Peace Within

READ: Gal.1:1-4
MORE LESSONS: Col.1:1-2
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 10-11

Peace is one thing that is often taken for granted until it is lost. When there is no peace, people suddenly realise the importance of peace. Considering the importance of peace, Jesus came to the earth as the Prince of peace and His birth was heralded by a
declaration of peace, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,…. Luke 2:14.

Moreover, as Jesus was going back to Heaven, He left a legacy of peace behind, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.... John 14:27. Peace is one blessing of God that you must key into. According to our text,
peace comes only from God and Jesus Christ His Son.

Primarily, the Bible talks about peace in two ways. The first is peace with God (Rom.5:1). When the first Adam sinned, the whole human race fell short of the glory of God. This brought a spiritual separation between God and man. But God did not go to sleep angry with man; He made provision for reconciliation in the person of Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. When you accept Jesus as God's provision for reconciliation, you have peace with God.

The second way the Bible uses peace is the peace of God. The peace of God comes when you cast your cares upon Him, Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus: Phil4:6-7. Peace with God and the peace of God combined is what forms inner peace or peace within.

Obviously, the world is in dire need of peace today. The wars, conflicts and fights that we see are indications that we need peace. Although these wars and conflicts are signs of the end time, it is also true that because men lack the inner peace of God, the
expected peace without has become elusive. We know that the major factor responsible for lack of peace on earth is the devil.

However, the Church, which is an agent of peace, must not relent in her prayer for peace in the world because it is nothing with God to give peace by all means. Since the Bible says, Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God: Matt.5:9, we must be at the forefront of the crusade for peace.

Prayer/Action
* Today, I destroy everything that tampers with my God-given peace, in Jesus’ name.
* I receive the grace of God to be an agent of peace everywhere I go, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* I shall not lose my peace again, I shall live in peace with all around me.

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Unfading Glory

READ: 2 Cor.4:15 -1
MORE LESSONS: Col.3:1-4
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 6-9

There is hardly anything on earth that really lasts. A man can buy a car today and be mesmerised by the glory of his new car, but give it two years and you will see how faded the glorious car has become. Look at the life of a man; he grows from infanthood to
adulthood and then to old age. No matter how beautiful and fulfilling the life of a man is, at a certain old age he becomes a shadow of himself. With these two examples, it is important to note that everything on earth fades away. That is what the Bible means when it says, ...for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal: 2 Cor.4:18. Nothing really lasts beyond its lifespan.

A song writer captures it succinctly, Fading away like the stars of the morning, losing their lights in the glorious sun, thus shall we pass from the earth and its toiling, only remembered by what we have done.

The only glory that is unfading is what the Bible calls eternal glory. 1 Pet.5:10 tells us in unmistakable term that our call is to eternal glory by Christ Jesus. This glory is the one which is reserved for believers in Heaven. Interestingly, the factors that diminish the glory of earthly things have no power over heavenly things. The atmosphere of Heaven is corrosion-free and as such does not affect the glory of the things there.

This explains why the Bible urges us to lay up treasures for ourselves in Heaven where they can’t lose their value (Matt.6:20).
It is abundantly clear from the Scripture that though there is an unfading glory for us in Heaven, we may go through some temporal suffering for us to arrive at this glory.

We must keep labouring, despising the pain we go through, until our Chief

Shepherd appears to give us the crown of glory that does not fade (1Pet.5:4). Beloved of God, no matter the things you are going through on the path of righteousness, rest assured that they are working for you a far more eternal weight of glory. If your pain,
affliction, difficulties, and discomforts are working out something as weighty as eternal glory, then you must never complain but give thanks to God on a continuous basis, irrespective of how you feel.

Prayer/Action
* Father, let your glory upon my life not fade away, in Jesus’ name.
* I receive the grace of God to successfully pass through all that I need to pass through to enter into eternal glory.
* I am a glorious being, I walk in glory everyday of my life.

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Greater Year

READ: Prov. 4:14-22
MORE LESSONS: Psalms 65:11
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 3-5

Happy new year is a common greeting at the beginning of a new year. However, a careful look at the compliment reveals that it is a prophetic declaration to the life of someone in the new year. January marks the beginning of a new year and anyone who understands times and seasons will agree that the prophetic declaration is much more needed in our generation, Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof: Matt 6:34.

God's plan for His children is that yesterday should not be better than today, therefore this year must record better achievements than the last one. As a just man, your

path must shine brighter each moment than the previous one. The NIV Bible says that God crowns the year with His bounty and that His cart overflows with abundance (Psa. 65:11). Imagine God, the loving One, dragging a cart overflowing with abundant provision of all you need for the year.

What do we do to enjoy the promise of abundance? The verse tells us that the promise is for only the just or the righteous. Righteousness entails doing the right thing and abhorring those things that are evil. These days, several people believe that no one

can be righteous. This is true if one wants to attain righteousness by his own strength, as

Isaiah declares, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away: Isa 64:6. However, the Holy Son of the living God, Jesus, has been substituted for us, For He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the

righteousness of God in him: 2 Cor. 5:21. If only you can lay aside your own effort and accept the finished work on the cross, you can become not just righteous but the righteousness of God.

This is easier to do than to strive to do it in the power of the
flesh. You too can become the righteousness of the Lord.
This is a state that all who desire a happy year must attain. Happy New Year, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Re-dedicate your life to the Lord again.
* Thank God for the righteousness of Jesus that is available to you.
* Declare that this year will be better than the previous year.

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Happy New Year and Welcome to the Season of His Glory

Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 1-2

On behalf of myself, my household and the entire leadership of the JAWOM family worldwide, I say HAPPY NEW YEAR to all members of our great Commission, partners, friends and all people of goodwill. It's a new year, therefore, Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing…: Isa. 43:18-19. This Word encourages you to let go the failure, pain, disappointment, sorrow and the like of 2013; let them go with the old year. Begin to work for and look forward, by faith, to new things in the New Year. What are the new things: Lev. 26:4-12 (NLT).

4 . I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit.

5. Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your
own land.

6 . I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land.

7. In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords.

8. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword.

9. I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people. And I will fulfill my covenant with you.

10. You will have such a surplus of crops that you will need to clear out the old grain to make room for the new harvest!
11. I will live among you, and I will not despise you.
12. I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people.

Standing on these promises of God, 2014 is a season of His glory upon you in all areas of life. Old stories will give way to a new glory of God which will swallow up your reproach and pain until there is no single reproach left in your life. Your land shall overflow with blessings, your harvest will last beyond the next planting season, your land/destiny shall be fertile, you shall not cast your young ones, you shall not be feeble, silver and gold will serve you. You will be blessed and be a blessing. Negative end time prophecies will not overtake you. You will serve God; you will not serve sin or satan.

You will be a battle axe in the hand of God. With you God's purpose and plan shall be fulfilled. You will end 2014 on a glorious note. You are permanently in our prayers and care. We prophesy a happy year for you, in Jesus' mighty name.

Bishop and Rev. (Mrs.) David Bakare.

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