On Mission for God

Sunday 20 November
READ: Psa. 105: 16-22
MORE LESSON: Gen. 37:13-14, 23-27

If God sends you to do something significant for Him, how would you expect to be treated? How would you feel? Our first step along the pathway of serving God may feel like the end of our hopes and dreams. Jesus was going to throw in the towel because of rough handlings and maltreatment. But praise God He allowed the sovereign will of the Father to prevail. He prayed and received strength to go on even though it was very difficult, And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done: Lk. 22:41-42.
Most times, God's beginning for His servants often bear little resemblance to the end He has in mind. But it is sure that if God has given you a difficult mission, He will sustain you until you reach the end that He has in mind. The story of Joseph in our text today is a great encouragement, especially when God's dealings with us seem impossible to understand, He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Psa. 105:17-18. It took going into slavery and prison for Joseph to be able to fulfil God's mission for him.
This implies that being sent by God may begin with pain and loss; it could involve injustice or being penalised for being truthful and refusing to compromise. It may also hurt as much as Joseph's leg in iron and being imprisoned. But definitely, it will end in commendations and good reward at the end, His lord said unto him, 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.
Dearly beloved, whatever your mission here is, and no matter how difficult and risky it seems, all God requires from you is faithfulness. It is being faithful to the one who called you and to the assignment you are given that gets you a welcome and well done at the end. You can be rest assured that the God who sent you will sustain you. So, keep working!

Prayer/Action
* Lord, grant me the grace to be faithful as Your steward.
* Lord, I shall not draw back in the service of God, in Jesus' name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall not fall for someone to rise, neither shall I fail for someone to succeed; my destiny shall stand strong, in the mighty name of Jesus.

A Privileged Labourer

Saturday 19 November
READ: Matt. 20: 1- 8
MORE LESSONS: I Cor. 15: 7 -11

There are several lessons to learn from the parable in our text today. First, note that God will always depend on man to accomplish what He wants done on earth with regards to propagation of the gospel and every service that propagates His Kingdom. We are co-labourers with God, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them: Eph. 2:10. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building: I Cor. 3:9.
Few of those things to learn from today's reading are:
1. Rising early to achieve the day's task is a character of the Kingdom to which we belong. The householder going out early to recruit men to his vineyard is a habit to inculcate, And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed: Mark 1:35.
2. The primary assignment we are called to do is to work for God's Kingdom. To the group, he recruited early and each of the groups recruited at the third, sixth, ninth and eleventh hours, the assignment is to go and work in his vineyard. The timing may differ but the purpose is the same (I Cor. 15:7-11).
3. God will always give everyone the opportunity to contribute to His Kingdom by giving him responsibility. Our Master always recruits and He does that at His own discretion. When God chooses new hands, it does not mean He no longer needs the one who was called earlier as long as he has not disqualified himself from the assignment. Those whom He chooses later are to complement those that have been there.
4. Whatever God has done or not done for others should not become a problem to you in the process of serving the Lord. What He promises those that come early is considered good for them, that is why they agree to work. Be sure that, faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it: I Thes. 5:24.
5. Another important thing to learn from our text is that God will not owe any man, ...call the labourers, and give them their hire...: Matt 20:8. There is nothing done in the Kingdom that will not be rewarded. We are likened to hired labourers, wages will be paid. There are rewards for every service we render in God’s Kingdom here on earth and much more in eternity.

Prayer/Action
* Father, I thank you for giving me the privilege to serve in Your Kingdom.
* Lord, nothing will disqualify me from Your service.
* Father, help me to keep my eyes focused on my assignment and nothing will distract me, in Jesus' name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall not scatter with my feet what my hands have gathered for me, in the name of Jesus.

Rejoicing in Death

Friday 18 November
READ: Phil. 1: 20-21
MORE LESSON: Psa. 116: 15

When a child is born into the world, it cries and the people around rejoice. If a child is born and it doesn't cry, the nurses and doctors spank the child till it cries and after the child begins to cry, people around begin to rejoice. So when a baby is born, the baby cries and everybody laughs. The reverse is the case when a man dies, the people around begin to cry. However, the man at this point has two options. Either he rejoices as the people cry or he enters into eternal weeping and gnashing of teeth. What each man will do at the point of death is dependent on where he is going after death.
Paul said, I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death: Phil 1:20-21. It is important to consciously live and prepare with the intention that one doesn't want to be ashamed when death comes. It is necessary to live with the consciousness that you want to laugh and rejoice when death comes even if people in the world are mourning. When a man is born again and lives for Jesus Christ, there is no sorrow in his death. He will rejoice in death; this is the reason the Bible says, I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope: 1 Thess 4:13.
Christ can be glorified in a man's life when he lives and even when he dies. If a man lives his life to the glory of God, Christ will be magnified in his life even in death. Death, for believers, is not a sorrowful event. It is merely a transition. The important thing is what will happen to the man after death. A child of God, after death, enters into a world of eternal rejoicing. A man who didn't live for God leaves the earth and then begins a life of eternal sorrow. You can rejoice over death by living your life according to the will of God. The first step is to give your life to Christ and then to dedicate your life to fulfilling His will on earth. You will rejoice in life, rejoice in death and rejoice in eternity, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that you will rejoice in life, death and rejoice in eternity, in Jesus’ name.
* Declare that you shall live for Christ Jesus and that death will be a gain for you.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, anything waiting to spoil the day of my joy and celebration, I destroy by fire today, in the name of Jesus.

Challenging Wickedness

Thursday 17 November
READ: I Kgs. 18:18 - 24
MORE LESSON: I Kgs. 18: 31 - 39

At a time, Israel forsook God and started worshipping fake gods. It was at such a time that Elijah the servant of God took up the challenge and confronted the evil in the land. Elijah the Tishbite first locked the heavens so that there was no rain upon idolatrous Israel. After three and a half years of absolute draught, the king met him one day and accused him of troubling Israel. He replied the king, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim: I Kings 18:18.
Elijah threw a challenge to Israel, her king, all the false prophets and gods; he said, Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. . . and call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken: 1 Kings 18:19, 24.
What we need more than ever is for God's children to rise up and challenge wickedness in various places in the land. We need all children of God to rise up in the power of God and the spirit of Elijah and confront everything that is contrary to God's agenda in the land. This has to start from our homes, neigbourhood, workplaces, cities, states and nations. God will not come down to stop ungodly laws and practices. It is the responsibility of His children on earth. The Bible says, The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men: Psa. 115:16; also Matt 18: 18 says, Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
God is committed to challenge what you challenge. This is the reason when Elijah challenged the false prophets on Carmel, Jehovah showed up and answered by fire. Never fear to confront everything that is anti-God in your family and enviroment, God will back you up. The Lord answers fully and satisfactorily. In the case of Elijah and the prophets of baal, He proved Himself and silenced the enemies and the false prophets paid for it with their lives. Every agent of wickedness in your vicinity will fall down at your challenge, in Jesus’ name.
There are several ways by which we can challenge wickedness to surrender:
1. Practical Christian Living. The life that you live challenges wickedness to surrender.
2. Effective Prayer Life: Confronting evil in the place of prayer consistently.
3. Evangelism: Be courageous to tell the wicked Jesus saves.
Jesus won, you will win.

Prayer/Action
* Today, I challenge every altar of evil in the name of Jesus to bow.
* I receive the spirit of boldness to declare the gospel anywhere without fear.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, I raise a standard of the Holy Ghost against every force of regret and backlash, in the name of Jesus.