The Thief is Around II

Text: Rev. 12:7-12
More Lessons: Rev. 12:17

The ministry of the devil on earth is fully revealed by God to anyone who gives attention to reading of the Bible. Our text makes us to understand more about the devil and his origin. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him: v9. Most of the time, the way he comes to us does not actually reveal his mission. But the Bible says he is a dragon, an old serpent and a deceiver who has many evil angels that were expelled from heaven to earth, working with him.

One other reason why the enemy goes about like a roaring lion is because of your faith. Whatever the enemy does to you in life, his ultimate is to erode your faith and confidence in God. However, the Word of God says we have the shield of the spirit…building up yourself in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost (Jude 20) and Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit , and watching…:Eph. 6:18. To be secure even when the devil pursues, the believer needs to put on the whole armour of God (Eph. 6:14-18). The armour includes: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, sword of the Spirit, prayer, and supplication in the Spirit.

Beloved, the list is long. Which one do you have and which one do you lack? You need to be fully equipped because Satan is an enemy that eats beyond the bone. He does not only steal and kill, he destroys.

Moreover, our text points to another occupation of the devil: he goes around looking for who to deceive and what to use to accuse the children of God before their Father, day and night. The devil is a nuisance and to be free from him use the blood of Jesus, His name and the Word. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death: v11.These weapons never fail. Our fathers overcome Satan by them and they are a reference for us also today. Over your life, the blood of Jesus will not lose its power! He that gave victory to those who went ahead of us will not deny us the same testimony of victory. I declare over you, your destiny treasures shall not be stolen, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/ Action
Begin this prayer with the song: Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord my Father.
Then give thanks to the Lord because:
* In 2013, no craftiness of the enemy shall prosper against you.
* He will give you your meat in due season.
* Declare that your glory will not be stolen by destiny robbers.
* Declare that the plans of the enemy over your life shall not be hidden.

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The Thief Is Around

Text: Jn. 10:1-11.
More Lessons: Job 2:7-9

Names are very important. The name of a man tells so much about him; his mission, land of nativity and interests. When Jesus addressed the devil as a thief, a killer and a destroyer, He was exposing Satan's duty. Since the report of Jesus is true, Satan's mission and activities are revealed by his names. The devil does not go where there is nothing good. So when you see the devil being persistent about a matter, it means there is something of great value there. Each time you see the enemy coming to you, it is because there is something precious and peculiar about you that he wants to steal, kill or destroy.

From today’s text, Jesus plainly spelt out what the enemy wants to steal from the believer's life…I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly: v10. We can infer from Jesus' declaration here that the life of God in you is actually the devil's target. What the devil is running after to destroy is the thing Jesus came to give abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep: v11.

Beloved, you have the life of God that cannot be stolen, therefore, shun every suggestion of the devil to deprive you of your life.

Moreover, one of the greatest reasons the devil will want to destroy a man's life is his glorious future. Don't pally with the devil because his end has been determined already and you have what he can never have. The story of baby Jesus makes us know that Satan is always jittery when he sees a person with a great destiny. You have a great future; do not expose your life to the destroyer.

The knowledge of who the devil is, is very vital in being able to deny him access to our treasures. That was why Jesus exposed who he (Satan) is to us. Apostle Paul corroborated this truth when he wrote, Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices: II Cor. 2:11.

Our victory over the thief is to increase knowledge of what the devil can do and what God has provided for us and in us to overcome Satan's devices. Some of these include: more knowledge of God's word and promises, more strength in the place of prayer, more acquisition of the weapons of our warfare and the armour of God (II Cor. 10:4-6).

Prayer/ Action
* Prophesy that the glory of the Lord will not cease upon your life.
* Declare that today you will sing and not weep.
* Uproot the forces of sorrow out of your life, family and destiny.

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Tossed To And Fro

Text: Eph. 4:14-16.
More Lessons: Jm. 1:5-8

The Church of Jesus is filled with so many unstable believers who change church membership like they change their garments, without doctrinal base and terribly unstable in all things. They oscillate between fathers, churches and friends. Paul says they are…tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine…: Eph. 4:14. The worst of all is that many times the so-called leaders that are expected to be mature and provide leadership are the ones behaving like converts. They are known for their inability to stay focused in one place, and are given to complaints, easily persuaded out of what they believe and lack depth of the Word of God. Also, they are known for changing location, place of worship or relationship at the slightest challenge or problem, rather than seeking how best to solve the problem. Similarly, they don't have fundamental principles and they yield easily to new opinions without careful examination.

The solution to such instability is to develop a sound knowledge of God's Word. Many are tossed to and fro basically because of ignorance of the Word and divine counsel. Since end-time opinions and views on the things of God are multiplying, and the good, the bad and the ugly are increasing, those who will excel are those who will study and live by God's Word. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth: II Tim. 2:15.

So, this year, come out of your spiritual childishness by spending more time with the Word. Plan never to miss any Bible Study service this year. Give more time to feeding on the Word because that is the food of the spirit by which spiritual growth to maturity is achieved. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: I Pet 2:1-2.

In the name of Jesus you will not become a football for Satan to toss to and fro. You will be stable and focused!

Prayer/ Action
* Pray that you will not be an unstable Christian tossed by every wind of doctrine.
* Pray that you will be an example of the matured Christian, solving problems.
* Pray that you will not be an instrument of instability but a solution.
* Ask God to grant you a focused life that cannot be distracted.
* Pray against the spirit that makes people walk astray from God’s will.

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Members of Christ

Text: I Cor. 6:15-20.
More Lessons: I Cor. 3:16-17

The scripture reading today highlights five glorious things that happen to a man who turns over to Jesus and is born again.
1. The Christian becomes a member of Christ (v15a), that is, he has become a part of Jesus’ body). Such a person is taken care of. Your provision and nourishment are guaranteed, just as any part of a body receives its nourishment from the body. What a glory!
2. Your defence and protection from every work of the devil is guaranteed as no man deliberately allows himself to be hurt. In fact, the principle of reflex action is such that a defence and in some instances, an attack naturally springs up when anything that can hurt the body confronts it. Jesus cannot be aloof over anything that confronts you to hurt you. His reflex actions are too sharp and strong for any danger around and against members of His body.
3. Your body has a new designation and a new occupant. You are now the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in you (v19). You are a habitation of the Spirit of the Living God, not sickness and disease.
4. You have a worth, a precious price was paid to acquire you (v20). No man pays a heavy price for a worthless item. God could not stake so much as the blood of His Son on you if He did not consider you worthy.
5. Your body is the Lord’s whether in life or in death, therefore Satan has no claim over you. Satan contended for the body of Moses and Archangel Michael invoked the name of the Lord to rebuke him. Let it be so in your case so that at death, you will have an express passage to the Lord of your body. I welcome you to this glorious provision in Christ Jesus.

Prayer/ Action
* Ask that the reflex action of Jesus' body be activated against every attack on you, His body, now.
* Tell the devil to take his hands off you, now.
* Rededicate your entire body to God as His temple and ask Him to help you keep it holy.

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