Great Calm I

Sunday 10 July
READ: Mark 4:35 -39
MORE LESSON: Psa. 89: 8 - 9

Jesus had gone for a meeting with His disciples and as they were coming back, the wind began to beat at the ship so ferociously that the disciples were greatly afraid. The ship had begun to be filled with water and it looked like it would sink. Water, in this context, represents trouble. Troubles and storms in life are a reality that we must face; it is how you handle them that determines whether you are really in trouble or not.

Many of the disciples were fishermen; they were skilled in the water business. So they must have immediately swerved into action as they tried to do all the professional things like removing excess load to make the boat light, rowing in the direction of the wind, etc. However, all they did was to no avail as the storm increased and the water became so overwhelmingly out of control. It was at that point that they realised they needed Jesus. They had tried all the physical things to correct the problem but there was no result. Most times, the reason for the struggle of men is that they are trying to handle a spiritual problem using a physical technique.

A great calm came when they realised that their knowledge of the sea could not help and they cried to Jesus. It was when they shouted out loud to Jesus for help that He rose up to calm their storm. What is intriguing in this story is that Jesus was in a boat and the boat was sinking and He didn't do anything. Don't think that Jesus was so dead asleep that He was unconscious of His surrounding and needed to be awakened by His disciples so that He would not drown with the ship.

The truth is that Jesus knew about the storm but He would not do something until He was invited into the situation. Jesus was waiting for them to recognise His presence and ask Him for help. This shows that Jesus could be in a boat and storms still attack the boat. This also teaches us that Jesus will not automatically calm a storm unless you ask Him to. God works by principles and one of his principles is that you only receive when you ask (Matt 7: 7). A desire without prayer is wishful thinking; you must talk to the Lord about your desire. The ship of your life could be filled with trouble today just as theirs was. You need to call the Master of the storm and He will bring a great calm. Prayer is the way to experience calm in the midst of the threatening storm. Don't assume that you are a Christian and a worker in church so the Lord would automatically calm the storm of your life without you expressing your need to Him in prayer. You must pray to the Lord for calm to come.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Jesus, come into my home, work and life and still the storm around my life.
* Pray that you will walk through any storm with Jesus in view.
* Declare that no storm will be able to swallow you up, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I use the token of the blood of Jesus to wipe out the handwriting of all ordinances programmed against my destiny, in the name of Jesus.

Power to the Faint II

Saturday 9 July
READ: Isa. 40: 29 – 31
MORE LESSON: Isa. 52:1-6

Weakness is a choice and strength is also a choice. A man chooses to be weak or strong by the things he does and how he does them. A man that is running away from fasting, prayer, church service and spiritual exercise is choosing weakness while a man that waits on God chooses strength. The reality of fainting and becoming weary in this life is inevitable but God also has made available the provision of power to be strong. However, accessing the provision of strength from God is a choice. This is portrayed in Isa. 40: 29 – 31, He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

The Scripture states emphatically that all men, including youths that are renowned for strength, will faint and utterly fall. However before the problem of fainting comes, the Word of God has made a provision for the solution to as many as will make the choice to receive strength. When you carefully examine the text, you will realise that God gave the promise of strength even before He announced the problem of weariness and fainting. In verse 30, the problem of fainting and weariness was announced but in verse 29, God had already promised that there is power available to the faint. It is only Jehovah that can promise the solution even before the problem shows up. This is the reason it is choice that eventually determines whether you stay in the place of weakness or strength. As far as God is concerned, there is provision of strength for you even before the advent of weakness, all you have to do is to make the choice to receive strength.

The secret of power in the time of fainting is shown in the Scripture, those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. This Scripture talks about a man who stays with God until his change comes. Job said that all the days of his appointed time he will wait until his change comes. Job is one man who stayed on with God till his change came (Job 14: 14). I want you to decide that whatever the situation in the country and around the globe your faith will stay fixed on the Lord. When you wait upon the Lord, your strength will be renewed and you will be able to move forward without becoming tired, Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; Put on your beautiful garments...: Isa. 52:1.

PRAYER/ACTION
* In the name of Jesus, I choose strength, not weakness.
* In the name of Jesus, my strength shall not faint and my points of strength shall not become weakness.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I declare my moments and times are defended by God and His Word from this day on, in the name of Jesus.

Power to the Faint I

Friday 8 July
READ: Isa. 40: 29 – 31
MORE LESSON: 2 Sam. 11: 1 - 5

Men at times get to the point of tiredness and they grow faint. When a believer, who used to be on fire in the place of prayer, begins to find reasons to postpone prayers and avoid prayer meetings, he is fainting. The signs that show that a man is tired and fainting include that he starts to complain about the things that he was zealous about. When giving offering/tithe, evangelism, fellowship and personal devotion become wearisome to a man, such a man is becoming worn out in his spiritual experience. He needs to pay attention quickly and receive renewal or else grave consequences loom in the corner.

The point of fainting is a vulnerable point; it is a dangerous position. A man who has grown faint can fall at any time. A faint man will accept any offer given to him because he has lost his strength to insist on what is right. In the face of tiredness, a man will take any solution offered to him, godly or ungodly. A little adversity, temptation or pressure can topple a fainting man over and then everyone stands amazed at the fact that he demonstrated such weakness. However, it is not the actual incident that toppled the man; it is the fact that he has been weak inside and carried the weakness around without receiving strength and renewal.

This is the reason Prov. 24: 10 says, If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. When a man falls or caves in at the time of challenge, it is most probably that he has gradually been fainting and he didn't pay due attention for renewal. It is spiritual wisdom not to wait till a time of fall before you cry for renewal and strength, but to come to God as soon as you sense any trace of fainting or weakness show up in you. Do not wait till it becomes obvious to everyone or till it shows in a major defeat.
David the great warrior king of Israel was already getting weak and when it was time to battle, he stayed at home claiming that he wanted to relax. He should have noticed the fainting and corrected it by receiving strength from God to rise to the battle. But he didn't till he stayed at home and he fell to the temptation of sleeping with another man's wife.

Today, the Lord promises power to the faint. A time comes when even the people expected to be strong will become faint. The only secret that guarantees your continual strength is constant renewal by receiving strength from the Lord, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint: Isa 40:31.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Father, renew my strength for every area of my weakness.
* Lord, send a fresh fire upon my altar, a refreshing upon my soul and a quickening and awakening for my spirit.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, into Your able hands I commend my destiny today, Let it not be ill with me, make me hear joy and gladness, in the name of Jesus.

Greatness is Mine

Thursday 7 July
READ: Lk.1:27-38
MORE LESSON: Jn.6:62-63

Greatness is God's plan for all His children. The inheritance of the benefits of the Highest, that is God Himself, is God's will for us all, He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: Lk.1:32. The throne is God's destination for His children. God never created anyone to be a slave to satan, sin or the world. Reigning is our lot in Christ Jesus, a reign with permanence and relevance. But like Mary, several of us wonder if that greatness, that throne and reign will ever be a reality because we do not know men; like Mary we ask, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Lk.1:34b. This has been the question several people ask when it comes to making it in life. They conclude that they will not make progress because they don't have connections.

Some say they are from poor families and know nobody, therefore they can never get to high places in this world. Fulfilling a great destiny is not first and foremost by knowing men. Men are vital but to get to the throne and have everlasting impact can only be by the angel's answer in Lk.1:35, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

True greatness is a reality by the power of the Holy Spirit coming upon and overshadowing you. Therefore let the following keys sink in you in your pursuit of greatness
1. Find favour with God. Several people seek favour from men at the expense of favour with God. It is foolishness for a female student to seek favour to pass examination from a lecturer in the university by giving the man sexual favours or gratification. This is an example of seeking favour from man at the expense of the Lord's instruction and commands. Such people will never have lasting greatness.

2. Connect to God by getting incubated by the Spirit of God and by acknowledging His presence daily. As a child of God, fellowship with Him daily; allow Him to speak and relate with you; walk in obedience to His leading and be inspired by Him. The Holy Spirit is the highest connection you need to make it in life; He will order your steps to the necessary men and places that will propel you to your throne. Learn to fellowship with Him and you will get to that desired place of greatness, relevance and prominence. What men have tagged as impossible will become a reality and fulfilment in your life, in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Prayerfully list your areas of desired greatness and begin to commit them to the great God who makes people great.
* Declare that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will get to the peak of your God- given destiny in life.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Dear Lord, I frustrate the tokens of liars over this month and I make all diviners, enchanters and sorcerers mad, in the mighty name of Jesus.