Lifted Heads

Text: Psa. 43:1-5
More Lessons: Psa. 3: 3-8
Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Corinthians 7-9

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head: Psa. 3:3. I always tell people, when they come to the altar in church to pray not to cast down their head but to lift it up. This is a symbol of the lifting of a man's destiny that happens every time he comes to God. David asked in the Psalms that we read, Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God: Ps 43:5. I ask you the same question, 'why are you cast down?' In the same Psalms, David said, O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. Ps 43:3-4 KJV. I want you to know that the cure for a cast down destiny is the altar of God.

Do not allow anything to keep you depressed and downcast. God is your glory and the lifter up of your head. A cast down countenance is a sign of defeat while a lifted head is a sign of boldness and confidence. No matter what you are going through or what you are trusting God for that you have not received, I want you to keep the excitement. Be lively and vibrant in countenance and sustain the joy of God in your heart. Keep your confessions alive; don't speak like a feeble man manifesting fear and discouragement on your face. Keep your heads high and lifted because He is your glory and the lifter of your head. Each time you cast down your head or allow depression to take a hold of you, Satan celebrates, your strength diminish, fear replaces faith, defeat is closer, the enemy is empowered to do more and gate of hell is opened wider. Therefore, you must refuse the temptation to give in to depression by singing a victory song. Instead make scriptural confessions, find a fellow believer to pray with, read the scriptures and mediate on them. Victory will immediately rise up for you.

Prayer/Action
* Take Psalm 121 and pray 8 prayers from verse 1-8, then say to the Lord “I have confidence in You, oh Lord! Keep my head above every troubled waters’’.

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Build upon the Rock ll

Text: Matt.16:16-17
More Lessons: 1 Cor . 3:9-17
Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Corinthians 4-6

Yesterday, we saw the need for every life to be built on the Rock which is Christ. In the text, Jesus Christ makes us to understand that He is not only the right foundation for building of individual lives and destinies but also the building of His Church. Peter said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matt 16:16 NIV and Jesus replied him, you are correct! And on the Rock that I am Christ the Son of the living God will I built my church . . .Many people have erroneously thought that Jesus meant that Peter is the rock on which He will build His church. No, the truth is that, Jesus is the only sure foundation for the Church. The implication of this is that the Church of Jesus will not be built on any man no matter how anointed or celebrated; neither will it be built on philosophies, ideas or traditions of men. There is a Rock, the foundation upon which the Church of Jesus will stand and this Rock is Christ Himself. That is the Rock against which the gates of hell cannot prevail. A church built on something other than Christ is destined to collapse Traffic from hell has taken over some churches because the builders have neglected the Chief Cornerstone who is Christ. A church not built on the doctrine of Christ will fail. Christ is the Chief Cornerstone and the Church will only thrive on a clear understanding of the revelation of the person and the power of Christ for without him, we can do nothing.

Christ is the essential foundation for building a strong Church that will not bow to the sway of hell. One of the strategies of hell is to cause division in the Church by spreading doctrines of the devil (1 Tim. 4:1). Division is the root of carnality, confusion and weakness. God needs men who will build together with Him. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness: Mal.3:3. These are the days of purging, when Christ will yet purify the sons of Levi that they may offer acceptable sacrifices unto God in righteousness. God is washing the Church from all filthiness and removing the dross from her silver. God is removing those things that have hitherto caused division.

God is taking away those things that we have but not from Him.
A new day is dawning; a new order of worship is being restored to the Church and in these days shall we see the Church of Christ in her full strength. Christ is gathering all things together in Himself (Eph. 1:9). Christ is the builder of His Church.

Prayer/Action
*Ask God to help all spiritual leaders to build the Church on Christ and His Word only.
* Declare every wind against the Church a failure.
* Pray for your local assembly and pastor by name that Jesus will be their all in all.

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Build upon the Rock l

Text: Matt. 7:24-27
More Lessons: 1 Pet. 1:23-25
Bible Reading in one Year: 1 Corinthians 1-3

The foundation is very important in any building. A building is only as strong as its foundation. A particular house had cracks on the wall and a civil engineer was called to detect the fault. He reported that the cracks on walls were as a result of faults in the foundation. So even if the walls were removed and new ones built on the same foundation, cracks will still appear on the new walls unless the problem with the foundation is dealt with. That shows how important a foundation is and the implications of having a faulty foundation.

Every life is built on a foundation but many build their lives on faulty foundations while some build on the words of men, or on what their parents told them, many build on their own experiences. But the only right foundation to build your life on is the Word of God. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matt 7:24-25 KJV. In a normal occurrence of rainfall, one would expect the storm and rain to come first, and then a flood. But here, Jesus tells us that the rain will first come down, then the flood and then follows the wind. The flood came first when the rain started so as to test the foundation and since the foundation was strong, the winds also could not bring it down. If it was built on sand, the flood would have carried the sand away and a little wind would be sufficient to bring down the whole house. The house did not fall on the strength of its foundation. A foolish man will build on the sand because he cannot go through the stress of digging a foundation on the rock. People prefer to get it quick so they device many ungodly ways and methods to get to their goals so they do not end well, because they have neglected the true foundation.

The Word of God is the Solid Foundation for destiny. Be a wise man today and build on the foundation that stands sure. Undoubtedly, trying times will come but whether you will stand in the face of these challenges or not depends upon what foundation you are building your life on. The wisdom for building a life that will not crumble is in the Words of Christ which can never fail. Be a doer of the word of Jesus because all things will fail …but the word of the Lord endures forever: 1 Pet. 1:25. This Word is the Rock upon which you should build. Today, ask yourself, does your life principles correspond with God’s Word, or contrary to it? Does your life run based on God’s Word? There is hope that you will not fail in destiny if you have built on the rock.

Prayer/Action
*Ask God to help you build your life only on what God’s Word says.
* Ask God for His divine guidance and leading for daily living.
* Pray that your labour will not be ruined by any rain, flood or storm.

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Children's Roles II

Text: Ps. 127: 3-5
More Lessons: 2Tim.1:1-6
Bible Reading in one Year: Isaiah 64-66

The presence of children in the home brings joy to the parents because: 1. they are gifts from God; 2. an addition to the family; 3. the joy of nursing somebody for a beautiful future; 4. assurance of continuity of the family; 5. companion for family members, particularly when a partner is away for a reason. Children have great roles to play in homes and thereby can 'infect' the home with happiness or with sorrow, pain, regret or shame, depending on handling. T o contribute to the happiness of the home, you must be in tune with the Lord Jesus.

The major role of a child in the home is obedience to parents (Eph 6:1-3,Prov 6:20, Exodus 20:12, Prov 15:5, Col. 3: 20) which affects every other responsibility. Obedience to parents’ instructions serves as a way of training the child in different areas of life. Participation, practice and following parents’ examples via deliberate process of learning from them, help children fulfil their roles. For instance, Isaac must have been following Abraham for sacrifice and knew things required. That was the reason for Isaac's question to Abraham ...but where is the lamb for a burnt offering...: Gen 22: 4-8; a suggestion to avert failure. Isaac believed what Abraham told him in reply. This was a trait of Abraham's faith already in Isaac. Isaac also showed a great act of obedience in accepting to be the lamb for the sacrifice. Therefore, observe your parents pattern of actions at home and church and as parents set good examples in actions or reactions at home. Also, join your faith with that of your parent's in family and other matters of life.

Jesus went about doing good while living in the world. He even obeyed His parents even while in discussion with doctors of law despite saying ...wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?(Luke 2:46-51). Also, at the marriage of Cana, despite inital remark that His time had not yet come, He gave instruction for the pots to be filled with water and turned the water into wine. His glory was manifested and Mary and Joseph must have been overwhelmed with joy for their 'child' and family being a blessing. Jesus also was obedient to God the father (Heb. 5: 8, Phil. 2: 8).
The prodigal son's brother said, ...Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment...: Luke 15:29. His father did not refute this. Also, God said concerning Jesus: ...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: Mat. 3:17. What are the testimonies of your father, mother, church leaders and God about you? Do you make your parents and church leaders happy by obeying them and following their examples? You have a great role to play at home and in church. Be faithful in all and God will reward you.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, our children will not reject God's Word and the necessary training given to them.
* Our children will be a blessing at home, church and society.
* Lord, we will not bring forth for trouble and sorrow.

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