July 21  :   DIVINELY DRUNK

 

Acts 2: 15

‘For these are not drunken as ye suppose seeing it is but the third hour’.

DAILY READING – 1 Peter 5; Jeremiah 39-40; Psalm 138

Drunk drivers often argue with the police. They claim sobriety even in the face of likely evidence. . However in one particular occasion in 1992 in St. Louis,, according to News Reports, the police didn’t need to make much ado about arresting a drunk driver. This man himself drove right up to the booking window at the police station, thinking it was Burger king. Believing he was at the drive-up window, he ordered for burger and fries. Well, he got more than a burger, he got busted. The booking officer arrested him and charged with drunk driving. It was easy to arrest this drunk driver, because his action had proven clearly his drunkenness. But other times, the police, if they have sufficient probable cause, may have to prove to the driver he is drunk, by conducting a field sobriety test. These may include the walk and turn test or having the driver stand on one-leg while facing the officer. A drunk driver will find it hard to maintain balance in this case, often he will stager, proving his drunkenness

Actions betray drunkenness. In Acts chapter 2, the apostles were accused of drunkenness. Why? Their actions betrayed them. Their actions were contrary to normal behavior, so the people concluded they must be drunk. Well, yes they were; but drunk with the new wine of The Holy Ghost. When one is drunk, and under influence, it is easy to know. 

The Holy Ghost is the divine influence that moves us to do God’s will. In the Old Testament when The Holy Ghost came upon someone, he became another man. We saw when He began to move Samson in the book of judges, that Samson began to do unusual things.

No one can carry out God’s will by human strength. The flesh is weak and often unwilling. Divine influence is needed to bring us to the place of total obedience to God’s will. It is not by power, nor by might, but by The Spirit, says The Lord.

When The Spirit comes upon a believer, He becomes the dominant force that begins to move him along the will of God. Just as a man overcome by a river current is carried by  water along the water’s course. The work God has called us to do is not what can be done with human energy and intellect. Mary, when told by angel Gabriel, the seemingly impossible assignment God has for her, to birth the savior, while still a virgin, she asked ‘how can it be?;

 The angel’s answer is quite revealing. He said ‘The Holy Ghost shall come upon you and overshadow you’ In other words, another force, a stronger force will come upon you and dominate you and influence to do this which seems impossible; because that which is impossible to men, is possible with God. .

To the apostles, the commission Jesus gave them seemed impossible; to preach the Gospel to the world.  How can it be? They were still huddled in fear in the upper room. But Jesus asked them to tarry first in Jerusalem, until The Holy Ghost came. And when He came,  a greater force took them over, they became divinely drunk. Influenced by The Holy Ghost they broke out and did the seemingly impossible.  

It is The Spirit of God that does the work of God. Even Jesus Himself could not begin His assignment on earth until the Holy Ghost came upon Him. And Jesus said in John 5:30 ‘I can of My own self do nothing.’ The same holds true for us, we can of our own selves do nothing.

Perhaps you have been wondering why you often get frustrated in your efforts to carry out God’s will. It is because you are still trying to do it by yourself. The truth is that you  can’t. It is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. He that calls us is also the One who will do it. God does not require us to do His will, by our own strength. He requires us to align with His Spirit, so that His Spirit will overflow us, overshadow us, and influence and move us to do His Will. And when it is The Lord’s doing, it is marvelous in our sight. So the work really is to align with Him, since without Him we can do nothing. Al things were made by Him, without Him  was not  anything made that was made . The only way anything can be done to please God, is when it is done through The Holy Spirit. We need divine drunkenness by The Holy Ghost to obey God.  That is the only way we can please God.

 PRAYER: Lord help me to drink in Your Word until I become drunk by Your Spirit, so that divine boldness can be imparted in me to go forth and do Your will in Jesus Name.

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To enjoy divine opportunities you must be willing to take the risk of faith.  

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK TRIUMPH OF LIGHT OVER DARKNESS.]

 

 

JULY 20; GOD HOLDS OUR TOMORROW

Habakkuk 3:17-19 

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 

DAILY READING – 1 Peter 4; Jeremiah 37-38; Psalm 137

Bill and Glory Gaither are well known Gospel artistes. They have written over six hundred songs and produced sixty recordings and several musicals. And both have authored or coauthored several books. Many of us are familiar with one of their  best-known songs “Because He Lives.”

The idea for this song came to Bill and Gloria in the time of great difficulties. In the late 1960’s, Gloria was expecting their third child, and they went through a rather traumatic time as a family. At that time also there was social unrest in the US; drug abuse and racial tension were increasing. and there was also conflict in Southeast Asia.   Bill felt that it was a poor time to bring a child into the world. For Gloria, it was a time of fear and torment, the thought of bringing another child into the world scared her.

In her book, ‘Fully Alive’, she recalled sitting in their living room in agony and fear on New Year’s Eve. Then, suddenly and quite unexpectedly, God’s Presence surrounded her and she was filled with a sweet, calming peace. Her panic gave way to an assurance that the future would be just fine, because God is in control. And when their son was eventually born, Bill thought of the living Savior and the words of the song came to his mind: “This child can face uncertain days because Christ lives’

And that is indeed very true, because Christ lives, we can face tomorrow. God is able to handle whatever comes our way. He holds our lives and our future in His hands. He is able to do exceedingly above all we could ever ask or imagine. This is why in all things we praise Him.

In Acts 16, after Paul and Silas had been beaten and thrown into prison, the situation looked bleak and hopeless. But how did they respond? At midnight, they arose and praised God. And God responded by delivering them from the dungeon of despair.

Indeed when we praise God in the midnight hours of life, He delivers us from any prison or pit. Many people worry about tomorrow, about their finances, medical reports and many other issues. But God is greater than whatever confronts you.  Therefore stop looking at your problems and start looking at your God. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He knows the beginning from the end. And even right now, He is working all things together for your good. Therefore, rather than despair. maintain your praise.

Nehemiah 8:10 says ” ‘Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’ “.

The believer who retains his joy is destined to triumph in the end. If you refuse to be depressed, the enemy cannot oppress you. Therefore remain joyful. In every situation. Keep judging God faithful, keep praising Him. And as you do, God shall turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones, He shall turn your mourning into dancing. He shall put off your sack cloth and gird you with gladness.

 

PRAYER: Lord  I know that  because You live, I can always face tomorrow. Thank You for the grace to keep praising You in every situation, because I know that indeed all things are working together for my good  in Jesus Name.

 

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

JULY 19; PRESSING FORWARD TO VICTORY

Philippians 3:13-14

‘Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’

The Miracle of Dammam was the name given to the football match between Nigeria and Russia, at the 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship in Saudi Arabia. The Russians had a strong team and scored goals at the start of the match. When in the second half, the Russians scored their fourth goal, and Nigeria still had no goal, obviously it looked like Russian had won the game. And a number of spectators, believing it was all over, left the stadium. Back home, many  Nigerian football fans, thoroughly disappointed, got up from in front of the television and walked away. Russia now quite certain of their victory, pulled out their key players, but that proved to be an unwise decision.

Suddenly Nigeria scored! Before Russia could understand what was going on, in the space of 30 minutes, Nigeria had scored four goals to equalize. The match then resorted to a penalty shoot-out. In the penalties, Nigeria triumphed 5-3.

The Russians were stunned beyond words.

The match made history and created a footballing record. Nigeria became the first team to come back from four goals down, to equalize and then go on to win a FIFA World Cup match at any level.

The lesson we can learn from this historic match is that no matter how low anyone falls, he can rise up again if he truly determines to. Indeed it is never over until it is over. No matter how great the odds, you can still press forward and win.

In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul says ‘Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’

No matter where you may have been defeated in the past, you can still press on to victory. No matter how low you may have fallen, you can still rise up and scale to any height. No matter how far behind it seems you are in life’s race, you can still press forward and win.

God has created life for constant forward movement. Plants grow forward and never backward. The universe keeps expanding forward and never backward. What it means is that, no matter what happens, you must keep going forward.

Better is the end of a matter than the beginning thereof. In other words, no matter what you may have seen at the beginning, the better side is still ahead. Though your beginning may be small, your later end shall greatly increase. The glory of the later house is always greater than the former.  Keep pressing forward. Your light is meant to keep shining brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

Paul said in the reference text that he forgets those things which are behind. In spite of the challenges Paul had, he had a primary focus to keep pressing forward. He said, “one thing I do’, this means he was functioning in the present. Despite past challenges, he was still doing all he could in the present to ensure he had the victory. Likewise we must learn to function in the present and let go of the past. Let go of disappointments; fears, worries, hurts, unattained goals. If you keep focusing on past failures, it will drain your strength and distract you. Your destiny is not predicated on your past. Keep your focus on moving forward. Understand that every day you are pressing closer to your goal. It is only a matter of time. And if you refuse to get weary and faint, in due season you shall reap. Indeed if you refuse to quit, you will surely win.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the grace and strength to keep pressing forward.  Despite past challenges,  right now, I know the  lines are falling unto me in pleasant places. indeed all things are working together for my good in Jesus Name.   .

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God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials.  WORDBITE 222.

JULY 18; COVENANT OF DIVINE PROTECTION

Zechariah 9:11

‘As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

DAILY READING           – 1 Peter 2; Jeremiah 33-34; Psalm 135

Prior to 1946, reaching the tribes in Peru and Ecuador with the Gospel seemed impossible. This was because of the gross hostility previous  missions had encountered in the area.  However in 1946, the Wycliffe Bible Translators developed a central jungle base in Peru and eventually established workers in 44 tribes.  Two of these workers were Lorrie Anderson and Doris Cox, sent as missionaries to the head-shrinking Candoshi Shapra Indians of Peru. The area was ruled by Chief Tariri, the most feared headhunter in Peru. But despite the danger to their lives, these two women entered the Shapra territory to live there and preach the Gospel. Miraculously, God severally protected them from harm.

One day one of these women, Lorrie Anderson, was looking for a quiet place for her daily time of Bible reading and prayer, so she went down by the edge of the river. After reading the Bible, she took up her prayer list and began to pray with her eyes closed. She did not see a deadly giant snake, weaving through the water towards her. The anaconda struck her, burying its fangs into her flesh, but as it reared up for a death blow, suddenly the giant snake, never known to release its prey, left her and slithered off back through the water.

By divine intervention, help arrived soon enough. But while Lorrie was being treated, a witch doctor from a nearby village suddenly burst into the hut and stared at her in disbelief. The woman said her son-in-law, also a witch doctor, had chanted to the spirit of the anaconda that morning and sent it to kill the young missionary. And under normal circumstances a victim of the snake should  have died, she was amazed Lorrie had survived. Lorrie later said she was certain that except for the protection of God, the enchantment would have worked.

Psalm 91:9 says ‘Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come near thee..’

Lorrie was in God’s Presence and as a result she was divinely protected. Outwardly what happened to Lorrie Anderson seemed like an accident, but from the confession of the witchdoctor, it obviously was an arrow of the wicked. The truth is that many of our battles in life are essentially spiritual. And  it is expedient that we understand the weapons God has made available for us for our divine protection.

One of such weapons is undoubtedly the blood of Jesus. According to Galatians 3:13-14 Jesus shed His Blood on the Cross for our redemption from the works of the devil. In other words, the Blood of Jesus is the Blood Covenant that redeemed us from the curse of the law to enjoy the blessings of grace.

Jesus paid his blood as price for our deliverance from every evil.  His blood was shed so that our blood will never be shed. He died young that we might live long.

The mystery of the Blood Covenant is so essential in this wicked world and the days that we live in.  When the Passover blood was sprinkled in Egypt, it guaranteed divine protection for the Israelites from the angel of death. The same way today when we plead the blood of Jesus over our lives, that blood causes evil to pass away from  us. Indeed the blood of Jesus is our defense against the forces of darkness.

Zechariah 9:11 says ‘As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.’

By the blood of Jesus we have been delivered from every pit of captivity. It doesn’t matter the kind of attack the enemy may have arraigned against you, by the blood of Jesus you are guaranteed victory. Therefore today begin to engage the weapon of the blood. And as you do, be assured that every force of wickedness against you will surely be defeated in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for the divine protection available to me through the blood of Jesus. I know indeed that by the blood of Jesus I am exempted from every evil 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.

JULY 17; NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD

  • Luke 10:19
  • ‘Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
  • DAILY READING – 1 Peter 1; Jeremiah 31-32; Psalm 134

As a young Christian, the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa, once heard his pastor say during a morning service that Christians could raise the dead in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. He believed it with all his heart. And flying around on his bicycle in those days, he went through the city of Benin in search of a dead person to raise to life. After about five hours of hard searching he found a compound where a three year old girl had died a few hours before.

He walked boldly up to the father of the dead child and asked for permission to pray and raise the child from dead. The man was startled, but he agreed. With great enthusiasm, Idahosa walked into the room and up to the bed, where the dead child lay, the family members surrounded him curiously. But as he started praying, nothing happened.  After a while he became quite frustrated. Then he recalled that when Jesus raised the dead child in the bible He had asked the people to leave the room, so he asked the family members to leave the room, but actually in his mind, he was considering ways of escape, since the girl was still dead. But  the only way out was through the front door. So he realized it was either he healed the girl as he had earlier promised or face embarrassment and possible anger from the family members. With his remaining faith he called upon The Lord to restore the child back to life. He then  called the child’s name and commanded “Arise in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” And then suddenly, to his greatest surprise, the dead girl sneezed, heavily, and came back to life!

This encounter greatly strengthened Idahosa’s faith and launched him into a worldwide ministry of demonstrating the power of God. Also through it, he met his wife Margaret, who was related to the girl raised from the dead.

‘Luke 10:19 says ‘Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.’

As children of God, power is our inheritance. We need this power to live in a wicked, and hostile world. It is impossible to triumph in the affairs of life without power, when the power of God is in place, you are in charge!  It is God’s will that we live a life of Power. Power is the hall mark of the believer. We are to manifest God’s power to the world around us. 

 God is ready to release His power, once our faith is ignited. If only we can believe, all things are possible. According to John 1: 8, as many as have received Christ have been given the power to become the sons of God. It is God’s plan for the redeemed to be empowered through the Holy Ghost, to command exploits. When the same Spirit of God that raised Christ dwells in us, He quickens us to do exploits. However there are conditions to be met for the power of God to flow and grow in our lives. And one of such is consecration. Purity begets power. It is impossible to sustain the anointing when living in sin. Sin stinks and sinks and will always hinder the flow of the anointing just as it did to Samson. When we live holy, and maintain fellowship with The Holy Spirit through study of The Word, worship and prayers, then the  power of God will rest constantly upon us and enable us to do exploits

PRAYER: Lord, please  give me the grace to persevere in the place of prayer until i see  Your power fully manifested in my life  in Jesus Name. 

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Until you cry out in the place of prayer certain things won’t happen. WORDBITE 222   

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK FAITH CLASSICS]

JULY 16; LIVING IS GIVING

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, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it’

Many of us eat Quaker oats for breakfast, however the story behinds its existence is quite interesting. Henry P. Crowell, who is the founder of Quaker oats, gave his life to Christ, when he was nine years old. This was soon after his father’s death from tuberculosis. But when he was 17 years old, his life was threatened by the same tuberculosis that had killed his father. Returning home from boarding school weak and discouraged,

Crowell asked God what lay in the future. His answer came when he attended a meeting where Dwight L. Moody preached saying.

“The world has yet to see what God can do through a man fully dedicated to Him.” Challenged by Moody’s statement, Cromwell decided to be such a man.  He asked God to heal him, so that he would make money and support the Gospel.

Miraculously after this decision, he was eventually healed of the tuberculosis. He then bought a little run-down Quaker Mill at Ravanna, Ohio. And within ten years Quaker Oats had become a household name to millions around the world. And Crowell quickly became one of the most successful businessmen of his time.

As a tither, he moved from tithing 10%, to tithing about 70% of his income. Yet he could never out-give God. He found that  the more he gave, the more God gave back to him in return.

In Malachi 3:10 God asked us to bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in His house, and prove Him herewith, if He will not open for us  the windows of heaven, and pour us out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to contain it

Indeed giving is the mystery that provokes the release of blessings on our lives. Giving ushers us into a life of blessedness.

The giving covenant is not about the volume, but about the heart. It is not the amount of what you give, but the cost to you that matters. David vowed that he would not give to God that which had cost him nothing.

The giving that costs us something becomes a sacrifice. And that is what moves God. When we lay down our Isaac in sacrifice it provokes a blessing from God. Indeed the altar of sacrifice is the altar of turnaround.

And there is much more to our giving than mere material returns. In 2 Samuel 24 when the angel was destroying,  David gave in sacrifice to God, it ended the plague in Israel.

In 2 Kings 4:8-17 the  Shunnamite woman received a miracle child as a result of giving to the prophet Elijah.

Our giving is a spiritual transaction for provoking all-round favour. Whatever level you are, God’s covenant of Prosperity stands sure. As long as the earth remains, seed, time and harvest shall not cease.

Your seed is the custodian of your future.You can determine what your future will look like by the seeds you sow today.  And though, you may go forth now bearing precious seed, you shall doubtless again return in the future, rejoicing, bearing your sheaves with you. When you live a lifestyle of giving, you are living a lifestyle of blessing! When you live to give, God will ensure that every of your need is met in abundance to His glory.

PRAYER: Lord, please grant me the grace to freely lay down in sacrifice whatever you require of me, so that I can experience a turnaround and miraculous change of story in Jesus Name.

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

 

JULY 15; PRAISE IN THE STORM

Psalm 34:1

I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

Your attitude will always determine your outcome. Your response and attitude are  actually more important than the things that happen to you. Many times you may  not be able to change what you are going through; but one thing you can change or control is your response to them. And the right response will bring a right outcome. 

The story has been told of how the potato, egg and coffee bean were all put in  boiling water, but each reacted differently. The potato went in strong, but came out soft and weak; the egg went in fragile and came out hard. However, the ground coffee bean was unique; when put in the boiling water, it changed the water and created something new. Question then is; how do you react when confronted by adverse situations?

Ultimately the difference between winners and losers, is the way they view setbacks and adversities. Losers see setback as the end of the road, but winners see it as a bend in the road. Indeed your attitude will determine your altitude.

Despite all he passed through, David committed himself to praise God at all times no matter the situation.

in Psalm 34:1 David said  ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.’

Like David, learn to praise God even in the midst of your storm.  And as you do, The Lord will see to it that whatever may be causing you tears, will be turned to your joy. The tears of barrenness, tears of stagnation, tears of sickness and diseases, tears of failure are all wiped off when you choose to praise God. No matter what comes your way, maintain your joy. That is the key to your miracle, because Praise brings God’s Presence and when God appears, all oppositions disappear.

Therefore don’t be distracted by your trials. Remember that every problem has an expiry date, and though weeping may endure for a night joy comes in the morning. Your joy is coming. The trials and temptations coming your way are all aimed at getting you to shift your position of praise. But refuse to shift so that you do not miss your allocation. Whatever comes, keep judging God faithful in  them all. As long as you keep praising God, your victory is sure.

David knew how to celebrate God in season and out of season. And so should you! David recognized that by praising God, you make room for Him to come and change the situation and turn it all around to your favor., because all things work together for good to them that love Him. And they that love Him are those that praise Him

God is God and He is good all the time! If you are going through a bad situation, go into clamorous praise. It is no time for you to complain or murmur, rather  it is time for you to praise because when you do, God steps into the scene and that compels every devil to bow out. So turn up the volume of your praise! God is still on the throne, He reigns even in that situations and He is more than able to turn everything around for your good. Give Him the Praise and watch Him work out your miracle!

 PRAYER: Lord, I know You are always good and faithful. No matter what happens around me, please grant me the grace to always give You worthy praise in Jesus Name. 

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Your attitude always determines your altitude in life. –WORDBITE 222.

 [ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK REJOICE]

 

 

JULY 14; GROWING THROUGH GOD’S WORD

Gal. 6:7-8  ‘Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

DAILY READING         James 3; Jeremiah 25-26; Psalm 131

Currently, the biggest animals on planet earth, are baleen whales. However, it is surprising that researchers have found that they have not always been so big. Fossil records show that ancient whales were much smaller than the current size of whales.

The question then is; how did whales get so big?  A new study suggests their great size is as a result of efficient filter-feeding. They have specialized system of a comb of keratin along the upper jaw instead of teeth. The comb filters massive amounts of food from the water, providing such efficient nutrition that it allows the baleen whales, to get bigger and bigger, until it ends up as hundred-foot-long blue whales.

Spiritually also, our feeding will affect our spiritual size and strength. In order for us to grow spiritually, our spirit must feed right and feed well. This is why we wait upon on The Lord, to feed on His Word.

Gal. 6:7 says ‘Do not be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that will he also reap.’

What we sow spiritually is also what we will reap. If you eat healthful foods you’ll be healthy, but if you eat unhealthful foods you’ll be unhealthy. The Word of God contains the complete diet for the human spirit. When you feed on The Word, you will be strong and do exploits.

What you feed on will determine how your life turns out. Because eagles feed on fresh meat, they are strong and fly high.  Also lions, feed only on fresh meat and are known as the strongest among beasts.

Eating dead things can impair a man’s spiritual sensitivity. Feeding on things like pornography, gossip, slander, dirty jokes, dirty scenes in movies etc; are like feeding dead things to the mind. These weighs a man down, and keeps him on the floor, unable to soar until inevitably he becomes an easy prey to the enemy.

You will stand or fall in life depending on what you are feeding your spirit. The Word of God gives you strength in your inner man. This strength keeps you strong in the face of every  storm. When your house is built on the rock of God’s Word, you will never fall. The rain, storm and wind that come to test men on the journey of life only turn to your testimony. When you feed on The Word, you will be a winner in every battle of life. Indeed through feeding on The Word and getting to know God more, you will be strong and do exploits.

PRAYER: Lord, please help me to feed constantly on Your Word, so that my heart can be strengthened to do exploits in Your kingdom in  Jesus Name.  

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

. – WORDBITE 222.

[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK DIVINE ORDER FOR A  LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS]

JULY 12; GUARD YOUR HEART

 Acts 24:16  ‘And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.’

The police in Tokyo Japan, recently arrested a man for harassing  a professor with incessant phone calls. The man’s reason for the phone calls was because he was upset over being denied entrance to graduate school 14 years ago. Since that day, he has averaged about 10 phone calls a night, between the hours of 8 p.m. and 2 a.m; to the former professor whom he blames for his lost opportunity. Those 14 years of annoying phone calls totaled up to over 50,000 calls. Eventually the professor reported the harassing situation to the police. Consequently, the man was arrested for his actions.

Imagine staying angry for 14 years. This man was so angry and couldn’t let go of what happened to him that he allowed that offense to dominate his mind and life for 14 years.

In John Bevere’s book ‘the bait of satan,’ he says the Greek word for offense comes from the word ‘skand’ which originally referred to the part of  a trap to which the bait was attached. The word signifies laying a trap in someone’s way.

Truly, in our journey of spiritual growth, we must carefully guard our heart against the trap of offense.

Prov.4:23 says ‘Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.’

As we go through life, there is always going to be reason to take up an offense. Jesus said in Luke 17:1 that ‘offences must come’. So offense is a part of life. But no matter how offended we may sometimes get, we have to learn to quickly let go and move on. We cannot live in offense and live in victory, joy and peace. Whatever offends you seeks to block your access to God. Offence is the bait the enemy throws at you when seeking to cut off your communication link to God. Therefore refuse to bite. Rather ensure at all times that your heart is free from anything that can hinder your communication with The Lord, especially during times of prayer.

Acts 24:16 says ‘And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.’

We must keep our hearts free of offense. The heart is the place of communion between God and man. It is the altar upon which the sacrifice of praise and the incense of prayer are offered. The heart is what matters to God and it is what He looks at when relating with us.

I Samuel 16:7 says: “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”.

The state of your heart determines God’s response to you. It takes a pure heart to approach the presence of God. It takes an open heart to experience an open heaven. The purer the heart, the more the Heavens will open up to you. Therefore determine today, that no matter what anyone does, you will keep your heart offense free, so as to maintain access to God’s Presence.

PRAYER:  Lord please help me to keep my heart continually free of any offense. No matter what happens around me, please keep my heart always dominated by Your love 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

 

JULY 11; ENCOUNTER WITH THE BLOOD

Zechariah 9:11  ‘As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.’

Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf was a German, born in 1700, who founded a community of earnest Christians called “The Lord’s Watch”.

This community began  after a drastic encounter  that Zinzendorf had with the blood of Jesus. Prior to then,   Zinzendorf had no zeal or much interest  in the things of God. When he graduated from the university, he had taken a trip throughout Europe to visit some of the cultural high-spots.  At an art museum at Dusseldorf he saw a painting by Domenico Feti entitled “Behold the Man”. It was a portrait of Christ with the crown of thorns pressed down on his head and blood running down his face. Beneath the portrait were the words, “I have done this for you; what have you done for me?” As he stood there, watching the blood of Jesus dripping down,  he said to himself, “I have loved him for a long time, but I have never actually done anything for him. From now on I will do whatever he leads me to do.”

And The Lord led him to found the community of earnest Christians. These were a people, utterly, and radically dedicated to making Jesus known. In 1727 this  community started a round the clock “prayer watch” that lasted unbroken for 100 years. There were about 300 persons in the community at the beginning, and various ones covenanted to pray for one of the 24 hours in the day. In 1792, 65 years later, with the lamp of prayer still burning, the little community had sent out 300 missionaries to the unreached peoples of the West Indies, Greenland, Lapland, Turkey, and North America. Indeed the encounter that Zinzendorf had with the blood of Jesus transformed him and positively affected many lives around the world.

Titus 2:14 says, “He gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.”

Indeed an encounter with the blood of Jesus will birth fresh fire and zeal for the Gospel in us. Jesus shed His blood to redeem us from a life of mediocrity, therefore we cannot continue to be stuck with living an average life. His blood was shed to enable us live a life of impact on earth, to move from weakness to strength, from obscurity to a place of influence and power.

Zechariah 9:11 says ‘As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.’

By the blood we are delivered from every waterless pit. The  blood of Jesus breaks every yoke of stagnation and lifts us to a place of relevance and power.

And as we corporately engage the blood of Jesus at this time through prayer, it will cleanse our nation, remove the infiltration of darkness, drive out the enemy and restore the peace of God in our land in Jesus Name.

PRAYER: Lord, by the blood of Jesus please ignite a fresh fire and zeal in me to carry out the assignment You have ordained for me on the earth. By Your grace I will make a definite  mark in my generation 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]