The two Men and their Names

The two Men and their Names

Wednesday, 11 December

Memory Verse: There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: Luke 16:19

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 16:19–31

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

MORE LESSON: Revelations 20:15

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The story in the text is about two men; a poor and a rich man. The poor man had a name that Heaven recognised; the Bible records that his name was Lazarus. The name of the rich man, on the other hand, was not recognised in Heaven; he was merely referred to as 'the rich man'. In the world today, to be called 'the rich man' seems to be a very good name. But, no matter how nice a name sounds, if the name is not recognised in Heaven, it is not yet a good name. The Bible says, a good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth: Ecclesiastes 7:1. We should pursue a good name. Really, the best name that a man can have is a name that is written in the Book of Life. It is good to do things that give you a good name on earth but beyond that, the best you can do for your name is to get it into the Book of life. The issue of your name being in the Book of life becomes more and more crucial even as the day of a man’s death approaches with every passing second. Lazarus had a good name written in Heaven while the rich man's name was unknown in Heaven. For the two men in the story, it was death that eventually revealed the true value of their names. Similarly, for every man, it is death that will reveal whether you have a good name or not.

The two men in this story died; just as everyone reading this will, if Jesus tarries. The rich man died and he was buried with fanfare with which a rich man's burial is always associated. Lazarus died and the Bible doesn't say how he was buried or not buried. But the Bible tells us that Lazarus woke up in Abraham's bosom while the rich man found himself in hell. We must never forget that, ...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment: Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).

There is life after death; and all that makes the difference is where your name is written. It doesn't matter the name you bear here on earth as much as where your name is written in Heaven. If a man's name is 'governor' or 'president' here on earth and the name is written in the Government House but it is not written in the Book of life, the man is in a very precarious situation. The timeless questions that you have to answer are: “Is your name known in Heaven? Is it written in the book of life?” Accept Jesus into your life today, confess your sins and receive forgiveness through His Blood. Then ask Him to write your name in the Book of Life. As you do this, your eternity is secure in Jesus.

Prayer/Action

* Pray that you will have a name before God.

* Pray for forgiveness if you have been making name only here on earth and not for eternity.

* Ask the Holy Spirit to lead, guard and teach you how to make a name in eternity.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Any evil altar that dares to mention my name and family this month must catch instant fire, in the mighty name of Jesus.

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

Silent Labourers

Silent Labourers

Tuesday, 10 December

Memory Verse: And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity. Luke 2:36

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 2:36-38 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

MORE LESSON: Matthew 6:1-4 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

It is common for workers in the vineyard of God to desire to be in positions where they can be visible to all. But the Lord actually esteems those who can humbly labour in the secret place where no one sees them. Such people obtain great rewards from God who sees in the secret and rewards in the open (Matthew 6: 1 – 4). In the Bible, Anna was an old woman who had been a widow for 84 years. Instead of complaining, she stayed in the temple day and night for all the years fasting and praying to God to send the Deliverer of Israel. Her silent labours were part of what ushered in Jesus Christ (Luke 2: 36 – 38).

Dr. Yongi Cho, the pastor of one of the largest congregations in the whole world, shared a testimony about his church in South Korea. He noticed that each time he conducted a miracle meeting, miracles would happen on a particular row, another time it would be another particular row. The rows are very long as it is a massive church but whichever row the miracle was taking place, nothing would happen on the other rows in a particular service. So he was curious and wanted to know why it was so. He asked God what the matter was and God led him to go to the church as early as 5am one morning. He saw a sister that came around and was cleaning the chairs in a particular row and praying in tongues over them. She prayed and cried till tears flowed on the seats and after she was done she left. That particular day, when the meeting started, miracles took place on the row that the woman cleaned. He then realised that it was the silent labour of that woman that was responsible for opening the Heaven for the people on that row.

Another great servant of God in Nigeria also shared the testimony of a young lady in the choir. He noticed that each time she led a song, the spiritual atmosphere became so charged with God’s presence that he could hardly preach. In fact, the people would have been praying before he came up. One day before service he was praying round the church and saw someone crying and praying at a corner in the church. He went and tapped her and discovered that it was the lady. He asked her if everything was okay and she said it was. After trying to get her talk and the lady insisted that she was fine, he left. It was later in the service that the girl climbed up to sing that he realised what happened; Heaven opened as she sang.

Whether your service is in the secret or in the open, you can be a silent labourer. The success of your ministry is dependent on the quantity of your labour in the secret place.

Prayer/Action

* Ask for grace to labour effectively in the secret place.

* Pray that your labour will not be wasted and that in due time, you shall be rewarded.

* Pray for every labourer that they will be the first partakers of the blessings and that they will not lose their rewards.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: He that sows an evil seed against me this month shall harvest it a hundred fold, in the victorious name of Jesus.

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

Leaders and Followers

Leaders and Followers

Monday, 9 December

Memory Verse: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way. I Samuel 12:23

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: 1 Samuel 12:19-23 19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

MORE LESSON: John 21:1-17 1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. 3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea. 8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes. 9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught. 11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. 15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

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 Samuel 8:5. Yet Samuel said, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you…: 1 Samuel 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 (John 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 for the grace to be an effective leader.

* Pray for wisdom in how to go on with your day-to-day assignment as a leader.

* Pray for the heart of a shepherd to always be caring, loving and to always be a motivation to your followers.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Fresh wind of glory, blow upon me this month and make all things new, in the powerful name of Jesus.

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

Evangelism Beyond Words

STRENGTH FOR MY DAYS 

A Daily Devotional by Bishop David

Evangelism Beyond Words

Sunday, 8 December

Memory Verse: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 5:13-16 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

MORE LESSON: Acts 4:13 13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

A man’s blessing is only complete when you take out of what God has blessed you with and use it to bless someone else. The blessing on Abraham is: “I bless you, you also be a blessing to others.” A flowing river is ever fresh and new unlike the stagnate water full of dirt. To be a flowing river shows it is giving out and the more it is giving out the more it is being replenished. If you live a stagnate Christian life you are not likely to be an healthy Christian. You would have consumed more than you need and you can become a junk but if you become an agent of turnaround, you are a blessing and you are blessed. The way to get the full blessings of Abraham is not in accumulation of what we have but sharing with others.

Christianity is not just waiting for your own turnaround but also looking forward to how God will use you to affect people positively. It is getting more and more difficult to go on evangelism due to situations surrounding us but we can still make impact by practical Christian living. Let’s take Christianity to the market place by the impact we make on people’s lives; we can be shut from preaching in the public but our Christian life can preach more than what we can say. In II Kings 5:4, on the strength of the information Naaman got, he followed the little maid’s counsel and received his healing. Had the girl been living a reckless life, I am sure the general would not have followed her instructions.

Another character to consider in this story is the King of Syria who after hearing of the coming of Naaman tore his clothes. 2 King 5:7 says: As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me. The king knew the God of Israel but he could not represent Him. Meanwhile, Elisha also heard the news but rather than fret, he advertised his God appropriately. We are meant to be the advertisers of our God. You don’t need anointing to be an agent of turnaround: you can be an agent by good acts.

All the life of Jesus, He was an agent of turnaround. Jesus spent His life touching the lives of others. Acts 10:38 says: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good,…. The questions for you today are: How many lives are you affecting positively? How many people can bless God because of the impact you have made in their lives? Be the reason why tears are wiped away not the reason for someone’s sadness and tears. Advertise Jesus.

Prayer/Action

* Pray for grace to do good works.

* Ask God for grace to be faithful to this divine assignment.

* Pray for grace to represent God effectively and efficiently in all areas of life.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Father, separate the act of disobedience by Jonah and the disrespectful behaviour of lot from the activities of my new month, in the mighty name of Jesus.

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