Not So I

Saturday 12 November
READ: Matt. 25: 1-10
MORE LESSON: Prov. 1:10

In the parable of the ten virgins, the five foolish virgins were unprepared so they didn't have enough oil; making them unable to enter when the bridegroom came. The five wise virgins paid the price of extra oil and didn't fall into the same error as the foolish virgins. When the bridegroom came, the five foolish virgins asked the wise ones to give them oil so that they could share. Everybody's lamp had gone dim and the little oil remaining was sufficient just to get the wise virgins in. If shared, it would do both parties no good. It would be enough for neither of them so the wise virgins did a wise thing. They said, Not so... when requested to share their oil. Many times knowing when to say no and having the boldness to say it is a display of wisdom. The wise virgins were saved from being locked out with the foolish because they knew how to say, 'not so.’
You must know how to say 'no' to invitations to do what is not in the best interest of God and of your purpose in life. You must know how to say 'not so' to temptations and sin. The willingness to fit into everything presented and what I call wanting normalcy is what destroys so many people. You should not be afraid of refusing requests that will not prosper the plan of God for your life. If someone wants to borrow your vehicle to carry another man’s wife to commit adultery, will you agree because you don't want to offend him? No. You should say, 'not so.' To go far in life and make Heaven, you must know how to say 'not so' to men at the appropriate time.
You must also know how to say 'not so' to the devil. When satan tempts you, you should tell him, ‘not so’. When sickness and affliction knock on the door and want to enter into your life, you use your mouth to shut the door. Tell them that there is no space in your body for them. If poverty tries to join with your life, you say, “Not so”. Even when poverty advocates try to convince you that Lazarus in Jesus' story in the Bible was poor and still made Heaven so you can be poor and still make Heaven, tell them that it was so for Lazarus but for you, 'not so'. Today, I want to encourage you to know when to refuse what is being presented to you and doesn't glorify God. Refuse what will damage your destiny. When offered to bear the consequence for another man's foolishness, say 'not so'.

Prayer/Action
* Receive courage to say no to anything that is ungodly, in Jesus’ name.
* I renounce every ungodily alliance and relationship, in Jesus’ name.
* I shall not sell my birth right no matter the challenge I face today.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
In the remaining days of this year, Jehovah will order my steps to the locations of my lifting, in the name of Jesus.

How not to Fail

Friday 11 November
READ: Luke 22: 31 - 34
MORE LESSON: Luke 22: 39 - 46

We must learn to ask God for strength and not assume that we can survive by our own strength. Jesus once told Peter that the devil wanted to sift him like wheat. The Lord told him that he would deny Him but instead of praying to God to help him stand, Peter said that he was ready to go with Jesus both to prison and to death (Luke 22: 33). He had forgotten that it is not by power or by might but by the Spirit of the Lord (Zech 4: 6). After this incident, Jesus went to pray and took Peter and some other disciples to pray but Peter started sleeping. How do you imagine a man that has just been told that the devil is planning to deal with him and he goes to sleep? That was born out of assumption and carelessness.
Many today also claim new creation and go around assuming things without praying. You confess that you are filled with the Holy Ghost and nothing can touch you but you are not praying. The outcome of Peter's assumption was that he fell to the devil and denied Jesus. It was the prayer that Jesus prayed for him that restored him and delivered him from being utterly lost.
The following are the reasons Peter fell to the enemy’s plan to sift him.
1. He overestimated his strength: he was told that the devil was planning his downfall and instead of praying, he felt that nothing would happen.
2. He slept in the hour of prayer. Jesus took him to the place of prayer so that he could pray through for strength but instead of praying, he slept off along with others.
3. Finally, after Jesus was arrested Peter followed Him but the Bible says, ‘he followed from afar off’.
This last point is one of the strategies of the devil when he wants to sift a man away from the faith. He removes him from godly company. He isolates him from the brethren, the church and godly counsel. He keeps him far away from godly attention. Peter followed Jesus from afar off until the devil finished with him. If you must not go weak in faith, stay close to your brethren; stay where you could be noticed if anything is going wrong. It is important to stay where you could be corrected and lifted in times of weakness. Thank God that Peter rose from the fall, but his fall is a lesson for us to stand. You will not fall, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Father, keep me from falling, let your grace be sufficient for me, in Jesus’ name.
* In the name of Jesus, I shall not be ignorant of the devices of the devil.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, all my glory that has been plugged to the socket of non-achievement, today, I unplug them by the mercies of the Lord, in the name of Jesus.

Choose Right

Thursday 10 November
READ: Prov. 1: 29 – 33
MORE LESSON: Josh. 24: 15

Many things in life are choices. Poverty is a choice, wealth is a choice, success is a choice and failure is a choice. Sin is a choice and righteousness is a choice. It is a man that chooses where he wants to be in life. Many people do not want to hear this truth because it places responsibility on their shoulders for where they are in life. They would have loved to claim that where they are in life is not their choice; it just happened. They would have loved to blame their background, relatives, witches, demons, the national economy or fate for their predicament. They will never agree that where they are today is a direct outcome of the choices they made in life. This perspective and mindset of unwillingness to accept responsibility has made greatness elude many. You must accept responsibility to choose and develop the discipline to live the life that leads to your desired destiny. A wise man once said, 'If you fail, it is your fault and if you succeed, it is your fault'.
A man chooses in life by the things he does and how he does them and not necessarily by raising up his hands and speaking out a choice. A man that refuses to follow God's principle for prosperity is choosing poverty, even if he never verbalised such choice. A lady that promotes nudity and wears skimpy dresses, has made a choice for immorality; this is because she can be raped and will definitely have immoral men swarming after her like ants after sugar. A Christian whose closest friends and confidants are all unbelievers has chosen failure in life and destiny. This is because when he has an issue and he needs counsel, he goes to the unbelievers who will not give him advice from the wisdom of Jehovah but from the wisdom of the world that comes to nought (1 Cor. 2: 6). So such a believer's life comes to nought as well. If an unbeliever that has divorced his spouse and is living in unfaithfulness is your trusted marriage counselor whose words you esteem above the words of the spiritual leaders that God has graciously placed over your life, then whether you agree or not, you have made a choice for a marriage that will hit the rocks.
The good news is that you can choose life. You can choose to be wealthy, successful and impactful. It is not too late to make this choice for greatness, success and strength; all you have to do is to start to do the things that the Word of God has outlined that make for success. Job 34: 4 says, Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. Choose strength, success and greatness today by searching and obeying God's principles. Choose life by giving your life to Jesus Christ.

Prayer/Action
* Father, I receive power for wisdom for rightful decision in life and destiny.
* Father, I renounce every association and relationship that will not help my decision making, in Jesus’ name.
* I choose life, prosperity, success, righteousness, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I decree a new season of gladness and joy upon my life, in the name of Jesus.

I Give you Power

Wednesday 9 November
READ: Luke 10:1-3, 17-19
MORE LESSON: Matt 28: 18 - 20

Kenneth E. Hagin (Snr) of blessed memory, one of the patriachs of the Christian faith, in one of His books, gave a testimony that he had a revelation of Jesus standing in front of him and they were chatting and discussing. Suddenly, a short, dark demon stood between him and Jesus and started making noise and creating pandemonium. He said that he stood there wondering why Jesus was allowing it to happen. 'Is it possible that Jesus was standing with me and a demon come in between us, creating disturbance?' He wondered. Kenneth Hagin stood there, waiting and hoping that Jesus would do something about the situation but Jesus did nothing. When he waited and nothing happened, he got angry and commanded the demon: ‘Go in the name of Jesus!’ And the demon disappeared. When the demon left, he asked Jesus, ‘Why didn't you deal with that demon standing before You?' Jesus replied that if he (Kenneth) had not done anything about the demon, that would have been the end of their discussion because He couldn't do anything about it. Jesus explained that all power in Heaven and on earth has been given to Him but He has given it to His children.
Jesus didn't go to Heaven with the victory He had over satan, He left it for you, Jesus says. It is not Jesus' responsibility to deal with the demon disturbing you; He has delegated that power to you. Even though the power belongs to Him, the power is no longer with Him; He has given it to you. As far as casting out demons, dealing with satan and situations is concerned, Jesus has given you the power. It is your responsibility to do it.
When Jesus won the victory over all the power of the enemy and was about to go to Heaven, He said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Matt 28:18-19. He said that all power has been given to Him, but He immediately passed the power to you and asked you to go in this His might. He didn't say all power has been given to him so he will go into all nations. He said you are to go in His name and He is with you, so whatever cannot confront Jesus cannot confront you. Whatever cannot humiliate Jesus must not humiliate you. If they cannot put Jesus down, they must not put you down.
Take this Jesus-given authority over situations and satan and deal with satan; don't wait for anyone to do it for you. Jesus has given you the power to do it, so dont wait for Him to come and cast out that demonic harrassment; use the power He has given you to His glory. The apostles immediately took the challenge and today, we are the beneficiaries (Mk. 16:20).

Prayer/Action
* Command every agent of satan harassing your life to get lost, in Jesus’ name.
* Take authority over situations and satan that keep a man in bondage; command their chains to break and declare your liberty.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Everywhere they have run me down, this month, like Jephthah, I shall go back to reign, in the name of Jesus.