. I know of a woman who had 11 children and all died until the Lord of Host intervened. Are you undergoing persistent miscarriages? Your healing has come today. I rebuke every repressive spirit and agent of darkness terminating your pregnancy. I command them to leave you alone from this moment in Jesus name. Every spiritual terminator is terminated now and from now your pregnancy shall no longer be aborted. Your babies shall live. That next pregnancy shall be safely delivered and your joy shall be full in Jesus name. There are also those who have been building for almost 10, 20 or 30 years. They start a building or project but never complete it. Some people can never complete anything they start – whether a course, writing a book, a career, a job or a business, or a relationship. In the name of Jesus I bind and flush out every repressive force making it impossible for you to complete what you have started. That yoke of repression is broken now. From today, receive divine strength and speed to complete from where you stopped in Jesus name.

MEMORIZE: GENESIS 26:22 –and he removed from there, and dug another well; and for that they strove not; and he called the name of it Rehobot; and he said, For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.

STRATEGIZING FOR SOULS

2014-08-14T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 9:19-27

“Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved” (Philippians 4:1).
If there was one person who had an objective and followed a plan to accomplish a given task, it is Paul. Some of us never strategize for souls but Paul did. There are some people who would never want to fail. It is in their nature a part of their upbringing. It is either they are doing something to succeed or they will not even try. Paul was like that. In soul winning, he sat down and analyzed the situation, doubts and fears of those he wanted to preach to, and why they will not to receive the Gospel message. Paul considered all the barriers – spiritual, intellectual, financial, moral, and socio-cultural factors and dew up a plan that will adequately subdue each of those barriers.
Paul strategized for souls because he carried out some thorough environmental scanning and therefore knew sinners’ needs and how to meet them. Have you done any research on those you hope to preach the gospel to? Have you identified the barriers to their salvation? What strategies are you putting in place so that you can realize your goal? Do you have a soul winning goal in the first place? What pressure is the determination to win souls putting on you? There is a brother who is aiming at a doctorate just because like Paul, he wants to be able to reach out to the highly educated, not for better pay. He already has two masters’ degrees yet still working towards his Ph.D for the kingdom sake. Have you drawn your strategy for souls?
If you cannot nurture your converts until they get to heaven then why bring them to Christ in the first place? Parents who bring a child into the world and refuse to cater for that child will face God’s wrath. You know how much some people are looking for just one child. Some of them would even pay millions just to bear their own child, yet some are busy aborting babies. In Philippians 4:1, Paul, after making all the necessary sacrifices was begging his converts to stand fast in Christ. Why? So that all this efforts at receiving the soul winners crown and having his crown decorated with stars would not be wasted. He won souls that would go to heaven. Where are your souls heading?

MEMORIZE: PHILIPPIANS 4:1 –Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

OBEYING ‘FOOLISH’ COMMANDS

2014-08-13T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:12-16

“And He said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and get you into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell you of” (Genesis 22:2).
In Genesis 22:1-3 God gave Abraham three commandments –take your only son Isaac, go to the land of Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. Why ‘only’ son? What of Ishmael the first born? As far as God was concerned, Abraham had only one son. The other was bastard. Why did God ask Abraham to embark on your journey of three days before arriving at Moriah where he would sacrifice his son? It was to afford him enough time to change his mind.
If you obey God completely, no matter how foolish His commandments may appear, He will bless you beyond your imagination. If you are to assess certain things God may ask you to do, you will end up not doing them because they may not seem rational. Whether the act is wise or foolish is not the issue, it is your obedience however, that will trigger the blessing. The story was told of a brother in America who was praying and really looking up to God to prosper him. The Lord told him to go about gathering used tyres. This sounded absurd to him because there was much affluence around to the point that over a little problem, car tyres were dumped virtually everywhere. In fact, some peoplewould not mind paying you to collect their used tyres as these were constituting a nuisance.
The brother trusted God and started gathering all the tyres littered all over the place. After that, a wind of scarcity of tyres blew that turned this scavenger into a tyre merchant. People were now willing to pay for the same tyres he had collected free. In the process, the brother became a millionaire. God has asked me to do certain things any sensible mind would consider foolish. But as I obeyed, the blessings followed. As a child of God, tell Him what you want but leave Him to decide the how. Many of us worry about the how to appoint that we do not have faith to ask for the blessing. Has God asked you to do something foolish? Go ahead as long as you are sure it is God. His foolishness is wiser than man’s wisdom.

MEMORIZE: 1 CORINTHIANS 2:14 “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

LOVING TILL DEATH

2014-08-12T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: JOHN 10:15-18

Until you sacrifice your Isaac, God may not be committed to fulfilling whatever promise He made to you. If you desire to be great is not backed up by an adequate sacrifice, it will leave such desires in the realm of mere wishes. It is your sacrifice that adds weight to your desires thereby transforming them into reality. To what extent are you ready to sacrifice for God? God sacrificed His only begotten Son Jesus Christ and He became the first born among many brethren.
When I newly joined the Redeemed Christian Church of God, there was a particular woman who was not rich enough to buy a bus, but hired one in which she conveyed children from the Police barracks to Sunday school every Sunday. Today, at least two of her children are Assistant General Overseers in this church. When last did you pay or convey people to the Holy Ghost service? In times past, we paid for those who had no money to go to the Congress. We filled the existing gap. I sold my first car to buy stamps for inviting people to the Congress. An elderly pastor who knew of my sacrifice said God will kill whoever envies me riding in a good car or living in a beautiful house, because I was simply reaping from my seeds. What seeds have you sown from which you are expecting a harvest?
“Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend” (John 15:13). Your flesh must die because to love is to die. 1 John 3:16 says Jesus loves us to the point of dying for us, we too should love Him in return to the point of dying for fellow believers. In Philippians 1:21, Paul was ready to die out his love for Jesus. Can you make a commitment to Jesus even to the point of death? If you cannot, your loyalty and love to the Master remain questionable. Those the Holy Spirit can count on for the last days assignment are those who count death as nothing. They are dead to the flesh. The attractions and distraction of the world mean nothing to them. The suggestions of Jesus Christ are the laws they live by. They have put their hands on the gospel and there is no looking back. They have burnt their bridges. Do you fall into this category of believers? May the Lord find you useful in these last days. How important is your life to you? Can you afford to lose it so as to find it?

MEMORIZE: JOHN 15:3 –Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you

FEAR AND EFFECT

2014-08-11T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: ISAIAH 8:9-13

There are three types of fear: Ungodly fear, good fear and godly fear. Ungodly fear refers to the fear of man, Satan and unpleasant events. This type of fear torments its recipients and whenever it is present, faith dives out through the window. All types of ungodly fear emanate from the devil. He has even gone scientific in affecting the human race with fear. Someone who had wined and denied with Satan and his demons, after his conversion to Christ, said that in the galaxies – the second heavens, which is presently Satan’s headquarters, there are certain fear machines shaped like the human mouth. All it does is to release a frightening shrill from time to time. As the scream is released into the atmosphere, it hits people wherever they are. Anyone that arrow of fear hits will suddenly become afraid. If one is not prayerful enough especially as a believer, he may have to battle for a long time or even live with that fear. Every arrow of fear shot against your mind, in the name of Jesus Christ be dislodged and rendered powerless now.
If you are driving carelessly on the way and you come across an accident scene, you will become afraid and drive more carefully. This is a good fear because it will preserve your life. The type of fear that motivates you to study hard, work hard and pray hard in order not to fail is a good type of fear. Isaiah 8:13 says, “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread”. There is another type of fear which is linked with God. It is a holy fear and when present in your life, it will motivate you to obey and serve God. This is godly fear. God wants you to fear Him. He is the only One that should be feared. In fact, if you fear God, other fears will disappear. Divine strength is imparted to you from every level of godly fear you attain. If you still live in secret sin, it is as a result of lack of godly fear. If you do not mind being seen sinning in public, it shows you are not even born again. It was the fear of God in Joseph that made him to refuse the offer of Potiphar’s wife. Godly fear will keep you from secret sin and compromise because you know that God’s eyes are upon you. How much do you fear God? What type of fear is operating in your life? Ask God for grace to fear Him alone.

MEMORIZE: ISAIAH 8:13 –Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.

BETWEEN PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL SIGHT

2014-08-10T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: JOHN 20:24-29

What you hear a way of affecting you. What you see equally has immense impact on you. It takes you to see to be able to believe. It is commonly said that “seeing is believing”. Thomas could not believe that Jesus resurrected until he physically encountered Him and thrusted his fingers into his nail-pierced hands, and spear-pierced side. After he confirmed this, he acknowledged it was the Lord. “Jesus says to him, Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Just like what you hear, what you see also causes you to believe.
Sight is a very powerful medium of communication. One reason people are more addicted to television than radio is because of the power of sight. What you hear generates faith but what you see generates more faith. When you hear that a man was cured, you may believe but still leave room for doubt. But if you see a notorious mad man in his right senses, it will leave no room for doubt. We live a life of faith. The life of faith does not accommodate doubt and unbelief. God expects you to believe after you hear and then you will see. But your physical senses want you to see first before believing.
Your ability to believe God when you hear His voice sets you apart from the crowd. It places you on a higher spiritual plane than the follow who wants to see the miracle before believing. What you see will determine the extent to which you can go. How far can you see with your physical eyes? Jesus knows the importance of sight to receiving from God. He said there is a blessing that comes from believing without physical sight. He was not condemning the benefit of sight. He was only de-emphasizing over-reliance on physical sight. He meant to say that if you can hear God’s Word, do not bother to see it physically, strive to see it spiritually and you will receive a greater dividend from your spiritual sight. What you see with your spiritual eyes has a greater impact on you than what you see with your physical eyes. While the physical eyes see today and now, the spiritual sight sees tomorrow and your future.

MEMORIZE: JOHN 20:29 –Jesus says to him, Thomas because you have seen Me, you have believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

REPAYING WITH GRIEF

2014-08-09T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: HEBREWS 6:4-6

If you don’t know your worth, you will agree to be bought for any price. You are worth more than the whole world. You are the priest of the Most High God. Don’t reduce yourself to the level of dogs and pigs. No matter how much you clean up a pig, it is not happy until it returns to its dirty habitat-the mud. If others are doing it, you are not them. Refuse to join those who give their most treasured assets to Satan for next to free. It must never be heard that you, a worker, a minister of God or church leader were seen committing adultery, stealing or involved in a cult.
The first time I visited an Oba in his palace I saw all the chiefs entering and rolling on the ground. I was about to prostate to the Oba when something in me warned not to try it. He reminded me that I am an ambassador of the Most High God. So I stood and greeted his majesty. If you don’t know your worth, heaven knows it and places great value on it. If you do not respect yourself, respect your owner. There is nothing capable of causing sorrow to somebody than going through so much pains and agony to improve the lot of somebody but it is unappreciated. An adage says that the ungrateful fellow is in the same category with an armed robber.
“But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?” (Hebrews 3:17). The children of Israel caused God grief not just for one year, but for 40 years. Some believers today are causing the Lord to grieve. He has been patient for a while but if they do not repent, He will totally withdraw His grace from them. The next thing that will follow is death. Every act of compromise tends towards death. Does your behaviour show you truly appreciate Christ’s sacrifice on the cross? Ephesians 4:28-32 says if you are still stealing after claiming to be born again, you should stop it. If you are still living in sin after salvation, you are crucifying Jesus for the second time and putting Him to an open shame. There was a time when organizations need a cashier or somebody trustworthy to handle sensitive official business, they will direct such requests to us at the Headquarters in Ebute-Metta. Do not spoil the chances of others through compromise. Are you repaying His sacrifices with grief?

MEMORIZE: HEBREWS 3:17 – But with whom was he grieved forty years? Was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcasses fell in the wilderness?

UNSEATING THE OPPRESSOR

2014-08-08T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: LUKE 13:11-16

“So I returned, and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun: and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but they had no comforter” (Ecclesiastes 4:1).
Another external avenue for satanic operation is oppression. To oppress is to sit on, hold somebody down to prevent the person’s rise. In Luke 13:11-16, we see a woman who was bound by the devil for 18 years. All attempts to release herself from that condition remained futile because an oppressor was sitting on her. Today, we have several similar cases. Many believers have remained on one spot for years. There are beautiful ladies who have never had a man walk up to them and say, Will you marry me? Some have written several applications for a job but have never been invited for an interview. There is a force that is sitting on them. According to Isaiah 10:27, the one who is sitting on your neck and holding you down shall be removed.
A slim woman sat by a fat woman during a church service. The fat woman was fast asleep while the slim woman was sweating profusely because she was feeling an invisible weight on her. At a point, the Lord opened the eyes of a member of the choir and she saw in a vision that the fat woman was actually sitting and exercising force on the slim one. The young chorister who was not too vast with deliverance procedures suddenly blurted out, ‘Ah! Come down from her neck’. Is anyone sitting on your neck? Are you pinned to the same spot? I command any demon or agent of darkness sitting on your neck to come down now and never return there in Jesus name. This is not limited to individuals. Even a church can be oppressed. In some churches certain agents of darkness will go and stand by a wall or at a corner during prayer time. Their purpose is to prevent prayers from ascending beyond the roof of the church. Some times, it could be a spiritual umbrella or a spiritual cloud hanging over the church that will prevent their prayers. Every evil umbrella, cloud or satanic agent sent to hinder your prayer shall be consumed today in Jesus name. Arise, take authority over that oppressive spirit and command it to go. Be mad against every iota of oppression in your life.

MEMORIZE: ECCLESIASTES 7:7 –Surely oppression makes a wise man mad; and a gift destroys the heart.

BRIDES FOR DECORATION

2014-08-07T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: 1 PETER 5:1-4

At the judgement seat of Christ, after each individual’s work has gone through the fire, all his words and thoughts have been judged and everything else taken into consideration, the brides of Christ will be split into two groups: Those who will go forward to receive their decoration which will equally take two forms. While the second set of the brides will go back to their seats decorated with shame. On that day, you shall not be ashamed in Jesus name.
Generally, every bride of Christ will have the crown of righteousness on their heads. At the end of the Judgement seat of Christ, those who after the rigorous fiery tests still have works that endure, will form the first group. They will line up and one by one they will be called forward to be decorated. Some will receive the crown of life according to Revelation 2:10. That is a reward for faithfulness till death. Some will receive the crown of rejoicing which is meant for those who were actively engaged in soul winning (1 Thessalonians 2:19). Every soul you win earns you some heavenly credits which will finally accumulate to this crown. Those sinners around you are not just what you think they are, but a means towards your heavenly end. If you will not win them to Christ because you love them, do so because of the crown their conversion can give you (Philippians 4:1).
Some brides for decoration will receive the crown of glory. This goes to elders, pastors, chapter presidents, etc. as a reward for Christian leadership (1 Peter 5:4). In addition to these crowns, some will have their crowns decorated with beautiful stars (Daniel 12:3). If you get to heaven without bringing a soul to Christ, your crown of righteousness will have no star. If you won a soul but the soul could not make it to heaven, you will still have no star. In heaven, a count will be made of everyone you personally led to Christ and are physically present. Their number will determine the number of stars in your crown. What steps are you taking to follow-up your converts so that you do not lose the stars their safe arrival in heaven can earn you? There is no resting until all your converts get to heaven. Do not delegate a follow-up: Do it yourself!

MEMORIZE: 1 PETER 5:4 –And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away.

RESITTING EXAMS?

2014-08-06T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: GALATIANS 4:30-31

Abraham consented to Sarah after he heard from God on the same matter. He immediately sent Hagar and her son away. Whenever you hear certain suggestion from men, it is important to know what God is saying about the issue. God loves you so much that He cares about every aspect of your life, including what you think is insignificant. If you can trust Him to provide guidance, He will not disappoint you.
“Nevertheless what says the scripture? Cast out the bond woman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman” (Galatians 4:30). Before you take a step on any matter, ask yourself: What is the scripture saying about this? Know God’s mind about it and conform to His Word. Abraham restituted by sending Hagar and her son packing. But you may want to ask: Why was it that after he restituted over the bondwoman, some years later he married Keturah (Genesis 25:1-6)? It was because God was giving Abraham three repeated examinations like the one He gave him in his country. If God gives you a test and you fail, He will not kill because of that. He will make provision for a resit: but each time you fail an examination, the resit will be tougher. Do you have resits?
A sister was with us while we received teachings on divine healing for several years. Then she became pregnant but midway it was problematic so she went for a caesarean operation. When I went to pray for her in the hospital, I told her she just failed an examination but that a resit would come. Some years later, she became pregnant again. Five months later, she began to bleed profusely. Everyone pressurized her to seek medical help but she refused. She told them it was her resit and that she had resolved to pass it this time. She prayed but the bleeding continued. One night, after her neighbours travelled, she was invited to pray for a sick sister. She went even though she was still bleeding. After praying for the sister, on her way back, she got her healing. Every test you fail leaves you with a tougher resit. It is better to pass a test at first sitting. You can be tested on a wide range of subjects: patience, ability to love, care and pray for those who hate or gang up against you, whether you love God more than anyone or anything else, in giving, etc.

MEMORIZE: GALATIANS 4:30 –Nevertheless what says the scripture? Cast out the bond woman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman.

SACRIFICE ENHANCES FULFILLMENT OF PROMISES

2014-08-05T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: 1 SAMUEL 2:27-30

If a competition of benevolent givers was to be organized, do not be surprised to see unbelievers winning. Whether they do it with the right motive or in order to be seen is not the issue here. Quite a number of unbelievers believe they should touch lives through giving. The late Moshood Abiola was one person who touched the lives of many through giving. Why is that believers want to keep whatever they receive to themselves? It is because they hold a wrong view of giving. They believe that becoming store houses for blessings is the secret to increase. But in God’s view, you must be ready to sacrifice in order to increase.
In Genesis 22:1-18, it was after Abraham was ready to sacrifice Isaac that God spoke from heaven and swore to uphold the promises He earlier made. It is not enough for God to make a promise. After a promise comes a test. God would want to determine your readiness for the fulfillment of the promise. Your response to the test is what determines whether to swear to fulfil the promise earlier made like in the case of Abraham or to withdraw from His commitment like the case of Eli (1 Samuel 2:27-30). The Lord will not reverse His good thoughts, plans and promises towards you in Jesus name. Unlike Abraham, many believers have refused to sacrifice their Isaac. Their Isaac appears too precious to be given to the Lord who gave him to them in the first place. Unknown to them they have, by their refusal to sacrifice, truncated the process of establishing the promises earlier given to them. What is your Isaac today? What is so important to you that can compete with God in your life? Give it up now.
It was when the widow of Zerephath sacrificed her last meal that her last became first in a series of supplies that lasted about two and a half years. Has God made you some promises? Until you die to your flesh and release your Isaac, they may not be fulfilled. If God is not worth your Isaac, you are not worth His promises. The choice is yours. Take that Isaac to the altar and give him up to God. Your Isaac could br a crucial decision, commitment, relationship, ambition, material or financial benefit. It could even be a member of your family.

MEMORIZE: GENESIS 22:12 –And He said, Lay not your hand upon the lad, neither do you any thing to him: for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.

JOY ATTRACTS THE COMFORTER

2014-08-04T08:00:00.000+00:00

READ: MATTHEW 11:7-15

Some 2000 years ago, an angel told Mary that she was going to conceive without losing her virginity. And that it will be possible by the overshadowing presence of the Holy Ghost. Mary got her miracle through the Holy Ghost. Today, we live in the dispensation of the Holy Ghost. All who ever lived before us wished they could live in this era. We are so privileged to live in the era of power – the dispensation of the Holy Ghost. This makes all who came before us inferior to us. Infact, John the Baptist who never performed a single healing and miracle was said to be greater than all the other prophets that ever lived just because he was privileged to witness the coming of the Saviour of the world. Yet Jesus said of all in God’s kingdom, the least is greater than John who was the greatest of Old Testament Saints (Matthew 11:11). I am greatly delighted to be part of this era. What about you?
How are you going to receive your desired miracle? It is through the Holy Spirit. Whenever the Holy Spirit moves, there is always joy. When the Holy Spirit moved over the chaotic state of the earth, a reconstruction process started (Genesis 1:1-5). Today, the Holy Spirit will brood over your life and turn your sorrow into joy; barrenness into fruitfulness; lack into abundance; stagnation into progress in Jesus name. You already have the means into your desired blessing.
How can you move the Holy Spirit? You can do so by rejoicing. Wherever there is joy, the Holy Spirit will move. This is why 1 Thessalonians 5:16 says you should ever rejoice. Are you in some difficulty? Are you facing a serious challenge? Are you afraid of the present flood of problems will drown you? Do you know that if you can rejoice, offer God thanksgiving and praises right from your heart, the Holy Ghost will begin to move? As He moves, your situation will take proper shape. But if you are weeping over the situation you will be exuding sorrow which may keep the Holy Spirit at a distance. Stop weeping. Dry up your tears. Your situation is about to turn for the best. Rejoice. Thank God profusely over past mercies. Worship the Holy Spirit in spirit and sing unto Him a new song. Your tide will turn.

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 11:11 –Verily I say to you, Among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater then John the Baptist; notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.