Lord, We owe You more Thanks

READ: Psalm 26:7
MORE LESSONS: 1 chronicles 16:34
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 11-13

If you find it difficult to give thanks, then you will find it more difficult to give praise. There is a difference between thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude to whoever has done you good while praise is an expression of warm approval of who a person is. Here we can see that thanksgiving is easier because you say thanks to the person who gives you a gift or who favours you. Now if you cannot say thanks to someone who favours you, how can you praise somebody for doing nothing. It is important to note here that God is qualified to receive both thanks and praise from us; it is even an act of wickedness to fail to give thanks to Gods.

God did not only give you His Son Jesus Christ, He gives you the breath to sustain your life. Your very life is God's property; let's leave poverty and other problems out of it. God has kept your sanity, you are able to think well, you are not mad; you are not bedridden, you are able to walk, blink your eyes at will. You think it’s because you are beautiful or handsome that you are enjoying these benefits? It's the graciousness and faithfulness of God that make you a perpetual debtor to Him. Therefore you must give God thanks as our text affirms, That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.

Thanksgiving to God must not be done only in the secret but also in the public and must cost you something. You should be able to tell people what God has done, which is a way of evangelising, because when people see how great your God is they will believe Him faster. Tell it far and near what God has done.

You have no right to deny God thanks for a second; in fact thanksgiving to God should be a hobby for every human being. We owe God our lives no matter what condition we find ourselves. Your problems and deficiencies do not reduce God. He remains the King of kings and Lord of lords forever; no matter what happens in Heaven or on the earth or to any man, God is still God. He is not answerable to anybody.

Your constant gratitude to Him is actually for your benefit because it encourages Him to give you even the things you do not ask for plus the ones you ask for. Lord, I give you all the thanks; for life, for the salvation of my soul, and for all You have given me. Jesus, thanks a million.

Prayer/Action
* Lord, give me the grace to give You thanks in all situations.
* Lord, let reasons for thanking You never cease in my life.
* Begin to thank the Lord for all the parts of your body, mention them one by one.

Ministers by Fire

READ: Heb.1:5-9
MORE LESSONS: Exo.3:4
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 7-10

As we approach the end of age and iniquity and wickedness increase on a daily basis, God is raising an army of ministers and leaders who are clothed with the fire of the Holy Ghost, I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Matt.3:11. These are men of fire that will deal with the devil. They are men that are in touch with fire by which they will make strangers to defeat destruction and failure.

The sole assignment of the men of fire is, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me: Acts 26:18. It is my earnest supplication that JAWOM ministers and leaders will be part of these ministers of fire, in Jesus' name.

An encounter with fire should be your uttermost desire in 2014 (Exd.3:1-3, 1Kgs.18:24, Isa.6:6-7, Acts 2:2-3). Fire is dependable and you can count on it wherever there is need for its intervention. It is an instrument, a demonstration of God's power and the evidence of God's appearance. So shall you be in 2014. Your life will reflect the glory and power of God.

However, you must prepare yourself for the fire encounter, like Elijah did, And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench: I kgs.18:36-38. In 2014, you must learn to raise an altar and prepare the sacrifice to be offered on the altar. Water is the Word of God which you apply always and the spirit of prayer and intercession must be cultivated. See you at the top (Acts 17:6, Josh.10:12).

Prayer/Action
* Lord, clothe me with Your fire in this end time, in Jesus’ name.

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Let Your Glory Answer

READ: Matt.15:30-31
MORE LESSONS: Num.16:19-33
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 4-6

The glory of God represents the excellence of God. It is the beauty of God which reflects His presence and His power. In the Bible, each time God shows forth His glory, divinity manifests and the miraculous beyond the realm of the ordinary take place. When the glory of God answers a man, it swallows up shame and terminates all forms of limitation (Exo.24:17, 31:24, Acts 4:21, Matt.9:8).

In 1Kgs.8:11, the glory of God answered Solomon. God hallowed the temple and perpetually put His name, His heart and His eyes upon the temple for His people. In this year of the Lord, 2014, the name of the Lord, the heart of the Lord and the eyes of the Lord will be upon you, in Jesus' name.

The glory of the Lord appeared and answered for Moses and defended him against opposition and rebellious spirits. Consequently there was instant judgment on the enemies of God (Num.12:10, 16:19-33). The people had a new song when the glory answered for them in Matt.15:30-31 and Matt.9:8. The Bible says, But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. Position yourself to receive the glory this season. All it takes is obedience to the instructions of Jesus, ...if you would believe you would see the glory of God: Jn. 11:40(NKJV).

Prayer/Action
* Father, in every situation of my life this year, let Your glory answer for me.

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Rain down Your Glory

READ: Joel 2:18-22
MORE LESSONS: Isa.45:8
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 1-3

The Scripture passage is the promise of God to Israel through Prophet Joel even before the nation went into exile. God had a foreknowledge of what was going to happen to Israel because of their disobedience and He gave them a promise of restoration. Beyond restoration, God also promised to bring them into prosperity and abundance.

These promises are still very much relevant and available for us to tap into because: 1) They are God's Word which is alive, active and potent in all ages; 2) God's Word being spirit outlives any generation to which it is specifically sent or spoken. If any generation inclines its heart to God, His promises will be very much applicable to them.

Let us examine these promises:
1) God promised to send you corn, wine and oil to give you satisfaction.
2) He will no more make you a reproach among the heathen (v.19).
3) God will remove far from you the northern army, the oppressors (v.20).
4) He promised to do great things and encourage the people not to fear (v. 21).
5) Even the beasts of the field are assured of pasture (v.22).
6) God also promised the former rain moderately, and the latter rain in the first month (v.23).
7) Bumper harvest of grains, wine and oil (v.24).
8) A restoration of the years that the locusts have eaten, the instruments of destruction that God sent among His people.
9) He will give you plenty to eat, and be satisfied, so that you can praise the name of the Lord your God that has dealt wondrously with you.
10) You will never be ashamed.

All these promises can be yours in 2014 if only you will speak to the heavens and the earth in prayer as Isaiah instructs, Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together;...: Isa.45:8.

Prayer/Action
* Wine, corn and oil are mine and I shall live in abundance of them all the days of my life.
* Let the doors of blessing of Heaven and earth be open to me, in Jesus’ name.
* In the name of Jesus, I shall never be ashamed again.

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