Created for Good Works

Text: Jn. 2:13-17
MORE LESSON: Rom. 12:11

The text being considered today is a pointer to us as believers that having been created in Christ for good works (Eph. 2:10) we could be zealous for them (Titus 2:14). The word translated 'fervent in spirit' means to boil with heat. As used in the text above, it means to have a burning zeal to do the will of God. One can be either ''lagging in diligence'' or ''fervent in sprit'' but whoever desires to please the Lord must not only prefer but also manifest the latter. Know that your spiritual fervency is required for your relevance in spiritual service.

Rev. 3:14–16 presents us the case of the Church at Laodicea which was chastised because of their lukewarmness. This tells us about God's zero tolerance for lukewarmness. It is however, sad to know that the fervent spirit is lacking in some who parade themselves to be God's people. Some believers in Christ unfortunately are guilty of ignoring, procrastinating, and even running down that which needs to be done in the body of Christ for the Kingdom of God. They have lost the fire and enthusiasm of the first century Church. This is the time to rise and take after the likes of Nehemiah who in the midst of every distraction, persecution and mockery still proceeded to go about his service to God and His people.

We are actually not ignorant that the state of the world today makes it increasingly difficult to serve God. The inevitability of making ends meet and to survive has made many to substitute service to God with service to self. But as true as this may be, it is only believers with the fervent spirit that will not compromise their burning faith and service to God come what may.

The scriptural admonition today is very important now than ever because the days draw near when God shall make a division between the one who serves Him and one who does not serve Him ...and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not (Mal. 3:18).

Prayer/Action
* Father, kindle your fire in my spirit.
* Father, let the grace to serve You with fervency more than ever before come upon me today, in Jesus’ name.
* List three things you can do daily to keep your spirit fervent and determine to do them consistently.

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Victors not Victims

Text: Job 22:21-29
MORE LESSON: Isa. 54:17

The Holy Bible is replete with scriptures that guarantee our victory in all of life endeavours. God’s assurance to us on victory is however, not realized when we don't take out time to search and acquaint ourselves with the vast provision of victory that we have in God through His Word. Whether we like it or not, in 2015, there will be some casting down, disappointments, sack letters, broken homes and unrealized dreams which are all associated to victims of circumstances. But none of these shall be your portion, in Jesus’ name. Your “AMEN” to this prayer will only be sufficient for you to be a victor in the midst of the year if you can be committed to observing the following steps that can be helpful in being a victor and not a victim.

1. Acquaint yourself with God in 2015 (Job 22:21). To acquaint oneself with God is to get to know Him personally. Therefore, if you must live as a victor in 2015, it is expedient that you know God so intimately, to know who He is to you and what He has for you. You should know that He is your shield and glory (Psalm 3:3); He is your very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Know Him to discover that He is plenteous in mercy (Psalm 5:7) and that He will not cast you away when you run to Him for mercy and victory over sin (John 6:37). What a man knows about God and His Word and how the knowledge is applied can determine who becomes a victim or victor in the year.

2. Live by divine instructions (Job 22:22). Divine instructions are instructions given by God or through His Word or His prophets and they are often times opposed to our opinions and reasoning as humans. They however, have the capacity to keep those that adhere to them from being victims of evil. Let us be willing therefore to receive and obey the divine instructions that come from our spiritual leaders who God has set over us in order to avoid the evils that waste men. The instructions may include when not to travel, who not to marry, etc. Such instructions when followed are capable of dealing with the obstructions on the way of a man's destiny.
3. Learn to speak/pray what you want (Job 22:27-29). The summary of Job 22:29 is that we can be defended from being victims of tragedy if we can also learn to speak out what we desire as our portion when faced with unpleasant circumstances. What you say is what you will see. Choose to speak victory-related words this year and you will experience it.

Prayer/Action
* Appreciate God for the provisions He has made for your victory through His Word.
* Tell God you will not be a victim of circumstances in 2015.
* Pray that you shall not be misled to be a victim in the year.

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Great Grace for Leaders

Text: Eph. 3:7-8
MORE LESSON: James 4:6

The grace of God exists on three different levels: (1) God’s unmerited favour. (2) God's willingness to enter into a covenant of righteousness with you and bring you into His presence. (3) The anointing of God. The Holy Ghost is the anointed of God, and He extends that anointing to you. The anointing removes all burdens, destroys yokes, blesses and empowers you. The anointing will go before you to prepare the way for God to move. You can pray and believe God for this active side of grace to do the extraordinary, that is operating in the supernatural realm of the Spirit.

In Acts 4, Peter and John did a notable miracle causing a lame man to walk. The people rejoiced, and word of the miracle came to the Sanhedrin, who grabbed them and demanded that they stop teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus. After reporting what the chief priests and scribes and elders had said, they began to pray, praising God, asking for boldness to speak even more fearlessly. They asked for the manifestation of the power of grace, and grace showed up as they spoke the Word of God boldly and many signs and wonders were manifested. When you are experiencing a time of great grace, you don't need to struggle in order to manifest power! The great grace that came on the disciples will come upon you today, in Jesus’ name.

Great Grace is the power of God that enables you to do what God calls you to do. We are totally dependent on the power of God (great grace) to teach and to pastor. You can do better and function better when you operate under the auction of the grace of God. May God anoint you with this grace today, in Jesus’ name.
Man can't take any glory for doing anything. If a miracle happens when we preach and minister, thank God. But it is not us but the grace of God. You are a saint of God, with grace in you. Talk back to the devil; tell him that he can do whatever he wants, but you know that in the end, you will receive God's grace just in time. His grace will be sufficient for you to go through it all (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul knew he could face any trouble because he had a covenant with God for His grace.

Because of that, Paul said, I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me Philippians 4:13. If you stay on the Word of God, refusing to be moved by what you see, feel, and what people say, then you are going to be moved by knowing who you are in God and where you are standing. This is going to bring you the experience of victory, which will give you hope in this year.

Prayer/Action
1. Pray that you will experience seasons of grace this year.
2. Pray that this year you will function by grace in all you do.
3. Ask God for His empowering presence that comes by grace this year.
4. Declare: I can do all things through the grace of God.

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Faithful Helpers

Text: Col. 4:7 (NLT)
MORE LESSON: 1 Chron. 12:22, 38

In life, everyone needs a helper. That helper is somebody who recognizes what God has called him to do, who believes in your calling and is willing to support you. Leaders today, spiritual, business, secular and political, need people to work with. They need people that can be trusted with responsibilities, individuals or groups that can work together with the leader for a common goal. Such must be people that are called to support the leader and not to contest for right of authority, self actualization but the leader's interest. In the home front, the husband needs a faithful helper as a wife, and the wife needs faithful children. May God give you faithful helpers, in Jesus’ name.

The whole of 1 Chronicle 12 talks about helpers who came to David to help turn the Kingdom of Saul to him according to the Word of the Lord: people with sincere and perfect hearts (1 Chro. 12:38); men and women of proven integrity , brethren of honest report, full of faith (Acts 6:3-8) that can be entrusted with responsibilities. They should be those that are ready to put their life on the line, risk it to make sure that the Word of the God does not fail (1 Chro.12:23).
Destiny helpers that can go all the way to work and not people like Judas Iscariot who know your secret and give you out to the enemy for selfish gains are cherished by leaders (Matt. 26:47-48). Helpers that can stand with you as pillars to support you, pray with you and not to pull you down.

Faithful helpers are people that will wait and travail with you and not sleep at the peak of the fight of destiny (Matt. 26:36-40). They are people the leader can trust and who will go along with him even when the going gets tough. When others are falling by the wayside, faithful helpers will stand until victory is guaranteed. They are not people who want applause and praise for what they have done or are doing. Also, such are not people who are slothful in the Lord's business but fervent men and women rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulations, trials and persecution and people who are strong in the spirit (Rom 12:11-12).

Helpers that are faithful are those that cannot be discouraged by what they see, hear, but are inspired by what the Spirit of God says. Helpers that will stand for the truth and can defend it in spite of opposition are the one the church needs (Num. 13:30). Paul mentioned people like Tychicus ...a faithful helper (Col. 4:7), Onesimus ...faithful and beloved brother...(Col.4:9), a profitable son (Philemon verse 11) Epaphras ...a servant of Christ (Col.4:12) Titus - a son and co labourer (Titus 1:4), as faithful helpers who supported Paul's ministry. May God send faithful helpers to you today, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, send faithful helpers to the church.
* Lord, today, I pledge to be a faithful co-labourer in the Vineyard.
* I make myself and time available for the Kingdom assignment.

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