Lessons from the Samaritans

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Lessons from the Samaritans

Wednesday, 4 December

Memory Verse: Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:17

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 10:30-37, 17:11-19 

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

MORE LESSON: John 4:39-41 39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. 41 And many more believed because of his own word;

The Samaritans were a racially mixed society with Jewish and pagan ancestry. Among the most significant differences between the Samaritans and the Jews is the site which they believe God chose for His dwelling (John 4:20). While the Jews hold that God chose Mount Zion in Jerusalem, Samaritans believe He chose Mount Gerizim near Shechem, where Joshua led the people of Israel to, after 40 years in the wilderness (Joshua 8:30-35). They claim ancestry from the tribes of Manasseh, Ephraim and Levi and built their own temple which the Jews considered pagan. Being a mix of already spiritually corrupt Israelites and pagan foreigners, Samaritans created a religion for themselves that the Jews considered heresy. The enmity grew, and when Christ came the Jews hated the Samaritans so much that they preferred to cross the Jordan river (longer distance) rather than travel through Samaria.

Jesus went through Samaria in His evangelistic mission (John 4:4), but the Jews avoided contacts with the Samaritans for fear of ritual contamination and did not use vessels or dishes used by the Samaritans who were not allowed into the inner court of the Temple and forbidden to marry them. The Samaritans saw themselves as the true descendants of Israel and preservers of the true religion, while considering the Jerusalem Temple and Levitical priesthood illegitimate. They had their own unique version of the five books written by Moses (the Pentateuch), but rejected the writings of the prophets and Jewish traditions.

However, during the earthly ministry of Jesus and the Early Church era, there are lessons we can learn from their acts.

1. The Good Samaritan – Samaritans were given to hospitality and care. In Luke10:30-37 Jesus told a story of the man attacked by thieves: while a priest and a Levite passed by the wounded and fainting man and did nothing, a Samaritan saw him, and filled with compassion, took him to the hospital and paid the bill. Believers ought to be filled with good works and must be a pattern of good works (Titus 2:7), be zealous of good works (Titus 2:14), be ready for good works (Titus 3:1) and maintain good works (Titus 3:8). Be good to everyone around you: while grace qualifies us for salvation, good works qualify us for eternal rewards (Revelations 20:12-13).

2. The Grateful Samaritan: a grateful man will always be ‘great-full’ without diminishing. The attitude of gratefulness should characterize our lives. In Luke 17:11-19, 10 lepers were healed, but only one, a Samaritan, came back to give thanks and he was totally made whole. Be grateful to God and give thanks in all situations, and to people for showing you any act of kindness. Those who are grateful today are sowing greater seeds for greater harvest tomorrow.

3. The Glad Samaritan: rejoicing is the expression of gladness. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost are marks of believers (Romans 14:17). The gospel of the Kingdom of God brings gladness: the more you share the good news of salvation through Christ the more gladness you bring to such lives. The Samaritan woman by the well gladly received Christ's teaching and took the message to town. Many were saved by her testimony and their encounter with Christ (John 4:39-41). Phillip preached in the city of Samaria with signs and wonders and the whole city received the message of salvation with gladness and rejoicing (Acts 8:8).

Believers should always be full of good works, gratitude, and gladness in serving the Lord.

Prayer/Action

* Ask God for grace to be such a worthy model that God expects you to be in the environment you are found.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Thou month of December, from start to finish, you must speak celebration and rejoicing to me continually, in the mighty name of Jesus.

© Strength for My Days by Bishop David Bakare - All Rights Reserved

Let Him Build With You

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Let Him Build With You

Tuesday, 3 December

Memory Verse: Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath dignation for ever. Malachi 1:4

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Ezra 6:1-22 1 Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. 2 And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record thus written: 3 In the first year of Cyrus the king the same Cyrus the king made a decree concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, Let the house be builded, the place where they offered sacrifices, and let the foundations thereof be strongly laid; the height thereof threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof threescore cubits; 4 With three rows of great stones, and a row of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king's house: 5 And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which is at Jerusalem, and brought unto Babylon, be restored, and brought again unto the temple which is at Jerusalem, every one to his place, and place them in the house of God. 6 Now therefore, Tatnai, governor beyond the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions the Apharsachites, which are beyond the river, be ye far from thence: 7 Let the work of this house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews build this house of God in his place. 8 Moreover I make a decree what ye shall do to the elders of these Jews for the building of this house of God: that of the king's goods, even of the tribute beyond the river, forthwith expenses be given unto these men, that they be not hindered. 9 And that which they have need of, both young bullocks, and rams, and lambs, for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the appointment of the priests which are at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail: 10 That they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons. 11 Also I have made a decree, that whosoever shall alter this word, let timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this. 12 And the God that hath caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people, that shall put to their hand to alter and to destroy this house of God which is at Jerusalem. I Darius have made a decree; let it be done with speed. 13 Then Tatnai, governor on this side the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, according to that which Darius the king had sent, so they did speedily. 14 And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. 15 And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king. 16 And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy, 17 And offered at the dedication of this house of God an hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a sin offering for all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel. 18 And they set the priests in their divisions, and the Levites in their courses, for the service of God, which is at Jerusalem; as it is written in the book of Moses. 19 And the children of the captivity kept the passover upon the fourteenth day of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them were pure, and killed the passover for all the children of the captivity, and for their brethren the priests, and for themselves. 21 And the children of Israel, which were come again out of captivity, and all such as had separated themselves unto them from the filthiness of the heathen of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, did eat, 22 And kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for the LORD had made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

MORE LESSON: Psalm 66:1-54 Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.

The Bible is very clear that God is the Builder of all things, and that it is the house He builds that is built. (Hebrews 3: 4; Psalm 127:1). He does not only build houses, He builds lives; He builds homes; He builds cities; He builds nations; He builds businesses; He builds ministries; He builds churches. He is the real Builder of all things (Hebrews 11:10). Whatever it is you want to build, let God build with you, then your success is guaranteed.

In our text today, God expressed His displeasure with the generation of Esau for their wickedness. He devastated their country and turned it into a wilderness. They rose again to build but as they were building, He was throwing it down. When you make yourself an enemy of God, then there is nothing you can build successfully. However, when you make yourself a friend of God then, you will build and you will prosper. This is summed up in 2 Chronicles 14:7: Therefore, he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.

How can you build and prosper?

1. Get rid of anything unclean in your life that will make God resist you or refuse to build with you. You do this through true repentance. It is when you walk in righteousness that God will walk with you (Amos 3:3).

2. Ask for God's wisdom; it is through wisdom that you can build. Whenever God wants to make someone a builder, He pours the spirit of wisdom on that person (Proverbs 24: 3; Exodus 31: 2).

3. Give yourself to prayer. Building for God is spiritual warfare because Satan will resist you with all his arsenal. But in Christ, you are more than a conqueror. Nehemiah 4:9 says: Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.

4 You must give glory to God for whatever He builds for you. Avoid the trap of pride; that was the problem of Nebuchadnezzar. When he saw the great city (Babylon) which He built, pride entered his heart and he boasted against God. The result was his insanity for seven years until he acknowledged that it is God who builds (Daniel 4: 29-33).

The Lord will bless you with wisdom and great favour. You will build and you will prosper, in Jesus' mighty name. Nehemiah 2:20 encourages us: ...The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build; but you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem.

Prayer/Action

* Give thanks to God for His word.

* Ask the Lord to deliver you from anything that will stop Him from building with you.

* Ask the Lord to clothe you with the spirit of wisdom to build great things.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Holy Spirit, move in, make my December a fulfilling month, in the wonderful name of Jesus.

A New Song

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

A New Song

Monday, 2 December

Memory Verse: O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. Psalms 98:1 

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 40:3 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

MORE LESSON: Revelations 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

God is the God of new songs. Isaiah 40:3 says: The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

He is also the God of new things. Isaiah 43:19 puts it thus: Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. He gives new testimonies and He also gives new names (Isaiah 62:2, Revelations 2:17).

Everything new is from God: He even promised us new heaven and new earth. Isaiah 65:17 says: For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. He said the old things He promised to do had come to pass and He was about to do a new thing. Also, Isaiah 42:9 says: Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.

It is amazing that even as a person when you connect with Him you become a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

David in Psalm 51:8 said: Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. In other words, David is asking God to give him a new song by doing a new thing in his life.

The new thing that God will do in your life could be a restoration of something you lost before that will bring joy and gladness. The Psalmist in Psalm 51:12 prayed: Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

God gave Abraham and Sarah new names that turned things around (Genesis 17:5, 15); Jacob was also given a new song (Genesis 32:27-28); He gave Sarah a new song "Laughter" (Genesis 21:6), and a new song to Israelites (Exodus15:1- 2).

It is time for you to sing a new song. God will do a new thing that will fill your mouth with songs, in Jesus’ name. Psalm 126:1-2 says: When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

Prayer/Action

* Pray that God will give you a new song this year.

* Tell God that it is time for Him to do a new thing in your life, family, ministry.

* Ask God, who changed the name of Abraham, Sarah and Jacob, to change your name.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: By the power of the Holy Ghost, satan has been issued red card over my life and all that concern me, in the victorious name of Jesus. 

God: My Song

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

God: My Song

Sunday, 1 December

Memory Verse: But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night. Job 35:10

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

MORE LESSON: Exodus 15:1-2 1 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.

A “song” can mean many different things in the now, today, in the past, or the future. Songs tell stories of the past, present and the future. God is the Author and Giver of every song we sing (Job 35:10, Exodus 40:3). The expression, “The Lord is my song” literally means in Hebrew: “You are the subject of every song I sing.” When God is everything to you, He becomes your song. The psalms are words of praise, exhortation and glorification of God encoded in songs. Every song tells a story of the acts of God or people's experiences and encounters with God. A song can tell or define a man's heart condition based on what he/she has gone through in life, as expressed in the wordings of the song. Here are a few examples of hymns sung as a result of people experiences and encounters.

1. IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL is a hymn written by hymn-writer Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss. Spafford wrote the song after his four daughters died when the S.S. Ville Du Havre sank.

2. AMAZING GRACE: the lyrics were inspired after John Newton's experience of receiving God's grace and mercy despite the terrible things he had done. Prior to his salvation and ordination as a minister, he participated in the Atlantic slave trade and captained a slave ship.

3. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN: this song offers praise to Christ as our spiritual physician and encourages sinners to come to Him for healing. "The Great Physician now is near, The sympathizing Jesus; He speaks the drooping heart to cheer: O hear the voice of Jesus." "Your many sins are all forgiven....”

4. MYFAITH HAS FOUND ARESTING PLACE: the song writer failed in business, his wife left him, his 5 children also abandoned him and creditors were pursuing him. He was frustrated and decided to go to a mountain to pray and die. Two angels paid him a visit and told him to go back home, then King George of England sent for him after learning of his woes. The king who needed an adviser thought that having learnt from his business failure, the man would be the best choice. Two chariots were sent to take him to the palace and his wife who ran away was sent as his cook. The police that were pursuing him became his servants and his children returned. He said, thereafter ‘My faith has found a resting place.”

I pray that whatever you are passing through right now, God will give you a song, in Jesus’ Name. God had given people songs in times past: God gave Israel a song (Exodus 15:1-2); He gave David a song (Psalm 40:3); He gave Sarah laughter (Genesis 21:1-6) and Hannah a song (1Samuel 2:1-2). It is your turn for God to give you a song.

Prayer/Action

* Pray that God will put a song in your mouth.

* Ask God, who is the Giver of songs, to replace the song of the enemy with a song of praise.

* Declare: “I know my Redeemer liveth” and He will put a new song in my mouth.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Hallelujah, I am in the number that made it to the last month of the year. I shall see the last day and beyond, in Jesus' mighty name.