Breaking Barriers II

Sunday 3 July
READ: Exo. 14: 15 – 16
MORE LESSON: : Zech. 4: 7

The word of the Lord had come to the children of Israel while in Egypt that it was time for them to move forward from slavery to the land of freedom. They were rescued from oppression by the mighty hand of God on the Passover night and they were moving excitedly out of Egypt, thinking that they were in for a fast and easy ride to Canaan. However, the first thing that confronted them the very next morning after their deliverance was the Red Sea. They got to the Red Sea and faced a mighty barrier to their progress. It was there they started crying and wailing because the Red Sea stood as a barrier before them while the host of Pharaoh approached as a destroyer from behind. They had the option to go back to Pharaoh, beg him to forgive them for leaving him and resubmit to his bondage or to progress despite this barrier of the sea. However the Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward: Exo. 14:15 (NKJV).

The only way God knows is forward. Retrogression and backward movement is not in the nature of God. Increase, advancement and progress are the language He speaks. Barrier or no barrier, God says to Israel 'Move forward!' The implication of this is that they were to break right through the barrier and make progress. In the midst of impossible situations; the noise of the host of Egypt and the roars of the Red Sea, the Lord says just use the Rod to part the barrier and take a step by moving on even into the sea. The Rod is the Word of God in your mouth; speak the Word with your mouth. Then move with your legs even in the face of the sea. Moving demands taking steps into the sea; the water parted only after they moved, after they took steps of faith. Do not stay in one place crying that there are barriers; take steps despite the barriers.

You might have decided to make progress and barriers make it look as if you cannot move on anymore. Child of God, moving backward is not an option: break through the barrier and move forward. The good news is that the same God who says to move ahead despite barriers has in mind what to do to the barriers, Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided: Exo. 14:21 (NKJV). The Lord caused the sea to part! That means the Lord caused the barrier to break. The presence of God destroys barriers and makes a way for you to move forward. All you have to do is use the Rod and take the move.

PRAYER/ACTION
* I declare that every red sea hindering my progress part way for me to cross, in Jesus’ name.
* I command that as I cross the red sea, my pursuers shall be swallowed up by the sea, in Jesus’ name.
* I break every barrier of my destiny, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, if Your labour at creation did not extend to the sixth month, my rest must come this very month, in the name of Jesus.

Breaking Barriers I

Saturday 2 July
READ: Psa. 66: 1 - 8
MORE LESSON : Isa. 40: 4-5

A barrier is anything that reduces, inhibits or altogether stops your advancement. Enemies delight in placing barriers on the way of God's children to prevent them from making progress. There are signs that show that a man's path has been barricaded in life. When a man experiences consistent delay or remains stagnant for a protracted period of time, it shows there is a barrier. You must deal with every barrier and obstacle so that you can move with the speed of the Spirit, which is faster than the speed of light.

The first step in dealing with barriers in destiny is to make a decision and develop the determination to breakthrough all barriers. Everything in life starts with a decision; make a decision that come what may, you are moving forward. The power of human will, backed by the power of the Holy Spirit, will overcome any obstacle. When you are determined and refuse to give in, obstacles will give way, and you will cross. Determination is perseverance till opposition gives up. When you refuse to give up, the enemy will give up.

Lasting determination is made possible by having a possibility mentality. You must have a mindset that believes that there is always a way out. Some people are fond of saying, 'it can't work; it is not possible.'' Such a person has already built a barrier in his own mind. Jesus says, ...Everything is possible for him who believes: Mark 9: 23 (NIV). Don't quit because you tried and it didn't work. It is still possible.

However, endless possibility is only in connection to God, the source of power. Motivation talk seeks to teach possibility by human will power but if you want to base it on human power alone, there are many things that will never become reality to you, But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible: Matt 19:26. The truth is that there are some barriers that will never bow until they see the demonstration of power. They are like Pharaoh that would not let the children of Israel go until he saw the hand of God. It is the power of God that delivered Israel from Egypt. When the Red Sea stood as a barrier, it was the same demonstration of God's power that dealt with that obstacle, say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee: Psa. 66: 3. Barriers will submit, obstacles will surrender at an encounter with the power of God. Remain connected to God in prayer, worship, Word and fellowship. Authentic power is from God and today that power breaks every barrier set on the path of your destiny, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER/ACTION
* By the greatness of God’s power, let every barrier bow to me, in Jesus’ name.
* I declare that barriers along my pathway of life be cleared-off now, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, thank You because Your power that kept me from January to June will keep me from July to December, in the name of Jesus.

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.