Being Relevant

Text: Prov . 18:10-16
More Lessons: Dan. 5: 1-17, 29
Bible Reading in One Y ear; Numbers 7-10

A man of God once said, “Several people are looking for relevance and significance outside themselves whereas what makes a man important is what comes out from him.''

Many people live and die without finding relevance, not because they are not created to be famous but because they are looking for importance in the wrong place. What you are looking for outside is inside. What makes a man relevant and important is on his inside. The only way to find relevance and importance is for you to locate that valuable gift inside you and start working at it. Stop striving or lobbying with people for relevance, concentrate at working out the gifting of God inside you and giving it out.

If you need to get more training to bring out the importance on your inside, please do. First, locate where your relevance is and then relate with people from there. If what you need to bring out the potentials on your inside is relationship, then break the wrong relationships that will not take you to where you are going and pay the price for the right type of relationship. It may take time but you have to put yourself there by service. You can get to a church or an organization and in one month become more relevant than someone who been there for 10 years. All it takes is putting what is inside you into use. When you first enter a place, don't start looking for what to get or take away , look for what you can add. This is because what you add determines your value and relevance.

The point is, to be relevant in any relationship or community, among other things, learn to serve. Service makes a man prominent and noticeable. When the Bible says that a man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men (v16) it is not only referring to what you have as a talent, it also means what you have to offer. The New Living Translation puts it this way; Given a gift can open doors; it gives access to important people! So what makes you relevant in life is not what you get but what you give, either in sacrifice or in service, or in offering to God and to man.

People like Solomon in Scripture and others in contemporary times have shot themselves into limelight by giving extra- ordinarily and the same opportunity still exists for you too today. Choose to be relevant, go for service.

Prayer/Action
* Thank God for honouring your life with some great giftings.
* Thank Him for not allowing you to be an empty destiny.
* Ask God to make a way for you in destiny by the gifts He has given you.
* Prophesy to your gift to come alive and take you to great places.

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Power of the Word

Text: Est.3:8-15
More Lessons: Psa. 107:20
Bible Reading in One Year; Numbers 4-6

It was by a word from the king that the whole of the Jewish nation was to be destroyed. The king uttered a decree, put a word into writing and spread it abroad the whole kingdom of Babylon, saying that anyone who was a Jew should be destroyed. Esther and the whole of Israel went into fasting and prayer and took steps which made the king to reverse his word. The king wrote another decree that said no man was to lay a hand on the Jews but that the Jews were permitted to destroy anyone that rose against them; and it was so. That's the power of words.

Herodias' daughter danced very well before King Herod and the king said, 'I will give you anything you ask, up to half of my kingdom.'' She requested for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. The king did not go to the prison to remove the head of John the Baptist; he just sent a word. With just a word, the head of a great man was cut down (Matt 14: 6-11).

The day Joseph was to ascend the throne, Pharaoh didn't have to go to the prison. He just sent a word to bring Joseph and gave another word to make him the highest in Egypt, and that was all. These are powerful words of mere men, how much more the Word of the Almighty God.

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jer 23:29). The Word of God is a hammer and the Word of God is fire. The Word of God does not only affect the natural but it also reaches right into the spirit of a man. One of the strongest weapons that gets the devil out of his hiding and deals with him to the outermost in a man's life and destiny is God's Word. He sent His Word and His words healed them and delivered them from destruction (Ps 107: 20).

The Word of the Lord cannot fail. So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it: Isa 55:11. You can use the Word of God to destroy whatever the devil is doing in your life and to defend your destiny.

Prayer/Action
* Send God's Word ahead of the rest of your year and command obedience before your arrival.
* Declare that no promise of God will lack its mate in your life.
* Command that your victory will come like the word of Joseph came to him
* T ell the devil that by the unfailing Word of God you are more than a conqueror.

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The Goodness of God

Text:Jer . 31: 12- 14 
More Lessons: Psa. 65: 4-1 1
Bible Reading in One Year: Numbers 1-3

Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the GOODNESS of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be SATISFIED WITH MY GOODNESS'', saith the LORD: Jer . 31: 12-14.

There is one thing which if God gives you on the face of the earth you will be satisfied; it is called GOODNESS. God's goodness comprises of all the acts of the Almighty that prove that He is good. God demonstrates His goodness by His practical acts in your life that give you the satisfaction that money cannot give. May you taste of the goodness of God, in Jesus’ Name.

It is out of goodness that God takes a man out of sin and brings him into grace. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us: Rom 5:8. It is out of goodness that God takes a man from the prison and sets him upon the throne to reign.

Beloved, your sacrifices and your offerings are not just what induce the goodness of God. There is nothing you can pay God to stir up His goodness; it is just God's nature to be good. May you be satisfied with God's goodness. For example, what can we possibly do to earn the death of Jesus on the cross for us? Furthermore, He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Rom 8:32-33. This is the goodness of God; Jesus died for us and in addition gave us all things to richly and freely enjoy.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psa. 23: 6 (NIV). Mercy, grace and favour from God are all to perform acts of goodness to us: they are to the end that He might prove Himself good to us. The peak of prayer is to ask for the goodness of the Lord. I connect you to Jehovah’s goodness today in your going out and coming in, you will be satisfied with His goodness. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days: Psa.90:14.

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to God for being your good God.
* Ask Him to crown your year and labour early with His goodness.
* Ask God to compensate all the pains of your life with His goodness.

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Lessons from King Uzziah

Topic: Lessons from King Uzziah
Text:II Chron. 26: 1-15 More Lessons:II Chro.. 28: 19-27
Bible Reading in One Year: Hebrew 11-13

Uzziah was a young boy of 16 years when he became king. Like Uzziah, you mustn't become very old before you become a responsible, great and prosperous person; you can start now. You don't have to be as old as your father before you achieve what he achieved. Y our dream should not be to inherit your father's property when he is gone but to surpass his achievements and to do better than he did. God expects you to go farther and higher than the previous generation; that is the plan of God for you. Even though Uzziah was young, he had great achievements. W e can learn a lot from both his achievements and mistakes.

He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah… II Chron. 26:2. That is restoration. The city of Eloth was taken during his father's reign but he restored what his father lost. You should be a son like Isaac who prospered to a point where he reopened his father's wells that were taken over and closed by the enemies. Abraham was great but Isaac waxed greater (Gen 26: 12-18).

He reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was also Jecoliah of Jerusalem… v 3 That is longevity. He was one of the longest reigning kings of Israel; he reigned for long. His father's and mother's name were mentioned and then his names. He added to the family name and his parents' good reputation. Children from good homes should not destroy a name and reputation that their parents' have laboured to build by their dressing, rascality and misbehaviour. While in school, some children do certain things that bring disrepute to their parents' name.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did (v4). He followed after the footsteps of his father Amaziah. Christian parents, it is time to start checking whether your children are following your footsteps or not And he went forth and warred against the Philistines, and brake down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod, and built cities about Ashdod, and among the Philistines: v 6. He prevailed over his enemies and you will also prevail over your enemies, in Jesus’ name. He was strong and was a threat to the enemy. He wasn't a kind of believer that was always looking for someone to rescue him from the enemy, he rather put the enemies to their heels. You should not remain a kind of Christian always seeking someone to deliver you from demons and sicknesses; you should grow and be a threat to the devil, and start delivering others from him.

And the Ammonites gave gifts to Uzziah:…v 8. When your enemies start celebrating you, you are made. As you apply these principles, the enemies of your destiny will come to your feet and submit, in the name of Jesus.

Unfortunately, Uzziah died of disobedience after becoming very strong, which is a lesson we must learn and stay in obedience even in prosperity.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to satisfy you with His goodness like he satisfied Uzziah.
* Prophesy that for the rest of life you will not bow to any enemy and declare, “I am a terror to every Philistine of destiny.”
* Prophesy that your life will be an all round achievement, in Jesus' mighty name.
* Pray that you will not end badly like Uzziah did.

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