A Pillar to Lean on

Tuesday 18 July
READ: Judg. 16:25-30
MORE LESSON: Psa. 46:1-11

Nothing can be more devastating on the battle field than being disarmed by your enemy. Because the strength of a warrior is in his weapons, thus the seizure of one's weapons ordinarily signifies the end of the captive. This scenario is far more tragic when a child of God faces a situation of spiritual disarmament by the enemy. Before the birth of Samson, God set him aside for an assignment, …he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines: Judg. 13:5. He started well but because of his relationship with Delilah, he later fell into the hands of the Philistines. The dreaded Samson became a theatre piece brought out of prison to entertain his enemies.
May we never degenerate to this level. Thank God Samson realised what to do. He told the lad that held him, …Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them: Judg. 16:26. What pillars do you lean on in your trying times? The pillars of encouragement that can lead you back to reconcile with God, where you ask for the renewal of your strength dictates how far you can go in your relationship with God. Leaning on the pillars for support, Samson cried unto the God of Israel, …remember me…: v.28. May God remember you when you call on Him in your days of trouble. He cried, …and strengthen me…. May the Lord strengthen you when you are weak. And he concluded, …I pray thee, only this once.... The God of compassion answered and Samson pulled down the building and killed more enemies that day than in the twenty years that he judged Israel.
Who are the philistines that plucked out your eyes of righteousness and commitment? Ask God for more than one more time to regain your strength. He will answer you. Even when all seems lost like Samson, find the pillar of prayer, fasting, service, faith, God's Word and the Holy Ghost to lean on. Have faith in God, He will answer yet.

Prayer/Action
* Destroy the forces that reduce a man, in the mighty name of Jesus.
* Pray that your enemy will not see your end, in the name of Jesus.
* Ask God to restore strength to every location of weakness in your life, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
On the authority in the name of Jesus, I decree that my sun shall not go down, neither shall my moon withdraw itself, in the name of Jesus.

No longer a Gentile

Monday 17 July
READ: Eph. 2:11-13
MORE LESSON: Eph. 4:17-24

Before the Jews, Gentles are infidels. They are abominable, unclean people whose worth is not more than that of dogs and pigs. Whenever a Jew, for any unavoidable reason, interacts with a Gentile, upon return to Israel, the Jew must do purification in the Temple. This reflects the hopelessness of Christ-less people who have no portion in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of the universe. Because they have no portion in the promises of God, they are hopeless and without God in this world. In the eternal spirit realm, anyone who does not have Jesus living in him is a Gentile. Ephesians 4:18-19 describes the life of Gentiles, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
There is a satanic blindfold over the eyes of a Gentile so that he cannot see light nor walk in it. His understanding is darkened, and he is overtaken by wickedness, uncleanness and greed. But salvation through Christ Jesus changes your status. When you say “yes” to Jesus, and sincerely invite Him to take residence in your heart, you are translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God's own Son (Col.1:13). Your citizenship changes from that of a Gentile (one without God) into full membership of the commonwealth of Israel (one whose God is Jehovah, the One and only true God). The blindfold of Satan is removed, the darkness is overtaken by the Light of life, the life of God is released into your being, the grip of uncleanness is removed and you receive a new lease of life. What a great privilege to be saved by Jesus, Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God: Eph. 2:19.
If you are sure of your salvation, celebrate it. You are no longer a Gentile; you are one of the saints of God. You don't have to die before you can become a saint because in Christ Jesus you are a saint. No more darkness but light, Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life: John 8:12. Your status has changed by the power of salvation; you are not a dog or a swine. Do not go back to leak your vomit or return to the wallow. Keep your sainthood and progress to greatness in life, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Lord Jesus, thank You for my salvation, in the mighty name of Jesus.
* Jesus, purge me of the nature of the Gentile and help me to walk in the light of life each day, in Jesus’ mighty name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall be nourished and provided for this new week like never before, I shall lack nothing, in the name of Jesus.

Begotten into a Living Hope

Sunday 16 July
READ: 1 Pet.1:3-12
MORE LESSON: Eph.2:11-13

The scriptures you have just read explain the great mysteries of salvation and the privileges therein. When a man is not born again, although he lives and walks around, the heavens see him as one without God and a hopeless being, That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Eph. 2:12. You may be a very intelligent, erudite scholar, successful in business or in your career or a music star, or a beauty queen; if you don't live your life believing and trusting Jesus, and walking in obedience to His commandments, you are a stranger to the covenant of promise. In other words, you don't have a part in the promises of God to His people, you have no God, therefore, no hope in this world. Though you live, you are as good as dead. You are susceptible to the vagaries of life, and whatever happens to you, God is not responsible. because God is limited in intervening in your matter since you don't belong to Him.
But the very day you say “Yes” to Jesus and invite Him into your life, that same hour, you are born into a living hope, into an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that does not fade, reserved in Heaven for you, ...ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ: Eph.2:13.The moment you embrace Jesus, your hopes and aspirations receive the life of God. Salvation changes you from the state of hopelessness to great hope. Moreover, your entire existence receives a surety for fulfilment. You become God's property, a possession that God cherishes, He keeps you as the apple of His eye, and hides you under the shadow of His wings (Psa. 17:8).
The implications are far reaching: your life cannot be cut short any how. The One who begot you has become the superintendent over your life and affairs. He watches over your life with passion and He will go to any length to deal with anything that threatens your life. What a great provision of God for all who come to Him through Jesus His Son. I counsel you today, if you have not truly surrendered your life to Jesus, do so right away so that you can partake of this gracious provision. If you are born again already, I encourage you to jealously guide your salvation so that you can enjoy the fullness of this living hope.

Prayer/Action
* Lord Jesus, I surrender my life to You today; be my Lord and Saviour, in Jesus’ name.
* Jesus, help me to preserve my salvation, in Jesus’ mighty name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I prophesy and decree that anyone that raises a hand against me shall lose it by fire, in Jesus' name.

God's Habitation

Saturday 15 July
READ: Psa. 22: 3
MORE LESSON: Psa. 149: 1 – 9

The Bible says that God inhabits the praise of His people. This means that when we praise God, He manifests Himself. If you have been wondering where God dwells, then be it known that He dwells in praises. Each time men build a tabernacle of praise, we see God manifest Himself in diverse ways and manners. There are degrees of manifestation of God; the degree to which you see God manifest in your life, home or assembly shows the degree to which your praise and worship has built Him a habitation.
If you want to see more practical manifestation of God in your life and ministry, then increase the measure of praise and worship in your life. You endear yourself to God's presence with a tabernacle of praise which you build either personally or in corporate gathering together with others in your home, office or church. 1 Tim. 2: 8 says that God desires that men lift up holy hands everywhere. Anywhere can become God's habitation, all it takes is that you fill the place with the praise and worship of God and He begins to live in that place.
You can bring God's presence to anywhere you are. You can be an envoy of the physical and tangible presence of God if you master the secret of being a carrier of God's presence and glory, which is a life of praise and worship. When God's glory resides upon your life, the difference is clear; when God is in a place, it is very evident. Signs, wonders, healings, prophecies and unusual blessings are indicators of God's presence. When God is somewhere, you don't need to be told before you know. Matt. 18: 20 says that wherever two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus, He will be there with them. Two or more people gathered extolling the name of Jesus invokes the power of His presence and miracles break out. If you want to see a greater manifestation of the glory and presence of God, then you need to engage more of the power of praise and worship.
The strength of the Church of God and the corporate gathering of believers on the face of the earth is in worship and praise. We must harness the power of gathering just to give heartfelt praise and worship to God and we will see the power of God break through the nations of the earth, Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us: Psa. 67:5-6.

Prayer/Action
* Give God thanks for all His goodness and mercies, in Jesus’ name.
* Praise God and thank Him for health, peace and provision, in Jesus’ name.
* Lift up both hands and bless the Lord unreservedly, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
By the Spirit of the Lord and His power, I break every wall and ancient door hindering my progress in life, in the mighty name of Jesus.