Valuing God's Presence I

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare 

Valuing God's Presence I

Monday, 5 August

For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Exodus 3:10–4:14 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations. 16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: 17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. 20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: 22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

4:1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The LORD hath not appeared unto thee. 2 And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: 5 That they may believe that the LORD God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. 6 And the LORD said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom: and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow. 7 And he said, Put thine hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again; and plucked it out of his bosom, and, behold, it was turned again as his other flesh. 8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land. 10 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. 14 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee: and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart.

MORE LESSON: Exodus 33:12-19 And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. 13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. 17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Moses had a dramatic encounter with God when he received his call at the burning bush. God told him all He wanted him to do and how he would lead the children of Israel from the land of bondage. Moses however kept looking at himself and his limited ability and felt that the assignment was too big and difficult. God then shifted Moses' attention from himself to Him, the All Powerful God. When Moses asked God, Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?: (verse 11). God responded by telling Moses who He is and added that, ...I will certainly be with you...: Exo. 3:12. God was trying to make Moses realise that it wasn't about his ability but His Ability.

The Lord gave Moses several signs; the rod becoming snake, hands becoming leprous and water becoming blood. All these spectacular signs were not God's main interest. He was merely trying to use them to convey a message to Moses. God's interest was to bring Moses to a point where he would be convinced that God sent him; God was with him and with God nothing would be impossible to him. But Moses continued to press and ask questions till he angered God.

We mustn't copy Moses' unbelief but we must learn a lesson from him. Moses realised that it was dangerous to go on an errand in his own power and might without the power and presence of the Sender. In fact, Moses felt so weak and vulnerable in his own ability that at a particular point, he came out point blank to God and told Him, ...If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here: Exo. 33:15. Moses valued God's presence so much that he wouldn't proceed without His Majestic Presence.

It is amazing to see a man, who had experienced an encounter at the burning bush, heard the voice of the Angel of the Lord and seen the face of God, still feel insufficient to go on unless the Lord Himself would go with him. Some other people, having seen only the bush burning, would have hurriedly opened a ministry and named it 'Burning Bush Ministries Incorporated' without even hearing from God or waiting on Him. But here was a man who had encounters, heard the voice of the Lord and seen signs and wonders done through his own hands still crying, 'Lord, all these are not sufficient for me to go, you must tell me that You are coming with me in all Your Fullness or else I won't move from here.

Moses was a man that valued God's presence. God is asking you today, 'How much do you value My presence? How many times have you gone on your own without Me?'

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for the gift of His presence. 

* Pray against whatever distracts you from the presence of God.

* Continually meditate on the presence of God.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Every altar of pain and affliction in this new month, I command you to catch fire, in the victorious name of Jesus.

Peace like a River

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare 

Peace like a River

Sunday, 4 August

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Philippians 4:6-8 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

MORE LESSON: 2 Thessalonian 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

One virtue that is missing in our world today is peace. The simple reason why this is so is because the world has failed to acknowledge Jesus, the Prince of peace. Until His kingdom come where He reigns over all, the earth will not experience peace. Jesus once said, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household: Matthew 10:34-36.

This statement of Jesus was not negating the fact that He is the Prince of peace. He said these words to His disciples to make them know that on account of Him, the world will be set in confusion. Because the world will refuse to acknowledge His lordship, other “lords” who will impoverish them and take away their peace will rule the people. The confusion, corruption and insecurity all over the world today is as a result of other lords whom the world is hand-inglove with and they have succeeded in enthroning themselves over the world. Surely, this confusion will grow worse until Jesus comes to take the centre stage when the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdom of our God and His Christ.

This same confusion in the larger society is happening in homes that refuse to allow Jesus reign as Lord. The reason for all the troubles in your life and family is simply because you have not given Jesus the authority to oversee your home. Peace like a river will flood your home if only you will invite Jesus in today. If you will agree to rule your home in accordance to Biblical instructions, your home will experience rest because Jesus will take full control. The battle will no longer be yours, but the Lord’s.

You can only “be careful for nothing” and hand over everything to God in prayer with thanksgiving if Jesus is the Lord of your home. Those who fail to do so will fear and faint. But those who acknowledge Him as Lord will acclaim, The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep their hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for His peace in your life, family and ministry.

* Pray against everything that hinders and steals the peace of God from you.

* Declare the peace of God upon your life and all that concerns you using Philippians 4:7 and 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: To every force of darkness set against my destiny, assignment and family, in the second half of 2024, let there be light now, in the powerful name of Jesus.

Keep Hope Alive

Keep Hope Alive

Saturday, 3 August

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Romans 4:16-24 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

MORE LESSON: Job 14:7-9 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant.

God called Abraham and promised him a child at age 75 but at about 100, the child had still not come. At a point, Abraham got so weary that he suggested to God that Eleazar his servant should become his first son but God insisted that He would give him his own son. Abraham could have thought that God was already late because he was 100 years old. He would have concluded that no child would come anymore, as the situation seemed hopeless. However, it is written concerning Abraham that ...he against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be: Rom 4:18. Abraham kept hope alive even when all hope seemed to be lost. God is amazing and no situation is hopeless as far as he is concerned. If your case seems hopeless, I want you to know that God is a specialist in hopeless situations. When men call it hopeless, that is when God loves to show up. 

When you get to the point where things cannot work anymore, there are two things you can do.

1. Don't give up hope. Even when there is evidence that things will not work anymore, keep hope alive. Don't ever conclude that a matter has gone beyond redemption. There is no situation that He cannot redeem. With God, there are no impossibilities and there is no lateness. Whenever God shows up, that is the right time for action. 

2. Take up responsibility. Abraham kept fulfilling the covenant of God; he gave tithes (Genesis14:18-20), entertained strangers (Genesis18:1-8), kept the circumcision and did all other things he should do. Do not say that what you are expecting is not forthcoming and so decide that you will stop doing what you should do for God and men. There are certain responsibilities we must take even in the midst of hopeless situations. When you are in a hopeless situation keep doing the right things. Keep believing, keep serving God, keep building capacity, keep doing the works that align with your faith and stay diligent in prayer. Do not resign to hopelessness and sit down doing nothing. Don't give in to complaining and murmuring about your situation.

Also, when situations seem hopeless, you must take heed to cut off everything that can hinder you from seeing the hand of God in your life. Remember; the Hand of the Lord is not too short that it cannot deliver but your sins have separated you from me: Isaiah 59:1- 2. Deal with every known and unknown sin; confess it, repent and forsake it, and God will not have a reason for not answering you. God is good; keep your hope alive in Him.

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for access to His promises over your life. 

* Pray against distractions from holding onto the promises of God.

* Give God praise because you know that He is coming through for you.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Oh LORD, in the hollow of Your hand my destiny is secured, in this new month of August in Jesus' mighty name.

Agents of Turnaround II

Agents of Turnaround II

Friday, 2 August

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Luke 6:38

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

MORE LESSON: Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

Be an agent of what God has done for you in someone else’ life; that is Christianity. God told Abraham that He will bless him but He will not stop at blessing him; He will make him a blessing as recorded in Genesis 12:2: ...And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing....

Every blessing of God in our life is two-fold, the part meant for us also called the bread and the part that is capable of making us a blessing called the seed. So here is how the Bible puts it in Isaiah 55:10: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.

Some people think that they got their fortune through their hard work. This is only partially true because your efforts can only yield in response to the rain God sends on it. So, between your hard work and your fortune is God’s system of increase. If God does not send you increase, then you will labour in vain. It is a known fact about God that He does nothing without a purpose. So, suffice to say that He gives increase to your labour so that you can enjoy and also become an extension of that blessing to others. 

Interestingly, this is also a system of multiplication because God does not want you to keep going through the cycle of toiling all your life. This means that when He blesses you, He gives you both bread and seed together. So that while you eat your bread to satisfy your hunger today, you can sow your seed to ensure consistent increase in that area. It means, you really are only doing yourself a favour when you become a blessing to others. It brings security to your blessing. Without sowing your seed, no matter the size of the bread, you will exhaust it one day. But when you sow your seed, it keeps multiplying itself. This is why the Bible says that it is better to give than to receive.

God makes us agents of turnaround so that He can perpetuate that dimension of His blessing on earth. Whatever God does, embedded in it is the system of continuity. So, to ensure that the blessings of God continues to flow in your life, sow your seeds; become an agent of turn around. God will make happen for you what you make happen for others.

Prayer/Action

* Ask God to send men that will take you to your desired height in life and destiny.

* Pray for wisdom to sow good seeds.

* Ask God to make you an agent of turnaround in the life of others.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Father, I command every red light of 2024 to turn to green light today, in the matchless name of Jesus.

TODAY’S FASTING FOCUS: Divine approval; Psalm 89:20, 1 Samuel 9:16-17