On Eagle’s Wings I

Wednesday 8 April
READ: Exo. 19:1-5
MORE LESSON: Exo. 3:16 - 22

If you follow the story of Israel in the land of bondage , you will realize that for some of them, their slavery in Egypt could as well have been forever having lasted 430 years. This implies that there were some who were born and died in Egypt without tasting freedom. But a day came when Jehovah said to them, 'this affliction is not forever'. God expressed their deliverance by bearing them on eagle's wings. It was like God literally said, “Eagles, carry my children out of Egypt!” Eagles have speed, so an affliction of 430 years ended in a night. You will be carried on eagle's wings out of whatever represents an affliction in your destiny in Jesus Name.

When God said to Moses, “you saw what I did to the Egyptians”, God was actually giving a testimony of what He had done. The people also saw what God did, celebrated it and testified about it. So the affliction of 430 years became a testimony both for God and the people; God did and the people saw it. I want you to know today that God can do something in your life that will be a testimony for you and even for Him. When God uses your testimony to brag about Himself, that means your testimony has become God's testimony as well. I pray that God will do something in your life that next time someone wants to doubt Him, He will beat His chest and say, ‘Am I not the One that did . . .’

When God said 'did you see what I did to the Egyptians?' He was actually emphasizing the fact that He did it without anybody's contribution to the feat. It was purely the LORD's doing. 'The Lord's doing' is something that comes to you that you did not plan for, worked for, bargained for, and witnessed no effort of yours. In fact, you gave up on it and now it came as a surprise. What the LORD did to Egypt came as a surprise to both the Israelites and the Egyptians. The Egyptians could not comprehend the deliverance of Israel. In like manner your enemy will not comprehend your promotion because God Himself will execute the mission. It indeed will be the Lord's doing and it will be marvelous in your sight.

Prayer/Action
* Lift up your hand and declare that every captivity will become a past tense and a testimony
* Declare that the doings of the Lord will become a common occurrence in your life.
* Prophesy that you will ride on eagle’s wings above every mountain of your life.
* Give thanks for answered prayers with a song now.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Every unrepentant pursuer of my glory, vowing not to give up, I command them dead, in Jesus’ name.

Victory over the Enemy

Tuesday 7 April
READ: 1 John 5:4
MORE LESSON: Eph. 6:16

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our* faith. 1 John 5:4 (NKJV) One thing that can give you complete victory over Satan and all his vices is your knowledge and appropriation of the promises of God as written in His Word. God has the capability to grant any prayer request. He can heal your sickness, deliver you from all oppressions and set you free. We have confidence that He will do all these for us because He has revealed in the scriptures that it is His will to do so. Answered prayers are brought about by your knowledge and faith in what God has said concerning you.

Every believer ought to have confidence in the power of God to answer his prayer. Every believer should be able to look at Satan in the face and tell him to get lost. The audacity to do this is from your knowledge of what God has said about you in the His Word. The Word says that you are seated with Christ far above principalities and powers (Eph 1: 20 – 21, 2: 6) Victory over the powers of the enemy is within the reach of all of God's children if only they can stand on the promises of God. Next time the devil harasses you, find a scripture for an answer. Anybody can be confronted by the devil because even Jesus was confronted by Satan. But the way of victory over the devil was revealed by Jesus when He was confronted. Jesus had a scripture to answer for everything the devil said. Jesus did not answer Satan from His own head but He answered from the Word. Whatever situation the enemy brings your way, there is a readymade answer in the Word. If you will answer the devil and situations of life from the Word, you can be sure of victory in destiny. This is the power of the Christian life, what is written in the scriptures.

You have to learn to appropriate the Word of God by reading, hearing and by confessing it. Thereafter, you can watch your destiny run gloriously. To enjoy victories over the devil, you have to be born again, know your position and rights in Christ by searching God's Word, Find God's will over the matter you are praying and use the Word of God to address the situation. Everything written in the Word has what it takes to be fulfilled.

Faith in what God has said concerning you is what brings victory and excellence in life. Prayers are answered on the basis of what the will of God is in His Word. I am a living example of what standing on the Word of God can do. I live by faith in His Word and I have never been disappointed. This and more will be your testimony in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
Pray this prayer after me
* my faith will not be put to shame.
* As I ask, I'll receive.
* The promise of God over my life will run to fulfilment daily.
* I believe God and His Word, so shall I prevail over every enemy, in Jesus’ name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Jesus overcame every problem that came His way to fulfilment; I shall overcome too, in Jesus’ name.

A Glimpse of Heaven

Monday 6 April
READ: Rev. 21:9-27
MORE LESSON: Rev. 20:12-15

And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Rev.21:10. This was part of the experience of John the beloved when he was thrown into the Isle of Patmos. He saw the New Jerusalem, the capital of the universe, moved to the planet earth from the planet Heaven to be among men forever. Several other men of old who had the privilege of seeing Heaven before their death did not write what they saw, but John the beloved did. Heaven is a place of eternal bliss where God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Holy Angels and just men who are dead on earth reside. The Bible makes us to understand that death, sorrow, pain, curse and wicked people will not be found in Heaven (Lk.20:26, Rev. 22:3-15, Matt. 25:46). But joy, rest, peace, righteousness, reward and glory are some of the things that obtain there (Lk.15:7-10, Rev.14:13, Lk.16:25, Matt. 5:11-12, Rom. 8:17-18).

Imagine you have to describe the taste of ice cream to people who have never eaten anything but pounded yam, how would you do it? I think one way you can try to do it is by comparing it to the best pounded yam ever eaten and the people’s mouth may salivate. But that comparism can’t prepare them for the rich, delicious taste of ice cream. How, then, can God describe Heaven to earthlings who have never tasted or seen heavenly reality? God can only do so by revealing it to some humans and use terms that are familiar with men like flowers, music, gold, crystal, glass.

Dearly beloved, Heaven is real and it is a place all believers should long to be. Genuine believers will not be afraid of going to Heaven because it is in their hearts already. But when you see believers who are scared to read about Heaven and are so afraid of death, then it is either they are ignorant or are not ready. Thank God for revealing Heaven to Apostle John. Whether you have that glimpse or not, John’s description is rich enough for all who truly believe the Bible to accept and long to be in God’s dwelling place called Heaven.

For those who believe the Bible about Heaven, making it to the place is a task that must be done, not even death should scare such people. Rather death must be seen as a mere transporter to Heaven, not an end. Beloved, do everything to make Heaven. First, be born again by accepting Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Then live a righteous life.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to take from you anything that can take Heaven from you.
* Pray that your name will not be missing in the Lamb’s book of life.
* Pray that you will begin to experience Heaven on earth.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
This new month, my expectation shall not be cut short, in the name of Jesus.

Jesus Witness Today

Sunday 5 April
READ: Acts 1:1-11
MORE LESSON: Mk. 16:14-20

Jesus the author and finisher of the Christian faith came, died and resurrected on the third day. And the Scripture says having taken captivity captive, Jesus gave gifts to the Church for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. The gifts of the apostles, prophets, pastors and teachers to the church by Jesus is to grow the believers so that all can assume the full stature of Christ.
Moreover, our text makes us to appreciate what things Jesus did to enable the apostles become His effective witnesses, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth: v8. Every spiritual office in God's Kingdom is for the purpose of being His witness, ye shall be witnesses unto me. Witnesses are people who tell of their experience. It is interesting to find that Jesus did not call us to be lawyers as a lawyer presents her case and argues its merit or soldiers, who defend their country and preserve its interests. But He called us to be witnesses of Him.

The book of the Acts of the Apostles is full of witnesses; ordinary people who have extraordinary grace from God. Some of them give generously, some speak eloquently, some act with boldness while others move from town to town spreading the good news of the gospel of Christ. A few sacrifice their lives. After each of them has received the Holy Spirit's power, they move the mission of Jesus forward.

Today, the Church of God needs all sorts of members, people who will preach and speak God's truth, ushers who will make visitors and new comers feel welcome, singers who will lift the hearts of believers towards Heaven, givers who are cheerful and generous. But above all the Church needs witnesses, people who will listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit and act promptly in faith. The weaknesses, quarrels, in-fighting, distraction and offence in church will disappear when we all heed the command of Jesus and become not church title holders but His witnesses. That is the highest title every believer should aspire to. Any title and name that we carry in church must have His witness added or else there will be no reward in Heaven. Be a Jesus’ witness from today, it is cheap, simple and easy; you don't need anyone to ordain you into this office because by redemption you have already been ordained into it. Jesus commands today, ...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel.... Mark 16:15. Jesus died for this, you are alive for this.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for the Holy Ghost power afresh to be an effective witness of Jesus.
* Ask God to help you to see your place as a witness in the ongoing mission to spread the gospel to all people.
** Memorise I Cor. 9:16 and meditate on it all day.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, every plan and target of the enemy over my destiny this month, I declare them null and void, in Jesus’ mighty name.