HORM Devotional

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 –  Luke 1:1-25; Ezekiel 33; Isaiah 57

Dr. John G. Lake was a great preacher used mightily by God in the past century.  Dr. Lake’s ministry led to the medically confirmed healing of more than 100,000 people.  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.

At the beginning of his ministry, John G. Lake desired the anointing of The Spirit. But somehow the desired power seemed inaccessible. But one morning,  as led by The Spirit, he entered into a period of fasting and prayer and separation unto The Lord. During this time, an overwhelming desire to pray took possession of him.  He wanted only to be alone to pray. Prayer flowed from his soul like a stream. He could not cease praying. As soon as it was possible to get to a place of seclusion, he would kneel to pour out his heart to God for hours. Whatever he was doing, that stream of prayer continued flowing from his soul . Then one night, The Lord spoke to him that his prayer had been answered and he had received the power he desired. John G. Lake arose and praised God. An opportunity to test this newly-given anointing came the following Sunday, when a violently insane man was brought to him. John G. Lake, commanded the demon to come out of him in Jesus’ name. Instantly the man was delivered, and two days later he was released from the mental institution where he had been confined in.

Truly, separating ourselves in prayer to God, results in a fresh encounter with power. 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. 

To encounter power we must pay the price of separation. Christianity is a covenant-based faith. It is a faith of responsibility. Every provision in redemption has its condition. Purity is the price for power. And it is a life of separation unto The Lord that will lead to purity. Every other spiritual gift will lose value if purity is not in place. Solomon missed it because though he had a unique gift of wisdom, he lacked purity. And Samson suffered a crash of destiny, because though he had the spirit of might, he lacked purity. Indeed when we live in holiness power is assured. 

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.  Therefore let us go for power! Determine today, that enough is enough. Power must change hands. Determine to seek God until you experience your desired victory. You can’t be truly sold out to God and not stand out on earth.

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’

When you seek and find God, His power will rest upon you. His Presence will surround you. And no matter what you face, you are not going to face it alone. God is with you, He is in you, and He is for you. And truly when God is with you, nobody can be against you!  

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to pay the price of separating myself unto You so as to encounter Your Power. Please deliver me from every distraction and enable me to daily draw closer to You, so as to experience victory in  every area of my life in Jesus Name.  

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

Psalm 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee

DAILY READING   Colossians 3:18-4:18; Ezekiel 31-32; Isaiah 56

If we are asked to choose between a pile of salt and a pile of gold, many people would  probably choose the gold.  But that was not the case many centuries ago. To the ancient people living in the deserts of Africa, salt was more valuable than gold.

Once cultures began relying on grain, vegetable, or boiled meat diets instead of mainly hunting and eating roasted meat, adding salt to food became an absolute necessity for maintaining life. At that time in history salt was very difficult to obtain in many parts of the world. The Akan people, of what is today Ghana and Ivory Coast, lived in the forests of West Africa. They greatly lacked salt and always needed to trade for it.  Gold, however, was much easier to come by, every Akan knew how to find tiny grains of gold sparkling in the river beds after a rainfall.

While the Akans lacked salt, the people who lived in the desert of North Africa could easily mine salt, but they lacked gold. They craved for the precious gold metal which added to their splendor and prestige and was used to make jewelry for their kings. These mutual needs led to the establishment of long-distance trade routes that connected very different cultures. The north had salt mines. The south had gold. Trade was even – an ounce of gold for an ounce of salt. The ancient kingdom of Ghana who had a very strong army, served as middlemen to this trade.

For the Akans salt was of  more importance than gold. While gold decorated their outward body they craved rather for the salt that would preserve their life. They valued salt because it was essential to their staying alive. 

Spiritually today, we need to seek that which will keep us alive. Often times in the Bible,  salt represents The Word of God. Just as salt is a preserver, the incorruptible seed of The Word preserves us from decay. All curing processes for the preservation of meat, fundamentally depend on the use of salt as the primary preservation agent. likewise, when we have the salt of the Word of God in us, we are kept alive and preserved from decay and corruption. The way not to sin is to treasure the word of God in your heart. It is also the way to succeed ultimately in life. 

Psalm 119:11  says ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’  Just as The Word is incorruptible and indestructible, when you are full of The Word you also become incorruptible and destructible. The knowledge of The Word delivers from destruction.

Hosea 4:6 says ‘My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.’  It is the lack of The Word that leads to destruction. But instructions of scriptures delivers from destruction.  Therefore we need to prioritize The Word above all else. Indeed when we seek  God, and His kingdom first, then every other thing is added unto us.

PRAYER: Father please grant me renewed appetite for Your Word. Enable me to  continually fill my heart with Your Word so that i can be preserved from the corruption that is in the world in Jesus’ Name.

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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.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS]

Psalm 71:7

‘I am a wonder unto many but though art my strong refuge’.

DAILY READING   –Colossians 2:20-3:17; Ezekiel 29-30; Isaiah 55

Sequoia trees are known to be massive. It is one of the world’s largest and most enduring trees. It can grow up to 300 feet in height, weigh over 2.5 million pounds, and live for about 3,000 years. It’s longevity is due to its twelve to fourteen-foot-deep matting of roots, spreading over as much as an acre of earth. This majestic tree also owes its towering height and astonishing weight to its root system. Such complex root system keeps the sequoia tree firmly grounded and stable.

Spiritually also, the deeper our roots in God, the greater the heights we can attain in life. Before attaining great heights there must be  seasons of preparation when we develop deep roots in God. In our lives and ministry, a hidden season of spiritual preparation must precede a period of visibility 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 David for the throne. In this place God expanded his root system.

When David defeated Goliath many thought he was an overnight success, but nobody saw the lonely years in the shepherd’s fields where he prepared by fighting the bears and lions. In that hidden season of his life, he learned to trust God and make God his strong refuge. 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 alone fighting the bears and the lions. But God is using the things you are passing through to develop your spiritual muscles, and build in you an unshakeable faith in Him.

Some of the challenges you have had to deal with may actually be God’s way of training you for where you are going. Before you can ascend the throne God has for you, you must first pass through  processes that prepare you. and cause you to become totally dependent upon God.  Preparation always precedes manifestation.

They say an exclamation mark is only a question mark straightened out. Men may exclaim and wonder at you when you finally ascend the throne, but then they didn’t see the hidden places of preparation where God trained you. Our seasons of preparation will involve times of separation spent in prayer, fasting and studying The Word.  A hidden season of spiritual establishment and preparation is crucial to our outward manifestation,. Just as the root precedes the tree’s outward growth, things are first established spiritually before they manifest physically. That is God’s order of things. 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 and plan at all times. For we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God.  And if we faint not, in due season we shall surely reap.

PRAYER: Lord, I submit myself, my plans and everything about my life to Your perfect will. Lord  have your way in my life, and  please  grant  me the grace to always submit to You, so as to  be prepared when Your foreordained season for me comes, in Jesus Name.

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

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

Psalm 9:2-3

‘I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.’

DAILY READING      Colossians 1:24-2:19; Ezekiel 27-28; Isaiah 54

He was born to poor and pious parents who taught him about God, early in life. Their family was so poor, that at some point, he had to pull out of school.  And at a tender age he began working at the mills, while continuing his education at an evening school. But despite his poor background Dr. David Livingstone ended up  becoming one of the most popular British heroes of the 19^th century.  he was a pioneer medical missionary, an explorer in Africa, whose exploits turned him into a living wonder to his generation. He accomplished unimaginable feats, travelling through lands which no white men had ever set foot on. He made some of the most prodigious, and most dangerous, explorations of the nineteenth century. His object was to open a  missionary Road or ‘God’s Highway,’ through which the Gospel could gain access to the African hinterlands. He also fought hard to stop the African slave trade. His life was a reflection of God’s amazing grace  and guidance.

David succeeded due to a strong assurance of God’s Presence. As a young boy, from the stories his father told him about great missionary exploits, he had developed a burning desire to be a missionary. One day, he got on his knees and prayed, “Lord, Send me anywhere, only go with me” And the words of God came to him “Lo, I am with you always, even to the very end of the age.” This assurance of God’s Presence gave him great confidence and led to the exploits he would later do as a missionary in Africa.  In his missionary journeys, God’s Presence always made the difference for him. Many times, he ran out of supplies, yet God would raise native chiefs to give him all he needed to continue in his journey. He passed through many dangers; yet God miraculously protected him. Agents of the slave trade who wanted to stop his work, often set ambushes for him, yet  he always miraculously escaped. At one time, while walking through the jungle, spears were thrown at him, a spear grazed his neck, another missed him by a foot, but none ever hit him. He suffered many bouts of fever that could have killed lesser men, yet he survived. He passed barbaric tribes and chiefs, who resisted him, and yet God gave him victory through it all. The story of his exploits remain an amazement even to the present generation. But his great secret was awareness of God’s unmistakable Presence. This also has been the secret of great men of God who have done exploits in the kingdom.

Speaking of Moses, Hebrews 11:27 said ‘By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.’

It was the invisible Presence of God that made Moses to dare pharaoh and lead the Jews out of bondage. Likewise, our greatest asset in life and ministry is awareness of God’s Presence. Knowing that you are surrounded by God’s power will change your walk and embolden your talk. It will destroy fear forever from your heart, and cause you to do the impossible, knowing the greater One is in you.

Psalm 114 records that when Israel left Egypt, it was God’s Presence that made the red sea to part, and caused the mountains and hills to skip.  And in Acts 10:38, The Bible says ‘Jesus went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.’. So it was God Presence being with Jesus, that made demons to scream at His appearance and also led to the mighty signs and wonders in His ministry.  Likewise, when we carry God’s Presence, evil will see us and flee, because evil can never stand where God abides. God’s Presence is an unbeatable asset in the journey of life. When you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, why you will fear no evil, is because God is with you.

Psalm 9:3 says ‘When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.’ And Psalm 97:5 says, God’s Presence causes the hills to melt like wax before you.  So God’s Presence ensures evil never survives around you. Indeed God’s Presence makes the difference. And God’s Presence is available to every child of God. The same way God’s Presence was with Jesus, so can it be with us.

In John 8:29, Jesus said ‘And He that sent  Me, is with Me, The Father had not left Me alone, for I do always those things that please Him.’

In the same way, for The Father to be with us, we have to do the  things that please Him. And one of the key things that pleases God is praise. And as we maintain His Presence through High praises today, we can be assured of unending victory in every battle of life.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to maintain Your Presence through doing those things that please You always. Grant me the grace to maintain a tempo of high praise, so that Your Presence can always abide with me, and make the difference in my 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.

 Psalm 124:7

‘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.’

• DAILY READING           Colossians 1:1-23; Ezekiel 25-26; Isaiah 53

Indeed behind every glory, there is a story. Michael W Smith is one of the most recognized and respected Christian music artists – with 44 Dove Awards, three Grammys and more than 15 million in Album sales.  The award-winning singer today seems to have a successful life and career. Looking at Him many will think it came easy. But on the contrary, the road to success for Michael W. Smith has had multiple stops, including some places we would never have expected.

It is indeed hard to believe that this icon of Christian music once suffered from drug addiction. But such was the case years ago when as a teenager, he left home to pursue a musical career. Michael had a passion for worshiping God through music and had felt God’s calling on his life at the  age of 15. When he was 17 years, he dropped out of college, left home and moved out to Nashville to pursue a musical career. Michael’s first jobs took him to after-hours bars, where he found himself surrounded with temptations. Soon he was ‘sucked’ into the drug scene. He felt he could play with the fire and not get burned. But once he took the first dose of cocaine and LSD, he became addicted. And for the next three years he found himself in the biggest pit of his life. In November 1979, after he almost died from drug use, while lying on the floor of his kitchen, he cried out to God for help. And God in His infinite mercy visited Michael. God delivered him from the drug addiction and gave him a second chance. Within a year, he landed a job as a songwriter and thereafter got his own record deal. And from there, his musical career rose to become the global success it is today.  Michael, through his songs, continually expresses gratitude to God for His mighty deliverance.

Psalm 124: 2, 6-7 says ‘If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: Then they had swallowed us up quick…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.’

Although we have no claim on God’s mercies, and they are undeserved, nonetheless they never cease.It is of The Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed.  Despite all the plans of the enemy, God’s will over our lives has prevailed. Many of us like Michael W. Smith came close to death. We would have been buried long ago and forgotten if not for the mercy of The Lord. Some of the friends we started on this journey of life with, died along the way. That we are still here,  is an indication of God’s love and mercy. And if perhaps you have lost anything, God is the reason why you have not lost everything. Indeed we must be thankful to Him that we are alive and still have hope.

Ecclesiastes 9:4  says ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’ This is why we praise God; because life is a privilege, not a right. Yes, you may not be where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be. We have come thus far only because of God’s grace and mercy. And as long as we keep expressing gratitude we will not stop gaining altitude. And as God has shown us mercy and love , so are we to show to others. As Jesus has loved us, so are we to love others. As we freely have received of His love, so are we to freely release to others.

PRAYER:  Lord, I praise You for all your goodness in my life.  I am truly grateful for Your mercy, which has kept me this many years and continues to keep me today. Thank You so much Lord Jesus for Your unending  love  towards me..

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Those who throw pity parties stay in the pit longer, but Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, …WORDBITE 222

Psalm 107:20  

‘He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.’ .

• DAILY READING Philippians 4; Ezekiel 24; Isaiah 52

In 1999, America was thrown into mourning when the son of former American president John F. Kennedy died in a plane crash. John Kennedy Jr. was flying the private plane when it crashed. Though  he was a qualified pilot, he was only trained  to fly according to visual flight regulations, [VFR]. He was not qualified to fly by instrument flight regulations (IFR). All was well when he took off, but as he flew along the Atlantic Coast, he was gradually surrounded by a fog. The fog made it difficult for him to see his way. Only a pilot trained to fly by instruments could navigate his way through such a confusing haze. Caught in the fog and loosing all sense of direction, Kennedy’s plane crashed into the waters off the coast of Massachusetts.

One of the most difficult and dangerous conditions for flying is being completely surrounded by fog or clouds. With no visual points of reference, it is easy for a pilot to become disoriented and not tell if he is climbing or falling, or even flying upside down. Investigators believe this kind of confusion led to John Kennedy’s death. For pilots, learning to trust in their instruments rather than their perceptions is the toughest part of earning IFR certification. This is so because often times what the instruments say is contrary to what the brain says. A good pilot must ignore his own senses and strictly rely on his instruments. In the same way we must rely only on the instructions of scriptures. When we can’t seem to trace God, when it seems dark and lonely, when we cant understand why certain things happen, then we must trust in His Word. It is God’s instructions that delivers from destruction.

Psalm 107:20 says ‘He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

Don’t trust your perceptions. If your physical senses say you are sick, you must ignore it and rely rather upon God’s Word that says you are healed by the stripes of Jesus.  We must place our faith in the instrument panel of God’s Word. The Bible is God’s instruction manual. And His Word is our constant guide and compass.

Psalm 119: 105 says ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path’

We must walk by faith and not by sight. And we don’t build faith in the day of trouble; rather we build faith against the day of trouble. Our faith is built through continuous hearing of the instructions of scriptures. If you really want to get ahead, if you want to fly, then you must adhere to instructions.  Those who walk, do so by common sense; those who run, run by principles; but those who fly, must fly by instructions.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always trust in Your Word, and not  on the happenings in the world. Truly Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path in Jesus Name.

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You have got to lean to ignore what the devil is reporting and acknowledge the report of God’s Word in your life. – WORDBITE 222. 

1 Peter 1: 18-19

‘Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

DAILY READING  Philippians 3; Ezekiel 23; Isaiah 51

The ordinance of the “Red Heifer” in the Old Testament, was a necessary element of purification for Jews to do service in the Temple. According to Numbers 19, a completely red heifer or cow, without any blemish or spot was to be burned, then the ashes combined with water was sprinkled by the priests upon a contaminated person for cleansing. During the period of the First and Second Jewish Temples, which was approximately one thousand years, only nine Red Heifers were used for this purification process. Moses prepared the first red heifer, Ezra prepared the second, and seven more were used until the destruction of the second temple in A.D 70. Since then, for the past 2000 years, without an existing  Jewish temple,  there has been no sacrifice of red heifer. However the Jews believe, the tenth red heifer will be used by the coming Messiah after the building of the prophesied third temple.

The Temple Institute, is a well known organization in Israel with the focus of building the Third Temple. Though there has been a lot of controversy with the moslems over this project, the institute has continued to prepare vigorously for it. And part of their preparation is locating the perfect red heifer for purification. Since red heifers are rare, it has been a long and hard search over the years, in many countries. Recently the institute initiated ‘Raise a Red Heifer program’ in Israel, which specially supervises the birthing of heifers. Yet despite all these efforts, a red heifer has not been found that totally meets the biblical qualification of being spotless and without blemish.

But as believers, we know that the perfect sacrifice for purification was found and offered 2000 years ago. Jesus came and shed His blood for our cleansing and redemption.

1 Peter 1: 18-19 says ‘Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot’.

We must be grateful to God for the spotless blood of Jesus that has been freely made available to us for our cleansing. By His blood we have been redeemed to enjoy the blessings of grace.

Hebrews 9:13, 14 says “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Indeed the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us totally. Sin is rendered powerless through the efficacy of the blood. Every dead thing in our conscience, every bitterness, condemnation, lust and wrong desires are all subdued and slain by the precious blood. Christ paid a total price, we must therefore not neglect so great a salvation [Hebrew 2:3]. By His blood, we are freed from the weight of sin to soar in the perfect will of God. Through the blood we exercise dominion over sickness and poverty and every contrary thing. By the blood we enjoy divine protection, and live in victory as favored sons of God upon the earth.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the great price that was paid for my salvation. Please help me to constantly live a life that glorifies You in every way, all the days of my 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. Wordbite 222

Luke 9:62

‘And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God

• DAILY READING Philippians 4; Ezekiel 24; Isaiah 5

During the time of slavery in America, Harriet Tubman  became famous as an abolitionist who led many slaves to freedom. Tubman herself was born into slavery, but escaped in 1849. When she became free, she determined to help others escape too. She became known as “Moses” because, like the Moses in the Bible, she led her people to freedom. She led nineteen different rescue missions and helped around 300 slaves to escape. To many of the escaping slaves Harriet was like a savior. She took her work very seriously, she knew it was a matter of life or death.

Because her rescue missions were fraught with danger, Tubman demanded strict obedience from those she was rescuing. And one of her rules was ‘no turning back’.

Once they embarked on the escape journey, she never gave anyone  the option of turning back, because she felt under pressure they would betray her and the other escaping slaves. Therefore if a slave wanted to quit in the midst of a rescue, Tubman would hold a revolver to his head and ask him to reconsider. Faced with a gun, the slave would quickly decide to continue with the journey.  With Harriet, it was forward ever and backward never. This method worked for her. This way, the government never got any slave to reveal her identity. And she was never caught.  

Luke 9:62 says ‘And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Several scripture verses let us know God is displeased with those who turn back from following Him. In the exodus, when the Israelites were in the wilderness, each time they wanted to turn back to Egypt, it angered God. When the angels were rescuing Lot’s family from Sodom, Lot’s wife turned back and was immediately turned to a pillar of salt.

In Luke 17:32-37 Jesus said ‘Remember Lot’s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.’

Once we make the decision to follow Christ it is forward ever and backward never. It is true sometimes the journey may seem hard, and we could get weary, but turning back is never an option. Going back to sin and the ways of the world is never to be considered. You’ve come too far to turn back. When we have made the decision to follow Christ the only way to go is forward. Your faith will be tested many times and in many ways. But like the three Hebrew boys you have to determine that you will never bow. Like Esther you have to declare ‘if I perish, I perish’.

No matter the lure and temptations decide you will never end your journey halfway. Decide you will never compromise. And no matter how difficult the road, be assured that faithful is He that called you, who also will do it. God is able to see you through. Truly, the path of the just is as a shinning light that shines brighter and brighter. This means things can only keep getting better for you. Each day is bringing you closer to victory. Therefore never give up. Keep pressing forward. God is watching over you. His promise to you will never fail. His Word will surely come to pass. And truly, they that put their trust in Him shall never be ashamed.

PRAYER: Lord, Please enable me to keep pressing forward on this journey of destiny. No matter what comes my way, by Your grace I will never grow weary or give up in Jesus Name.    

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

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK METAMORPHOSIS]

Galatians 6:10

‘As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’

DAILY READING – Philippians 3; Ezekiel 23; Isaiah 51.

In December 2012, Spanish athlete Ivan Fernandez Anaya made news when he allowed another runner who was leading a race to finish first, despite the other runner’s huge blunder that should have cost him the win.

Kenyan runner Abel Mutai who was an Olympic medalist, was leading in first place during a cross-country race in Burlada, Spain. Fernandez was in second place behind Abel Mutai. But when Mutai was about 10 meters away from the end of the race, he mistakenly thought he had crossed the finish line and won the race – so he slowed down. Fernandez was a little bit surprised, because Mutai still had 50 meters to go to reach the finish line. Unable to speak Spanish, Mutai did not understand as spectators tried to tell him he was still a few meters short. Fernandez caught up to him and instead of taking advantage of the situation to win, he pushed Mutai to go forward.  Fernandez encouraged him to keep running until he crossed the finish line. Fernandez chose honesty and sportsmanship over victory.

The Sportsmanship of Iván Fernández earned him massive attention on the social media and made him even more popular than he would have been if he had won the race.

In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Apostle Paul said ‘All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient’. Fernandez could have overtaken Mutai and won lawfully, no one could have faulted his win, but his conscience dictated something different.

There are many times as believers that we will be faced with temptations to do what may outwardly appear legal, but within us we know it is not right. The message Bible says in Philippians 2:4  “Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand”

We have to be committed to doing the right thing even if it costs something in return. Love is not only what we say, it is also what we do. And love for others is manifested in our attitude towards them.

Galatians 6:10 says ‘As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’

Every opportunity we have we should do good to people. In our giving we should have a ‘do good’ seed, just to bless others. We are not created to live selfishly. We were created to make a difference in the lives of others. John Bunyan, author of the classic Pilgrim’s Progress said, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone that cannot pay you back.’ And when you sow good, you also reap good; God sends you divine connections, people that will go out of their way just to be good to you.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to always live a life that glorifies You. May Your light constantly shine through me to draw men into Your kingdom in Jesus Name.    

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

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

DAILY READING –

• Philippians 2:12-30; Ezekiel 21-22; Isaiah 50

The integrity of God’s Word is unquestionable.  Whatever God says, so it is forever.  Scientists are often stunned after years of disbelieving the Bible to find eventually evidence that support the truth of  the Bible. For instance, for  many years scientist argued that there was no proof that  King David did exist outside of the Bible. But in 1993 archeologists found proof of King David’s existence, at an ancient mound called Tel Dan, in the north of Israel, words were found carved into a chunk of basalt which translated as “House of David” and “King of Israel”. Then also in 2005 an Israeli archaeologist named  Eilat Mazar discovered the ruins of King David’s s palace, proving that indeed the biblical account of King David was true. 

God’s Word is infallible. His Word is true from the very beginning and will be true forever. Jesus said, “… Till Heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” [Matthew 5:18.] The Psalmist declares; “For ever, O LORD, Thy Word is settled in Heaven” [Psalms 119:89.] Before the foundation of the world God has already settled everything that concerns you. He has settled your health, finances, marriage, education and all that concerns you. Your fears and the cause of your tears are all settled. You only need to come to terms with God’s plan for you, through locating your situation in His Word. What miracle are you believing God for today?  As long as you can find it in the scriptures, then you can have it. Be assured that what His mouth has promised, His hand is able to perform. As long as you do your part by fulfilling the conditions outlined in the scriptures, then be sure that God will definitely do His part. He is not man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said it? Then He will surely do it. The integrity of God’s Word is truly unquestionable. Learn to overlook the contrary and negative situations around you and continually focus on what God has said.  Keep believing, Keep confessing. And if you will not be weary, surely in due season you shall reap. 

PRAYER: Lord, I know your Word is always true, please  grant me the faith to access your promises so that my miracle can be made manifest in Jesus Name.  

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