Jesus the Great Teacher I

Tuesday 18 April
READ: John 3:2
MORE LESSON: John 13: 13 (NKJV)

In the text, Nicodemus called Jesus ''rabbi''; which in the Jewish language, simply means ''teacher''. Therefore Nicodemus was calling Jesus, 'teacher'. He further attested that Jesus was a God-sent teacher; ...we know that thou art a teacher come from God...: Jn 3: 2. Jesus is the greatest teacher. He was a teacher that loved what he did, Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught: John 7: 14. Jesus taught everywhere He had the opportunity. Even in the mist of the feast, He taught. Jesus wasn't merely a teacher by title; He was a practising teacher. This is why teaching is one of the noblest professions.
Dr. Luke writing in the book of Act 1: 1 says, The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach. Jesus is the greatest teacher and in His life we see the quality of a great teacher. The greatest quality of a teacher is doing what he teaches. It is the same fact that Nicodemus saw in the life of Jesus that made him come to Him and commended Him as a teacher from God. Nicodemus said, ...we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him: John 3:2. Jesus was commended as the greatest teacher not just because of the things He said but the things He did. A great teacher teaches right and does right.
Whether in the church, school, home or work; if you desire to be a great teacher like Jesus, you must be a doer and not just a talker. Until you do the words that you teach, you are limited as a teacher. Many people desire great things in life and they think it is simply by knowing how to talk. Talk is cheap; you must be a doer. Many people think that ministry is all about preaching from the pulpit. So they are angry that they are not given the pulpit to preach. Jesus was not even called 'pastor'; he was called 'teacher'. Of course, Jesus is the great shepherd (John 10: 14), but the people didn't call Him that; they called Him a teacher because that was what they could see and relate to in His life. He was called a teacher because He not only spoke, He did as He taught, Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock: Matt 7:24-25.

Prayer/Action
* Help me Lord to be a doer of what I teach like You, in Jesus’ name.
* Oh Lord cause me to be a good teacher in word and deed, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I forbid satan and his agents from having any memorial in my day, in the name of Jesus.

Eternity

Monday 17 April
READ: Lk 16:20-26
MORE LESSONS: Lk. 16:27-31

Eternity refers to not having an end, being endless or infinite. God is eternal, Heaven and hell are eternal; I mean forever. Anybody who accepts Christ as his Lord and Saviour and has his name written in the book of life will live with God eternally, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life: Jn. 3:16 (ESV). Let us examine some things the believer will enjoy with God in eternity:
1. a new name – Rev. 2:17,
2. an immortal body – I Cor. 15:52-53,
3. eternal life – I Pet. 5:10, I Jn. 2:25,
4 . the tree of life – Rev. 2:7,
5. no second death – Rev. 2:11,
6. the morning star – Rev. 2:28,
7. his name shall not be blotted out of the book of life – Rev 3:5,
8. Jesus' new name – Rev. 3:12.
On the other side of eternity is the lake of fire, where satan, his host and those who serve him on the earth shall be. This also shall be forever, eternal and unending. Let us consider the activities and characteristics of this side of eternity:
1. weeping and gnashing of teeth forever – Matt. 13:50,
2. darkness forever – Matt. 25:30,
3. unending wailing and gnashing of teeth,
4 torment of fire – Lk. 16:24, Rev. 20:10,
5. eternal separation from God – Lk. 16:26,
6. regrets and guilt – Lk. 24:27-30,
7. worms that never die – Mk. 9:44.
These are the two places available for man to spend eternity, but each is by choice. You and I have the great honour of making our choice. The rich man and Lazarus both had a choice between eternity in hell and in Heaven (Lk. 16:25), the prodigal son had a choice between riotous and prudent living (Lk. 15:11-15); Israel under Joshua had a choice between Baal and Jehovah (Josh. 24:15). To spend eternity on the side of God you have to be reconciled to God, accept that you have been a sinner and that you now want Jesus to come into your life, forgive you, wash you with His blood and accept you as His child. It can not be delayed anymore, not even for a second. Remember, eternity is a long, long, long time. Where will you spend eternity?

Prayer/Action
* Today, I make my choice, eternity with Jesus, in Jesus’ name.
* I put to an end every lifestyle, character, behaviour, attitude and works that will lead me to hell, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
As the path of the just is as a shining light that shines more and more, so shall my path shine more and more unto the perfect day, in Jesus' name.

Heaven is Real

Sunday 16 April
READ: Rev. 21:1-2
MORE LESSONS: Jn.14:1-3

Heaven is real, as real as this present earth. Jesus spoke about it several times in the Scripture; the apostles referred to it, and even the prophets of old had clear messages about it. There is hardly any religion that denies the existence of Heaven. The only usual dispute is on the subject of how to get there. Both in the times of old and in contemporary times, several people have also had a rare privilege of being taken to Heaven. A few of such men like me are still alive today, testifying of their experiences.
Heaven is the abode of God, from where He answers prayers (I Kg. 8:31-32). It is the headquarters of the Godhead, where God's throne is positioned, and from there He oversees the affairs of the universe (Isa. 66:1, Matt. 23.22, Acts 7:49). It is the place where the will of God is joyfully done and where there is no sin, or rebellion to His will (Matt. 6:9-10. Lk. 11:2). It is the place Jesus Christ ascended to after His death and glorious resurrection (Acts 1:9-11). It was from there God sent the Holy Spirit upon His Church after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:1-4). and from where He will return to rule the earth. It was from Heaven that Lucifer fell and was cast down to the earth (Isa. 14:12, Lk. 10:18, Rev. 12:7-12).
It is the abode of innumerable company of angels (Rev. 4:11) and of the redeemed after death (II Cor. 5:1-4). It is the place where Jesus is preparing for all who believe in Him (Jn. 14:1-3); the land of joy unspeakable, a land of light, (no darkness at all) and of indescribable beauty and glory. It is a land of absolute purity, where no sin of any shape or form can enter; the home of the saints of God (Rev. 21). That is where Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Isaiah, David, Paul, Peter, Mary, etc are right now.
The qualification for entering is believing in Christ who died and shed His blood for you (Jn. 3:1-7). However, to qualify for a special position, thrones, mansions and treasures there, you have to serve the Lord faithfully here on earth and give sacrificially for His work, ...But lay up for yourself treasures in heaven: Matt. 6:20. Nobody makes Heaven by accident, you have to prepare for it and meet the qualification of accepting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. You must not procrastinate; start the preparation now!

Prayer/Action
* Today, I have decided to follow Jesus, Heaven is my destiny. I reject distractions, in Jesus’ name.
* My focus today and the rest of my life is to do the work of God, I am walking to make Heaven, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I overthrow every appointment with death this month, in the name of Jesus.

Soldier of the Cross II

Saturday 15 April
READ: II Sam. 11:8-17
MORE LESSONS: II Tim. 2:1-5

Another strong lesson from the story of David and Uriah is Uriah’s loyalty and commitment. That is the mark of a true soldier, physical or spiritual. As a committed soldier, when Uriah was shortlisted for battle, he did not argue, decline or escape. Again, when King David invited Uriah home from the battlefield, loaded him with a mess of meat v8, the Bible says, But Uriah slept at the door of the king's house with all the servants of his lord, and went not down to his house v9. When confronted by the king and the commander - in - chief of the army, ...Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing: v11. That is a true and committed soldier who regarded God's assignment above his person and comfort. Do we still have such soldiers today? As if that was not enough, the king made Uriah drunk but Uriah ...went not down to his house v13. Can a man be intoxicated and still keep character? Uriah did!
Let us examine Uriah as a loyal soldier, And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. ...Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die: vs 14-15. Uriah carried his death sentence(letter) in his hand and it did not bother him to open and read the content especially in the light of all the strange things his boss had done earlier. Uriah chose not to suspect his leader, nor was he disobedient for any reason; he chose to live as a soldier, always obedient and ready to die at his post.
Uriah seemed to have died a foolish man's death but not so; he was just being a true soldier. Jesus also was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, He opened not his mouth. That is the true mark of a soldier indeed, obedience and loyalty at all costs. I pray for you as I pray for myself today, May we be true soldiers of the cross, ready at all times to say ‘YES’ to the cross (pain) of our faith. A song writers says, ... I will do as he bids me, no matter the cost, I live as a soldier, I die at my post. That is the testimony I want to die with. A soldier of the cross.

Prayer/Action
* Father, make me a true soldier of the cross, in the name of Jesus.
* Pray that character of truth, loyalty and commitment will not be lacking in your life, in the mighty name of Jesus.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall walk in the light of God's Word and nothing shall by any means offend my destiny, in the name of Jesus.