Godliness is Possible

READ: 1Tim.3:14-16
MORE LESSONS: 2Cor.5:17
Bible Reading in One Year: Matthew 1-4

Godliness is possible because Jesus came to the world. You now can have God come inside you, live inside you and act through your personality. You can partake of the divine nature and become a genuine son of the living God. When Jesus was born into this world, He was God in human flesh, that is why His name is Immanuel, God with us. Jesus was the only man who walked the face of the earth without committing a single sin, …for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me: Jn.14:30; …was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin: Heb.4:15.

By the time Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He became the Author of eternal salvation for all who believe in Him. When He was on the earth, He said, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him: Jn. 14:23. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour transforms your life completely and gives you the power of sonship, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Jn.1:12. The sonship, in addition to the power of the Holy Ghost that comes upon you, empowers you to be whatever God wants you to be, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth: Acts 1:8.

Therefore, godliness in a believer is made possible by the power of redemption in the blood of Jesus which changes your life and character to behave like God. If indeed you carry the life of God by redemption, your life must be the life of God, and your fruits will show it. If you are born of God, live like God.

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to God for making godliness possible.
* Rebuke every act in your life that runs contrary to the life of God.
* Ask God to help you live like Him on the earth.
* Ask that sin will not have dominion over you.

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Prayer Pillars

READ: Acts 4:23-31
MORE LESSONS: Jam.5:17-18
Bible Reading in One Year: Proverbs 29-31

A pillar is a load carrier in a building or structure. Without strong pillars a great house or structure cannot stand. A pillar therefore is the main strength of a structure. A pillar is called by whatever material it is made of, hence you have concrete pillar, pillar of cloud, pillar of prayer, wooden pillar, etc. Like any strong building, the Church of Jesus needs strong pillars to stand among them, one of which is prayer pillar. The prayer pillar in any church is the intercessor, individual or group. The New Testament Church did not survive without it and no church of God today can survive without it. A church is strong to the extent of its intercessors or individuals lifting the church or its pastor up in prayer because the work of God moves on the wings of intercession. Therefore, where there is no intercessor the work drags and suffers great setback no matter what else is done. The glory of the New Testament Church is her prayer pillar.

The early Church prayed:
1. In Every watch hour (Acts 3:1).
2. As an apostolic band (Acts 4:23-31).
3. And the building shook (Acts 4:31).
4. And the earth quaked (Acts 16:25-26).
5. And the prison doors opened (Acts 12:1-11).
6. Without ceasing (Acts 6:4).
7. Until something happened (Acts 12:5).
8. And changed the world (Acts 17:6).

The greatest need of the Church today is men and women who will raise prayers up to Heaven for the Church and her pastors. Are you one of them? The recruitment exercise is still on, join those who lift Moses’ hands up and not those who criticise everything that is done in church. Whatever we do to a church or in a church building has eternal reward.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that God will use you in the place of intercession to make a difference in your church and in the world.
* Pray that God will raise faithful intercessors to pray for your church and world evangelism.
* Pray for your spiritual leaders.
* Make a covenant never to close your service or family altar or personal prayer time without a prayer for your spiritual leader.

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Make a Demand on Heaven

READ: Neh.2:1-6
MORE LESSONS: Matt.7:7
Bible Reading in One Year: Proverbs 25-28

Occasionally in life you are opportune to stand before great people and you are asked, What can I do for you? It is usually an opportunity to make a great request but sometimes you mess it up and ask for peanuts. Nehemiah stood before the king and asked for permission and help to return and rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem and he got it, … So it pleased the king to send me;….v6. Herodias’ daughter, prompted by her mother, stood before Herod and asked, ...Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her: Matt.14:8-9 She got it. Elisha asked Elijah for a hard thing and got it (2kgs.2:10-14). Solomon, himself a king, had the rear privilege of being urged by not less than the King of kings to make a request, he got it, Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour: Chron.1:7-12.

When you know how to make your request to Jehovah, it is as good as standing before the Almighty God Himself and it is an opportunity to ask for the great desires of your life. Each time you notice the presence of God in a place, either a worship time in or out of church or an unusual presence of God's glory all around you, it is as good as hearing God say, What can I do for you? Never let such opportunity pass you by, make a request, step into a great worship or anything that will make you a partaker of the glory of the divine presence. Today, write a prayer request of the greatest desires of your heart, create an atmosphere of God's presence by praise and worship (singing) or by prayer, and present your requests to the King of kings and expect an answer. Just as others got answer, you too will today.

Prayer / Action
* Thank God for the honour of being allowed into His presence.
* Ask God for the blessing of His presence.
* Ask God to grant your desires by His greatness.
* Rebuke every barrier and road block to your answer.
* Declare that today your pain will become a testimony.
* Thank God for answer.

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You must not Lose your Labour

READ: 2 Jn.8 (NLT)
MORE LESSONS: Gen.26:12-13
Bible Reading in One Year: Proverbs 22-24

Many people work so hard, breaking new grounds, planting and harvesting but do not pay attention to conserving the fruits of their past labours. Such people will labour all through life and end up with no rewards in their hand. They have stories of what they did, and probably what they achieved but nothing concrete in terms of end products that will carter for their needs. That shall not be your case; you will eat the fruits of your labour. Imagine a farmer that is so busy opening new farms, but will not look back to weed the ones he has cultivated. At the end of the season he will have no harvest because he has laboured like a fool. Or a pastor who wins souls everyday, but he does not have a solid plan to disciple the souls he wins, absorb them into the church and build them up to become mature believers. The church of such a pastor will be empty. Take a moment to reflect on your labour of old. What are you doing to preserve and process them so they can become profitable fruits in your hand? Our text cries out so loud to us to look to ourselves so that we don’t lose the things which we have worked for.

In your quest for greatness, God wants to take you from glory to glory. He wants the new grounds you have broken to be an addition to the old ones, not substitutes. He wants you to add to your achievements and thereby make you become greater and greater. May you truly advance by addition and may you increase and be preserved, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Prayer/Action
* Take Psa.115:14 to God in prayer for yourself.
* Pray against any waster or devourer that may want to eat up your fruits and past labour.
* Ask the Lord to increase and establish the works of your hand.
* Ask God to increase and establish the works of your pastor, spiritual and otherwise.
* Ask God for wisdom for an enduring work.
* Give thanks for answered prayer.

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