Thou Shall not Kill

Saturday 8 October
READ: Exo. 20: 13
MORE LESSON: I Jn. 3: 14 - 15

Everywhere in the world, murder is a capital offence. If sins and crimes are in ranks, then murder certainly ranks among the worst. Human life is highly valued by both God and man and anyone that takes another person's life has done great wickedness. The sanctity of human life is recognised in the law of every land and even by God the Maker of all, Surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man: Gen 9:5. In other words, the life of man is so valued by God that if an animal sheds the blood of a man, the Lord will judge that animal. If a man sheds any man's blood, the Lord will require it from his hand, Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man: Gen 9: 6. It is because of the greatness of the sin of murder that the Lord commands, Thou shalt not kill: Exo 20: 13.
Jesus came and added a greater dimension to this law and said that God’s commandment against murder is not limited to physical killing. He pointed out that anger and hatred in the heart against another man is equal to murder. Some people may not kill physically but they talk evil and gossip so much that it is the same as committing murder. The hatred in the hearts of some against fellowmen is so grievous that the only reason they have not killed is because they have not seen the opportunity to. In Matt 5: 21 -22, Jesus warns, ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. This means that you should guard your heart against all hatred, malice, evil words and anger if you want to be innocent of murder in the sight of God.
The Lord wants forgiveness, love and kindness to fill our hearts, so that we will not be killers but givers of life. As the Scripture says, We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him: 1 John 3:14-15.

Prayer/Action
*Holy Spirit, help me not to speak destructive words that can kill spiritually or physically, in Jesus’ name.
* I silence the voice of satan in my heart, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I prophesy and declare that my life and destiny shall work contrary to the agenda of the enemy, in the mighty name of Jesus.

The Ten Commandments

Friday 7 October
READ: Exo. 20: 1-17
MORE LESSON: Rom. 13: 9 -10

The Ten Commandments is not outlawed in the New Testament. We must still obey the principles of the laws of God to inherit eternal life. A young man approached Jesus in Lk. 18:18-20 and asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and the Lord told him first to keep the Ten Commandments. This shows that the Lord wants us to keep the Ten Commandments. What should be taken to notice is the response the man gave; he said, All these have I kept from my youth up: Luke 18:21. He said he had kept the Ten Commandments for years and Jesus didn't rebuke him that he was lying so it means that he wasn't. Therefore, any man that says it is impossible to keep the commandments is not serious. If a man who didn't have the Holy Spirit could keep the Ten Commandments, then you can.

The basic rules of God in the Ten Commandments include the following:
1. You must know God and recognise Him as God. This means accepting Jesus as Lord in this dispensation.
2. You must not have another god or worship any idol. Whether tangible or intangible, nothing should take the place of God in your heart.
3. You must not use the name of the Lord in vain. Do not dishonor the name of the Lord.
4. You must also honour the Lord's day and give God your time in fellowship. The basic principle of Sabbath is that you cannot use all the time, days, weeks, months and years of your life as if they were yours. Set apart God's time for Him.
5. Honour your father and your mother.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour's property or anything that belongs to another.

Now in the New Testament, the Lord has even made it easier to fulfil God's laws. He has put His laws in our hearts and not in tablets of stone (Heb 8: 10). Also, all the commandments have been summarised into two by the Lord. Jesus said, ...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, ...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matt 22:37-40.
The Lord has put His Spirit in you so that you can walk in His commandments. Today, receive the grace to live in obedience to the commandments of the Lord, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Holy Spirit, help me today to be obedient to Your instruction.
* I cast out every rebellious spirit in me by fire.
* I receive grace to do the will of God everyday, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, this month, let the angels of settlement and compensation visit my life, in the name of Jesus.

Behold the Bridegroom Cometh

Thursday 6 October
READ: 1 Cor. 7: 29 – 31
MORE LESSON: Matt. 25: 1-13

The story of the ten virgins as recorded in Matt: 25: 1 – 13 is quite educating and revealing, especially to Christians in this generation. The Bible records in Matt 25: 5 that 'while the Bridegroom tarried . . . ' To tarry means to wait, to delay or fail to come after a long time. The first result of the delay was that the virgins slept, the second result was that the oil in all their lamps finished and the third result was that their lamps burnt out.
Like the bridegroom in the story, it has been two thousand years ago that the Master, the Bridegroom of the Church went to Heaven with the promise that He is coming back for the Bride (the Church) for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. For over two thousand years, the Church has been waiting and like the virgins, several have slept off, so much oil has gone dry and several lamps burnt out. One question is very relevant at this hour, and that question is, 'Child of God, are you still waiting.'
Another way of asking this question is, ‘Child of God, are you ready to meet with Him?' Remember that God is faithful to His promises, He promised Abraham that He would visit His children in Egypt and deliver them and take them to the Promised Land. He did exactly that after 430 years (Ex. 14:28 – 31). He also promised Jeremiah that He would end the captivity of the Zion in Babylon after 70 years and He did exactly that to the amazement of Israel (Ps 126: 1). In the same manner, at midnight, the Bridegroom terminated his delay and for the virgins. Matt 25: 6 said, . . . Behold the Bridegroom cometh . . . the Bridegroom will come like a thief in the night, He will come: In the twinkling of an eye, He shall come. Are you ready to meet Him?
It is my sincere prayer that all of us shall be ready throughout 2016, in Jesus’ name. The spirit of slumber and the spirit that drains and wastes spiritual strength will not prevail against you this year, in Jesus’ name. I pray for you that your love for God and for the things of God shall not wax cold in 2016, in Jesus’ name.
Lastly, the counsels of Jesus our Master in Mk 13: 33 that take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is (NKJV) and of Apostle Paul in Rom 13:11 – 14 that and do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed (NKJV). The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Receive the strength to live everyday like Jesus is coming that day.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to make you ready for the coming of Jesus.
* Ask God to help you live each day with eternity in view.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I send the stone of David to the forehead of every Goliath harassing my destiny, in the name of Jesus.

A Goodly Child

Wednesday 5 October
READ: Exo. 2:1-4
MORE LESSONS: Psa. 139:14

No child born into this world is a product of an accident. God carefully fashioned everyone and created a purpose for which they are to fulfil. Nobody is in this world without a purpose and responsibility. One reason why some people do not succeed in God's purpose for their lives is lack of foresight on the part of their parents of the manner of children God has given them. Since they lack understanding, they are not able to instruct, guide and direct the path of their children from infancy.
Moses' parents had foresight. Moses was born at the time when all Israelites who gave birth to male children threw them into River Nile, in obedience to Pharaoh's decree. But when Moses' parents looked at the baby in their hand, they saw a “goodly”, “unique”, “fine”, “proper”, “extraordinary” child. They saw in that child a world-mover; a deliverer, a prophet, a miracle worker. They saw greatness, prosperity and success in their baby. What they saw in that baby made them to dare to disobey Pharaoh's decree and hid the child. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment (Heb.11:23).
Parents, what good do you see in your children, and what are you doing to preserve that which you have seen in them? What are you doing now to help your children realise their dreams? It is unfortunate that some parents only see in their children folly, “block head”, “stupid child”, “you will never make it in life”, “good-for-nothing”, and these they yell at their children every time. What these parents do not know is that their words go a long way to rule over the destinies of their children. If you keep insulting your child as good for nothing and stupid, the forces of darkness may simply reckon your words as a curse upon that child and ride on that to afflict your child. Moses' parents saw in their child excellence, achievement, greatness and they worked Moses into it.
It is possible that your parents never saw anything good in you, and those around you never assisted you to pursue your dreams, but how do you see yourself? Moses grew up in Pharaoh's house, but he never saw himself as an Egyptian. By faith, Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter: Heb.11:24. Now that you are grown up, your destiny is in your hand. It is how you see yourself that matters. God created you great, and has purposed to use you for great things. Begin now to see yourself the way God created you, and you will enter into your greatness.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, let Your purpose for my children be fulfilled, in Jesus' name.
* Prophesy greatness over each of your children.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I break every curse of profitless hard work in my life, in the name of Jesus.