Leaders and Followers

Monday 28 August
READ: 1 Sam. 12:19-23
MORE LESSONS: Jn. 21:1-17

Beloved, the exemplary leadership skill of Samuel when the Israelites asked for a king is striking. Although God and Samuel were greatly displeased with the request of Israel for a king, Samuel the leader restrained his anger and continued to plead before God for the people. In asking for a king, the people had rejected Samuel's children (who should take over from him) because of their sinful lives, and by implication, Samuel. They said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations: 1 Sam. 8:5. Yet Samuel said, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you…: 1 Sam. 12:23. That is exemplary leadership.
When the followership misbehave or are ignorant, leadership should continue to do what Samuel did: (1) He continued to pray for them. (2) He vowed to continue to teach them the good and the right way. This takes a lot of grace and maturity but with prayers for our leaders, God will help everyone occupying any leadership position, beginning from the home to the church and the society, to follow this example. Today's leaders at all levels must learn never to give up on their followers, just like Samuel. Jesus our perfect example did the same. After all He did to build the disciples, as soon as He died, Peter led six of them back to the river side from where Jesus had taken them, thus going back to their old vomit (Jn. 21:3). But thank God for Jesus' love; as soon as He resurrected, He went to the river side to bring them back. When He found them, He still called them children, not bastards or backsliders.
As leaders, seek the lost even when they take wrong positions. Followers also should not make the work of their leaders difficult and must endeavour to understand the pressure that leaders go through.
One thing that breaks my heart each time I read the story of Samuel is his sons. Samuel's unparallel leadership quality over Israel was not reflected in his home. Even when the people told him to his face that his children were not like him, there was no report of his reaction to it.
The worst of it is that Samuel was a replacement of Elis’ sons, it was Samuel that God used to prophesy against Eli about his sons’ ungodly acts now he saw himself in the same trouble. All leaders should know that their home matters. Leadership should begin at home, even if you are not a leader today, yet you should build your children to be godly, we are leaders someday.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to grant you the spirit for leadership, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Pray as a leader that you will not fail in the home front, in Jesus’ mighty name.
* Ask God to help you to be a faithful follower that will make the work of your leader easy, in the mighty name of Jesus.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
The load of benefits for my day will not go to another, neither will any force be able to hijack it from me, in the name of Jesus.

Obey your Parents

Sunday 27 August
READ: Eph. 6:1-3
MORE LESSON: Exo. 19:3-6

The command to obey parents is from God, therefore children must realize that it is not the parents that are demanding obedience (Eph.6:1). Whatever God demands from mankind is for their good, if they obey (Isa. 1:19 – 20, Eph. 6:2 – 3, Jer. 13: 10-11).
Every human being has parents through whom God brought him/her into the world to fulfil His purpose. A child's destiny is tied to that of his/her parents from conception all through life. This is in line with the fact that two must agree before they can walk or work together to achieve a purpose. The care given by parents during children's tender age, when they cannot even help themselves, is enormous. From childhood to adulthood, godly parents are still relevant.
Parents guide children from birth, and labour over them night and day so that they can survive and grow. They guard children from dangers (physical and spiritual, etc) and labour to meet their needs. All these sacrifices or labour by parents stem from their love for the children and for their well being. Don't bite the fingers that feed you (I Sam.12:24). It is only under demonic influence that a parent can hate or wish evil for his/her child. The example of such parents are those who sacrifice or dedicate their children to the devil.
Even when you have grown up and can fend for yourself, you are not expected to disobey your parents. You must have regard for God that gave the instruction (Eph.6:1). Obedience to parents comes with the blessing of long life from God. Even for ungodly instruction, prayerfully, politely and wisely, let them know you can not disobey the Word of God in order to obey them.
Obedience to parents is an indication of your confidence in them (Jn.12:50) and this will bring you into favour with God and man. It was Esther's obedience to Modecai that made God favour her before the king to become queen. Obedience fosters good relationship between you and your parents and siblings. Such brings love, joy, peace, unity and the blessings of God in the home (Psa. 133:1 – 3). Obedience makes them bless and not curse you. Jacob’s declarations came to pass over all his children except where God's mercy stepped in to alter the negative ones.
You may feel that your parents or leaders cannot punish you when you disobey them, but remember that God will punish all sinners except they repent (I Sam.12:15). Jesus obeyed His earthly parents: Joseph and Mary (Lk.2:46 – 52) as well as His heavenly Father (Jn. 12 : 49 – 50). Disobedience to parents is a dishonour to them. God expressly commands children to honour their parents (Eph. 6:2, Deut. 5: 16, Mal. 1: 6, Matt.15:3-6). Children, don't put your future at a risk; follow God's instructions to obey and honour your parents. When you do so, it will be well with you; and God will preserve and bless your destiny.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, help me to be obedient to my parents (physical and spiritual), in Jesus’ name.
* The spirit of disobedience will not prevail against our children, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I announce red flag for the devil over every inch of my life and family and I decree no trespass, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Help them pay Attention

Saturday 26 August
READ: Prov. 4:1-2
MORE LESSON: Prov. 23:22-26

The dictionary definition of the word ‘attention’ is listening or looking carefully; thinking about something or someone carefully. God wants mankind, including children, to pay attention to His words. For example, God had to help Moses to pay attention to His message to him in the wilderness through the fire that was burning but not consumed (Exo. 3 : 1 – 6).
The attention span of children actually varies with age. It usually increases with age, and as we teach and help them to pay attention. This must start very early. The mind of a child is believed to be like a fresh concrete blank board. But whosoever or whatsoever can get printed on it while fresh can become permanent and the focus of the child's entire life. A religious group said: “Give me a child for the first five years of his/her life and I will possess him/her for life”. Great impact can be made on children at this tender age. Parents successfully do this “early – start” educationally by registering children of about two years or less in schools. However, the same children are often considered too young to be exposed to the Word of God. It is erroneously assumed that they will not understand.
Note that it is whatever you expose them to today that will become their way of life tomorrow. You can get children's attention and they can understand God's words if you follow God's instruction in Deut. 6 : 6 – 9. This shows that it’s an “all-time-job” to pass God's commandments to children.
1. Teach them diligently and talk about the commands of God at all times: when seated at home, walking by the way, while lying down and when you rise up. Note that it is parents’ responsibility to do all these. Don't rely on children teachers or pastors - their roles are secondary.
2. Make the word visible; e.g. some on the hand and where it can be seen. What are the pictures in your living room, bedroom and all around you depicting? Do they point Jesus to children and make the place conducive for Christ to stay and be felt?
God wants you to “load” them prayerfully with the Word of God using all means, including directing and controlling their exposure to media (radio, tapes, TV, etc) and other gargets in your houses. This will help to prevent contrary information from being disseminated to them. Grown up children should be involved in Sunday School, Bible club, singing, Bible recitation/memorization competition, etc. Get them involved in family altar; encourage them to personally study the Bible and pray on their own. Make them to see the significance of the Word of God, obedience to it and a life in which Christ is the Lord.

Prayer/Action
.* Father, fill our children with the love of God and is Word, in Jesus’ name.
* Every power or force distracting our children from God and His Word be paralysed, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC
Satan, you do not own my life, I rededicate my all to Him who died for me at Calvary now and ever, in the name of Jesus.

Friend of God

Thursday 24 August
READ: John 15:1-15
MORE LESSON: John 14:23

One of the greatest and most beneficial relationships on the earth is that of man becoming a friend of God. This relationship is most beneficial because it has both earthly and eternal blessings. It is also the highest level of relationship a man can ever have, relating with the Most High God as a friend. Abraham was no doubt a friend of God and that was why God did not keep anything from him, And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do: Gen.18:17. Moses was even directly referred to in the Bible as a friend of God, And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend...: Exo. 33:11.
This great privilege is, however, not received without a condition. John 15:14 says, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Obedience, therefore, is the condition for a good relationship with God. If you want to become a personal friend of God like Abraham and Moses, then brace up for a life of total obedience to God in all things.
The starting point, however, is to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour; therefore invite Him to be in total control of your life and He will come in. He says in Rev.3:20, Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. That is an open invitation by the Almighty to friendship. Be a friend of God today. Only friends of God will spend eternity with God in Heaven, but His enemies shall perish in hell. Even before going to Heaven, friends of God will enjoy the cover and greatness of Heaven on earth. God will be jealous for their sake, defend them, give them silver and gold and they shall not be feeble (Psa. 105:37). They will call upon God and He will answer them, He will be with them in trouble, deliver and honour them, satisfy them with long life and, at the end, show them His salvation (Psa. 91:15-16). All these benefits and more are yours as a friend of God, so go for them.

Prayer/Action
* Renounce every friendship with the world that can make you an enemy of God, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God to fill your heart with His love and grant you grace to do His command, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask that what makes a man God’s enemy will not happen to you, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
By the force of Heaven, I shift every battle of my life to the door step of the enemy, in the mighty name of Jesus.