Qualified to Lead

Sunday, 7 July

TEXT: Acts 6:1-3, MORE LESSONS: Titus 1:5-9

Leadership is about guiding, directing, leading and solving problems. Whether in church or out of church, leadership is a key. Where there are no qualified leaders the evidence is clear because there will be a string of unresolved problems, crises, breakdown, confusion and lack of progress. Clearly, it is possible to have people in positions of authority and yet there are no leaders. This is particularly so where people are given appointments without meeting the required qualifications. When leaders were needed in the early Church, it was to solve problems and there were criteria to set a standard. The leaders were to be:

* Men of honest report.

* Men full of the Holy Spirit.

* Men full of wisdom.

* Men full of faith.

* Men full of the power of God.

Again, when Moses needed help with the work, his father-in-law advised him, Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Exo.18:21.

Jethro suggested the criteria as:

* Able men.

* Men that fear God.

* Men who hate covetousness.

* Men who are teachable.

* Men who will be able to teach others.

One of the major challenges in the modern Church is lack of men with Biblical qualifications in leadership positions. Until we insist on appointing men using Biblical standard we will continue to have title holders with little or no solutions to problems in the church. Before Elisha could get Elijah’s mantle, he first qualified as a trained servant. It was written concerning him, Here is Elisha ...which poured water on the hands of Elijah 2Kings 3:11. The same was true of Joshua who served under Moses.

The qualifications for leadership are not in-born, they are acquired and everyone who desires to make a full proof of his ministry and assignment can achieve them. Thirst and cry to God for these qualities and you will have them. May you become a leader of influence, a worthy leader and problem solver.

PRAYER/ACTION

* Pray that God will help you become a leader worth its salt.

* Pray that God will grant you church leaders that will make things happen and proffer solutions to all the challenges.

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July Good and Faithful Steward

Saturday, 6

READ: Matt.25:14-16, MORE LESSONS: I Cor.4:1-2

God wants each of you to be a good steward of the gifts, grace, talents and abilities that He has given to you. He wants you to be a good steward of your:

* time.

* money.

* gifts and talents.

* relationships.

* opportunities.

* entire life

In our text, people were given money according to their different abilities. The purpose of the money was very clear, they were to invest the money and make profits for their master. The Bible says the servant who received more money immediately to invest the money and he soon doubled it. He did not waste time but acted promptly. He did not take his relationship with his master for granted, so he did what the man told him to do. He was a faithful began steward of what he had. God blessed and commended him. What are you doing with what you have-the money, gifts, talents, relationships and even your life? You are not the owner of anything, God owns it all and He can take it or call you any time to give account of them. The rich fool says to himself,...thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12:19-20.

The rich fool forgets that all his blessings and himself belong to God. May you be found to be a good and faithful steward of all that God has committed to your care!

PRAYER/ACTION

* Give God thanks for the privileges bestowed on you.

* Ask God for the gift of excellent wisdom to serve faithfully with the things that have been committed into your hand.

* Ask God to bless you so greatly that your silver and gold may multiply.

* Ask God to take away any devourer from your life.

* Expect an open Heaven today for the outpouring of certain things you have been waiting for.

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The Power of Counsel

Friday, 5 July

READ: Esther 1:13-14 (NLT), MORE LESSONS: Prov.20:18

Today's scripture tells about the critical nature of counsel. King Ahasuerus had a very challenging matter in his hand. It had to do with his home, kingdom and his personal comfort. Unknown to him it had to do with the purpose of God. Rather than taking unilateral decision, he chose to take counsel from his seven highest officials and he got it right. King David of Israel had two great counsellors that advised him in the time of peace and war. One of them was Ahitophel, whose counsel was like the counsel of God. The man was so anointed that when he switched from David to Absalom, David had to pray that God would rise and defeat the counsel of Ahitophel. By experience David knew how powerful a wise counsel is in the affairs of life and in determining how a battle goes.

Do you want to do great things for God? Do you want to win in the battles of life? Then you must avail yourself of wise counsel. Get advice from people who are well informed. By the time you pick from here and there, you will be better informed and be able to come to a sound conclusion. Are you faced with a crucial decision to make? Do you have in your hand a project and you don’t know what to do? Are you confused about a vital matter? Seek wise counsel. Gather vital information, analyse your findings, then pray and ask God for His mind. You will surely get to a conclusion that will be best for you, For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety Prov. 24:6.

Finally, always make sure you align your decisions with God’s Word because there are so many psychologists and self ordained prophets out there, giving evil and carnal counsel. Beware of them. Any counsel short of God’s Word is evil and must be totally rejected. Everyone who sincerely seeks God will find Him …I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.Psa.32:8 (NLT).

PRAYER/ACTION

* Give thanks to God for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of counsel.

* Rebuke every spirit of confusion and ask for a clear direction in the affairs of your life.

* Ask God to bless you with wise counsellors.

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Strength for Your Day for July 1-4

Strength for Your Day

Giving Thanks to the Lord             Monday, 1 July

TEXT: Psa.71:12-15. MORE LESSONS: Psa.35:27-28

It is indeed a great thing to live a life of gratitude, thanking God for all that He does. But it takes only those who think to be able to give thanks. The psalmist is a practical example of how to give thanks to Jehovah. The New Living Translation edition puts our scripture today in a clearer and more exciting way,

I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words Psa. 71:15.

Have you ever thought of how much God has done for you? Have you ever considered how good God has been to you? Think of it. You are alive and well, you have a family, job, good health, and peace of mind! Give thanks because you have received what you cannot buy or work for. Above all, you have received the gift of eternal life.

Now think back, aren't you overwhelmed by the goodness of God to you? Take time off to give Him praise. It is the least you can do. The psalmist in today's text does two things to show gratitude to God. One, he expresses his gratitude in thanksgiving, and second, he tells everyone what the Lord has done, …all day long I will proclaim your saving power.... Psa.71:15. We all must emulate the psalmist by telling others what God has done for us, and thereby invite other people to God's Kingdom so that they can taste the goodness of the Lord. In essence, you must turn your testimony to a tool for soul winning, perhaps some of the people that hear you will follow you to the Saviour. That way God is honoured by your praise and will

surely grant you more.

Prayer/Action

* Give thanks to God for His goodness to you.

* Ask for God's wisdom, boldness and grace to effectively share the goodness of

God with other people.

* Pray against anything that can stop you from giving thanks to God and bringing souls to His Kingdom by your testimonies.

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Strength for Your Day

The Wisdom from the Lord          Tuesday, 2 July

TEXT: I Kings 5:12a, MORE LESSONS: James 1:5

Wisdom is a gift of God that you cannot do without. The presence of wisdom in a man's life will be glaring to all the world while its absence will also be clear for all to see. The Bible speaks eloquently about wisdom and what it does in a man's life.

Here are examples of what wisdom does:

1. Wisdom makes the face of a man to shine - Ecc.8:1.

2. Wisdom is better than strength - Ecc.9:16.

3. Wisdom is better than weapons of war -Ecc. 9:18.

4. It is by wisdom that kings reign - Prov.8:14-15.

5. It is by wisdom that a house is built - Prov.24:3.

6. Riches and honour come by wisdom - Prov.8:18.

It is very clear from God's Word that wisdom is not an act, it is a spirit. When the spirit of wisdom rests upon an individual, it shows in everything he or she does. May the spirit of wisdom rest upon you. Even Jesus our Lord did not operate without the spirit of wisdom,

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD Isa.11:2.

I am glad that wisdom is a gift from God and it is available to everyone who desires, pursues and asks for it. Solomon got it by asking and if you too ask today, it shall be given to you.

However, possessing wisdom does not come just by asking; it begins with walking in the fear of God, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom….Prov.9:10. Therefore, if you want God to send the spirit of wisdom upon your life, then make sure you:

* Desire it.

* Walk in the fear of the Lord.

* Ask for it like Solomon did.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding Prov. 4:7.

Prayer/Action

* Ask God to pour upon you today the spirit of wisdom and might.

* Ask God to baptise you with wisdom to do exploits within and outside His

Kingdom.

* Declare that the wisdom of God at work in your life will positively affect your generation and beyond as Solomon did.

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Strength for Your Day

Honour God with Your Firstfruits              Wednesday, 3 July

TEXT: Neh. 10:35 (NLB), MORE LESSONS: Ezek 44:30

In our text, Nehemiah confesses the sins of Israel in backsliding from the Lord. He prays and pledges a complete return to the Almighty. In repentance, the people promise to always bring the first part of every harvest to the Lord's temple. The first part of a harvest is what the Bible calls the firstfruits.

When a believer begins to backslide, his/her giving to God is the first casualty. To forget to give to God your tithe and first- fruits before spending out of your income is a proof that your love for God has gone cold. To become stingy in your giving to God shows that excitement for God and His household is now a secondary matter and many believers are in the backsliding state (Prov.14:4).

But when a man's heart is burning with love for God he will give with great excitement, he will tithe and honour God with his firstfruits. Your salary in a new employment, the first profit in a new business, the first produce of your farm, the difference in your new and old salaries when you are promoted, the first money you earn in a new year, these are all examples of firstfruits. You are to bring your firstfruits to God’s servant in the house of God. He will receive them and command the blessing of the Lord to rest upon you and your work. It is this blessing of the Lord that will make you rich with no sorrow added (Prov.10:22).

Giving your firstfruits opens Heaven upon your life. When you give your first-fruits, you are working in obedience to God's Word and He will make you to eat of the good of the land (Isa.1:19). Two, when you put God and His Kingdom first in the affairs of your life, He will surely add other things to you (Matt.6:33). Third, honouring God with your substance connects you wi th abundance (I Sam.2:30). Finally, when you give God your firstfruits, you trigger the release of His blessings upon all the work of your hand. He will see to it that you become rich (Prov.10:22). Give God the firstfruits always and He will defend and preserve the remaining harvest from wasters (Prov.3:9-10).

Prayer/Action

* Give thanks to God because He is the One who gives strength to His people.

* Ask God to help you obey Him in all things.

* Ask God to forgive you any act of disobedience in your financial responsibilities and restore all the blessings due you.

* Ask God to stop devourers that could be working against you because of a weakness in the area of finance.

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Strength for Your Day

Vows and Promises        Thursday, 4 July

Text: Ecc.5:4-5, MORE LESSONS: Psa.50:14-15

Vows in the Scripture are always about asking God to do something you critically need, promising to do or give something in return to God. There are many examples in the Bible. Hannah vowed that if God would give her a child, she would give him back to God. God did and she fulfilled her vow. Jephthah vowed that if God would give him victory over the Ammonites he would sacrifice the first person coming out of his house to meet him to God (Jud. 11:35). It was his precious daughter, his only child, that came out to welcome him and he offered her to the Lord. God always honours such vows and it is better not to vow than to vow and not fulfil it.

A promise is different from a vow. A promise could be to a man or to God or to an organisation. Unlike a vow, a promise is not made in return for your need being met. Although in giving a promise you may not be expecting something in return for your action, God expects you to keep your word. Be a promise keeper and walk in integrity. By so doing you will find favour with God and with man.

The point is, a vow is different from a promise. A vow is asking God to meet a need with a promise that you will do something in return when the need is met, on the other hand, a promise is a commitment to be part of something like a church project, or even an individual project, for which you are not expecting anything in return. You just want to be a part of fulfilling a vision that is dear to your heart. Whatever it is that you promise, whether in form of a vow, a pledge, or a commitment, be a man/woman of your word. Make sure you keep the promise and the Lord will bless you. God has been too faithful to us to be denied anything, and when we are faithful to Him, He will be faithful to us.

PRAYER/ACTION

*Repent of all commitments, vows, pledges or promises you made in the past that you have not redeemed. Ask the Lord to forgive you and to provide for you to fulfil them speedily.

*Ask for divine provision, ability and strength to fulfil your *vows, promises, pledges and commitments.

Ask for the wisdom and discipline not to be rash in making promises.

*Ask for the favour of the Lord upon the works of your hand and the restoration of all that might have been lost to not keeping promises and vows to the Lord.

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