Following Jesus

Text: Matt.4:18-25
More Lessons: Gen. 12:1

Following Jesus is not an adventure we choose but a quest that comes to us; we are called to it. Jesus, during His earthy ministry called men with whom He fulfilled His mandate on earth, people like John, James, Peter and Andrew. (John 1:40-43). As He did then when He was physically on earth, He is still doing today.

However, most often, when God calls us, we are tempted to go only halfway with Him. I will follow you if you show me where you are taking me or I will go if I can still keep my boyfriend, my sinful lifestyle and if the pay will be reasonable enough. The call of God to man for fellowship is always complete, total and never an easy thing, but it is always for a life of fulfillment…I will make you fishers of men: Matt 4:19. The call of God on your life is to make you what you are designed to be, which sometimes you may or may not know.

Moreover, following Jesus entails certain virtues and sacrifices as enumerated by the scriptures.
1. Self-denial, (Matt 16:24): the call of God upon your life is a call unto sacrifice and discipline. The title “disciple” came from the word discipline; disciples are disciplined people, who are able to follow in all situations.
2. Your possessions (Luke 18:22): Jesus said … sell all…that is to say, its ownership. Brethren, everything you posses is for the purpose of your call, when you let it go for God’s work on earth, you will meet it in heaven. Your possessions can stand in the way of your call if care is not taken. Following the Lord involves avoiding distractions.
3. Things that ma k e for peace (Rom.14:19): being an agent of peace, as a believer means following the Lord, bridging the gap between God and man, and the gap between man and man. In following the Lord, you must follow peace with all men (Heb.12:14).
4. Righteousness and godliness, (I Tim.6:11): any man who is following Jesus must also follow virtues like righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. The choice to follow Jesus is a choice to follow certain things and a choice to also run away from others. Jesus said that whoever follows Him must be ready to forsake “all” to be able to do so. A type of Christianity that allows everything, not being selective and discerning, is not true Christianity. We must do all things to be able to follow completely.

Prayer/ Action
* Lord Jesus, help me to follow You correctly and to the end, in Jesus’ name.
* I break off every tendency for diversion and distraction over my life.
* I receive the power to be focused, in Jesus’ name.

Like and share

Life Tool

Text: Eph. 6:13
More Lessons: John 16:7-13

Our God is a God of order. He made provisions for His children to live above the limitations of this life. As a tool chest that is full of tools, so is the believer in Christ given all kinds of godliness spiritual tools and blessings necessary for life and godliness. We are not defenseless. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Chris: Eph. 1:3.

An apt understanding of these tools and their specific functions and applications will enable the believer walk in the fullness of power and dominion. Examples are: the name of Jesus (Phil. 2:10) the blood of Jesus (Heb. 10:19) etc. But all our interest this time is on the Word of God (Eph. 6:17). The power of the Word of God is matchless. It's an incredible tool in the believer's walk of victory. Even God honours His Word above his name; …for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name: Psa. 32:2. So the next time you read the Word of God, do it with the consciousness that you are in contact with the most powerful and eternal tool straight from the heart of God. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away: Luk. 21:33. One of the reasons why we sometimes find it difficult to believe that God will do what he says in His Word is because we ourselves fail to do what we say we will do. So our inadequacy in integrity makes it sub-consciously difficult for us to accept and believe in the integrity of God's Word. But … for he is not a man, that he should repent: I Sam. 15:29.

Considering the account of the temptation of Jesus Christ by the devil, you will realize that the enemy is so desperate and daring, that he even thinks he can overcome the Son of God. This means that nobody is exempted from the tempter's striking range. But praise God, Jesus knew just what tool to use against Satan's temptations; He spoke the Word. The arsenal that really sends the enemy back and quenches all his fiery darts in our hearts and minds is not our years of experience or constant pleading of the Blood of Jesus alone, but speaking theWord of God against him. Remember that at this time Jesus was even carrying in veins the spotless blood that saved us all, yet He didn't plead the Blood; He spoke the Word against the adversary. Daily victory over demonic suggestions and temptations is depends on how much of God's Word fills our hearts and proceeds from our lips. Stop that devil today; confess the Word of God!

Prayer/ Action
* Command the matchless power in the Word of God to flow over you right now.
* Ask God to Honour His Word in your life and destiny and against every reproach in your life.
* Pray that the Word of God will not fail in your matter.
* Proclaim that you will begin to win by the Word everywhere, everytime.

Like and share

God’s Nature

Text: II Pe.t 1:4 More Lessons: 1Jn 2:12-20

We cannot get enough of the Word of God which brings God to us. The environment of heaven finds expression in the Word of God. The more of the Kingdom of Heaven we want to experience, the more of the Word we must deliberately digest. Growing in the Word of God requires discipline and a lot of effort at first, but as we make a habit of reading and meditating on the Word, we soon begin to build our lives around it with ease. Every time we receive the Word, we receive God. All of that is simply to say that the reason God gave us His Word is to make us like Him.

Beyond the breakthroughs and miracles that we receive as we walk in God's Word, the ultimate invitation of God for us is to become like Him. This is the very heart -beat of the Father. God is building Himself into us by the instrumentality of His Word; He wants to totally transform us. This is the ultimate assignment of God's Word in us; to upgrade our present reality into God's realm of dominion. God is constantly changing our lives into His image.

Through every victory, deliverance and healing, God is calling us to become channels of deliverance, healing and victory to the world around us. The life of God must be seen in and through our daily lives, for this is the ultimate work of the Word in us. The Living Book is given to make us living books and epistles to our generation.

We are called Christians because our biggest responsibility is to be like Christ, walking in the divine nature of Christ; a life that absolutely portrays heaven on earth. Jesus walked the earth many years and never felt sick, rather, he healed the sick. This is because no virus or disease can thrive in the divine nature of Christ, none, not one! The divine nature is an absolutely supernatural life that natural people cannot resist. And this is one of the greatest tools for evangelism. God is calling us out of this present noise into maturity of soul and spirit. It is God's desire that our every word and deed beams the Gospel to that person who might never get to read a Bible. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,...: Col. 3:17. Let us live in the consciousness that we are the living epistles of the Gospel of Christ today. For it is only through contact with the Word that we can impact our world.

Prayer/ Action
* Pray that God’s Word will become a part of your life.
* Pray that God’s Word will become your nature and your nature His Word.
* Pray that your life will manifest God’s Word in all areas of life.
* Say no to every anti-God’s Word character.
* Ask God to beautify your life with the power of His Word.

Like and share

Power Capsule

Text: Heb 4:12
More Lessons: IISam 22:14-22.

Those who believe and receive the Word of God will experience an endless supply of the power of God every single day of their lives. Today's world is too wicked not to have power. There are too many devils out there ready to trample our lives underfoot. But if we tap into God's power, we can live above and subdue these devices of the devil. It is God's desire that we live in dominion and power perpetually but His power cannot manifest in our lives more than we take hold of His word and insist on our dominion mandate in Christ.

The third operation of the Word of God in us is that it comes to sharpen us up and it is sharper than any two-edged sword, releasing matchless penetrating power into our lives. It corrects and fine tunes rough edges in our lives. It is the desire of the enemy, Satan, that old serpent and accuser of the brethren to leave our lives rough and not good enough for God's use; this is why God sends us sharp capsules in His Word. As we live and confess the Word of God, we discover that our capacity to resolve hard riddles and bring sharp solutions to the world's situation becomes everyday reality. The human tendency to be confused and blunt is taken away, leaving us sharp and able to sharpen things around us. Every bluntness in our lives, every rough edge is polished by the Word of God. We come out brighter and more elegant as we live by God's Word. The sharp capsules in the Word of God is also sharp enough to reaching into the deepest parts of our souls and spirits, bringing healing and restoration to deep wounds, hurts and even physical diseases, …piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow…: Heb. 4:12b. No matter is too hidden or deep for the Word of God to penetrate and transform.

Absolutely nothing is out of reach for the laser of God's Word. In Matt. 8:8 we see a man who knew the power of God's sharp capsule …The centurion answered and said… but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Do not fight that battle with the sword of your connection or influence, but by the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God, for it is sharp enough to bring down any stronghold or foe. When we on the word, we become lords of our circumstances. By the Word of God, we reign; we rule and live victoriously in Christ. Every man or woman of God is a man or woman of the Word of God.

Receive the threefold power of the word today, Take God at his Word.

Prayer/ Action
* Ask that the power of God’s Word will not cease but continue to flow I your life.
* Pray that the power in God’s Word will liberate your destiny from every work of darkness and sin.
* Pray that by the power of God’s Word, you will reign, rule and be victorious in life.

Like and share