SEPTEMBER 2   :  PROMISE OF RESTORATION

Joel 2:25

And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

  • DAILY READING – Matthew 26:47-75; Deuteronomy 3-4; Job 5

It is interesting to note that even before the Jews went into their long exile, God had 2700 years before, prophesied their restoration. God spoken of their return through prophet Isaiah; ‘Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth’ [Isaiah 43:5-6].

Almost 2000 years after their dispersal from their homeland in AD 70, this prophesy began to come into fulfillment. Jews from the east, west, north and south began to return back home to Israel.

By early 1900s, from the east, many Jews living in the Mid- East began to return to Israel. And during mid-1900s, from the west, many Jews living in western countries like Europe and America began to move back to Israel.

Note the precision of the word of God. The later portion of that Isaiah’s prophesy had indicated that the north and east may want to keep back the Jews. It said ‘I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back:’.

Now do you know that exactly as was prophesied the north and the south resisted the return of the Jews. North of Israel is Russia. During the Jewish exodus, they refused to allow the Jews resident in Russia to return back home to Israel. It took years of pressure from other countries before finally Russia caved in. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s during the 1980’s, as part of his reforms, allowed a massive number of Soviet Jews to return to Israel. Among these were many highly trained doctors, engineers, and scientists, who helped to build modern Israel, into the great nation it is today.

And south of Israel is Ethiopia. Ethiopia’s communist government also refused to allow the Ethiopian Jews to return back home. Israel had to strike a deal and pay money to the government of Ethiopia before they let the Jews go, and in 1984 an evacuation known as “Operation Moses” airlifted 6,500 Ethiopian Jews back to Israel. And in 1991, another evacuation called ‘’Operation Solomon’’ flew over 14000 Ethiopian Jews from Addis Ababa back to Israel.

Isaiah’s prophecy also said the Jews would return “from the ends of the earth,”. And during the past 100 years, Jews living as far east as China, as far west as the West Coast of the United States, as far north as Scandinavia, and as far south as South Africa, have moved back home to Israel. Since their return Israel has grown to become a force to reckon with. This small country with a population of about 8 million people, continues to amaze the world with its prowess. And today God has brought back restoration to His people according to His promise..

It is a sign to us that God is faithful to restore back to us what we may have lost, when we reconnect to Him. It is through sin or disobedience that we suffer losses. But when we repent and reconnect back to God He restores what was lost. In Joel 2:25 God says ‘And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm,’

In this season God is restoring back the years the canker worm has eaten. God is bringing restoration back to us both as a church and as individuals.

God has a plan of restoration for His people. It doesn’t matter how much the enemy has tried to tamper with your life and destiny there is restoration. Your joy will be restored, your peace will be restored, everything stolen from you is about to be restored fully in Jesus name.

But don’t forget, if you remain far away from God you remain far from this restoration. Understand that the enemy only has power over you as long as you are in rebellion to God. As we have seen from the story of Israel, suffering losses only come as a result of straying outside of God’s will. But the moment you return back to God, He turns His hand against your enemies and brings restoration to you. So make up your mind today, to pay whatever price it takes, to stay in the center of God’s will for you. Never mind what you may seem to have lost in the past, as you draw closer to God today, be assured of all round restoration in Jesus Name. .

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to draw closer to You, so that I can begin to experience restoration of the years the canker worms may have eaten away from my life. Thank You Lord for enabling me to begin to experience full restoration, starting from this moment, in every area of my life 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.

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

SEPTEMBER 1  : JERUSALEM ABOVE    

 

 

Psalms 110:1

The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

  • DAILY READING – Matthew 26:26-46; Deuteronomy 1-2; Job 4

    Jerusalem means the city of peace, yet it is the bloodiest city on earth. More wars have been fought over Jerusalem than any other city in the world.  Throughout history, nations and empires have always sought to grab it as the ultimate jewel.

    Jerusalem, known as the city of God, is the most celebrated city on earth. News about the mid-east often focuses on Jerusalem. Jerusalem is sacred to the three major faiths in the world.  For Jews it is the center of who they are as a people, for Christians it is the scene of Jesus’ agony and triumph; for Muslims it is the site of one of Islam’s most sacred shrines, the dome of the rock from where according to them,  mohammed ascended to heaven.

    The Jewish occupation of Jerusalem today is a miracle. For 2552 years the Jews had no control of Jerusalem. But in the 1967 Arab/Isreali war, famously known as ‘the 6 day war’. God miraculously returned control of Jerusalem back to the Jews.

    However contention over who really owns Jerusalem still continues.

    Perhaps this contention over Jerusalem has a spiritual significance. In Rev 21, we read of the New Jerusalem which will come down as a bride adorned. That is the bride of Christ, the Church. And just as Jerusalem has seen many wars, spiritually also the church has seen many wars,

    Especially now as we draw to the close of the age, the tempo of the spiritual warfare has greatly increased. However we have been assured by Christ that the gates of hell shall never prevail.

    Psalms 110:1  says ‘The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.’

    Despite the raging spiritual opposition, it is our season to rule in the midst of our enemies. God has already made them our footstool.

    In this season, God has ordained victory and dominion for us both as a church and as individuals.

    Victory comes through prayer. Let us therefore receive grace for constant prayer, so that we can remain ever victorious. We are therefore called to be constantly vigilant. Vigilance is in the place of prayer. Jesus said we should rise and pray lest we enter into temptation. Without prayer a Child of God cannot hope to  be victorious against the forces of darkness. Some Christians have found themselves in situations they never bargained for, all due to prayerlessness.

    Leviticus 6:13 says ‘The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.’ We are to maintain constant fire on our prayer altar. There must be a ceaseless flow of prayer by The Holy Ghost. Prayer is the breath of our spirit man. It is what keeps us spiritually conscious and alert. If you lack fire on your prayer altar you will become spiritually cold and insensitive. Which means you can easily fall prey to the enemy.

    Through prayer we are constantly guided by The Holy Spirit. It doesn’t matter the level of opposition, when you are guided by The Holy Spirit you will always dominate. .

    So though this may be a season of heightened spiritual conflict for the church, it is also a season of constant victory. The Light of a candle shines brightest when the night is darkest.  If perhaps you have been experiencing unusual spiritual warfare around you, don’t be surprised. But know also that every such battle  is an opportunity to experience supernatural victory by the help of The Spirit. Whatever you may be confronted with today, have a victory mentality towards it. Go into your prayer closet, knowing that you are not about to negotiate with the enemy, but rather  about to establish your victory by the blood of Jesus.

    PRAYER: Lord ,help me to be victorious in the battles of life,  please use me in this generation to affect my world. Let my light so shine that men may be brought into your kingdom.  

    quote

    The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained  victorious end for you.- WORDBITE 222. 

    [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]

    AUGUST 31  :  HEALED BY HIS WORD 

     

     Psalms 107:20  

    He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

    DAILY READING Matthew 26:1-25; Numbers 35-36; Job 3

    Smith Wigglesworth was one of the greatest men of God who ever lived. Few individuals have made such an impact on the world for the gospel as this plumber turned evangelist.. He was among those that shaped the Pentecostal Movement in the early twentieth century. Multitudes were saved worldwide as he ministered, and miracles of healing and deliverance occurred that have rarely been witnessed since the days of the apostles.

    However Wigglesworth personally encountered The Healing Power of Jesus before he could minister same to others. He tells his story ‘At one time I was so bound that no human power could help me. For six months I had been suffering from appendicitis. I went to the mission of which I was pastor, but I was brought to the floor in awful agony, and they brought me home to my bed. My wife was sure it was my home call and sent for a physician. He said that there was no possible chance for me-my body was too weak.. He left my wife in a state of broken-heartedness. But after he left, there came to our door a young man and an old lady. I knew that she was a woman of real prayer. This young man jumped on the bed and commanded the evil spirit to come out of me. He shouted, “Come out, you devil; I command you to come out in the name of Jesus!” There was no chance for an argument, to tell him that I would never believe that there was a devil inside of me. The thing had to go in the name of Jesus, and it went, and I was instantly healed.’

    On receiving his healing, Wigglesworth immediately dressed and went out to his plumbing work. The doctor later came back to check on him, and on hearing that he had gone out to work, “they’ll bring him back a corpse.” He said. But that never happened, and Smith Wigglesworth was never sick again.

     

    Psalms 107:20  says ‘He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.’

    The woman with the issue of blood could not be healed by the physicians. She had spent all her money on doctors. But when she came to Jesus she got her healing.

    Today, Jesus is the healer. He takes over where doctors fail. Are you still looking at the doctor’s report? It is time for the Son of righteousness to arise with healing in his wings for you.

    Jesus has great compassion for the sick. Throughout His earthly ministry He went about healing the sick and oppressed. He has not changed. He wants to heal you, He wants to deliver you from every destruction. He came and died that you might have life and have it more abundantly. And by His stripes we are healed.

    He is waiting in His word to heal those that come to Him. His power for deliverance is embedded in His Word. Victory comes through in depth knowledge of the word of God. People only perish for lack of knowledge of The Word. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. Your level of faith is a function of how much time you spend in the word of God, because faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The home of faith is the word of God.

    Scriptures are the power of God in written form. When you load your heart with the written word, you are loading your heart with power. It is like loading a gun with bullet. When you shoot forth in prayer, every devil flees.

    To know the word is to know God. And they that do know their God they shall be strong and do exploits. When you come to know God through His Word, power is imparted into you, it is this power that brings healing and deliverance.

    He sent His Word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions. So begin a fresh search today into the Word of life so as to encounter God’s power for your healing and deliverance.

     

     

    PRAYER Lord today I receive power from your Word to overcome every infirmity. Give me the grace to spend time in Your Word so I can have my total deliverance  from every affliction in Jesus Name. 

    quote 

    God’s word is God’s ‘prescription’ for every area of your life, let God’s word fix that situation in your life. WORDBITE 222.

     [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE HEALTH AND HEALING]

    AUGUST 30 :  SIT DOWN  IN THE WORD

     

     Joshua 1:8

    This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

    DAILY READING – –  Matthew 25; 31-46; Numbers 32-34; Job 2

    General William booth is the founder of the Salvation army. . The salvation army is a Christian movement with a quasi-military structure founded in 1865, which has spread from London, England, to many parts of the world, it is known for being one of the largest distributors of humanitarian aid. In 2002, Booth was named among the 100 Greatest Britons in a BBC poll.

    Once General booth was asked the secret of his success. Tears came to his eyes as he answered , ‘I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities; but I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.’”

    William booth gave his all to God. And God worked through him to achieve great success in the salvation army.

    Ability to lay it all down comes from being deeply impacted by Jesus. When the apostles encountered Him, they forsook all and followed Him. When Paul encountered Him, he counted all things dung, that he may win Christ. And such  encounter with Christ comes through meditation in The Word.

    In meditation we are rubbing minds with God. As The Word goes into the heart,  it dispels everything not of God and begins to infuse  the life and nature of God into us. .

    This is how God takes us over and begins to control us.

    When you let God have all of you, He will work through you to accomplish  His will. He will release His power to you. This power envelopes you and empowers you to go forth and conquer. This is how men like William Booth made great impacts,. As Paul said in Galatians 2;20, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me.

    When self dies, and God takes you over, you make great impacts in your generation. It is God that works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

    Some of us may still be seeking the help of men to rise in life, but in Isaiah 30:7-8, God says ‘For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, their strength is to sit still. Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book..’

    God is asking us to sit down in His book, in His Word, and study.  God is saying you can never outrun the enemy on your own. It is only by the Power in the Word, that you can overcome, and succeed in life. It is through meditation in the Word that we can have good success [Joshua 1:8]

     

    There is always a price to pay. And why it seems some of us don’t experience  His mighty works, is because we never spend enough time in His  word. We don’t seem to have the patience to sit down for long until God takes control of us.

    But there is a price to pay, if we don’t want to see defeat. For us to experience victory then Jesus must have all of us. We must lay all else down, and let Him take us over. That is the path to victory. That is the path great men like William booth followed. And that is the path we are called to follow today, so as to have great success in our service to God.

     

    PRAYER Lord help me to return to the place of sitting at your feet, learning from Your Word until You have taken me over, so that I can go forth and do exploits by Your Power  in Jesus Name. .

     

    quote

    The price you pay to discover anything in God’s word is nothing ever to be compared to the prize of the discovery- WORDBITE 222.

    [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]

    ​AUGUST 29 : SAVED BY GOD’S LOVE

    PSALM 124: 2 KJV 
    If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:   Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

    • DAILY READING  – Matthew 25:1-30; Numbers 30-31; Job 1

    He is known the world over as the miracle man. Goodman is an amazing man with an amazing testimony of God’s grace.  Speaking in a CBN news interview he says 

    “It’s a modern day story of Job.  Job lost everything. He lost his health, his wealth, his family. I did the same thing,” says Morris.

    Morris had it all. He was one of the most successful insurance agents in America.  But one day in March 1981, his world suddenly collapsed, when he took his new airplane out for a test flight. That flight ended in tragedy, when his landing gear got caught in power lines. His injuries were horrific. Morris’ neck was broken in two places. His kidney, bladder, bowel and liver didn’t function, almost every organ in his body destroyed. All he could do was blink his eyes, once for ‘yes’ and twice for ’no’.

    While it was thought he would die, Morris Goodman fought for his life. He fought  long and hard, until he began to regain control of his body one step at a time.  After eight months he walked out of the hospital. Morris freely admits that God was a major factor in his recovery, even though he wasn’t even a Christian then. He said the accident in retrospect was probably the best thing that ever happened to him, because it brought him to the place where he made Jesus His Lord and savior. 

    Today, Morris is a sought-after motivational speaker. His clients include AFLAC, General Motors, and Xerox to name a few  He says “I’m very thankful that I didn’t die at the time of my accident ‘cause I don’t know where I would be today. I’m thankful that He gave me another chance to find salvation and to save my soul.”

    It’s amazing that God gave Morris this incredible deliverance even while he was still a sinner. Lamentations 3:22  says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’

    Many of us like Morris could have died in our sins. We would have been buried long ago and forgotten if not for the mercy of The Lord. Even while we were yet sinners, He preserved us. Some of the friends we started out with in life, died, along the way. Yet by His mercy and grace we are still here. God preserved us. 

    That is the humbling part;  Knowing that we were defenseless, didn’t know our left from our right, the enemy had every opportunity to have destroyed us, yet God preserved us. Some of the things you passed through could have killed you, but yet you survived it. Not because of your own strength, but because He loves you. Even in the midst of that trouble He still gave His angels charge over you. You did not survive because you are lucky. You survived because of His love. 

    Do you know how many people went what you went through and didn’t come out of it alive? Yet you survived. Do you know how many arrows are sent towards you every day, and yet none ever finds their mark? Don’t ever think you are alive by your wisdom.  That you are still here is an indication of God’s love. And even if your life is still not yet what you desire it to be, then thank God that you are still alive, and that you still have hope. Ecclesiastes 9:4  says ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’ 

    Yes, there is so much that still needs to be done in your life, there are pressures coming from every side. But don’t forget, you can feel pressured only because you are still alive. A dead man has no blood pressure. 

    So rejoice instead and bless God for the gift of life, praise Him for the many battles He has fought and won for you.  and as you do that He will turn your pressures to pleasure. Habakkuk 3:17 -19  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. 

    Really we have to give God credit for our lives.  If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side, where would we be?  God is good and very faithful  .And no matter what things may look like right now, be assured that He is working it out for you.   This is why we appreciate and praise Him. We may not trace Him, but we trust Him. We know that no matter what, He is working everything together for our good.  
    PRAYER:  Lord please grant me the grace to praise You in every situation. By the revelation of The Spirit, help me to see indeed  you are working it all out for my good even right now. I  will always praise You for all your goodness in my life, past present and future. Thank You so much Jesus.  . 

     QUOTE 

    When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222.  

    [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD] 

    AUGUST 28 : DELAY NOT DENIAL!

     

    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.

    Smith Wigglesworth was converted when he was eight years of age. And immediately he felt God’s hand on his life. Grounded in Bible teaching by the Plymouth Brethren, he marched under the blood and fire banner of the Salvation Army, learning to win souls in the open air. He thought perhaps there would be an immediate manifestation of God’s call on him, But after many years of fervent Christian service, when it seemed nothing significant was happening in his life, he settled for a nominal Christian life while pursuing work as a plumber. But in his mid forties, God orchestrated events that will catapult him into a world acclaimed ministry. His ministry exploded in such miracles as seldom has been seen since the days of the apostles. Over 23 dead were raised through his ministry, and many healed by the mighty power of God. And from an ordinary plumber, who couldn’t read or write correctly, he became a world acclaimed preacher. Smith Wigglesworth was without doubt one of the most anointed men of God that has lived in recent times. And up till today his name carries weight in Christendom.  .

    Indeed God is faithful Delays are not denials. Have you been called by God? Does it seem as if it taking a long time for that call to fully manifest? Keep serving faithfully, God has not forgotten your labour of love. Keep sowing good seeds, because your time of reaping is coming and in due season you shall reap if you faint not.

    Do not get impatient or weary if you are not immediately getting the result you desire, keep sowing the seed required of you because harvest is coming, only he that endures to the end will reap, if he faint not. Those who enjoy multiplied blessings from God are those who go all the way with Him, In whatever capacity you are serving God, make up your mind to go all the way, and not stop halfway. Jesus said he that puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not worthy of His Kingdom. So do not get weary or give up midway, no matter the level of discouragement you may face. Because there is an appointed time for your reward and if you are not willing to go all the way you may not see fully what God has in store for you. .

    When Joseph had the dream and saw his brothers sheaves bowing to his, it was a vision of what his future would be. He knew he would one day reign over his brethren but what he didn’t know was that it would take quite a number of years before the dream would come to fruition.

    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. If you know of a certainty He has spoken to you then hold on to His promises. Do not be discouraged by the passage of time, or the circumstances around you. God will fulfill His promise to you in due time. . Just keep walking in obedience trusting Him all the way.

     

    PRAYER: Lord, please help me to follow patiently the path you have set before me so that I can arrive at my great destiny.

     

    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.

     

     [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]

     

    AUGUST 27 : GOD WILL MAKE A WAY…

     

    Romans 10:6   But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart:

    In 1895, the story was told of a ship that was lost at sea for many days. Then this ship  suddenly sighted a friendly vessel. From the mast of the unfortunate ship was a signal that said: “Water, water. We die of thirst.” The answer from the friendly vessel at once came back: “Cast down your bucket where you are.” A second time, the signal, “Water, send us water!” went up from the distressed vessel. And was answered: “Cast down your bucket where you are.” A third and fourth signal for water was answered: “Cast down your bucket where you are.” The captain of the distressed vessel, at last heeding the injunction, cast down his bucket and it came up full of fresh, sparkling water from the mouth of the Amazon River.

    The fresh drinkable water he was looking for had been with him all along.

     

    Romans 10:6   But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

    The Word is near us. The Word  of God contains all we need to excel in life. Yet many people are looking to the hills for help, while the Word is near.

    The starting point on the journey of success is access to the Word of life. It is the foundation. It is good to have great dreams and aspirations, and have great plans, but first, start casting your bucket where you are. Start searching the scriptures to know first what God says. And when you are certain what God’s will is for you, don’t sit around and do nothing about , get up and begin to run with the vision.

    Start taking small steps, while you await the giant stride. A journey of a 1000 miles starts with a step. Start doing the little you can where you are, and before you know it, the trickles will turn into a river.

    Are you still sitting around waiting for something big to first happen to you? Well, it may never happen if you never take the first small steps. Enough daydreaming and wishing, if wishes were horses even beggars would ride. Decide to do something with what God has imparted to your heart. You must have what to present to God for Him to multiply.

    When the widow of the prophet complained to the prophet Elisha about her financial difficulties, the question he asked her was ‘what do you have?’ She said nothing but a pot of oil. He asked her to bring it and when he prayed over it, the oil began to multiply. The same with the widow of Zarephath, she told Elijah she just has a little oil and flour. Again God multiplied what she presented until it was sufficient.

    So the question to you today is what do you have, what can you offer, what talent or abilities do you have? It doesn’t matter how insufficient it maybe, when you turn it over to God and begin to do what you can, God will multiply it to meet your needs.

    Many times we have great dreams God has put in our hearts, but when we look at how accomplish it, it appears impossible. The common complaint often is insufficient fund, or inadequate qualification or lack of human connections etc. But then we forget that the Bible has already said with God nothing shall be impossible.

    So start casting your bucket where you are, believing God for the best and you will surely get to the top by His grace in Jesus name. Amen

    PRAYER: Lord, please help me to learn to align with your word, to allow your Word to control my life so that  I can begin to walk into the good things you have prepared for me.Grant me the wisdom to know what to per time..

    quote

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

     [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]

     

     

     

     

    AUGUST 26 : DISAPPOINTMENT TO BLESSING

     

    Romans 8: 28  –

    “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”      

     

     

    Oswald Jeffrey Smith was a great man of God, who made a profound  impact on Christendom in the last century.  He was a  pastor, author, and missions advocate. He founded The People’s Church in Toronto in 1928. Over the course of eighty years he preached more than 12,000 sermons in 80 countries, wrote thirty-five books (with translations into 128 languages), as well as 1,200 poems, of which 100 have been set to music, including “Deeper and Deeper”

    However this great man of God would have been unheard of had he adhered to human selection. In 1920, as a young man, Oswald Smith, stood before the examining board for selecting missionaries. One dream dominated his heart. He wanted to be a missionary. Over and over again, he prayed, “Lord, I want to go as a missionary for you. Open a door of service for me.” Standing before the board he felt his prayers would be answered. But when the examination was over, the board had turned Oswald Smith down. He did not meet their qualifications. He failed the test. They felt he was not healthy enough.  Imagine how disappointment this young man was. His life dream had just been shattered before his eyes.

     

    He could have been offended at members of the board, but rather he chose to seek God’s face.

    As Oswald Smith prayed, God planted another idea in his heart. If he could not go as a missionary, he would build a church which could send out missionaries. That is what he did. Oswald Smith pastored The People’s Church in Toronto, Canada, which sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time. God transformed his detour into a main thoroughfare of service.

    Talk about turning a disappointment into a blessing. Though Oswald was faced with disappointment, he decided not to sit and bemoan his fate. He sought God for a way out, and  by  following divine counsel, was able to fulfill his destiny.

    Anyone who is getting ahead in life is always going to have to overcome setbacks.  As long as you are getting up and trying to do something with your life you will have to confront disappointing situations. . But the difference between the winners and losers is the way they view such setbacks.

    While losers see setback as the end of the road, winners only see it as a bend in the road.

    Jesus said in the Bible that ‘offences must come.’ That is to say we are bound to face offending situations in life. Situations where you are treated unjustly or unfairly, but the question is what do you do in such situations. Someone said life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you take it or react to it.

    You don’t let people’s actions determine the outcome of your life. You don’t let how someone treated you become the full stop in your life story. No matter what they did to you, you can put it behind you, still forge ahead and become all that God said you are to be in life.

    Sometimes things happen that may you think your world has turned upside down. But if you look deep enough you will see a seed of blessing that can help you turn that situation around. Don’t just look at things on the face value. Always find out what is the will of God for you. The bible says that with every temptation God makes a way of escape. Hidden in that seeming disappointment is a seed of equivalent benefit. Find it. When you apply it, you will find that what the enemy meant for evil in your life, God will turn around for your greater good in Jesus Name.

     

     

    PRAYER: Lord, by the power from your Word let what may have looked like disappointment in my life, be reversed into a blessing , let the good seed You have embedded for me within this situation come into manifestation in Jesus Name.  

     

    quote

    Faith is more than just believing, it is acting upon The Word that you believe.

     [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

    AUGUST 25 : A SET BACK IS A SET UP

     

    Hebrews 12: 2

    Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

    When Mel Gibson tried to sell the idea of his film Passion of the Christ, he could not get backing from the Hollywood studios: it was a film that nobody wanted to touch, some even thought he was crazy, for attempting such a project. So he began production on the film without securing outside funding or distribution. Gibson and his Icon Productions company  provided the film’s sole financial backing. And even when he had produced the film, it became difficult for Gibson to find an American distribution company. Again he decided to distribute the movie in the United States himself, with Newmarket Films.

    The Passion of the Christ was also heavily promoted by many church groups,, many of whom felt the film presented a unique opportunity to share the Gospel.

    When it was released, despite initial resistance from some governments, the film enjoyed relative success in even countries with large Muslim populations, such as in Egypt, where it ranked 20th overall in its box office numbers for 2004. The Passion raked in over $600 million in worldwide box-office receipts, making it 25th on the list of highest-grossing films of all time,

    The film also became the highest grossing non-English-language film of all time. And its impact extended far beyond the bottom line.. as it made an unquantifiable impact on people around the world . For instance in Dallas, a local businessman Arch Bonnema was so moved by his preview of The Passion that he purchased 6,000 tickets – $42,000 worth – to give away on the film’s opening day. The Passion was indeed a true cultural phenomenon, especially among the evangelical Christian subculture.

    The phenomenal success of the film made many Hollywood producers to regret their initial rejection of the film.

    If Mel Gibson had listened to these naysayers he would never had made the film. Thank God he decided to ignore them and forge ahead.

    This is why you should never allow negative people or disappointments to knock you down. If one door closes another is bound to open up. Just keep trusting God and keep moving forward. The bible says they shall come against you one way and flee seven ways. The enemy trying to block your one door, as he flees he will leave behind seven open doors. That is for one closed door, expect seven open doors. It is a biblical principle that when the thief is caught he pays sevenfold. So don’t cry over one shut door, because your blessings are just about to open up. Seven doors are about to pop open before you.

    What men call a setback may only be God setting you up. It doesn’t matter how bad it may look right now, you are being set up for a comeback. Maybe as they did to Joseph, they have cast you away and trodden upon you and maltreated you. Perhaps they have looked at you and concluded that there is no value to you. Don’t worry, it is only a setup. Your day is coming. The same people who mocked you just as they did to Mel Gibson will soon begin to regret their actions. They will wish they had treated you well when they had the opportunity to do so. Often it seems God allows men to mock you first before He makes you.

    You may be in your night season, everything may look dark and hopeless, but then as long as you continue to trust in God and never give up, your day is coming. It may even seem as if you can’t see your way forward, as if you don’t know which way to go or what to do, never mind your joy is on the way. Weeping may endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning. Keep your gaze on Jesus, keep looking unto Him.  He is working it all out for your good. And no matter what it may look like right now, never forget, Jehovah alone has the final say in your life.

     

    PRAYER:  Lord, help me to keep my life focused on you.May I never regard setbacks or allow them to weigh me down., because You  are indeed working out all things for my good in Jesus Name.

    quote

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

     [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]

     

    AUGUST 24 : GOD’S WORD IS POWERFUL

     

    Psalm 18:44-45

    As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me:  the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.’

    When a lion roars it can be heard up to 5 miles away. Any animal that hears  the roar  freezes with fear. This intimidating roar has the power to paralyze the animal that hears it . The roar is meant to establish the lion’s  presence and ownership of territory, and also act as a warning to its enemies. Even without seeing the lion, the sound alone has identified it and communicated its presence.

    This is similar to what happens in the realm of the spirit. Spiritually everyone is identified by the sound they make. When you make a sound spiritually it identifies where you belong, and it also communicates whether you are to be feared or not. When you are a child of God carrying the power of God, as soon as the enemy and his cohorts hear you, they flee away.

    Psalm 18:44-45 says  ‘As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me:  the strangers shall submit themselves unto me. The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places.’

    Many times why it seems problem still stares us in the face is because we are not making powerful enough sounds to identify who we are.  Jesus spoke with authority, and power, and the demons identified Him as the Son of God and they bowed to Him. The Bible said His word was with power. He dominated by the powerful words He spoke.

    You dominate by sound you make, that is why a closed mouth is a closed destiny. You must constantly release the Word of God over your environment, over your family, over your business.

    As you speak it identifies who you are; a child of God. This is what sends every demon in the territory on a run.

    Don’t keep watching situations. Begin to roar in your environment.

    Let the evil beasts know that there is a lion in the neighborhood .  Let them know that you are in charge and  not to be messed with. Until the strangers hear you they may not fade away. But as you begin to release the Word of God with authority in your home, and every area around you, they will fade away from where they have been hiding.

    Until you speak nothing happens. God said open your mouth and I will fill it. When you open your mouth to declare the counsel of God in your  situation God will begin to confirm what you are declaring. He confirms the Words of His servants and performs the counsel of His messengers. Enough is enough.

    Begin to take authority over that negative situation. Begin to roar like the child of the Lion you are. Jesus has given you the power to thread upon serpents and scorpions and over every power of the enemy. The  reason why that negative situation seems to have been prevailing  is because you have been keeping quiet  for too long.. But now begin to roar. It is through the voice of the Lord that the Assyrian shall be beaten down. As you roar everything  tormenting your life and destiny must give way in Jesus name.

    To deal with the mysteries of life pray in the Holy Ghost. When you speak thus, it is not you that speak but the Spirit of God speaking through you. This is one way to deal with issues that seem to have defied solution. Let the Holy Ghost take over your voice and begin to address those issues with Heaven’s language.

    It is only the violent that takes it by force. You must decide to be spiritually violent in dealing with issues that afflict you. The devil is not a gentleman, so don’t treat him like one. Roar against him in the name of Jesus and he will have no choice than to flee. Let the lion nature in you come alive.

    And you keep the lion in you alive by eating the fresh meat of The Word. Lions eat only fresh meat. So also keep spiritually alive by eating the fresh meat of The Word daily. This is how we keep spiritually alive and alert. This is how we are able to dominate.  It is the power in The Word that roars through you when you address oppositions. Jesus said it is not you that speaks, but the Spirit of God that speaks through you.

    So begin to speak to your mountains. Begin to address those longstanding situations.

    Understand that the greater one is in you, and when you speak, you give Him opportunity to release His power for your deliverance. Today as you begin to speak with Power and authority  all your enemies must bow  in Jesus Name.

     

    RAYER: Lord, please help me to Speak with power and authority, let the power in Your Word be greatly manifest in my life, help me to dominate my environment by the power of Your spoken Word in Jesus Name. . .

    quote

    Until you cry out in the place of prayer certain things won’t happen WORDBITE 222.

     [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]