Same Blood, One Family

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Same Blood, One Family

Tuesday, 17 December

Memory Verse: But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:17

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: John 1:11-13

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

MORE LESSON: I Thessalonians 5:15

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

The Church is the family of God with God as the Father, Jesus the first born and all believers are siblings, children of God. We are connected in a blood relationship and that is the blood of Jesus. It is by the blood of Jesus that we are born into God's family and we all have the blood running in our veins. John 1:12 says, …as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. This is the reason why, though physically we are of different tongues and backgrounds, we are of same blood and one family in Jesus Christ. It is therefore common to have tribalism or racism in the church. As far as God is concerned, whether we are white, black, red, tall, short, Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, we are one and we must do everything to promote the unity. The blood of Jesus is a strong tie that unites us and if you are truly born again there would be no segregation in church. The reason why issues like this show up sometimes is because the people have an identity problem as they don't know who they are in Christ Jesus.

Also, because we are one family in Jesus, forgiveness should not be difficult for us. Malice should not even be mentioned in our midst. Just as you cannot 'de-sister or de-brother' your siblings no matter how much they offend you, so also you cannot disown your Christian brother or sister. No matter what you do, your sister or brother will always be your sibling because you are connected by a blood tie. So it is in the Christendom.

Furthermore, as children of God, we carry God's DNA. It is the component that puts you in the God-class. This implies that you look and behave like God. It therefore means that one cannot claim to be like God and possess characteristics that are anti God. As true children of God, we must behave like our Father. Whatever cannot happen to God should not happen to us and we should not do whatever God will not do.

In our natural families, hierarchy and respect are natural components, so also it is in the family of God, And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues: I Cor. 12:28. God expects us to obey and honour those that He has placed over us (I Peter 2:17). Recognise that you are a member of God's family and do everything within your ability to ensure the peace, unity and smooth running of this great family.

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ.

* Decree and declare that you have access to the inheritance and benefits of belonging to the family of God.

* Pray for authentic unity in the family of God - the body of Christ.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: By the power of the Holy Ghost, I shall end this year with a victory song. I shall be a victor and not a victim, in the wonderful name of Jesus.

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

Train up a Child

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Train up a Child

Monday, 16 December

Memory Verse: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Proverbs 22:6 6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

MORE LESSON: Psalm 127:3-5 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

One of the things that are missing in the Christian faith that make it weak, especially when it is confronted by opposition is the lack of thorough education early in life. There is this laxity among Christian parents that makes them think it is too early to begin to train their child in the things of God. For instance, some parents come to family altar alone and they allow their young child to keep sleeping, giving the excuse that the he is too young to be awake at that time. However, this is contrary to God's principle of raising children. Prov. 22:6 says,

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. If we ignore God's counsel in doing anything, then we cannot blame Him when things go wrong.

It is quite unfortunate that other religions of the world copy godly principles and follow them to the letter while the children of light are complacent about it. For instance, in Islam, they begin to teach their children the Quran at a very tender age and one major instruction has to do with living and dying for what they believe. I thought the only thing that these small children are sent to do in the quranic school is to learn the Quran. But a young man told to me that he learnt early in life at the small quaranic school, to defend, fight, live and die for Islam at any cost. By the time he was getting to the secondary school he had heard that doctrine so well that he counted it a normal thing to accept to die if that is what it will cost to defend Islam. So if anyone declares a jihad, it would not take anything to find volunteers. It does not need a special appeal for people to carry explosives and commit suicide; that is to become what they call suicide bombers. It is so easy finding volunteers any time a call is made because everybody is taught, beginning from childhood, not only the basics of the Quran and Islam but also the fact that everyone who is a Muslim must live and die for the sake of Islam.

As Christian parents, we must arise to our responsibilities knowing that we would give account of the children in our custody. If God who owns them has given an instruction on how to raise them, then we must adhere to it. Arise today and bring your children up in the way of the Lord.

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for making you a custodian of His children and for the privilege to raise them.

* Ask for grace and wisdom to train your children - both biological and spiritual - in the way of the Lord.

* Rebuke every plan and device of the enemy concerning your children.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: The Lion of the tribe of Judah, roar every satanic beast of December to surrender everywhere I go this month, in the precious name of Jesus.

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

Flee What?

Flee What?

Sunday, 15 December

Memory Verse: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: II Timothy 2:15-22 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

MORE LESSON: I Timothy 6:11 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Often, we get into trouble or make irreparable mistakes in life just because we do not know how to handle our challenges. Experience is not what happens to you in life, but how you handle issues. Exposed to evil or temptation and doing nothing about it makes children of God live a life of shame and reproach even though God has promised us grace and glory.

Our text today tells us how to cope with temptations and how to become the kind of disciples Jesus wants us to be. Jn.15:14 says, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Obedience is the central issue when it comes to true Christianity. Salvation is a free gift from God but you won't grow much unless you take definite steps of obedience. There are so many things to flee from in the Scripture if we will remain God's friends:

I Cor. 6:18, Flee fornication....

I Cor. 10:14, ...flee from idolatry.

II Tim. 2:22, Flee also youthful lusts.

Matt.3:7 ...flee from the wrath to come....

Being complacent about what can destroy us is not courage, but carelessness. Running away or doing everything possible to escape from evil, danger or temptation is the wisest thing to do. We must know that our spiritual life is one of motion. So many times, God tells us to do one thing or the other, and unless we are swift in response to His instructions, we fail even when we are not supposed to.

Can you anticipate any temptation that might hit you today? How will you handle it? In Matt. 26:41, Jesus said, Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.... because with every temptation, there is a way of escape, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it: I Cor. 10:13. You must be guided 24/7. The tempter is never tired at all; when you hear his roar, flee. God will keep you in the hour of temptation, in Jesus' name (Rev. 3:10).

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for not allowing you to be tempted beyond your capacity.

* Ask for grace to withstand every temptation that comes your way.

* Receive wisdom to overcome every temptation that comes your way.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Today; I declare zero tolerance for any evil occurrence this month, in the powerful name of Jesus.

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

From Darkness to Light

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From Darkness to Light

Saturday, 14 December

Memory Verse: But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1 Peter 2:9

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 24:30-35 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

MORE LESSON: Acts 9:18-19 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. 19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

Spiritually, darkness has been the greatest challenge on earth. No wonder Jesus came as the light of the world. The Bible says the whole world lies in darkness and until Christians begin to shine their Jesus-given light, there is no hope for the world. However, no matter the intensity of light, if the eyes of people are not opened, the light is useless. As it is that people can remain in darkness no matter how wide open their eyes are if there is no light, people can also remain in darkness not because they don't have eyes; but because their eyes are not opened.

The Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of light, so everyone in it must have the power of sight. Flip Wilson said: “What you see is what you get”. Being able to see into the spiritual realm has a lot of advantages. One day God wanted to commission Jeremiah into ministry and one of the things he wanted to be sure the prophet had is the power of sight. He said, Jeremiah, what seest thou: Jer 1: 11, and until God was sure Jeremiah could see correctly, He did not perform His Word. God wants all His children to be seers. Blindness pegs a man's destiny and makes him live a beggarly life. A man with open eyes has access to divine secrets and will live a prosperous life.

Luke 24:31 says: And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. The evidence that a man's eye is opened is that he is able to see the Lord. When you see and know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and see God at work everyday, then your eyes are opened. Before a man can see correctly his heart must be inflamed like the disciples that Jesus talked with on the way; their hearts burned within them and their eyes were opened. Beloved, until you begin to hear the voice of Jesus and read His Word, your eye s of understanding remain closed. But when your heart burns, then your eyes will begin to see. What are indications that a man is not seeing correctly or does not see? This happens when:

i. he cannot see God's provision and plan for his life,

ii. a man does not know what to do always,

iii. a man's pathway in life is not even or is awkward all the time,

iv. one does not see beauty, good, success and victory, but evil all of the time.

v. a man does not know his true state by thinking he is what he is not.

But when a man sits, talks, eats with Jesus, his eyes will definitely open (vs. 30-31). May your eyes of understanding be opened, and may you begin to see all that is necessary for your progress, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Prayer/Action

* Ask God to open your eyes to see.

* Pray that your spiritual senses and your level of discernment, be heightened.

* Rebuke every form of darkness in and around your life, destiny and family.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: As it is written, “Say to the righteous it shall be well with them”; so is it with me this day, in the mighty name of Jesus.

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