The Power of the Holy Spirit

Tuesday 30 May
READ: Acts 1:8
MORE LESSONS: Isaiah 32:15

Life is not worth living without power. There is a deep craving in man for true power. Adam and Eve sinned because the enemy appealled to their craving for power, and convince them that the tree of knowledge of good and evil will impart new powers on them that God didn't want them to have. Thus, he led them into disobedience and then death. This means that they did not intend to sin, but to be more powerful, so they didn't mind taking sides with the enemy just to be more powerful. The same applies today as people don't mind doing anything, including ritual killings and every corrupt practice, just to be more powerful. Why do we eat food? Is it not for energy or to gain power? Every sin is linked to a perverted craving for power and every good work is linked to a righteous craving for power. The craving is not the matter, it is where we go to quench our power thirst that really matters.
The first thing our text shows us about those who are filled with the Holy Spirit is that they will walk in God's power. It is not just a promise, it is the reality of every one who will dare to grow in intimacy with the Spirit of the all powerful God. The Holy Spirit is not power; He is the envoy of power. The secret of power is to develop intimacy with the power-man. Fuel by itself is not motion but when a car engine has fuel, motion and speed are possible. Every assignment and purpose require power of performance to bring them to fruition, even so life without the power of the Holy Spirit is a joke.
The second thing in our text is that the power of the Holy Spirit makes ordinary men achieve global feats, ...and ye shall be witnesses unto me...unto the uttermost part of the earth. You can shock your world, you can touch the apex of your carreer, you can make eternal impact if you drink deep into the power of the Holy Spirit.
There are two levels of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The first is the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. This happens when you accept Jesus as Lord and King of your life (1 Cor. 12:3). Next is the infilling power of the Holy Spirit - this is where the baptism of power occurs accompanied by the evidence of praying in other tongues (Acts 2:4). Are you thirsty for the Holy Ghost? Ask Jesus to baptise you NOW. Have you already received the Holy Ghost? Pray in other tongues and let Him refresh you again.

Prayer/Action
* Receive afresh grace to experience the power of the Holy Ghost in your life, ministry, home, work or studies today.
* Ask the Holy Spirit to touch you today divinely, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I advance my goodness to greatness today, no reduction, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Hope for an Esau

Monday 29 May
READ: . 27:30-40.
MORE LESSON Monday: Heb. 4:16

The story of Esau has been told us from kindergarten. We know about the cause and consequences of Esau's action hatred . Esau no doubt that that attracted God’s judgment and (Mal. 1:2-3) to himself by being noncha ahead lant about his birthright. He lived out the prop went of him from the womb (Gen. 25:23). In Gen. 27:1, Esau is seen as the beloved son of Isaac who qualified for and was entitled to Isaac's blessing but thieves of destiny were privy to Isaac's intention to bless Esau. Say to yourself: “My blessings can only be delayed, I will not be denied”. Esau's destiny was hijacked by the subtlety of his own mother and brother and he narrowly missed his blessing (v30).
However, Esau rescued his destiny by insisting that his father give him just one blessing. When you access one blessing from God, you are made. Esau did not give up. What did he do? He wept aloud and he waited before his father without shame (Heb. 4:16). What do you do with what you believe in? Many of us have been quiet in pain for too long. It is time to ask the Father for just a blessing.
Become agitated in your spirit that the dominion of the oppressor might come under your feet (vs39-40). Put your past behind you like Esau did in Gen. 33:4, and move forward so that you can access your blessings and have the testimony of Esau (Gen. 33:9).
Let this new glory not pass you by, stand up, be restless and take your stand as a child of God. He loves you; He proclaimed this Himself when He sent Jesus to redeem you (Jn. 3:16). Take advantage of God’s promises and be persistent; pray especially when it seems all hope is lost. Do like the persistent widow in Lk. 18:1-10. There is hope for you if you don't give up holding on to God. He is the God of a second chance. If one is lost, there is hope for another. Stir up your spirit and call on God for help today.

Prayer/Action
* Declare that your blessings would not be denied you, in Jesus’ name.
* Call some of your expectations by name and declare that they shall not be denied you, in Jesus’ name.
TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I prophesy, today's goodness will reach me without fail, in the name of Jesus.

Valuing the Voice of God II

Sunday 28 May
READ: Heb.4:7
MORE LESSONS: John10:1-5

Many people keep asking to know how to be sure that the Lord is speaking when you hear a voice, either in your spirit or audibly. There are certain people in my life whose voices I cannot miss even in a crowd simply because I know them personally and intimately. So if you deepen your intimacy with the Lord, you will not miss His voice, because you know Him. When Jesus says His sheep hear His voice, He was invariably saying, the little lambs cannot hear His voice, because they have not developed to the point where they can recognise His leading. Sheep in this context are those who value God's voice more than anything else. These are the true sons of God.
When the troubled waters roar, those who have a personal relationship with God will find an easy way out because they can identify the still small voice of the Holy Spirit even in the noisiest of tempests. However, those who have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ will grope in the dark even when God is speaking to them because they have not developed their spiritual senses to know the voice of the Lord. It is often said that only what you value can add value to you.
God will not trust His voice to those who will not value it. If God cannot trust you to obey Him in little things, He will not reveal strong things to you. His leading is a heritage only for those who are maturing into sonship. Leading is only made possible when those who will be led are yielded and obedient enough to follow the voice of God. It is in vain that some people, in search for the Lord's leading hop from one miracle centre to another when the Lord desires to speak His Word directly into our hearts by His Spirit that is resident in us. God wants to talk with you. The pathways of this life are too dangerous to ply without the voice of the Ancient of days. We cannot afford to handle the voice of God with levity. We cannot afford to use God; we must let God use us. We must yield to and obey His gentle promptings. If the child Samuel did not learn to say, Speak Lord for your servant heareth: I Sam. 3:9, he may never have matured into the Prophet Samuel who could say, 'Thus saith the Lord'.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God for better intimacy with the Holy Ghost, in the name of Jesus.
* Ask God for grace to obey the leading of God's voice everytime He speaks to you, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I declare, even if gross darkness covers the whole world, God's light of glory shall shine upon my life and destiny, in the name of Jesus.

Valuing the Voice of God I

Saturday 27 May
READ: John10:27
MORE LESSONS: I Sam.3:1

The GPS navigator system in a car might be of very little value to its owner until he drives into a big city for the first time and all he knows about where he is going is the name of the destination. That's the moment when the advantage of having a navigation system fitted car will be appreciated. You will suddenly put all your trust in the directives of the electronic navigator that was once abandoned, and obey its directives aptly and without a second thought because of the pressing need to arrive at your destination.
We never know the value of a thing until we are in a situation where we cannot do without it. This is just the way our minds are conditioned to respond naturally. It is the same with the voice of God. We don't seem to realise how much we need God's voice until all of hell breaks loose and there is no where else to turn. Then we come running to the feet of the Master in tears, asking for just one word from Him. Man desires an affair with God, but God desires a relationship with us; that's why He speaks to our hearts. One of the free benefits to the New Testament Christian is complete and unhindered access to the mind of God.
Heb.1:2 says, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. God is more than a GPS car navigator; He is our Father and Friend. The purpose of God's voice and leading is so that we would be more intimate with Him, Rom.8:14 says, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. By the leading of the voice of God, we grow to maturity in God.
We receive wisdom of God to respond to the challenges of life with answers and solutions. But if you seek the Lord only when you have pressing needs, He may come to your rescue in His mercy. But for how long do we want to keep running in and out on God when we can stay in His presence and know the Master for ourselves? But how will we even recognise His leading and gentle promptings when we have not developed the culture of valuing His voice? The voice of God is the most valuable aid and guide in the Christian walk. God is speaking so let us listen to the voice of God today.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that God will guide you today and forever by His Spirit, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask that God will speak to you today, in the mighty name of Jesus.
* Commit all your decisions to God's hand, ask Him to lead you.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
The wicked wishes of the enemy shall never see the light of performance in my destiny, in the name of Jesus.