Friday, November 28, 2014

You are a Divine Mystery

Text: Exo.1:11-12
More Lessons: 1Pet.2:9-11
Bible Reading in one Year: Songs of Solomon 4-6

I have good news for you today. Y our life is a mystery your enemies cannot understand, a riddle they can never solve no matter how much they try. The simple reason is that God planned your life long before the world was created (Eph.1:4) and Satan does not know or understand that plan of God. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues: Psa.31:19-20. The scriptural reading today buttresses this truth. Israelites were severely oppressed in Egypt with the aim of stopping their population growth. But the more they were afflicted and subjected to hard labour, the more they multiplied. Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill the male children as soon as they were born, but before the midwives come, the Hebrew women have put to birth. What a mystery Pharaoh and Egyptian could not understand.

Friend, once you are born again, you are under a better covenant relationship with God than what Israelites were in those days. Your life is hidden in Christ and Christ in God (Col.3:3). Y our enemies do not know the plans of God for your life. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him: 1Cor .2:9. No one, including Satan, knows the great plans God has made for your life.

No one can peep into your future and divine your destiny. If Satan or any of his agents ever does, it is because God allowed him in order to frustrate him. God purposely allowed the wise men from the East to see the star of Jesus, come to Jerusalem to meet King Herod so that Herod and his entire palace will be frustrated. You remember how Herod was agitated when the wise men eventually left without bringing him a word about the where about of the baby, Jesus. And no matter how much Herod tried, he could not get at Jesus. If your destiny is ever stolen, altered or frustrated after you have given your life to Jesus, you allowed it to happen. As for God, he has made enough defence and protection for your life by hiding you in him. Whoever will succeed in attacking and destroying your destiny will have to first attack and destroy God. As you enter into the day, walk with the understanding that you are a mystery, a wonder and a riddle to your enemies. Say to yourself: I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge: Psa.71:7.

Prayer/Action
* Thank God for His wonderful plans for my life.
* Pray that God will continue to make you a wonder to your generation.

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Thursday, November 27, 2014

A Thousand Times More

Text: Deut. 1:11
MORE LESSONS: Gen. 22: 17
Bible Reading in One Year: Songs of Solomon 1-3

The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you! Deut. 1:11A hundred fold blessing is what people think is the highest that God can give but I have discovered that God is able to give a thousand fold. God wants to showcase His children so that the world may know that what comes out of Him can never be small. The God that created such a large universe as this is surely able to make you a thousand times more than you are now. And by the time God has fulfilled the promise to make all His children a thousand times more than they are now, the resources of heaven would not even have been scratched a bit; He has in abundance all we need for life. God has abundance of riches in heaven but He doesn't need them; it's only here on earth that we have needs. It is God's will to give you a thousand times more,... May you increase to thousands upon thousands; may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies." Gen 24:60 (NIV). May God give you a thousand times more, in the name of Jesus!

A thousand fold is a different order of increase. It is a special type of increase because it has broken all natural laws. A thousand fold is that which only God can give. The help a man needs to enter into a thousand times more can only come from God.

A student that receives a thousand fold blessing starts getting results that are a thousand times more than his ability. A civil servant, by the hand of the Lord God Almighty, can receive a thousand times more than his labour till he stops being the servant they have been calling him. A business person with the thousand times anointing gets a thousand times return on investment for his business. The laws of the market; supply and demand, all begin to work together to favour him and they deliver a thousand times more to him. My prayer for you today is that spiritually, physically, materially, and in all the results of destiny, you will be a thousand times more, in the name of Jesus.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will not leave you at this level. May He make you a thousand times more than you are now in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for the blessing of a thousand times more.
* Ask God to open the windows of heaven and pour upon you His limitless blessings.
* Ask God to pour upon you such blessings that only God can give.
* Command the door of smallness to be replaced by a net breaking harvest.

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Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Wisdom for Soul Winning

Text: Acts 1:4-8
MORE LESSONS: John 1:37-40
Bible Reading in One Year: Haggai 1-2

The moment you give your life to Christ and get born again, your main responsibility is that of sharing the Gospel message of Christ with others, beginning from your home, your immediate family and relations to the uttermost part of the world. Sharing the Gospel of Christ is the most important thing a man can ever do in life. The people who believe your message will receive eternal life having crossed from death to life and will spend eternity in joy and bliss. Those who refuse to believe your message shall be damned forever in the lake of fire. So, it is such a serious matter that all diligence must be employed to get the best result. The following tips in addition to the Holy Ghost power upon you will be helpful in sharing the Gospel message.

1. Be natural while you are serious. Do not try to sound over righteous. Avoid holier-than-thou attitude that condemns people.
2. Be sensitive. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Watch the mood of the person you are to share with. Pick a common subject to start your conversation.
3. Be tactical. Avoid being dragged into irrelevant absurdity. Be focused on the main subject which is salvation. It takes wisdom to win souls.
4. Be prayerful. Use every opportunity to silently ask God to help you win the soul.
5. Use the Scripture wisely. Do not just quote the Word, explain the Scripture.
6. Share the testimony of your own encounter with Christ, it can be very powerful.
7. Gently, wisely but firmly press for a decision for Christ right away.
8. Pray with the person on receiving Christ, i.e. lead him or her in prayer to Christ.
9. Invite him to your church, or a Bible believing church close by.
10. Keep contact with him or her until they can stand firm in Christ. Go ahead and win a soul to Christ today. Great reward awaits soul winners.

Prayer /Action
* Pray that God will give you great passion for soul winning.
* Pray that God will lead you to a ripe soul who is ready to receive Christ today.
* Pray that God will anoint you to effectively share the Gospel message so that souls can be saved.
* Pray that your fruits will abide.
Make sure you speak with someone for Christ today.

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Tuesday, November 25, 2014

It is a Stepping Stone

Text: Phil.1:19-21
More Lessons: 2Cor .4:16-18
Bible Reading in one Year: Zephaniah 1-3

How can you say that the beating and stoning by the villagers is working out something great for the kingdom of God? This was a question asked by a young brother in the Faith who went out with a group of brethren to a village in Northern Nigeria for a crusade. Barely had they settled down to begin their preaching when some Muslim radicals came against them hurling stones and sticks. The brethren had to run for their precious lives. True to it, how can God's purpose be fulfilled and His kingdom increase in my pains? Exodus 1:12, 20 suggest an answer. Israelites were subjected to forced labour with rigour in Egypt and were afflicted on every side. But the more the Egyptians afflicted them, the more they multiplied. I perceived that the cruel treatment outside the home made the individual family members to come together in deep love and affection for one another. I could hear them say to one another, “if they hate us and maltreat us out there, Let us not maltreat one another inside our home, let us love one another. If they say they don't want to see us, let us see more of one another”. Since the Hebrew husbands had nowhere to go after field day; they had more time at home with their wives and children, and the resultant effect was increase and multiplication and stronger family ties. Apostle Paul was given a thorn in his flesh. He wrote: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong: 2 Cor. 12:7-10. Apostle Paul summed it up this way: He wrote while he was in prison: For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. You will surely testify of victory before the people in Jesus name.

Prayer/Action
* Appreciate God for all you are going through
* Ask God to use your pains and difficulties to step you into greater height.

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