Valuing the Word of God

Sunday 17 January
READ: Mark 6: 1 - 6
MORE LESSON: Matt 13: 13 – 17

It is a very dangerous thing to become too familiar with the Word of God because then it loses its potency in your life. Many people stay in church year after year and attend meeting after meeting but they get nothing out of it because they do not take the Word serious. It is not that the Word of God has lost its power; it is that such people take it lightly. God gives His Word and teachings and some just accumulate revelations upon revelations and they never put them to use; when you put so many bulbs in one place and you do not allow the light to express itself through any outlet, it becomes blinding. That is what has happened to many Christians who have become blinded by many revelations and their lives lack reality because they never put the Word to use; they only keep accumulating head knowledge.

Most ministers of the gospel have noticed that the same teachings and declarations that they proclaim to their congregation without results bring amazing results and testimonies when they go out. It is risky to get so used to God's servants that you make light of what they say. This is one of the reasons destinies are remoulded, people promoted and lives changed and it looks as if some are being left out. The best thing you can do for your destiny is to always take the Word of God and His servants with maximum esteem.

God Himself walked the earth and touched many lives but there were those who didn't benefit from Him. They made light of Jesus Christ saying, Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him: Mark 6:3. He came and saved people from their sins but some people are still waiting for the Messiah up till today; they missed their hour of visitation because of familiarity.

Today, I have come to charge you to hold each word that comes from the Lord with great esteem; whether the word comes through His servants or in your personal study, celebrate it and honour it, For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them: Matt. 13: 17. It is your time for a positive change as you honour God's Word and go out to put it to use.

Prayer/Action
* Receive grace to take God’s Word and His servants with maximum esteem, in Jesus’ name.
* Receive a positive change as you honour God and His servants today, in Jesus’ name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I declare that the heavens and the earth will not rest until my blessings reach me this year, in the name of Jesus.

The Seed of Abraham

Saturday 16 January
READ: Luke 13:16
MORE LESSON: Gen 22: 15 - 18

Jesus walked into the synagogue one Sabbath day and saw a woman bent by infirmity. Jesus decided to heal her despite the opposition from the religious leaders. The reason that Jesus gave for her to deserve healing was that she was a daughter of Abraham. That talks about relationship; an Israelite is a son or daughter of Abraham and singularly by that relationship he/she has some rights with the God of Abraham which an outsider doesn't have. This is what Jesus was referring to when the Canaanite woman approached Him for healing for her daughter (Matt 15: 26 – 27). Jesus made her understand that the blessing she sought was primarily for those that were related to the covenant of Abraham. Although she persisted and, out of mercy, the Lord gave her what she wanted, the fact still remains that it is only through relationship that one can get the best out of God.

There are blessings that are default to you when you are connected in viable relationship to the Lord. Among them is that your enemies bow at your feet; those that curse you are cursed and those that bless you are blessed. The blessing of Abraham flows to every child of Abraham; this is what worked for Mordecai against Haman who was working against him. Haman wanted to annihilate the children of Israel but even his wife warned him that if Mordecai was a seed of Abraham, anyone who worked against him would pay for it with his life (Esther 6: 13).

Being a seed of Abraham, in our own era of the New Testament, talks about having a father-son relationship with God. It means that you have God as your father through the blood of Jesus. It is not about becoming a church member or even being a church worker. It is not about being born into a Christian home or being a pastor's child. It is about having a definite encounter with God. You decide to confess your sin, accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and you begin to walk with God personally. When you are the seed of Abraham, things begin to work out for you.

Friend, when you become a son or daughter of Abraham, excellence becomes a way of life. God will fight your enemies with plagues and even smite them dead like He did to Egypt for the sake of Israel-the seed of Abraham. Even though as a seed of Abraham you will face battles in life, you are sure of victory. The things that God will do for a man just because he/she is a seed of Abraham becomes your portion. Are you a seed of Abraham by faith? You can be one today by asking Jesus into your life as your Lord and Saviour.

Prayer/Action
* Thank the Lord because you are a seed of Abraham.
* Ask God that as Abraham’s seed, no privilege will be denied you, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God for the grace to testify about Jesus to someone today.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
He that feeds the birds of the air and the cattle on the thousand hills will not forget me in 2016, in the name of Jesus.

The Great I Am

Friday 15 January
READ: 1 Tiim 1: 17
MORE LESSON: John 1: 1 -3

If you were asked in an examination to define God, how would you define Him? What will you write as the definition of God? The only way to know and understand God is by His attributes. This is the reason the right question is, 'Who is God?' and not, 'What is God?' because you can only answer by saying that 'God is the One who does this and that' or 'God is the One who is so and so'. There is a book that was written in an attempt to explain God but the author mostly wrote on the attributes of God. God cannot be defined but you will know Him when you desire to celebrate His attributes.

Here are a few of His attributes that I have experienced. 
1. He is the eternal One: God is the only eternal One; He has no beginning and no end. He is Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end. So His age doesn't change because He is old; He is ever young; He is called the ancient of days. He is the one that cannot die- He is eternally immortal. If there is any word as “un-kill-able” or “un-die-able” this describes Him. Nothing that exists in Him can end. This is why when you are in Him you cannot end either; you have eternal life.

2. He is the Creator: He made all things and nothing exists without Him (John 1: 1-3). He is the One who created everything out of nothing (Heb. 11: 3). When you understand that He is the Creator, you will not struggle to believe Him for anything. Even if what you trust Him for doesn't exist in the whole universe, He has the ability to create it.
3. He is the Almighty One. When you are talking about being the Almighty, that means He has all the might and can do everything and anything. He is not limited in who He is and what He can do.

4. He is the Great I Am. When Moses wanted to know His name; He said 'I am that I am' (Exo. 3: 14) meaning that He can be anything that He wants to be as the demand is placed on Him. He is the Provider, Protector, Miracle Worker, Warrior and Prince of Peace etc. Whatsoever the occasion demands, He is. He is not limited in role, ability or position; He is all that you need.

Therefore, have confidence and be unshakeable as you go through life, if indeed you serve the God who is everything that you need.

Prayer/Action
* I worship You today oh God Almighty.
* Father, reveal Yourself to me, in Jesus’ name.
* Lord, let my life reveal Your greatness oh Lord.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
This year 2016, to win will be normal and compulsory; to fail will be abnormal and impossible, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Know who You are 2

Thursday 14 January
READ: Acts 16: 16 - 18
MORE LESSON: Psa. 139: 14 - 17

In today’s text, Paul and Silas went to preach in a town and a demon possessed girl followed them saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation: Acts 16:17. The demon actually was announcing who these apostles were. But these men knew who they were, they didn't need any demon to tell them who they were. So they cast the demon out. A man cannot do exploits unless he knows who he is. It is the knowledge of who you are in Christ that empowers you to cast out demons.

I had cast out so many demons from the early stage of my ministry that I have lost count. However, I was ministering deliverance once and the demon began to speak, 'You don't talk to me, who are you? You can't do anything.' The pastors present were so angry with the demon; I told them to relax; no problem, if the demon says he doesn't know who I am. I know who I am. I am an anointed servant of God. At the end of the day, he will know. Don't let a demon outwit you by telling you, you are nobody.

I have also seen people do deliverance and celebrate the fact that the demon acknowledged that they are servants of God. That is unwise. It doesn't matter what the demon says or doesn't say; what matters is that you recognise who you are. A man can be messed up in life for lack of knowledge of who he is. Whatever is your calling in life, know it and stay by it.

If you are called into the ministry, know your calling and commission. I have seen people face a servant of God and tell him, 'Are you still preaching, you better go and find something doing, this one that you are struggling to make ends meet.'' If the pastor doesn't know who he is and what he is called to do, such a statement is sufficient to discourage him from ministry. It is only the one who knows who he is that will not be deterred. You may not be getting all the results now but stay at it if that is what God called you to do; He is preparing you for greater things. You can only persist when you are sure about who you are, and persistence is the secret to excellence.

Discover yourself and be confident of who God says you are. Let other people's testimony about you be mere addition so that even if they don't testify, you are still yourself. Know your potentials and capabilities in life and go for a great height of excellence. There is strength in knowing yourself; it saves you from competition and comparison with others. Even if you are doing what others are doing, let there be a uniqueness that comes in as your trademark born out of self-knowledge.

Prayer/Action
* In the name of Jesus, I step into my full place of authority and dominion in Christ Jesus.
* Father, grant me grace to walk in the fullness of Your purpose for my life and nothing will shift me away, in Jesus’ name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Every step I take this year shall be divinely guided; I shall not miss my targets, in the wonderful name of Jesus.