God Hates Divorce

Tuesday 26 May
READ: Mal. 2:13-17
MORE LESSONS: Matt. 19:1-19

We live in a world where the fundamental values that make for peaceful living are being eroded day by day. God says He hates divorce, For the LORD, the God of Israel saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts...: Mal2:16. But many societies in the world insist that you can put away your wife and marry another. It is worrisome that the doctrine of divorce and re-marriage is growing fast in the Church of God. If the elect of God, the body of Christ, the light of the world and a witness of God's righteousness, openly or in disguise, practises, encourages and aids divorce, the Day of Judgment is indeed at hand.

Beloved, there is a plot of hell to scatter many homes today. As we continue in our Christian race, don't allow that plan of the devil to prevail over your home. Keep your marriage vows. The troubles associated with marital unfaithfulness are grave to your person and to your entire family. The Scripture reading today says such act covers one's garment with violence (v 16b), You weep and cry and cover the altar of God with tears, but your prayers will not be answered; your services, offerings and scarifies God will not regard (v14). It takes a husband and wife living together in love and harmony to raise godly offspring.

When you are separated, the children are at risk of growing up without the fear of God and respect for the marriage institution. I encourage you today that whatever is the issue, settle it and live together with your spouse by God's grace. May the Lord Jesus bless and keep your home. If you are not yet married, pray for your future home today, that it will not be built only to be scattered. The solution to marriage crisis and divorce is living according to the Manufacturer’s manual for marriage - God’s Word. It has all the counsel that your situation demands. Read it and obey it and all shall be well.

Prayer/Action
* Ask for God’s intervention in as many homes as Satan is working to break.
* Pray for children who have been affected by broken homes that God will take them up.
* Pray for yourself, married or not, that you will not be responsible for the break of any home.
*Pray against the forces of divorce and satanic arrows in your nuclear and extended family. Pray also for a particular family by name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall not dance to the music of my enemies and their desires shall fail over me.

Spiritual Leaders

Monday 25 May
READ: Heb. 13:7-17
MORE LESSONS: I Tim. 5:17-19

Our spiritual leaders need our prayer for many reasons. They are the custodians of our spiritual estate and they are generals at the forefront of all spiritual battles. They serve as examples and link us to God and are Satan's greatest target. The fall of one is a great disaster for the entire body of Christ. As representatives of Christ on earth, spiritual leaders lead the battle against all satanic oppositions to the Gospel. This places an enormous task upon them as the destinies of hundreds of millions are in their hands. Their conduct, family, work, joy and pain are of importance to Heaven, hell and of course, the earth (both within the Church and outside).

Being human themselves, they are not infallible and though they run almost round the clock for their sheep, they have their own needs and pains. This is why Heb. 13:7 urges, Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God….: Heb. 13:7. You should remember them in your prayers often, supporting them as much as God enables you and by doing nothing that will make their work difficult.

In fact, v17 of our reading is so explicit about this, Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves… that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Three things are to be noted here: (i) Obey them, (ii) Submit to them (iii) Ensure they do their work with joy for your own profit. Verse 18 says, Pray for us….

Finally, in I Thess. 5:13, Paul says …to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Anything you do that is less than these, needs immediate change. Remember, whatever is done to and for God's servants is done to the God who called them, and He will not take lightly whatever you do (positively or negatively) to His called ones.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that our spiritual leaders will not fail or fall.
* Lift three spiritual leaders including your pastor to the Lord in prayer- ask God to bless, keep and sustain them in destiny.
* Ask that God will be an enemy to the enemies of our spiritual leaders.
---Spend five minutes today to pray for your spiritual leaders and repeat same for the next 12 months.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall not wither and my days shall be full of joy and gladness.

What God Won’t Do

Sunday 24 May
READ: Psa. 22:1-11
MORE LESSONS: Mk. 15:33-37

Jesus Christ was forsaken that you and I might not be forsaken. God the Father forsook His Son on the cross when Christ was made sin for us (II Cor. 5:21). Therefore you cannot be forsaken because the Saviour was forsaken in your place; you can't be forsaken because of His promise, … I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee: Heb. 13:5. You cannot be forsaken because of His presence, … and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen: Matt. 28:20. You cannot be forsaken because of His purpose, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose: Rom. 8:28.

In spite of your circumstances and your feelings, remember that God will not forsake you. Our text today records how King David complained and murmured about his prevailing situation, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me….: Psa. 22:1. But from verse 3, David resorted to praises. He remembered God's goodness towards his fathers and in verse 11, he stressed his helplessness, Be not far from me; for trouble is near; for there is none to help.

This is how to face an adverse situation. It is high time you quit complaining and try to remember your blessings. Then you will know that God has not forsaken you, I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid…. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew….: Rom. 11:1-2. This scripture is an assurance that God does not forsake His own. Are you a child of God? Believe that God Almighty does not cast away nor forsake His own.

Prayer/Action
* Renounce every suggestion of the devil that God has forsaken you.
* Pray that the faithfulness of God will be your testimony this year.
* Ask that all things will work together for your good this year.
--- What will God not do or what cannot happen with God, Isa. 40:28? Relate this to God’s promises to you.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall not see reproach, and my enemies will not rejoice over me as the Lord lives, in the name of Jesus.

Antidote to Delay

Saturday 23 May
READ: James 4:1-3
MORE LESSONS: Lk. 18:1-8

I once tried to find out why most of our young and single people within and outside the Church desire to marry, and sometimes very desperately. I also sought to know why people want children, and again sometimes at any cost, godly and otherwise. I just wanted to know the reasons why God's promise against barrenness is being so seriously violated by the devil. I wanted to know why many of our singles are being delayed in marriage despite many of God's promises against such.
After a little time of questioning and counseling brethren, not necessarily a research, I came to the conclusion that many of our beloved waiters are delayed for lack of knowledge of purpose. A lot of brethren need to know that God does not do anything without a purpose. It is easy to say that your purpose of desiring a home, property and marriage etc. is to raise a child or home or property solely for the sake of God's use, but if you examine yourself sincerely and deeply on your inside, is it as you have said?

The truth is that like our text of today declares, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts [pleasure]: Jam.4:3. How many of our waiting brethren can say before God that they want a child that will be truly dedicated and consecrated from childhood for God's use like Samuel, or want to own a house purposely so that the church will not rent again? How many want to marry just to support a brother who is on a mission field? The truth is that you need to critically examine the purpose for your request and make sure that your purpose tallies with God's purpose. And speedily like it happened to Hannah, another Shiloh (year) will not pass before an answer comes. May the Lord hear you speedily.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you not to faint in the day of adversity.
* Pray for waiting brethren for the grace not to faint.
* Ask God to guide your prayer life not to ask amiss.
---Take anointing oil and anoint yourself for speedy answer to every prayer.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth I will proclaim His faithfulness to all generations, in the name of Jesus.