Godly Children II

Thursday 30 March
READ: Psa. 127: 3-5
MORE LESSONS: 2Tim.1:1-6

The presence of children in the home brings joy to the parents because: 1. they are gifts from God; 2. an addition to the family; 3. the joy of nursing somebody for a beautiful future; 4. assurance of continuity of the family; 5. companion for family members, particularly when a partner is away for a reason. Children have great roles to play in the home and thereby can 'infect' the home with happiness or sorrow, pain, regret or shame, depending on handling. To contribute to the happiness of the home, you must be in tune with the Lord Jesus.
The major role of a child in the home is obedience to parents (Eph 6:1-3,Prov 6:20, Exodus 20:12, Prov 15:5, Col. 3: 20) which affects every other responsibility. Obedience to parents’ instructions serves as a way of training the child in different areas of life. Participation, practice and following parents’ examples via a deliberate process of learning from them, help children fulfil their roles. For instance, Isaac must have been following Abraham for sacrifice and knew things required for sacrifice. That was the reason for Isaac's question to Abraham, ...but where is the lamb for a burnt offering...: Gen. 22:4-8; a suggestion to avert failure. Isaac believed what Abraham told him in reply.
This was a trait of Abraham's faith already in Isaac. Isaac also showed a great act of obedience in accepting to be the lamb for the sacrifice. Therefore, observe your parents’ pattern of actions at home and church; parents should set good examples in actions or reactions at home. Also, join your faith with that of your parent's in family and other matters of life.
Jesus went about doing good while living in the world. He obeyed His parents even while in discussion with doctors of law, saying, ...wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Luk. 2:46-51. Also, at the marriage of Cana, despite inital remark that His time had not yet come, He gave instruction for the pots to be filled with water and turned the water into wine. His glory was manifested and Mary and Joseph must have been overwhelmed with joy for their 'child' and family being a blessing. Jesus also was obedient to God the Father (Heb. 5: 8, Phil. 2: 8).
The prodigal son's brother said, ...Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment...: Luke 15:29. His father did not refute this. Also, God said concerning Jesus, ...This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: Mat. 3:17. What are the testimonies of your father, mother, church leaders and God about you? Do you make your parents and church leaders happy by obeying them and following their examples? You have a great role to play at home and in church .Be faithful in all and God will reward you.

Prayer/Action
* We shall not lose our joy over our children, in the name of Jesus.
* Rebuke the spirit of disobedience and rebellion over our children, in Jesus’ name.
* Receive godly children for expectant mothers, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
All the promises of God for my life shall run to fulfilment this year, none shall fail, none shall lack its mate, in Jesus' name.

Godly Children I

Wednesday 29 March
READ: Psa. 127: 3-5
MORE LESSONS: Prov. 17:6

Children are compared to an arrow in the hands of a mighty man. Arrows are weapons of war and a potential during warfare or a device to help achieve a purpose, they are useful and effective only when they are sharp, strong and handled properly. Our text shows that children have great roles to play in homes. Therefore, parents must be strong in the Lord and diligently train (instruct, teach, correct and encourage) their children (Deut 6 : 4-9, Prov. 22:6) to be arrows that can glorify God and make their parents happy. However, a child left untrained will not amount to anything good at home and in the society but a tool in satan's hand (1Sam. 2: 12-17). Children’s potential as arrows becomes evident when they accept God's Word and necessary parental training as the lives of some children in the Bible show.
In 2 Kings 5:1-15, Naaman's wife's housemaid was bold and had faith to tell her mistress about the living God in Israel who could heal Naaman of leprosy. Naaman got his healing via the counsel of that small Israeli girl. In Genesis 37:1-11, Joseph knew and feared God at a tender age ( Gen 39:9) and did not participate in the evil acts of his brethren while in the field. Also, in Portiphar's house he refused to engage in sexual immorality with Portiphar's wife (Gen. 39: 8-12). Do not engage in evil acts or join others to do the same anywhere.
The exploits of Daniel in Babylon: refusal to eat the king’s meal, determination not to defile himself (Dan 1:4-8) and the manifestation of the excellent spirit in him in understanding and interpreting visions and dreams (Dan 2:17-19) were based on training in Israel and his company. Have godly friends that can help you to be closer to God and enjoy His help to do exploits.
James and John the sons of Zebedee were at the sea side with their father, mending their nets (Matthew 4:20-22) when Jesus met them. They were involved in their father's occupation to give him hope, help, defence and companionship not minding the risks involved. No wonder they also stayed and became special disciples of Jesus. Help and encourage your parents in their occupation.
Jeremiah 35:6-10 records the exploits of the sons of Jonadab (the son of Rechab). They did not question their father's instruction. God recognised the obedience of the Rechabites and declared that the family ...will always have descendants who serve me (a blessing): v19(NLT). God will help you to stand by the godly instructions of your parents, in Jesus’ name. May God help you to be a blessing indeed in your home and society, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Our children are for the Lord's glory, in Jesus’ name.
* Their glory shall not be covered, in Jesus’ name.
* Declare restoration for every straying child, in the mighty name of Jesus.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I am Heaven bound, my journey shall terminate at the throne of God, not hell, in the name of Jesus.

Located by God

Tuesday 28 March
READ: Gen 32: 24 - 30
MORE LESSON: Gen 47: 27 - 28

When Rebecca, the wife of Isaac, was pregnant, the Bible says there was a struggle in her womb. She inquired of the Lord and God told her that two nations were in her womb and the younger would be greater than the elder (Gen 25: 21 – 26). When analysed critically, one would come to the conclusion that Jacob was actually the child that should carry the blessing of Abraham as he was the one that God had chosen even before they were born. However, he did a lot of cheating and stealing to get the blessing. The more he struggled to get promoted by his own power, the more he suffered in life. Jacob was a supplanter; he also had to deprive other people to get ahead in life. He was always struggling for other people's things; fighting with other people over their things and even after he got materials he still had no peace of mind.
It was until God located Jacob that his struggles ceased. He had struggled inside the womb, struggled to get the birthright from Esau, struggled to get the blessing from his father, struggled with Laban for wives, struggled with Laban and his children for cattle and material possession. His life was full of struggles. When God located him at Peniel, the only thing he asked of God was to be blessed (Gen 32: 26). This means that even though he cheated to get the blessing from his father, he was never really blessed. It was only after he had an encounter with God that he became truly blessed and his struggles ended.
Everywhere God locates a man, He builds, connects and restores him. When God found Jacob, He changed his name to Israel; a prince with God. God located Jacob and connected him to the spiritual blessing of Abraham. It was this connection that brought ease into his life. In a similar manner, I want to let you know that you have had enough of struggles in your life. It is time for you to allow God begin to build your destiny for you, It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep: Psa. 127:2.
Hardwork is a great virtue but God's desire is not that you struggle through life, fighting tooth and nail for everything you get. There is a rest that God gives when He locates a destiny. May God locate you today for ease and blessing in life. You will not live a life of struggles, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Today is my day of divine location, in Jesus’ name.
* I will not go outside the place of my location, in Jesus’ name.
* Be careful about relocating without divine leading.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I decree that no work of sin, satan or darkness shall prosper wherever I'm located, I shall triumph in righteousness, in the name of Jesus.

Effective Witnesses

Monday 27 March
READ: Acts 1:8
MORE LESSON: John 15:1-8

One of the reasons for the infilling of the Holy Ghost is to enable the believer to access power to be an effective witness for Christ. Being a witness unto the Lord entails being strengthened, knowing God, being filled with the power of the Lord. The Holy Spirit baptism is not only for speaking in tongues, there should be tangible evidence in our lives in terms of strength and power in the Lord. The Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is not for decoration; He is for demonstration. We must consciously place a demand on His ministry in our lives so that men can see God through us in this world.
As God is in control of the heavenly places, we also should have dominion over the earth. This takes the power of the Holy Spirit so that principalities and powers will not be able to stand us. Believers should not run away from demons; demons should rather run away from us. This is the life that God wants us to live and that is the reason He has empowered us with the Holy Spirit. Strength is one thing that we can draw from the Holy Ghost in our daily lives. For a believer to succeed as a president, governor, pastor or whatever, there is a need for the power of the Holy Spirit. This is why Eph.3: 16 says, that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man. When you are conscious of the power you carry, then you have no reason to be weak. It is when you forget what you have that you begin to run helter-skelter. The Holy Spirit is a power to us, and we need Him in order to do everything.
To access this strength and power for being a living witness, you need to constantly feed on the Word of God. God is strength and the Giver of strength and as such we need to know Him through His Word. Being full of the Word of God equips us to be effective witnesses and ambassadors of the kingdom.
Another way we can access strength to be living witnesses for Christ is through partaking of the communion. The communion is the body and blood of Jesus. Jesus says, My body is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed: John 6: 55. When you partake of the communion, you receive strength even in the day of adversity. I pray for you that you will live as physical evidence of the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. You will not be weak in the days of trouble, in the name of Jesus. Your strength will be steadfast and in the race of life, your strength will not fail.

Prayer/Action
* Tell the Lord to endow you with all that will make you an effective voice in this endtime, in the name of Jesus.
* Decree that God's power will not cease to be at work in you and for you, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I prophesy to my destiny, I shall be a permanent point of reference for good work everywhere I am found, in the name of Jesus.