God's Hedge

Text: Job 1:6-12. 
More Lessons: Isa. 59:1-3
Bible Reading in One Year: 2 Samuel 1-4

In the Word of God, there is provision for safety or defence. God is emphatic about this, When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee Isa. 43:2.

It is of paramount importance for us to have the right attitude to the Word of God. Your trust in someone's word reflects your relationship with the person. What is your relationship with Jesus?

God built a hedge around Job, thus satan could not touch him initially. Similarly, God's hedge has been raised around your family, finance, business etc that is why there is safety. May the Lord's hedge be strong around you.It is God's hedge that is constantly around you when you sleep and wake up. There are many that sleep and have bad dreams, unpleasant experiences, some even die in their sleep. But David says, I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me Psa. 3:5. God's hedge around you is your security, strong and lasting since God is everlasting. Our non-consistency, disobedience, broken relationship, weaken the hedge, He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him Eccl. 10:8. You need to repent of your secret sin or else the serpent will strike you. A sinner can be attacked at anytime because he doesn't have God's defence/hedge. Ask the Lord for forgiveness and make your way straight with Him.

Thereafter, God's love will be available for you all your lifetime, As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever Ps. 125:2. I proclaim this shall be your portion. However, you must dwell in the secret place of the most High and abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Ps. 91:2). Henceforth, you will not be afraid of the terror by night; nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness. As David declares in Psa. 91:5-6,

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
So shall it be for you, in Jesus' name.

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to God for His cover over you and your family.
* Declare that this cover shall never be removed.
* Pray that you will live up to God's expectation and that He will keep the hedge around you intact.

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Receiving your Healing

Text: Mk. 2:3-12.
More Lessons: Mk. 11:22-31
Bible Reading in One Year: 1 Samuel 29-31

All the miracles of Jesus have lessons for us and make our situations easier to respond to His healing power. In our text today, Jesus encountered a terrible case in Capernaum, which was like His operational headquarters. Expectedly, much crowd followed Him, looking for one miracle or the other.

The case of the paralysed man and his faithful helpers brought tremendous lessons in trusting God for a near impossible healing. 1) The helpers were not discouraged by the barrier (the crowd). Don't quit. Trust God for what next. 2) They removed the roof in order to have a way. Where there is a will, there is a way. Be determined that God the healer will make a way for your healing. 3) They broke the ceiling and let down the man in front of Jesus. Break your hindrances and take a step of faith to come to God's presence. No one who is determined to receive anything while in the presence of God ever gets disappointed. 4) Jesus saw their faith. God must see your faith; when you trust Him, He is excited to prove His ability and power on your behalf. 5) Jesus forgave the sick man's sins. Christ cleanses totally so that satan will not have any reason to return affliction to a person that receives healing. 6) The man received his healing despite the unbelieving Pharisees around. God is depending on your faith in Him for your healing, And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all.… Mk.2:12. You too will go forth today with your miracles no matter the hindrances and difficulties, in Jesus' mighty name. You will win over whatever has kept you down. And you will not lack faithful and committed friends at the hour of need.

The absence of friends who can go an extra mile like the friends of this sick man is responsible for the untimely death and affliction of many today. As you believe God for such helpers, pray also that God will use you to be a dependable hand for somebody needing help to come out of an affliction. Be a healing hand today, heal and be healed! Whoever carries whatever you need for a healing, you will not miss him/her. And whatever obstacle you need to overcome to reach your miracle you will overcome. I prophesy today is a healing day!

Prayer/Action
* Rebuke every force of paralysis, physical, financial and otherwise.
* Refuse to be helpless in life.
* Renounce and destroy the power of sin that could be responsible for your affliction and receive forgiveness and healing.

Anoint yourself and everyone around you for healing.
Give thanks for answered prayer. Take a step of faith and do what you couldn’t do before. I see healing of any sickness. Receive it, it's a healing day!

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Developing Strong Family Ties

Text: Gen. 2:15-25 
More Lessons: Matt. 19:4-6

Bible Reading in One Year: 1Sam.25-28

One of the earliest things God did to establish and consolidate all He created at the beginning was instituting marriage, And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him: Gen.2:15-18. Marriage is an institution ordained by God for the blessing of mankind. Let us therefore examine issues about it:

1. Married life may be likened to a marathon race. The fact that you did not start well does not mean you will not end well. Great beginnings are not as important as the end. When you are tired along the line and feel like giving up, all you need is the determination to keep plugging and moving. Only then will you be able to make it to the end.

2. To have strong family ties, we must close up gaps between members in the family by loving them as you love yourself. Forgiveness, dialogue and togetherness enhance good family ties. Unforgiveness is usually one of the main causes of disaffection in the family.

3. One major purpose of marriage is for the man to have an agreement partner. This can be promoted by being open enough to the other person and agree quickly in adversity. Not allowing anger to linger brakes adversity like nothing else. Amos 3:3 encourages us to stay together in unity.

4. Neglecting your marriage for service to God can be a problem. This was part of what Eli did that in one day both Eli and his children died. And if you neglect your service for marriage as it was in the case of Vashti, partying here and there, it is also a big problem. Marriage and service to God must be wisely balanced by creating enough time for the two.

Moreover, for a family to have very strong family tie, there must be altars of personal time with God as well as couples altar where burdens are shared together. Issues about how to raise the children, deflate tension in the family and similar challenges can be prayed upon at the family altar. Having leisure with family members and creating excitement for one another is a great boost. Creating time to listen to each other and keeping the terms of the marriage covenant will keep both the marriage and family in a good state.

Prayer/Action

* Lord Jesus, help me to develop a stronger sense of commitment towards my family.

* Father, I receive all it takes to build good family ties in my home.

* I rebuke the power of family breaker over my marriage and family, in Jesus’ name.

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Some ways to be Joyful in Christ

Text: Psa. 23:1-6
More Lesson: Jn.15:4-7
Bible Reading in One Year: 1Sam.21-24

The Christian life is not that of pain and trouble, it is rather a life of abundant supply of every good thing. Being in Christ Jesus is the only way to have abounding joy in this world of sorrow.

Our main text, Psa. 23 explores the conditions for walking in and enjoying the great supply. To be happy in Christ and live in joy, you should have a day to day experience of being in Christ and develop a simple heart of complete trust in God to take the word of God as it is all the time. You will therefore need to do the following;

1. Vs.1 The Lord is my shepherd...., This means you have to develop the heart of a sheep and keep the shepherd in front of you always. Willingly submit everything you have into His hand. Allowing Him to have the final say in every issue of your life.
2. Vs.2 He maketh me to…. Allow God to make you what He wants you to be. He will lead you if you take every instruction from Him. Let Him be the one to prescribe how your daily live looks like by knowing what He says about you everyday.
3. Vs.3 He restoreth my soul:.... This happens when you turn your difficult times to prayer times. Every true Christian who wants joy without bounds knows that there is no alternative to prayer.
4. Vs.4 ...for thou art with me;.... A true believer must stay connected to God in perfect obedience. Heb.10:25 commands the believer to keep fellowship attendance. In Mal.3:8, the Bible makes tithe and offering essential. Matt.6:15 makes willingness to forgive compulsory for anyone who wants to enjoy God. Pro.3:9 advises us to give our first fruit to God.
5. Jn.15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that ... your joy might be full. In as much as the believer abides in Christ he/she is bound to bear fruits and more fruits because the word of God daily purges the believer and he is given “whatsoever” vs.7

All these therefore are some of the things the believer needs to do in order to enjoy abundant life that God promised. God bless you as you begin to strive towards it in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* I reject poverty of all kinds today because I can see how rich I am in Christ Jesus.
* I receive the heart of a sheep to enjoy the shepherd’s provision to the fullness, in Jesus’ name.

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