Living on the Mountain Top I

READ: Matthew 5: 14-16
MORE LESSON: Proverbs 4:18

There is a higher life; it is the life on the mountain top. God's dream and desire for our lives is that we live on top of the mountain and not in the valley. God has no business looking for you down the valley. There is something wrong with the Church that must be corrected. We go to the world and copy what they do instead of the world taking direction from the Church. Prosperity must rule in the Church and the world should come to borrow from us not the other way round. When we talk about living a higher life, we are talking about living a life that is on top of the hill, and it is all encompassing; physically, spiritually, materially, financially, maritally etc.
Five things distinguish a man who is on top of the hill.
1. He is delivered from obscurity; he isn't hidden. No one lights a candle to look for what is on top of a hill. God strategically placed us on the hill so that the world won't keep looking for us. The world lies in gross darkness and to illuminate it, God has placed us as light on the hill. We are only relevant as light if we are placed on the mountain top. We have been delivered from obscurity, so don't go down the hill to seek relevance in the world (Matt. 5:14).
2. He is prominent. He always comes first in the list of honoured men. God's intention for His children is that the world will see His excellency through us. I Peter 2:9 says we are called to show forth His praise. He has placed us on the mountain top so that in the class of the honourable, we will be more honourable.
3. He lives above all situations and conditions. Nothing puts Him under. Any man sitting on the mountain top is there because he has been able to surmount all the challenges that would have stopped him. Living on the mountain top makes you live above every challenge.
4. We are lifted by grace. It is by His grace that we are lifted from being ordinary to become extra-ordinary people. Grace is a lifter.
5. Finally to be a man on the mountain top is to be a celebrity. May you be celebrated by the divine hands. May the glory of the Lord lift and engrace you to the mountain top, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that you are a city on the hill top; you will not live in obscurity.
* Ask that the gift and grace of God in your life will bring you to prominence.
* Give God thanks because you are now seated together with Christ in high places.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Oh Thou that answereth prayer, make me a proof of Your power and faithfulness this year, in the name of Jesus.

Vision

Thursday 5 April
READ: 1Samuel 3:1-3
MORE LESSON: Acts 2:17-18

Vision is a key ingredient of a great destiny. Becoming mighty in life starts with having a purpose and a vision. Visionary leadership is the secret of greatness. A visionary man sees better and beyond what obtains around him/her. Visionary people are people that bring in new ideas of how things can be done better wherever they are. Vision is knowing how things can work better, having a pictorial understanding of what the future should be like. It is good to ask God to give you a vision and also to expand your vision. A man's life is at the mercy of his ability to plan for the future. Where there is no vision, the people perish. According to Hos 4: 6, My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. If people were asked to write a vision of their life now, you will be surprised. Some people are living just like that. Vision births sacrificial living. Sacrifice is a pre-requisite for greatness. It is a visionary person that puts himself under restraint and delays gratification so that the cause can be furthered. A visionary person will not consume everything he has today because he is thinking about the future. Don't only dream, have goals and vision. When your dreams are supported by actions and targeted timeline, then they become a vision.
One of the disasters of the present day Church is that there are lots of visionless Christians. It is lack of vision for one's spiritual life that makes a man come to church on Sunday and you don't see him again till another Sunday. A person whose vision is to know God intimately will seek Him passionately and sieze every opportunity to appear before God. A person without a vision does anything, anyhow. He seeks any job, no plan of what type of job or the career path he wants to pursue. In those days brethren would not take a job that prevented them from having time to serve God; those were days of visionary Christianity. It is vision that should govern the decisions which you make in life. The course you read, the place you are located and even the spouse you will marry must all be borne out of an understanding of God's given vision for you. May we never have a repeat of the days of Prophet Eli, when the Word of the Lord was scarce and kings were not available, when the eye sight of the prophet had begun to go dim and the nation was consequently thrown intodisaster. May we live with a clear vision from the Lord, for all areas of our lives.

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to Jesus knowing that your tomorrow will be better.
* Ask God to help you focus on a greater future.
* My destiny will shine, my glory will sing, no matter what it looks like today.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Every enemy masquerading as a friend, I confirm you exposed and terminated, in the name of Jesus.z

Beginning of Strength

Wednesday 4 April
READ: Judges 6: 11 - 14
M O R E L E S S O N: Proverbs 9: 10

Every journey has a beginning. As it is usually said, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step'. When you know the beginning of what you are seeking for, you can have a good start in getting there. For instance, the Bible says, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding: Prov. 9:10. Wisdom has a beginning; that is to say, when a man seeks unusual wisdom, he has to start from fearing and reverencing God. In a similar manner, strength has a beginning. In the quest to be a strong and mighty man, you must know where to start your journey from.
When the angel of the Lord encountered Gideon and commissioned him as the deliverer of his nation, Gideon saw himself as a weakling. However, by the time the Lord was done with him, he had become a mighty man. When you look at the Scripture, you will realise that God never gave Gideon a staff or a mantle. The Lord simply gave him knowledge of who he was and what was inside him. When Gideon knew that the Lord was with him and that he was sent by God to defeat the Midianites, he became strong. It is what a man knows that makes him strong. Strength always begins from the place of knowledge.
Prov. 24: 5 says, a wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Wisdom makes a man strong. Wisdom is the application of exact knowledge. Therefore knowledge is the basis for wisdom. The more correct knowledge you have, the stronger you become. So if you want to be stronger, work harder on what you know. If you want to be a mighty man, get to know more. The knowledge we are talking about is not merely the knowledge of arts and science. Foremost, you need to know more of God to be a mighty man of valour. According to Daniel 11: 32, ...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. To become mightier, you have to know more of God. There is no way to do mighty things, especially in the spirit, except you are full of the Word of God. Seek mastery in the things of God; it is your passport to becoming mighty.
You also need to know more in your field. So read more, acquire the necessary knowledge through study, go for training and learn more. Ask questions and consult experts. Just keep going for knowledge because it is the beginning of might. If you want to become a mighty man, start learning and keep learning.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to empower you to do exploits through the Word.
* Lord, fill me with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit day by day.
? Make up your mind to study the Word each day from now on.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Whatever is the serpent that bruises in 2018, I declare your head bruised;you will no longer be able to perform, in the name of Jesus.

Beginning of Strength

Wednesday 4 April
READ: Judges 6: 11 - 14
M O R E L E S S O N: Proverbs 9: 10

Every journey has a beginning. As it is usually said, 'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step'. When you know the beginning of what you are seeking for, you can have a good start in getting there. For instance, the Bible says, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding: Prov. 9:10. Wisdom has a beginning; that is to say, when a man seeks unusual wisdom, he has to start from fearing and reverencing God. In a similar manner, strength has a beginning. In the quest to be a strong and mighty man, you must know where to start your journey from.
When the angel of the Lord encountered Gideon and commissioned him as the deliverer of his nation, Gideon saw himself as a weakling. However, by the time the Lord was done with him, he had become a mighty man. When you look at the Scripture, you will realise that God never gave Gideon a staff or a mantle. The Lord simply gave him knowledge of who he was and what was inside him. When Gideon knew that the Lord was with him and that he was sent by God to defeat the Midianites, he became strong. It is what a man knows that makes him strong. Strength always begins from the place of knowledge.
Prov. 24: 5 says, a wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. Wisdom makes a man strong. Wisdom is the application of exact knowledge. Therefore knowledge is the basis for wisdom. The more correct knowledge you have, the stronger you become. So if you want to be stronger, work harder on what you know. If you want to be a mighty man, get to know more. The knowledge we are talking about is not merely the knowledge of arts and science. Foremost, you need to know more of God to be a mighty man of valour. According to Daniel 11: 32, ...but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. To become mightier, you have to know more of God. There is no way to do mighty things, especially in the spirit, except you are full of the Word of God. Seek mastery in the things of God; it is your passport to becoming mighty.
You also need to know more in your field. So read more, acquire the necessary knowledge through study, go for training and learn more. Ask questions and consult experts. Just keep going for knowledge because it is the beginning of might. If you want to become a mighty man, start learning and keep learning.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to empower you to do exploits through the Word.
* Lord, fill me with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit day by day.
? Make up your mind to study the Word each day from now on.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Whatever is the serpent that bruises in 2018, I declare your head bruised;you will no longer be able to perform, in the name of Jesus.

Mighty Man of Valour

Tuesday 3 April
READ: Judges 6: 12 - 14
M O R E L E S S O N: Judges 7: 13 – 15

A mighty man is one that is endowed with an extra ability beyond the normal. He has the extra strength to do what is beyond the ordinary. There have been many mighty men in scriptural and contemporary times. In the name of Jesus, you are the next to be numbered among them. Ordinary strength produces ordinary results while extra strength does extra things. Might or strength may be spiritual, physical, financial or material. It is the extent of a man's strength in an area of life that determines how productive he can be in that area of life. When you see people run away when faced with trouble or are brought down by challenges, the truth is there is lack of strength. According to Prov. 24: 10, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. Every form of failure is a demonstration of lack of strength.
It is a wonderful thing to be called a mighty man. In Judg. 6: 12, the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon when he was in hiding and called him a mighty man. Gideon was surprised that the Lord called him a mighty man because even he didn't know that he was a mighty man. This means that irrespective of your present challenges and situations, God sees you as a mighty person. The desire of God is to make you see yourself the way He sees you. Gideon found it difficult to believe that he was a mighty man of valour, even after God had told him that he was. Even the enemies of Gideon knew he was a mighty man but he didn't believe. When God wanted to help Gideon, He had to make him hear what his enemies were saying about him. A Midianite was telling his dream to another and the fellow answered, ...This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian: Judg 7:14-15.
You are a mighty man. God said it and even the devil knows it. All the attacks on you by the enemy are because they know that you are mighty but they donot want you to believe it. This is the reason they buffet you so much to get you to start to think that you are weak. Today, I want you to blow the trumpet of your might as Gideon did and arise for the Lord has delivered your enemies into your hands.

Prayer/Action
* Ask for strength today.
* Pray that God empower you with economic strength to make impact in your generation.
* Receive spiritual strength in the place of prayer.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Jesus, Your death on the cross of Calvary will not be in vain over me and my generation; I shall tell them all about the goodnews, in the name of Jesus.

Be Strong in His Might

Monday 2 April
READ: Ephesians 6: 10
M O R E L E S S O N: Judges 6: 14

What makes a man strong is the presence of power. Power is defined as the ability to do work or execute an undertaking. God is called the Almighty because He has the unlimited power to do anything that He wishes to do. Everything in life answers to power, and without power, we cannot do anything. This is why we must seek to be powerful in every sphere of life. It is possible to be strong in certain areas and weak in others. A man can have financial strength but lack spiritual power, so the enemy lays hold on him and gives him a problem that all his money cannot solve; or he falls sick and spends all his money trying to recover his health. Also, a man can be spiritually strong but lacks financial capability, thus he is limited in what he achieves. A child can have rich parents but is mentally retarded. He is financially strong but mentally weak. My prayer is that you will have all-round strength.
God is strong in the spirit, strong in wealth, creativity and mental exploits. He has all-round strength; nothing that God does fails and no weakness is traceable to Him in anything. God never runs from a challenge nor is unable to meet a need. Anywhere you see people close their eyes when it's time to give money, they don't have the financial strength, and they are weak. Strength has disappeared. Money makes a man mighty. Today, financial might will be your portion. That strength that you need to get anything done, the Almighty God will give it to you.
The Bible says to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might (Eph. 6: 10). This means that we should be strong with God's all-round might. God's might is not limited to certain areas only. So being strong in the power of God includes strength in the spirit, soul, body as well as in finance and marriage. As you put on the whole armour of God, which includes righteousness, truth, faith, salvation, the Word, prayer; you will realise that no area of your life is open to weakness.
Go forth and do exploits for the Lord with the might that you have received from Him and deploy strength in all areas of life. Go in this your might.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to gird you with strength for battle.
* Receive the spiritual and physical strength to go through this year.
* Ask the Lord to empower you for results in 2018.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Jesus, because You live, I can face 2018 and beyond, I cling to Your cross, in the name of Jesus.

Embracing Persecution

Sunday 1 April
READ: Acts 21: 1– 14
M O R E L E SSON: Mark 10: 29 - 30

Paul was about to go to Jerusalem and a prophecy was given to him that if he did, persecution and bond was waiting for him. He replied that he was willing to go, not only to be bound but to be killed for the cause of Christ. His companions wept, trying to dissuade him from going to the place of persecution. He told them that they were only breaking his heart by their tears because he was ready to suffer for the sake of Christ and also to die for Him, if the need arose. It is high time the Church began to study the lives of men like Apostle Paul again. One would wonder whether it is the same faith that these people received that we have received today. When the Lord called Paul to preach, He told him that he would suffer greatly for the cause of Christ. Paul heeded the call and embraced the suffering. How many people today will answer God's call if the Lord tells them that the call includes suffering and persecution?
Several times, Paul was put in jail for preaching; on getting there, he would start preaching in the prison and convert all the prisoners to Jesus. He was charged to court for preaching the gospel and was brought before the judges and kings. He stood up as if to defend himself but started preaching to everyone in the court so much so that he nearly converted King Agrippa to Christianity (Acts 26: 28). It was Paul who said ...woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel: 1 Cor. 9:16. This man actually vowed that he should be cursed if he stopped preaching the gospel.
The depth of the commitment of Paul and many others in the Bible and post-Bible days was what made Christianity survive till it reached our generation. Living less than the standard set for us is failing in passing on the baton that was passed to us. Jesus asked whether He would find faith on earth when He returns (Lk. 18:8). Each generation is to preserve the faith that is handed over to them and hand it over to the next generation. I pray that our generation will not be the one to fail the Lord. We must rise and rescue Christianity from the decadence that is setting in. We should go back to the ancient path and see how the fathers did it. We should learn from the example of men that laid all down to make sure the baton reached us and we should not be afraid to pay the price to see that we pass on genuine faith to the next generation.

Prayer/Action
* From today, I lay off my idol I go for Jesus.
* There shall be nothing too precious for me not to give up for Jesus.
* My life, my time, my everything I surrender all at the feet of Jesus.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Jesus, Your death and resurrection made today ajoyful day, thank You for April's good!