Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Problem of Worry

READ: Matt.13:18-23
MORE LESSONS: Luk.12:22
Bible Reading in One Year: Matthew 18-21

Don't worry is easy enough to say, but it’s not so easy to do when unpaid bills stack up or a crisis looms or the future looks bleak. Worry can overwhelm and brutalise a person; it's a hard emotion to suppress. There is hardly any man who has never gone through worry before. Even the disciples of Jesus were once worried about their future and Peter expressed his fear, ...See, we have left all and followed You: Lk. 18:28. Worry is a powerful emotion that grips a person tightly in times of crisis and he wonders, What about tomorrow? What if this happens? What if that happens? If we don't have enough, we worry that it might be stolen or taken away. Man is indeed a phenomenon! Some people are terribly worried about the fact that they are too young, they want to get older, but worrying won’t change anything or help anyone.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus talks about the seed that was choked out by the worries of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. The seed of the Word of God never brought forth fruit because it was strangled by worry. It isn't only those who are well off that are plagued with the problem of worry, it also bedevils those who have very little but who are always worrying about what they don't have. Whether for lack or abundance the effect is the same: it chokes you and strangles you spiritually.

Here are a few reasons why you must not worry:
1. Most of what we worry about never take place.
2. Worry has never been a problem solver.
3. Worry does not make things better but worse.
4. Medical science says worry can shorten a man's life.
5. Worry is anti faith and anti trust in God.
What to do with worry:
1. Take all matters to God in prayer and leave them there.
2. Cast all your cares upon the Lord.
3. Don't fear the future, rather pray about the future.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus: Phil.4:6-7.
Remember, worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, rather it empties today of its strength.

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to God for being the God who can meet all your needs.
* Rebuke the spirit and the working of worry over your life.
* Tell God you surrender all your worries at His feet today.

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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Expressions of Love

READ: I Sam. 18:1-5
MORE LESSONS: 1 Cor. 13:1-8
Bible Reading in One Year: Matthew 13-17

David and Jonathan are wonderful examples of a perfect love relationship such that if it were between a male and a female, it would be considered a conjugal love. Love brings about a relationship. It was the love that existed between David and Jonathan that made them to enter into a strong covenant relationship. Where there is love among people, relating with one another is never a problem.

Love does not conSam.18:4). It was love that made Jonathan to strip himself of his robe, sword, bow and girdle and gave all to David. Remember that Jonathan was the heir apparent. So when he gave his garment to David it was a symbolic relinquishing of the throne to David, which is an act of selflessness. How many of us can do what Jonathan did? Even between spouses, some find it difficult to release their car, money, or valuables to their partners. For Jonathan, even his entitlement to the throne was not too valuable to release to the one he loved.

Love speaks well of the one that is loved (1Sam.19:4) as Jonathan spoke well of David to his father. Where there is love, evil speaking is put away. When you see yourself speaking evil about someone, your love level for that person may either be zero or very low.

Love shares all things (1 Sam.19:7). Jonathan shared with David all things that David needed to know. Where there is love, there is really no secret. Two good friends that really love each other will tell each other things that their parents are not aware of. If a husband or wife is secretive, it is likely that their love relationship is not at its best, which is why there is no mutual sharing of information. Love that is expressed enhances a relationship and the love that is not shared does not exist. Have a love filled day.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you to express godly love to everyone around you.
* Ask God to make you a typical expression of His love.
* Ask God to connect you with a sincere friend today.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Honour over Pharaoh

READ: Exo. 14:2-5
MORE LESSONS: Psa. 124:1-8
Bible Reading in One Year: Matthew 9-12

Among other things, there were two major reasons why God wanted to intervene in the case of Israel's captivity in Egypt. First is the need to keep His promise to take the descendants of Abraham to Egypt and bring them out on eagle's wings, thus proving His faithfulness to Abraham, And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, …afterward shall they come out with great substance: Gen.15:13-14. Second, God wanted to prove His greatness in Egypt and be honoured over Pharaoh.

How was God honoured over Pharaoh? He did this by:
1. Fighting on the side of Israel until Egypt was defeated, Exo. 14:14.
2. Dividing the Red Sea for the Israelites to pass, Exo. 14:21-22, 29.
3. Troubling the host of the Egyptians, Exo. 14:24.
4. Taking off the wheels of the Egyptian chariots so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptian: v.25.
5. Closing the sea on the Egyptians, vs 26-28.
6. … and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore: v.30
7. Making Israel see the great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians, v31.

May the Lord do the same and more also over your satanic captivity and enslavement this year. May He make you see your pharaohs dead. May He make you see His great work on all your Egyptians until He is fully glorified and honoured over your enemies. Amen.

It is God's honour to take advantage of your challenges and troubles to prove to the world how great He is and turn your tests to testimony. Do not despair therefore when you pass through diverse troubles. They are simply an avenue for God to be honoured, and so shall it be over all your travails, in Jesus' name.

Prayer/Action
* Take each of the seven acts of God in our text to God in prayer. Ask Him to do same to every enemy of your destiny.

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Monday, February 24, 2014

Holiness is Beauty

READ: Ps 93:1-5
MORE LESSONS: I Chron.16:29
Bible Reading in One Year: Matthew 5-8

Whatever gives a deep sense of admiration or deep satisfaction is said to be beautiful. Holiness is one thing that gives God such satisfaction. God is attracted wherever holiness stands just as any man is attracted to anything beautiful. Therefore, holiness is one means of attracting God to your life as God never gets tired of it. The more of it God finds anywhere, the more attracted He is to such.

Enoch attracted God to his life by holiness until God had to take him home to Himself, by-passing the natural process of death, And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him: Gen 5:24. It was holiness that attracted God to Noah when the people on earth were sinful, ready for judgement, …Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God: Gen.6:9. It was holiness that qualified Mary to carry the pregnancy of the holy seed, Jesus, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us: Matt 1:23. Elizabeth and Zaccharias were barren and well stricken in age, but the Bible records, …they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless: Lk. 1:6-7. Joseph was righteous before God and the favour of God followed him everywhere he went (Gen.39:8-9), including the prison. The list is endless.

Holiness is a spiritual gain because it strengthens integrity, character, honour, sound mind and of course, good health. All these are more of benefits to man than God and therein is the beauty of holiness. Holiness attracts good testimony, it delivers from guilt and fear of eternity. If you desire all these, go for holiness, ...it always has."Beauty" and "Holy" mark your palace rule, GOD, to the very end of time. Ps 93:5(M.S.G)

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you live a holy life.
* Pray against every anti-holiness spirit around you.
* Pray that your life be pleasing to God by the incense of holiness.

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