Times and Seasons I

Read: Eccl.  3:1-14
Bible Reading in One Year: Exodus 35-40

The issue of times and understanding times has always intrigued men. The search for the knowledge of times is something several pursue with great interest. The irony is that many people want to understand the times neglecting the Creator of times, the Almighty God, Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days? Job 24:1. Some people resort to horoscope instead of getting close to God in order to know, understand and experience their times. They substitute the leadership of God for their life with stargazing which the Bible strongly warns against because it’s idolatry, There shall not be found among you any that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times [horoscope], or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard or a necromancer: Deut.18:10-11.

God says all who do stargazing are an abomination to Him. The methods of observing times as listed in Deuteronomy above have become modernised and easily accessible in newspapers, on the internet and mobile phones. Some go for fortune-telling and to wizards and "prophets" to discover secrets of the future using various forms of spells and incantation to cure diseases and form league with familiar spirits. Through these many fellowship with devils. Let it be clear that those involved in such cannot fellowship with God and how can you understand times and seasons if you are not in agreement with God the owner of times and seasons?

Today's reading clearly states that if anyone will truly understand the times, they must trust God, But I trusted in thee, O Lord; I said, thou art my God. My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me: Ps.31:14-15(AMP). The Amplified version says to trust God is to lean on, rely on, and be confident in God. God is reliable, dependable and trustworthy. He has kept the universe intact from creation till now and the order hasn’t been disrupted: the ground has not sunk under our feet nor the sky fallen on our heads. This same God assures, But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry and be anxious,.... Matt.6:30-31(AMP). Men who have become God's own by the salvation experience obtained through faith in Christ Jesus and are abiding in Him are secure no matter what the times and seasons hold. Therefore, trust God!

Prayer/Action
* Lord, I will trust in You continually and I will experience the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Throw out all materials of observing times and stargazing. Cleanse your house of all idolatrous materials that show independence of God. Take time to seek His face for divine guidance.

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The Heart, Not the Message

READ Luke 8:4-15
MORE LESSONS: John 8:31-36
Bible Reading in One Year: Exodus 32-34

A friend once asked me why there are so many churches and powerful preachers in Nigeria, yet unrighteousness abounds. Before I could pose an answer, he concluded, I think there is something wrong with messages that are preached. It is either the preachers are not preaching the right stuff to change the people or the messages lack power to convict men of sin, righteousness and judgment. My friend may be right, but I also think there is something more as the Scripture reading explains. The sower planted the same seeds at different locations, but what influenced the performances was the nature of the land. Those which fell by the way side were trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured the seeds. Some fell upon a rock and as soon as they sprang up, they withered because there was no moisture. Some fell among thorns and were choked up by the thorns that sprang up with it. Yet others fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bore fruit a hundredfold.

In the explanation of the parable, Jesus says the seed is the Word. No one can doubt the potency of God's Word. If the Word fails to produce result, it is not the inefficacy of the Word or of the sower, but the land, and in this case the heart of men that influences the performance of the seed. It is unfortunate that some listeners in church have the hearts that are vulnerable to birds of the air. Such hearts are those that wonder about when preaching is going on. They hardly hear anything in church. Even if they hear, the Word does not get home with them. The enemies of their souls simply pick everything. Some others have hearts that cannot stay upon God's Word for a season. Although they hear and even respond to altar call, when their flesh demands for things contrary to the Word they hear, they easily submit to their flesh. These are believers who cannot resist temptation because they are not deep rooted in the Word. Some other believers have hearts full of the cares of this world. Although they seemingly love God, they also love the world. They are those who use the Word as a cloak for covetousness. You never can be a friend of the world and please God in anyway, as the Scripture cannot be broken (1John 2:15-17). The cares of the world will stunt the growth of the Word.

It was the same seeds that fell on fertile ground and produced fruit in thirty, sixty and hundred folds. Anytime God's Word finds a fertile ground, the fullness of its potential will manifest. God's Word is perfect, converting the soul. It is a lamp to the feet of men, a light to the path of them who believe. Make your heart ready today for God's Word, and the preaching you hear daily will produce effect in your life.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, make my heart fertile for Your Word.
* I declare that the Word I hear daily will profit me.
* I receive grace for obedience to God's Word.

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High Cost of Stubbornness

READ: Exodus 5:1-11
MORE LESSONS: 1Sam.15:23-25
Bible Reading in One Year: Exodus 14-17

Stubbornness is a character of the devil. Unfortunately, some people magnify stubbornness presuming that they are strong and tough as Pharaoh was seen by all Egyptians as a tough, no-nonsense leader, a mighty man of valour, one who could not be cowed to submission by the miraculous display of Moses and his God. Pharaoh's magicians encouraged him in his stubbornness when they went on to repeat some of Moses' miracles. They turned water to blood (Exo.7:22-23) and brought more frogs on the land (Exo.8:6-7). They did all that to prove to Pharaoh that all that Moses was doing was not impressive.

To be stubborn means: 1) to be unwilling to obey or do what you know is the right thing to do; 2) to deliberately set yourself against the truth; 3) to wilfully continue on the path you know or have been told is wrong; 4) to determine to do the wrong, damning the consequences. God hates stubbornness. In His sight, stubbornness or unwillingness to repent is as iniquity as idolatry (1Sam.15:23). Stubbornness is to say, What can authority do to me? What a man reaps from the sin of stubbornness and non-repentance are plague, affliction, sickness, pain and destruction of property, business and children, just as it happened to Pharaoh, his magicians, and the entire nation of Egypt. Pharaoh in his stubbornness said to Moses, ...Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go: Exo. 5:2. Even if Pharaoh did not know the God of Moses, he knew the power of the gods. But blindfolded by stubbornness, he dared the God of Moses. Stubbornness blindfolds and makes you see only yourself. It makes you rate yourself above your worth, and you become proud. Unfortunately, behind pride and haughty spirit is a monster lying in wait to override you, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall : Prov.16:18.

It is not the desire of God to send plagues to your life. His desire for you is to bless and multiply you, If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Isa.1:19. But if you continue in your pigheadedness, you can jeopardise your future and destiny. I plead with you to repent and come out of that sinful way, and you will enjoy the great harvest that God promised us this year.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, I repent of stubbornness. Please forgive me, in Jesus’ name.
* Uproot every element of stubbornness in your life.
* Submit your emotions to the Holy Spirit.
* Go for deliverance prayer if you notice that you find it difficult to submit to authority.

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The Wiles of the Devil

READ: Exodus 1:8-11 .
MORE LESSONS: Eph.6:11
Bible Reading in One Year: Exodus 28-31

The second text admonishes us, Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Satan has tricks to get people to do what he wants in order to scuttle people’s destinies. One of such schemes is cunning. In the main text Pharaoh adopts a crafty method in dealing with the growth rate of the Israelites in Egypt, Come on, let us deal wisely [cunningly, shrewdly, craftily] with them; lest they multiply....: Exo.1:10. Pharaoh had foreseen that the Israelites would one day leave Egypt and that would reduce the labour force and affect the building of his empire. Therefore, he acted fast and strategised to ensure it never happened.

In Genesis 3:1-6 satan cunningly overpowered Eve. He made her see how good and concerned he was about their welfare and how unfair God had been to them (Gen.3:4-5). Satan said it was because God did not want Adam and Eve to know good and evil, and become like the gods; that is why God prevented them from eating the fruit. However, satan’s plot was to overthrow the plan of God for Adam and Eve.

Satan and his agents have not changed from using cunning to alter people's destiny even today. When they set out to overthrow someone, they first make him see why following God's way of doing things is a waste of time, and foolishness. They make the victim see the 'blessings' he stands to gain if he will follow their suggestions. They craftily make their suggestions, appealing to the man's emotions, as it happened to Eve, And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat:Gen.3:6.

Make up your mind today that you will not yield to satanic suggestions that you should stop being 'over righteous' and try other means outside Jesus to solve your problems. That is the voice of satan. He wants to overthrow your destiny. Do like Paul and shake the beast into the fire (Acts 27:3-5) and get ready for God's miraculous intervention in your matter. Your destiny is designed for the top and you will get there.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to help you win over every plot to short-change or overthrow
your destiny.
* Put on the whole armour of God.
Set on fire every scheme of the devil over your life.

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