True Disciples II

Text: Lk. 9:23-26.
More Lessons: 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 such 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 have been 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 unto 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: Luk 9:23.

The cost on disciples means that 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, but to 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 or assignment you will join before your next fellowship day.

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True Disciples I

Text: Jn. 1:34-42
More Lessons: Ps 119:1-2

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 civilization. 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 said…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; 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 steadfastly 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 any other thing. 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?

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 scriptures per day and read a minimum of a chapter of the Bible per day.

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Raised Altars II

Text: Exo. 30:1-9 More Lessons: Num. 16:44-48

As altars are raised for cursing, so also are altars or high places raised for blessing. Examples of the two are Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim in Deut. 11:29, 27:12-13. When God wanted a sanctuary- a place for fellowship and blessing of His people in Exo. 25, He included an altar in the pattern for building the Sanctuary. God gave the altar's specifications and what should be done on it, teaching us some lessons about raising altars to God. First, He said it was a place of meeting with Him regularly (Exo. 30:6). The more the altars you raise to God, the more of His blessings you will experience. There are many types: personal altar (quiet time), marriage/marital altar (by married people) and family altar.

Secondly, the altar is a place of regular burning of incense to God (Exo. 30:1, . The incense God wants to continuously receive on your altar is prayer (all kinds: worship, thanksgiving, petition, supplication and intercession).

Thirdly, it is a place of using blood to atone for the sins of the people. God no longer requires the blood of bulls or rams on altars raised to Him. A better way has been given once and for all (Heb 9:11-14) through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross of Calvary. By faith when you come to God, applying the Blood of Jesus on your life for forgiveness and remission of sins, your prayers are acceptable, bringing down the blessings of God upon your life, destiny and family. Benefits of altars raised to Jehovah are many as evident in the children of Israel when they obeyed God's instructions in building an altar for Him (Exo. 40:27-28, 34-38). God's glory descends and protects, defends, preserves, favours and takes you into fulfillment in life and destiny.

The exciting thing is that the prerogative of raising altars is not in the hand of the enemy alone, the believer also can raise altars. When the enemies raise altars to curse, we too can raise altars to reverse the curse and to pronounce a blessing. Also, we have an altar that is greater than the enemy's. It is the one raised by Jesus Himself at Calvary for which He paid the highest price ever making it the most expensive altar in the universe. This altar speaketh better things and can swallow any enemy's altar. This indeed is good news for all who know it. Prayer, fasting, prophetic declaration of God's Word are all altars that you can take a hold of to destroy any evil in your life. Raise an altar today.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to make your life an altar of His presence.
* Ask God to turn every challenge in your life to an altar of prayer.
* Command every satanic altar against you to be swallowed up today.
* Ask God to strengthen your altar of prayer for great results.

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Raised Altars

Text: Num. 22:1-6, 30-40.
More Lessons: II Kings 17:9-11

An altar is any structure made of earth or stone on which sacrifices are offered or a spirit is invoked or contacted. Altars are generally erected in conspicuous places and mostly on a raised ground or high place. There are godly altars and satanic altars. The first altar recorded in scriptures was by Noah (Gen. 8:20). Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses all raised altars and the entire Old Testament are filled with several altars raised both for God and satanic idols. The tabernacle of Moses and the temple of Solomon also had altars where Jehovah was called upon. (Exo. 30:28, II Chro. 4:1). In our reading today, Balak, scared of the testimonies of Israel, consulted the prophet, Balam to help curse the Israelites; and to do that, Balam, raised several altars.

No great destiny is fulfilled or altered without an altar raised for or against it. In the African society, it is said that before kings and presidents are enthroned or politicians occupy major positions, altars are raised ahead of them to spiritually facilitate, consolidate and confirm their posts. Many engage in ritual killing of innocent people, including harmless babies, to sacrifice on these altars for spiritual backing.

In today's reading, Balak heard about the children of Israel and what they did to their enemies. He became afraid, Now shall this company (Israel) lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field…Num 22:4.King Balak knew that his army and the best weaponry available in his time and nation could not handle the battle. He recognized that there must be a spiritual force (altar) behind the people of Israel.

Therefore, he sought a well-seasoned prophet, Balam, to raise an altar to curse the children of Israel. It is not always true, like some people believe, that if you had done no one any evil, you can't be cursed. Good men die before their time. What did Israel do to Balak and Moab that justified hiring Balam to curse them?

Some people are not happy at the joy, increase or expansion of others and merely seeing others flourishing irritates and angers them. Such wicked people will eagerly raise altars against your life, whether you are aware of it or not. But just as Jehovah helped to change the words meant to curse to blessings for Israel, so He will arise on your behalf to frustrate tokens of the wicked raised against you from any altar, in Jesus' name.

Prayer/ Action
* Send the fire of God to every evil altar raised against you, now.
* Send every curse back to sender, in Jesus’ name.

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