Don't be Ungrateful

Tuesday 22 November
READ: 2 Tim. 3: 1-2
MORE LESSON: Psa. 103: 1 - 5

One of the traits that the Bible gives to characterise the end-time is that people will become increasingly ungrateful (2 Tim 3: 2). It is necessary to know the attitudes that constitute ingratitude so that you can guard against such in your life.
The first is that an ungrateful man does not give thanks, either to God or to man. When you refuse to give thanks, you play down on what is done for you. Ingratitude insults the mighty works of God; it is like saying that the deed was not remarkable enough to be appreciated.
Another trait of an ungrateful man is that he is forgetful. If you are a person who soon forgets a good done to you, you are ungrateful. Ps 106: 1-12 speaks of all the amazing things God did for Israel, but then in verse 13, it describes their ingratitude, . . . But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel: Psa. 106:13 (NIV). This is similar to how some people soon forget all the things God did for them and then behave as if He has never done anything before when they were hard pressed with a need.
The third attitude of an ungrateful man is that he is impatient. God has been faithful to him but because of one thing that he has not yet received, he becomes impatient. We have seen people rashly renounce their faith in Christ because answers to their prayers were not forthcoming according to their own sense of timing (not God's sense of timing). That is ingratitude. An ungrateful person will not think twice before he deserts someone who did good to him.
Lust and greed are also characteristics of an ingrate. When you have so strong a desire for something to the extent that you can't praise God until you get it, that is gross ingratitude. Envious people also are always ungrateful people. Envy is when you see someone blessed by God and then wish that you, and not that person, are the one with the blessing. Envious people are ungrateful for the blessing they have, they want another person's.
Murmuring and complaining are also the language of an ingrate. The children of Israel during the Exodus were not grateful that God parted the Red Sea and fed them with heavenly food – manna, they started complaining about lack of fleshy meat to eat. In the Western part of Nigeria, there is a saying that a person who goes around complaining, kills faster than a witch. Ingratitude is the beginning of the spirit of witchcraft. A person who always complains is digging his own grave.
An ungrateful man cannot be great: he is 'un-great-ful'. Uproot any manifestation of ingratitude in your life. Show gratitude for what God has done and He will do greater things.

Prayer/Action
* Father, the negative end time prophecies shall not be fulfilled in my life.
* Recall the goodness of God in your life this year and thank God for them.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, today, let Your jealousy arise against every satanic begrudging of my success, in the name of Jesus.

Honour for Honour

Monday 21 November
READ: Matt.15:4-9
MORE LESSON: Eph.6:2-3

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Mal.1:6. One of the greatest sins a man can commit against God is despising His name, Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain: Exo. 20:7.
God wants the work of His hand to honour Him because He is worthy, and when we do so God has a booty for us, So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine: Prov. 3:9. Moreover, it is not only the LORD the believer should honour. There are so many other relationships that require honour.
These include our relationship with:
1. Christ – That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him: John 5:23.
2. Parents – Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;): Eph. 6:2.
3. Aged – Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren...: 1Tim 5:1,3.
4. Church officials – Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour....Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: Phil. 2:25,29
5. Other persons – Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another: Rom. 12:10
6. Priests and pastors – Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.: 1 Tim. 5:17
7. Wives – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered: 1 Pt. 3:7.
8. Fathers –Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: Lk. 18:20.
9. Mothers – Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: Matt 19:19.
10. Kings and rulers – Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king: 1Peter 2:17.
11. Widows indeed – Honour widows that are widows indeed: 1 Tim 5:3.
Dearly beloved, honour begets honour. When you begin to honour God and man, you will also begin to receive honour from both God and man.

Prayer/Action
* Father, the humility I need to give honour to those to whom it is due, grant it to me, in Jesus' name.
* As I honour Your name, let not my life be void of honour and praise, in Jesus' name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Every evil boasting against my destiny, I prophesy against you, your works shall not stand, in the name of Jesus.

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.