Walking without Sinking II

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Walking without Sinking II

Sunday, 11 August

 

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 14:22-32 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 

MORE LESSON: Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

 

Anytime you stand in faith looking at Jesus as the Word, the Blood, or the Life, there is nothing that can make you sink in life. Faith in God turns water to rock and wherever you stand becomes solid rock. In every circumstance that surrounds me, I see life behind the cross. For as long as you set your eyes on the Cross of Jesus, nothing can sink you. Before any evil can get to you, it must first win over the cross. Standing on the cross is an authority that governs the universe, a strength that has never experienced failure. Choose to see the cross first before seeing anything.

When I first started ministry, people used to come to me with many sad stories of what was happening to them. I used to become sober and downcast along with them and feel sorry for them. But then I started discovering that the people have not come to see me but who I represent. So when people come now with situations that could make anyone cry, I start making joke out of bad matters.

When they come crying over a bad case, I begin to laugh and crack joke with them. Then I share God’s Word and I pray with them before I ask them to go. Some think that it is because I do not understand what they are going through. No, it is because I choose not to see what the devil is doing but what God can do. I choose not to see the storm but Jesus miraculously walking on the water.

A woman came to me crying over her medical report of a cancer diagnosis. I collected the report and said, 'Father thank You because You are bigger than all this nonsense report. I replace the bad report with a good report'. Then I gave her back the paper and told her go see her doctor for a re-check. She looked at me and asked, 'Is that all?' Then she went and reported to the person who brought her that the Bishop didn't lay hands on her head. The fellow replied, 'Did he say anything to you?' She said that he only spoke a few words of prayer and told me to go and see the doctor again. Then the fellow said, ‘Go and do what he told you’. The Lord healed the woman supernaturally.

What she didn't know is that when I spoke to her, I wasn't seeing the cancer anymore; I was seeing her situation changed by the Miracle Worker. She forgot about the cross and remembered cancer as she came. But I decided to focus on the cross and help her put her attention away from cancer to the Great Physician. I don't care what you are going through; as long as you remove your focus from the situation and put it on the finished work of Christ on the Cross, you will experience miracles. You will walk on waters and not sink, in Jesus’ name.

 

Prayer/Action

* Declare in faith that every water that is designed for your sinking, let it be turn to solid ground.

* Pray for the strength never to see or pay attention to what the devil is doing but only on what god is doing around you.

* Thank god for keeping you and for not letting you to sink.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Flowers fade, grasses wither but my glory shall never fade nor wither, in the mighty name of Jesus.

Walking without Sinking I

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 
A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare 

Walking without Sinking I

Saturday, 10 August

 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 14:22-32 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

 

MORE LESSON: Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

The process of Peter’s sinking comprises three things. First, he looked off the Master and concentrated on the storm. Looking off the Master introduced fear and the result of the fear was the sinking. Each time a man sinks in destiny, there is a progression to the experience. Whatever succeeds in making you look off the source of strength sinks you. Do not allow anything to take you away from the Lord because to look off Jesus is to lose sight of confidence and strength.

The first consequence of looking off Jesus is the entrance of fear. Looking off Jesus opens the door for the thief to come in and the thief only needs a short period of time to steal, kill and destroy. You will not be a victim, in Jesus’ name; this is why your focus must be on J e sus unwaveringly throughout life. The moment Peter changed the object of his focus, he saw the storm. When he wasn't seeing Jesus anymore, he started seeing the storm. Remember, the storm didn’t just appear, he began to focus on the storm because he lost focus of the Lord. He started from a position of seeing the storm alongside with the other disciples before Jesus showed up. They all were looking at the storm until in the midst of the storm, he saw someone walking on the water. Immediately he found the supernatural sight of Jesus walking on water more captivating than the raging storm, the picture of the storm played down in his consciousness. In fact, as he concentrated on the miraculous sight, he so much forgot about the storm that he asked Jesus to bid him walk on the water in the midst of the storm. Then all of a sudden the devil reminded him, 'What do you think you are doing on the water with a storm as mighty as this blowing around you?' Immediately he remembered the storm, he forgot about Jesus and the miracle he was experiencing, and all he could remember was the storm.

Do you know that it is you who chooses what you want to see in life? Then what you choose to see determines whether you walk or sink. What sinks men is not the problems of life but their reactions to the problems. It wasn't the storm that actually made Peter to sink, it was the image of the storm. He allowed the image of the storm to overshadow the image of Jesus in his consciousness. Jesus is busy doing something in your life and the devil too is busy making his own noise; it is who you choose to see that wins in your life. What opened the door for Peter to sink was not the storm but his giving attention to fear by choosing not to see what Jesus was doing anymore. You will not sink in destiny, in Jesus’ name. But you must mind your sight, ear and mouth.

 Prayer/Action

* Pray that you will continue to fix your eyes on Jesus never to look away.

 * Pray against distraction.

 * declare that starting from today only God's favour you will see and hear enjoy.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Satan, the blood of Jesus is against you over my destiny, family and future, in Jesus' gracious name.

Faith and Love

 STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare

Faith and Love

Friday, 9 August

 

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Galatians 5:6

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

 

MORE LESSON: I Corinthians 13:1-8 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

 

The main text today makes us to understand that faith works by love. You must walk in love toward God and men if you want to have a productive faith life. It is easy to believe and trust someone that you love because Love Beareth all things, BELIEVETH all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things: 1 Corinthians 13:7. The reason many find it difficult to have faith in God is because they do not love Him with all their heart. So they are always looking for alternative solutions to their problems because they are not ready to wait on Him. They do not spend enough time with Him and so do not know Him well enough how not to doubt Him. When a man has no deep rooted knowledge of God, doubt and unbelief are natural to such a man, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment: Matthew 22: 37-38. Today, remove everything that takes your heart, love and attention from God and you will see your faith soar.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: Matthew 22:39. When a man is filled with unforgiveness, hatred, bitterness, resentment and lack of care for others, no matter how many scriptures he knows, he can't be a man of faith. If you are exercising faith only for things to consume on yourself, you will keep 'faithing' and nothing will happen. If your motivation for whatever you are believing God for is to help others, expand the Kingdom and show God's love to people, you will get what you want, And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love: 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV). If faith won't work without love, then love is greater than faith. Faith moves God's hand but love moves God's heart. With sincere love for God and people, you can be a man after God's heart, And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him: 1 John 4:16. God is love. Whosoever has the fullness of love has the fullness of God, And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God: Ephesians 3:19.

As you make the Agape love of God your pursuit in life, faith ceases to elude you and you become a blessing to everyone around you. I pray that from today, you will grow more and more in love for God and show God's holy love to people around you, in Jesus’ name.

 Prayer/Action

* Thank God for the ability to love.

* Ask the Holy Spirit to flood your heart with the love of God.

* Pray in the spirit for at least 10 minutes focusing on the love of God.

 

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: No matter the state of affairs in this country, my hope is built on the Solid Rock. Nothing and no power will shake me off balance, in Jesus' precious name.

 

TODAY’S FASTING FOCUS: Divine provision; Nehemiah 9:15; Isaiah 33:16; 9:16-17

The Prepared Table

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David Bakare  

The Prepared Table

Thursday, 8 August

 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psalm 23:5

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

MORE LESSON: John 6:48-58 I am that bread of life. 49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

 

One of the most read psalms of all ages and denominations is Psalm 23. It's a profound psalm that expresses the full love and care of God for His people. In fact, children in some schools still recite this psalm as part of their daily routine. It's a psalm of assured and guaranteed provision of God. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies...: Psa. 23:5 is our emphasis this morning. Good news! There is a prepared table before you. It is a table of complete satisfaction that deals with all levels of want. No wonder the Psalmist started with, The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. That table is based on covenant not feelings; it is provided for by the complete sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. So, it is not transient or flaky,

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us: Heb. 9:12.

This intense sacrifice ensures the performance of God's promises in our lives, whether for health, wealth or any other thing. Because the table is set, the promises will be fulfilled with speed.

Jesus Himself is so confident of the abundance available at the prepared table that He told the Jews in John 6:50;

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

Also, in that psalm, the prepared table includes anointing and an overflowing cup. The Lord's Table is that of complete satisfaction that caters for the spiritual and physical needs of man. That is why no one should miss communion services or come for communion services carelessly. Rather, one should come prepared with expectations to God's prepared table. Could it be that the dryness you keep experiencing is because you do not come often to the Lord's Table? When last did you come with a readiness to partake in faith? Has it not become an empty tradition that you just come to carelessly? Yet all that you need for a complete life, spirit, soul and body is on that table. Get out of lack and dryness this moment by creating time for the Lord's Table and go with full understanding and expectation. If you do, then be assured that you will have complete satisfaction in Him!

 

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for preparing the table for you ahead of your arrival.

* Decree and declare by faith, that you begin to experience the reality of the prepared table henceforth.

 * Come against everything hindering you from benefitting from or being a partaker of the prepared table of the Lord.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Oh God, You brought me this far by the death of Your Son Jesus Christ and You will take me further by His resurrection power, in the wonderful name of Jesus.