Abraham and Lot

Tuesday 14 November
READ: Gen. 13: 5 - 8     
MORE LESSON: Gen. 19: 15 – 29

When God called Abraham, he took Lot with him.  It was as a result of God's blessing upon the life of Abraham that Lot became blessed. However, with time, Lot forgot the source of his blessing and allowed selfishness to overtake him. He began to have contentions with Abraham's men over grazing land. He felt that his cattle were not feeding well because Abraham's cattle were taking up the space.

It is like allowing a visitor to stay in your house where you pay the house rent, utility bills and even buy all the food while he keeps saving his money in the bank. Then one day, after accumulating at your expense, he starts to complain that you are suffocating his business. There are some selfish believers like that. They take advantage of other people's benevolence and want to live entirely on other people. I always teach that if a believer is staying with someone, he must also try to make contribution no matter how small. Even if the host is blessed and is not demanding, it is good you make your little input to his/her overall wellbeing. If you are working and are still staying with your parents, buy some things and bring home. They probably do not need them but it shows a sense of responsibility on your part.

Lot faced Abraham one day and said “Uncle, I don't know what is happening these days, my cattle are not feeding well because your herdsmen deprive them”. He has forgotten that when he left Ur, he had nothing. The cattle he was calling his own were probably part of what Abraham gave him to start him up in life.

Abraham on the other hand said, “Let there be no fight between us, choose where you want to graze your cattle and if you go one side, I will tell my men to go the other side”(v8). What a selfless man! He didn't even make the first choice though he was older. Sometimes selflessness could look like foolishness but it always pays off in the long run. Abraham relinquished the right to make the first choice to Lot who selfishly grabbed it. Lot looked at the place where the grass was green and the land was very good and went for it. Little did he know that he was camping in Sodom, the place of destruction. When selfishness rules a man's life; he ends up destroying himself.

Abraham chose the path of selflessness and ended up in Canaan – the land flowing with milk and honey. Beloved, review your relationships today and check what you are doing to your Abraham, your destiny helper. Look back and front and see whether you have been ungrateful, greedy or selfish in life, and repent before you end up like Joseph’s brothers who attempted to kill their Joseph yesterday only to seek his help from famine today! Abraham may still be needed tomorrow.

Prayer/Action
* Ask the Lord to grant you grace to live as an instrument of peace anywhere you go, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray against the spirit of selfishness, greed and self centredness, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I declare that I might have seen delay but I shall not be late, my victory will appear to all this month, in the name of Jesus.

The old Lie

Monday 13 November
READ: Matt. 28:1-15  
MORE LESSONS: Psa. 2:1-3

When the enemies of Jesus noticed that their plot was failing, they decided to use a lie to defend their evil. They gave money to the soldiers guarding Jesus’ grave to make them lie that the disciples came by night while they slept and stole the body away, So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day: Matt. 28:15. Meanwhile, Jesus had resurrected and begun to show Himself to His disciples. What a courageous lie; that the  disciples stole a dead body but the dead person was seen walking in the streets. However, the Bible says, despite seeing the resurrected Jesus, though without effect, this lie is ...commonly reported among the Jews until this day: Matt. 28:15. It has become a mockery of the enemy to tell such an open undefendable lie.

In the same way, the lies of your enemies, no matter how old and popular, will have no effect on your destiny. No matter how much was paid in monetary term or otherwise to raise a lie against you, the pronouncement will not stand, in the name of Jesus. Know that every pronouncement of men and of life circumstances that is contrary to God's Word and promises is an open lie and  cannot stand. Barrenness is a lie because it is written, There shall nothing cast their young nor be barren, in thy land: Exo. 23:26a. Untimely death is also a lie because the Word says, ...the numbers of your days I will fulfill: Exo. 23:26b; and With long life will I satisfy you…. Psa. 91:16. Poverty is a lie. David said, ...yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread: Psa. 37:25. Similarly, sickness and diseases are lies; …and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee…: Exo. 23:25. Oppression is a lie: ...thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear…. Isa.54:14.

Everything that is contrary to what God has said remains a lie and must end. Only the Word of the Lord shall stand forever (Psa. 33:11). No matter how old the  words of the enemy are, they shall bow to the counsel of the Lord, There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord that shall stand: Prov.19:21. Therefore, child of God, stand on what God has said over your matter, disbelieve the lie of the devil. No matter how strong and real it may look, it shall not stand. Fill you heart always with what God has said. Read the Word, memorise it and confess it to your situation and it shall be well with you. Whose report will you believe from today? God's Word or Satan's lies? (Isa.53:1).

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to expose every lie of the devil in your life, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that every satanic curse shall turn to foolishness, in Jesus’ name.
* Today disclaim every negative report about you that is not from God, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
I have a covenant with life, this month will not see my obituary, I shall live to see greater days, in the name of Jesus.

Beautiful Feet

Saturday 11 November
READ: Isa. 52: 7   
MORE LESSON: Mal. 3:18

God will do exceptional things for those that work for Him that He will not do for anyone else. God is not partial and He is not a respecter of persons but it is also important to know that every person doesn't carry equal weight with God. There are those that, by the reason of dedication of their lives to serving God, have a special slot with Him. 

When a man is dedicated to soul winning; either by his effort, life or resources, God has a special place for such a person. One of the ways you can sign up to become one of God's favourite is to dedicate your life, energy and resources towards winning souls for Him and expanding His kingdom. Isa. 52:7 says, How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! God is committed to beautifying, not just the feet, but the entire life of those that are committed to advancing the gospel.

The Bible says, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise: Prov. 11:30.  There is so much wisdom in dedicating your life to publishing the gospel because it is the surest way of securing your life. For example, a man that dedicates a great part of his income to sponsoring the advancement of the Kingdom can be sure of Prov 11:30 being fulfilled in his life,  that no matter how sour the economy turns, he will never lose his source of income. This is because God's kingdom will suffer a loss if such a man loses; and God's kingdom can never lose, so the man must always increase.

When you are committed to the gospel, you enjoy divine immunity. In this generation where God is looking for men that will serve Him and everyone is busy pursuing his own agenda, when you make yourself available for Him, He will rather a whole nation be destroyed than your life be touched. This is why the gospel is part of the armour of the believer, And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace: Eph. 6:15. It secures your feet so that you cannot be removed.

It is time for you to dedicate your life to advancing the gospel because God has vowed to make a demarcation between those that serve Him and those that don't (Mal. 3: 18). Do not be deceived by those preaching vain grace; if God has to choose between doing something for one who works for Him and the one who just takes His grace and does nothing for the Kingdom, He will choose the one who works for Him. If He needs to secure the life of one that is committed to Him at the expense of one that is not, He will not hesitate.
Service is a key to divine blessings, go serve God now in any capacity.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that as a righteous man you will not partake in the same evil with the wicked, in Jesus’ name.
* Ask God to remember your labour of love to bless you, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that you will not miss your crown when He returns, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
The Lord is my sun and shield; in this eleventh month, the Lord will cause me to shine and defend my glory with His shield, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Godly Heritage

Friday 10 November
READ: Prov. 30:11-17.   
MORE LESSON: Prov. 3:1-4

The rate of mortality among the youths is alarming. Many reasons have been attributed for this, such as road accident, drug abuse, and homicide. It was also found that most of those with drug abuse and homicidal tendencies are known to have no proper upbringing by their parents or have rejected home training. Such people violate God's commandments, thus forfeiting the benefits, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee: Exo. 20:12.

God can shorten the lifespan of a generation that does not walk in obedience to Him as it happened to the Israelites in the wilderness (Num. 14:26-30). In every generation, the responsibility lies on both the parents to give a godly heritage of the knowledge of God to their children and on  the children to readily take godly instructions, My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee: Prov. 3:1-2. Moreover, God wants the young generation to learn from both their biological and spiritual parents.

God will not compromise His standard in any generation. The Bible says, The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it:  Prov. 30:17. Our text also condemns haughtiness; learn contentment and self-control, don't seem to be pure in your own eye.

Godliness brings long life while sin and vices are the speedy lane to destruction and untimely death. As parents are concerned that their children prosper in academics and career, so also they should be concerned about their spiritual and social well-being. Show interest in what devices your child can access in this age of Information and Communication Technology; let your child not be wasted by the crave for freedom and pleasure. Children also should submit to training and counsel because at the end of the day, they enjoy the good return before the parents can benefit from it. The best heritage that any parent can leave for their children today is not material possessions, good as that may be, it is godly living. The wealth that is built at the expense of godly living will be destroyed by ungodly acts. Parents and children be warned.

Prayer/Action
*  Pray that you will leave a godly heritage for your children, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that the world system will not corrupt the heritage you are building for your children, in Jesus’ name.
* Pray that the lost heritage in your family be restored by the mercy of God, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, I declare there is a new song for me this month, the world will hear it and rejoice with me, in the mighty name of Jesus.