APRIL 2; KEEP THE RIGHT FOCUS

Colossians 3:2-3 says ‘Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.’

DAILY READING – •           1 Corinthians 15:1-34; 2 Kings 10; Micah 1

 

In April 70 CE, the Roman general, Titus, besieged Jerusalem. The siege of the city began on 14 April 70 CE, three days before the beginning of Passover that year. When the Romans had breached the final Jewish defenses, they invaded the city and massacred much of the remaining population. They also destroyed the Second Temple.

However history records that during this Roman destruction of Jerusalem no Christian was killed. The reason for this was because they had escaped to Pella (in modern Jordan). As the Roman armies began to advance towards Jerusalem, the disciples of Jesus were able to escape because of a warning Jesus had given them forty years earlier.

In Luke 21:20-22, Jesus speaking by the Holy Spirit warned His disciples about the things to come. He told them, ‘And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains;’. Though Jesus was speaking prophetically about the end of the age, He was also giving them insight of the impending doom.

The book “The Wars of the Jews” gives the account of prominent Jewish historian, Flavius Josephus who was witness to what happened. He wrote; ‘A few days after that feast.., before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities”.

So as the Roman army began to surround Jerusalem, the disciples prompted by the Words of Jesus, fled from Judea across the Jordan River to the mountains of Pella. By divine guidance, they were able to escape the Roman invasion.

Indeed we need instruction to escape destruction. In a time of trepidation it takes divine guidance to escape every siege. Especially in the world today, we need to be be guided by God’s Word in order to escape the grip of fear and confusion holding many bound.

At this time the world desperately needs divine guidance. Obviously, all global experts put together have no answer to the world’s current dilemma. But the good news is God never runs out of solutions. He alone has the final say in every situation. This is why we need to focus on His Word.  Through focus on His Word we will receive His divine counsel on what to do to escape every demonic siege.

The disciples were able to escape destruction because their mind was focused on God’s Word. And Isaiah 26:3 says ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.’

Indeed when our mind is stayed on God, He will be committed to our peace, Focusing on the happenings in the world, will only keep you analyzing and reanalyzing situations until you end up fearful and frustrated. Therefore rather than focus on the problems let us focus on God’s promises. Instead of considering how big the problem let us consider how big our God is. God spoke the world into existence and flung the stars into space. He is the God of all flesh to whom nothing is impossible.

Let us therefore set our mind on things above and not on things on the earth. Looking at the happenings in the world, one can get easily distracted from the realities of the Spirit. We therefore need to keep our minds rightly focused on God’s Word. And as we spend time in praying and fasting in this season, we will be divinely guided by The Spirit on the right path. As Isaiah 30:21 says ‘And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.’

 

PRAYER: Lord please help me to keep my mind focused on Your Word. Please grant me the grace to avoid the many distractions of these end-times and rather build up my faith through diligent study of Your Word and fervent prayers in Jesus Name.

 

QUOTE

God is preparing you for the season He prepared for your breakthrough WORDBITE 222

APRIL 1; A NEW SEASON OF HOPE..

Exodus 12: 13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt’

DAILY READING      •          1 Corinthians 14:26-40; 2 Kings 9; Jonah 4

The month of April comes with a resounding message of hope. In nature it is a month that signifies a season of rebirth and renewal.

April is a month of the spring season, when trees and flowers begin to sprout and flourish once again. During the preceding winter season many trees and bushes would have lost their leaves, but as Spring comes, they begin to grow again new leaves and flower again. Thus the month of April ushers in this growing season when nature bursts forth with a bright and colorful new look. Indeed April is a season of new growth, new life and new beginnings

Spiritually also, April is a month that marks a new beginning of change and renewal. Often the celebrations of Easter and the Passover take place in April. While the resurrection of Christ marks a new day for Christians, the Passover is considered a ‘new year’ for the Jews.

The Passover marked a New Year and new beginning for the Jews as they came out of 430 years of bondage in Egypt. The deliverance from Egypt was part of God’s plan in preparing the world for the Messiah. Centuries later, Jesus came and died on the cross and shed His Blood to give mankind new life and new hope. A new beginning became possible because Christ shed His Blood at Calvary and paved a new and living way for us. And through His death and resurrection  He ushered us into a new life, new day and new season.

We can therefore tap into the spiritual significance of this season and declare that it is indeed a new day for us. In the past few months the world has been under the siege of global pestilence. There has been records of fatalities, with some nations already standing on the brink of hopelessness.

Yet, the coming of April offers the powerful promise of hope. The celebration of the Passover and Christ’s resurrection in this month can serve as reminders of God’s deliverance power.  Just as the angel of death passed over the Israelites, so shall every plague Pass over our households.  And just as Jesus rose out of the grave, so shall we rise out every grave situation in this season. Indeed by reason of this season we can claim our escape from every oppression. Surely affliction cannot arise a second time and whosoever the son of God has set free, is free indeed.

With the hope April offers, we can therefore trust God for a forceful  turnaround in the global situation this month. Let us begin to praise God in advance for what He is set to do in this significant month that marks Christ’s resurrection. Surely through the Blood of Jesus we have been delivered from every evil. It is indeed a new day for us. Old things have passed away and behold, all things have become new.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You for this new season You have brought me into. I thank You because by reason of the Blood of Jesus, my household and I have been exempted from every evil of these end-times in Jesus Name.

 

QUOTE :

 

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222

MARCH 31; VICTORY THAT OVERCOMES THE WORLD…

1 John 5:4 ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’

DAILY READING; • 1 Corinthians 14:1-25; 2 Kings 8; Jonah 3

John Sherrill was a young reporter with Guideposts magazine. A skeptic about speaking in tongues and baptism of The Holy Spirit, he determined to objectively dig out the facts by examining contemporary events. His investigation brought him face to face with amazing stories of the manifestations of the Spirit in modern times, which drastically changed his life. His book ‘They Speak with other tongues’ is a classic that has inspired millions of people around the world. One of the stories there is about the missionary to Liberia Reverend H. B. Garlock and his wife. The Garlocks had arrived in Liberia in 1922, on a dangerous assignment to preach to a small tribe in the interior of Liberia called the Pahns. No missionaries had ever before worked with the Pahns because they were cannibals. The Garlocks set up camp with a group of African Christians whose tribal boundary touched that of the Pahns.

One day, Reverend Garlock went into the region of the Pahns and was captured. The armed natives with him escaped leaving him to face the cannibal tribe alone. Surrounded by a people whose language he could not understand death seemed eminent. However, at that moment he recalled Mark 13:11 where Jesus said ‘but whatsoever shall be given to you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak but the Holy Ghost”. And so he began to pray in tongues. As he prayed, the Pahns leaned forward, enthralled, listening intently to his words. After some minutes, the Chief of the tribe and the witch doctor gave a command that he should be released, and even sent warriors to escort him back. What had happened was that without understanding it, Reverend Garlock, through the Holy Spirit had spoken to the Pahns in their own language. This opened the door of evangelism to the Pahns who would eventually give up their cannibal life and convert to Christianity.

1 John 5:4 says ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.’

Indeed it is unto every believer according to his faith. Abandoned by his men and faced with death Reverend Garlock was only delivered through his faith in God and guidance of The Spirit. .

In times of trouble the depth of our faith can make the difference between life and death. We each therefore have a personal responsibility to build up our faith in God. Especially with all that is happening in the world today, we need to be spiritually sensitive.

1 Chronicles 12:32 tells us that the children of Issachar, were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

Today, we ought to look beyond the various News Headlines and understand the spiritual implications of our times. Currently a lot is happening globally that should put us on spiritual red alert. Something is happening that has rarely ever happened in the world. At the same time, in many nations, a halt has been put to the corporate gathering of Christians. Outwardly it is a genuine move by government to curb the pandemic, but spiritually it could also be a tool for the enemy. Without the discipline of timed corporate gatherings some believers may become slack in their spiritual schedule. We must therefore guard against this. We cannot afford to grow spiritually cold at this time because the last days on earth are climatic days of spiritual warfare. We must therefore remain spiritually alert.

While we may not gather physically let us continue to congregate spiritually. Let us continue to connect to the Body of Christ through every available means. This period of staying indoors, is not the time to increase movie watching or other mundane things. Rather it is opportunity to build up our faith in God, through diligent study of His Word and fellowship with The Spirit. The faith we build up now will answer for us when we most need it.

The last days are indeed perilous times. While we may not know what next is coming upon the world, as long as our faith in God remains strong we will always overcome. Let us therefore, draw closer to God through a more intimate love walk with Him. When faith in God dominates our heart, we will be sure of victory at all times, because faith is the victory that overcomes the world.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to continually build up my faith in You through diligent study of Your Word and fellowship with The Spirit. Thank You for causing me to keep growing from strength to strength; and from victory to victory in Jesus Name

QUOTE

Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.

MARCH 30; A WALL OF FIRE AROUND US

Zechariah 2:5 ‘For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.’

DAILY READING •   1 Corinthians 13; 2 Kings 7:3-20; Jonah 2

Mfundisi Richard Ngidi, was one of the greatest heroes of faith in Africa. This great Zulu evangelist was a giant in the Apostolic Faith Mission and mentored many servants of God. During the early years of Christ for all Nations [CFAN], Ngidi worked closely with evangelist Reinhard Bonnke. While Reinhard preached, Richard Ngidi would pray for the sick. Ngidi was known for the many healing miracles that occurred through his ministry

The book ‘What a giant of faith’ written by Agrippa Khathide tells Ngidi’s life story. The third chapter of the book tells a particular miracle of divine protection that once took place in his life. After a preaching engagement, one day, he went out into an open field to pray. As he was kneeling down, praying, a poisonous snake found its way to the place where he was. Ngidi felt his body cringing as he heard the movement and the hissing of the snake, but, he did not open his eyes. He continued to call upon the name of the Lord.

Suddenly he felt something hitting his clean shaven head and when he opened his eyes, he found a big snake writhing on the ground. Ngidi touched his head where he felt the blow and he was amazed that there was no blood coming out and no wound at all. He had not been harmed at all. The greater surprise was when he saw the snake dying in front of his eyes without him having done anything to it. This miracle showed Ngidi, God’s deliverance power in a very real way.

When Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Melita, a deadly snake that was driven out by the heat of the fire bit him. Yet the snake’s bite could not penetrate his skin. Paul simply shook the creature off into the flames and wasn’t bothered because he knew there a divine covering around his life. Indeed there is a divine covering around every child of God. There is a spiritual seal that surrounds everyone called by the Name of The Lord. The divine covering around the Hebrew boys meant they could not be touched by the fire. The divine covering around Daniel made the lions not to touch him. God’s divine covering is what makes a thousand  to fall by your side and ten thousand by your right hand and yet the evil doesn’t come near you.

The divine covering around a believer is the Presence of God. Our life is hid in Christ and Christ is hid in God. We are never alone. Just as the mountains surrounds Jerusalem, so the Lord Himself constantly surrounds His people. Our God is a consuming fire and He is the Wall of Fire around us.

Zechariah 2:5 says ‘For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.’

God’s divine cover is so real, yet it is takes the eyes of faith to see it. Elisha was not afraid of the Syrian army because he saw the chariots of fire surrounding him.  Elisha had to pray to God to open the eyes of his fearful servant, to also see God’s army of angels flanking them. The strong hedge of protection around God’s servants ensures no enemy touches them. From Job 1:10 , it is very clear that even the devil had no power to penetrate the hedge around Job.

However, it is only if a believer breaks the hedge that he can be bitten by the serpent. We therefore need to constantly ensure we do not break the hedge through sin. If anyone breaks the hedge, the way out is to quickly come to God in repentance, asking for His forgiveness. Especially in these end-times, you cannot afford to give any room to the devil to access your life. It can be dangerous. Living in purity and holiness and walking in obedience to God’s Word,  is therefore a must for every believer. And as we remain hid in Christ through His Word, surely there shall no evil befall us, neither shall any plague come near our dwelling place.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to constantly walk in obedience to Your Word so as to maintain Your divine covering upon my life. I know indeed that when You are with me I am delivered from all fears in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

When you are living and walking in the supernatural everything natural becomes subservient to you. – WORDBITE 222.

MARCH 29; ‘I WILL SAY OF THE LORD’

Psalm 91:1-3  ‘He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence’

DAILY READING – •            1 Corinthians 12; 2 Kings 6:1-7:2; Jonah 1

Today Israel is a leading nation in many fields. Israel has more scientists, technicians, and engineers per capita than any other nation in the world. Great inventions and innovations abound in Israel, for instance the cell phone was developed in Israel by Motorola. Many great scientists in history including Albert Einstein come from Israel. Israel ranks high among winners of the Nobel prize.

Part of the reason for these exploits is the blessings pronounced by Jewish parents over their children. Every Friday evening, in Israel, the celebration of the Sabbath begins. This celebration lasts 24 hours, beginning at nightfall on Friday till nightfall on Saturday. The period of the Shabbat is a time where there is no work, no television, no rushing to the demands of a busy schedule or other stressful things. It is a day of rest. At beginning of the Sabbath on Friday night, special blessings are said over the children. Customarily the father lays his hands on the children’s heads and recites blessings. In modern times it is not unusual for mothers to also join in blessing the children. Oftentimes, the mother holds, especially the younger children, on her lap while their father blesses them. Taking time to bless the children on Shabbat is a great way to reinforce the fact that they are loved, accepted and supported by their families. In many homes the blessings are followed by hugs and kisses or words of praise. As a result of this tradition, the children as they grow become primed to do exploits and manifest these blessings spoken over their lives.

Proverbs 18:21 says “life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

Words are powerful. Our words are like seeds, and they will produce fruit. The words being planted today, will bring a harvest in the future. We may think our words don’t matter, but if we realize the power behind our words, we will choose them more carefully. Everything you have in your life today is a direct result of what you’ve been saying and believing.

Words are real. The fact that words are invisible does not make them intangible. Words are like the wind; you cannot see it, but you can hear and feel its effect. This is why the words of blessings spoken by Jewish parents are determining the destiny of their nation.  The words of our mouth control over our lives, whether we like it or not. As a rudder controls the direction of a ship, your tongue controls the direction of your life.

The world we see today was created by words unseen.  What this also means is that we can recreate our world by the words we speak. We are our own prophets and must choose carefully our words. Proverbs 6 says, “We are snared by the words of our mouth”. Snared means to be trapped. Negative thoughts come to us all, but if you speak them out, you give them life. This is why we speak only what God has said concerning us.

Psalm 91:2-3 says  ‘I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence’

In this season we need to declare continually that The Lord is our refuge and fortress. No matter what is going on in the world we need to keep speaking words of faith and power. What we say is what we will eventually see.  Let us therefore shun words of fear and uncertainty. Let us continually meditate on God’s Word. The Word of God is the seed that bears fruit of faith in our lives. And as we speak them, they will bring a harvest of deliverance and blessing to us!

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to speak right words always. Let my mouth be a fountain of life that brings blessings and deliverance to me and my household in this season in Jesus name.

QUOTE :

The study of The Word will keep  shame and disgrace far from you. WORDBITE 222

 

MARCH 28; GOD IS OUR WAYMAKER !

Isaiah 43:2 ‘I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:’

DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 11:17-34; 2 Kings 5; Obadiah 1

As a missionary to Africa Dr. David Livingstone’s work was that of a pioneer, blazing the way, for others to follow. In November, 1853, Dr. David Livingstone embarked on a great journey, to blaze a path through the heart of the jungle to the sea. His intention was to find a route to the Atlantic coast that would permit legitimate commerce to undercut the slave trade that was devastating the region. This would also help push Christianity, northward beyond the frontiers of South Africa and into the heart of the African continent. And so on November 11, 1853, from Linyanti, Livingstone set out northwestward with little equipment , accompanied by twenty-seven African men.

From Linyanti, on the Zambesi, he spent seven months of untold hardship, until he reached St. Paul de Loanda, on the west coast. Dr. Livingstone was greatly reduced by fever, from which he suffered thirty-one attacks on this journey. Sometimes so difficult was the way that even the men travelling with him, became disheartened, and wanted to return home. However God continually intervened and guided them, until finally on May 31, 1854, they broke through the jungle and arrived their destination, at Loanda. The mighty task had been accomplished; a trail had been blazed through the impenetrable jungle. From then on the path Dr. Livingstone had blazed would be run by thousands of other feet to bring the Gospel and civilization to the African interiors. When the news of his  great accomplishment reached England, the Royal Geographical Society voted Livingstone a gold medal — their highest honor. Yet despite these accomplishment, Dr. Livingstone never rested on his oars, but kept pressing forward on his assignment to spread the Gospel. He is quoted to have said “”Death alone will put a stop to my efforts! Nothing earthly will make me give up my work in despair.  I encourage myself in the Lord, my God, and go forward”

In Acts 20:24 Paul said ‘But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God’.

Regardless of what comes our way, we must press forward in our assignment to bring the Gospel to the lost.  As we carry out this assignment, whenever we are faced with challenges, we must continue to trust God and know that it is only a phase. It too shall pass. Every problem, they say, has an expiry date. Life is in times and seasons. This is why no matter what tries to stop you or hinder your progress, you must keep going forward. Obstacles are part of the road map on the path of destiny.

If you want to live your life with your potential maximized to the fullest, you must press on in your assignment. Even if everything seems to be rising up against you, keep going forward. Never forget that when God sends you, He goes with you. Therefore you are never alone.

God said in Isaiah 43:2 ‘I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:’

God is your way maker. He will go ahead of you to destroy the barriers to your progress. The work God began in you He will finish. What God started in you He will complete! But to see victory we must feed constantly on God’s Word to receive faith and supernatural strength for the journey ahead of us. No one can fulfill God’s assignment in the strength of the flesh, we need the power that comes from God to fulfill destiny. Surely through Christ we can do all things. It is God that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

The truth is, your Greatest Days Are Ahead. The path of the just shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. Therefore there is a brighter future ahead for you. Indeed there are greater things awaiting you. You have not reached your full potential yet. There is a joy set before you. There is light at the end of the tunnel, there is victory ahead. Therefore never give up. Keep pressing forward until you arrive at your God preordained place of victory.

 

PRAYER: Father please enable me to keep going forward despite any challenge I may face. Help me to always see that You are with me and indeed You can do exceedingly abundantly above all I could ever ask or imagine in Jesus Name.

 

QUOTE :

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222.

MARCH 27: GOD’S COVENANT OF PROTECTION

Psalm 91:1-2 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

DAILY READING  1 Corinthians 11:1-16; 2 Kings 4; Amos 9

The 1991 Gulf War was one of  the strangest wars in Israel’s war-scarred history.  While Israel was not a participant in this war, the Iraqi government tried hard to draw Israel into it by firing 39 missiles into Israeli cities. Despite this, Israel still did not retaliate and managed to stay out of the Gulf War.

However, quite amazing was the fact that, despite  all the numerous missiles by Iraq, there was not a single Israeli death. In very inexplicable ways God shielded the Jews from the attack; Multiple Iraqi missiles missed their intended targets in Israel and rather landed in the Mediterranean Sea. Two of the missiles launched by Iraq mysteriously disappeared and has never been found. Another missile struck a garbage dump and failed to explode. One missile landed just several feet away from a gas station, which could have caused devastation, but incredibly it also did not explode.  .Another  missile was thrown off course by some inexplicable strong winds. There were other missiles that did hit and did actually explode. One of these exploded between two buildings and completely destroyed both of them, but somehow not a single soul was lost in this strike.

Not everyone realized the magnitude of this miracles until when a single Iraqi missile struck a U.S. marine bunker in Saudi Arabia, and over 40 people were killed. Yet despite all the many missiles that Iraq sent against Israel, not one Israeli life was lost.

In Israel it is strongly believed that their nation exists today only because of God’s promise and covenant with their fathers. Israel as a nation enjoys divine intervention and protection because of God’s commitment to His covenant. Indeed God is a covenant keeping God. When we are in covenant with Him, He shields and protects us.

In these end times, it is vital for every believer to know their covenant of divine protection. Divine protection is one of the redemptive packages in Christ and your covenant right as a Child of God [Col. 3:3].

And as a covenant child, your case is different; ‘a thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand ta your right hand yet it will not come near you..’

Divine protection is yours by covenant, lay claim on it and do not fear what they fear in the world. Fear is a tool for satanic intimidation. Anything you are afraid of, you will become a victim of – [Job 3:25]. Therefore shun fear and embrace faith.

At this time, we must do all we can to strengthen our relationship with God by drawing closer to Him through time spent in  His Word, in prayer and praise.

God has indeed promised that no evil shall befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.  It doesn’t  matter how many times the enemy fires his missiles, God is committed to protecting you. However, one very important truth we must understand is that in every covenant, we have a part to play and God has His part. Psalm 91:1-2, begins with our part: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”

Verses 3-4 reveal God’s part: “ Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust’.

Therefore to enjoy God’s divine deliverance we must dwell in the secret place of the Most High, which is abiding in God’s Presence. And key to accessing His Presence is praise. Indeed the more we praise God, the more we are surrounded  by His Presence and the more we become untouchable to every evil

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your covenant of divine protection at work in my life. Indeed I know I am exempted from every plague in the world. Please grant me the grace to praise You at all times, so as to maintain Your Presence always around me in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE

Revelation from God will always  overcome  your  negative situation in life. – WORDBITE 222. .

MARCH 26; ALL THINGS POSSIBLE WITH GOD

Mark 10:27 ‘And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.’


DAILY READING; 1 Corinthians 10; 2 Kings 3; Amos 8


Kenneth Hagin was born sick. He never had a normal Childhood, never ran and played like other Children, never had a good night’s sleep. Diagnosed with “a deformed heart and an incurable blood disease” from birth, Hagin was partially paralyzed by age 15, confined to bed, and told he had little time to live.
In April 1933, his heart stopped beating, and his other vital signs failed three times. In each of these instances, Hagin said he felt himself being dragged to hell. In the third instance, he prayed for Christ’s help and forgiveness—and came back to life.
As he learned more about God’s Word, he held on to Mark 11:24, which says: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Holding on to God’s Word, Hagin believed that he would be fully healed. And it did happen, miraculously God raised him from his death bed. And not only that God turned him into a great preacher of the Gospel. At age 17, after his high school graduation, Hagin began preaching in a predominantly Southern Baptist interdenominational church in Roland, Texas. He later became an Assemblies of God minister in 1937, pastoring six churches until 1950 when he became an itinerant healing evangelist. Eventually he ended up being used by God to raise a global ministry that is still very much vibrant today.

Mark 10:27 says ‘And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men [it is] impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.’
It is indeed amazing how God marvelously turned Kenneth Hagin’s life around. With all the challenges lined up against him , even from birth, no one could have imagined him rising to the great height he did in life and ministry. But he succeeded by God’s help despite the odds against him.
His life shows that there is no opposition that can hinder a man who is being helped by God. Indeed there is no situation God cannot turn around to our favor. Truly with God, nothing is impossible. When men think it is over that’s when God likes to take over. In life challenges will always come, but with God we can always overcome. We should never limit God. Indeed it is not over until God says so.
Sometimes, like Kenneth Hagin, you may find yourself in the middle of a trial, an affliction, or a setback. But whatever you may pass through, always remember, that your destiny is greater than your disaster.
Never let your situation or circumstances limit what God can do in your life. Look into His Word and hold on to His promises. What God has said He will do, He will surely do. God is not man that He should lie, nether the son of man that He should repent. Everything may be rising up against you, yet do not limit God. He is able to deliver by many or by few. It doesn’t matter what may have happened, always remember Jehovah, alone has the final say over your life.
Therefore to fulfill destiny we must despise present challenges and keep our eyes on Jesus. Despite the challenge, always keep your eyes fixed on God’s Word. If the enemy is able to shift your focus from God, defeat is inevitable. Therefore we must keep holding on to God’s Word in this season. No matter how contrary present circumstances may seem, keep responding positively by declaring and speaking words of faith and not of fear. Indeed how we respond to situations around us determines whether we are beaten or blessed, whether we are victims or victors. Through faith in God’s Word, we can change problems into possibilities, and stumbling blocks into stepping stones.
What the enemy meant for evil God can turn it all around for our good. The important thing is to remain connected to The Word of God. Because it is The Word that imparts faith into the heart and faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
No matter the global news report or situation in the world, we must keep our faith strong in God’s Word. Surely they that put their trust in God shall never be ashamed. And as we keep believing, all things will indeed become possible to us.

PRAYER: Lord, Please despite the situation in the world around me, help me to keep my faith strong in You. I know You are able to turn every negative situation around because nothing is impossible to You in Jesus Name.


QUOTE

The study of The Word will keep shame and disgrace far from you. WORDBITE 222

MARCH 25; THE BLOOD SPEAKS ‘PASSOVER’….

Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’

• DAILY READING – 1 Corinthians 9; 2 Kings 1-2; Amos 7

In the 2nd century BCE, the Jews were conquered by the Greek king Antiochus Epiphanes. He appended the title Epiphanes (“god Manifest”) to his name; but the people referred to him instead as Antiochus Epimames (“The Madman”). He sought to assimilate the Jews into the Greek culture and outlawed Judaism; forbidding Jewish practices such as the rite of circumcision, the study of Torah and the Shabbat ― under penalty of death.
He stripped the Temple of its sacred vessels, including the seven-branched golden menorah, and stole the silver and gold coins. The final blow came when in the Jews’ Holy Temple, he placed a statue of Zeus — the god he believed he was manifest— and sacrificed a pig on the altar. This ultimate desecration of Israel’s most holy place sparked a rebellion among the Jews. A small band of pious Jews called the Maccabees began to use guerrilla warfare – to oppose Antiochus.
Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush the rebellion. After managing to hold them off for three years, the Maccabees beat insurmountable odds and miraculously succeeded in driving the mighty Greek army from their land. This victory was unimaginable because the Maccabees were hugely outnumbered both in manpower and weaponry.
After their miraculous victory, when the Jewish fighters entered Jerusalem, they found the Holy Temple a total mess, desecrated with idols. The Maccabees then cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, to which December frequently corresponds. When it came time to relight the seven-branched Menorah, they searched the entire Temple, but found only one jar of pure oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. They knew it would take eight days for more pure oil to be prepared and brought to the Temple, but they lit the Menorah anyway. Their trust in God was rewarded with a miracle: The one small jar of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be brought.
From that day forward, Jews have observed the holiday of ‘Chanukah’ each year in honor of this historic victory and the miracle of the oil. They light candles or oil lamps every night for eight nights and sing special songs of praise and thanks to God for His awesome deliverances.
Though the battle before the Maccabees seemed insurmountable, because their desire was to please God, He gave them the victory. Today, the battles facing the people of God, may seem more than we can handle. Reports from medical experts and the facts may indeed appear overwhelming. But then God has a way of sweeping aside the obvious facts, transcends time and space to do what only He as God can do. He has a way of doing miracles that beats sense and logic. God has promised He will destroy whatever seeks to defile His temple [1 Corinthians 3:17]. And in this dispensation our body is the temple of The Holy Ghost. Therefore whatever disease or affliction that aims to defile our body will be destroyed by God.
Like the Maccabees we need to rise in holy anger and declare a war against every agent of defilement. We cannot just fold our hands and watch. We have to look beyond the medical facts and understand that we are in a spiritual warfare. And we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. We must therefore put on the whole armour of God and fight the good fight of faith.
The good news is that we have been guaranteed victory through the Blood of Jesus Christ. Let us therefore arise daily and enforce that victory. Just as the angel of death passed over the households with the mark of the blood, so it is today [Exodus 12:13]. The blood is speaking Passover to every evil. Indeed the rod of the wicked shall never rest upon the lot of the righteous.
It doesn’t matter how the great the opposition may seem, when God is on our side we have the majority on our side.
I2 Chronicles 20:12, says ‘For we have no might against this great company that comes against us; neither know we what to do, but our eyes are on you.’
In this season we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We must focus on The Word and deeper fellowship with The Spirit. Truly there is no impossibility with God. He is the God of all flesh and there is nothing too hard for Him to do. Our case is different. And as we rely on God’s strength and help, He will indeed defeat every enemy of our destiny and give us the victory.

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me not to be discouraged by what I may see physically around me, I know indeed You are greater than every battle I may face today. Thank You for working out all things together for my good, and giving me the victory in Jesus Name. ..

QUOTE
God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials.WORDBITE 222

MARCH 24; THE MANIFESTATION OF POWER…

Romans 8:19 ‘For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ‘

DAILY READING    •1 Corinthians 8; 1 Kings 22; Amos 6

When the great British evangelist Smith Wigglesworth died in 1947, doctors found that some of the bones on each of his knee caps were missing. This was later attributed to the much time Wigglesworth used to spend on his knees in prayer before God. Also found in his house, at the place where he usually knelt to pray were two indents on the wooden floor, about a foot apart. These indents had been made by his knees as he constantly knelt on the wooden floor in prayer. These discoveries indeed confirmed that during his life time, Smith Wigglesworth had spent much time kneeling in prayers.

The mighty miracles, signs and wonders prevalent in his ministry were traceable to these times spent in intimate fellowship with God. Those who knew him closely said, Smith Wigglesworth would spend his days communing with God in “prayer, prayer, and more prayer.” Friends who sometimes joined him in prayer said  that he would “leave himself and enter a different realm”, in his sincere communion with The Lord. One day, a pastor asked if he could spend time with Smith, in his prayer chamber. Smith invited him in. However after a while, the door slowly creaked open a bit and the pastor, sobbing and broken, crawled out saying, “there is too much of God in that room.”

Smith Wigglesworth was clearly a man who greatly loved God and enjoyed spending time in His Presence. No wonder God used him mightily.

When we truly love God, seeking Him becomes our top priority. And it is through such time spent with Jesus in prayer, that His power is imparted into us.

Today in the world, God’s power is needed more than ever before. However, to see the manifestation of His power we must be willing to pay the price of intimacy with God. There is no shortcut to power. No relationship, no power. Our love walk with God is what will lead to the mighty manifestations of His power in our lives. And the manifestation of God’s power is what will bring deliverance to men and set them free from every demonic oppression.

Romans 8:19 says ‘For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. ‘

Men like Smith Wigglesworth brought deliverance to their generation through the manifestation of God’s power. Many of them stood as watchmen on the walls and gatekeepers and stopped the encroachment of hell in their environment. And so should we today.

It is indeed time for the sons of God to manifest and bring solutions to the woes in the world. Especially at such a time  as this, when scientists are at their wits’ end and no one seems to have an answer, God’s power is needed to bring solutions.

And to see His power, we must develop intimate relationship with Him. We have to consciously, deliberately, intentionally, willingly, excitedly make ourselves available through deep Word study, prayers and constant fellowship with The Spirit.

Indeed to see a manifestation of miracles, signs and wonders we must seek God with all our hearts. And when we find Him there shall be a reward and our expectations shall not be cut off.

PRAYER: Father, please grant me the grace to pay the required price to manifest Your power in this generation . May I not miss my place in the end time army You are raising to display Your power in these endtimes  in Jesus’ name.

Quote

When we fight by God’s help, we are sure of victory. WORDBITE 222