When Others are Blessed

Tuesday 24 March
READ: Psa. 84:11-12
MORE LESSON: James 1:17

I want you to know that every goodness that you see in people can be duplicated in you. There is nothing good that you have seen that cannot come to you. However, it is the attitude that you have towards someone else's good that determines whether you have your own. Today I want you to have the right attitude towards other people's blessings so that you can have your own.

One of the reasons human beings are envious when somebody has something that they do not have is because they do not realize that whatever someone has is also available to them. The God that gave that man can give you as well. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning: James 1:17 (NKJV).

The first thing to do when someone has something that you don't have is to celebrate God for that person. When you sincerely thank God for another person's goodness, you have just signed a cheque for yours. If you have been trusting God for children, you don't have to turn your face away when you see a pregnant woman. Instead, look at her very well and commend her, trusting God that that is how you are going to look when you become pregnant. That woman's pregnancy is a testimony that God is still giving children to people and so He will give you. If you are unemployed and you hear the testimony of someone who got a job, don't get angry, bitter or cry in secret. What to do is to dance with the person, knowing that your own is also on the way.

You must recognize that good things can be contacted and transferred. When someone has a good thing that you want, you can sow a seed to that person and contact the blessing. If you are unmarried and the right partner is not forthcoming, and you hear that someone is getting married, that is the time to sow seeds of money, support and assistance to that wedding. By so doing, you have contacted that good thing and it will be transferred to you.

Also, know that any person's achievement is also available for and you can even be surpassed. The fact that someone has achieved something means that too you can achieve it. Recognize that the good thing that someone has is not the limit of the expression of that thing. If you desire to do something and someone else gets it done, don't be envious. Just aim for a higher expression of that thing and God will give it to you. Don't be envious of people's goodness but let it motivate you to aspire for good things as well. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Heb. 10:24-25).

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to God for what He is doing for everyone around you-mention some.
* Pray that God will sustain those things in the life of those people.
* Ask that God will do same and more for you that together, you all will celebrate God’s goodness to His glory,

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I put a total end to every reoccurring affliction in my destiny, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Activate the Word

Monday 23 March
READ: Josh. 14:6-13
MORE LESSON: Jn. 55: 10-11

The Word of God is true and does not fail, but we need to learn how to align ourselves with the Word so as to experience its performance. All that is written in the Bible is yours just for the asking but there are things to do to make them happen. God's Word is everything you require; you only need to know how to activate it.

The first step in making the Word work for you is to have a good knowledge of what is written. If you don't know what is written for you, you can't claim it. If a will is written by a father and he dies and the son doesn't know what was written in the will, he can't lay a claim to the estate bequeathed to him. The Bible is a compilation of God's will for you: the word 'testament' actually means 'will'. The Old Testament reveals the 'old will' and the New Testament shows the 'new will' of God for you. When Jesus died He left a will, the Bible. You need to discover what is in the will and lay claim to the promise in the will for you. Your destiny will enter rest and cease from all labour when you discover what is written in God's will which shows the inheritance that Jesus left for you.

After you have discovered what is written concerning you, keep confessing it. Say it till it happens. Caleb kept in his heart the promise Moses made to him that he would inherit the land of Canaan (Deut. 1:36, Josh. 14:6-12). Fourty-five years later when he was 85, he had not forgotten what was said concerning him. As soon as he entered Canaan, he demanded for the land that God promised him. You can't demand what you don't know, and when you know it, you also cannot stay at the point of just knowing. You must do something about it; keep confessing it. There is at least a promise for each aspect of your life from the scriptures; it is time to appropriate them. There are promises of provision, protection, fruitfulness, greatness, grace, anointing and whatever you need in life. Search them out and when you find them, just keep confessing them. Don't get tired of confessing the Word and don't get tired speaking the Word. Heaven and earth will pass away but God's Word will never go unfulfilled because, For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven: Ps. 119:89 (NKJV).

Beyond confession however is the issue of believing that Word. Every Word of God is activated at the point of faith. If you don't believe in what you have read and confessed, you have simply wasted your time. Jesus once said, ...If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth Mk. 9:23. Meditate on it.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help and increase your faith.
* Ask God to open your understanding to the depth of His Word.
* Lift up your two hands and declare, “God I believe Your Word; make me an evidence of Your Word.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Every scar of past affliction in my life, by the mighty power of God, be removed, in Jesus’ name.

Walking in Miracles

Sunday 22 March
READ: Heb 11: 1 -3
MORE LESSON: Heb 11: 1 - 40

God operates by principles and if you will abide by His principles, you will get results. God's precise principle for you to step into the realm of miracles is simple: have faith in His Word. If you can stake your life on the Word of God, you will continually walk in the miraculous and the supernatural. Faith in the Word of God is the key to miracles. It is by faith that the elders obtained a good testimony: Heb. 11:2 (NKJV). The Bible states clearly that it is always to you according to your faith (Matt. 9:29) not according to another man's faith because the just shall live by His own faith (Hab. 2:4). This means you might be the pastor's grandson but if you do not have faith, you will not receive a miracle. If you fall sick as a pastor's son, at best, the pastor can use his faith to get money to take you to the hospital. But if you want to receive a healing miracle from God, you will need to exercise your personal faith in Him.

Faith comes by being full of the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). This is why the most important thing you can do in life is to get the Word of God for yourself. When God wants to help a man, He reveals His Word to him. The evidence of God's love for you is the revelation of the prescription in the Word for what you are seeking. Everything that God has done in the affairs of men is by His WORD; so to enjoy God, you need to find out what His Word says . . . He upholds all things by the word of his power . . . : Heb 1:3.

Your priority in life should be the Word; be more concerned about what the Word of God says than what anybody has to say. Personally, I am not threatened by situations or persons that will want me to act contrary to the Word. I can only be threatened by the Word of God; everything anybody has to say comes after what God says. I would rather die on the Word of God than be a coward and go against the Word. That should be your declaration as well. The first and perhaps the greatest miracle is that God created this material universe out of nothing. When we study how God created everything, we will know the secret of miracles. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear Heb. 11:3. The heavens and earth were created by His Word. That is the secret of miracles; you cannot fail if you abide by His Word.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to strengthen your faith in His Word.
* Ask God to reveal His Word to you over every matter of your life.
* Ask for a miracle today. Mention the name of the miracle specifically and give thanks to God for it now.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, anoint me a permanent vessel of praise to Your name, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Overcoming Demonic Harassment II

Saturday 21 March
READ: 1Sam.16:14-16
MORE LESSON: Gal. 5:19-21

We understood from yesterday's devotion that demons are wicked spirits who seek to pervert men's destiny and de-humanize them. Demonic invasion into peoples' lives is usually very subtle, systematic and progressive. In other words, demons don't just jump at people, take hold of their destiny and turn it the way they want. It is important to know that demons, being spirits, are everywhere. Demons are very mobile, and will take possession of anything (animate or inanimate) if they find the environment conducive.

What are some of the things men do that make them vulnerable and susceptible for demons to settle on?
1) Indulgence in unrighteousness: when you give yourself over to doing what you know is not right.
2) Blatant disobedience.
3) All forms of immoral sexual practices.
4) Indulgence in the works of the flesh listed in Gal. 5:19-21.
5) Involvement in cultural and traditional practices that have their foundation in demonism.
6) Friendship with unbelievers and people who have given their lives to serve demons and Satan.
7) Involvements in cults and occult festivals and feasts (1Cor. 10:19-20).

How do you keep demons away from settling on you? To keep dust away or remove dirt from your cloth or body, what do you do? You dust off or clean up by washing with water. In the same manner, demons are dusted off when we pray o attend take part in prayer meetings. They are washed away by the water of the Word when we come under the ministration of God's Word. This is the reason why you must not keep away from fellowship and prayer meeting.

Other preventive measures include:
i. Consistent renewal of your mind and thoughts with the Word of God – Rom. 12:2;
ii. Keep your spirit, soul and body holy- Rom.12:1;
iii. Mind your company- I Cor. 5:9-11;
iv. Regularly plead the Blood of Jesus on your whole being;
v. Keep your spirit constantly busy with the Word of God;
vi. Avoid pornography, unscriptural audio or video movies and occasionally take a fast and ask God to purify you afresh;
vii. Spend time praying in tongues often.

Prayer/Action
* Declare: I shake off every unclean spirit that seeks to attach itself to me, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God to purge you of every demonic attachment and spirit.
* Lay hands on your head, ask the spirit of God to come upon you afresh now.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, let my appearance before You at all times be filled with testimonies, in the name of Jesus.