The Giving Spirit

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Luke 6:30-38

30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. 31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: 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: II Chronicles 7:4-7

4 Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD. 5 And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 7 Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brasen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.

Thursday, 23 October

Memory Verse: 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

There is a mystery involved in the act of open-handedness that only a few men understand or appreciate. The average person is pleased to receive value and reluctant to part with it. This is the basic instinct of a natural man. A popular Christian author, John Maxwell, once said, “We live by what we give”. When it dawns on a man that giving is the essence of life, there will be no struggle to release his gifts, abilities, natural endowment, resources, and time to serve God and humanity.

God is the greatest giver who made all men—givers and gatherers, the generous and the tight-fisted. It is wisdom for a man to be on life's giving and generous side. It is only a mark of appreciation to the great Giver who gives to multiply givers on earth. If you study the lives of natural givers worldwide, you notice that their ability to provide constantly increases, and they never lack. Remember that an unbeliever who lives by giving will always be ahead of a most holy believer who is tight-fisted in natural wealth and possessions.

Believers have the most incredible opportunity to part with poverty and live. We often want to be associated with the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, Solomon, etc, but are we ready to pay the price they paid? These were men who emptied their lives for the Lord. He that empties himself for God will be rewarded with overflowing blessings from above. Change your attitude towards tithes, offerings, pledges, vows, almsgiving, and helping others, and you will never regret it. You were created to give. God gave His best (Jesus), and His children should give like Him.

Verse 38 of our text says, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. That is not just a promise; it is a key to unlock wealth! If you are tired of poverty and desire to come out as fast as possible, take the key to giving and the padlock against your wealth will give way speedily. There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty: Proverbs 11:24. Now, answer the question, “Who holds the key to your prosperity?”

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for releasing his blessings to you

* Pray that by Gods spirit you have the understanding and revelation of giving

* Pray against the spirit of selfishness that hinders you from giving generously to God, the widows and orphans.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Father, I release the spirit of repentance and salvation to every member of my family, nuclear and extended, now, in the mighty name of Jesus.

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

From Shame to Glory

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Matthew 5:1-5

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

MORE LESSON: I Timothy 1:12-15

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Wednesday, 22 October

Memory Verse: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 1Timothy 1:15

Sometimes, we wonder if God could ever use people like us. With our flaws, shortcomings, and sins, it seems unlikely, if not impossible. However, one look at the genealogy of Jesus Christ shows that indeed, there is hope. Jesus' genealogy features many unsavoury characters, all of whom demonstrated God's grace and were not flawless men and women. For example, David, though a great king, was guilty of adultery and murder; Abraham, rightly called the father of faith, suffered several lapses, such as the habit of deception. However, God included both David and Abraham in the messianic line.

Matthew's record of the genealogy also calls for attention, especially the list of women. Except for Mary, the other four were of questionable reputations; they were sinful women, not known for their virtue or godliness. They were not even Jewish, yet God included them in the messianic lineage. First, we read of Tamar (Matthew 1:3), whose story is that of deceit and a sordid account of prostitution (Genesis 38); indeed, she was not a godly woman. By the grace of God, she was included in the Messiah's genealogy. Rahab (Matthew 1:5) was a prostitute in Jericho when she met two Jewish spies sent ahead to check out the city before the conquest of Jericho. Rahab's role in saving these men from death secured for her a place among the Israelites when the city fell. God, in His grace, not only spared her. Still, she brought her into the messianic lineage as the wife of Salmon, the mother of the godly Boaz, who was David's great-grandfather. Ruth (Matthew 1:5) was a Moabitess, and her people are the product of the incestuous act between Lot and his daughters. One of the children born of that ungodly union was a man named Moab. Moabites were all idol worshippers! Ruth left her people and returned with her mother-in-law Naomi to Israel, where she met and married Boaz. Ruth became the grandmother of Israel's greatest king, David, and thus was included in the messianic lineage.

The list also includes Bathsheba (Matthew 1:6), the woman with whom David had an adulterous relationship, yet she was included in the messianic lineage. All these prove that when we sometimes ask, "Is there any hope for me? Can God forgive me? Can He use me?" The answer is yes! If God could use all these people to play such a critical role in bringing the Saviour, Jesus, to the world, He will forgive and use all who come to Him for His glory.

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for calling us to himself by his divine orchestration

* Thank God for the sacrifice of Christ

* Ask God for mercy if you have been doubt his forgiveness

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Today, I turn every waste around me into wealth by divine wisdom, in the wonderful name of Jesus.

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

The Path of the Just

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Proverbs 4:18-22

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

MORE LESSON: Proverbs 12:13-14

13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. 14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

Tuesday, 21 October

Memory Verse: But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18

The path of the just will shine brighter by the day because when a man is righteous, God takes him from glory to glory. No matter what happens, they do not diminish in strength and status; instead, they grow stronger by the day.

The Bible is filled with the testimonies of several righteous men whom God exalted because of their lives.

Of Abraham, the Bible says, And the LORD hath blessed my master greatly; and he is become great…. Genesis 24:35.

Of Isaac, And the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became very great: Genesis 26:13.

Of David, and David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him; 2 Samuel 5:10.

Of Saul (Paul), but Saul increased the more in strength and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus…. Acts 9:22.

Of Jesus Christ, He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree Luke 1:52.

If you, too, will walk uprightly, living by faith daily and looking to Jesus, then He will move you from glory to glory and bless you and your children,

The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children. Psalm 115:14: Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side. Psalm 71:21

Today, make up your mind to walk uprightly with God daily, and He will increase you daily to the glory of His name.

Prayer/Action

* Thank God for counting you righteous

* Thank God for his strength that he gives daily for sustenance

* Pray for more strength and that your strength will not fail the in days of battle

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Today, I receive power over every spirit of poor finishing, in the wonderful name of Jesus.

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

Anointing for Profit

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SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Acts 10:38

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

MORE LESSON: Matthew 25:14-30

14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. 15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. 16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. 17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. 18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. 20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. 23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. 24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. 26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: 27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. 28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. 30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Monday, 20 October

Memory Verse: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. Acts 10:38

There is an anointing for doing good, an empowerment that God gives to a man and expects him to benefit himself and other people with. The anointing is for healing, progress, refuge, and goodness to the person who bears it and whoever encounters it. Anointing people with oil in church is not a religious ceremony because there is a promise that God will come to everyone after the anointing. If you are anointed, graced, and gifted by God to do anything, know that God expects it to benefit you and everyone around you. It is essential to recognise that the glory, anointing, and blessings God gives you are intended to impact lives positively. You should not accumulate materials solely for yourself and your family.

I want you to know that God likes profits. From the Bible texts we read, we know that when God invests, He expects profit. The Bible also affirms, But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal: 1 Corinthians 12:7. One way of making sure there is profit on God's gifting, talent, and anointing on your life is to put it to use for the good of others actively. You will also reap profits from it. The servants given five and two talents put them to use and made profits for the Master, and He is pleased with them and rewards them. By putting their talents to use, they profit themselves, profit the people that they offer services to, in addition to making profits for the Master. The servant who is given one talent goes ahead to hide it in order not to lose it. However, it is also of no use to humanity, to the Master, or himself. Therefore, the Master punishes him for not making a profit.

Many Christians have abandoned their businesses, careers, ministries, and lives because they believe God disapproves of profit. Some believers in business can buy something for N20 and sell it for N15, thinking that is holiness. That is being religious, not being spiritual. It is God's desire that you have extra input over your input. It is a good thing when you gain in life; for every input you make, you should receive what you put in and more in terms of profit. The investment of God in your life will not be a waste, in Jesus' name. I pray that you will be profitable to yourself, your family, the church, the world, and the Kingdom of God at large in all your lifetime.

Prayer/Action

* Pray for the anointing to do good at all time

* Ask the Lord for grace to be an addition to his kingdom through your life and in giving

* Pray wisdom for profit in your business and endeavours in life.

TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Wasters of destiny, over me and my family, catch fire now, in the powerful name of Jesus.

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