HORM Devotional

MARCH 5; JOY UNSPEAKABLE,

Isaiah 43:2 “when thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”

• DAILY READING – Mark 6:1-29; 2 Samuel 15; Daniel 9

Some species of Australian plants will only germinate and thrive after passing through a bush fire. These species of Australian plants need to be exposed to the heat of fire for the germination process to begin. A short burst of heat from a bush fire is thought to crack the hard seed coat of these seeds. This is often why, shortly after a bush fire in Australia, blackened bushlands amazingly transform into a riot of green vegetation, with new shoots popping up everywhere.
For example a plant called Banksias, can keep their seed for years in a woody fruit called a follicle. But during a fire, the parent plant may be killed but the fruit will open up causing the seeds to fall to the ground. And because the bushfire has destroyed many other plants, the new seeds can now thrive on the ground without competitors; fertilized with ashes from the fire. So, the bushfires that destroys other plants, become vital for the renewal and survival of these native plant species.
Rather than stunt their growth, the smoke from fire is just what these plants need to move from seed to become seedling. And when there is no bushfire, many Australian gardeners soak these native seeds in a solution of ‘smoke water’ to get them to grow.
What is interesting about these specie of Australian plants is that what kills others is what gives life to them. Where others fail, these plants not only survive, they also thrive. And as they grow, there is no sign of the fire they had been through. In the place of ashes, they are covered with beauty and color.

In the book of Daniel, when King Nebuchadnezzar threw the three Hebrew boys into the fiery furnace, the fire should have instantly killed them. But rather they not only survived, they ended up thriving, so much so that there was no sign of fire or smoke on them. .
Daniel 3:27 says, ” And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.!”
There are times we may pass through trials of afflictions, situations that may seem impossible and insurmountable. But we have to understand that God is able to use what was meant to stop us to propel us forward. He can turn around stumbling blocks to become stepping stones to greater glory.
This is why we count it all joy. James 1:2-4 says ‘Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.’
Maintaining our joy is important if we are going to fight and win the good fight of faith. We can’t control what happens on the outside, but we can control what happens on the inside. “Happiness” comes from the word “happenstance” from which we get the word “circumstance”. It depends on happenings. Happiness is external but Joy is internal. Joy is constant and is not determined by what is going on in your life.
Therefore remain joyful despite what may go on around you. Thank God for every opportunity for His glory to be seen at work in you. Let what could deflate you instead become what will inflate you. What the enemy sent to steal your joy, let it be the reason for your praise.
In Isaiah 43:2 God promised that “when thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
Whatever fiery circumstance you may find yourself in, always remember that God is able to turn it all around for your good. And when God restores, He restores completely so that there will be no sign of the troubles you’ve been through. People may look at you afterwards and never believe that you are the same person that came out of the fiery trial, because there will be no trace of the fire around you.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to be filled constantly with Your joy unspeakable. It is indeed my year to see beauty for ashes and I thank You Lord for granting me the strength to keep moving from glory to glory in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE

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

1 John 1:7 ‘ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin’

DAILY READING – Mark 5:21-43; 2 Samuel 14; Daniel 8

‘A Wandering Jew In Brazil:’ is the the Autobiography of Solomon L. Ginsburg who was born into the home of a Jewish Rabbi and trained to be a Jewish teacher. However, as a young man he was confronted with the glorious Gospel of Christ and converted to Christianity. He later became a Baptist missionary to Brazil who became known as the ‘Firebrand of Brazil’. He served in Brazil for thirty-five years, and co-founded the first Baptist church in the Amazon Valley.

In his autobiography, he told of how one day he had preached a sermon on “The blood of Jesus Christ.” When the service was over, a man named Herculano, who was unknown to Ginsburg, approached him. Herculano was the hired assassin of an influential politician; because of his crimes he had spent seventeen years in prison and had only been recently released. Herculano then invited  the preacher for a visit to his house and Ginsburg readily assented. However, the next morning  when those around him knew where he was going, the missionary was informed that it would be an act of extreme recklessness to visit Herculano who was notorious for killings.

On hearing this the missionary knelt in prayer of renewed consecration to  Jesus, then set out on his journey. Arriving at Herculano’s home , the missionary sat down, looked into the bloodshot eyes of Herculano and said: “Although warned that it would probably mean death to come to this place, I have fulfilled my promise. I am here because I am more concerned about your soul than about my own life.” Then in simple language he told of the gospel of salvation, of God’s love, of Christ’s death and of Calvary’s cleansing fountain.

But even as the preacher spoke Herculano’s face blanched and his enormous frame trembled violently as his evil nature seemed to surface. It seemed he was in a fierce conflict, struggling with a savage impulse to seize the missionary and strangle him. The missionary who realized what was going on then slipped to his knees and began to pray. With eyes overflowing with tears, he began pleading with God on behalf of the soul of Herculano.

Soon he heard a body fall prostrate to the floor and a choked voice, expressing an agony of sorrow and despair, cried out for mercy and forgiveness: God had arrested Herculano and thus by the power in the Blood of Jesus this assassin was delivered and transformed from a vicious savage to a gentle saint who later spent his days serving God.

Indeed there is power in the blood of Jesus to deliver and to transform. The blood not only protected the missionary but also arrested and transformed the assassin.

According to Revelations 12:11, we overcome the enemy by the Blood of the Lamb.

In spiritual warfare, the blood of Jesus is the spiritual nuclear force that destroys all resistances and oppositions. The Blood Covenant is God’s answer against all satanic assaults. When we start pleading the blood we introduce the life and power of God into our midst. And whenever God arrives all His enemies must be scattered. Indeed when we engage the power in the blood, no devil can stand! Whenever we are confronted, we can plead the Blood of Jesus to overcome whatever is trying to resist our progress. And we can also draw the Blood line to define the boundaries that the enemy cannot cross.

Indeed there are many benefits available to us through the application of the blood of Jesus. By the blood, we can secure our destiny in righteousness and holiness. Sin is a sinker and destroyer of purpose, but through the blood, we can overcome the power of sin. As we plead the blood over temptations, the root of sin is destroyed and we are empowered to live a Christ-like existence.

Not only that, the blood of Jesus uproots every sickness and weakness from our body and sets a seal of longevity on our lives. The blood also restores color and dignity to our destiny.  The aftermath of the blood of sprinkling in Egypt brought about supernatural restoration for the Israelites. There was supernatural transfer of wealth as they spoiled the Egyptians.

Indeed there is so much available to us through the blood of Jesus. And as we begin to apply the blood over our lives today, the benefits in the blood will be made manifest all around us in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the many benefits available to me through the Blood of Jesus. Indeed by the power in the blood I have    victory in every area of my life in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE

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

2 Corinthians 9:6 ‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.’

DAILY READING – – • Mark 5:1-20; 2 Samuel 13; Daniel 7

Today, Chantel Ray is the name behind a multimillion-dollar real estate company. However, years ago, Chantel was a youth pastor struggling with an entry level job and a meager salary. She was making $9 an hour, 20 hours a week and was barely able to buy groceries or pay rent. After some years Chantel maxed out her credit card and was $10,000 dollars in debt and could no longer buy even grocery.
During this time, Chantel heard a message on tithing. She knew God was leading her to begin tithing but she felt she would start when she began making more money. But after months of things only getting worse, she eventually took the leap of faith and like the widow who gave her two mites, Chantel gave the only remaining $30 in her account and had nothing left.
To her surprise one week later, she received a $300 refund check in the mail from her utility company. She continued to tithe faithfully and received another financial breakthrough. Her aunt paid off her $10,000 credit card debt!
Soon after, she was listening to a podcast about giving away 90% and felt God was telling her to do the same and so she gradually started towards that.
And two years after that, she obeyed God’s leading to launch out into a career in real estate. When she began, she saw another dramatic increase in her income. Chantel sold more houses her first year in real estate than any other person who also started that year. As she was faithful to keep her part, she found God was faithful as well to keep His part.
And today Chantel Ray owns and runs a multimillion-dollar real estate company, with over 130 employees in multiple branches, Her company grows by at least 40% or more every year.
Chantel Ray says her life is a perfect example of God being true to His promises to give back when we give to Him.
Genesis 8:22 says “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease”
Whenever God requires a sacrifice from us in our financial giving we should be prompt to obey. Oftentimes such calls are gateways to our financial freedom.
God uses the area of financial giving to test our heart and our love for Him. If we understand Jesus’ words that our “treasure” is an indication of our “heart,” then we will understand that you can’t love without giving. That is what we learn by the Bible’s account of what took place in Mark 12:41-44.
When Jesus observed those giving in the temple, He took note that while others gave out of their abundance, the widow gave all she had with nothing left over. People may ask how much did a man give, but Christ asks how much did the man keep?
Giving is a deep part of our personal connection to God and God is always interested to know how much we are willing to lay down for the sake of His kingdom. No matter what little we think we have, we can still express our love to God through how much of that little we are willing to give, it is not about the volume it is about the value.
However it takes grace to be able to give sacrificially. Concerning the Macedonian Church, 2 Corinthians 8;2, says: “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;’
So the giving of the Macedonian Church was beyond their power, it was the supernatural grace of God that enabled them to give despite their deep poverty and great trial of affliction. Oftentimes, it seems as if there are so many needs around us that we can’t afford to give sacrificially. But if we continue to observe the clouds we may never sow, and if never sow then we will never reap. Also he that sows sparingly will reap sparingly and he that sows bountifully will reap bountifully.
Let us therefore receive grace today to give to God cheerfully and willingly out of what we have and God in turn will give back to us good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I know that it is Your will for me to prosper, I therefore thank You for the supernatural grace to continually sow seeds that will produce rich harvests in my life in Jesus Name ..

Quote

Until your worship gets to your money, it hasn’t really gotten to you. – WORDBITE 222.

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 – Mark 4:21-41; 2 Samuel 11-12; Daniel 6

The coat of arms of Australia, officially called the Commonwealth Coat of Arms, is the formal symbol of Australia. Pictured on it is a shield being held up by two animals native to Australia. These two animals are –the emu, a flightless bird, and the kangaroo. These animals were chosen because they share a characteristic that appealed to the Australian citizens. Both the emu and kangaroo can move only forward, not backward. The red kangaroo is the largest terrestrial mammal endemic to Australia and one of the most popular and well-known native Australian animals, but the kangaroo is prevented from moving in reverse by its large tail. While the emu is the second tallest bird in the world and the largest native bird in Australia, but its three-toed foot causes it to fall if it tries to go backwards, and so it can only go forward. These animals were thus chosen to symbolise Australia as a nation that is only moving forward, and never backward.

This can also describe the life of a believer. We are meant only to keep moving forward, and never backward.
Ephesians 6 lists the whole armour of God, that we should put on. You will note in this list of armour that there is no back plate and nothing to cover the back half of a Christian. The reason is because we are never meant to turn back and flee from the enemy. Rather our role is to keep going forward with the banner of Christ, advancing God’s kingdom, taking new territories and defeating the powers of darkness.
No armor in the back tells us we are not to retreat! We cannot flee from the devil rather the Bible tells us the devil must flee from us [James 4:7]
Furthermore Hebrews 10:38 – 39 says “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Therefore no matter how tough the battle we must keep pressing forward. Turning back can be a great temptation, especially when faced with great difficulty.
But Jesus said, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).
Obstacles or resistance to our progress should never discourage us. Regardless of what comes your way, do not let any situation or circumstances limit or stop you.
Whenever you are faced with a challenge, 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 phases and seasons. Even if everything seems to be rising up against you, keep going forward. Always remember, that when God sends you, He goes with you. Therefore you are never alone.
In Isaiah 43:2 God says ‘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:’
Indeed God is our way maker. He will go ahead of us to destroy the barriers to our progress. Especially in this month of March, we shall be marching forward into victory and dominion. It is indeed a new day, it is our season to see the rain of glory, and speedy manifestation of every good thing God has ordained for us in Jesus name.

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
When you obey God’s instruction, you are delivered from destruction.
WORDBITE 222.

Revelation 5:12  ‘Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.’

DAILY READING:          Mark 4:1-20, 2 Samuel 9-10, Daniel 5.

Before 150 B.C, the month of March was considered the first month of the year according to the oldest Roman calendar. At that time , one year was ten months long, beginning in March and ending in December. Traces of this old system can still be seen in our modern calendar: because December was the tenth month, it was named for the number ten in Latin (decem), just like September was named for seven (septem).

In ancient Rome, March was the month for new things. With the winter frosts melting and the ground becoming fertile for harvest, March was historically the perfect month for farmers to resume farming.
It was also the month in which Roman soldiers began to March forward to take new territories and make new conquests.
Indeed for the Romans, March was largely considered the month of new beginnings.

Spiritually also, March being the third month could be considered the month of new beginning, because the number three signifies resurrection.

Jesus shed His blood to receive for us power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory, and blessings.( Revelation 5:12) 

Indeed Jesus has paid the price for us to live an overcoming life. In this new month therefore we shall be marching forward by the power in The Blood of Jesus, to our high places…

Indeed in this month the resurrection power in the Blood will address every dead area in our lives. In our businesses, finances, career, health, family; anything stagnant or dormant must jerk back to life.

This month we must be fully revived to see the manifestaion of God’s glory. It is our season to march forward and experience divine progress.. Indeed it is our new day and new era of ease and speed .

Therefore every hindrance on our path, every resistance and delay is defeated today by The Blood.
It is our month of progress and victory.
Surely, in this new month we shall march forward into favor, dominion, and power in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that By the blood of Jesus I have been redeemed from every form of stagnancy to enjoy the blessings of divine speed and progress, Indeed by Your grace I am marching into dominion and unending victory 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
WORDBITE 222

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
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DAILY READING – Mark 3:20-35; :2 Samuel 7-8, Daniel 4

David Brainard was great missionary to the American Indians. He did great exploits and brought many Indians to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. But while on the mission field, he fell very sick and the doctors told him he was dying of tuberculosis. He was warned that the only chance for him to live more than a few weeks was complete rest.

He reckoned if indeed he had a few days to live, like the doctors had said, then he would spend those few days burning out for Jesus. He decided he would use his remaining strength to preach to as many people as he could. And so off he went to preach the Gospel with renewed strength and vigor. Days went by and he did not die as the doctors said he would. He was able to have many years of fruitful ministry among the people God had laid upon his heart, and he won thousands of them to Christ.

Ephesians 5: 16-17 says  ‘Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.’

When we realize that we don’t have forever on earth it helps us to focus on what really matters most and not waste time on frivolities. We must use our time judiciously, constantly focusing on the work God has called us to do.  As believers top on our priority is spreading the Gospel. The salvation of the souls of men is of utmost importance.. And the labour we put in towards that will matter most in eternity.
We must  realize that we are truly living in the last days. And it has become crucial that we do the most we can with the little time left. A day is coming when we will all stand before the Judgment throne of God and give account of how we spent our time on earth.

We must therefore spend time with eternity in mind. Someone said live everyday as if it is your last because one day you will be right. And that is so true! Living everyday as our last places an urgency in our use of time.

Let’s spend time effectively on what matters most in this end times, which is soul winning.  Eternity is counting. Time is fast running out on earth. You may delay, but time won’t. The clock is always ticking, the hours are always silently going by, many times unnoticed, So let us do all we can to reach as many souls as possible, with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Another area of top priority in our investment of time is our relationship with God, which is the very bedrock of our existence. Time spent with God helps us to focus rightly and follow His divine leadings. As we listen and obey His promptings we are able to carry out His plan and purpose on earth.
Eternity is fast approaching, therefore let us make good use of our time on earth now, so that in the end, we can be able to stand to give a good account to God. 

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to spend my time well on what really matters. Please help me to be focused to run well the race set before me, in Jesus Name.

quote :

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

2 Chronicles 20:22 “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

DAILY READING – Mark 3:1-19; 2 Samuel 6; Daniel 3

Bethel Music on January 25 2019 released its latest VICTORY album. The flagship song on the album “Raise A Hallelujah,” has become very popular. However this song was written from a spontaneous prayer in the darkest hour of the life of the CEO of Bethel music Joel Taylor.

In 2018 Joel Taylor, faced a battle over the life of his two year old son. He and his wife had taken their little boy Jaxon to the hospital with what they thought was a normal child’s illness. The Taylors soon discovered that Jaxon’s kidneys were shutting down due to an E-coli virus attacking his organs. Jaxon then began to undergo blood transfusions and go on dialysis, while suffering from seizures, respiratory issues and stooling blood. A time came when it seemed all hope was lost. That night Joel sent a message to his good friends, worship leaders Jonathan and Melissa Helser who had been in constant contact with him through the crisis. Receiving the news that Jaxon would most likely die that night, the Helsers immediately went into intercession. As they prayed over Jaxon, all of a sudden, Jonathan sensed a new song come out of his spirit. He wrote down the song with lyrics like– ‘I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies. I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief.’”

He sent this song to Joel and his wife, who began to sing and declare the lyrics over Jaxon. Miraculously the child survived that night. And soon this song ‘Raise a Halleluyah’ became an anthem for the Taylors throughout the rest of the battle over Jaxon’s life. After several weeks in the hospital, numerous treatments and countless prayers, Jaxon was totally healed and remains healthy and sound.

And today the song that came at their darkest hour has continued to bless many people around the world.

2 Chronicles 20:22 says “And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.”

In 2 Chronicles 20, as king Jehoshaphat and his people began to sing and praise God in the face of their challenge, He made their enemies to fight against each other until they were all destroyed.

Praise is what triggers the intervention of the Omnipotent God. Just like king Jehoshaphat, when you also begin to sing and praise God in the face of your challenges, He sets ambushment against the enemies of sickness, poverty, and every negative thing.

Often times people wait to see the miracle before they give God praise. But that’s not how faith works. You’ve got to give God praise first, and then the breakthrough will come. Praise always precedes the victory. If we remain discouraged and focus on our problems, it will limit what God can do.

It can be easy to give God praise on the mountaintop but we have to learn to give Him praise even in the valley. The children of Israel did not wait for the wall of Jericho to fall before shouting. It was their shout that brought down those intimidating walls. The shout is what activates God’s power.

There are some walls that will not come down without the high praises of God coming out of your mouth.

Isaiah 54;1 says, “Sing, oh barren woman, you who never bore a child. Break forth into song and shout for joy”.

This verse essentially means that if you are facing barrenness in any area of your life, then you need to turn up your praise. Because praise will destroy that yoke of barrenness and make you fruitful. Therefore whatever challenging situation you may face today, praise is able to pull you out of it. Instead of focusing on the problem, focus on the goodness of God. You may have lost a battle, but thank God you didn’t lose the war. whatever you may have lost, God is the reason why you did not lose everything. And as long as you remain praiseful it is only a matter of time before God gives you total recovery and complete victory.

Indeed Praise is God’s hotline anytime! You can pray amiss, but you can never praise amiss! Let us therefore hand over to God every battle facing us today by offering quality praise in every situation. .

PRAYER; Lord, Please help me to hand over my battles to You through maintaining a praise-full lifestyle. Thank You Lord for causing me to triumph always in Jesus Name. .

Quote

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

Acts 16:26 ‘Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.’

DAILY READING – •      Mark 2; 2 Samuel 4-5; Daniel 2:24-49

Barnabas Fund is an international Christian charity supporting persecuted Christians suffering because of their faith. They recently gave a report of how a story of tragedy turned into a supernatural rescue for 72 Nigerian Christians.

After capturing these Christians during an attack on their village, Islamic extremists gave them the option of renouncing their faith or face death. The mothers were told to renounce their faith or their children would be executed by the following day. That was when something remarkable happened. The children in the group said the Lord Jesus appeared to them that night and told them “All would be well”. They were told not to fear, that He would protect them, and that they should not renounce Him but stay strong knowing that “He is the way, the truth, and the life.”

The next morning, the terrorists lined the children against a wall and told the mothers they could save their kids if they would only renounce Jesus Christ. The mothers refused. As the extremists prepared to fire, something strange happened. Suddenly they dropped their rifles and started to grab at their heads, screaming and shouting “Snakes! Snakes!” Some of them ran off, while others dropped dead where they stood.

As one of the Christian men attempted to pick up the rifle in order to fire at the fleeing terrorists, he stopped when a four-year-old child told him about angels who were protecting them. “You don’t need to do that. Can you not see the men in white fighting for us?”

The lives of all 72 Christians were spared and they have relocated to a safer region of Nigeria.

Indeed we serve the God of sudden interventions. Those times it appears to be over, and there seems to be no way out, that is when God suddenly arises for the deliverance of His people. God is never late. When it seems we can’t see Him working, He is actually setting the stage for a divine intervention. And then, at the perfect moment, He suddenly acts in ways we never expected and that changes the picture dramatically and completely. Even where it seems everything has tightened up, and all doors closed, God’s power can cause an earthquake and break the prison doors.

In Acts chapter 16, God moved suddenly for the rescue of Paul and Silas. They were locked up, beaten up, not knowing what next would befall them.  Acts 16:26 says ‘Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.’

When it seemed all hope was lost divine help suddenly arose for Paul and Silas. Indeed God is able to make a way where there seems to be no way. Sometimes we may not know how strong our God is until we are faced with strong battles.  In Judges 15:14-17, the anointing became strongest on Samson when the Philistines shouted the loudest on him. God arises to scatter His enemies, when they have gathered. [Ps.66:1]

There is nothing too hard for God. There is no situation He cannot handle for us. No matter what challenges you may be faced with today, always remember that you serve the God who does mind blowing things. And surely by His grace, every test shall be turned to a testimony for you, and the story for you  all through this year shall only be from glory to glory.

To be constantly connected to divine help let us therefore keep the fire burning on our altar of prayer and praise. Indeed God can do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or imagine.

If He could stop the sun for Joshua and part the red sea for Moses, certainly He can turn any situation around for you today.

PRAYER: Lord, I continually need Your help to win the battles that comes my way. Indeed through You I can do all things. Thank You Lord for being my ever present help at every time of need in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

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

Revelation 12:11 ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.’

DAILY READING Mark 1:21-45; 2 Samuel 3:2-39; Daniel 2:1-23

Pastor Joseph Prince, is the senior pastor of New Creation Church based in Singapore. He often teaches about the power in the Blood of Jesus. In one of his teachings he recounted an incident that helped him to understand the tremendous power in the Blood of Jesus.
This happened when Pastor Prince was 18 years old and serving as a relief teacher in a primary school. One day he noticed that one of his students, a 10-year-old girl was absent from class and Pastor Prince felt impressed to pray for her and cover her with the blood of Jesus. Every time he thought about her, he would plead the blood of Jesus over her. This wasn’t a normal thing for him to do, but he felt led to do it. It was later found out that the girl was kidnapped by an occultic group that sacrificed children as part of their rituals. But this little girl in Pastor Joseph”s class was released because she was “rejected” by this occultic group. Something about her just made them not to touch her and she was released safely to go back home.

Revelation 12:11 says ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.’

Indeed the blood of Jesus is powerful!
Truly we are living in dangerous days, there seems to be more violence now than there had ever been in previous generations. Televisions and social media often blare news of evil, wars, terrorist attacks, record-breaking disasters etc. And these things continue to escalate. Though physically, it may seem like a scary time to live, yet spiritually it is the most powerful time to live in, because of the protection we have through the Blood of Jesus. Regardless of what may be happening in the world around us, God will keep us completely safe from harm as we engage the Power in the Blood of Jesus. In these last days, wickedness will increase but in the midst of all the evil, through the Blood, God will exempt His own.
Therefore learning how to properly Plead the Blood of Jesus for our deliverance and protection becomes crucial at this time. Indepth knowledge of the power in the blood will be needed by all Christians in order to help keep them out of harm’s way. Indeed when we know who we are in Christ, we become untouchable, unkillable, and unmollestable to the forces of darkness.
When you plead the blood of Jesus in the face of danger, sickness, or calamity, the power in the blood will quickly arise for your deliverance!
It’s true no one knows what could happen next in this world, but as believers we don’t need to be afraid because through Christ Jesus, we can abide in the secret place of the Most High, whose power no foe can withstand.
When we apply the blood of Jesus to any situation, by faith—we render the forces of darkness powerless. They will find that their hands can no longer perform their enterprise and they will be forced to release their victims, (as seen in the above illustration). The blood that Jesus shed for us at Calvary has enormous, great power, and we need to be declaring it constantly over our lives. Also as we preach the Gospel in this season, we need to constantly stand in the gap for others, pleading the Blood of Jesus for their deliverance and rescue.

PRAYER: Father I thank You for the Power and protection, You have made available for me through the Blood of Jesus. Indeed through the Blood of Jesus, my family and I are exempted from every evil of this end-times in Jesus Name.

Quote :

Your heart needs to be filled with The Word of God to the point of overflow. – WORDBITE 222.

1 Corinthians 3: 18 ‘But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’

DAILY READING Mark 1:1-20; 2 Samuel 2:1-3:1; Daniel 1

The book, ‘To Rule the Night: The Discovery Voyage of Astronaut Jim Irwin’ is written by an astronaut who had a close encounter with Jesus. The book is a thrilling account of one of the greatest adventures of all time; man’s journey to the moon. But more significantly, it is also the inspiring story of the author’s journey to faith in the God of the Universe.

James Irwin is the 8th man to ever walk on the moon. He was part of the Apollo 15 mission crew, which made the 4th human landing on the moon. He was also the first person to ever ride a lunar cart, or vehicle on the moon.

Journeying to the moon and seeing the smallness of the earth totally changed his perspective of life. To the astronaut, looking at the planet earth from the outer space, it looked like an insignificant small ball, covered by a big blue blur. That is why astronauts call it the ‘blue planet.’ While on the moon, and 238,000 miles above earth, James felt God’s Presence so strongly that it made him to rethink his relationship with God and led to a fresh commitment to serve God.

After his return from the moon, Irwin rode in a parade through the streets of New York as thousands of people lined the streets to welcome the newly returned astronauts. While looking at all those faces, at that moment God dropped it in his heart that he had a responsibility to mankind to share the Gospel with everyone. And that was exactly what James did. Within a year of his return from space, he resigned from his job at NASA and travelled around the world preaching the Gospel.

Indeed while we are on this earth, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters in life. Man is often running after what to eat, drink , wear and build. And yet, it is quite interesting, that looking from outer space one can’t even see the biggest structures on earth. The greatest mansions, best cars or greatest companies are invisible from outer space.

We have to put things in proper perspective. Instead of desiring ephemeral things, let us rather work for the advancement of God’s kingdom. At the end of our lives what will count most will be our input into God’s kingdom, not the cars, houses or acquisitions.

There is a call of God upon our lives to spread the Gospel throughout the earth. The great commission is an assignment before every child of God. It is when you begin to seek first God’s kingdom , that every other thing comes after you.

It is our degree of commitment to seeking God first that determines our ultimate height in the race of life. Destiny is essentially a race of responsibilities. And the utmost responsibility for us is to seek God and His kingdom above everything else. Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by the choices you make. And nothing is more valuable than following God’s will in the journey of life. If you stop seeking God, you start sinking fast, but when you seek God first, everything else falls into place.

And one way we seek God is by focusing on His Word. The more we look into God’s Word, the more our lives are transformed to manifest God’s glory on the earth.

1 Corinthians 3: 18, says: ‘But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.’

It is therefore time to take our eyes off the things that don’t matter in destiny and focus on what really matters, which is the expansion of God’s kingdom. Indeed when soul winning becomes our lifestyle, we keep going from glory to glory. Indeed as we make seeking God our priority, every good thing shall be added unto us.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to focus on seeking You always, which is what matters most in life. Please deliver me from the pursuit of mundane things. Thank You for the grace to make You my greatest priority in life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

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