Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Ingratitude

13 Nov. 2013
Text: Psa.106:1-5,
More Lessons: Psa.95:1-3

When we talk about ingratitude it means any act that is at abeyance to been thankful. Verse 1 says, ...give thanks unto the LORD. It is foolishness to think negative of God because of what you are passing through. Somebody going through a very painful experience once said to me, “why me?” I responded that she should recommend who it should be. God is God no matter what happens; whether he has answered your prayers or not, He remains God. If you are a person who soon forgets what good somebody did for you yesterday, you are ungrateful. The first born children of the Egyptians were killed but God kept the children of Israel alive.

But verse 7 says...they remembered not. They forgot the good things God did for them too soon. To some other ingrates, it is impatience. God has been so faithful to you but because of one thing that He has not given you yet, you decide to be ungrateful. Some people take their response to the extreme by renouncing their faith in Christ.

Lust is another way you know an ingrate. When you have a desire that is so strong for something and you can't give God praise until you get it, you are showing gross ingratitude. An ingrate always complains. Ingrates are never satisfied, that is why they always complain. During the exodus of the children of Israel through the red sea, after seeing the miracle of the red sea they still complained to Moses that he brought them out to kill them in the wilderness.

The Bible says God overthrew them and their children. For you not to be an ingrate, you must learn to appreciate whatever good is done to you, no matter how small. Let the good that people did to you swallow the evil they did. Gratitude is a key to living a long life. Show gratitude for the life that you have today. Don't complain that you didn't enjoy your sleep, thank God for waking up alive and well. Do you have reasons to be grateful to God today? There are many people in the hospital right now with just one desire; to be healed. Take a look at yourself where you are, healthy and fine yet with numerous acts of ingratitude. You have to be well to graduate, have children, succeed in business and achieve your desires. That you are alive and well today is a proof of God's faithfulness. Do you have reasons to be grateful to God today? Don't be an ingrate; always show gratitude to God and fellow men.

Prayer/Action.
* Ask God for forgiveness for your acts of ingratitude thus far.
* Pray that henceforth you will appreciate God for everything.
* Send a word, a text message, a call or a visit today as a sign of gratitude to at least two people who have been a blessing to your life either directly or indirectly.

Like and share

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

The “Above All” Lifestyle II

Text: Matt.28:18
More Lessons: John19:1-4

Since Jesus testified that all power in heaven and on earth is given Him, those who have Jesus in them cannot live a life below the highest point! Even Paul testified: God has made us sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Eph.2:6). The environment of heaven is our normal habitat. We live in God’s presence. Beyond long prayers and attending church services, Christianity is a walk into the spirit realm through the Holy Spirit into the presence of God. Until we learn to live on earth from the presence of God, we cannot be His children.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles shows people beginning to draw upon new resources of the recreated human spirit in Christ. We are to move through the world blessing mankind with the saving, healing and restoring power of Jesus Christ. These were the first new men in Christ; new creatures of the kingdom of God, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, declaring as earthy ambassadors, the love and power of the living God. We are sent out to bring others into the same kingdom order so that they too can walk in the Spirit of God and release the joy and glory of God everywhere they go.

It is the law of the Spirit of God, written on the tablets of our hearts. Jesus assured us of the signs, wonders and miracles that will follow those who believe in Mk.16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. The entire job description of the Christian is absolutely supernatural! The true believer in Christ is supernaturally natural. There is no room for mundane and mediocre living in the Kingdom of God. Christianity is the ticket to a higher, first class life. It is the power to be ahead in class, work, office, and everywhere we find ourselves. But you cannot enjoy these unlimited privileges if you do not belong to the commonwealth of the household of Christ Jesus. Only God’s children can sit with him in heavenly places in Christ. If you have not confessed Jesus as Lord and King of your life, do it now. Tomorrow might be too late. However, if you are born again and filled with the Holy Ghost, step out now and begin to speak and manifest the acts of the Spirit.

Prayer/Action.
* Pray that nothing will take you from the presence of God.
* Pray for added understanding to manifest the magnitude of the power of God.
* Thank God for elevating you as co - heir apparent with Christ in His Kingdom.
Go out today and pray for anybody who is sick for healing.

Like and share

Monday, November 11, 2013

The “Above All” Lifestyle I

Text: John3:31
More Lessons: Eph.2:4-7

There is a peculiar language and lifestyle for kingdom citizens. According to our first text, it is the language of “above all”. Just as there is a different speech pattern or unique accent every tribe or tongue of people on earth, such that when you hear a typical Zulu man speak, you can easily discern his nationality and tribe as different from that of an Ethiopian. So is it with those who are born into the body of Christ Jesus.

A Christian is wired to speak in dominion and power not in timidity and fear. Jesus told us we can uproot mountains and cast them into the sea simply by speaking. Mk.11:23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

When a true believer in Jesus is heard over any matter at all, you can be sure to see the full authority and dominion of God flowing in the utterances. No mere human can dare to speak with the authority of a born again Christian because he is the representative of the God of Heaven hereon earth. Same applies to the entire lifestyle of members of the Kingdom of God.

Wherever a Christian goes, the difference is always clear because though we live on the earth we are clearly not of this world! We are from above! When the world hates, we love; when the world is sick; we heal the sick; when the world is confused; we proffer timely wisdom and solution; when the world is running helter shelter, we live in peace that passes all understanding because we are from a country where there is no hate, sickness, confusion or chaos. Phil.3:20 For conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Obviously, a person 'born from above' will never be satisfied with a world which is gross and only material. Whenever I feel that deep thirst and void that cannot be satisfied by anything in this world, I realize that I belong to another world and it is only in the things of that other world that my satisfaction lies. Believers in Christ Jesus are not of this world, so we are not controlled by the dictates and limitations of this world. Praise God for the higher life in Christ!

Prayer/Action.
* Ask for God’s forgiveness where your lifestyle betrayed your faith in Christ.
* Pray to live above all earthly challenges.
* Pray for wisdom to impact your generation
* Go ahead and address your mountains now, and reposition them under your feet while you stand above them.
* Stand and declare you are above.

Like and share

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Help in Times of Trouble II

Text: Psa.60:11
More Lessons: Exo.14:21-27

In Heb.13:5b the Bible says;…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. This means that you will I never walk alone because the Lord that overcame will never let you go on alone or forsake you to be overcome by the enemy. The word “ Never” creates one of the most reliable strengths and confidence of the New Testament church. The reality is that God is always there for His children even in the darkest of nights and He knows the facts and figures of what we go through.

What great surge of joy permeates my heart to think that God knows every detail about my life and He will never abandon me to the hands of my enemy! Some of the anxieties that cause high blood pressure today are traced to our response to issues of life as people of little or no faith. It is an act of unbelief to panic at the slightest pain and challenge when God is on your side .Truth is progressive. There are truths and greater truths. Our text advocates a greater truth than we formerly knew when we first believed that there could be trouble in the life of a believer. In fact, the decision to walk with Jesus will put you on the black list of the devil.

The reason the enemy is mad and seeking to devour any one that bears the mark of Jesus Christ is because, he remembers the great, irrevocable and eternal loss his kingdom incurred when Jesus defeated him openly over 2000years ago! Col.2:15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. The word of God never asks us to pray trouble way. Our text proves to us that trouble is not always a product of sin, but it is inevitable to all of us, at one time or the other. So it is not an act of faith to lie or fake it when we are going through hard times. What we are instructed to do is know that our God will deliver us from whatever trouble we may face.

This is our greatest confidence is tackling the issues of life. The devil is a defeated foe and all his schemes against your life are wasted because your help in the time of trouble is God all by Himself! Whenever it seems like all hell breaks loose and trouble faces you headlong, all you have to do is face God with everything. Psa.34:5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. If you will only look to Jesus, He will be your way maker, today and always!

Prayer/Action.
* Pray that the grace of God will see you through your life times of trouble.
* Look unto Jesus as your only help out of hard times.
* Pray that God will strengthen and guide you out of troubles.
Hard times are not forever, so declare them over today and give God thanks.

Like and share