Ephesians 6:12 ‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in high places.’.

DAILY READING – – 2 Peter 2; Jeremiah 43-44; Psalm 140

Alexander the Great, was king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. By the time he was 31 years old, he ruled the largest empire of the ancient world. This was made possible by his conquests in many battles. One of these, was his decisive conquest over Darius III king of the Persians. In this battle, the Persians had the greater number of soldiers, 240,000  against the Greek army of 47,000, yet Alexander’s army won because they had the greater wisdom and strategy.

Before the battle Darius had made sure that the battleground favored his army and its tactics – particularly the use of his feared scythe-wheeled chariots. Persian soldiers plowed and leveled the terrain to make the ground flat and perfect for their chariots to ride on. But when on October 1, 331 BC Alexander arrived for the battle, he immediately sized up the Persian’s tactical advantage. He realized that if he fought them on the ground they had prepared he would lose. So he ordered his army to pretend to be fleeing and shift away from the flat lands. The Persians promptly fell for the trick and began to pursue after the fleeing Greeks. Soon the Persians found themselves on rough, rock-strewn terrain, where their chariots could no longer move easily. And when their charioteers eventually ground to a halt on the rough grounds the Greeks descended on them en masse. Overwhelmed, king Darius fled the battle, making it easy for Alexander to win and eventually take over the Persian empire.  Alexander won because he refused to fight the Persians on the ground where they had the advantage.

Ephesians 6:12 says ‘For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.’

As believers we must fight the enemy on a ground where he has no tactical advantage over us. If you fight according to the flesh, as moved by your emotions, then you are fighting the enemy on a carnal ground where he operates comfortably. But when we shift our battles to the spirit realm by going into prayers, then we are fighting by the help of The Spirit and can be sure of victory. The truth is that beyond what you see physically, the real root of the problem is spiritual. Things are first established spiritually before they manifest physically. Thus if you lack spiritual insight you may be fighting a losing battle. Never forget that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. Therefore instead of reacting to matters in the flesh, resort to the guidance of The Spirit. Take the issues to God in prayer and hear what He will say to you. When we decide to walk by faith and not by sight we have tactical advantage over the enemy. John 3:8 says those that are born of The Spirit are like the wind. You cannot tell how they come or how they go. This is what happens when we begin to operate in the spirit. As you pray in tongues, devils are confused. They cannot understand you. Like the wind, people can only see your manifestations, but can’t predict your movements. All they see are your results, as you keep moving from victory to victory and glory to glory.

PRAYER: Father please help me to always walk by faith and not by sight. As I wait on You Please grant me the spiritual insight that will give me continual advantage over the enemy and cause me to triumph always in Jesus name.

QUOTE ;

When God places His hand upon a man in life nothing can come against him, this is because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

John 15:7  ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.’

DAILY READING;  2 Peter 1; Jeremiah 41-42; Psalm 139.

George Müller was a 19^th century Christian evangelist and the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England. He cared for 10,024 orphans during his lifetime. He established 117 schools which offered Christian education to more than 120,000 children.

George Mueller was known for his powerful prayers. In the course of his ministry to the orphans of England, he never asked for financial assistance from men – only God… and he constantly received what he asked for in prayer.

One day, on his way to Quebec for a speaking engagement, the ship that was to carry him to his destination was caught in a fog. He then informed the captain of the ship that he needed to be in Quebec by that afternoon, which was in a few hours time. And the captain replied him”’It is impossible, do you know how dense this fog is?’”

“’No,’ George replied, ’my eye is not on the density of the fog, but on the living God who controls every circumstance of life. I have never broken an engagement in 57 years’. George then urged the captain to join him in prayer and so they went down into the chart room to pray. And as he knelt down with the captain, George prayed a very simple prayer. When he had finished, he said to the  Captain, ‘Open the door and you will find that the fog has gone.’

The captain got up and discovered that indeed the fog was gone. And on that Saturday afternoon George Mueller was able to meet up with his promised engagement.

Jesus said in John 15:7  ‘If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.’

There’s a power right at a Christian’s fingertips, and it is called The Power of Prayer. Indeed tremendous power has been made available to us through prayer. This power when applied gets things done cheaply. The story of every great Christian achievement is the history of answered prayers. Indeed a Christian who must get on his feet must first get on his knees. But if you are a stranger to prayer, then you will be a stranger to power. 

And Jesus further says in John 14:14: ‘If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it’

That is an open cheque. Whatever the need may be whenever we call upon God, He is always ready to answer us. And for our prayer to be effective we must pray from a place of having an intimate relationship with God. Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble: Prayer is a life style that we maintain. If you want to see power in your prayers, then you must remain in loving, living, lasting, conscious, practical, abiding union with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer is an exercise mostly carried out in the secret place, but God rewards it openly.  And as we persevere in the place of prayer, God strengthens and enables us to continue to go from strength to strength, and from victory to victory. Surely as Isaiah 40:31 says when we wait upon the Lord our strength is renewed and we shall mount up with wings as eagles; we shall run, and not be weary; and walk, and not be faint.

PRAYER; Father I thank You Lord for the grace and strength to wait upon You and to pray until I see a manifestation of my desired result. Thank You Lord for divinely visiting my matter in this season in Jesus Name.

Quote;

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

Hebrews 13:15  ‘By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name’.

• DAILY READING    1 Peter 5; Jeremiah 39-40; Psalm 138

Figs are among the oldest fruits consumed by humans. The fig is the first tree mentioned in the Bible in the story of Adam and Eve. Mentioned over fifty times in Scripture, the fig tree was extremely important for both nutritional and economic reasons in ancient times. In Israel, the fig tree was one of their most important trees. The fig tree grows readily from seeds and cuttings, especially along water courses and rich, bottom lands, and was used greatly by people living in the Holy Land. Growing to nearly 20 feet (6 m) in height and with large leaves, the fig tree provided pleasant shade and also provided fire wood. The fig tree provided several crops of nourishing fruit a year. Its fruit was a staple food and was of great importance in the Israeli diet. Dried figs could be squeezed into loafs or placed on strings and used as food during long, arduous journeys across the desert..

While Jesus was traveling from Bethany to Jerusalem, four days before His death, He saw a fig tree that had abundant leaves but no fruit. Normally the fig tree, unlike other trees,  provides a harvest of early figs in June and a main crop generally from August onward.  The Israelites usually ate the early crop as fresh fruits. Since the early figs appear along with the leaves, and sometimes even before the leaves develop,  when Jesus approached the fig tree He possibly looked for these early fruits.

The tree’s lack of fruit was unexpected, it showed that it was worthless. [Mark 11:13, 14.]  Jesus cursed the sterile fig tree, and on the following day, the disciples noticed that it had withered. The dried-up tree signified God’s  rejection of those who would  not produce fruits.

Hebrew 6:7-8 says ‘For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.’.

Hebrews 13:15 says ‘By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.’

The fruit of our lips is praise. God expects the fruit of praise from us. Praising God is not an option for the believer, it is a commandment.

God speaking in Malachi 2:2 says ‘And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings’

Is it any wonder then that Jesus cursed the fig tree? He was trying to symbolize to us the utmost importance of bringing forth fruit to God. Praise is so important.

The Bible also says ‘Every tree that bringeth not good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.’

We  are created to continually offer up unto God, the fruits of our lips. We are under the bond of the covenant to give thanks continually to God. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says ‘But we are bound to give thanks always to God…’ We are bound to do it. It is not an option.

God has planted us on earth for the purpose of receiving the fruit of praise from us. And like every farmer He expects to receive the fruit of what He has planted. Not to Praise God is to deny Him His fruit, but when we praise Him we come under His blessing. As we praise Him, He takes care of us so that we can bring forth more fruit. So choose to be blessed today and everyday by continually offering God quality praise. And when you give God what He desires you can be sure He will give you in return that which you desire. God is worthy of our praise. When we think of His goodness and all He has done  for us, we can’t but praise Him.

God is the reason why we are still here today. Despite all the plans of the wicked to eliminate us, God’s will over our lives has prevailed. If it had not been for The Lord on our side where would we be? Though things may not be exactly what you want them to be, still realise that indeed God has been faithful. And as we continue to praise Him, He will surely perfect all that concerns us in due season in Jesus name.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to continually offer to You the fruits of praise, indeed You have been good to me, You have done all things well, and  I bless Your Holy Name forever.. .

QUOTE

Praise is proof that you believe God to do what He said, He would do in your life, – WORDBITE 201.

Romans 10:10  ‘For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’”.

• DAILY READING –1 Peter 4; Jeremiah 37-38; Psalm 137

The second most destructive fire in the United States after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was the great Baltimore Fire. In Baltimore, Maryland, a small fire in the business district was wind-whipped into an uncontrollable conflagration that engulfed a large portion of the city. The fire is believed to have been started by a discarded cigarette in the basement of a building. When the blaze finally burned down after 31 hours, an 80-block area of the downtown area, had been destroyed. More than 1,500 buildings were completely leveled, bringing property loss from the disaster to an estimated $100 million. Miraculously, no lives were lost.

Indeed it is amazing how a great fire can be started by just a spark. Just like a little spark can set a whole city ablaze so also the tongue. James 3:5  says the tongue is a little member that can start a forest fire.  Indeed we must not underestimate the destructive potential of the tongue. According to Proverbs 10:21 life and death are in the power of the tongue .Words are powerful and careless words have been known to start wars. That is how powerful words can sometimes be.

And while negative words can lead to destruction, positive words bring deliverance. There is power of deliverance in our words when we speak right. Therefore in the place of prayer, we can speak words that can positively impact our destiny.  The things we believe from God’s Word, we need to declare forth in prayer to bring them into manifestation. The spirit of faith demands that you say or declare whatever you believe. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says ‘We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak’. And Romans 10:10 says ‘For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’

Indeed you can change your world with your words. There is power in your mouth to bring about a positive turnaround to your situation, And in this season of prayer put your tongue to positive use. Do not keep quiet. Understand that Christ has given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions. And whatever you bind on earth is bound in Heaven and whatever you lose on earth is loosed in Heaven. Therefore arise and engage  your tongue positively to  secure your deliverance from every negative situation.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the grace to always speak right. And as I release Your power through the words I speak, I thank You for the positive manifestations around me  in Jesus’ name.

Quote

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction

Psalms 91:14-15 ‘Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.’

DAILY READING   1 Peter 3; Jeremiah 35-36; Psalm 136

Ashley Smith made headlines in 2005 when she was held hostage for seven hours by alleged criminal, Brian Nichols. On March 11, 2005, Brian Nichols escaped  from the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta, where he was facing trial. He  stole a gun from a sheriff’s deputy and gunned down a judge and court reporter.  He ended up killing four people before escaping.

Living faraway from the courthouse was Ashley Smith a 26-year-old waitress. She was a young Christian who was trying to put her life back together, having recently been widowed. She had a 5-year-old daughter, who was living with an aunt. That evening, Smith had just returned from work. She was trying to make her way into her apartment when she was suddenly confronted by the escaped criminal Brian Nicholas. He forced his way into her apartment, and held her captive in her home for seven hours.

For Ashley, in that dark moment, God was her own only recourse.  Surprisingly Brian spared her life, and she tried to reason with her captor, reading him  passages from the Bible and from Rick Warren’s book ‘The Purpose Driven Life,’. During the seven hours while she was held captive, Smith was able to talk Nichols down and convinced him to surrender to the authorities. Again, surprisingly, he took her advice and surrendered himself to the police. Her terrifying story, made national headlines and later became the inspiration for the Hollywood movie ‘Captive’.

Isaiah 25:4 says ‘For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.’

The truth is that the storms of life come suddenly. And at such times, our relationship with God speaks for us as He arises to shelter us from the storm. Ashley was certainly not expecting the events that suddenly confronted her that night, but God showed up and helped her to overcome.

The effectiveness of our prayer in times of crisis is dependent on the strength of our relationship with God.

God says in Psalms 91:14-15 says ‘Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.’

In other words God is saying when we are in relationship with Him, we can call upon Him in the day of trouble and He will rescue us. And we build up a strong relationship with God through time spent in constant prayer and the study of His Word. The more we fellowship with God in prayer the more intimate we become with Him. And when we study The Word consistently, we build up faith and inner strength that will help us stand in the face of challenges.

It is important during times of trials and challenges to have The Word dominant in your heart. This gives you inner strength and guidance. The Word you are storing up today is what will give you strength in the future to withstand any test or trial. We don’t prepare in the midst of battle, rather the time of peace is when you prepare for war. Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:13 told us to put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. In other words we need to always live battle ready.

Therefore decide today to build up your relationship with God through time spent in prayer and in-depth study of His Word. And when you have stored up The Word in enough quantity and quality in your heart, whenever you are challenged, your victory will be sure.

PRAYER ; Lord Please help me to build up faith and inner strength through storing up your word in my heart. Please also grant me the grace to maintain a fervent prayer life so that I can emerge the winner in every conflict in Jesus Name.

Quote

When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.

2 Chronicles 7:14 ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land’

DAILY READING    1 Peter 3; Jeremiah 35-36; Psalm 136

On February 15, 2015, a gruesome five-minute video was published, that shocked the world. It showed the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians who were killed  by Islamic fanatics in Libya. A caption in the video called the captives the “People of the Cross”; this was the reason given for their being executed. Loud cries of ‘Jesus!’,  was the last word that left their lips.

Those Christians were killed because they refused to renounce Christ and instead called on him. One of the victims was of African descent, in contrast to the others, who were ethnic Copts. It was later learned that this African victim, Matthew Ayariga, from Ghana, was not originally a Christian. But when he saw the immense faith of the others, he was strengthened to believe in Christ too.

On 15 May 2018, the remains of these martyrs were exhumed and returned to a cathedral built for them and named after them in Egypt. Churches and monasteries’ bells were rung all over Egypt when the remains arrived on board a plane from Misrata Airport in Libya to Cairo International Airport. They were received by a large number of priests and government officials and given an honorable burial.

Though the beheading of these Christians shocked the world at the time, it only became part of the statistics of increasing terrorism against Christians. Today, in many countries the Gospel is being suppressed and repressed.  Jesus warned about these perilous times that would characterize the end-times.

And as the darkness encroaches, we can no longer afford to just keep watching. We are living in a time when if you don’t pray, you end up a prey. But through prayer we can change the course of things and establish God’s will in our affairs.

God said in 2 Chronicles 7:14 ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.’

When Queen Esther and the Jews humbled themselves and prayed, God arose and overturned Haman’s evil plot. Prayer indeed does change things.  And especially in this new month of August, as we begin to engage the force of prayer, we shall see  a forceful turnaround of every negative situation around us.

It is interesting to note that the English word ‘August’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Augustus’, which means  “consecrated” or “venerable’. The month of August is therefore already foreordained  a month of consecration in which we shall be fervently seeking God’s face. In English, the word ‘August’ is used to refer to someone having great importance and of the highest social class, marked by majestic dignity or grandeur. In reference to this month, it is indeed a month that will confer majestic dignity on us, as we ‘pray’ the price.

Also August is the 8^th month and the number 8 in the Bible represents a new beginning. In the Bible, male children were to be circumcised on the 8th day. The number 8 therefore symbolizes circumcision of the heart through Christ and the receiving of the Holy Spirit. August therefore is indeed a unique month, loaded with so much possibilities and promises. And through the Blood of Jesus we shall press into all God has ordained for us in this new month.  We shall not faint nor be weary. Indeed through the Blood of Jesus we receive strength to overcome every resistance, even as we press into our glorious new season of power and miracles in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to press in to all You have ordained for me in this unique new month. Indeed as I push in the place of prayer, I know I have the victory by the Blood in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

“Everything that has a glorious end usually has a humble beginning”.  WORDBITE 222

Zechariah 9: 11-12 ‘ As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee’

• DAILY READING – 1 Peter 2; Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 135

Recently a movie was released Labeled “the meanest man in Texas.” It is the true story of Clyde Thompson who spent years in prison for murder, but eventually found redemption. The son of a pastor in rural Texas, he was incarcerated for murder when he was only 17 years old. He was placed on death row, and would have been the youngest person to die on the electric chair in Texas. However, six hours to his execution, after he had been given his last bath, eaten his last meal and his hair shaven for the electric shock that would kill him, the Governor of Texas miraculously asked for a review of his case. Eventually his sentence was changed to life imprisonment and he was moved to a hard labour camp. There, with three of his friends he tried to escape, but his three friends got killed in the process and he was the only one that survived. He was later sentenced to serve 3 life sentences and placed in solitary confinement in a cell with hardly any light. For want of what to read he asked for a Bible which was given him. And through reading The Word of God, he encountered Christ and his life was dramatically changed. He was only allowed outside his cell once a week to take his bath, but even in that brief interlude, he began to preach to other prisoners and got some of them converted. Miraculously his three life sentences were reduced and in a short while he was out of prison and began ministering to other inmates. He later became a minister of the Gospel, and served with a prison ministry.

Thompson believed it could only have been the Blood of Jesus and the sacrifice at Calvary that saved him from certain death and turned his life totally around.

Zechariah 9: 11-12 says ‘ As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee’

The Blood of Jesus can rescue anyone out of any pit. There is no situation so irreparable that the Blood cannot prevail. It doesn’t matter how hopeless  a person’s condition, it doesn’t even matter if the case had been written off. Once the Blood is invoked, victory is sure.

Jesus paid an ultimate price to purchase an ultimate result. He paid the uttermost to save us to the outermost. And to seal the victory, He said ‘It is finished;.

When Jesus said ‘it is finished’ it brought an end to every dominion of darkness. And what that means is that it is finished with every work of darkness in your life. Jesus has paid the price in full, therefore affliction cannot arise a second time. Each time the enemy tries to put any negative situation on you, rise up and declare to him ‘It is finished’. Indeed by the mark of the Blood upon your life, you have become untouchable to every force of wickedness. The only thing that will still keep anyone in bondage today after all Jesus did at Calvary is simply lack of knowledge. That is why God says in Hosea 4:6 ‘My people perish for lack for knowledge’. But when you know the truth of God’s word, you shall be set free.

Therefore  look around you, what is that thing that looks like an impossible situation? Is it a terminal sickness? Is it a hopeless financial situation? Family problems? Whatever the case; it was all paid for at Calvary.  Therefore rise up and declare to that condition ‘it is finished’.

We declare today that the blood of Jesus is against everything contesting our glorious destiny. We raise The Blood as a banner over our lives, our homes, our family and all that concerns us.  Indeed our case is different. We are blood bought, we are blood washed and therefore we are untouchable.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to understand the amazing power You have made available to me through Your Blood. Thank You Lord for  the practical manifestations of victory in my life today through the  blood in Jesus Name.

QUOTE :

To get into the next level of your life, God will always give a specific instruction. – WORDBITE 222.

Habakkuk 2:3 ‘For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.’

DAILY READING – 1 Peter 1; Jeremiah 31-32; Psalm 134

Dave Wilkerson is the author of the bestselling book ‘the cross and the switchblade’. It later became a blockbuster movie of the same title. The story began in 1958, when as a young pastor, Dave Wilkerson, saw a magazine picture of seven teenagers on trial in New York City for murder. In their eyes he saw such anger and loneliness that made him weep. Later on, he began to feel a strong conviction that God wanted him to go to New York to help those boys. Dave had never been to New York before then, yet he obeyed. While attending the trial of those teenagers, he tried to intervene to plead with the judge. But he was bodily thrown out of the courtroom by two security guards. Much to Dave’s embarrassment, the story soon appeared in the Newspapers. Depressed and confused, Dave wondered if he had rightly heard from The Holy Spirit to help the boys. To visit them in jail, he was told he needed a written permission from their parents. But Dave had no idea of how to locate their parents. Frustrated, he drove around aimlessly and eventually tired, he parked in front of a house. To his greatest surprise, he later found out that he had parked right in front of the home of the parents of the leader of the convicted teenagers! To Dave, that was indeed a sign!. And through the boy’s parents, he was able to get written permissions from all the other parents. Eventually, Dave did not only help those boys, but was able to reach out to several other boys in the street gangs of New York.  The Newspaper story that had been an embarrassment, made him to be accepted by the street gangs as someone sympathetic to their cause.  When he conducted a youth revival in the area, five thousand teenagers attended.  A few months later Dave begun a weekly television show where teen-age dope addicts, adolescent alcoholics, and young prostitutes told the stories of their conversions. He later began the Teen Challenge Center in Brooklyn, where troubled youths could come for a new start. And today, Teen Challenge has over 1,000 centers around the world.

Habakkuk 2:3 says ‘For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry’

If you know of a certainty that God has spoken to you, then focus on His Word and do not be distracted or discouraged by circumstances. God will fulfill His promise to you in due time. A vision is like a seed whose full dignity only emerges at the end. Whatever dream or vision God has given to you, trust that it will come to pass in its time. God is not man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. His promises are always sure.

However, if we must actualize the destiny that God has ordained for us, we must accept the responsibility of leaning on God’s grace and running with the vision. Many of us have an understanding of God’s plan for our lives, but we seem to have difficulties when it comes to fulfilling it. Knowing where we are going is just the beginning of the journey. We need to run with the vision. Without motion, we will never get to our destination. Hebrews 12:1-3 admonishes us to run with patience the race that is set before us. We must accept the responsibility for the  pursuit of our God given vision. We must also remain sensitive to divine timing. The vision is for an appointed time. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, And God has made everything beautiful in His time: Therefore do not get impatient or weary if you are not immediately getting the result you desire. There is a due season for your harvest. In whatever capacity you are serving God, make up your mind to go all the way, and not stop halfway. In holiness, in diligence, in dedication, go all the way with Jesus. No matter the level of discouragement, do not get weary or give up midway.  As you keep walking in obedience to divine promptings, surely in the end the vision will speak and not lie. Indeed if you faint not, in due season, you shall surely reap.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the great and amazing things You have lined up for me in this season. I know that what You have promised, You are indeed able to accomplish in my life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.

Jeremiah 29:13-14 ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity…,’

DAILY READING – James 5; Jeremiah 29-30; Psalm 133

Under the earth’s surface lie oil treasures worth billions of dollars. Over the years, drilling companies  have had to go further and further down in order to locate  earth’s remaining oil. Advances in technology means oil and gas companies can now drill down to previously impossible depths. And today these companies are drilling deeper than ever before into the earth to extract oil. In 1949 the average depth of an oil well drilled was 3,635 ft. but by 2008 the  average depth  was 6,000 ft.

In 2012 Exxon, one of the world’s largest oil company, broke world record by completing the drilling of the world’s deepest well in Russia, which goes over 40,000 ft. (12 km) into the ground. This world’s deepest oil well, known as Z-44 Chayvo, is the equivalent of 15 times the height of the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. However, deep drilling requires  a lot of money and energy, not to mention hazards for both the environment and workers. Rigs vary in price according to, among other things, the depth to which they are designed to drill; and in the case of offshore rigs, the depth of water in which they are designed to operate.  The average cost for offshore rigs can be as much as 15 times greater than the average cost for land rigs. And the cost can range between $200 million to $1 billion. The deeper the depth, the more expensive.  But despite the great cost of drilling and the astronomical challenges, due to the benefit to be gained, oil companies keep pressing deeper. For instance, the world’s deepest oil well, the Z-44 Chayvo wells, are expected to produce a total of 2.3 billion barrels of oil. This would translate into an astronomical amount economically. With such great wealth at stake oil companies certainly seem not to mind whatever challenges may be faced in digging to locate oil, because the reward is well worth it.

Likewise, spiritual treasures are in the depth and there is a cost to finding them. Great treasures are stored in the depths of God’s Word, but they are only accessible to those who are willing to pay the price to access them.

Jesus said to Peter in Luke 5::4, “launch out into the deep and let down your net for a draught”. It is only when you launch out into the deep that you can get a net breaking catch. We have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, God has freely given all things to us in Christ Jesus, but it takes the depth of revelation by the Spirit for us to have access. The treasures are available, the issue is ability to pay the required price to access them. Jesus said in Mathew 13:44, that the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hid in a field; which when a man had found, he hid it, then went and sold all that he hath, and bought that field.

When you find God’s tangible presence, you have found life’s greatest treasures.  His Presence brings miracles, signs and wonders. But God’s presence is not found on the surface, it is in the depth. God said in Jeremiah 29:13-14 ‘And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity,’

When we find God, He destroys every captivity of sickness, poverty, etc from around us. Indeed, He diligently rewards those that seek and find Him. But the question is, are we willing to search with all our heart? Are we desperate enough? Are we willing to give all it takes to experience God’s Presence that makes all the difference?  It is a spiritual law that only the hungry gets filled. Let us therefore make a fresh commitment to pay whatever price it takes to encounter God’s tangible Presence. Let us seek God like never before. When we find Him, there shall be a reward and our expectations shall not be cut off.

And one way we can experience God’s Presence today is in praise and worship.  God inhabits the praises of His people. As we sincerely bless God today from the depths of our hearts, He will make His Presence known to us. And in His presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forever more.

PRAYER: Father please grant me the grace to dig into the depth of Your Word where  Your Spiritual treasures are found. As I seek You with all my heart may Your tangible Presence be made known to me in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE :

The treasures of God are never on the shallow end, but are always buried in the depth of God’s Word. It takes a personal discovery to get there. – WORDBITE 222.

1 Peter 1:8 KJV  ‘Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary goes about as a roaring lion, seeking for whom to devour.’

• DAILY READING – James 4; Jeremiah 27-28; Psalm 132

The Israeli Defense Force [IDF], was founded in 1948. It ranks among the most battle-tested armed forces in the world, having had to defend the country in six major wars. The IDF’s security objectives are to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the State of Israel.

Though it has always been outnumbered by its enemies, the IDF maintains a qualitative advantage by deploying advanced weapons systems, many of which are developed and manufactured in Israel for its specific needs. The IDF’s main resource, however, is the high caliber of its soldiers.  These soldiers are trained to respond rapidly in repelling attacks. Given the country’s lack of territorial depth, the IDF must take the initiative when deemed necessary and, if attacked, quickly transfer the battleground to the enemy’s land, Israel always seems to be in one conflict or the other. And apart from the major wars, Israel also daily has to contend with terrorist attacks from radical Islamic groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, Fatah, PLO etc. Being surrounded by so much enmity, Israeli soldiers  have learned to live in a constant state of alertness and readiness.

In the same vein, as Christians, we are required to live battle ready. Ephesians 6 lets us know that we are in a serious spiritual battle. We are not wrestling with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers and spiritual wickedness in high places. In this ongoing spiritual battle, you will survive based on the level of your spiritual readiness. Jesus severally admonished believers to watch and pray and to live ready.

1 Peter 1: 8 admonishes us to be sober and vigilant, because the enemy is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom to devour. As a result of this spiritual battle, there is need for us to store up spiritual strength in readiness. The Bible says in Proverbs 24:10 that if you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Because life’s battle can come suddenly, we are to live always prepared for war. We prepare by maintaining a fervent spiritual life, diligently studying the Bible and keeping the fire always burning on our prayer altars.

The battles of life are represented by the challenges that often come our ways.

The road of life is fraught with these challenges. What will determine our victory is how we react to them. Someone said life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react. We must be equipped through the Word to react in faith. Faith is the victory that will overcome. What you put into your mind is what you get out. When pressure is applied, your internal essence is what will come out. When you squeeze orange you get orange juice and when you squeeze grape, you get grape juice. When challenged what you have put into your mind is essentially what flows out. This is why you must be committed to putting the Word of God into your mind daily, so that when squeezed only the Word of God will come out. And the Word is the answer to every challenge or problem of life. It delivers to us the faith to triumph always

PRAYER: Lord, help me to always live alert and ready. Grant me the grace to study Your Word like never before and to be rightly positioned to be a part of the mighty army You are raising in this end-time. May I never miss my place nor break ranks in Jesus Name.

QUOTE:

As a child of God, you have to recognize that you are in the middle of an ongoing battle.