Lord, Lift me Up

READ: Psa. 3:1-3
MORE LESSONS: Psa 40:1-4
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 37-39

God is the lifter of men, But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head: Ps. 3:3. When you ask Him to lift you up you are simply requesting Him to perform His role in your life. God is a performer; all that we can see or imagine are made available by His ability to perform.

Yet some speak about themselves as being self-made, reducing the glory of God to evolution from apes. Many argue that the greatness they attain is a function of their ingenuity, self will and effort, forgetting that their soul could be demanded of them any moment, as is the case of the rich fool (Lk 12:16-20). In order to buttress the futility of man’s ability to lift up himself, Jeremiah muses, O Lord I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps: Jer.10:23

An attempt by man to depend on another man of a higher status, position or influence for a lifting is equally disastrous. Thus Jeremiah declares, ...Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm....: Jer. 17:5. It is common to see highly placed people boast and demand praise or worship from their beneficiaries, assuming the position of a deity in such lives. I pray no man takes the place of God in your life. This is not to say that God cannot use a man or any other thing for your lifting but the prerogative to do so is His sole reserve.

It is the Creator’s design, through Jesus Christ who left His glory in Heaven, took the nature of a man, died, was buried, resurrected and sits at the right hand of the Father, to ensure man's lifting from the dungeon of hopelessness and sit him together with Christ in heavenly places, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love… even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ…and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Eph 2:4-6. Everyone who is in Christ Jesus is qualified to be lifted by the Lord. Asking the Lord to lift you up without depending on your own ability or that of others is asking according to the will of the Father, with the assurance of hearing you (I Jn 5:14-15).

It is wisdom to hand over your lifting to the Lord, who is lifted and sited in Heaven (Psa. 2:4). His vintage position as the Almighty (Gen 17:1), all-sovereign (Col. 1:18), all-glorious (Luke 13:17), all-sufficient (II Cor. 9:8), all-gracious (Exo. 33:19), all-powerful (I Chron. 29:11-12), all-knowing (Isa. 40:13-14) qualifies Him to be looked up to as a perfect lifter. When the Lord lifts you up, you remain at the top. Nothing can pull you down because God has His everlasting arms under you (Deut 33:27). You are like a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden (Mat. 5:14). In 2014, the testimony of lifting is your portion and your domain shall be reserved with the great.

Prayer/Actions
* Proclaim that your lifting is from God only.
* Repent of any act of looking up to man for lifting.
* Ask God to lift you out of the miry clay and set you upon the Rock of Ages.

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All-Round Strength

READ: Isa. 40:28-31
MORE LESSONS: II Cor 12:9-10
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 33-36

God does not hold back His blessing but gives to all men liberally and upbraids not. He always gives His best and His all, For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance: Rom. 11:29. He was not satisfied with His Spirit coming upon man intermittently in the old covenant, so He came up with a new covenant where His Spirit permanently dwells in man. In the same way, God gives all-round strength to His people. Finding no one to send for man's redemption, He came down Himself, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth: Jn 1:14.

He gave all of Himself to rescue man from the shackles of sin. After accomplishing this task on the cross of Calvary and it was time to return to the Father, He never left us comfortless, He put in us, the totality of Himself in the Holy Ghost, to abide with us forever (Jn 14:16-17). Thus, ... we all, with unvailed face, the glory of the Lord beholding in a mirror, to the same image are being transformed, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord: II Cor 3:18(YLT).

Part of our heritage in God through the work of salvation is all-round strength because there is no iota of weakness or fainting in God, He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength...: Isa. 40:28-29. This is to say that God gives all-round strength to those who don't have. God is able to bring increase to your life from nothing as He did at creation when all things were made from things that can’t be seen (Heb 11:3). He has equally given to us all things that we need for godly life through the knowledge of Him, and has shared His glory with us and given us all-round strength (II Peter 1:3-4).

However, you may sometimes experience some moments of weakness in one area or the other in your life and quickly jump into conclusion that you have weakness in such area, forgetting that all-round strength is a function of knowledge and not feelings, ...the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits: Dan 11:32. Also II Peter 1:3 clarifies this truth. Even then people become strong after being weak. (Heb 11:34). Indeed, the strength of God is made perfect in weakness, so that when we are weak, then we are strong (II Cor 12:9-10).

This manifold wisdom is paradoxical, and cannot be understood by the devil; for if he had known, he would not have crucified the Lord of glory (I Cor 2:8). Though the resurrection of the dead is sown in weakness, it is raised in power (I Cor. 15:42-43). All-round strength is not a myth after all, but the expression of God’s divine nature in us through His knowledge. I Jn 4:17 makes it more explicit ...as he is, so are we in this world. In this new year of season of glory, Jehovah's everlasting strength will be manifested in every area of your life.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that God’s strength will be sufficient for you.
* Ask for God’s strength to be made manifest in your weakness.
* Declare all-round strength.

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Open Heaven

READ: Matt. 3:13 -17
MORE LESSONS:Mark 9:2-8
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 30-32

Open Heaven signifies being allowed access, passage or opportunity to the treasures of Heaven. It also signifies God’s approval of a man and all that he does.

Jesus, in fulfilling all righteousness, went to be baptised and had Heaven open upon Him. That marked the beginning of His manifestation to the world. The encounter was so captivating that none of the writers of the gospel omitted it in their account, And

John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him: John 1:32. The results of an open Heaven are telling. When a man experiences open Heaven: the good treasures of God are released to him (Deut. 28:12), God pours more-than-enough blessing upon him (Mal. 3:10), God releases His Spirit upon him(John 1;32), He announces him to the world as His own (Matt. 3:17) and there will be a rain of righteousness upon such a man.

Your daily desire should be to always operate under an open Heaven. Consistent prayer life will keep Heaven open upon your life. The prayer life of Jesus on earth made Him to have Heaven open continually upon Him. Also, having a right standing before God will open the Heaven upon a man as unrighteousness closes Heaven.

Stay out of sin and you will have God's attention drawn to your life. As you go out today, Heaven shall be open upon you and Heaven's attention will be drawn to you to bring into your life God's good treasures, in Jesus' name.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that Heaven will not close over your life.
* Ask God to help you to live a life that will always attract His presence.

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Fervent Spirit

READ: Acts 18:24-28
MORE LESSONS: Matt. 3:1-11
Bible Reading in One Year: Genesis 27-29

One of Paul's instructions to Christians in Rome about Christian lifestyle and service is, Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord : Rom. 12:11. He sees fervent spirit and effectiveness as necessary components of our service to the Lord. Being fervent in spirit signifies being zealous, enthusiastic, and not being indifferent. Diligence and fervency are qualities that God requires of His children because He expects us to be diligent and industrious in all our duties both to God and man, especially in the duties of our calling.

To be fervent is to be earnest; allow your heart to be engaged in everything you do. Be enthusiastic about working for God. Nothing should be done out of

hypocrisy, eye service, murmuring, grumbling or with indifference. The Bible condemns the attitude of Reuben, Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart: Judges 5:16.

Contrary to what the world believe, an idle, slothful person cannot be a Christian because Christianity doesn’t encourage idleness or slothfulness. Apollos has a testimony of being diligent among the Christians in Ephesus, This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John: Acts 18:25. After being taught of the way of the Lord, he became a useful tool in nurturing the believers in Corinth (I Cor. 3:6).

Paul also comments about Epaphras as always labouring fervently in prayer (Col 4:12), Phinehas also has a commendation for being zealous for God (Num 25:1), Jesus, our perfect example, says, ... My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work: John 4:34. To have a fervent spirit, be earnest, let your heart be engaged in what you do, be diligent in seeking God, be consistent and be at the forefront of Kingdom matters.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to renew the zeal for His work in your heart.
* Ask God to kindle a fresh fire upon your spirit.

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