Empty-Handed

Saturday 31 October
READ: I Cor. 9:16-23
MORE LESSON: Ezek. 3:1-7

There is a song I grew up singing as a young believer in the Deeper Life Christian Ministries. Each time I sang it then, it was always with a passion and a burden. The burden and passion have not left me even now. The song has become a prayer and labour, something I pray about daily and work at. Sing it with me this morning and pray about it: Must I go an empty handed, thus my dear redeemer meet, not one soul with which to greet Him, must I empty handed go.

You know why the song hits me so much each time? It is because of my knowledge of God's great investment upon my life, the price that Jesus paid to save a wretched one like me. It makes me cry to Heaven: Oh Lord, don't let me return back home to You like an ingrate, empty-handed. Only an ingrate or an ignorant person will go to Heaven without a soul in his hand with which to say thank you to Jesus. Think of His sacrifice of putting on humanity although He is God, the humility of subjecting Himself to earthly parents yet the Father of all; the Creator of motion learning to crawl. Imagine Him before Pilate answering framed up charges as an accused. What about the soldiers slapping Him, spitting on Him and mocking Him?

Have you ever thought of Jesus in Gethsemane? He manifested humanity and made a request that could have been positively answered by the Father. However, He tasted denial and although He prayed with sweat coming out like blood, He never got it. All these just to purchase my forgiveness. With all that done for me, I will be wicked to refuse to tell sinners (friends, classmates, relations and neighbours) about life in Christ.

The only proof of appreciation that you and I can give Jesus is not to keep quiet while sinners go to hell. We must tell them, if by any means we shall be able to snatch some back to God and get to Heaven with a gift of souls.

Prayer/Action
*Ask God to forgive all your indifference to soul winning and to give you passion for sinners.
*Tell the Lord you will not go to Heaven empty handed, by His grace.
Set a target of how many souls you will win for the Lord this year and begin to work at it NOW!

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Keeper of Israel, thank You for keeping and preserving my destiny from the wickedness of the day and the night all through this month, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Refuge from the Heat

Friday 30 October
READ: Isa. 4: 2- 6
MORE LESSON: Psa.105:7-15

In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel: Isa.4:2. This exciting verse in today's reading shows God's wonderful plan for all that have escaped the wrath coming upon the unsaved. They have become the branch of the Lord and firmly attached to Jesus Christ the true vine. I am the true vine and my Father is the husbandman, every branch in me that bears not fruit he takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, he purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit: Jn.15:1-2. God has made adequate provision for His children to be beautiful and glorious in this world. Such provision is what Isaiah the prophet clearly expressed in today's reading; that God creates for His people a cloud and smoke for protection. God is protecting you as a branch on the Vine.

In these times that many people's hearts are failing them because of fear of the known and unknown, God has created for the dwelling place (homes) and assemblies( church and other fellowships) of His people a cloud, fire, smoke, cover, and refuge from the heat of the times. He did it for the Israelites when they were journeying from Egypt through the wilderness to Canaan, the promised land. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people: Exo.13:21-22. And for sure the Israelites got to their destination. He who did it for the Israelites will do it for you. Just make sure you are His and you will get to your divinely ordained destination, in Jesus’ name.

What will these elements do for you as you journey in this world? 
1. The cloud of His presence will lead you. The more you fellowship with God daily, the clearer your path will be and you will enjoy divine guidance. 
2. The fire of His Spirit will light your path, destroying all that make themselves your enemies and detaching demonic forces that want to cling to you. Activate this by praying in the Holy Ghost at least 15 minutes daily. 
3. The shadow of His secret place, (Psa.91:1) will be for you a refuge and fortress from evil snares, plagues and pestilences, arrows of the day and the terrors of the night. Activate this by cultivating a regular quiet time/ devotion time that cannot be taken away by being busy with work or school and surely, A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your hand; but it shall not come near you: Psa.91:7.

God's protection is for both day and night; 24/7 He keeps His own. Rest in Him as you go about your work today and throughout the year.

Prayer/Action
* I am a branch firmly attached to the Vine; nothing will harm me, in Jesus’ name.
* Lord, let the shadow of Your presence and glory be a cloud, fire and refuge for me and all my loved ones.
Recite Psa.91 triumphantly and praise God for doing what He says.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
My hope is built on Jesus’ the Solid Rock; I shall not fear tomorrow, in the name of Jesus.

Manual of Life

Thursday 29 October
READ: Jn.5:39-47
MORE LESSON: Mk. 7:13

All religions of the world have one thing in common: a special book considered to be holy and containing instructions for everyday life from a ‘divine deity’. This special book impacts the culture and even determine the entire lifestyle of its devotees, who are required to diligently study and sometimes memorise portions until the words become part and parcel of their lives.

In our text, we see that this is not the same in Christianity, which is not a religion, but the way of life. The pages of the Bible are not given to us to be flipped through as religious requirement for spiritual accreditation by an impossible-to-please deity or anything of that sort. The Bible is carefully scripted and crafted by the inspiration of Almighty God. It is the creator’s manual for effective living. In the Bible are spiritual capsules for living above the circumstances and forces of life. The Bible is God’s given manual for unending victory and success. As an anchor is to a ship, so is the Word of God to our souls. Those who hold on to the Word of God for life are the most successful people alive. And when I make reference to success in life through the Word, I am not referring to material prosperity alone. I’m talking also about a balanced and complete package, full of health, fulfilment, joy and a fire wall of defence round about.

But I have seen a terrible thing under the sun. Wicked men who hate the name of Jesus Christ have selected and adopted principles and doctrines taught in the living book and are succeeding by the same, yet those to whom the Word of God is given have lost its efficacy and power because of their traditions, their ordinary way of thinking, and their logical conclusions drawn from the circumstances around their lives or family beliefs. A good example is the principle of giving as taught by the Scripture. In fact, sometime ago, ten of the richest men alive, most of who were unbelievers, met one day and decided that they would spend half of their wealth on orphans, widows and the needy because they realised one secret of wealth they all shared in common: the act of giving.

More than two-third of all the parables our Lord Jesus teaches in the Synoptic Gospels are on finances and giving. We cannot afford to just read the book; we must also live by the Book!

Prayer/Action
* Pray that your life will focus on God’s Word on living and directive.
* Pray that you will handle every circumstance of your life by the Word alone.
* Promise God that from today, you will live by His principles in everything.
* Declare that the principles of God’s Word will never fail you.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
I shall finish 2015 well and strong, nothing missing, nothing lost, in the name of Jesus.

True Disciples II

Wednesday 28 October
READ: Lk. 9:23-26
MORE LESSON: Matt. 10:1-4

It is a great thing to witness the mass conversion of souls in our generation through great evangelistic campaigns, crusades, outreaches, church services and personal evangelism. Nothing can be better than registering souls in the Kingdom of God.
To be converted from a sinner to a saint is a worthy thing. However, the divine plan of God is for disciples to be made of such converts. Only disciples can truly represent their Master because they are touched and groomed by Him. Jesus our Lord had many converts in His earthly ministry. Remember, He was a crowd puller; He went about doing good, healing the sick and setting free all that were oppressed of the devil. Multitudes were always coming to Him because He met their spiritual and physical needs. However, each time He went to the mountain or crossed the sea to the other side, only His disciples came to Him,
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him; Matt 5:1.

Each time He came down from the 
mountain, converts (multitudes) followed Him, 
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him: Matt. 8:1.
Multitudes followed Jesus for what they stood to gain while disciples were always with Him for what they could offer Him in service, 
And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me: 
Lk 9:23.

Discipleship is costly because they must learn to constantly deny themselves (even of rightful pleasure), take up the cross (to suffer for the Lord, if and when necessary) and follow Him daily (no alternative whatever the case, they focus on Him daily). Certainly, ordinary converts will not endure all these. 
God wants you to move to the next level in your Christian life. Be a disciple indeed and not just a convert. Make up your mind to be a disciple today and disciple others thereafter.

Prayer/Action
* Ask God to help you pay the price of being a disciple.
*Ask God to promote all converts in JAWOM to the level of a disciple.
--Take a decision today not to be an idle bench warmer in your local assembly. Specifically decide which department you will join before your next fellowship day.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
The Lord God shall be my sun and shield, therefore I shall have grace and glory and no good thing will be withheld from me in 2015, in the name of Jesus.