Equipped for Good Works

Sunday 22 February
READ: 2 Tim 3: 16 – 17
MORE LESSON: 2 Tim 4:11-13

In the world today, where everything is becoming faster and faster, people no more sit down to spend quality time in studying. The habit of extensive reading, which is necessary for relevance, impact and leadership is being lost. You however should be an information seeker because if you are not informed, you will be deformed. The store house of the best and most powerful information is the Bible. Let nothing deprive you of having ample time for an extensive study of the Scripture. The irony of life is that many do not have time to study the Bible because they are busy running up and down to look for things, money, jobs, success. But all the things they are looking for are hidden in secrets and mysteries that are revealed only in the scriptures. So they are busy looking everywhere except in the right place.

A studious life is directly linked to success and prosperity. 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: Joshua 1:8. Studying the Word of God is a prerequisite for wealth and fruitfulness in life (Ps. 1:2-3). Especially as a minister, worker or a believer that wants to be used mightily of God, you cannot compromise the place of reading. Reading is part of what equips you for good works; All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work: 2Tim 3:16-17( NKJV).

Your library speaks a lot about your capacity and seriousness in ministry and service to God. Every man, both in the Bible and in contemporary times that has made impact for God has been a studious person. Moses, as far back as thousands of years ago, was a writer and definitely a reader. David invested his life into diligent study of the law of God; Solomon read wide and wrote thousands of proverbs, songs and wise sayings; Daniel was an avid reader; Paul was a very ardent student and reader, and his books were his most valued possessions (2 Tim. 4:13). How much more, our Lord Jesus Christ was a reader: {Luke 4:16 (NKJV)}.

A serious believer who wants to be effective for God should have different versions of the Bible; a good concordance, and a commentary for in- depth study. If a man of God doesn't know anything in the world, he ought to know the Word of God. He must be a versed reader. From today, develop the discipline of reading and studying the Bible, anointed books and other materials relevant to your vision and your profiting will appear to all men.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for the spirit that thirsts after God’s Word always.
* Pray against anything that can take the Word of God from you.
* Pray for grace not only to read but also to be a doer of His Word.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I silence every evil generator supplying the current of failure and backwardness to my life and destiny, in Jesus’ name.

Transformed from Glory to Glory

Saturday 21 February
READ: 2 Cor. 3: 18
MORE LESSON: Col.1:27

The Word 'glory' as used in the Greek New Testament is the word 'doxa'. It denotes good opinion, praise, honour, magnificence, excellence, commanding respect and having a good reputation. In the Hebrew Old Testament, the word 'glory' is 'kabod'; it also denotes wealth, honour, majesty, splendour and having a great reputation. 'Kabod' literally means 'weighty' or 'heavy. God's glory is weighty and heavy; when it comes upon you, you can't be small, little or irrelevant. You become a force to be reckoned with. Glory gives you a good reputation in life and makes you a person of substance. This is the dimension of God's glory revealed in 1 Samuel 2:8: He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory . The man in this Scripture verse was formerly poor and beggarly but the glory of God came upon him and transformed him from poverty to abundance, and from the dunghill to the throne of glory. When the glory of God comes upon you, your status changes and you become celebrated in every place you had been considered to be irrelevant.

The glory of God is however not limited to physical change of status; it also includes change of status in your spiritual life. Glory also refers to the transformation of your character and attributes to be more Christ-like. That is why Paul said . . . But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord: 2 Cor. 3:18 (NKJV). This is easily understood when we know that the glory of God talks about His nature, attributes, abilities and character. This directly shows that the more of God you have, the more glorious you become. The more you become like Christ in character, attitude, thought, speech and deed, the more of His glory you manifest because Christ in you is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27).

The secret of glory in life is seeking to become more Christ-like. Healing the sick, raising the dead, performing signs and wonders, wealth and influence are simply by-products of the Christ-like life. They all are simply part of His natural ability which flows out of you as you become more like Him. Holiness, righteousness, wisdom, power, love are also normal things for God. So as you are transformed to be more and more like Him, the glory of God spontaneously oozes out of your life; and as far as heaven is concerned, nothing special has happened. The normal attributes of God are just being expressed through you as you become like Him.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that your destiny will be like a shining light that shinneth more and more.
* Pray that your life will be a reflection of who God is every time.
* Pray that you will not lose your glory to the pleasure of sin.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
My Father and my God, let the Blood of Jesus answer for me in any difficult situation today, in the name of Jesus.

How to Get What You Want

Friday 20 February
READ: Jam 1:17
MORE LESSON: Prov. 4: 4 - 9

I was on a preaching engagement with a man of God in Kaduna, Nigeria and the people almost destroyed the body of his car when we were leaving the venue. The man of God was being driven a Hummer jeep at that time, which happened to be the only one in the whole area, and the people were touching and banging the car saying, “Lord, me too”. Though I didn't like the banging, I admired their attitude of desiring a good thing that they have seen in another person's life and asking God to make it happen to them also. I like their mentality of recognizing that the good thing is available for them.
For everything that you want in life, there is a ''how” to go about it. The reason you don't have something is not because it is not possible to get it but because you probably do not yet know how to get it. So you need to ask God how to go about having all that you want. There are a thousand and one godly ways to get something; only understand how. The way Hannah got her child was different from the way Elizabeth got hers; for the former it was through prayers but for the latter it was through faithfulness in God's service.

The first “how” of any good thing you want in life is to bank on the faithfulness of God. If you can trust on the faithfulness of God, you will get what you want. Don't trust in anything or any man for what you want: all other ground is sinking sand. You will discover how to get what you want by listening to the Word that God in His faithfulness is teaching you. God is not partial, whatever He has done for one, He can also do for another. The Bible says in Rom. 10:12 that He is rich unto all that call upon Him.

Another essential component of how to get the good things in life is to discover the wisdom by which God operates. There is an insight that must come to you for you to know how to get your God-given desire; it is this insight that removes struggle from your life. Prov. 4:7 (GNB) says, Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. You must make the issue of acquiring God's wisdom your priority in life. This you can do by prayer, studying the Word of God, reading books and seeking godly counsel. However, God's wisdom only comes to those who value, desire and seek for it: Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. Prov. 18:1.

Today, I pray that God in His faithfulness will give you the wisdom you need to enter into the inheritance that He has prepared for you, in Jesus’ Name.

Prayer/Action
* Tell God you believe in His faithfulness to do all that He has promised you.
* Pray that this year, lines will fall to you in pleasant places.
* Ask God for power to get wealth according to His Word. - Deut 8:18.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I command the assignment of Jazebel, Pharaoh and Herod to fail woefully in my life today, in Jesus’ name.

Dry Rods shall Bud Again

Thursday 19 February
READ: Num 17: 1 - 9
MORE LESSON: Job 14: 7

When confronted with a matter, don't listen to the situation, listen to God's Word. God might have made you a promise before you undertook a venture and then the present situation seems to be going contrary to the word you received. Don't be frightened by the situation, re-tune to the promises God gave you and you will find the strength to go on. The crisis or situation you face doesn't represent God's perspective about that matter. God's word is God's perspective to the situation you are facing, and God's perspective is always right. Regardless of that situation, the word of God is effectual and effective. Even if it looks like all hope is lost, hold on to God's Word: there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail. Job 14:7 (NIV)

There is no situation that is beyond recovery by God's Word. Imagine the extreme situation of Aaron' rod which was a dry and lifeless stick; when it came in contact with the presence of God, the Bible says; it budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds. Num 17:8 (KJV). Who would have thought that a dried up rod that was cut from its root will ever bud anymore, let alone yield flowers and bear fruit. But out of the twelve rods set before the altar, Aaron's rod blossomed under 24 hours. The budding and blossoming of the rod was already miraculous enough but then it happened overnight. That is God speeding up the process of restoration of the rod. This all happened because that was the rod that God chose. When God chooses you, no matter how dead your situation is, life will come into it speedily. Today God’s Word is coming to you and bringing life to your sitaution.

The role of prophetic utterances in making your dead situations come back to life cannot be ignored. From the Bible passage read, we can see the role Moses played in lifting Aaron above the rebellion of men and making his dry rod to bud again. There are men that God has placed over you to pronounce His words over your life and situation. Honour such men and stay close to them so that life may be injected into your situation by the pronouncements of such prophet over your life. Today I declare that any situation that is dead in your life will receive new life and all rods, no matter for how long they have been dry in your life, will bud again this morning in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Command every hopelessness to disappear in your life.
* Prophesy to your dry situation now to turn around.
Take an anointing oil and anoint yourself for a new season of possibilities.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I pray that I, my family, church and nation will move forward this day and shall not be drawn back, in Jesus’ mighty name.