HORM Devotional

Isaiah 48:17 KJV ‘Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go’.

DAILY READING 3 John 1; Ezra 7-8; Psalm 94

In the Exodus  when the Israelites departed from Egypt their goal was the land of Canaan. In their urgency to get out of Egypt and escape Pharoah’s reach, there was a shorter route they could have taken; it was  a few days journey of not more than 200 miles. Yet Moses did not take this shortest route​ which led along the sandy coast—​it would have led straight through Philistia, enemy territory. The Bible says “The people would probably have repented when they saw war, and would have returned to Egypt.”

At the same time also Moses did not head across the vast center of the Sinai Peninsula, where intense heat baked the gravel and limestone plateau.  Rather, being instructed by God, Moses led the people south, down the narrow coastal plain. It was on this longer route that the people saw God’s wonders  as He led them through the Red sea, destroyed Pharaoh and his host, and brought them into the wilderness where they were taught the laws by Moses. The first camp was at Marah, where Jehovah made bitter water turn sweet.* After leaving Elim, the people murmured for food; God sent quail and then manna. At Rephidim, water was again an issue, attacking Amalekites were vanquished, and Moses’ father-in-law urged him to get help from capable men.​—Ex, chaps. 15-18.

Moses then led Israel toward the mountains farther south, camping at Mount Sinai. There God’s people received the Law, built the tabernacle, and offered sacrifices.

Indeed on this longer route the people saw God prove His faithfulness in meeting their needs and demands. However the Israelites, did not fully appreciate God’s choice of this route, nor submit to His good intentions for them on this path, so they continuously rebelled. As a result of their rebellion what could have been a few weeks journey of only about 240 miles, ended up taking them 40 years. For the older rebellious generation it became a journey of death..  .

The problem with this people was their wrong perception of God. They couldn’t see Him as the loving God who had kept covenant with their fathers by coming to bring them out of bondage and to take them to a good land. Their wrong image led to mistrust, which birthed rebellion that eventually destroyed them.

Isaiah 48:17 says ‘Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.’

To benefit in the journey of life you need to submit to God’s divine guidance. God is a loving Father who is committed to leading you aright. Trust Him as the good God who is intent on leading you on the right way. And one way to know God is through His Word. Through The Word we are able to see God’s goodness and His plan to give us a future and a hope. God’s desire is to give good things to His children.  If you cannot see this, you will keep wanting to go your own way, and eventually end up struggling on the journey of life. Understand God loves you, and whichever way He leads you, is the best way.

Do not try to lead yourself. Take the time to seek His counsel in all you do and no matter the route God takes you through, even if it is the longer route, trust that He is leading you to your own Canaan. Just trust and obey, and eventually you will come to your own land of milk and honey.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to trust you with the journey of my life, no matter how I feel, may I always submit to only your  guidance  in all that I do in Jesus Name.

Quote

God protects and shields us when we are being led by Him. – WORDBITE 222.

Psalm 119:89   ‘For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.’

DAILY READING        2 John 1; Ezra 5-6; Psalm 93

One of those who paid dearly for translating the Bible is John Hus. He was a catholic priest who lived in the 14^th century. His life had a dramatic change when he began to translate some of the sermons of John Wycliffe into the Bohemian language. These sermons moved him to cry out for reform in the Church, and a return to the authority of the Scriptures as the sole source of faith and doctrine for the Christian.  For this, he at once was branded a heretic, excommunicated, and his writings were suppressed.

He found refuge outside of the city, where he continued to preach, write, and study. He categorically stated in no uncertain terms that Christ is the only Head of the church.  In 1414 he was promised safe conduct by the Pope and the Emperor Sigismund to the Council of Constance to present his views. Instead of hearing him, the Council had him arrested, gave him a mock trial without the benefit of an advocate, and condemned him to death as a heretic. He was kept in prison for seven months before he was brought forth to be burned. As Huss stood before the stake he said, “In the truth of the Gospel which I have written, taught, and preached, I die willingly and joyfully today.” Then the fire was kindled, and as the red tongues of flame driven by the wind from the Lake of Boden rose high around the body of the martyr, Huss sang, “Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, have mercy on me.”

John Hus was killed for making the Bible easily available. Besides John Hus, other Bible translators as Wycliffe, and Tyndale had also paid with their lives. And it is because of these men that we can have free access to the Bible today.

Having the Bible so easily available today, we may disregard the great price that has been paid throughout the ages to make it easily available to everyone.   

The Bible is God’s precious gift to us. It is The very Word of God existing among us.  The Bible is the only book which  contains the actual words of God, more than 3,000 times in the Bible you will find “thus saith the Lord’, with the very words of God written down. This is God’s direct communication to us. This is God speaking to us.

This is why you should approach the Bible with reverence, knowing it contains the living Word of the Living God; Words that can transform you. The Word of God is full of Spirit and life. The Power in The Word can drive every disease away from your body. The psalmist tells us, “He sent His word and healed them” (Ps. 107:20). The word of God is so powerful that it can transform any and every life. There is power in God’s word to call forth the things into existence. There is executive power in the word to meet each and every need when you know how to operate that power.

Indeed The Bible is no ordinary book.  It is God’s medium of fellowshipping with us and communicating truth to us.  It is  Heaven’s lifeline to us.  It’s our only true light in a world of darkness. God knows  our end from our beginning, and it is only through His Word that we see light to understand the mysteries of our own lives. We can never understand out times, seasons and reasons behind them except we come to The Word and allow The Holy Spirit to unravel truth to us.  We can never truly understand the meaning and purpose of our lives outside of revelation from God’s Word. It is through The Word that we can ‘see’ God, as revealed to us by The Holy Spirit and  have a meaningful relationship with Him.  Therefore the study of The Word should be our number one priority. The one needful thing is sitting at the feet of the Master and hearing His Word. The Word of God should have our utmost reverence. When we study The Word, The Spirit in The Word enters into us and sets us on our feet. This is how we are able to make progress in life, this is how we are able to go forward and do exploits. Truly we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

PRAYER: Lord, Your Word is unchanging, and true. Please grant me renewed appetite to feed on Your Word constantly, so that I can be transformed daily into the image of Christ, even as my life transcends from glory to glory in Jesus name….. . 

quote

Reading The Bible gives you over view, Studying it takes you to depths. – WORDBITE 222.

2 Chronicles 20:17  ‘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.’

•           DAILY READING           2 John 1; Ezra 5-6; Psalm 93

Charles Wesley was the younger brother of John Wesley, who is the founder of the Methodist denomination. Though less famous than his brother, Charles established his own legacy as the author of some of the most memorable and lasting hymns of the church. He wrote over 8,989 hymns, and some of them include “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing,” “O for a Thousand Tongues,” “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today,” and “Jesus, Lover of My Soul.”

Charles was born prematurely in 1707 as the eighteenth of nineteen children born to Samuel and Susannah Wesley. Only ten of those children lived to adulthood. Charles almost didn’t survive, because as an infant, he lay ill for weeks, wrapped in a wool blanket. But God’s hand was upon him, and he survived. As he grew up, Charles, along with his brothers and sisters, were daily taught Greek, Latin, and French by their mother Susannah Wesley.

Later on, Charles and his brother John went to school at Oxford university. Though they came from a Christian family, and their father was an Anglican minister, yet they were not born again. After graduation, Charles and John were ordained into the ministry, and they set out to evangelize the colony of Georgia in America. But this venture pummeled them with such overwhelming opposition and pain, that they returned defeated. On their return, Charles dove more deeply into the Scriptures seeking to know God personally. At last, he got born again on May 21, 1738. And the very next day he wrote his first hymn  “O for a Thousand Tongues,” which became famous afterwards. He would go on to write many more spiritual songs that has blessed many people ever since.

It is indeed interesting to note that just a day after his conversion Charles wrote a powerful hymn that has continued to affect many lives. The truth is that at whatever level we are spiritually we should be able to give God worthy praise.

Psalm says 8:2 says ‘Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger’

Quoting this verse, Jesus said in Mathew 21:16  ‘Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?’

Indeed God has put strength in our mouth and it is the power of praise.  Even if you are a spiritual babe or suckling through praise you can always stop the enemy and the avenger.

In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat admitted that he had no strength to face the mighty army coming against him. Then God showed him what to do, and when he engaged the power of praise, he secured his victory. God told him in 2 Chronicles 20:17  ‘Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you,.’

And God is saying the same thing to us today. If the battle you are faced with seems too much for you, hand it over to God through praise. Praise will cause God to fight on your behalf.

Indeed praise is our covenant technique for easy victory. It is not just a preparatory thing you do before prayers, it has a force of its own and is a formidable tool in the working of miracles.  You may pray amiss, but you cannot praise amiss. Each time we raise our voice in praise God’s Presence is engaged for our deliverance.  The two most profound miracles in Jesus’ ministry were as a result of praise.When Jesus fed 5,000 men in the wilderness, and when He raised Lazarus from the grave, He engaged the force of thanksgiving. Therefore whatever miracle you desire today, you can have it through praise. Just take the time to appreciate God for His mercies in your life. Let what the enemy meant to cause you pain, be the very reason why you praise God. Bless God for His faithfulness. Bless Him for keeping you alive despite the valley of the shadow of death you had to walk through. And as you praise God today, no matter how great the battle, God will surely give you the victory.

PRAYER: Lord, I Thank You for granting me the grace to praise You always. I know that even now You are doing for me exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all I could ever ask or imagine in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

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

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

DAILY READING 1 John 5; Ezra 3-4; Psalm 92

A. A. Allen was a great preacher used mightily by God in the past century. He was one of the foremost Evangelists of the Healing Revival movement that swept through America in the late 1940’s and 1950’s. God used A. A. Allen to heal thousands and to even launch other ministries such as that of  R. W. Shambach, Gordon Lindsay and T. L. Osborn. However, the power of God manifested so greatly in his ministry only came through paying the price of a life of separation, and continually seeking the face of God.

In the late 1930s, Allen accepted a pastorate at the Tower Assembly of God Church in Holly Colorado. It was while there that Allen’s spirit was pricked to seek the secret of God’s power. Fasting was new to him and he had great difficulty in following through with the days of fasting. But one day, when he had prematurely broken a fast, while seated at the table to eat, the Holy Spirit convicted him at the first mouthful and so he dropped his spoon and went back to his prayer closet. He then told his wife to lock him in and not to open the door until he was through with the prayer. He stayed there and prayed for hours. In the course of that prayer he had a divine visitation from God and the light of God’s glory filled the closet. In that encounter God gave him power to heal the sick and to cast out devils.

Shortly after this visitation, Allen was in a church service when a miner came forward who had been blinded by a mine explosion. At Allen’s prayer, the man’s sight was completely restored.  And from that point the ministry of A. A. Allen kicked off.  And as his ministry progressed, many signs and wonders would follow the preaching of the Word, as many witnessed the mighty outflow of God’s power.

Indeed for us to encounter the power of God we must be willing to pay the price of separation in the place of prayer. Every  manifestation of power is a product of long term preparation.  It doesn’t take time to manifest but it takes time to prepare. In acts 2, before the power suddenly came down on the day of pentecost, the disciples had long been in preparation in the upper room.

We must be willing to pay the price of seeking God  if we desire to see His power at work in our lives.  In Acts 4:13, when the Jews saw the boldness of Peter and John, and the miracles wrought through them, they marveled; and realized this was happening because the disciples had been with Jesus. Everyone who desires to walk in power must subscribe to the demand of separating himself to seek God. It is when we separate ourselves unto God, especially in a fast that our ‘light breaks forth as the morning.’ (Isaiah 58:8).

We need unction to function. Every man needs oil in his lamp. The kingdom of God is not in words but in power. The enemy does not respect grammar, but power. He does not respect your title or wealth, but power! It is through the greatness of God’s power that the enemy submits.

John 1:12 says, ‘for as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become sons of God.’ We cannot receive power until we are willing to receive the One who gives the power. And God said in Jeremiah 29:13-14, ‘And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the LORD:  and I will turn away your captivity.’

Truly when we seek God and find Him every form of captivity will be destroyed in our lives. Indeed when God’s power is at work in us, no matter what we face, we can always be sure of victory.

PRAYER:

Lord, please help me to pay the price of separating myself unto You so as to encounter Your power afresh. Please deliver me from distractions and enable me to daily draw closer to You, so as to experience victory in every area of my life in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE:

When you are living and walking in the supernatural, everything natural becomes subservient to you. – WORDBITE 222.

Exodus 11:1 ‘Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence.’

DAILY READING 1 John 4; Ezra 1-2; Psalm 91

Mel Gibson’s biblical drama film, The Passion of the Christ astounded audiences worldwide after its Ash Wednesday release in 2004. Focusing on the final hours of Jesus’ life, the film was praised for its cinematography and performances. It remains the highest-grossing R-rated film of all time.

Apart from the many people impacted around the world, The Passion of the Christ had a very profound impact on its cast and crew. For many of them, it was an unforgettable experience, as they caught a little glimpse of what Jesus suffered at Calvary..

Perhaps the most impacted person was Jim Caviezel, the lead actor, who played the role of Christ. Filmed in Italy during winter, the movie left Jim Caviezel with bouts of pneumonia and hyperthermia. A couple of errant lashes during the extended flogging scene gave Jim a 14-inch scar on his back. Caviezel was even struck by lightning while shooting the Sermon on the Mount. Jan Michelini, the first assistant director, was also struck by lightning twice. Cases of lightning are quite a rare occurrence. According to a study, lightning strikes only about 240,000 people per year around the world. However, interestingly during the filming, lightning struck three times on the set. And according to the statistics, the odds of that happening are about one chance in a trillion.

Speaking recently in an interview. Jim said he almost died while acting out the crucifixion scene. During the last shot, his body turned blue,  not due to makeup, but because he was almost dying from hypothermia. While on the cross, he could feel his shoulder dislocating and his heart was not beating right. A doctor was brought in to take a look at him. After examining him,  the doctor told Mel Gibson that Jim could die.  At that point, they were about to shoot the last scenes, and so Mel asked Jim, if he wanted to go ahead with the shooting or call it off. But Jim knew he had to finish the movie. At that point he said he cared less about his life. He desired more for the film to be shown to the world, so that many could catch a glimpse of the sufferings of Christ. Jim, a committed Christian, who understood the spiritual implication of the role he was playing, had been fasting and praying during the shooting. And so at that point he told God he was ready to die on the set, if that was God’s will for him. Having made that decision, he told them to continue with the shooting. Fortunately he survived, but had to undergo serious medical attention afterwards. Jim said he felt Jesus was letting him catch a little glimpse of the price He paid at Calvary.

If Jim suffered all of these while simply acting out a written script in a controlled environment, then it is unimaginable to comprehend the actual sufferings of Jesus at Calvary while surrounded by the blood-thirsty Roman soldiers. The truth is that we may never fully comprehend the transactions that took place at Calvary, nor the depth of the suffering Jesus endured for us.

Isaiah 53:4-5 says, ‘But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.’

Jesus paid the ultimate price for man’s redemption. His blood was shed to deliver us from every form of bondage and satanic assault. Just as the mystery of the blood was engaged to deliver Israel from 430 years of bondage, the blood of Jesus delivers us from every form of bondage. Jesus is our Passover Lamb. 1 Corinthians 5:7 says, ‘For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.’

Because the whole world lies in wickedness, God has made available the Blood of Jesus as a weapon to combat and overcome the evil in the world. The mystery of the blood covenant is what is needed today to silence the opposition. It is the ultimate of our victory.

In Exodus 11:1 God says, ‘Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.’ That “one more plague” God sent against Pharaoh was the mystery of the Blood. Once the blood was invoked, Pharaoh was urgent upon the Israelites to leave. In the same way, by the invocation of the blood of Jesus everything holding you captive will be in a hurry to let you go.

It is expedient that we receive, believe and engage the mystery of the blood in order to command mastery over every force of wickedness. As we begin to apply the blood, every force hindering or resisting our progress must be destroyed. By the blood, every handwriting of ordinance against us is erased. By the blood everything tampering with our joy or contesting our glorious destiny is permanently terminated. Indeed, by the Blood of Jesus, we have total and permanent victory over all life’s challenges in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER:

Lord, Thank You for the power You have made available to me through the blood of Jesus. Indeed, by the power in the blood, I have the victory in every battle of life in Jesus’ name.

QUOTE:

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

Ephesians 6:16 “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

DAILY READING 1 John 3; 2 Chronicles 36; Psalm 90

In 1991, during the Persian Gulf War, the U.S. Patriot missile batteries were hailed as the technological star of the war. The Patriot missiles worked by intercepting enemy missiles and exploding them in midair.

The Patriot system gained notoriety during the war for bringing down over 40 Iraqi Scud missiles. Many across the world witnessed on television screens, the fearsome duel in the skies between the U.S Patriot missile and the Iraqi Scud missiles. It was a marvel to watch the effectiveness of the US missile defense; as Patriot missiles streaked across the sky to explode the Iraqi Scuds. The Patriot would approach an incoming Scud at a combined speed of 6,000 m.p.h and then explode, blowing up the warhead. The noise and fireworks in the sky made by the Patriot’s interceptions delivered an unmistakable message: Iraq’s terror weapon was being effectively countered by space-age American technology.

The Patriot system, designed to provide air and missile defense, was effective in aiding the US and its allies to win the gulf war. And ever since, numerous countries have purchased the Patriot missile to aid their own defense systems. The Patriot systems serve to secure a country’s borders and protect their troops from the threat of tactical ballistic missiles.

Likewise, spiritually, we have a defense system that protects us from the missiles of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16 says, “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Faith is a weapon of war. Faith is a principal aspect of our spiritual defense system. Anytime the enemy fires his evil arrow, we are to stand firm and violently intercept it by the release of God’s word.

Spiritual warfare is real, and in this war, the enemy constantly fires evil arrows at the believer. Psalm 91:5 talks about the arrows that fly by day. And Psalm 11:2 says, ‘For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright in heart.’ These arrows of the wicked are often released in the form of evil words. These could be incantations, invocations or evil proclamations.

Psalm 64;3 says, ‘Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words.’ Psalm 57:4 says, ‘My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.” These scriptures let us know that words can be fired as arrows. However, God has given us the shield of faith to intercept and quench every such missile of the wicked.

Faith  is the force of victory. And Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. First, we are to fill our hearts with the Word until faith is formed and then we release words of faith to intercept the negative works of the enemy. Therefore, do not watch the enemy gain ground in your life, family, business, career, health, etc. Don’t just stand and watch him have his way. Engage the weapons of warfare God has given you and fight valiantly! Fight the good fight of faith. And never forget that the battle is not yours, but The Lord’s. As you fight speaking forth the words of faith your victory is sure. Indeed the force of faith is the force of victory!

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You that You have given me the force of victory. Please grant me the grace to constantly fill my heart with Your Word so that I can have the faith to always overcome in Jesus’ name.

quote :

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

Acts 16:25-16  ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed

DAILY READING – 1 John 2; 2 Chronicles 35; Psalm 89:38-52

In 2018, the Russian government released a film, titled “Sobibor”. This was in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the prison escape from the Nazi death camp in Sorbibor.  The two-hour film featuring Russia’s best actors and an international cast, has become a box-office hit. The story of ‘Sorbibor’ signifies that there is no inescapable prison.

During WWII, in March 1942, the Germans built a concentration camp at Sorbibor for only one purpose: to kill as many Jews as quickly as possible. It was built in such a way that it would be impossible for any prisoner to escape. The German Commandant at the camp vowed that his camp would never experience escape of any of its prisoners. However, though it was one of the deadliest extermination camps operated by the Nazis, Sobibor also became the scene of the war’s biggest prisoner escape.

As the Nazis carried out their incessant killings, the Jewish prisoners soon realized that they would all eventually be killed,. Knowing that their days were numbered, they rallied together and began to plan an escape. On October 14, 1943, about three hundred Jewish inmates rose in revolt, killing several of their Nazi supervisors and guards. They ran through surrounding minefields and escaped into the forests. The escape of these Jews was quite devastating to the Nazi officers, who had believed no one would ever survive the camp to tell the story of the evil inhuman war crimes committed there.  After the escape, the German officers immediately ordered the Sobibor deathcamp torn down and closed. The gas chambers and killing installations were destroyed and the area planted over with trees to obliterate any sign of the death camp.

Yet 47 of those prisoners who had escaped managed to survive the end of the war and gave evidence of the existence of Sobibor which led to the arrest and prosecution of many of the camp’s Nazi officers.

1 Corinthians 10:13 says ‘God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape’.

God always makes a way of escape. Though sometimes we may find ourselves in situations where it may seem as if there is no way out, somehow miraculously God always makes a way for us. There is no problem so big, that God cannot deliver us from. There is no pit so deep that His loving arms cannot reach down to pull us from. Indeed no matter how tight any situation God always has a way of escape out of it.

In the case of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, there seemed to be no way out. Their hands and feet were bound and they had been thrown into the deepest part of the prison. Yet, Acts 16:25 says ‘And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them’.

In answer to their praise God came down  in an earthquake and released them from bondage and they walked free. Indeed no matter how tight or difficult any situation may appear, you can always escape through praise.

In First Samuel 17, the Israelites seemed to be in a tight corner. For 40 days they were tormented, intimidated, and living in fear of Goliath. But one day, came David, who understood the power of praise.  He was from the tribe of Judah, the tribe of praise. And through confidence in his God, David brought down the head of Goliath with one single shot!

Indeed there is no closed case with God. He is the way-maker and miracle worker. There is no situation God cannot turn around for you when you stay in faith and praise. When you fill your heart with the Word of God and stay strong in praise, you will surely have the victory. Romans 4:20 says  Abraham staggered not at the promise of God, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. As a result God gave him his Isaac. Therefore when faced with impossible situations, no matter how intimidating, dig in your heels and offer up to God the sacrifice of praise, Praise brings God’s Presence and when God appears, every enemy must disappear. Indeed through the weapon of praise, you can organize your escape out of any bondage!

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that You are my waymaker in every situation. Today as I praise You, I know You are taking me to greater heights of glory in Jesus Name.

 Quote :

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

Isaiah 49:15-16  ‘Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;’

 DAILY READING  1 John 1; 2 Chronicles 34; Psalm 89:19-37

Wladyslaw Szpilman, a famous pianist was playing Chopin on a Warsaw radio station when the first German bombs fell in Poland. Szpilman’s family was prosperous and seemingly secure, and his immediate reaction was, “I’m not going anywhere.” His family takes heart from reports that England and France have declared war; believing that surely the Nazis will soon be defeated and life will return to normal. It does not. The city’s Jews are forced to give up their possessions and move to the Warsaw ghetto.

In August 1942, Szpilman and his family were lined up for transportation to Treblinka – one of the worst extermination camps the Nazi had built. But through divine intervention he escaped. As the war intensified many of his friends and families were killed. At one point, the Nazis drove the entire population out of Warsaw and took over the city. But Władysław remained hidden in an empty building, where he struggled to survive by rummaging for food in the ruins.  However, one day a German officer discovered him. Though the officer should have exposed him to be arrested, and possibly killed, rather he let him hide in the house attic. He brought him food and gave him his coat to keep him warm. With the help of the German officer, Władysław survived the war and was eventually freed. At the end of war, he picked up his career as a famous pianist and continued to play in concerts around the world. His story is recorded in the the movie ‘The Pianist’.

The Bible says when a man’s ways pleases The Lord He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.  Sometimes we may worry about how we are going to  get through certain situations, but we have to learn to trust in God’s divine provision. God is not limited in how He will save us, He can save by few or many. He can raise help for you from strange quarters. He can use the unexpected, the unimagined. God can use even your enemies to favor you.

You see, God is a father; who truly loves us  and cares for us more than we can ever care for ourselves. This is why Peter said ‘Cast all your anxiety upon Him for He cares for you.’ No matter how tough situations may look, trust that God is moving supernaturally in your favour and your expectation shall not be cut short. Just as the ravens fed prophet Elijah, God can use unconventional ways and least expected people to meet your needs. The ravens did not come by chance, God commanded them to come to the prophet’s aid.

In the same way you don’t have to worry about how your provisions will come. God can command blessings for you from unexpected sources, people you don’t even know will be used to bless you. God’s plans for you are not haphazard, neither are they contingency plans drawn up at a critical moment.

Isaiah 49:15-16 says ‘Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;’

God has your life well ordered in His hands. Therefore trust that in this new month, whatever is due you shall not be denied you. And though you went through fire and through water, God is about to bring you into a wealthy place. There is a shift taking place in your circumstances. Everything that has been a set-back and a hindrance is about to turn around for your good. Help will arise for you from the least expected quarters. In the place of frustration God is bringing forth joy and laughter. The LORD shall increase you more and more. God will appoint for you midwives to help you birth your dream. He will cause doors of breakthrough to open up to you, crooked places shall be made straight and the hidden riches of secret places shall be given to you in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the good plans You have for my life. Indeed I know that even right now You are at work to perfect all that concerns me 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.

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?”

• DAILY READING •           John 21; 2 Chronicles 33; Psalm 89:1-18

150 years ago, the land of Israel was a barren wilderness. It was a land no man passed through. At that period, among the many travelers and historians who observed and wrote about the barrenness of the Land of Israel, was the great American writer Mark Twain. He toured the Holy Land in the late 19th Century and in his travelogue titled, “Innocents Abroad”, he describes the land as “…a desolate country given over wholly to weeds…we never saw a human being on the whole route…hardly a tree or shrub anywhere.  It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land.’

Indeed, after the scattering and exile of the Jews in A.D 70, the land of Biblical Israel,  was turned into a desolate wilderness which no one inhabited. However, From the early 1880s until 1904, due to outbreak of persecutions against Jews in different nations, waves of Jews began to return back to their ancient  homeland. Over 25,000 immigrants arrived in Israel, from Russia, Poland, Hungary, Lithuania, Romania, Yemen etc.

On arrival, the land that these early Jewish pioneers faced was harsh to say the least. Half the country was desert. Life was difficult: Some  of the new immigrants, unable to endure the harsh conditions, returned to the countries they came from. However many others stayed back, choosing to believe God’s promise of restoration.  These Jewish pioneers gave over their lives to bringing the land and the nation back to life. They, and the waves of other Jews who followed, made the desert blossom with every kind of fruit, vegetable, and flower.  And  through their efforts, since 1900 almost 250 million sub-tropical trees have been planted in all regions of Israel.

Today, in fulfillment of Isaiah 35:1, Israel the desert is blossoming “as the rose”. Israel exports food and flowers to many nations. It is one of only six countries in the world that has a surplus food supply. This fact is incredible when you remember that as late as 1948 the consensus of world opinion was that a people could hardly even survive in the land of Israel. This, is fulfillment of Ezekiel 36:34, 35 which says “The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say ‘This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden’”.

Israel’s miracle of restoration is something the world has never seen before. Indeed God has done a new thing and turned the wilderness into a fruitful land.

Isaiah 43:18-19 says “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?”

In this new month believe God for a new thing.  God keeps covenant and fulfills His promises. It is true sometimes it may seem as if God’s promises are being delayed, but like those Jewish pioneers who refused to quit the land but stayed on until they saw God’s promise fulfilled; we must learn to hold on to God’s Word.

Understand that the power for the fulfillment of God’s Word is backed by the power in the blood of Jesus.  His blood was shed to give us a new life, a change of story and usher us into a new season. Revelation 5: 12 says  He is the Lamb that was slain to receive for us power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

What that means is that  Jesus has already paid the price for us to enjoy a fruitful season on earth. He has made every provision for us to enjoy a victorious life. So no matter how barren the land may seem now, ultimately we are headed for a bountiful harvest. What looks  like a desolate wilderness now is about to become like the garden of Eden. Indeed God’s promise to unveil His glory this year will find speedy fulfillment in your life.  Surely your mourning is about to be turned to dancing.

And one key way to access the bountiful harvest  God has for us is through joy.  Isaiah 12:3 tells us that ‘it is with joy that we can draw water out of the wells of salvation.’ Joy is the sickle for our harvest.  God has so much lined up for us but we need joy to come into our promised season of glory. It is when we praise God that the earth yields her increase.  Therefore,  as we remain  joyful, no matter what we may face, surely by the blood of Jesus, we will gain access into our new season of increase and bountiful harvest. Indeed God is doing a new thing for us. And as we remain joyful, He will turn every desert around us into a fruitful field.

PRAYER: Lord,  please help me to learn to look beyond the present and keep my eyes on Your promise. I know you have so much in store for me this year. As I remain joyful, by Your grace, my portion shall never elude me in Jesus name.

QUOTE

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

Malachi 3:10 ‘Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts.’

DAILY READING    John 20:19-31; 2 Chronicles 32; Psalm 88

In his book, Steps for New Converts, Dr. John R. Rice writes about an encounter the founder of ‘Duke and Ayers Nickel Stores’, H. Z. Duke, had with a missionary in Texas. One day this famous Baptist businessman, H. Z. Duke, came to Texas to urge the men and women there to give tithes and offerings and see if God would not make good His promises to bless them exceedingly. On this trip,  a missionary named Brother Kuykendal, was the one who drove Mr. Duke about in his horse buggy.

One day, H. Z. Duke asked Brother Kuykendal if he believed in tithing to which he replied that he did. Mr. Duke then asked him if he practiced tithing. He answered, “No, I do not. I believe in tithing, but I cannot practice it.’ He then went on to explain that he had thirteen children at home, his salary was very low and after attending to the needs of his family there was no money left to tithe. Mr. Duke then challenged him to set out to give God ten percent every month as soon as he got his salary. And if he found that what was left was not enough to meet the needs of his family. Dr  H. Z. Duke promised to give him back the amount he paid as tithe.

Brother Kuykendal was very excited at the offer and began tithing. That year, God took care of his needs in unexpected ways. Near the end of the year, he realized that God had proven His promises and had taken care of him and his big family on his small salary. He found out that the balance after he had paid his tithe each month took care of his family better than when he was not paying tithe.

Malachi 3:10 is the only place in the Bible where God tells us to  prove Him. God invites us to prove Him because the real issue is not money, but trust. When we decide to give a percentage of our income to the Lord, we then have the opportunity to trust His faithfulness to meet all of our needs. God wants to show Himself strong on your behalf. He wants to show Himself as El-Shaddai – The All Sufficient God. That’s why He asks us to prove Him with our tithes and offerings.

God is not so much after our money as He is concerned about the conditions of our heart. And how we manage money is a reflection of where our heart is. Indeed where your heart is there will your treasure be also.

While we are no longer under the Law, tithing is a good benchmark for believers to check their hearts towards God.  God looks at the heart, not the hand. He focuses on the giver, not the gift because the attitude is more important than the amount.

Your giving is a thermometer of your love. It’s not so much what you have but, rather, what has you that make all the difference. The practice of tithing is a good reminder of who’s in charge of your life. Ultimately, when you give, you are saying that you trust God to take care of your needs. For your giving, God promises in Malachi 3, He will open wide the windows of heaven and will pour upon you great  blessings. in other words, God will give us more than enough. The world says the more you take the more you have. God says, the more you give, the more you have. And as Corrie Ten Boom puts it: “The measure of a life is not its duration, but its donation.”

PRAYER: Lord, Please grant me the grace to always be faithful in the giving of my tithes and offerings. I Thank You Lord for opening for me the windows of heaven and blessing me exceedingly according to Your promise 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. 

– WORDBITE 222.