HORM Devotional

ROMANS 8:28  – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’

DAILY READING– Luke 7:18-50; Genesis 11; Psalm 5

William Kamkwamba is an international innovator, engineer, and author from Malawi. His story is a remarkable example of the difference God can make in the life of a person. William was brought up in a strong Christian home, but his family suffered great poverty. When his father could not afford school fees, William dropped out of school and dutifully joined his family in farming. But he never let go of his hunger for learning. Fortunately  there was an internationally-supported library in the town, which he frequently visited. When a terrible drought struck their small village in Malawi, his family lost all of the season’s crops, leaving them with nothing to eat and nothing to sell. As William explored the science books in the library, he came up with an idea that would change his family’s life forever. Putting to practice what he had learned from a book about energy, he disassembled an old bicycle, gathered scraps of junk and began to build a windmill. Like Noah building an ark, William became the laughingstock of the village. However, when he succeeded in building an electricity-producing windmill that brought light to his home, the villagers no longer laughed at him. Now they needed his help. With the windmill he charged car batteries throughout the day, which then were used to light houses or power radios in the neighborhood. William next devised a plan to build a larger windmill to pump water during the drought. With his bigger windmill, their village was no longer at the mercy of darkness or drought. His ingenuity caught the eye of international organizations and William received a scholarship to study at Dartmouth University and so resumed his studies after a 5-year lapse. And today, from a village school dropout, William has become an international mover and shaker in technology education. In his autobiography, ‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’, he credits God with the inspiration that led to his inventions. His story has been made into a film starring major Hollywood actors.

It is truly amazing to see how God totally changed William’s story. Though the odds seemed against him, through faith in God, William refused to accept his “fate” to a life of poverty and impossibility. And because he dared to believe God for the miraculous, through him today, the story of his family has positively changed and his village has been brought to global limelight.

Indeed God can use you to change the story of your lineage. The fact that a negative pattern have been passed down in your family line doesn’t mean it has to continue. Through you bondages that have held your family back can be broken. This is because your case is different. And because you are born of God, you are born to overcome. Through faith in Christ, you can take your family to a whole new level. And God will not only use you to just break generational curses, but He will use you to start generational blessings.

And as you follow your vision there will surely be oppositions. People may mock you, but people don’t determine your destiny. Jehovah alone has the final say over you. Therefore focus on God’s Word and let results speak for you. Remember it is always darkest just before the day breaks. But no matter how dark the night, it has never stopped the day from breaking forth. And though weeping may endure for a night, never forget that joy comes in the morning.

Therefore keep faith alive and remain heavily expectant. Something good is about to happen. God is about to open doors for you that no man can shut. Good breaks, and right opportunities will suddenly begin to chase you down.  Indeed the God we serve is a waymaker. He is a barrier breaker who will go ahead of you to break every resistance. Do not limit what God can do in your life. Therefore today trust Him to do something new for you, trust Him to exceed your expectations and cause all things to work together for your good.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for giving me a positive change of story and turning every disappointing situation into a blessing for me. I know that even right now, You are causing all things to work together for my good in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

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

Obadiah 1:17  ‘But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions’.

DAILY READING – Luke 7:1-17; Genesis 8-10; Psalm 4

In 2017, in the Siberian city of Chita, in Eastern Russia, a driver was passing by a scrap metal yard, when suddenly there was a huge explosion, that rocked the environment. His car’s dashcam video captured the moment of this blast. When he uploaded the video on YouTube, the Russian media were alerted and an investigation was launched to find out the cause of the explosion. The Telegraph later reported that a large-scale missile had exploded at this scrap recycling center, killing two people and injuring one. Local authorities said it appeared that the missile had detonated while workers were cutting it down for scrap metal.

However, there were questions and speculations about how a missile had ended up in a scrap yard. And when emergency response workers found two additional warheads at the blast site, a criminal investigation was opened into the illegal acquisition and storage of these explosive devices. Local news outlets later said that the missile had been stolen from a military base by unknown persons and sold to the workers at the scrap yard. It had then exploded while the recycling workers were trying to dismantle it. Selling weaponry for scrap is not unusual in remote Russian regions. There are so many rusty weapons in Russia that sometimes, not realizing the deadly consequence, people sell them for scrap. The unfortunate thing was that the workers at this scrap yard, had thought it was just another scrap metal, when they began cutting it. But by the time they realized its deadly potential, it was too late.

Spiritually, we can liken this to how sometimes people toy with sin, not realizing its deadly and explosive consequences. Especially in this generation, sin is often treated as something ordinary and commonplace, but the truth remains that sin’s destructive potential can be far reaching. When Israel left Egypt and journeyed to the promised land, the highest number that was slain came by immorality. 1 Corinthians. 10:8 tells us that 23,000 men fell in one day! This was the highest rate of calamity throughout their journey from Egypt to Canaan.

Indeed to fulfill destiny we must take a definite decision not to toy with sin. There is need for soberness so that our place will not be lost in destiny. Elisha’s servant Gehazi was destined to obtain a double portion of his anointing, but he lost it to sin.  Though, signs and wonders are the heritage of all believers, the power will only flow through sanctified vessels. Until sin goes, signs will not flow. Purity indeed is the price for power.

And one way to live a life of purity is by taking heed to God’s Word. God’s Word carries sanctifying virtues that liberates from sin. Psalm 119:9-11 says ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee’

1 John 3:9 says that whosoever is born of God does not commit sin because His seed is in him. And the seed is the Word of God. Therefore, when the seed of God’s Word abides in you, sin loses its hold on you. Another way of maintaining holiness is by engaging the help of The Holy Spirit through a prayerful lifestyle. Also constant appearance in Zion strengthens us against temptations. The Church, which is referred to as Mount Zion in the New Testament, is a service station where our lives are serviced spiritually. Therefore to live a life of righteousness, we must be addicted and committed to fellowship of the brethren. The farther we are from Church, the more vulnerable we become to temptations. But according to Hebrews 12:22, when we come to Zion there is a spiritual sprinkling of the Blood for our cleansing.

Obadiah 1:17 also says ‘But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions’.

Indeed it is time for us to possess our possessions, but holiness is the key to it. Glory is obtainable, but the price of holiness must be paid. When we truly decide to obey God and walk in His ways, He will cause us to ride upon the high places of the earth. Indeed when we solidly take a stand for God, He will cause us to stand out on earth.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to live a life that constantly brings glory to Your Name. Please help me to live a life of holiness and purity so that I can see Your glory unveiled in my life in this season in Jesus Name.

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Nothing liberates like truth, the truth you know and act upon will set you free.- WORDBITE 222

John 1:5 ‘And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’

• DAILY READING – –Luke 6:27-49; Genesis 6:1-7:24; Psalm 3

A woman who was lost in an Arizona forest, survived for nine days by drinking pond water, eating plants and spelling out “help” on the ground with sticks. The sign helped lead rescuers to 72-year-old Ann C. Rodgers in the White Mountains of eastern Arizona. Rodgers went missing March 31 2016, as she headed to visit her grandkids in Phoenix. Her car ran out of gas and was found three days later, leading to an exhaustive search.

Authorities found her dog April 9, and a flight crew spotted a “help” signal made of sticks and rocks on the ground in the Canyon Creek area. Detectives from the sheriff’s office were finally able to find and rescue her after she started a signal fire. She had survived the nights in the forest by maintaining  a bushfire that kept away the wild beasts. In the daytime she gathered enough wood to keep the  campfire burning all night long.

The use of fire to keep wild beasts away during the night is a basic survival tip for campers. Many people who have survived nights in dangerous forests are often able to do so by maintaining a campfire all night long. The fire keeps away the evil beasts. Fire usually scares animals off and threatens them to move away. Thus a campfire keeps campers protected and safe. In fact, many hunters maintain campfire throughout the night to keep away wild animals.

The same thing applies spiritually. When we are filled with the light of The Word of God, darkness is kept far away from us.

1 John 5;19 tells us that the whole world lies in wickedness. And Psalm 74:20 says the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. Ephesians 6:12 says ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ These scriptures clearly depict the spiritual state of the world. Man is under siege by the hosts of darkness. And the only hope of survival is the light of the Gospel.  This is the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. The shinning of the light of The Word of God is what shatters every  darkness. Anytime light comes in, darkness must bow out, there is no argument between light and darkness. This is why we must go for the Light of The Word to survive the darkness of this world.  We need the light that comes from The Word of God more than ever before, especially now that we have come to the end of the age.

We are going to reign through the dominance of light. Through the manifold wisdom of God we will confound principalities and powers. This is therefore a very crucial time on earth now.  Distractions are at an unprecedented level, the enemy is releasing his greatest temptations at this time. Your destiny is under serious contention. This is why as a believer, you can no longer afford to live carelessly. It is only by the light of The Gospel that you can triumph over the works of darkness, it is by that Light that you can see your way forward. Without that light you will be lost.

This is why we must begin to study The Word of God like never before. The entrance of His Word gives light. This is the light that shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. Just as campers keep the fire burning at night to keep away the evil beasts, we must keep ourselves lighted by The Word to keep away every darkness.

PRAYER: Father help me to keep my fire burning, please help me to walk in the light of Your Word, help me to stand strong despite the spiritual darkness in the world. I thank You for granting me the grace to begin to study Your Word like never before, Thank You for preserving me  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.

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

• ’DAILY READING – – Luke 6:1-26; Genesis 3-5; Psalm 2

Maria Woodworth-Etter was an outstanding preacher of the Gospel who saw amazing signs and wonders attending her ministry. She was an itinerant evangelist who travelled coast–to-coast across the United States holding meetings in church halls, Gospel tents and public buildings. Supernatural signs that accompanied her ministry included people that fell into trances, and experienced visions of heaven and hell. Thousands were healed of a wide variety of sicknesses and diseases and many believers, even ministers, received mighty baptisms of the Holy Spirit. Wherever she preached people from all walks of life were saved. Entire towns became positively affected by her ministry. The manifestations of the Holy Ghost that followed her drew thousands to Christ.

Of course the enemy was not happy and began to oppose her ministry.

However those who came to condemn, or harass Marie Woodworth Etter, often ended up being stopped by God’s Power.  One day, during a Crusade one man came to her meeting intent on disrupting it. He headed for the altar shouting vulgarity and cursing. But ten feet from the altar, the power of God suddenly gripped his vocal chords, and his voice ceased. Two newspaper reporters who were there to write about the meeting asked the shaken man why his voice died away and the man still shaking from the experience said to them “Go up there yourself and find out, and feel that power.”

And so it was that with such manifestations, God effectively silenced the oppositions against her ministry.

1 Corinthians 16:9 says ‘For a great door and effectual is opened unto me and there are many adversaries’.

Every child of God has a great position in Christ. And so naturally we also attract great oppositions. But when you are challenged, you are to engage the Power of God to silence the enemy. The opposition is angry with your position, and you cannot afford to let them have their way. It is when you resist the devil that he flees. You must therefore fight the good fight of faith. The encroachment of darkness in this end times has made it necessary for Christians to be ready to do battle. Indeed every great destiny will be confronted with great battles.

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

Our enemies are invisible forces. Though they often use people as their agents, our real enemies are the invisible forces of wickedness. And because they are invisible, they can only be confronted with superior invisible force. This is why we need the power of God. The Holy Ghost is the carrier, and transmitter of the invisible power of God. Isaiah.59:19 says ‘So shall they fear The Name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.’

The force of the enemy must bow to the superior power of The Holy Ghost. Wherever The Holy Ghost is in operation, no enemy can stand. Therefore we must engage The Power of The Holy Ghost so as to keep triumphing over every opposition.

And to engage the Power of The Holy Ghost, you must submit to a lifestyle of prayers and consistent Study of The Word. There is no shortcut to power. To win in the battles of life, you must accept spiritual responsibility. Every man is limited to the extent of his spiritual commitment. Therefore make up your mind to increase your power level through renewed fellowship with The Holy Ghost. It is only by the greatness of God’s Power, that the enemy will submit.

PRAYER: Lord, by the power of Your Spirit, let everything contesting my glorious destiny be silenced forever in Jesus Name. please grant me the grace to take spiritual responsibility, so that I can be victorious in every battle in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

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

Rom. 9:16 ‘So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’

DAILY READING; Luke 5:27-39; Genesis 1:1-2:25; Psalm 1

Indeed behind every glory, there is a story. Franklin Graham is the son of evangelist Billy Graham. Today, he heads the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, he is also the CEO of Samaritan’s Purse and heads efforts on behalf of the organization in more than 100 countries. He is well known around the world for his strong stance on Christian values.

However, as a teenager, Franklin grew up, rebelling  against the values he upholds today. In his autobiography, ‘Rebel with a Cause’, he wrote of rebelling against his identity as Billy Graham’s son and wanting to be free to do things his own way. Though he  went to church, and memorized Scripture, he  often tried to see how far he could stretch the rules. He got his thrills and identity from challenging the system;  smoking, drinking and defying authority soon became his norm. In his teens, Franklin attended The Stony Brook School, a Christian private school on Long Island, New York. But  due to his rebellious behavior he was soon expelled. He then attended LeTourneau College in Longview, Texas, and again was expelled from the school. However, living by his own standards soon proved to be unfulfilling. The more he rebelled, the more empty he felt. Then he began to realize for the first time that sin had control over his life. He was not in charge, but sin was. Despite his father Billy Graham’s dedication to a life of ministry, he knew that wouldn’t get him into heaven. And so he had an overpowering conviction that he needed to get his life right with God. And at age 22, he gave his life to Christ bringing to an end his years of rebellion. In his biography he expresses how the grace of God delivered him when all else failed. Franklin’s story shows that it is grace that makes the difference in anyone’s life. Though he was born into a very strong Christian family, yet he could not save himself until God’s grace intervened.

No one makes it in life except by the grace of God. Grace is the tangible and undeniable hand of God upon a man that makes all the difference in his life. Our success, does not lie in our strength, hard work or mental smartness rather it lies in the grace of God.

Rom. 9:16 says ‘So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’

There is no substitute for grace on our journey to greatness. Your skill is not enough, your connection is not enough. No matter your expertise, qualification or political affiliation, if you don’t bank on the grace of God, the journey may end in disgrace. But when grace is at work in your life, it cannot be hidden, it is obvious to all men. Titus 2:11 says ‘For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men’.

It is grace that makes every journey of life great. When grace is absent, struggle continues. Without grace, mountains will not be moved. In Zech. 4: 6-7 before the mountain moved, Zerubbabel cried for grace.

Zech. 4: 6-7 says ‘Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.’

The mountain moved, not by Zerubbabel’s strength but by the grace of God.

No matter how high any mountain, at the cry of grace, it will be made plain. No matter how great the journey before you, the grace of God will always be sufficient to see you through. Indeed none of us can succeed by our own strength but when we cry for grace, every headstone resisting us is brought down. Therefore at every juncture in life, we must learn to cry out to God for His grace.

We need the grace of God to live a victorious life, we need His grace to live holy, we need His grace at every minute of our lives. And to see grace, we must cling to the prayer altar. It is where the fountain of grace flows from. So, the more effectual your prayer life is, the greater the flow of grace in your life.

Indeed we must continually appreciate God for His grace upon our lives. If it had not been for The Lord on our side, where would we be today? But through His grace, we have been preserved, indeed through His grace our journey is made great.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your grace that makes all the difference in my life. I know that even right now Your grace is at work, taking me from where I used to be to where I ought to be in life in Jesus name!

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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.

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 –  Luke 5:1-26; Ezekiel 48; Isaiah 66

Kathryn Kuhlman was one of the greatest ministers of the Gospel, used mightily by God in the last century. However, Kathryn didn’t have a rosy start in ministry. While Kathryn was still a little girl, in 1913, her older sister, Myrtle,  married a young, evangelist who was just finishing his course at Moody Bible Institute. And soon, Myrtle and her new husband, Everett Parrott, began an evangelistic tent ministry. About ten years later, in 1924, Myrtle persuaded their parents that it was God’s will for Kathryn to travel with them. And as a teenager, Katherine left home to travel on preaching tours with her sister and brother in law. However, as wonderful as this experience seemed, the Parrott’s marriage had not been a happy one. And to worsen matters financial strains began to add to the problem. The tight financial situation meant Kathryn had to do without certain comforts. However, instead of becoming sad, she busied herself around the Parrott’s house, and worked in the household to ease any burden her presence might have brought. Since the parrots could not afford a maid, Kathryn took over many of the household chores. As she worked physically, she also grew in her spiritual walk with God. She spent many hours reading and studying the Word. Kathryn would spend five years with her sister and brother-in-law, which turned out to be years of learning and preparation that gave her a solid foundation for her own ministry.

A day came when Kathryn finally struck out on her own as a preacher.  A local pastor in Boise offered her a chance to preach in a small pool hall that had been converted into a mission—and that was the beginning of The Kathryn Kuhlman Ministry, which would later become a successful global ministry!

While serving under her sister and brother in law, Kathryn could never have foreseen the great heights God would take her to in life. But because she was faithful in the little, God committed much into her hands. When things got tough, she could have chosen to throw in the towel and return back to her parent’s home, but she decided to persevere and do whatever she could to serve God under the circumstances. She used the time to grow in her relationship with God and learned the basics of ministry as she served diligently. And from what looked like a mess God brought forth her message.

And years later, in many of her sermons she would refer to the lessons she learned in those early years as part of why she succeed in ministry. The truth is that before attaining great heights there are often hidden seasons of preparation where God trains us. A hidden season of spiritual preparation must precede the season of manifestation or outward  prominence. In the life of David for instance, we saw how God first prepared him in a hidden season before taking him to greatness.  It was in the bush, in a time of prayerful devotion, a season of serving unseen and unknown, that God prepared him for the throne. Indeed preparation is the mother of manifestation. God first prepares us before He presents us to our world. The season of preparation, is a hidden season of life, where it may seem you are all alone, but God uses the things you pass through to develop your spiritual muscles, and build in you an unshakeable faith in Him. Some of the challenges you face now may actually be God’s way of training you for where He is taking you to. A hidden season of spiritual establishment and preparation is crucial to our outward manifestation. Our seasons of preparation will involve times of separation spent in prayer, fasting and studying The Word.  This is because things are first established spiritually before they manifest physically. That is God’s order of things.

Our depth in God will determine the height we can attain in life. Therefore let us learn to release ourselves to God to train and prepare us as He deems fit. Our concern should be ensuring we are in His perfect will at all times.

Men may exclaim in wonder at you when God finally unveils you, but then they didn’t see the hidden places of preparation where God trained you. Like John the Baptist, you may have been in the wilderness for a season, but the day of your being shown to Israel is coming. And when that time comes you will look back and be grateful for every lesson you learned along the way.

When you trust in God, despite how discouraging things may sometimes seem, always know that God has a plan that He is working out. Though weeping may have endured for a night, surely your joy is coming in the morning. Even if we sometimes don’t see how things will work out, we do know for sure that all things work together for good for those that love God. And as Galatians 6:9  says if we refuse to be weary in well doing, in due season we shall surely reap, if we faint not..

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for turning my mourning into joy and dancing for me. Lord, please  grant  me the grace to persevere and submit to the seasons of preparations You bring me into for I know that  in due season Your glory shall be revealed in me in Jesus Name.

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Everything that ultimately  has a glorious ending usually has a humble beginning.

Isaiah 53:4-5, “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His Stripes we are healed.”

DAILY READING –   Luke 4:31-44; Ezekiel 46-47; Isaiah 65

Some years ago, the World Health Organization changed the coding systems used to categorize disease and illness, from a list of 17 to 39 major categories! The International Classification of Disease, [ICD] is designed to code disease into categories which are placed into administrative databases. These databases are  used for medical studies. However, the former categories were found not to be always the most effective for evaluating specific diseases or their outcomes. Therefore a re-classification of the codes into new categories was needed. An expert panel was set up that created broad categories of diseases that would be most useful to researchers. And after much deliberation the experts on this panel re-classified diseases in the world into  new major categories. Consensus was achieved for the categories to go from the former 17 categories, to 39 categories. And so all diseases were listed in 39 major categories.

And it is interesting to note that Jesus took 39 lashes on His back. 40 lashings were commanded in Deuteronomy 25:3, but by the New Testament period 39 stripes had become the standard punishment. Now, it is not a coincidence that the Bible says “By His stripes we are healed” and there were 39 stripes, each covering the 39 major categories of diseases. No coincidence. What it means is that every disease known to man was represented in the stripes that Jesus bore. Every disease – including those newly and recently discovered fit into the 39 categories.

Isaiah 53:5 says  ‘But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His Stripes we are healed.”

Jesus bled and died to set us free! He made the amazing sacrifice of paying the ultimate price for our sins. He bled to wash us clean and took the blows, abuse, cursing and stripes so that we can be healed.  The bible does not say you are going to be healed. It says; you were healed! In other words your healing is already accomplished! The circumstances and diagnoses notwithstanding, God’s word says you have already been healed!!  Therefore determine to believe the report of The Lord instead of the report of the lab.

No matter the medical or scientific explanation, the root cause of every disease is spiritual. And to have the victory you must be prepared and ready to do battle. And the decisive weapon in this battle is the Blood of Jesus. There is power in the Blood of Jesus to heal us not only from infirmities but also to deliver us from every negative condition of life. He died young that you might live long. His blood was shed so that your blood will never be shed. He became poor so that you through His poverty might be made rich.  But it takes spiritual violence to take your portion. Don’t watch what you don’t want. You have only one life and there is no duplicate or spare. Determine therefore to do all that is needed to live a fruitful and fulfilling life. Indeed the sacrifice of Jesus cannot be in vain in your life. The price has been paid and you are free to walk out on the devil.

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’.

Truly the blood makes us overcomers and conquerors. Therefore refuse every negative report arrayed against you today. Refuse every bondage of sickness, poverty, lack of progress etc. Life is essentially a warfare. It is therefore  time to engage the weapon of the blood to secure your freedom from every captivity and oppression. The price has been paid and affliction cannot arise a second time. Redemption has re-positioned you for eternal victory over every curse of life. Therefore what afflicts others cannot afflict you. Every siege against your life is over today. Truly by the blood you have been set free. Indeed by the Blood of the lamb you have overcome!

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the eternal victory You have given me through the precious blood of Jesus. And today by the mystery of the blood of Jesus I declare my freedom from every oppression, Indeed I have overcome in every battle of life in Jesus Name.

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

Psalm 23:4-5: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. …”

• DAILY READING Luke 4:1-30; Ezekiel 44-45; Isaiah 64

It is indeed amazing that despite the many times the world has come close to complete disaster, God has still preserved humanity and often steered it away from the brink of self-destruction. One of such divine interventions happened on the night of 26th September 1983.

This was the period of the cold war between the U.S and the USSR. At this time the two countries had several nuclear weapons pointed at each other, and seemed ready to go to war at the slightest provocation. In the early hours of 26th September 1983, the Soviet Union’s early-warning systems detected an incoming missile strike from the United States. Computer readouts suggested several missiles had been launched by the U.S against Russia. At that time the standard protocol for the Soviet military was immediate retaliation with its own nuclear bomb.  However, the military officer on duty that night was lieutenant colonel Petrov. He was part of a team well-trained to detect early Nuclear attack and respond immediately. Yet that night, despite the fact that the alert level was “highest” and the big computer screen was screaming ‘launch!”, prompting him to take action; he couldn’t bring himself to immediately respond. Not doing anything was a breach of his instructions, a dereliction of duty, yet his decision may have saved the world from a Nuclear war. It was fortunate that he was the one on duty that night, as he was the only officer in his team who had received a civilian education. His other colleagues were all professional soldiers, who were taught to obey orders and would have immediately responded. Fortunately it later turned out that the whole thing had been a false alarm due to computer malfunction. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the story of his wise action that averted a nuclear war was reported by the press. As a result he received several international awards in recognition of his heroic deed.

It is indeed a testament of God’s faithfulness that the world still exists, despite the wide possibilities of destruction. It has been said this generation is the only one that has developed the capability to destroy the earth. And yet God does not let it happen. Indeed God is in control of the affairs of the universe. He is running things according to His divine agenda. And especially concerning our lives as believers, God is in perfect control. He has said that no hair can fall from our heads without Him knowing. And despite how uncertain things may sometimes seem, our lives are in His hands. Indeed our safety and security are not in the hands of any man, or government, but in God’s hands. And as long as He is with us, we are protected from evil.

Psalm 23:4-5: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. …”

We must always remember that we are never alone in this journey of destiny. .In these perilous times, God’s Presence is our assurance of safety.  And one way to maintain His presence is through living a praise-full lifestyle. Let His praise continually be on our lips at all times. In this world of uncertainty His Presence is our only guarantee of protection. This is why we must strive to live holy and walk according to His Word so as to abide in His perfect will. And as long as we are in His will, we will be too defended to be victims.

Psalms 105:13 – 15 says ‘When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people; He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes; Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.’

Indeed every child of God carries a ‘touch not seal’ that makes him or her inaccessible to the forces of darkness.  And as God’s Presence surrounds us, a thousand may fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, but it will not come near us, because God is our Source, our Defender, our fortress, our hiding place, Stronghold and Shield

PRAYER: Father, because my life is hid in Christ, and Christ is hid in You, I know I am totally protected. Thank You Lord, for always giving Your angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways in  Jesus Name. .

QUOTE

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

Mark 9:23 ‘Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.’

DAILY READING   Luke 3:21-38; Ezekiel 42-43; Isaiah 63

Smith Wigglesworth is often referred to as ‘the Apostle of Faith,’. He was one of the greatest pioneers of the Pentecostal revival that occurred a century ago.  Smith got born again at the age of eight, and immediately began to win souls for Jesus Christ. His mother was his first convert. As a young boy  serving with the salvation army, he fasted every Sunday for souls and used to see nothing less than 50 souls saved each week. He had the promise of a future great ministry and served God with zeal. He met and married his wife in 1882 and they both shared a great passion for Christ. While Smith worked as a plumber, his wife, Polly often went around various churches to minister.  However as time went on Smith Wigglesworth began to get more involved with his plumbing business and his fire and zeal for the Gospel began to wane. There came a period of very severe winter when plumbers were in great demand. And for the next two years, Smith was swamped with work. And in those days of overmuch business and  pros­perity, his attendance at church declined, and his heart began to grow cold toward God; However, his wife’s evangelistic zeal never abated, which made Smith’s own laxity all the more apparent, and it irritated him. One night a climax came when she came back late from preaching and he locked her out. However, she found her way through the front door and turned the whole episode into a laughing matter. She laughed so hard that Smith had to join her in the laughter. And afterwards his heart was pricked as he began to realize how he had drifted from God. He repented of his backsliding and locked himself up in a fast for some days to seek God’ face. Soon his zeal and fire for the Gospel returned and in no time he began his own ministry. Through him God brought salvation to multitudes, hundreds were healed of serious diseases, the dead were raised, and supernatural signs followed his ministry. However, It is amazing to realize that none of these would have happened had Smith Wigglesworth given up on God’s calling and settled for less as a plumber.

In Genesis 15, God told Abraham he was going to have a son. He was 75 years old and his wife Sarah was 65 years. Because what God said looked impossible to Sarah, she decided to settle for less. She arranged for Abraham to have Ishmael. But Ishmael was not God’s promise. Often times, like Sarah, when God speaks to us, instead of coming up to His level and believing for the supernatural, we bring it down to our level. But God is not a man that He should lie. He says what He means and means what He says. God doesn’t get talked out of what He has promised, He doesn’t water down what He’s spoken to us. We therefore must keep our eyes on His promise and not settle for Ishmael, while our Isaac is on the way.

In a court case often before people go into litigation, they are given an opportunity to settle. And a lot of people settle not because they’re innocent or guilty but they settle because it costs so much to litigate the case.

The vision God gave you may have tarried long and it may have been harder than you thought, but refuse to settle for less than the best of what God has promised you. Sometimes, what God says may not make sense to your mind. But God is not asking you to figure it out, He’s only asking you to believe.

Mark 9:23 says ‘Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth ‘.

Indeed nothing is impossible with God. Decide therefore today to take the limits off God and believe Him for the miraculous. Believe  Him for the supernatural breakthrough, believe Him for the speedy healing and divine intervention. We must raise our sights and aim higher and refuse to be satisfied with less than what God has for us.

However, faith is the master key for taking the delivery of our inheritances in Christ. While revelation shows us the picture, it is faith that makes it happen.  We must, therefore, pay the price to diligently study God’s Word so as to build up our faith. To become all we are created to be, we must  keep the fire burning in our spirit, with a holy determination and a resolve never to settle for less than God’s best.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for Your great faithfulness in my life. By Your grace I shall never settle for less than Your best for my life. Thank You Lord for the speedy manifestation of Your promises to me in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

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

John 15:4-5  ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’

DAILY READING Luke 3:1-20; Ezekiel 40-41; Isaiah 62

Frail plants like vines can barely survive strong storms on their own. But when these vines cling to the oak, they can survive through the protection of the oak. During a storm the vine clinging to the oak is protected from the force of the fierce winds by the oak’s large trunk. And if the wind blows on the exposed side of the vine, the tempest only presses the vine closer to the oak’s trunk, where it is still protected from being blown away.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. It brought  floods and gale-force winds that devastated the region and displaced more than a million people. But New Orleans’ live oaks were surprisingly resilient, and many of them withstood the fierce winds of the hurricane.  They can withstand incredibly strong storms, like tornadoes and hurricanes. Even when they are stripped of their leaves, oak trees survive because of their strength, their curvy branches, and their incredible root systems. Thus any frail plant clinging to an Oak in the time of the storm is bound to be protected.

Jeremiah 13:11 says ‘For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and the whole household of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the LORD, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen.’

In the above scripture, the Lord had asked Jeremiah to take a cloth and wrap it around his waist tightly, then God said, that is how He wants His people to cling to Him, just as tightly.

Jesus emphasizes the same principle in John 15:4-5  ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’

Without God we have no value. It is only in Him we can live and move and have our being.  God is our only hope in life. When the storms of life come, our only option is to cling to Him with everything in us. Just as that frail vine clings to the strong oak, we must run to God and cling to Him to survive the storms of life.  In our relationship with God, as long as we cling to Him, we are protected from the fierce winds of the storm. And even when  it seems we are exposed to the wind, rather than separate us from God, the winds only succeed in pressing us closer to Him.

As Christians we will sometimes face challenges.

1 Peter 4:12 says ‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:’ Peter assures us that challenges are normal, and we shouldn’t be bewildered or surprised by them. Yes, it is true we may have challenges, but thanks be to God who causes us to triumph always in Christ. Times of challenges are therefore times we should draw closer to God so that we can experience victory through Christ. And often, in drawing closer to God in those times, we experience great intimacy with Him. Some of our most profound and intimate experiences of worship have come from those times when we had no one else to turn but Jesus. In the seemingly dark days, when the wind is blowing fiercest, and your heart seems broken, that is the time you have run deeper into the arms of Jesus. And you’ll never know that God is all you need until God is all you’ve got.

Psalm 34:18  says  “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.”

Afflictions are designed not to break us but to bend us toward our loving father. God really wants us to depend on Him at all times.

Psalm 62:1 says “In God, alone, there is rest for my soul, From Him comes my safety. With Him, alone, for my rock, my safety, my fortress, I can never fall,” –

Don’t be broken by the wind, rather let it bend you towards God.  God is good to those that trust in Him. And He really wants us to trust Him especially in those times when the storm blows the hardest.

Whatever situation you may be faced with right now, learn to run to God. What the enemy meant to bring tears to you, let it be the very reason why you praise God. Trust that God is on your side, and even though you may not see the whole picture yet, trust that He is working it all out for your good.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to cling to You at all times. Without You I can do nothing, my hope and trust is in You, and I know You will shield me through every storm of life 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.