Keep the Gates Closed

READ: Psa. 15:1-5
MORE LESSONS: Prov. 4:23-27
Bible Reading in One Year: Hosea 8-10

In most Nigerian cities, many houses are fortified with strong iron gates and fences for security purposes. Believers must be conscious to do the same in the spiritual, so that their spiritual treasures will not be robbed. Solomon, the wise king, counsels, Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life: Prov. 4:23. Our Lord Jesus further warns, For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: Matt. 15:19. Also, David in our text examines the root cause of disqualification of many from the presence of God. He then provides a list of attitudes, habits and practices that qualify one to be in the presence of God. Uprightness, righteousness and truth in the heart among others, are the top requirements for remaining in God's presence.

When a heart is porous, vices like backbiting, evil imagination, judgmental reproach of brethren and pride will dominate the character. However, a submissive, sanctified and consecrated life always seeks to keep the gates of his or her heart closed to rampaging habits and ways of life that dominate the present world.

Do you want to ascend to God's holy hill? Then keep your hearts closed with all diligence and keep the gates closed to all influence of sin. This is an important ingredient of revival in a world that is daily seeking to enroll thousands into hell. You must work out your salvation with trembling and contend earnestly for your faith: And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him. Jud. 1:3. Mind your environment and company; many things going on around you are not good for your faith. Deny the devil access to your thoughts and actions and watch your life carefully to ensure the enemy does not infiltrate it. Keep the gates closed.

Prayer / Action
* Invite God to come and regain firm control of your heart today and ever.
* Pray against negative influence over your life by sinful environment.
* Handover your heart to the Holy Spirit of God for an unbreakable contact and strength.

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Bring Down this Jericho

READ: Josh. 5:1-14
MORE LESSONS: Josh. 6:2-5
Bible Reading in One Year: Hosea 5-7

The city of Jericho symbolises the seemingly insurmountable obstacles (sickness, poverty, unemployment) that hinder men from possessing their possession. While Jericho was a visible obstacle on Israel’s pathway, they first had to deal with something in their own lives. The children of Israel had to do three things before confronting the enemy called Jericho.

First, they had to be circumcised (vs 2-5) as a mark of surrendered hearts in which the reliance on the flesh was cut and put off (Rom. 2:29). Circumcision involves putting off of the sinful nature. Your total commitment and consecration are prerequisites for conquering your Jericho.

Second, the Israelites celebrated the passover which symbolises a thankful heart. Beloved, regardless of the obstacles and problems confronting you, have a thankful heart. Eating of manna ended and they received a new and more satisfying food. As you give God thanks and praise for what you are passing through, I see God bringing down your wall of Jericho, in Jesus’ name.

Third, they had a battle plan from God. Josh6:3-5 You need a battle strategy from God to bring down your wall of Jericho. God’s instruction may sound foolish; just obey. For Israel, it was the shout of victory, yours may be different. The Bible has all the battle plans of God for your life; read it, memorise it and obey the instructions. Surely that will make your ways prosperous and you will have good success

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Josh.1:8.
Jericho must fall today!

Prayer / Action
* Lord, send your angel to bring down every wall of Jericho in my life and destiny in Jesus’ name.
* Lord let the power that pulled down the wall of Jericho, come upon the walls of Jericho in my life and terminate them.

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Visa to Heaven

READ: Psa. 15:1-5
MORE LESSONS: Psa. 24:3-5
Bible Reading in One Year: Hosea 1-4

One great desire of many people today is to get an immigrant visa to a developed nation, especially United States of America. Young people in particular are doing anything (negative and positive) to get this visa. But then there is a visa that is far more useful and of eternal value than American immigrant visa: the heavenly immigrant visa, without which you are eternally doomed.

As expected, there are conditions for qualifying for this visa and for retaining it. Some of the conditions are outlined in today’s text:(1) Walking uprightly - without blame (v2). To be blameless is to be without blemish, irreproachable, having no outstanding fault (Psa. 19:13), being sound, having an undivided commitment to God (Deut. 18:13). This implies integrity, sincerity and whole-hearted devotion to God and to His laws (Gen. 17:1; Psa. 119:1). (2) Working righteousness (v2); righteousness means goodness, the act of doing right and having a right standing before God, without which no man can qualify for Heaven. (3) Speaking the truth from the inward part (v2) which is speaking the truth from the heart (Psa. 12:2; Isa. 29:13). (4)Being free from backbiting (v3); all seekers of heavenly citizenship must abstain from slandering other people, speaking evil or falsely accusing others. (5) Not doing evil to others (Rom. 12:17). (6) Receiving no reproach about neighbours (Psa. 15:3). A Heaven seeker does not gladly repeat an account of or rejoice at another man’s misfortune. (7) Not keeping the company of evil doers rejected by God (Psa. 1:1,4). (8) Keeping one’s word even to one’s hurt (v4; Lev. 27:10). (9) Not taking advantage of one in need to increase riches (v5). (10) Refusing bribe (v5) because it aids corruption. (11) Protecting the innocent (v5).

Today, make a conscious effort to walk by these principles and let others see you as a sincere icon of righteousness and angels with their beauty and music will celebrate your approval and eventual entrance to Heaven. When life is over on this side, where will be your next abode for eternity?

Prayer / Action
Take a thorough study of the following scriptures and use them to pray for yourself:
* Psa. 15:1-5
* Psa. 1:1-3.

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A Seed for your Miracle

READ: II Kg. 4:1-7
MORE LESSONS II Kgs. 17:2-16
Bible Reading in One Year: Obadiah, Jonah 1-4

Often when you need a miracle from God, your whole attention is drawn only to what God can do. However, you need to realise that for every miracle, there is the aspect of what you have to do either to make the answer come or to quicken or fast track the answer. For every miracle we expect from God, we have a responsibility and a role to play. In today's study, the prophet asked the widow that came asking for a miracle and help, What do you have in your house? The widow like us never expected such a question. When looking for a miracle we just except results without considering what we can do or give to provoke God to action. The same thing happened between Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. When Elijah said bring me…a morsel of bread, quickly she responded, …I have not a cake but an handful of meal…. I Kg. 17:2-16. But reluctantly she obeyed the prophet's instruction, and that was it, her miracle of provision manifested beyond her expectation.

The disciples of Jesus too needed a miracle to feed the five thousand in the desert where they had been running a healing crusade for days. Because they had no solution, they told Jesus to disperse the crowd but Jesus said they didn’t have to go away, ...give ye them to eat. Matt. 14:16.. Then they brought what they had, five loaves and two fishes just as it occurs in Jn. 6:9, the contribution was from a little boy and again thousands ate with twelve baskets left over. Even for Moses to step into his destiny God asked what he had in his hand and he had to drop it before he saw a miracle.

Am sure there is a seed in your hand that God is expecting you to drop as your contribution for a miracle, no matter how small. It may or may not be money; it could be service, a material thing, etc. no matter how small or expensive to you, just to provoke God to speedily release that which you have been waiting for. If the Zarephath woman or the prophet's wife refused to contribute what was in their house, would the story be the same today? Today, sow a seed for your performance and provoke Heaven to do something extra ordinary in your matter. Give and it shall be given to you. Give a seed for your miracle.

Prayer / Action
* Ask God to help you not to withhold the key to your miracle.
* Pray that whatever seed you are sowing today will provoke an answer from Heaven.
* Ask God to help you discover what that "little thing" is that you need to sow.

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