Empty-Handed

Saturday 31 October
READ: I Cor. 9:16-23
MORE LESSON: Ezek. 3:1-7

There is a song I grew up singing as a young believer in the Deeper Life Christian Ministries. Each time I sang it then, it was always with a passion and a burden. The burden and passion have not left me even now. The song has become a prayer and labour, something I pray about daily and work at. Sing it with me this morning and pray about it: Must I go an empty handed, thus my dear redeemer meet, not one soul with which to greet Him, must I empty handed go.

You know why the song hits me so much each time? It is because of my knowledge of God's great investment upon my life, the price that Jesus paid to save a wretched one like me. It makes me cry to Heaven: Oh Lord, don't let me return back home to You like an ingrate, empty-handed. Only an ingrate or an ignorant person will go to Heaven without a soul in his hand with which to say thank you to Jesus. Think of His sacrifice of putting on humanity although He is God, the humility of subjecting Himself to earthly parents yet the Father of all; the Creator of motion learning to crawl. Imagine Him before Pilate answering framed up charges as an accused. What about the soldiers slapping Him, spitting on Him and mocking Him?

Have you ever thought of Jesus in Gethsemane? He manifested humanity and made a request that could have been positively answered by the Father. However, He tasted denial and although He prayed with sweat coming out like blood, He never got it. All these just to purchase my forgiveness. With all that done for me, I will be wicked to refuse to tell sinners (friends, classmates, relations and neighbours) about life in Christ.

The only proof of appreciation that you and I can give Jesus is not to keep quiet while sinners go to hell. We must tell them, if by any means we shall be able to snatch some back to God and get to Heaven with a gift of souls.

Prayer/Action
*Ask God to forgive all your indifference to soul winning and to give you passion for sinners.
*Tell the Lord you will not go to Heaven empty handed, by His grace.
Set a target of how many souls you will win for the Lord this year and begin to work at it NOW!

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Keeper of Israel, thank You for keeping and preserving my destiny from the wickedness of the day and the night all through this month, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Refuge from the Heat

Friday 30 October
READ: Isa. 4: 2- 6
MORE LESSON: Psa.105:7-15

In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel: Isa.4:2. This exciting verse in today's reading shows God's wonderful plan for all that have escaped the wrath coming upon the unsaved. They have become the branch of the Lord and firmly attached to Jesus Christ the true vine. I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman, every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit: Jn.15:1-2. God has made adequate provision for His children to be beautiful and glorious in this world. Such provision is what Isaiah the prophet clearly expressed in today's reading; that God creates for His people a cloud and smoke for protection. God is protecting you as a branch on the Vine.

In these times that many people's hearts are failing them because of fear of the known and unknown, God has created for the dwelling place (homes) and assemblies( church and other fellowships) of His people a cloud, fire, smoke, cover, and refuge from the heat of the times. He did it for the Israelites when they were journeying from Egypt through the wilderness to Canaan, the promised land. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people: Exo.13:21-22. And for sure the Israelites got to their destination. He who did it for the Israelites will do it for you. Just make sure you are His and you will get to your divinely ordained destination, in Jesus’ name.

What will these elements do for you as you journey in this world? 
1. The cloud of His presence will lead you. The more you fellowship with God daily, the clearer your path will be and you will enjoy divine guidance. 
2. The fire of His Spirit will light your path, destroying all that make themselves your enemies and detaching demonic forces that want to cling to you. Activate this by praying in the Holy Ghost at least 15 minutes daily. 
3. The shadow of His secret place, (Psa.91:1) will be for you a refuge and fortress from evil snares, plagues and pestilences, arrows of the day and the terrors of the night. Activate this by cultivating a regular quiet time/ devotion time that cannot be taken away by being busy with work or school and surely, A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your hand; but it shall not come near you: Psa.91:7.

God's protection is for both day and night; 24/7 He keeps His own. Rest in Him as you go about your work today and throughout the year.

Prayer/Action
* I am a branch firmly attached to the Vine; nothing will harm me, in Jesus’ name.
* Lord, let the shadow of Your presence and glory be a cloud, fire and refuge for me and all my loved ones.
Recite Psa.91 triumphantly and praise God for doing what He says.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
My hope is built on Jesus’ the Solid Rock; I shall not fear tomorrow, in the name of Jesus.

Manual of Life

Thursday 29 October
READ: Jn.5:39-47
MORE LESSON: Mk. 7:13

All religions of the world have one thing in common: a special book considered to be holy and containing instructions for everyday life from a ‘divine deity’. This special book impacts the culture and even determine the entire lifestyle of its devotees, who are required to diligently study and sometimes memorise portions until the words become part and parcel of their lives.

In our text, we see that this is not the same in Christianity, which is not a religion, but the way of life. The pages of the Bible are not given to us to be flipped through as religious requirement for spiritual accreditation by an impossible-to-please deity or anything of that sort. The Bible is carefully scripted and crafted by the inspiration of Almighty God. It is the creator’s manual for effective living. In the Bible are spiritual capsules for living above the circumstances and forces of life. The Bible is God’s given manual for unending victory and success. As an anchor is to a ship, so is the Word of God to our souls. Those who hold on to the Word of God for life are the most successful people alive. And when I make reference to success in life through the Word, I am not referring to material prosperity alone. I’m talking also about a balanced and complete package, full of health, fulfilment, joy and a fire wall of defence round about.

But I have seen a terrible thing under the sun. Wicked men who hate the name of Jesus Christ have selected and adopted principles and doctrines taught in the living book and are succeeding by the same, yet those to whom the Word of God is given have lost its efficacy and power because of their traditions, their ordinary way of thinking, and their logical conclusions drawn from the circumstances around their lives or family beliefs. A good example is the principle of giving as taught by the Scripture. In fact, sometime ago, ten of the richest men alive, most of who were unbelievers, met one day and decided that they would spend half of their wealth on orphans, widows and the needy because they realised one secret of wealth they all shared in common: the act of giving.

More than two-third of all the parables our Lord Jesus teaches in the Synoptic Gospels are on finances and giving. We cannot afford to just read the book; we must also live by the Book!

Prayer/Action
* Pray that your life will focus on God’s Word on living and directive.
* Pray that you will handle every circumstance of your life by the Word alone.
* Promise God that from today, you will live by His principles in everything.
* Declare that the principles of God’s Word will never fail you.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall finish 2015 well and strong, nothing missing, nothing lost, in the name of Jesus.

True Disciples II

Wednesday 28 October
READ: Lk. 9:23-26
MORE LESSON: Matt. 10:1-4

It is a great thing to witness the mass conversion of souls in our generation through great evangelistic campaigns, crusades, outreaches, church services and personal evangelism. Nothing can be better than registering souls in the Kingdom of God.
To be converted from a sinner to a saint is a worthy thing. However, the divine plan of God is for disciples to be made of such converts. Only disciples can truly represent their Master because they are touched and groomed by Him. Jesus our Lord had many converts in His earthly ministry. Remember, He was a crowd puller; He went about doing good, healing the sick and setting free all that were oppressed of the devil. Multitudes were always coming to Him because He met their spiritual and physical needs. However, each time He went to the mountain or crossed the sea to the other side, only His disciples came to Him,
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him; Matt 5:1.

Each time He came down from the 
mountain, converts (multitudes) followed Him, 
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him: Matt. 8:1.
Multitudes followed Jesus for what they stood to gain while disciples were always with Him for what they could offer Him in service, 
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me: 
Lk 9:23.

Discipleship is costly because they must learn to constantly deny themselves (even of rightful pleasure), take up the cross (to suffer for the Lord, if and when necessary) and follow Him daily (no alternative whatever the case, they focus on Him daily). Certainly, ordinary converts will not endure all these. 
God wants you to move to the next level in your Christian life. Be a disciple indeed and not just a convert. Make up your mind to be a disciple today and disciple others thereafter.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you pay the price of being a disciple.
*Ask God to promote all converts in JAWOM to the level of a disciple.
--Take a decision today not to be an idle bench warmer in your local assembly. Specifically decide which department you will join before your next fellowship day.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
The Lord God shall be my sun and shield, therefore I shall have grace and glory and no good thing will be withheld from me in 2015, in the name of Jesus.

True Disciples I

Tuesday 27 October
READ: Jn. 1:34-42
MORE LESSON: Acts 17:10-11

Words are powerful. In the beginning God spoke and the world and its fullness came into being. Even among humans, the spoken words and the written letters form the basis of all civilisation. Imagine the pronouncement of a blessing or a curse; the vehicle for both is the word. Words also are foundations of good or bad things. This also applies to the spiritual. Jesus says, …the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life: Jn. 6:63. No other word has the potency for the fullness of life like the Word of God.

In our text today, John the Baptist spoke the word and his two disciples followed Jesus forever. The spoken word of their discipler or pastor made them enter into Christ’s school of discipleship. No wonder they stayed with Jesus unto death. True disciples cannot live without the Word of God; they follow the Word everywhere, everyday; their lives are anchored on the Word; they are constantly with the Word.

The Word affects their character and manner of life and the impact is visible to all. No wonder the believers in the early Church were quite different. The Word was their daily companion, 
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same 
day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers... Acts 2:41-42.

Are you a minister of the Gospel and wondering why you are not very successful in making disciples for Jesus? Speak the Word like John. Are you a Christian wondering why you cannot be like the disciples of old? Stay with and live by the Word like they did and you will see the difference. Everything is hidden in the Word, so discover by the Word and recover by the Word!

A true disciple lives on and dies in the Word, never distracted by anything out of the Word. Even when the apostles had crises, they insisted on staying with the Word instead of looking for an alternative, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables: Acts 6:2. In verse 4, they said, But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. That is the mark of a true disciple of Jesus. Does your Word level prove you as a true disciple of the cross? How many chapters of the Bible do you read per day, how many scriptures can you commit to memory per day; have you updated your memory verse of recent?

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to make you a disciple whose life is ruled by the Word.
* Command everything that has taken the place of the Word in your life to leave now.
--Take a decision to learn at least one verse of the Scripture per day and read a minimum of a chapter of the Bible per day.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
In the day of my battle, my sun shall not go down, and all creation will join hands together for my victory always, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Planted by the Rivers

Monday 26 October
READ: Psa 1: 1 - 3
MORE LESSON: Matt. 13: 3 - 9

You can break all limits and boundaries that have been set over your life. You can prevail in life irrespective of your background and become prosperous in life. God can do it for you like He did for me. My father had a statement he used to describe his rise in life as a seed that grew up on a rock. He was actually saying that to encourage us to work hard. He told us how he had no parents to sponsor him when he was growing up and how he had to labour as he grew up under hard and tight conditions. He would then encourage us that since we had little help from parents we should work hard to maximize it. As good as that line of reasoning sounds, each time he said it, I felt discouraged in my spirit instead of being encouraged to work as he intended. I would become sad on hearing it, wondering how I would fare in life.

When I got born again and I began studying the word of God, I read the parable of the sower and saw what a seed that grows up on a rock is. The Bible records about the seed that grew up on a rock that it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root (Matt 13:5-6 NIV). A seed that grows up on a rock doesn't have soil to support it. It doesn't have deep roots; so it gets scorched, dries up and dies soon. When I got this revelation, I closed the Bible I was reading, put it aside and immediately started praying. I said to myself, I bind every spirit of a seed that grows up on rocky places in my life. I rejected that mindset and began declaring that I didn't rise from a rock. Later as I was reading the Bible, I saw the kind of soil I should grow up from. I discovered that I ought to be a seed that is planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper (Psa. 1:3).

I began to declare this passage over my life. I spoke it forth into my past, present and future. I declared it till everything changed. God changed my story and the rest is glory. Today, the Lord will shift you from a seed planted on a rock to a seed planted by rivers of waters. Whatever struggle you are going through as a result of your background comes to an end today. You are planted by the rivers of water to bring forth fruit in season. Your leaves shall not wither and whatever you do shall prosper. That is your portion in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Command every Satanic limit placed over your life to be terminated now in the name of Jesus.
* Lay your hands on your head and command every dry land and wrong placement in your life to be changed now in the name of Jesus.
Take Psalm 1:1-3 and declare it on your destiny now.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
As the covenant of the day and the sun cannot be altered, so is the covenant of goodness and peace over my life.Nothing shall break it, in the name of Jesus.

From Prophecy to Reality

Sunday 25 October
READ: Gen. 12: 1-3
MORE LESSON: Rom 4: 17 - 22

God is a God of promises and it is in the nature of God to fulfil every promise He made. The Bible is replete with stories of men that God gave prophecies of blessings e.g Abraham who waited for years but God didn't fail him. The prophecy over his life became a reality. For the prophecies that God has given you to be fulfilled as well, there are some things that must be in place. The first is that you must be holding to an established prophetic word from the Lord. There must be something definite that the Lord has said. He doesn't perform the assumptions of men or the ambitions of your heart. You don't hold Him to ransom when He didn't say a thing. Make sure the word you are holding to is the word of the Lord.

That being in place, there are other things to do for God's prophetic word to come to reality in your life. 
1. Remind God of His prophecies concerning you. You do this by prayers and constant confession of faith. 
2. There are certain results that cannot come except by fasting and prayer. (Mark 9: 27). Fasting cannot bribe God but it can speed up the fulfilment of your prophecies. Great men have had great victory in life by the force of fasting and prayer;Even Jesus did not start ministry until He had fasted and prayed for 40days and 40 nights.

3. Faith in God: This is the most essential ingredient in having the promises and prophecies of God come to pass in your life. 2 Chron. 20:20 says, Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established . . . . For by faith that the elders received good report: Heb. 11:2
4. Live a consistent life of holiness. A sinner cannot receive a fulfilled prophecy. If God promised you and you don't fulfil the condition of righteousness you can't get it. Ps. 66:18 says If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. 
5. Sustain a life of service while you wait for the prophecy to become a reality. Remember Zachariah in Luke 1:8, he was waiting for a child but he didn't fold his hands, it was while he was serving that an angel came and informed him that God had heard him. Active service can provoke God to bring His word to pass upon you.

6. Give praise to God before, during and after the prophecy. Whether the prophecy has happened or not give Him praise. Abraham was giving praise to God even when Isaac had not been born. (Rom 4: 20). He gave glory to God till the prophecy became a reality.
It is your turn to experience the performance of all the promises God made to you. The prophecies over your life will become reality in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Proclaim that every promise of God upon your life shall run to fulfilment in the name of Jesus.
* Command every force of performance to come upon God’s Word for your life.
* Decree that no Word of God upon your life will fall to the ground.
Ask God for grace not to faint in times of waiting.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I am not in 2015 as a spectator; this year will not end without my testimony, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Fulfilling Prophecy

Saturday 24 October
READ: Gen. 12: 1-3
MORE LESSON: Psa. 89:34-37

God gave a prophecy to Abram that he would become a father of many nations. (Gen. 12: 1 – 3). The word of the Lord came to Abram directly and God fulfilled it in his life and in his seed after him. Daniel was another person that experienced the fulfilment of prophecy in his life. God told Israel that they would spend 70 years in exile, after which they will be free. Daniel discovered this in the scripture and he stood on it unto reality. (Dan 9: 2). Daniel read in scriptures a prophecy that was not given directly to him but to Jeremiah, he picked up the word from scriptures and prayed it until it manifested.

A word of prophecy came to these two people in two different ways and both were equally potent. God can speak directly to you or you can hold to the word of God which is full of prophecies for every good prophecy in the word of God is for you. When you hold persistently to what God said to you – either directly or through the scripture, no matter what the devil says or does, you will experience the fulfilment of that prophecy and your problems will be changed to testimonies.

As a young believer, one day I was doing some chores in the house and singing in the spirit; suddenly I spoke out, My name is David and then I spoke some other things about myself that would also come to pass later in my life. The baptismal name my father gave me was not David but as I was singing that day, I spoke a few things about the vision of what God would have me do later in life and bearing the name David was part of it. My Dad was a very strict disciplinarian, so I had to compose myself very well to tell him what I thought would more or less sound to him like I didn't want the name he gave me anymore and I wanted my name changed to David. But having heard God very clear, I was bold about it.

So I walked to my dad and said Daddy, my name is David. He stood for a few minutes looking at my face and I stood there imagining what will happen ready to run quickly if need be. Contrary to my expectation, he said, ok, David, you will be David; he confirmed it. That name and all the things I spoke out that day are finding expression in my life today. That was a personal word I received directly from the Lord. For you, it might be discovered from scriptures. However it comes, I want you to hold to God's prophetic promises over your life and they will come to pass. God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? Num. 23:19.

Prayer/Action
* Rise up and begin to announce God’s covenants and promise over your life and decree them into reality, in Jesus’ name.
* Tell the Lord, you believe His Word over your life and that you will wait on him till performance. 
* Give God praise for being a faithful God ever!

PROPHETIC PRAYER
At sunrise today, there shall be help for me and at sunset I will be celebrating, in the name of Jesus.

Reminding God of His Promises

Friday 23 October
READ: Isa. 43: 26
MORE LESSON: Gen 32: 22 - 31

In obtaining God's promises, there is the place of reminding God a promise He made to you so as to get it fulfilled. Isaiah 43: 26. Some people sometimes think that once God has spoken a promise or prophecy to them, He will do it whether they pray about it or not. I want to submit to you today that you need to go back to God and remind Him what He said concerning you. It is not that God is forgetful, but just your reminding Him shows that you are relying totally on Him. In Exodus 2: 24, the Bible said concerning the children of Israel who were in slavery in Egypt that So God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. God promised Abraham that his descendants would go into slavery and He would later bring them out. (Gen 15: 13 – 14). But the descendants remained in slavery until they cried to God in prayers and when their cry came up to God by the reason of their bondage, He remembered that it was time to set them free. He knew all along, He was waiting for them to pray.

Prayer is the way to remind God of His promises for us. Personal prayer is very necessary to hold on to God to fulfil His promises over our life. Jacob held to God when he saw that the blessing he received by deceit was not working well in his life, so he held to God that the covenant must speak for him. Jacob came to a point where he realised that it was either God intervened and fulfilled His word over him or he would die. So he sent his wife and children ahead and stayed alone with God without distraction. God blessed him again and his life took a new turn. (Gen 32: 22 – 31).

That encounter Jacob had with God is a type of personal specialised prayer. I always tell people that as good as congregational prayer is, it is not enough to take delivery of all the promises that God has for you. Take time personally, enter into your closet and begin to remind God all that He promised you. It is also good to have a prayer partner with whom you agree and settle issues with God. (Matt 18: 19). Today, stay with God and bring your casue before Him, remind Him of all His exceeding great promises that He made to you through His spoken word and through the written word. As you remind God His word, you will see speedy performance.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to remember your destiny as He remembered Israel in Egypt and rose up to change their situation.
* Ask God for grace to be able to stand fast in the place of prayer until God remembers you like He remembered Hannah.
* Ask God for speedy performance of His promises over your life. 
* Rebuke every road block on the path way of the fulfilment of your destiny.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
By the blood of Jesus, I renounce and revoke the claims of evil family idols and altars over my life today, in the name of Jesus.

The Best Gift of All

Thursday 22 October
READ: Heb.1:1-8
MORE LESSON: Phil.2:9-10

God loves to relate and speak with people. The scripture for today expressly declares to us that God speaks. Several people in the world think that God is so impersonal and distant from man that He does not speak. Far from it, God has been speaking and will continue to speak to man in all ages. God speaks to all without bias of race, color, tribe, status or class.

The only condition for enjoying the communion of closeness with God is to have the Son. God speaks to us by His Son (Heb.1:2); He has made His Son the fullness of all things. Jesus Christ is the full package of God's gift to mankind. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ: Rom.5:17. To reign in life, you must have Jesus and allow Him to live and reign in you. A man that has the fullness of Christ will have the fullness of life.

To enjoy God's best gift you have to use the name of Jesus. The key to accessing the good gifts God has provided for His children is using the name of Jesus. And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it: Jn.14:13-14.

God has completely authorized that everything must respond to Jesus’ name. Such things that must respond include: 
1. The heavens and the earth (Deut.32:1). These have ears to hear and will respond. 
2. Stones and other created things will respond to the name. (Josh.24:27 Psa.29:1-3). 
3. Nations and people will hear and respond to the name (Isa.34:1). Call that rebellious member of your family that has refused to respond to the caution of the elders. Start calling him to respond to the name of Jesus and a change will happen.

Those long standing requests and prayers will respond to the voice of the LORD that is powerful, full of majesty, breaking the cedars of Lebanon and dividing the flames of fire. Arise and use the best that God has given you to access your victory.

Prayer/Action
* Sing a song to exalt the excellent name of Jesus.
* Ask that by the reason of that name every contradiction must submit to you today, in Jesus’ name.
* Declare your victory by the power in the name of Jesus.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Let the blood of Jesus flow in my life and blot out all ungodly inheritance, in the name of Jesus.

Beyond Wishful Thinking

Wednesday 21 October
READ: Prov 13: 1-11
MORE LESSON: Matt. 25:26-30

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat: Prov.13: 4. This is true in the physical realm. The farmer who wants to harvest corn must first plow the field and plant the seed. A lazy person aims at nothing and usually hits nothing. Just desiring a good harvest will not produce the results. Wishing you know your Bible better or that you are able to read it through from Genesis to Revelation, without actually doing it, will not give a working knowledge of the Bible; you must study and research the Bible. Similarly, wishing you had a better prayer life will not make it happen; you must take time to pray.

It is those who take time and pain to labour that will have a good harvest. Laziness and wishful thinking without action leads to poverty, waste and loss of all things (Prov. 6: 9-11, Prov 18: 9, Matt 25: 26-30). Moreover, if a man will have all that his soul desires, He must have something he is gainfully doing (Neh 6: 3). A man who desires a good harvest must invest his time wisely and be prompt (Eph 5: 11). Work day and night; there is no law against working in the night, especially if that is the most suitable time for you (1 Thes 2: 9).

A man who desires great profit or income must be trained in his chosen field: ...Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways...: Prov. 6:6-8. Putting into practice all lessons a man learns whether from man, animal or inanimate things is profitable.
The Bible also commanded “no work, no eat” (2 Thes 3: 10-12). And as you get yourself involved in profitable righteous endeavours, you can be sure of God's blessing.

Prayer/Action
* I break off the yoke of laziness and procrastination from my life, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* I receive grace to labour profitably with abundant harvest in Jesus’ mighty name.
* I receive the abundant prosperity and blessing instead of poverty and lack, in Jesus’ mighty name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Right now, I command the bondage activators in my life to burn and perish, in the name of Jesus.

Integrity Counts

Tuesday 20 October
READ: Dan. 6:1-5
MORE LESSON: Job 27:3-6

But they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him: v 4. This was the testimony of Daniel, in a strange land where he was one of the captives; the enemy found no occasion to accuse him. He shared the same testimony with Jesus about whom the Bible testified as follows; for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me: Jn. 14:31. We are Jesus’ people and must bear His testimony as Daniel did. The Bible calls us the light of the world and if so, we must live a blameless life without spot or wrinkle.

What do people say about you as a Christian? If it is less than that of Daniel, then you have to work more! Integrity and uprightness are two pillars necessary for successful living (Psa. 25:21). Many believers’ lives are held down because of awkward lifestyles, unjust gains, falsehood, stealing, backbiting and all forms of disobedience. Lack of integrity makes the way very slippery. To be a person of integrity is to embrace honesty in words, actions and intentions; it is to make promises and pay the price to fulfil them.

Any life built on dishonesty always ends in loss and shame, For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up: Hosea 8:7. Lives and futures built on forged certificates and other frauds cannot be glorious. There are marks of integrity all of which must be found in your life :

1. Moral uprightness: Gen.20:3-10.

2. Unselfish service to God and man. And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them: Num 16:15.

3. Performing your vows and promises: Jer.35:12-19.

4. Rejecting brides of all forms: And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, ...: Acts 8:18-23.

5. Honest behaviour: Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man: 2Cor.7:2.

Job’s wife asked him a question that all of us must regularly ask ourselves; ...Dost thou still retain thine integrity? ...: Job 2:9. God, godly people and even unbelievers expect you to retain your integrity in all things. And until then you are still a struggling Christian.

Prayer/Action
* Father, release on me the spirit of truth, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* I receive grace to be honest in actions and intentions, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* I will retain my integrity in all things, in Jesus’ mighty name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Shepherd of my soul, I give You full control, lead me besides still waters,and take me to green pastures, in the name of Jesus.

On Mission for God

Monday 19 October
READ: Psa. 105: 16-22
MORE LESSON: Gen. 37:13-14, 23-27

If God sent you to do something significant for Him, how would you expect to be treated? How would you expect to feel? Our first step along the pathway of serving God may feel like the end of the our hopes and dreams. Jesus was going to throw in the towel because of rough handlings and maltreatment. But praise God He allowed the sovereign will of the Father to prevail. He prayed and received strength to go on even though it was very difficult. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done: Lk. 22:41-42.

Most times, God's beginning for His servants often bear little resemblance to the endings He has in mind. But it is sure that if God has given you a difficult mission, He will sustain you until you reach the end He has in mind. The story of Joseph in our text today is a great encouragement, especially when God's dealings with us seem impossible to understand, He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Psa. 105:17-18. It took going into slavery and prison for Joseph to be able to fulfil God's mission for him.

This implies that being sent by God may begin with pain and loss; it could involve injustice or being penalized for being truthful and refusing to compromise. It may also hurt as much as Joseph's leg in iron and being imprisoned. But definitely it will end in commendations and good reward at the end. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord: Matt. 25: 23.

Dearly beloved, whatever your mission here is, and no matter how difficult and risky it seems, all God requires from you is faithfulness. It is being faithful to the one who called you and to the assignment you are given that gets you a welcome and well done at the end. You can be rest assured that the God who sent you will sustain you. So, keep working!

Prayer/Action
* Lord Jesus, You who helped Joseph to fulfil his destiny, help me also today, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* I receive the grace to preserve and continue steadfastly in what I am given to do, no matter the opposition, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Father, help me to be faithful to the end, in Jesus’ mighty name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
As the Lord lives, I shall fulfil my days, and shall not be cut off. They that attempt my life shall die in my stead, in the name of Jesus.

Contend for your Destiny

Sunday 18 October
READ: Num. 27:1-7
MORE LESSON: Jude 1:3

There is a man in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital, who when the government came to demolish his house said, I built this house with my pension and it is everything I have at seventy. I invested into this house. This is everything I have worked for all my life. If you want to demolish this, I'm not stopping you but I am inside; demolish me with the house so that after the demolition, I won't be around to feel the pain. The authorities had demolished several big houses but for this man's small house, they negotiated and paid him his money. He was able to salvage some of the building materials. He was better off because he contended for his house.

The reason why the enemy is still planting in your life is because your Christianity lacks the power of contention for ownership. You don't contend for what is yours otherwise why the gradual encroachment into your destiny and you stand as a spectator saying, 'It is well.' In fact, sometimes some believers say, 'May be it is the Lord's will'. But it is not the Lord's will for you as a human being to be swimming in your dream. You need to talk to your business that it will not collapse. Whatever it takes, by fasting, by prayer or by hunger, if you have to reduce the food you eat so that you can plunge back the profit into the business, if it will take going back to learn from others, do everything you need to do. That is contending for ownership. I hear testimonies of what is happening to other believers. It is okay for them to accommodate oppression, but it is not okay with me.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints: Jude1:3. When it comes to my matter I know who I am; I know what belongs to me. And I will not allow satanic encroachment one inch. Don’t allow the enemy to plant trees in your life so that you will not be looking for how to uproot them. In medicine, prevention is better than cure. That is to say that dealing with mosquitoes is cheaper than going to buy anti-malaria drugs.

Like the Zelophehad daughters, take your case before the Judge of all flesh and you will have as much inheritance as you deserve.

Prayer/Action
* My life is a no go area for the devil as from today, in Jesus’ name.
* Oh Lord, hedge my life round about with Your presence, let not the enemy have access to it any longer, in Jesus’ name.
Plead the blood of Jesus 21 times over your entire destiny before noon today.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall operate under an open heaven today, and I shall be unstoppable, in the mighty name of Jesus.

The Help that You Need

Saturday 17 October
READ: 1 Chron. 12 : 22
MORE LESSON: Gen 2: 20 - 22

Every man needs help and it is God's desire to give help to man. In fact, help is God's idea; in the beginning it wasn't man that realised his need for help, it was God that identified man's need for help and gave him the help that he needed. There are various ways by which God gives help to a man. The first help that God can give you is to give Himself to you. This is expressed in Ps 121: 2, My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. When you have God, you have help because He is the source of all help. The next help that God gives man is other men. God gave Eve to Adam as the help that he needed. The man needed the woman and the woman needed the man. So by a single act, God helped them both by giving them to each other. The man who hitherto had been lonely began to enjoy company and the woman also began to enjoy the joy of sharing. So everyone needs somebody. A man can be blessed and lonely, a man can be rich and without genuine friends and relationships. Such a man needs the blessing of true relationship with people who have sincere interest in him. It is only God that gives a man that kind of relationship. So today you need help no matter who you are or what you have and the help you need is first God and then, people. God will fill every gap in your life today, in Jesus’ name.

David also got help from God and from men. In 1 Chronicles 12:22, it is recorded that day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God: 1 Chron. 12:22 (NIV). God sent men to David to help him on a daily basis. That means a minimum of 365 helps in a year; he could have two or more help per day but there was no day that nobody came to help him. No wonder his army was as mighty as the host of Heaven; when God sends men to help you, you become a phenomenon.

I pray that God will add help to your blessing. Whether financial, material, marital or academic; whatever you need to be added to the blessings that you have already will be given to you by the help of God. Whatever has been a source of secret pain for you will be removed by the help of God. When men are commanded by God to help you, they help you both in their convenience and inconvenience. From today you will be helped by God and man, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to fill every gap and vacuum of your life by His divine help.
* Ask God to speedily intervene in every area of your life that needs help, which you are ignorant of.
* Ask God for daily help until you see Jesus.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I declare God’s Word over my life: the sun shall not smite me by day nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve my life now and forever more, in the name of Jesus.

Grace to be Helped

Friday 16 October
READ: Rom 9: 10 - 16
MORE LESSON: Heb. 4: 16

The Bible says in Prov. 22:2, The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all. If the rich and the poor are made by the same Creator and they both come into the world without anything in their hands, then what later differentiates them? The answer to that question is 'help'. The difference between a rich man and a poor man is help. One comes into the world and enjoys help, the other lacks help.

It is help that takes a man to the place of wealth, greatness and influence. It is comforting to know however that the opportunity to ask for help is available to all men, including you. This can be understood from the Bible, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need: Heb 4:16.

When a man finds grace, he is helped in his time of need. It is grace that qualifies a man for help as no man can qualify for God's help by his own work; it is an act of His mercy and grace. That is the reason why He says, . . . I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy: Rom 9:15-16. When the mercy of God locates you, you become a beneficiary of His help. A good prayer to pray each day is, Lord let me find grace and be helped today. When you see God helping another man, don't get jealous, just ask for your own help from Him. I declare that you shall be helped, in the mighty name of Jesus.

It was the grace of God that Jacob found even before he was born. Esau and Jacob were still in Rebecca's womb and had not done anything right or wrong when God said, . . . and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger: Gen 25:23. God also said, Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated . . .: Mal. 1: 1 – 3. Jacob was the cunning man that always found a way of tact against people; he married two daughters from the same man and then joined two maids from that same house to his collection. What can qualify a man like Jacob for help to become one of the Patriarchs of the covenant of God? It is only because he found grace with God and so God helped him. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called; it doesn't matter your weakness and imperfection, you will be helped when God's grace locates you. Pray that you will enjoy grace to be helped from cradle to the grave, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for the help that overlooks weaknesses.
* Pray for the help that changes a man’s life tangibly.
* Ask God for mercy, grace and help for the day of need.
* Plead for help that makes destiny easy.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
The shout of the King is in my tabernacle; I shall not see defeat or shame this month, in the name of Jesus.

Exceptional Help

Thursday 15 October
READ: Jn.5:1-15
MORE LESSON: Mark 9:17-27

Exceptional help refers to God reaching out to do what is beyond man’s ability. It is God doing beyond your limits, that is God by-passing your limitations to help you. In the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda, there were a lot of helpless and impotent people who waited for angelic visitation to stir the pool, and the first man to jump in got healed. Jesus came around one day and singled out a man for exceptional help. This man had been sick for 38 years and every attempt to jump into the pool ahead of others proved abortive until Jesus passed his way and gave him exceptional help. Jesus by-passed his limitation and reached out to him. The man was still struggling to explain why he was still sick and down, but Jesus just interrupted and asked him whether he wanted to be made whole. Then He told the man to take up his bed and walk, and immediately the man was made whole.

God can still do the same in your life. He will by-pass your limitations and struggles and give you help that will baffle others. Exceptional help does not only deal with acquiring material things; it also deals with the intangible issues such as demonic dirt that stick on to one. In Mark 1:21-26 there was a man who attended meetings at the synagogue yet an unclean spirit was troubling him. One day he sat down, clothed and looking good but under the control of an unclean spirit, and suddenly exceptional help came his way. As Jesus was speaking the Word with authority, the unclean spirit cried out and was cast out that same day. The man went home light, having received exceptional help from the Lord.

Concerning whatever is troubling you which cannot be seen on your face, but is a nuisance to your life, I declare you a candidate of exceptional help today. Jesus will reach out to you and deal with every parasite that has stuck to you and is draining your goodness.

To enjoy exceptional help, you must do the following things:

i. Position yourself for the touch of God in the same way the two people cited above positioned themselves where Jesus could reach out to them. Cease from hiding from church meetings and complaining; arise and go to where He will be able to reach out to you.

ii. Focus on Jesus as the giver of exceptional help and stop saying, “I have no man”. Human connection or not, God will lift you up by His exceptional help.

Exceptional help is also the “kindness of God” to a helpless man as seen from Mephibosheth’s experience in II Sam.9:3. By exceptional help he got back lost wealth in the same way the widow and her sons in II kings 4:1 cleared her debt.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, I am a candidate for exceptional help today; reach out to me Father as I look up to You .
* I position myself for the help from the Lord today and I will not miss it.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
The blood of Jesus speaks for me today, so every evil must pass over me, in the name of Jesus.

Close the Book II

14 October
READ: Luke 13: 10 – 17
MORE LESSON: Matt 15: 13

In the text of today, we see a very popular story in scriptures. Jesus entered into the synagogue one day and He saw a woman who was bent over by infirmity. This woman had been coming to the temple for 18 years with a disability which was as obvious as an open book to be read by everyone. That lady was like a visible story that everyone, young and old could read. She didn't need any introduction the moment she entered into the synagogue. Everybody read her like a book. She was a story of infirmity open and clear for everyone to read. For eighteen years everyone knew her story and talked about it. Some used it to describe her and others gave her a name out of her life-story. It is disheartening that people read her story and probably told it to others but none helped her out of it.

Jesus said in Matt 15:13, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. So when He entered into the synagogue that fateful day and saw a story that God did not write been read about a daughter of Abraham, He closed the book on it. He didn't hesitate to let the people know that it wasn't God but Satan who authored that evil story of infirmity about that woman. He also didn't hesitate to close the book. He put it this way: So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound — think of it — for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath? Luke 13:16 (NKJV).

I want you to know that the painful story that is been told about you is not authored by God but by Satan and you ought to have that book closed. Jesus' ministry is to destroy the works of the devil anywhere He sees them manifest. (1 John 3: 8). So today I declare in the name of Jesus that the book of sadness and infirmity being read about you is hereby forever closed. That story of pain concerning you, no matter how, why and where it was written is hereby terminated today in Jesus’ name. From today your story is changed and no man will tell that story of the past about you anymore.

Prayer/Action
* Uproot every tree that the Father has not planted against you now by fire.
* Decree every book of sorrow and sadness written by witches and wizards over you outlawed.
* Set on fire every evil record and proposal of the evil ones about you now in the name of Jesus.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
The snare is broken, I am a victor not a victim, and my tomorrow is guaranteed, in Jesus’ name.

Close the Book I

Tuesday 13 October
READ: Luke 4: 16 – 20
MORE LESSON: Isa. 61: 1 - 2

There is an interesting lesson that can be learnt from a deep study of the main text for today. The story in this scripture is about Jesus coming to the synagogue in Nazareth, His hometown. He read the scripture from the book of Isa. 61:1-2. However, taking a good look at the book of Isaiah 61: 1- 2, which Jesus was reading from in Luke 4: 16, shows us that Jesus didn't read all the portions of that scripture before he stopped and closed the book. The important point I am making today is that Jesus in the book of Lk.4:16–20, which is in the New Testament, was reading an Old Testament scripture which is Isaiah 61: 1 -2, but He stopped halfway and then closed the Book and handed it back to the book-keeper to the amazement of everyone. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him: Luke 4:20 (NKJV). Why did Jesus close the book without finishing the reading? An understanding of the principle behind what Jesus did here holds a great mystery that you can apply for victory in every area of your life.

When we do a comparative study of Jesus' reading in Luke 4: 16 – 20 and the original scripture in Isaiah 61: 1 -2, we will realize that Jesus read everything in that scripture until He got to the portion in Isaiah that reads, ...and the day of vengeance of our God: Isa. 61: 2. He stopped and closed the book without reading this portion. A good theological understanding of this scripture makes us know that at the time Jesus was reading that scripture, He had come to do all that was written in the scripture i.e. to preach the good news , heal the sick, bind the broken hearted, set the captives and the prisoners free but He had not yet come to declare the day of vengeance of God. This is reserved for the time of His second coming. So the reason Jesus stopped reading and closed the Book that day is because the next portion of scripture was incompatible with His destiny as at that time. Jesus knew His purpose and destiny and as He was reading the Book, He got to a point that was no longer in conformity with His destiny and He closed the Book without apologizing to anyone. He did not only do that, He handed the Book back to them. That takes a level of maturity and radical mindset. Jesus would not allow anything that is not compatible with His destiny to be imposed on Him.

Today whatever is happening to you and is not in conformity with your destiny, like Jesus did, you have the right to close the book. Whatever adverse situation has been imposed on you spiritually, financially, relationally (except for married relationship) or financially, if those situations are not compatible with your destiny, end it today. Use your mouth and unapologetically close that book forever.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to connect you with the book that carries the assignment of your life and empower you to fulfil it.
* Command every handwriting that is against you to be shut down today in the name of Jesus.
* Prophesy against every evil proposal on our destiny closed.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I am blessed beyond a curse, and I am going beyond limits this month, in the name of Jesus.

Warfare is Ended

Monday 12 October
READ: Isa.40:1-5
MORE LESSON: Zech 4:4-10

God does not delight in the downfall and death of men. He is compassionate, and considerate. Even when men err and stray away, He still reaches out to them. This is why God will not excuse suicide because there is no hopelessness in God. Even when your are at your lowest ebb, God is still interested in your getting back on track and winning the race of life. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will He keep his anger forever”:Psa.103:8-9.

What is keeping you down and discouraged? The Lord speaks comfort to your heart today; receive the comfort of the Lord according to our Bible reading for the day. Your iniquity for which your heart smites you and over which Satan torments you is pardoned, says the LORD. That pain and loss you have been passing through because you fell out with the Lord comes to an end today! Receive the comfort of the Lord, in Jesus’ name.

The Lord will have mercy and will not keep anger forever. Just repent of whatever you've been doing that brings a weight of guilt on you and get back into your love relationship with the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Your warfare is accomplished; from henceforth you will no longer labour without results. Your labour will begin to yield results. The following will happen when your warfare ends and God brings comfort into your life.

1. An end comes to waste and losses; every valley becomes exalted. Where there have been losses, you will begin to get gains.

2. Roadblocks will be removed and breakthroughs will follow. This is your portion as you step out today.

3. That which has been rough will become smooth and easy.

4. Because God has brought comfort to you, His glory will be revealed in your life and it will manifest for all around you to see. An end has come to obscurity in your life. Rise on your feet and declare this: “There is an end to warfare in my life; I enter rest!”

Prayer/Action
* There is an end to warfare in my life and I enter rest because my sins are pardoned.
* My labour will yield results; no more losses nor wastage in my destiny.
* Every roadblock is removed from my path and I enter breakthrough, in Jesus’ name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
All my days, weeks and months in 2015 are blessed, fruitful and loaded.

Be on the Offensive with the Devil

Sunday 11 October
READ: Prov. 28: 1
MORE LESSON: Jam. 4: 7

The Bible says, the wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion: Prov. 28:1(NKJV). You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus ( 2 Cor. 5: 21) and the devil is that wicked one (Matt 13: 38). So you should be the one standing boldly while the devil should be the one fleeing. Many believers run around because of the devil, which is a situation that contravenes scriptures. You are not to play a defensive game against the devil; get offensive while he runs around trying to defend himself from you.

The following are ways to get on the offensive against the devil:

1. Use the force of prayer. A man of fervent prayers will always put the devil on the run but a prayerless Christian is prey for the devil. Resist the devil steadfastly in the place of strong prayers; and get your victory.

2. Take steps of faith. Faith is your victory weapon over the world and the devil. (1 John 5:4 ). Don't stay in one place cowering in fear; take giant steps that will put the devil on the run. Act on the Word and do things that will challenge and silence the devil. Show him by your actions that you are seated in heavenly places in Christ, far above him.

3. Make prophetic utterances. The place of making declarations in putting the devil to run cannot be overemphasized . Intimidate the devil by making mighty confessions and declarations that are based on the Word of God. No matter what happens, never allow the devil to have the final say in any matter concerning you. As soon as the devil says one word, reply him with three, which must be backed by scriptures.

4. Live your life rebuking fear and discouragement. Fear is the devil's weapons, do not allow it in your heart. As soon as you sense fear coming into your heart, rebuke it in Jesus’ name.

5. Don't ever meditate on a negative word. When the devil sees that he cannot find an entrance into your heart, he looks for a negative word or thought to use as an entry point. This word or thought can be introduced by a person, media, or any other source. When such a thought comes, you have to erase it from your mind immediately and refocus your heart to meditate on the Word of God (Phil. 4: 8).

6. Don't rebel against God: make sure your life is in the will of God and that you are in submission to Him at all times. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you: James 4:7. Rebellion and disobedience will give the devil a legal foothold on a man's life. When you are totally yielded to God, you put the devil on the run.

Have a victory filled day!

Prayer/Action
* Command Satan to loose his hold over you right now, in the name of Jesus.
* Command every arrow of fear shot at you to go back to sender, in the name of Jesus.
* Plead the blood of Jesus over your spirit, soul and body now.
* Say, “Satan, get lost; I am seated far above you in Christ Jesus”.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I am redeemed, never to be a slave of sin anymore, and my eternity is sure with God, in the name of Jesus.

The mighty One IV

Saturday 10 October
READ: Judg. 6:14-16
MORE LESSON: Job 8:7

Mighty men are known by the kind of vision they have. In our study of Gideon and his dialogue with the angel, I discovered that he was a man of vision with a purpose in his life. When he asked why things were happening to Israel contrary to the stories they were told by their fathers, he was bringing forth a vision and purpose of how things should be for his people. He was in a way saying that things ought not to be the way they were. Gideon seemed to be saying, “We ought to be enjoying here with the Medianites under us and not the other way round. The plan of God for us is that every nation should be under Israel, not Israel serving as slaves to any nation”. That was the vision the angel saw when he concluded that Gideon was a mighty man. A visionary man has a clear understanding of what the future should be.

Why don't you ask God about a life that is full of vision, a life that is teachable, submissive, dedicated to the study of God's Word and determined to get results. These make you a mighty man of valour. There is no man that God cannot make mighty. You don't have to be born great to die great. Take a decision to become something in life and work towards it. From today’s text, you will see the record of the mighty men of David who were nonentity before. When Saul had problems with David and David ran away to the forest, these people left their fathers' houses and followed David. David began to train, teach, build and develop them until they became commanders of the army and were called the mighty men of David. Stop running your destiny down, you can be mighty.

Stop thinking you are a nobody; God did not create you a nobody; He made you somebody. Start today by looking inwards for what God has put inside you for you to get to where you are supposed to be in life. Build it, develop it, work at it. Don't let the pain of yesterday stop your tomorrow. Though your beginning is small, yet shall your latter end greatly increase-financially, materially, spiritually, physically, academically, maritally and all- round.

Say to yourself, “I will be mighty. My destiny will not be small. I am going somewhere”, and under the directive of the Holy Spirit, work towards realising your dream. You will make it. Don't only dream or talk, work the talk. Though there is nothing wrong in being small, don't remain small.

Prayer/Action
* Pray for the spiritual understanding of what you need to do to attain your might.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on the path of realising your dreams.
* Ask God to give you great visions and great accomplishments in destiny.
* Rebuke every medianite hindering your well-being in life. 
* Change your negative mindset about who you are.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I declare that nothing in the present world will take heaven from me; I shall not end my sojourn in hell, in the name of Jesus.

The mighty One III

Friday 9 October
READ: Judg. 6:14-16
MORE LESSON: Lk. 10:38-42

The encounter between Gideon and God's angel in our main text remains one of the strength building passages in the Bible. Among other things, that angelic visitation tells us how deeply God is interested in getting us out of our trouble zones. Israel was under constant raid by the Medianites and just when it looked like God had forgotten about them, He showed up. In the midst of your troubles, don't ever think that God has forgotten you. The Bible says that He is close to the broken hearted.

On your own part, remain conversant with the Word. In verse 13 of our main text, Gideon asked a great question,… did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt but now the Lord hath forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of Medianites. Here Gideon was exhibiting spiritual capabilities based on his understanding of spiritual things. An understanding of spiritual things makes a man mighty. He was invariably saying that if God was with Israel in those years that their fathers told them about, why did God abandon them to the dictates of the Medianites?

He had clarity of what relationship Israel had with God before and what God did compared to what was happening in his days. Out of that understanding arose in Gideon the burden for a change.

A lot of people want to be mighty but they lack spiritual understanding of what to do. The problem of finance in the church for instance, is not about money but rather it is about people who lack the understanding of what God wants to use money for in His vineyard. Mighty men are men who have spiritual understanding of how things work. Gideon had an understanding of how things work in the spiritual. In verse 14 the Lord looked upon him and said, Go in this thy might. The angel said to him when he finished his submission, you are correct and loaded with enough information as source of strength, so go in that might and perform the dictates of God. The same way as the angel listened to Gideon, God is always eager to listen to your prayers. The angel gave Gideon instructions to go and act and with that Gideon stopped the argument and began to obey the angel.

One of the secrets of mighty people is that they are teachable. A man that cannot be taught can never be mighty. Be teachable. Don't confront your teacher, or whoever is leading you. Spiritual mentors are to be obeyed in all godly instructions. Because Gideon was teachable, at the end of his life, he was a mighty man. May you be teachable and be mighty in the vineyard of the Lord.

Prayer/Action
* Ask for a clearer spiritual understanding of issues about your life and destiny.
* Pray that you will be teachable even in times of pain and anxiety.
* Ask God to help you obey your spiritual mentors in all godly leadings.
* Prophesy that you will not remain a weakling in the things of God.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I’m blessed and highly favoured, always abounding in good things, victorious in every battle, in Jesus’ mighty name

The mighty One II

Thursday 8 October
READ: Judg. 6:13
MORE LESSON: Psa. 119:165-167

Becoming a mighty man goes with a lot of responsibilities. The Bible personalities who were mighty did not become so by sleeping all the days of their lives. They had an intimate relationship with God and they also kept the commandments and instructions of God and of God's prophets. They studied the Word of God and applied it to their situations
. 
When I hear people say the grace of God is upon them, I ask how much of the Bible they have read. I do not have respect for church titles without evidence. I do not celebrate people who are church leaders but refuse to master the assignment in their hands even from the point of knowledge. If as an ordained minister you cannot sit down to learn under others, you won't last. The ordination would become a reproach because the man who is too proud to learn will fall suddenly.

There is no way a man can come to church only on Sundays and be a strong man in God. This way, you may be mighty in other areas but definitely not in the things of God. Break with everything that limits your knowledge of God because it reduces your strength daily. Sit down with the things of God like Bible studies, quiet time with God, fellowship attendance, evangelism and the likes. Every Bible study you miss in 52 weeks of the year reduces the strength of your destiny. Every time you refuse to sit down and do quiet time, you grow less in strength and risk the danger that the day brings your way. Gideon said, “God cannot be with me and this thing will happen”. In other words, when God is with a man, he is a winner. This much knowledge was in Gideon.

In verse 13, Gideon made an observation about what Israel was going through and wondered where all the miracles were, about which their fathers told them. Gideon was making reference to events in the past that made Israel great and wished such could be repeated so that Israel would triumph over the Medianites and regain their might. Gideon knew God's Word when he said their fathers told them about the miracles in Egypt on to Canaan. Because Gideon had the right and correct knowledge, the angel marked him down as the man needed for the assignment at hand. Gideon knew what God did before, which He could do again.

How much of God's Word have you stored in your spirit? Joshua was advised to hold onto the Word of God day and night and thereafter, he would experience good success. You should do same.

Prayer/Action
* Pray for divine visitation in times of depression for added strength.
* Connect to the miracles of the past and ask God for more today.
* Declare yourself one of the mighty men of your generation, in Jesus’ name.
Determine to reignite your commitment to the study of the Bible and prayer.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, lines shall fall for me in pleasant places and I shall have a godly heritage, in the name of Jesus.

The mighty One I

Wednesday 7 October
READ: Judg. 6:11-16
MORE LESSON: Prov. 3:19-23

It is a wonderful thing to be called a mighty man. To be mighty is to be endowed with an extra ability beyond the normal. Might is a function of strength. When you talk about might you talk about being able, by an extra ability, to do what is not ordinary. God produced many mighty men in the Scripture and I pray for you today that you will go beyond the ordinary, in the name of Jesus. The strength of a man determines the extent of what he can carry. When people run away from challenges, the truth of the matter is that they lack the strength. There is nothing that God does that He fails. That's why we call Him the Almighty God; the God that has strength in every area. That strength is deposited in man because man is created in God’s image. God has endowed men with divine capability.

One of such men was Gideon who God raised to counter the oppression that Israel suffered at that time in the hands of the Medianites who exercised might over the weak Israelites. One day an angel of God called Gideon a mighty man of valour. The argument of Gideon was irrelevant to the angel. If the Almighty God says you are a mighty man, you are, indeed. If a man is experiencing defeat but is called a mighty man by God, what is God saying? When a man who cannot beat his chest in the presence of his enemies is referred to as a mighty man by the Almighty God who cannot lie, then there is something inside that man that makes God say so. It simply means that God Himself is with the man. Once God is with a man, that man cannot be defeated by his enemies and that is why he is a mighty man. He may not know it, but that is who he is.

Regardless of what your experiences are today, as long as a conviction exists inside you that with God on your side all things are possible, you are already a mighty man. Your strength begins from knowledge because your ability to know is the beginning of your strength. So work harder on what you know if you want to be a mighty man. Get to know more. If you want to know more, read more, ask questions from them that know more; acquire knowledge because it is the beginning of might. Gideon eventually realised that when God is with a man the man cannot be defeated. So Gideon led Israel into victory over the Medianites. God is with you, you cannot be defeated, only seek to increase your knowledge of the Most High God and what He has made you. Knowledge is key!

Prayer/Action
* Pray for divine strength to do God's work more than ever before.
* Pray that you will be strengthened by the Word of God in all situations.
* Tell the Lord you are taking your place in strength and you are dropping the weak man’s mentality
Believe what God says about you that you are a mighty man and live like one.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Say to (put your name) it shall be well with me, and I shall shine in destiny.

Judgement on Satanic Agents

Tuesday 6 October
READ: 2 Cor. 10: 3 - 6
MORE LESSON: Isa. 26: 9 - 10

Every agent of darkness that is working against your destiny will face the judgment of God today. Many people are suffering from things in life that are caused by agents of darkness; unless you become spiritually alert and wage war against them, they will continue to afflict you silently. These agents hide under the cloak of seemingly natural occurrences and afflict people. The Bible says, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 2 Cor 10:3. Whatever satan wants to do against a man, he cannot do it unless he finds someone through whom he will operate. When the Bible says that a man's foes are those of his own household (Matt 10:36), it means the devil using a man's relatives as agents through which to destroy the man. But I want to tell you that whatever agent the devil wants to use against you, whether someone close to you or otherwise, the Lord of Hosts will execute judgment on them today.

I remember the story of a woman who was sent to die in a church service. The church service was going on fine till the woman just fell down and died and commotion started in church. Then they rushed her to the altar, and everybody prayed and prayed but the woman didn't get up. The whole congregation had forgotten about the service for the day and they were just praying and crying over the dead woman. It was then that Apostle Ayo Babalola of blessed memory walked up to the altar and asked everyone to step aside. Under the unction of the Holy Ghost he commanded the woman to get up. When the woman got up, he asked her to say whatever she had to say.

The woman then announced to the amazement of all that she was an agent of darkness and was sent by the witches to come and die in church so as to scatter the service and subsequently discourage people from coming to church anymore. After she finished the confession, the man of God commanded her to fall down and die again. She fell down and died, the servant of God then told the people to go and bury her. Some people may not be comfortable with the servant of God's line of action, but they do not understand that there is need for the judgment of God to fall on the agents of darkness so that the name of God will be glorified.

This is expressed in the Bible, . . . for when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness . . . . Isa. 26:9-10. Today I want you to declare judgment on every satanic agent that is working against you.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that every unrepentant agent of satan in your life shall no longer be spared, in the name of Jesus.
* Prophesy the judgement that is written against every enemy’s location in your life- Psa. 149:7-9.
* Give God thanks that He has not given you up to the agents of darkness to rule over you.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
In the name of Jesus, “MY BROOK SHALL NOT RUN DRY”; I shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, my leaf, fruit, and season shall not cease.

Give God High Praise

Monday 5 October
READ: Job 1: 13 - 21
MORE LESSON: 2 Sam 12: 13 – 23

Sometimes praise doesn't make sense. High praise is the praise you give and people wonder whether you have lost your mind. It is when everybody thinks the worst has happened to you, and you begin to give God praise. Job gave God high praise. He was the richest man in the East, then the devil attacked him and killed all his children, destroyed his property and took everything from him. All men, angels and demons were watching to see what he would do, but then he knelt down and worshipped God saying, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord: Job 1:21. All the devils were bewildered and confused, they wondered what kind of man this was. When Job wanted to finish satan and all his cohorts, after they had done their worst and multplied his sufferings, he said, Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him: Job 13:15. Then the enemy knew he had lost as far as Job's case was concerned. High praise is not limited to music or dancing, and it confuses the enemy.

Heaven finds pleasure in the praise that is given when things get sour and it ordinarily looks as if there is no reason to praise God. Anyone can praise God when things go smooth but there is a kind of high praise which is the preserve of men that are stalwart in God. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, she conceived and gave birth to a child. After David had prayed and asked for forgiveness from God, the Lord told him that He had forgiven him but the child born by that sinful act would die.

The child became seriously ill and David went to God with fasting, tears and sackcloth and kept begging God to allow the child live. He refused to eat, laid down on the ground, and everybody was begging him to eat. Then the baby died, the people were afraid to tell him that the baby had died because they felt if he was so distraught when the baby was sick, he would kill himself if he learnt that the baby had died. But when David learnt the child had died, he did something that shocked them all: he got up, took his bath, ate good food and went to the house of the Lord and worshipped Him. They were dumbfounded, the baby was sick, and David fasted, prayed, cried and sat in ashes, but when the baby died he started thanksgiving.

When you give God praise in unseemly circumstances, you become a testimony that lives forever and you become a wonder to men. It is true that this kind of praise is very costly but anybody who learns it will invoke the hand of God for a turn around. No matter what you are going through today, give God high praise!

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for grace to be able to say “Praise be to God” in times of trouble.
* Ask God for grace not to complain, murmur or speak harshly when you can’t explain what is happening to you.
* Ask God for the spirit of thanksgiving.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I command every anti-harvest power to dry up concerning my destiny this new month, in the name of Jesus.

The Cross: The Pathway to Glory

Sunday 4 October
READ: Isa. 53: 7 - 12
MORE LESSON: Luke 23: 23 - 47

When Jesus was taken to be crucified, He had many lies and accusations thrown at Him but He refused to say a word in defense of Himself. He was led to the cross like a lamb to the slaughter, He had the power to deliver himself but He didn't. It was because of His love for mankind that He followed on without resistance as He was beaten and tormented. A time came when He was tired and would have fainted for lack of strength, then another person was apprehended to help Him carry the cross. Women were crying and wailing in pity after Him. He replied them that they should better cry for themselves and their children. He chose the cross because it was the way to our salvation. On the cross, the people taunted Him to save Himself and come down if He was truly the Son of God, He didn't say a word. At one stage, He cried, I thirst. He was not just thirsty for water; it was a spiritual agony He felt and He needed eternal ability to endure. He committed His spirit to God and gave up the ghost.

The cross is the path to glory. Jesus passed through the cross and God saw His surrender and sacrifice on the cross and God was impressed. Is 53: 11 says, He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied . . . God saw His travail on the cross and He was impressed in heaven. Then God responded to His cross experience with a reward of glory. When you impress heaven, it doesn't matter how many people you have not impressed. As you pass through situations that are challenging and demanding, your singular goal should be to impress heaven with your surrender, faith and joy in tribulation. When Heaven is touched by your action, Heaven will rise up and work on your behalf.

You can impress heaven by enduring the cross and glorifying God through the cross. God responds when He is touched. This was what He did for Jesus. Phil 2: 9 says, Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name. 'Therefore . . .' this means that as a result of what He did. So, Jesus' experience at the cross compelled a reciprocal action from God. The response from God is that He gave Jesus the glory that He has up to today. I want you to know that as you stay true to the cross of Christ, you get to a point where God begins to pay you back. He pays back with glory. As you cling to the cross, there is a glory and crown that awaits you.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that you will not loose sight of the glory beyond your cross.
* Pray that your labour of old will not be buried in fire but yield a victor’s triumph.
* Ask God to turn your pain to glory.
* Pray that in all situation of life you will laugh last and that you will never labour in vain.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, this month, open my eyes to know things that I have never known since I was born and let it be a great beginning for me, in Jesus’ name.