Pressing towards the Mark l

Monday 4 January
READ: Phil. 3:12-14
MORE LESSON: 2 Cor. 12:1-4

Paul was a man of exceptional grace and revelation. God worked through him and he is on record as an apostle who had more results than the other apostles in his time (1 Cor. 15: 10). He endured hardships and suffered many things for the cause of Christ. The glory of a veteran soldier are the battles he fought and won. When we examine the life of Paul, we will conclude that he was a general for the Lord even while still alive. In visions and revelations, Paul excelled, he wrote in 2 Cor 12:1-4, I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. I believe Paul was talking about himself here. He had visions and revelations in the realm of Heaven beyond what other men were permitted to have. It is this same Paul who wrote about two-thirds of the books of the New Testament.

This means that most of the books that we live, preach, teach from in the New Testament were written by Paul. Paul travelled to continents and reached different sets of people. In preaching, teaching and oratory, Paul was in a class of his own. As a professor of law, he spoke once and a ruler named Felix looked at him and said, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad: Acts 26: 24. He spoke at a level of reasoning that was so much above the intelligence of the king that the king thought that Paul was mad. When a man is too much to be understood, people call him names.

However my intent is not to glorify Paul as only the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is worthy of all glory. The point that makes me wonder about the life of Paul is when in Phil 3: 12 – 14, which is our text for today, he remarked that he had not attained the call of God in his life but he was still pressing to the mark. In fact he said he forgot all that he had done in the past and he pressed toward the prize. If a man with kingdom achievements like Paul was still pressing to do more for God, then no man alive today has the right to think that he has arrived. I want to charge you to forget all the things you have done in the past and press to do more for God. Appreciate God for the past, but don't rest on it. Press towards the mark.

Prayer/Action
* Today, I receive grace and strength to press forward, in Jesus’ name.
* Lord, help me to leave my failure behind so that I can succeed and move forward, in Jesus’ name.
* I declare that I shall not give up in the fight of destiny.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, in the name of Jesus, I must advance in 2016 and not retreat, in the mighty name of Jesus

A Thousand Times Increase

Sunday 3 January
READ: Mark 4:3- 8
MORE LESSON: Deut 1: 10-11

In the parable of the sower, we see what happens when seed falls on different kinds of ground. The different types of ground denote the different kinds of heart with which people receive the Word of God. According to the text, some seed fell by the wayside, some on the rock and some among thorns and they all didn't bear fruit. However, some fell on good soil and were fruitful. But even on the good soil, there were different levels of fruit bearing. The Scripture says that some gave thirtyfold, some sixtyfold and some a hundredfold yield. A thirtyfold return is commendable when compared to the unfruitful grounds; but it is not comparable with a hundredfold return. So we can see that fruitfulness is in levels and glory also is in levels.

In Gen 26:12, Isaac sowed during a time of famine and received in the same year a hundredfold harvest and God blessed him. He had a hundredfold and was also blessed by God. So even as great as the hundredfold is, it is not all that there is to the blessing of God. Reading further we can see other evidence of the blessing of God on Isaac's life in addition to the hundredfold that he received, And the man waxed great and went forward and grew until he became very great. For he had possession of flocks, and possession of herds, and great store of servants: and the Philistines envied him: Gen. 26:13-14. It is God's desire for you to receive the hundredfold increase and also be so blessed that the evidence is clear. God wants to bless you till you become the envy of the unbelievers around you. When you are blessed, it shows. It is not appropriate to keep saying that you are blessed and there is nothing to show for it. From today you will have evidence of God's blessing on your life, in the name of Jesus.

The hundredfold increase is wonderful and it is God's will for you to be a hundredfold of what you are right now by this time next year. But I have discovered that the hundredfold growth is not all there is to God's blessing. In Deut 1:11, Moses blessed the children of Israel, The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. The LORD God of your fathers make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as he hath promised you! 
Deut 1: 10-11.

Even though God has already multiplied Israel to be as the stars of heaven, Moses still prayed that God would make them a thousand times more. That is a thousandfold enlargement. There is truly no limit to God's capacity to bless. He has surely blessed you or else you wouldn't be where you are today. But I tell you there is more, believe God for more. Ask Him not for a hundredfold but a thousandfold abundance, and more.

Prayer/Action
* Thank God for the availability of extra blessing.
* Ask God for an overflowing blessing all through life.
* Pray that your destiny will increase more and more to the end.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
2016 hear the Word of the Lord, I declare you a blessing and not a curse, an addition and not a reduction, and you will not cooperate with my enemies, in the mighty name of Jesus.

The Secret Place of the Most High

Saturday 2 January
READ: Psalm 91:1-16
MORE LESSON:Isa. 54:14-17

There is a place of constant and unfailing safety and security in life; it is the secret place of the Most High. This is the place that is beyond the reach of all evil. I want you to know that safety in life doesn't come from the armed forces, it comes from staying in the shadow of the Almighty. When God is your refuge and your fortress, He delivers you from the snare of the fowler, and the noisome pestilence. You don't have to be afraid of the terror by night and the arrow by day. You will not be touched by the pestilence that moves around in darkness or the destruction that wastes at noonday. You will notice that the Scripture doesn't say there won’t be snares, wasting, destruction, pestilence and terror. It says they will always happen but it gives you the assurance that evil will not come near you and your family because you live in the secret place of the Most High.

As a ministry and commission, the Lord has given us the assurance of this scripture as a yearly prophetic declaration for many years now and it has never failed. Therefore know that you are covered by the shadow of the Almighty and no evil can happen to you. Angels of God are assigned from above to watch and guard you. So you have a security system that is superior to that provided by the police and military. Soldiers have their own troubles that keep them busy as well but the angels are up to the task of securing you. Your help and security are from above, not abroad. The language that I want you to speak hence forth is, I have help from the Lord. No matter what, say to yourself, I have help. When the enemy comes roaring, tell him, No shaking, I have help. You have help because you dwell in the secret place of the Most High.

The last three verses of Ps 91 tell you what your portion is as evil goes on rampage around the world, Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation: Psa. 91:14-16.

God says He will set you on high and when He does, you can't be shaken. He promises to answer you when you call upon Him; that is assuring you of His help. He says He will be with you and deliver you. What a wonderful assurance from the God that cannot lie. To crown it all, He says He will satisfy you with long life and show you His salvation. Shout a loud “Amen” to the prayer.

Prayer/Action
Take five (5) verses from Psa. 91 and proclaim them over yourself, your family, church and nation.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Jehovah God, You are the Owner and Ruler of 2016, let not my enemies rule my new year, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Happy 2016-His Domain

Friday 1 January

Congratulations, through it all, you have made it to the new year, 2016.

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul. Psa. 103:1-22

Looking back, it is clear that only God could have brought us into 2016. Therefore, Bless the LORD, all his works…. : Psa. 103:22(a). Note the next word, …in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul. Wherever you are at home or abroad, hospital or cinema, in or out of prison, in pleasure or pain, celebrating or mourning, Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.

And not only in all places but in all places of his dominion. The phrase “places of his dominion” is the reason why you can bless the Lord no matter your state or location. Whatever is happening in the places of His dominion must end well, even if it is not well presently. His dominion is the place of His domain and nothing that makes for sorrow, defeat, affliction, delay, dejection, darkness or evil can ever prevail in His domain. Make 2016 a complete season of His domain and a year of moving forward will be yours in everything.

1. When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;
2 . Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion.
3 . The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
4 . The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.
5. What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back?
6. Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?

7. Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;
8. Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters. Psa. 114:1-8.

Because Judah and Israel was His dominion, “the sea saw it and fled”: Jordan was driven back. That is the power of His dominion and that is why the power of His domain is the reason why everything in His domain must bless Him.

Make God your priority this year and don't be an absentee church member. Pay your tithes, offerings and give seeds; live holy, evangelise and let God be seen in all you do. In that way you will be God's domain and I guarantee you, in God, that this will be for you a year of moving forward and the best of all years. Congratulations and welcome to 2016!

Now pray that:
* You shall be a place of God's abode this year.
* As God's domain all seas and mountains shall skip before you this year.
* By the reason of being God's domain, no one, born of a woman shall be able to stop you this year. You will move forward, in the name of Jesus.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
My Father, the Owner and Creator of times and seasons, thank You for the gift of 2016, in Jesus mighty name.