Visa to Heaven

Thursday 28 May
READ: Psa. 15:1-5
MORE LESSONS: Psa. 24:3-5

One great desire of many people today is to get an immigrant visa to a developed nation, especially United States of America. Young people in particular are doing anything(negative and positive) to get this visa. But then, there is a visa that is far more useful and of eternal value than American immigrant visa: the heavenly immigrant visa, without which you are eternally doomed.

As expected, there are conditions for qualifying for this visa and for retaining it. Some of the conditions are outlined in today’s text:(1) Walking uprightly - without blame (v2). To be blameless is to be without blemish, irreproachable, having no outstanding fault (Psa. 19:13), being sound, having an undivided commitment to God (Deut. 18:13). This implies integrity, sincerity and whole-hearted devotion to God and to His laws (Gen. 17:1; Psa. 119:1). (2) Working righteousness (v2); righteousness means goodness, the act of doing right and having a right standing before God, without which no man can qualify for Heaven.

(3) Speaking the truth from the inward part (v20) which is speaking the truth from the heart (Psa. 12:2; Isa. 29:13). (4)Being free from backbiting (v3); all seekers of heavenly citizenship must abstain from slandering other people, speaking evil or falsely accusing others. (5) Not doing evil to others (Rom. 12:17). (6) Receiving no reproach about neighbours (Psa. 15:3). A Heaven seeker does not gladly repeat on account of or rejoice at another man’s misfortune. (7) Not keeping the company of evil doers rejected by God (Psa. 1:1,4). (8) Keeping one’s word even to one’s hurt (v4; Lev. 27:10). (9) Not taking advantage of one in need to increase riches (v5). (10) Refusing bribe (v5) because it aids corruption. (11) Protecting the innocent (v5).

Today, make a conscious effort to walk by these principles and let others see you as a sincere icon of righteousness and angels with their beauty and music will celebrate your approval and eventual entrance to Heaven. When life is over on this side, where will be your next abode for eternity?

Prayer/Action
* Take a thorough study of the following scriptures and use them to pray for yourself:
* Psa. 15:1-5
* Psa. 1:1-3.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Oh Lord, I wait on you, let me not wait in vain and let not my expectations be cut short, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Discovery for Recovery

Wednesday 27 May
READ: Judges 16:1-21
MORE LESSONS: I Sam. 30:8

Discovery is to find knowledge of what hitherto has been unknown or hidden, while recovery is to restore what was missing. Only God can never have a reason to discover or recover because nothing is ever hidden to Him nor does He ever have a loss. There are several reasons why a man can have a loss. It could be by carelessness, mistake, satanic attack, cheating, sin, ignorance etc but the most important thing is recovery.

However, to recover in life, a man has to first discover that something is missing or lost and only then can the journey of recovery begin. Like Samson, many people today both within and outside the Kingdom of God are seriously ignorant of their losses, and so they cannot recover. By carelessness and carnal living, Samson lost his power to a woman. The most terrible aspect of it was that he didn't know anything had happened to him until there was a shout that his enemies were around (Judg. 16:20). What a disaster! What a sleep of death!

Another man who had such a disaster was King Saul but the difference was that King Saul knew God had departed (I Sam. 28:15). Unfortunately, Saul did not recover because although he knew the problem, the steps he took toward recovery were wrong, unlike Samson who recovered because he eventually discovered what was lost and sought the help of God through prayer.

The challenge however is if you desire recovery in destiny, you must begin from the place of discovery. You must take stock of your life and destiny, your work, property, relationship with God and men and ask yourself, Is anything missing or is hidden or a loss that you don't know like Samson? God forbid that you should discover when it is too late. God’s promise is that you will recover.

Ask God to open your eyes to your hidden losses before the philistines show up to pluck off your eyes and disgrace you like Samson.

Prayer/Action
*Ask God to expose your hidden losses today.
*Tell God you believe in His power to restore all things to you.
*Declare that there shall be no more loss in your destiny.
Fill your heart with expectation of recovery today and you will testify.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
He that digs a grave for my destiny shall be buried in it himself and no plot against me shall see the light of day, in Jesus’ name.

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.