Move Forward

Friday 1 July
READ: Exo. 14: 8 - 15
MORE LESSON: : Exo. 15: 1 - 13

There is always an excitement that accompanies a new possibility. Each time a man sees a new opportunity or a promise, he jumps up in excitement. However, this initial excitement most times wanes as the reality of the tasks to be done dawns. Have you noticed how excited everyone is at the cross-over night from December 31st into the New Year? Everyone celebrates, jumps and shouts that change has come and it is time for all things to take a new turn. However, as the year progresses, many lose the excitement and zeal and settle back to the routine and challenges of the previous life. It takes a life that is determined to hold on to the Word of God irrespective of situations to sustain fervour and faith in the promise of God till the end of the year.

This is similar to the story of the children of Israel. They were freed from the bondage of Egypt and were excited and jumping for joy. However this initial excitement lasted only as long as it took to reach the Red Sea. When they got to the Red Sea, they lost all excitement and started grumbling and complaining. The Red Sea was the deciding factor which would determine whether they would get to the Promised Land or turn back. It takes a strong resolve to be able to face the Red Sea and say, ''The Lord has said that I am going to Canaan, and to Canaan I must go.'' This is what separates men from boys in achieving what the Lord has in store for them. So when the Israelites saw the Red Sea and wanted to turn back, the Lord said to them, Wherefore crieth thou unto me, speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward: Exo. 14:15. Beloved, be informed that the Red Sea is not to terminate your progress, it is to give you a testimony. When challenges come, don't lose heart and retire to fate, rather sustain your confidence in the Lord and keep moving forward.

It is important to know that there is nowhere God ever promised that you will sail through life smoothly without any challenge. Challenges will always come whether you like it or not. When challenges come, crying is not the answer, the answer is to move forward. Victorious people are those that will look the Red Sea in the face and say, 'You can't stop me; I am moving forward.' it is such people, who are ready to press on and push, that get to the Promised Land. Moses pushed by stretching the rod over the sea and holding it there. The force of the rod was not enough to part the sea but the little effort he put into pressing was amplified by the Lord and the miracle resulted. The Word of the Lord to you like He said to Moses, is, 'Stop crying and start pressing on' ...I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus: Phil. 3:13-14.

PRAYER/ACTION
* I declare today that no matter the challenges and the giants, I am moving forward, in Jesus’ name.
* By the Spirit of the Lord, I break every wall and every ancient door hindering my moving forward, in Jesus’ name.
* I receive grace and renewal of strength day by day to advance in destiny.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, the owner of days and seasons, thank You for the gift of the seventh month, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Access to God's Secrets

Thursday 30 June
READ: Psa. 25:12-14
MORE LESSON: Mal. 3:16

The secret of the Lord is with those that fear Him and He teaches them His ways. Knowing the ways of the Lord is the secret of a life of greatness and impact. It is a good thing to experience the acts of God and give testimonies of the things God has done for you. However, God doesn't just want you to know His acts, He wants you to understand His ways as God made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel (Psa. 103:7). When God reveals His ways to you, you become the one that performs His acts for others to testify about. It is the fear of the Lord that gives a man access to knowing the ways of the Lord such that he becomes the agency of His acts, The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant: Psa. 25:14.
The fear of God gives you a life of revelation and access to the secrets of the Lord. It is not only reading the Bible that gives spiritual understanding, it is living in the fear of the Lord. A man living in rebellion and sin can read the Bible and not get anything worthwhile unless he first changes his disposition to God. Another great advantage of the fear of the Lord is that it removes the fear of man from your life. It is not possible to fear God and fear men. Any one who has put his trust in God and honours Him does not need to fear men. When men threaten you, you should not be moved in as much as your confidence is not in man but in God. When a man kneels before God men must kneel for Him. When a man has seen the face of God, he cannot be afraid of the face of men. Remember the scripture, The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe: Prov 29:25.
A man whose confidence is in God need not run around, he has access to all he needs. He has access to God's secrets and mysteries which will give him everything he wants in life. When you revere and fear God, He gives you unrestricted access to Himself, He always hears you. He always remembers you and you become a priority to Him, as recorded in Mal 3:16, Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard [it], and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
The fear of the Lord is your access to Him and all the secrets of life and greatness that are stored in Him. From today go out and walk in continuous fear of the Lord and His presence will be with you always to enjoy.

Prayer/Action
* Father, help me to walk in Your fear from today and always.
* Father, I receive access into your secret place today, in Jesus’ name.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, thank You for June, If You gave me this last six months, You will not deny me the rest six months of 2016, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Not done with Me

Wednesday 29 June
READ: Mk. 7:24-30
MORE LESSON: Phil. 3:10-14

As I write this moment, I hear Heaven declare loudly like with a thousand voices, God is not done with you yet! To the rich, the poor, the intelligent, the most influential, popular and great, I say, God is not yet done with you. There is room for more, Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect…. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize....: Phil. 3:12-14. God has more than He has given you and He wants to give you more; He wants to take you further, so press on towards more. Don't stop at the “little” because God has greater, better and higher plans for you.
To the poor, defeated, delayed and depressed, today I hear God saying, God is not done with you yet! He has a plan for your lifting, breakthrough, restoration and prosperity. God is still at work; He is still giving children, marriage partners, healing, wealth, jobs, career success and breakthroughs. God didn't stop the work of creation until He finished. He is still at work on your matter and will not stop until He finishes. He has not yet gone to rest, and He will not until He is through with your case.
So, like Paul, press on until you reach the prize mark. Don't give up on yourself; quitters don't win, winners don't quit. If you don't stop, God won't stop. Press on like the Syrophoenician woman in our text; be deaf to all negative comments about your situation. Just refuse to give up your faith, hope and confidence in God, even if it’s an angel that said what discouraged you. Stay glued to the God who says, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth: Matt. 7:7-8.
Today, you may be down but tomorrow is still a credit! Just never say 'never', for God will never give up on him who refuses to give up on himself. Tell your enemies, For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief: Prov. 24:16. You will rise and your light will shine again. Glory days are here again! Friend, just stay righteous and hold on to God without despair, pressing on in prayer and faith and God will do it again.

Prayer/Action
* Lift up your hands and proclaim that this year will not pass without your answer.
* Ask that the Host of Heaven will take over your fight this year and give you victory.
Find any abandoned project/prayer requests in your life and prayerfully go back to them and shortly, success will come.
You can also tie a vow to the requests this time, just like Hannah did.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
In the name of Jesus, I starve the root of my afflictions to death and I end my struggles permanently.

''Well done, Good and Faithful Servant”

Tuesday 28 June
READ: Matt. 25: 19-23
MORE LESSON: Mk. 8: 36

I had a very brilliant colleague in primary school called Adams that I shared my lunch pack with so that he could teach me after class. He got admission into a federal school for his secondary education but I didn’t get. I eventually got admission to another secondary school, so I looked for him to appreciate him for his help when we were in primary school only for me to discover that he was dead. As a little unsaved primary school leaver, when I heard about the death of my friend, I felt God was not fair. I reasoned that the boy was too good and too brilliant to die. Adams got admission to one of the best schools ever but before he could complete form one, he was dead. And here was I for whom my father had to beg to find a place in a secondary school and struggled to pass the exam, still alive. I have grown up now to know that death is not a respecter of age, excellence, or wealth. Because I know it is a privilege to be alive, I must therefore give God my all. I must live a life that will earn me in Heaven: Welcome good and faithful servant from the Father. He deserves my all. All I am working for is that when I see Him, He will say, Well done, good and faithful servant.
Several great men walk this earth; national heroes, international award winners, rich men, powerful political and world renowned leaders who eventually die and everyone celebrate them. Thereafter, the world moves on. Very influential people die in plane crashes and one would have expected that their influence and positions would save them but no. Life is passing and eternity is real. Don't risk eternity for anything. The world and everything in it will pass away; the only thing that is worth working for is: Well done, good and faithful servant.
I decided long ago that I would not live for cars, popularity or success. My pursuit is that when I see God face to face, He will say, Well done, good and faithful servant. This should be your pursuit as well. What shall it profit a man if he gains the world and loses his soul? I heard of a man who had 50 children, and another who had over 50 wives, but it is amazing that no matter what you own in this life, without eternal life, it is all waste. I have seen a lot of great achievers die and their cases closed on this side of eternity.
Check your life; what is your pursuit? What are you living for? The end of all things is nearer than ever. It is high time you began to reconsider your priorities because time is running out. Friend, many things that you think are important now will soon prove to be unimportant and the only thing that will count will be whether or not when you meet God, He will say, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord: Matt 25:23.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that after all is said and done on the earth, you will not be turned back at the gate of Heaven.
* Pray that when the roll is called up yonder, you will be there.
* Pray against a successful life time devoid of eternal success.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
In the name of Jesus, I decree over my life, the battle is won, the war is over, peace to my destiny!