Solid Foundation

Friday 10 March
READ: Matt. 7: 24-27
MORE LESSONS: : Mark 1: 2-8

Anybody can build a house, but houses are in grades and categories. When you look at some houses, you can tell how long they will last. There is a mud house I know of that has been standing for over ninety years. There is another structure in Zaria, Nigeria; the first church built by the Europeans in the entire Northern Nigeria, with mud many years ago and it is still standing. What makes a house last and stand when others are crumbling? The answer is in the foundation. How good the foundation of a house is determines how long it will last.
Though good foundations are very expensive to build, the wise always pays the price to put a solid foundation in place. The unwise person thinks that since the foundation will be hidden, he can do a shabby work of it and continue with the part of the building that is open to all to see. He forgets that no matter what is built on top; if the foundation is faulty, the whole structure will collapse.
The secret of advancement in destiny is the foundation. Whether your life is going to become a bungalow, a storied-building or a skyscraper is determined by the foundation. By foundation we mean the preparations you are putting in place and the silent prices that you are paying for where you are going in destiny. Your Christian foundation includes things as quiet time; studying the Bible and other Christian literature, learning memory verses, fellowship with other believers, fasting and prayer. These are foundations for tomorrow. Giving, paying tithes and offerings and contributing to kingdom projects are financial foundations for your tomorrow.
Everything in destiny needs adequate preparation. Your preparation determines your strength which in turn determines your speed; which then determines your advancement. So in destiny, preparation determines strength; strength determines speed and speed determines advancement. In Mark 1:2-8, the Bible tells us how John the Baptist was sent in preparation for the birth of Jesus. Even God makes preparations before He does things. It is easy to confess and claim wealth; marital, academic or career success but until we see your preparations before we can tell whether your confession is valid.
Everything in life answers to preparation and laying the right foundation. May God give you the grace to start paying the price for building a solid foundation for your destiny, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* I receive grace to mend any crack in my foundation, in Jesus’ name.
* Holy Spirit, strengthen my foundation and help me to stand strong, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, empower my dreams and desires to become reality and testimonies in 2017, in the name of Jesus.

You can Conquer that Mountain

Thursday 9 March
READ: Zech. 4: 7 (GNB)
MORE LESSONS: Isa. 45:1-2

Do you know what a mountain is? I am sure you know mountains have spiritual connotations. Mountains are issues of life that are high and difficult, far above what men can handle. They are also things that stand as obstacles on the pathway of glory. And looking at it from the physical point of view, mountains are high, huge things, and only very few of them have been conquered by man. Some years ago, we were told that a young American at the age of 13 became the youngest person ever to climb a mountain, and the first thing he did when he got to the top of the mountain was to call his mother. Guess what he said to the mother, he said, “I made it, I conquered this mountain”. I also heard CNN (Cable Network News) saying he conquered, so I started wondering, What does it mean to conquer a mountain for a 13 year old boy?
Did he break it to pieces? Did he bore hole it? Did he fight against it? For me, I have always known that to conquer is to go to war, fight a battle and win. So I asked myself, "What fight did the young man do?" Then it dawned on me that he actually did conquer because the mountain stood like something that nobody could ever climb. So when you do what is unexpected, you have conquered your mountain. Hence, in life and destiny when you deal with your situation with evidence that you have defeated what it stands for, you have conquered. You conquer a mountain when you stand right on top of it, and tell it, “I conquered you”. If the boy said he conquered that mountain because he stood on top of it, conquering a mountain then has to mean standing on top of it, that is, standing on top of what is taller and bigger than you in destiny. Remember Jesus said that the kingdom of God suffers violence, and only men of force can take it.
You must understand, He was not saying that the road to the kingdom is impossible, rather He meant that there will be challenges and difficulties on the path of the kingdom, challenges will come and give us an impression that the kingdom of God is impossible for man but He said, ...be of good cheer; I have overcome...: Jn. 16:33, which means he has become a testifier against an impossibility. It then means that since Jesus has done it ahead of us, a precedence of victory has been created. I want to let you know today that there is no mountain on the face of the earth that has not got a precedence of defeat. Cancer has been defeated by prayer; HIV-AIDS has been healed before. I do not know a sickness on earth that has defied the name of Jesus. It could defy medical science, but it cannot defy the God that made the heavens and the earth. I have not seen a problem that is bigger than God. None! Indeed obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you today, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* I handover my great challenges to the greatest God, in Jesus’ name.
* Head or tail, I will win, in Jesus’ name.
# Stop telling God how big your problem is, start telling your problems how big your God is.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I connect with God's grace, like Apostle Paul, to catch up with and overtake all who have gone ahead of me, in the name of Jesus.

Good Relationship II

Wednesday 8 March
READ: Acts 4:23-34
MORE LESSON: Lk. 6:17

Continuing yesterday’s study about developing good company, we note today the positive results of company. First, note that the disciples went to was a praying company, … And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord… Acts 4:24. This is indeed a great company that knew how to sharpen, strengthen and encourage one another in difficult times. It reveals to us what to look for in a relationship or friendship. Don’t company with weaklings who will rather aggravate your challenges than remove them.
My counsel is threefold:
1. Relate with all people but choose your friends
2. Relate with people who can caution you and enrich your wisdom and knowledge.
3. Don’t give your life to people you cannot trust or listen too.
Friends are to give advice; if you have one whose advice you cannot take, then drop him. Verse 23 says, …they went to their own company, and REPORTED all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. This was a company that had something to do in times of difficulty (v24), one that knew and could use God’s Word (vs 25-28) and it was a company that could lift up their voice and pray (vs 24-31).
Now note the results of their prayer:
1. The place shook by the reason of God’s presence (v31). Do you have a company that brings God’s presence down in time of trouble?
2. The place was filled with the Holy Ghost.
3. As a result of the presence of the Holy Ghost, courage came upon the disciples and they began to speak with boldness (vs 29, 31).
4. Then the spirit of unity came upon them … were of one heart and of one soul … v32.
5. They also began to express power (v33).
6. And finally lack disappeared from among them (v34). How much of such result can the company you keep offer you? I pray God will lead you today to a friend indeed.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, surround me with people ordained for the advancement of my destiny, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that God will lead you to a friend indeed, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, by Your mercy make 2017 as a season of testimonies in my home, destiny and at work, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Good Relationship I

Tuesday 7 March
READ: Acts 4:1-20
MORE LESSONS: Dan. 2:16-19

The Scripture reading today reveals the wonderful power of good company. It tells us that when the disciples had challenges they went back to their company. They had a company to fall back to in the days of difficulties. A company is described as a people of like mind with whom you have close working relationship. That the disciples went to their own company meant they had a people with whom they shared things in common before the day of trouble. It was not an accidental/circumstantial (fire brigade) group who came around because of an incident that just happened.
The lesson here is that when the disciples had a problem, they knew where to go- their company. It is therefore good to sacrificially build a relationship today that can be useful tomorrow. No matter the cost, start building a good company now. Let me ask you, do you have a company good enough for the day of pain? Don't wait until a challenge arises or else you will end up running to people you have not tested before for advice and decision over crucial matters of life.
How do you build a good company?
(I) By knowing and testing the kind of people around to know whether they are dependable and trust worthy. Abraham was tested by God (Gen. 22:1-2).
(ii) By developing a personal principle of distinguishing between friends and confidants.
(iii) By being someone else's trusted confidant because life is a seed; if you are trust worthy you will find trustworthy friends.
(iv) By developing quality relationships and not sentimental/emotional ones. For example, don't relate based on tribe, language, gender or for what you can benefit as a priority, but for what you can contribute and the value you can add.
(v) By relating with people of same faith, understanding and purpose.
In today's reading, it is disciple to disciple; because it is only iron that can sharpen iron (Prov. 27:17). If you have a challenge and need someone to talk to, who would you go to? Learn to build a good and godly relationship, patiently allow it to grow and mature. but make sure it is a tested and proven one.

Prayer/Action
* Father in the name of Jesus, bring me out of every negative relationship I am in by your mercy, in Jesus’ name.
* Lord, make me a trustworthy confidant and a blessing to people around me, in the name of Jesus.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I receive divine triumph over every force and power of delay and denial, in the name of Jesus.