HORM Devotional

Psalm 124:6-8  ‘Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.’

DAILY READING    Matthew 27:1-31; Deuteronomy 5-6; Job 6

In March 2019, CBN News reported a miraculous occurrence that took place in Paducah, Kentucky. On March 14th, a devastating tornado had hit the city, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Amid much destruction of buildings and properties was also a church building that was in the path of the tornado.

When the dangerous twister hit, the preschool of Mount Zion Baptist Church was in full session. In the building were 40 preschool kids and 10 church staff. As the tornado intensified, the school’s director saw no other way out, and so immediately brought the 40 children into a room in the building. However, in the midst of this dangerously raging tornado which was devastating the city, the children began praising God. They sang songs like “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hand.”

And miraculously, God preserved them. The room where they took shelter was the only room in the building unaffected by the tornado. The roof was ripped apart and every room in the building was left in rubbles except the room where the children were. It was amazing that with the amount of destruction the tornado caused, the children were all totally unhurt and were all safe.

Indeed God is fearful in praises. He knows how to make a way of escape for His children out of every tight situation.

Psalm 124:7-8 says, ‘Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.’

Indeed God will always make a way of escape for those who trust in Him. There is no mountain that God cannot level, no sea that He cannot dry up, and no “Jordan” that cannot be driven back for your sake when you engage His Presence, through praise. There is no situation, no matter how desperate, that God cannot handle. And any time you feel surrounded or overwhelmed, instead of panicking, switch to praise.

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat found himself in a tight corner, he was surrounded by mightier armies and it looked like there was no way of escape. In 2 Chronicles 20:12, he prayed to God, ‘We have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on You.’

Then in 2 Chronicles 20:17, God responded, ‘Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.’

And how did they set themselves? In praises! King Jehoshaphat took the rear and allowed God to go ahead, and God took their place in battle and won the victory for them.

Whatever battle or tight situation is facing you today, God is able to handle it. The storm may be raging, but know that God is in perfect control, He indeed has the whole world in His hand. He also has the hearts of kings in His hand and is able to move them for your sake.

Once you engage in praise, you have brought God’s Presence to bear on any situation confronting you. Your praise compels Him to take over your battles, to fight on your behalf, and give you the victory.

So what is that challenge you are faced with today? Cheer up and give God worthy praise. Indeed in your praise is your victory!

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for granting me the grace to praise You always and in every situation. And as I praise You today, I know You are taking over my battles and bringing me out of very tight corner to walk upon my high places in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE

When you praise God despite your situation, power is released for a raise.

1 Corinthians 2:9  ‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:

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

Electricity is an amazing thing. We tend to take it for granted that when we flip the switch, the lights will come on. We can’t see it, smell it, or taste it, but it is there!

In the study of electricity, one of its most outstanding characteristics  is that electricity always takes the path of least resistance. Often the power of the Spirit has been likened to electricity. And likewise too The Holy Spirit will flow where He is not being resisted. It is also interesting that in nature, we find the same character in two things often used to represent The Spirit; the river and the wind.  Rivers flow in the path of least resistance, and the wind will take the path of least resistance.  The Holy Spirit will always go where He is welcome and wherever He is resisted He tends to withdraw Himself. To be successful in our Christian walk  we must be sensitive not to resist, grieve, or quench The Spirit of the Lord.

In Acts 7:51, Stephen rebuked the Jews saying “You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you”.

And in Ephesians 4:30-31 Paul writing to the church at Ephesus, commanded them: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” In the next verse he indicated the things that grieve The Spirit of God. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice”.

Indeed if we are going to be led by The Spirit, then we have to get rid of such things from our lives. The Holy Spirit is a person,  and He can be saddened by our behavior. When we, God’s people, harbor bitterness in our hearts and malicious words in our mouths, then we are “grieving The Holy Spirit of God.”

Just as a fire can be quenched, the promptings of the Holy Spirit can be stifled.

God has a plan and a purpose He wants to accomplish through our lives. There are great plans God has in store for us, but they can only be accessed through the guidance of the Spirit.

1 Cor 2:9 says ‘But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit:

We need The Holy Spirit to guide us into the great and mighty things God has for us in the New year. As you submit wholly to Him He will begin to reveal Himself to you in a new dimension. He will begin to show you the secrets that make stars of men. And one of the ways to create a conducive atmosphere for The Holy Spirit to work in our lives is by maintaining a lifestyle of worship. The more our atmosphere is filled with praise and worship to God the more The Holy Spirit moves, to manifest His miracles, signs and wonders in our lives. As we prepare for the New year we need His ministry more than ever before. Let us therefore maintain His Presence by keeping our atmosphere filled with worship, praise and thanksgiving to God.  And when The Holy feels welcomed and not being resisted, then He will begin to manifest mightily and blaze like a mighty fire. And by His power our lives  shall be turned into a sign and wonder on earth.

PRAYER:  Lord, please help me to never resist Your Spirit. By Your grace help me to live a life wholly submitted to Your Word and filled with Your praise, so that The Holy Spirit will flow freely and mightily doing wonders through me for all to see in Jesus name.

QUOTE

It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201

Genesis 49:8: ‘Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.’

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

When the ancient kingdom of Israel was established around the 11th century BCE, most of its rulers, including David and Solomon, came from this tribe. In ancient Israel, the tribe of Judah was very important because it was the tribe of the monarchy, or rulership under one royal leader. And even Jesus Himself comes from this tribe. Judah was a dorminant tribe in Israel. The words ”Judaism” is often used to describe the Israelites’ religion and also the Lion of Judah is used as a Jewish symbol.

The Lion of Judah was originally the symbol of the tribe of Judah, but in 1950 it was included in the Emblem of Jerusalem, because Jerusalem was the ancient capital of Judah. The association between Judah and the lion is traced to the blessing given by Jacob to Judah in Genesis 49:9.

Genesis 49:8-9 says, ‘Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?’

Jesus Himself is known as The Lion of the tribe of Judah.  In Him resides the power, boldness and courage associated with this tribe. It is God’s will that we as believers also operate in the dimension of power and dominion Jesus operated in while on earth. And we gain access to this lion nature in Christ  through feeding on The Word. As we are one with Him, we begin to manifest the lion nature found in Him, and just as Christ is fearless, we also become fearless.  And as Jesus operated in the realm of unlimited possibilities, so we also live above human limitations. As He is the Lion of Judah, we also operate as spiritual lions, and kings of our domain. By His nature in us, we rule in our environment and exercise dominion over life’s challenges.

Judah means praise. For us to manifest the lion nature of Christ and rule in our environment, we must engage the power of praise.  Judah is the tribe of those who carry the Presence of God through high praises.  No wonder both King David and Jesus hail from this tribe of high praisers.

Praise guarantees God’s Presence. He inhabits the praises of His people. And as we praise God at this end of the year, thanking Him for all He has done for us, the lion nature in us will manifest to cause us to dominate our environment. God will surely perfect all that concerns us. He will arise on our behalf, and establish our dominion in every area in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, grant me the grace to feed on Your Word so as to grow in the knowledge of my true identity in Christ. Enable me also to constantly praise You, so that the lion nature in me can manifest to enable me dominate my world in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE

Faith is more than just believing, it is acting upon The Word that you believe. WORDBITE 222.

Romans 8:18: ‘For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

DAILY READING – Matthew 26:1-25; Numbers 35-36; Job 3
Laos is a country of Southeast Asia where Communism is dominant. In Laos, Christianity is a minority religion, and the Laotian government heavily monitors all Church activities because it sees Christianity as a Western ideology that challenges Communism. In 2018, violence against Christians increased, with the government often cooperating with community leaders like Buddhist monks to pressure Christians, especially new converts.
Converts to Christianity face the most severe forms of persecution. This is because abandoning Buddhism or tribal animist beliefs is seen as a betrayal by family members and the community. Consequently, believers are persecuted by their immediate and extended family (usually one Laotian household is composed of three generations under one roof). Also, they are persecuted by local authorities who often stir up the community and sometimes even drive them out of their villages. Today many Christians in Laos still languish in prison because they would not give in to the government’s condition for their release, which is to sign a document recanting their commitment to Christ. No matter what they suffer, they count it all joy, focusing rather on bringing glory to God through their situation.
1 Peter 1:6-7 says “Now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold, which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Life is in phases and seasons. Sometimes we can pass through seasons of trials where it seems we are in the fiery furnace, but whatever we go through, we should know that the end result of the trial should always culminate in praise to God.
We have to understand that in the midst of the trial, God is working out a higher purpose. Though the enemy may bring trials and temptations, God still causes it all to work out together for our good when we trust in Him.
The Bible says that Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross. He knew it was a very difficult task, but He also knew that beyond the cross, joy waited for Him. So he endured the cross because of this anticipated joy.
In the same way, we should be joyful even in the midst of trials. Storms are not meant to kill you but rather they make you stronger. The purifying process is meant to result in the revelation of God’s glory in us.
Romans 8:18 says, “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
God uses the trials to reveal His glory in us. Temptations and trials come to everyone. Isaiah 43:2 says, ”When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned.” The Bible didn’t say ‘if’ but ‘when.’ This means we will all surely pass through the fire at some points in life. Apostle Peter says we should not think these trials strange. Indeed, there is no temptation that comes our way that is not common to man.

No matter what we are going through, we should always give God praise. The battle is not yours but the Lord’s. We must learn to praise God through the storm. When we praise God, we hand over our battles to Him. Indeed, God is fearful in praises.
No matter what you may face, don’t ever let the devil steal your joy. Shake off the gloom he’s trying to cover you with. Praise God in the face of your problems. Sing in the midst of your stress. Shout Hallelujah, for your God is mighty. Forget not His benefits. God has indeed done great and mighty things for you. Instead of looking at what the enemy may be doing, rather use the time to count your blessings. You will be surprised to see what God has done already for you this year. Indeed, God has been faithful to us. He has been good to us. We are truly grateful for His great and marvelous doings in our lives. Let us, therefore, in everything keep praising Him, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us.
PRAYER: Lord, I know that You are good and You have indeed done all things well for me, please help me to always praise You, no matter what comes my way. Let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my lips in Jesus Name
QUOTE
Praise always guarantees you power for a raise. Learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222

Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn.”

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

Katherine Ruonala is a minister of the Gospel who hosts the Christian television show, “Glory City TV”.  She travels internationally as a conference speaker and is  the author of the book, ‘Speak life.’
Years ago, Katherine developed nodules on her vocal chords from preaching and leading worship. She lost all of her singing range and was told she needed surgery. However, The Lord told her to begin to speak life over the situation. And so Katherine began declaring that her voice was strong and clear.

Nothing happened for a while, but after three months everything went back to normal. She had her full range of singing again. She could speak strong and clear and did not need a surgery anymore because God completely healed her. Through the power of speaking the right words, she was able to get her miracle.

Indeed there is power of deliverance in our words. What becomes of us is largely determined by the words we speak. Matthew 12:37 says you are either condemned or justified by the words of your mouth. The words we speak are powerful. As believers, God has given us a mouth and wisdom that all our adversaries ‘shall not be able to gainsay nor resist’ (Luke 21:15).
Furthermore, Isaiah 54:17 tells us, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgement thou shalt condemn.”
Indeed, our tongues are powerful weapons for confronting everything contrary to God’s will for us. Essentially, spiritual warfare is a war of words. In the face of any opposition, you cannot afford to keep silent. This is because in spiritual battles, silence is taken for consent. If you are not condemning, then you are condoning. You must therefore let your voice be heard. When Goliath cursed David by his gods, David cursed him in return in the name of his own God. David did not allow Goliath to have the final say; that was why he could bring down Goliath’s head.
Likewise, we do not allow contrary situations to have the final say in our lives. Everything mocking your glorious destiny is a contrary tongue. All forms of sickness, poverty, evil occurrence, ill favour, etc, are all speaking negative words.
Mark 11:14 says, ‘And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever…’
Here, though the fig tree didn’t make any audible sound,  the Bible says that Jesus ‘answered’ it. This means that while outwardly the fig tree appeared silent, spiritually it was saying something negative, and in response Jesus cursed it.
There is need therefore for you to begin to ‘answer’ every fig tree speaking against you. Perhaps you have been too silent and that is why that negative situation has lingered. What you don’t want, you don’t watch. Christ has given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions. The power is in His Word. Feed on God’s Word in the area of your challenge until you sense faith come alive. Then arise and begin to declare what you believe. The spirit of faith demands that you say or declare whatever you believe.
Romans 10:10 says, ‘For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.’
What is in your heart has to come out of your mouth for you to see salvation and deliverance. And one way to secure a speedy manifestation of our desire is to engage our tongues in offering to God worthy praise. The breakthrough power of praise will quickly wither every ‘fig tree’ mocking your glorious destiny in Christ. As the year comes to an end, perhaps some of God’s prophetic agenda for you this year is yet to manifest. Well, do not just watch situations; put your tongue to work. Secure your victory by offering high praises to God. As you do, whatever blessing is still hanging shall be delivered to you speedily in Jesus’ name!
PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the grace to always speak right. And as I release Your power through high praise, I thank You for the speedy release of my harvest and the manifestations of Your prophetic agenda for me this year in Jesus’ name.
Quote
When you obey God’s instruction, you are delivered from destruction.

Revelation 12:11 ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.’

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

Smith Wigglesworth was a British evangelist who was important in the early history of Pentecostalism. Often referred to as ‘the Apostle of Faith,’ he was one of the pioneers of the Pentecostal revival that occurred a century ago. Thousands came to the Christian faith in his meetings; hundreds were healed of serious illnesses and diseases as supernatural signs followed his ministry.
Wigglesworth was a man of prayer and a diligent student of God’s Word. He not only demonstrated divine healing in his ministry but also exemplified the reality of divine health in his personal life. He lived a life of faith, often shunning the use of medicine and depending solely on God’s Word to keep him in sound health. He loved the Word of God and was very disciplined in his study of it. He never considered himself fully dressed unless he had his Bible with him. While others read novels or newspapers, the only book allowed in his home was the Bible. He would never leave a friend’s home without reading, as he would say, “a bit from the Book.”
The few health challenges he ever faced were effectively silenced by his great faith in God’s Word. Even on the day he died (on March 12, 1947) at a ripe old age, he was still full of sound health. On that day, he had commented to his friends how “wonderful” he felt. After his death, upon examining him, the doctors said there was no sign of disease, his system was sound, and he was just like a man who had come home from work and gone to rest.
Indeed, divine health is real. God showed us this possibility in the exodus. When the Israelites were in the desert headed toward the Promised Land, there were about 2 million people out there who wandered around for 40 years. It says in Psalm 105:37, “God brought them out and there was not one sick or feeble one among them.”
Out in the desert there were no pharmacies or hospitals. With such a large crowd, there could have been instances of headaches, migraine, dizziness, diarrhea, etc, but not one of them was sick. God was showing us that it is indeed possible to live in divine health. And today, in this dispensation, God has made available to us the possibility of living in divine health through the Blood of Jesus. Through partaking of the blood, we are infused with the power to overcome every affliction and break every chain.
Revelation 12:11 says, ‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.’
Through the blood of Jesus we have the power to overcome every force of sickness, poverty, delay, evil habits and everything else fighting our destiny. The mystery of the Blood Covenant is so essential in this wicked world and the days that we live in. It is expedient that we receive, believe and engage the demands of this mystery in order to command mastery over every force of the wicked. Therefore, whatever negative situation may be confronting you now, there is victory for you through the Blood of Jesus. By the power in the blood, every chain holding you captive is shattered in Jesus Name.
It is God’s will for you to live an abundant, victorious life. Healing and divine health is what God apportioned to you. And the same God that brought out the Israelites without one sick or feeble among them is able to bring you out of any negative condition. Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, and by His blood we are made free from every infirmity and delivered from every destruction.
According to Galatians 3:13-14, the Blood of Jesus is the Blood Covenant that redeemed us from the curse of the law to enjoy the blessings of grace. Indeed, the blood of Jesus is our defense against the forces of darkness.

It doesn’t matter the kind of attack the enemy may have arrayed against you, by the blood of Jesus you are guaranteed victory over them all. Therefore today, as you begin to engage the mystery of the blood, every chain of captivity will be broken off you, and your victory in every battle guaranteed in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I am truly grateful for Your Blood that has been made available to me. I thank You for giving me the strength to overcome every obstacle in my way. I know that even now, You are working all things together for my good in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE

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

Numbers 23:19 ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’

DAILY READING Matthew 24:32-51; Numbers 28-29; Song of Solomon 8:5-14

In 2016, English Gardner entered the Rio Olympics as the world’s second-fastest woman for the year. She had won the U.S. Olympic trials for 100 meters in 10.74 seconds, making her the fourth-fastest American in history. However, before arriving at this place of recognition as an accomplished athlete, she had passed through a lot of challenges.

When her mother, Monica, was pregnant with English, she believed God had an incredible destiny for the child. And so the parents, who were both ministers of the Gospel in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, gave her the uncommon name of ‘English’ because they believed she would stand out in her generation.

Nevertheless for English Gardner, arriving at that place of greatness has been a long battle. While in school, she was a great runner and began to win competitive races. It looked as if she was on her way to becoming a top athlete. But while she was a high school freshman, her family received startling news that her mother, Monica, had stage three breast cancer and was likely to die within months.

While Monica underwent treatment, English Gardner’s father, Anthony, who also was her coach, suffered a stroke. However, to the glory of God, both parents survived. Few months later English Gardner herself tore the muscle around her knee joint in a football game. At this point it looked as though she might never run again. Doctors had little hope for her full recovery. This made most of the universities which had offered her scholarship with the hope that she would run for them withdraw their offer. Only one University still kept its scholarship offer open.

She had to undergo surgeries for her injuries and spent a lot of time in recovery. At a point, she fell into depression and lost a lot of weight. Despite these difficulties, she didn’t give up hope. She and her mother spent every day on their knees praying. English did recover fully and continued with her athletic career, and in 2016 English Gardner won the U.S. Olympic trials for 100 meters in 10.74 seconds, making her the fourth-fastest American in history. Today she is one of America’s most celebrated female athletes.

Numbers 23:19 says, ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’

God is faithful to bring to pass His promises to us. However, on the journey to that destined place, you will often face storms. In Acts 27, Apostle Paul faced a storm on his way to an appointment with destiny. He had been unlawfully jailed in Jerusalem and had appealed to Caesar to be given fair hearing.

He was on his way to meet Caesar for that important appointment that would set him free from captivity when the storm hit, and the storm was so fierce that for 14 days they didn’t see the sun or the stars, leading many in the ship to lose hope.

Yet in the midst of the storm, Paul resorted to prayer and received a word of assurance from an angel of the Lord: that he would arrive safely along with everyone else on the ship, and that he would stand before Caesar.

Immediately, Paul told those with him what the angel had said, and concluded by saying, “I believe it will be just as God said.” And though the situation didn’t change, and even appeared to get worse, Paul held on to God’s promise.

Sometimes God’s promises may appear to be just the opposite of what we see. But we can’t be moved by what we see; rather we are to be moved by what is written in God’s Word. Don’t ever let the storm talk you out of what God has promised you. In the middle of the storm learn to declare words of faith. Talk faith in the face of fear, talk strength in the face of weakness, declare health in the face of sickness, speak life in the face of death, talk victory in the face of defeat.

No matter how tough that situation may look, understand that it cannot stop you, as long as you hold on to God’s Word. Why? Because you are on divine appointment and running with divine purpose. There’s a calling upon your life, an assignment God that has ordained for you to accomplish. You’re a person of destiny, and even if situations do not look like it, keep declaring what God has said concerning you. The reason the enemy is fighting so hard – sending financial troubles, sickness, family problems, etc – is to distract you from your appointment with Caesar. But your purpose cannot be stopped by the waves of opposition. Your destiny is greater than the disaster.

There’s something significant you’ve been called to accomplish in your generation. There’s a calling upon your life that you must fulfill. Therefore, don’t let the storms on your way abort your purpose. Don’t let the trials talk you out of reaching your destination. As long as you believe God’s Word, it will surely come to pass.

Though the ship hit bottom and broke apart, everyone on board was saved, and Paul eventually arrived in Rome and stood before Caesar, just as God had promised him. In the same way, God’s Word to you this year will surely be fulfilled. You don’t have to figure out how it’s going to happen; all you have to do is believe. Stay in faith and let God speak to you through the scriptures. The Word of God is able to keep you stable and anchor your soul in the midst of any storm.

Turbulence also often indicates you are close to your miracle. It has been said that it is often darkest just before the day dawns. Hence, whatever you may be faced with today, hold on to God’s Word and keep rejoicing in Him. Surely there is an end, and your expectations shall not be cut short.

PRAYER
Lord, I thank You because You alone have the final say over my life, and I know that surely Your promises to me will come to pass. Please grant me the grace for diligent study of Your Word so that I can have the faith to stand until my miracle comes in Jesus’ Name.

QUOTE
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has .already foreordained a victorious end for you. – WORDBITE 22

1 Corinthians 15:58 ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.‘

DAILY READING Matthew 24:1-31; Numbers 25-27; Song of Solomon 6:4-8:4

R.G. LeTourneau is perhaps the most inspiring Christian inventor, businessman and entrepreneur the world has ever seen. Though he was a school dropout, he ended up with more than 300 patents to his name. He became the leading machinery manufacturer of his day, with plants on 4 continents, and made major contributions to road construction and heavy equipment that changed the world. Most importantly, his contribution to the advancement of the Gospel ranks him among the greatest of Christian businessmen of all time.

R.G. LeTourneau was born to Christian parents and had given his life to Christ at an early age. However, when he was 14 years old he dropped out of school and began to work as a motor mechanic. Later on, he became a contractor for road constructions.

After he got married, and having been in business for a while, he felt the tug to be doing more for God. He had thought that a person had to become a pastor or a missionary to fulfill the great commission, but he was shocked to hear his pastor say to him, “God needs businessmen too.”

LeTourneau immediately began to consider his business to be in partnership with God. And though at this time he was $100,000 in debt, despite his financial difficulties he paid a $5000 pledge he had made to God.

Soon after he did this, God suddenly gave him an unexpected breakthrough. He received divine inspiration to begin manufacturing earth-moving equipment for road constructions. He was among the pioneers in this field, and 70% of the equipment used in World War 2 were manufactured by his company.

His inventions brought him unprecedented profits, and he became immensely wealthy. At the gentle suggestion of his wife, he began to give 90% of his income to the work of the Lord while keeping only 10%. LeTourneau used to say, “It’s not how much of my money I give to God but how much of God’s money I keep for myself.”

He founded the LeTourneau University and the LeTourneau Christian Center in New York. LeTourneau also overcame a strong fear of public speaking to begin a lifelong commitment of speaking to Christians about business all over the world.

His reputation for giving was such that during his lifetime his colleagues called him “God’s businessman”; and when he died, on his grave were inscribed Jesus’s words in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Dedication is the mystery behind distinction. How dedicated you are in serving God, determines how distinguished you will become in life. The truth is that you can’t stand for God and not stand out on earth. When you are in partnership with God, you  will operate at Heaven’s frequency. Indeed, he that walketh with the wise shall be wise. Truly, when we seek God and His kingdom first, all else are added unto us. It is our degree of commitment in 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. When we do, then every other thing is added unto us.

Your life does not get better by chance; it gets better by the choices you make. And nothing is more valuable than focus on God in the journey of life. If you stop seeking God, you start sinking fast. We must, therefore, focus our lives on what really matters most–which is seeking first God’s kingdom.

Indeed nothing moves until you make the move. You must be running with a vision, going on a mission, and burning with a passion. If you lack this, life is reduced to a burden. But when we seek God’s will, life becomes exciting.

Moreover, we must understand that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Whatever labour we invest in to God’s kingdom is never in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’

To become high flyers, our focus must be on the expansion of God’s Kingdom. Maintaining God as your focus is what turns you into a focus among men. And we strengthen our focus by meditating upon the Word of God. You cannot experience divine enlargement until you first enlarge your mind set. Every genuine change begins from within. We will only prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers.  It is our depth in the Word that will determine the level of our pursuit of God. And when you run after God, things will run after you. What follows you is determined by who you are following. When you seek God, good follows you.
Seeking God first is the master key to every door of life. Therefore, decide today to place your ultimate value on God, and surely, He will turn you into a wonder among men.

PRAYER
Lord, please help me to focus on You through diligent study of Your Word and obedience to Your commands. I know that when I seek You first, then indeed, every other thing shall be added unto me, in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE

The tests you are going through in life today is not for your destruction, it is for your testimony. – WORDBITE 222.

JAMES 3:4  ‘Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!’

DAILY READING – Matthew 23:13-39; Numbers 23:27-24:25; Song of Solomon 5:2-6:3

In 2018, the Royal Caribbean cruise line debuted the world’s largest cruise ship, named ‘Symphony of the Seas;.

The 228,081-ton cruise ship is 1,188 feet long and over 215 feet wide. The ‘Symphony of the Seas’ has a wide variety of food and entertainment options, including 22 restaurants, 42 bars and lounges, theaters and an ice rink. A cruise ship is indeed like a floating city, it can be over 3 football field long, and can carry thousands of passengers and crew in a single trip. Cruise ships are some of the largest ships in the world by gross ton age and are bigger than many cargo ships. Yet as big as it is, it is controlled by a small wheel less than 12 inches in diameter, even smaller than a car’s steering wheel. It’s amazing to see how small things can control or direct huge things. How tiny electronic chips can control cars and planes. Even the body as big as it is controlled by a brain which is only three-pound in weight.

In James 3:3–12, it tells how a small rudder steers a ship, a bit in a horse’s mouth directs it, and a spark sets a forest on fire. He writes how our tongues can praise God or curse people. The tongue can express great good or cause great harm. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

However the problem is not with the tongue but with the source, which is the heart, it is  out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. What is in your heart is what will overflow and out flow through the mouth. So if you can control what is in your heart you can also be able to control what comes out of your mouth. When the Word of God dominates your heart, The Word also will dominate your mouth and your tongue.

James 3:9-12 says ‘therewith bless we God, even the Father;  and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. my brethren, these things ought not so to be.’

Our tongues are ordained by God as an instrument of blessing. However, we have to be careful how we use our words. Words of blessings or curses will always produce fruits.

Proverbs 18:21 teaches us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Words are seeds, once spoken, it is only a matter of time before they bear fruits. And whatsoever a man sows that shall he reap. So be careful the words you speak over your life or those around you. Be careful to sow right seeds that will bear right fruits tomorrow. Parents  should adopt the Jewish tradition of blessing their children rather than berating them at every opportunity. When we do that, the world will indeed have a better generation of youths, doing exploits in the world.

No matter, the temptation do not give in to negative speaking. And if perhaps you have made negative utterances in the past be quick to repent today and pray for the abortion of their negative harvests. Let your tongue steer your destiny along the line of God’s will. Speak only that which is in agreement with the word of God. To speak right words, you have to load your heart with the Word of His grace, when you do, your words will in turn release grace to your hearers. The words we speak either make us or mar us. We determine the things that happen to us by the words of our mouth. Let us therefore purpose to always speak only right words, so that our lives will turn out right.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to speak right ,to bless with my mouth  and allow my words to be a blessing to those around me. And let  the continual flow of your praise be in my mouth at all times in Jesus’ Name.

Quote

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

Galatians 6:9 ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’

DAILY READING   Matthew 23:1-12; Numbers 22:41-23:26; Song of Solomon 3:6-5:1

Known as the father of modern missions, William Carey was the first missionary to India who served for forty-one years translating the entire Bible into Bengali. He is also known for being a shoemaker, pastor, founder of the English Baptist Missionary Society, botanist, cultural anthropologist, educator, author, social reformer, and the first to bring the printing press to India. Though he faced a lot of  challenges on his assignment,  he persisted without giving up, until success came.

At the onset of his missionary trip to India, Carey faced official oppositions from a  British Company which did not want missionaries in India. But Carey persisted and finally made his way to India, with his wife and children. When he arrived India, due to insufficient funds, his family passed through a lot of hardship. They suffered repeated attacks of malaria and cholera.  And due to these harsh living conditions, Carey and his wife eventually lost three of their small children. His wife was devastated, unable to cope, she progressively lost her sanity and became invalid.

Carey labored in preaching The Gospel, for seven years without winning a single convert to Christ. But In 1800 he finally began to reap what he had sown, baptizing his first Hindu convert. This was the firstfruits of an eventual  great harvest among the Indian people.

Yet Carey still faced other challenges; he fought against evil practices, such as  children being sacrificed to the gods; and widows being burned alive on their husband’s funeral pyres.

A disastrous fire in 1812 at the mission printing plant, destroyed years of Carey’s translation work. Undeterred, Carey formed a team that  translated the Bible to 34 Asian languages, compiled dictionaries, started an  influential College; began churches and established 19 mission stations; formed 100 rural schools; started the Horticultural Society of India, printed the first Indian newspaper; and introduced the concept of the savings bank to assist poor farmers etc. Carey’s fight against the burning of widows helped lead to its ban in 1829.

Despite all the challenges he faced, Carey eventually made a great impact in India with The Gospel. Though he sometimes grew weary in doing good, Carey refused to give up, until he reaped a bountiful harvest.

Galatians 6:9 says ‘And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.’ Every reward answers at the end.  We must therefore endure and persist in well doing, if we want to reap our reward. Many of life’s failures are people who gave up before their harvest came. There is a due season for reaping. And  we must not faint if we are to access  that season.

In Eccle.3:1, the Bible says, ‘To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven’.

God has an appointed time for each season of our lives. He is working with a master plan. 1 Pet. 5:6 says we should humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand so that He may exalt us in due time.

When we trust God, we will be patient to wait until our appointed season of harvest comes. Despite his many challenges, Joseph did not faint nor grew weary, he waited  until his appointed time came.  Moses could have given up after 40 years of staying at the backside of the desert, but he persisted until his appointed season came. We don’t have to run ahead of God. We must understand that God relates to us according to the times and seasons of life. He has the  script to our lives’ drama.  Therefore in each season we wait for His timing and prompting. Our responsibility is to ensure that we are cooperating with His Spirit to follow His perfect will for our lives.

God is in control. Our promotion comes only from Him, and not from men! If men exalt you, they can also bring you down. It is God who exalts us in our due season. John 3:27 says ‘A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.’ and James 1:17 says ‘Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and from the Father of lights..’

God is the raiser of men, and when He raises you, no man can erase you. This is why we patiently wait for Him. When we are due we will not be denied.

Therefore no matter the situation you may be facing, don’t give up, don’t give in, keep pressing forward. There is coming a reaping season, there is a reward awaiting you. Your labor cannot be in vain. And if you do not faint, surely in due season, you shall reap.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me not to become weary in well doing. I know my reaping season is coming. Please help me to stay strong as I await Your appointed seasons of harvest for me in Jesus Name. .

QUOTE

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