The Testimony

Wednesday 7 December
READ: I Sam. 17:33-36
MORE LESSON: Rev. 12: 11

Testimonies are needed in these days more than ever, as clouds of doubt about God's ability loom over people's hearts. People confess God's ability but seek for alternatives in life. This is because their hearts are shaking when it comes to real trust in the power of God. This was the same for the nation of Israel in the face of Goliath and the host of Philistine. The Israelites confessed with their mouths that God was powerful but none was ready to stake his life to face the giant until a young boy showed up with his testimony.
When David wanted to fight Goliath, the people didn't believe in him because he had no evidence and track record. All that David had was his sling and a bag of sling stones and these were not enough. However, David had something extraordinary in addition to this; he had a testimony. Testimonies equip you and others to face battles and overcome. Testimonies make your faith in God to be so strong that it strengthens the faith of others. David said that a lion and a bear had come to attack his sheep and by the power of God, he slew them both. The lion and the bear either came one after the other and he killed them or better still, they came at the same time and he slew them both. When people heard this supernatural testimony, they believed in the God of David.
It was the testimony of David that equipped him to defeat Goliath. It was the testimony of David that strengthened Israel. Every testimony is the key to the next one. The testimony of your success last year should be the ladder to your greater success this year. And your failure last year is also the stepping stone to the success of this year; just turn it to a testimony. Paul the Apostle had challenges of shipwreck, hunger, persecutions, scourging and accidents but he turned them to testimonies that equipped him to achieve more for God (2 Cor. 11:25). You will succeed where you have failed before and where you have succeeded before, you will have greater success. All you have to do is to engage the power of the testimonies of God from your life and the lives of others, The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat: Prov. 15:30.

Prayer/Action
* I declare today that where I failed before I shall rise again, in Jesus’ name.
* I know that my Redeemer lives, therefore I can face tomorrow.
* I receive a greater and better ending over my small beginning, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, even to the last second of this month, Your promise of progress over my life will continue to be at work, in the name of Jesus.

The Lake of Fire

Tuesday 6 December
READ: Rev. 20: 10 - 15
MORE LESSON: Rev. 21: 8

In the text for today, the Bible shows the end of satan and all that are joined with him. It is important to know that anyone who is not with the Lord Jesus is with the devil. Just as Jesus said that He was going to the Father to prepare a place for those that are His so that they may be where He is (John 14: 2 - 3), the devil also is going somewhere and those that follow him will be where he is. The devil, the antichrist, the false prophet and all those whose names are not found in the book of life are cast into the lake of fire which burns forever and ever, And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever: Rev. 20: 10.
The lake of fire is a place of eternal torment created for the fallen angels who rebelled against God and left their abode in Heaven. Satan and all the fallen angels know that they have been irrevocably sentenced to eternal anguish in the lake of fire. They want to carry as many other people as they can along, this is why they work so hard at deceiving the world , making people reject God and neglect the salvation in the blood of Jesus. The judgment of the lake of fire is on the head of satan and not on yours, so why will you allow yourself to be dragged into satan's sentence? Satan's sentence cannot be reversed but every man alive still has the opportunity to repent and cross over to the side of the Lord.
Don't go and suffer satan's punishment with him. Any man's sin can be forgiven if he will come to the Lord in repentance through Jesus Christ. The sin of the devil can never be forgiven because his fate has been decided. This is the reason you should accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now that you still have breath. Once a man dies, it is too late to repent. As it is written, ...it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Heb 9:27.
There is no sin and iniquity that a man has committed that the blood of Jesus cannot wash away. All you have to do is invite Jesus in and say no to sin. Today is the day of salvation, tomorrow may be too late, And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Acts 17:30.

Prayer/Action
* Lord Jesus, today I invite You into my life afresh, have mercy on my shortcomings.
* Satan, I renounce you in my life, pack your things and leave, in Jesus’ name.
*Today, little foxes of sinful nature in my life are renounced, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I declare my year shall not end in sorrow or disaster, but in testimony and songs, in the name of Jesus.

His Return

Monday 5 December
READ: : Matt 24:36-44
MORE LESSON: Rev. 22: 12

In history, there have been times when someone would stand up and predict a date that Jesus was coming back. There have been prophetic 'date-fixing' of when the world will end and many were swayed by these 'fixtures'. At a particular occasion, a date was fixed by someone who claimed that God told him that Jesus would arrive on that day. Several people sold their possessions so that they could quickly enjoy the money before the end of time. Unfortunately, the day came and went and nothing happened. The Bible states categorically, ...of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only: Matt 24:36. Jesus said only the Father knows the time and the hour of His Coming.
Though the day and the hour is not known, it is still a surety that the Lord Jesus will soon return. A lot of people do not believe that Jesus will come back again. However, what benefit is there if Jesus came as He did the first time, He suffered, shed His blood and died and went to Heaven and never return. If the first coming of Jesus is all there is to Him, then Jesus was merely a martyr. The truth is that Jesus is not just a martyr, He is the Saviour, Lord and returning King. He promised that He was going to Heaven to prepare a place for His own and He added that He will come back and take them to where He is. In John 14: 3 Jesus said, And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. He has gone to prepare a place and He is coming to take us there, that should be enough a reason for all to prepare, so that we will not miss the place He has prepared.
Since He is coming back and we do not know the time but we know that it could be any moment from now, what should we do? We should be ready for every hour so that whatever hour He returns, you will be ready to receive Him. Talking about His return, Jesus reinstated, heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall never pass away: Matt 24:35. Jesus meant every word He said and wants you to be sure that His return is certain. It is as certain as death for every natural man, it will certainly come but no man knows the time. The Lord will return, live your life in active preparation, not in fear, being aware that as you live for Him, His return is to your joy and advantage.

Prayer/Action
* I declare today and forever my eyes are fixed and ready for His return.
* I refuse to be distracted by either delay or false doctrine concerning His return.
* I declare that nothing in life is worth making me to miss the first flight.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Today, God will honour my destiny, strengthen my future and uphold my blessing, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Like a Thief in the Night

Sunday 4 December
READ: I Thess 5: 1-4
MORE LESSON: Amos 4:12

The second text says, Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel: Amos 4:12. The Lord says that there is something that He has decided to do and it will surely be done. You cannot prevent it from being done. The only wise thing to do is to prepare for it. What you cannot avoid, you prepare for and what you must live with, you learn to accommodate. The coming of the Lord is inevitable, the only wise thing is to prepare for it.
The Bible says that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. All things being equal, a thief will not tell the time he is coming to rob a house. He would want to arrive at an unexpected time so that the owner of the house will be caught unawares. The coming of the Lord will meet many unawares. But the Lord has no interest in coming when His own children are unawares and unprepared. The coming of the Lord will catch the world unawares - like a thief in the night. But the children of light will be prepared. According to 1 Thess. 5: 4 -5, But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. The Lord doesn't want to catch His children unprepared. He doesn't want His coming to be like a thief in the night to His own. This is the reason He told us the times and seasons and gave several signs.
The Lord is calling in Amos 4:12, prepare to meet thy Lord. If a man is prepared, he will not be caught unawares. It is not the Lord's joy that He comes and everyone is not ready. He is not looking for the most unguarded moment when He will show and everyone will be unprepared. In fact, His desire is that you are ready for Him. This is the reason He is beseeching today that you should prepare for His coming because even if it meets the world as a thief in the night, it should not meet you as a thief in the night. The question is, How prepared are you? What will you say to the Lord if He comes and you can't go with Him because you are unprepared? You can't tell Him He didn't give you enough notice and signs. Jesus will come and if He tarries, death will come. As it is written, It is appointed unto a men once to die and after that judgment: Heb 9: 27. I pray you will not be caught unawares, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to keep you in constant remembrance of His return, in Jesus’ name.
* Tell the Lord that rapture will not catch you unprepared, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
As the waters cover the sea, so shall my December be covered with recovery, victory and success, in the name of Jesus.