A Privileged Labourer

Text: Matt. 20: 1- 8
More Lessons: I Cor. 15: 7 -1 1
Bible Reading in one Year: Revelation 16-18

There are several lessons to learn from the parable in our text today. Firstly, note that God will always depend on man to accomplish what He wants done on earth with regards to propagation of the gospel and every service that propagates His Kingdom. We are co-labourers with God, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them: Eph. 2:10. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building: I Cor. 3:9.

Few of those things to learn from today's reading are:
1. Rising early to achieve the day's task is a character of the Kingdom to which we belong. The householder going out early to recruit men to his vineyard is a habit to inculcate, And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed: Mark 1:35.
2. The primary assignment we are called to do is to work for God's Kingdom. To the group he recruited early and each of the groups recruited at the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hours the assignment is to go and work in his vineyard. The timing may differ but the purpose is the same (I Cor. 15:7-11)
3. God will always give everyone the opportunity to contribute to His Kingdom by giving him responsibility. Our Master always recruits and He does that at His own discretion. When God chooses new hands, it does not mean He no longer needs the one who was called earlier as long as he has not disqualified himself from the assignment. Those whom He chooses later are to complement those that are there earlier.
4. Whatever God has done or not done for others should not become a problem to you in the process of serving the Lord. What He promises those that come early is considered good for them, that is why they agree to work. Be sure that, faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it: I Thes. 5:24.
5. Another important thing to learn from our text is that God will not owe any man, ...call the labourers, and give them their hire...: Matt 20:8. There is nothing done in the Kingdom that will not be rewarded. We are likened to hire labourers, wages will be paid. There are rewards for every service we render in God’s Kingdom here on earth and much more in eternity.

Prayer / Action
* Thank God for every privilege He has given you in His Kingdom.
* Ask for grace to fulfil your God’s given responsibility.
* Pray that you will not miss the reward for your labour.

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Expressions

Text: Lk. 7:37-48
More Lessons: Lk.22:44
Bible Reading in one Year: Revelation 13-15

Expression is a look or action that conveys a thought or feeling. One of the things that we must learn as believers is that the way and intensity with which we express our heart, feelings and requests is important to God and to men. Expression plays a role in determining the effect of what you do.

There was a woman that came to give an offering to Jesus. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he (Jesus) was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment: Lk 7:37-38. This woman touched the heart of the Master not only by the offering she gave but also by the expressions of her adoration to her Saviour. When some people give offering to God they take an executive standing position and drop the offering. King David in the Bible danced and expressed his praise to God so much that the wife who felt too big felt embarrassed. It is unbecoming of you to feel too embarrassed to express yourself to your Creator in worship.

Elijah was another man that added real expression to his prayer to God, And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees: 1 King 18: 42. The man climbed up Mount Carmel, put his head in between his knees and bent over. Must he go that far for God to answer? Some people claim that it is your faith alone that is important in prayer and not the expression. Yes, faith is the key to answered prayer, but you need to add expression to your faith. Elijah was a man of faith but if you see Elijah in the place of prayer on Mount Carmel, you will know that this is a man that is serious about whatever it is that he is asking God for. There is no way God will not answer that man's prayer. Don't be nonchalant or too civilised for God in the place of prayer. Your expressions are important.

Finally let us look at the Lord Jesus Himself. And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed . . . And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground: Lk 22: 41-44. The expressions of Jesus Christ in the place of prayer were very powerful.

Whatever you do, be it prayer, singing, praising God, teaching or preaching, make sure you add the power of expression to it. This also includes how you greet, show love, care, concern and give to men. Don't just do a good thing as if it is a duty , add a joyful expression.

Prayer / Action
* Ask God to clothe you with the spirit of humility to be able to freely express yourself before God.
* Ask God to grant you a divine encounter with Him that will surpass yourself consciousness.

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From Prophecy to Reality

Text: Luke 2: 25- 37
More Lessons:1 Tim 1: 18
Bible Reading in one Year: Revelation 10-12

The first law of motion states that a body will remain in its state of rest or uniform motion until an external force acts on it. In other words, nothing moves or changes until something moves or changes it. I believe that this law is not just a physical but also a spiritual law. If you desire to see any change in your life, you must take responsibility for it or else it might never happen. A lot of people desire certain things from God and they assume that God would understand how much they desire it and just go ahead to do it. But it doesn't work that way. God operates by principles and you have to discover His principles before you can enjoy His faithfulness.

One of God's principles is that when a prophecy is given to you, no matter how wonderful and strong the prophesy is, if you will not do anything about it, it stays as a prophecy and will not become a reality. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare: 1 Tim 1:18. From this scripture, we know that it is your responsibility to war and work with every prophecy that comes to you until it becomes a reality. You need to spend time meditating, confessing and praying it till it becomes a reality. Decide that whatever discipline and sacrifice it takes for what God has said concerning you to come to pass, you will give it.

It takes conscious effort on your part to enter into the inheritance that God has promised you. It takes deliberate effort in prayers and diligence for the great prophecies over your life to become active.

Several prophecies about the birth of Jesus had gone ahead for centuries but they didn't happen until some people rose up to do prayer warfare. In our first text, people like Simeon and Anna the prophetess took the responsibility to pray for the fulfilment of the birth of the Saviour. The coming of Christ could have been delayed but they catalyzed the process by their prayers. Nobody knew about these silent prayer warriors, they were unsung heroes but they left a legacy for us that when a word of prophecy goes ahead of us we must insist on Heaven to do something about the prophecy.

If a negative word of prophecy comes to you, don't go to sleep; wage war against it. Similarly, if a good word of prophecy has gone ahead of you and the enemy is preventing it, don't fold your arms and say, It will happen one day, after all God has said it. Take up the forces of the Word, fasting, prayer, faith and action and ensure you see the prophecy becomes a reality.

Prayer / Action
* Jesus, attend to me today and deliver me from the spirit behind my affliction.
* Deliver me from ignorance and grant me victory over every satanic exertion

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Lessons from King Asa

Text: 2 Chron. 16: 1-14
More Lessons: 2 Chron. 16: 9
Bible Reading in one Year: Revelation 7-9

Asa, a descendant of David, was a good king of the two-tribe kingdom of Judah. He sought God with a perfect heart (2 Chron 15:17-18) and destroyed all the images and high places of idol worship in his territory (2 Chron. 14: 2-3). When millions of Ethiopian soldiers came against his small army , he cried to God had divine intervention (2 Chron.14: 9-12). For the first thirty five years of his reign, the Lord subdued his enemies under him and he had peace and prosperity.

Then Baasha, king of the 10-tribe-northen-kingdom of Israel came against Judah; Asa had succeeded and prospered so much as king that by this time, he felt he knew how to handle any situation. Asa took gold and silver from the temple of God and sent it to the king of Syria so as to make Syria break his alliance with Israel and support Judah instead. And it worked, Ben-hadad of Syria turned from allying with the northern kingdom of Israel and attacked Israel instead. King Baasha of Israel quickly withdrew his troop from Judah. Asa was celebrating his victory when the Word of God came to rebuke him, Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him...: 2 Chron 16:8-9.

Many times when we are just starting out, we are so dependent on God for everything we do but as time goes on we become so self confident that we develop our own strategies for handling things, independent of God. Several worship leaders, teachers and preachers in the early days of their ministry would fast and pray each time they are to lead a song, preach or take a function because they feel insufficient and need God. But soon they begin to get results and become so good at doing these things that they could just come straight from any activity and go ahead and deliver wonderfully; they no longer cry to God to help them perform anymore. They knew and even the people around them knew that they could function anytime anywhere.

Then Asa had a disease in his feet; and as usual; he gathered for himself a team of competent medical doctors that he didn't see a reason to seek God for healing. It was a foot disease that killed Asa the great king. He got to a point where he thought he had grown so much that he could handle things on his own and didn't need the help of God anymore.

Prayer / Action
* Ask God for His presence always with you.
* Promise the Lord that you will not be too familiar with Him to do anything without His inspiration.
* Destroy every arrow of pride and false self-confidence in your life and ministry.
Purpose not to study the Bible, pray or wait on God only when you have an assignment.