DIVINE SECURITY

II Kings 6:8-23

“Don’t be afraid “, the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. And Elisha prayed “O LORD, open his eyes so that he may see”. Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (Verse 16-17)

As Christians we most time do not really know our worth both in physical and spiritual wise. My sister once shared a testimony of her maids’ confession. "My maid said she was possessed with evil spirit and was sent to either break my marriage or to kill me but in her words she said “any time I enter your room to execute my part of the plan especially when you are asleep at night fire comes from your belly and burn me and my cohorts waiting for me outside your room. We try to know the source of the fire all to discover that it was a resultant effect of God’s divine protection upon your life”

God has given us authority over principalities and power when he said ‘No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you, Isaiah 54:17 CEV, They lost heart; they come trembling from their stronghold Psalm18:45, The LORD will grant that the enemies who raise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven. Deut 28:7. God’s plan for man is not destruction but divine direction and life eternal.

      Whenever problem comes our way, we are to call up to God as recorded in Jeremiah 33:3. We are his heir and an heir has free access to his/her father’s presence and servants without inhibition. It is worthy of note that God’s angels are always at your command, do not let the problem worry you but you are to worry your problems. Bishop David Abioye once said “everybody trembles before a king, but no matter how kingly the king is, when his children appears before him there is cheerfulness. Every recruit must carry a stone face before the general or his superior officer, but when the general gets home, he knows his children and he puts a smile on his face.

God is God to all creatures, but He is Father to us and we are His own children. I’d like to help you see the difference between relating with God as God and relating with Him as your Father.
If for instance you receive news at 11 a.m. that there has been some tragedy in your child’s school and as you are on your way rushing to get there, your neighbor is frantically saying to you, 'Remember my child also o!? You will tell him, ‘I have heard.’ Now, no matter how kind you are, when you get to the scene and you find over one hundred children crying for help, I tell you, you cannot but recognize the voice of your own child. And as soon you hear his cry, you will dive into the place and rescue him first. It is after you have gotten your child to safety, as you about going, then you suddenly remember your neighbor’s child, and if danger has not engulfed the place, you go back and get him out, but before then, your child first. That is how you also are on God’s priority list because He is your Father. He said, A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee? (Ps 91:7). God would rather allow eleven thousand others to die in your place than let evil come near you”.

PRAYER:  Thank you Lord for greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world (AMEN).

TURNING POINT

John6:60-70

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy one of God”. (Verse 68-69)

According to Rita Mae Brown “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. There are times we need to turn a new leaf of life and attitude, from this passage many of Jesus’ disciples left him while the twelve rather than living him turned to Jesus to re-establish their faith and stand in him. We need to leave our present state for the next level. There are some ways we have walked that we need not walk again.

          When we examine our life style and relationship with God, we will see that it is not in accordance with God’s permissive will, plan and purpose for our life, it is then time to readjust and realign our life and ways with God’s. God never change but man does, God has ever been faithful to his words and to man. RIVER JABBOK was Jacob’s turning point; there he wrestled with God (Genesis 32:24-30), Moses’ turning point was at MOUNT HOREB; there he saw God in the burning bush that was not consumed (Exodus 3:1-6), Joshua’s turning point was near JERICHO; there he saw the commander of the Lord’s army (Joshua 5:13-15), and Paul’s turning point was on his way to DAMASCUS; there he heard Jesus’ voice (Act 9:2-7) my beloved where is your own turning point?

       Blessed is the life that turns to God and turn your back on short term pleasure and gratification, your life is precious to God do not spend it in eternal doom. The Lord is gently calling you today hear him do not delay, and hand your life over to him. Turn to God today for your eternity’s certainty. “What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his own soul”?

PRAYER: I give you my life for direction and guidance, dear Lord teach, me your ways so I can be happy and useful for your glory. (AMEN).

A Better Alternative

Genesis 3:7-21

Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God made coats of skins, and clothed them. (Verse 16-17)

When Adam and his wife Eve ate the forbidden fruit their eyes were opened and they immediately made fig leaves as their covering. From this it can be presumed that the first wisdom man sought after was faulty due to the fact that the first product of man after that wisdom was full of imperfections, the Bible said they sewed fig leaves to cover their nakedness. The devil deceived them into believing that they are lesser than God and the fruit will upgrade them to God’s level, they took the fruit all to discover that the purported wisdom was after all foolishness, the devil kept the part when God said “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth” Genesis 1:26. Form Adam and his wife. Usually this is what the devil do to keep man from God’s original plan.

When God came down to chat with them, he found them in a much lesser state compared to what they used to be. God himself then provided a better alternative of covering by making a garment from skin. Has it ever occurred to us that no man has ever been able to successfully make clothing or covering of leaves that will last? But man has been able to improve on skin (Leather). Have you tried dressing up with leaves before? Have you been dressed up in leaves all your life? Then come to the master designer for an alternative covering, Jesus is calling you to leave that Ghetto life and mentality and move to the Guest mansion today, listen to the call.

      There were many flaws in the first product of man after he sinned which are; (1) Leaves will dry up and wither in a matter of days while Leather lasts for years (the older the stronger) (2) Leaves are rough and an imperfect form of covering but Leather is smooth and neat (3) Leaves takes time to be converted into clothing and ends up a waste after a few weeks but Leather lasts longer and is useful. (4)Leaves cannot protect man from cold weather but it is a known fact that the commonly used material against cold is Leather clothing. (5) Leaves are time/season bound but Leather can be gotten any time of the season.

MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 3:15 “Trust in the LORD with all your Heart and lean not on your own understanding” 

PRAYER:  Dear Lord, help me to lean on you all the days of my life for your divine instructions and leading. (AMEN)

GREAT CHANGE

Luke 19:1-10                                                                                                            

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “look Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount”. (Verse 8)

The first thing usually noticed in the life of a new convert is change, from the change people will know that such individual has abandoned his/her old ways of life. Zacchaeus displayed an unusual character not common with the rich converts of his time. Sam Adeyemi listed three characteristics of rich men during the time of Zacchaeus as follows; (a) Rich men do not run but hire people to run for them. I believe with this stance he was willing and desperate for change of life style (b) Rich men do not climb trees but hire people to climb for them. Will and determination is not enough but active determination he displayed demonstrate how much he wanted the change (c) Rich men do not want to part with their riches. The young rich ruler went back all because he could not part with his wealth.

The moment Christ saw the determination of Zacchaeus he announce his salvation. If you are willing and ready to move from your present spiritual ghetto to a new realm in Christ, all you have to do is to call on Jesus today and make your declaration for him today and allow the great change become your portion. Decamping to the side of Jesus culminates into new level of experience and Positive transform as against the negative life style. Christ give Joy, Hope and unlimited breakthrough in him.

PRAYER:  Lord I come to you today; I give you my life, and confess with my mouth that you are the Lord of my life. Come into my life to rule. Thank you for the change of salvation in my life (AMEN).

FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

Hebrew 11:4-40

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received

what had been promised (Verse 39) NIV

                                             

 It is part of human nature to grow weary when God’s promises for our live lingers. We are often impatient and want things to happen almost immediately, forgetting the fact that “God is not a timed God but he is the God of time that lives outside of time”. According to the records in the book of Hebrews 11 men of old did not receive the promise of God on time. If I may ask, what will your reactions be if God’s promise is not forth coming? Will you remain faithfully or otherwise? Faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”. Faith can also be defined as Full Assurance In The Lord of Host.

The men of old never had the privileges we have today yet they remain faithful unto death.

Men of this generation are often impatient, hasty and self-centred, we want Magic rather than Miracle, faithful is he who is able to stand the test of time. Men of old are individual with flesh and blood like us but through faith they commanded Sun to stand still and the moon to stop Joshua 10:12-13 and by faith stopped the rain for three years I king 17:1,18:1, by faith prophesy of the future event Psalm 24:7-10, Isaiah 53:11-12, Daniel 12:1-13 and Revelation19:1-21

 The faith of our fathers in faith looks crazy to this generation but God wants the faith of this generation to be greater compare to theirs. Do you want the divine habitation of God and his power in you today then come to him and believe in him and do not help him, only yield to him this hour, Jesus is calling and waiting for you. Have a FAITH filled day, Shalom.

PRAYER: I belief in you Lord, Help my faith to totally trust in you and wait for your leading. Dear Lord, release unto me the grace to increase my faith in you (AMEN).

WOMAN

Judges 16:15-21

Her Children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her... Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates. (Prov.31:28 & 31)

The main reason God created a woman was to be a help meet, the word Help Meet is not by accident but to fulfil God’s purpose of covering up a man’s weakness, but some women are no more WOnder unto their Man but a Woe unto their MAN. A woman has the ability/power to build up or to destroy her man or her home. There have been great stories of how women added values to their families while some tear theirs down. There was a time Adebukola told me to give her all my fragments (N5 and N10) of all balance I collect after transitions or purchases but I decided to give up to (N5, N10, N20 and N50) of all balance I collect, 3 months later she loaned me three times the amount I requested, I was curious about the excess but she told me the amount she gave me was my fragment savings.

The Bible describes a disgraceful woman as decay in her man’s bone Proverbs 12:4 unrealistic women kill a man faster than a plague. When some woman discovers their beauty and it gets into their head such women tends to be proud and snobbish believing in their beauty. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting Proverbs 31:3, the most important duty of a woman is to strengthen her man and home. The God given power and ability of women have not all be totally harnessed due to gender discrimination and segregation in our society led by men.

Woman, the joy of the married and the sorrow of the unmarried, the divine one who sails her man to shore of peace, an evil spirit who torments her man as with sweet wine. A mysterious one who has the ability to either makes or mars a man’s destiny, an enchanter full of seductive words and figure of enticement.

A saint who with tenderness and prayers guides her man to the HAVEN OF JOY, a devil incarnate that serially tame to the SNARE OF DEATH.

A man without thee is both happy but incomplete, the terrible one who can bring God’s wrath on her man, the sacred one that brings God’s peace and love upon her man.

The sacred one that can invoke GOD’s peace and Blessings on Her man the double faced being of good and bad.

Prayer:

Women: Dear Lord Make me a Wonder unto my man not a woe unto my man.

Men: Dear Lord Make my wife a Wonder unto me not a woe unto me.

JESUS OR BARABBAS

Matthew 27:15-22

so when the crowd had gathered, pilate asked them, “which one do you want me to release to you; Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ”. (verse 17)

On the eve of my eleventh birthday my sister whom I usually call Mum gave me a task of choice making that affected my reasoning till date.”Do you want a car or money?” she said, I become perplexed on which of the items to choose, while she was waiting for my response, I quickly thought within me, I will spend the money quickly but I will prefer a car that will boost my status among my peers so, I said ‘a car’, but to my utmost disappointment she handed over to me a picture frame of Lamborghini, throughout that night I was so sad and mad at my choice. Years later after knowledge has increased I asked myself, what I want a car for at that age if not greedy and the thought of immediate gratification. I then analysed the dynamics of choice making and come these conclusion: there are two factors that affects our decision making per time

(I) EXTERNAL FACTORS: (a) how people influence our actions and behaviour: Our actions revolve round how we are been manipulated, intimidated or motivated to get things done. We easily do things charismatic speakers, good analysts or creative negotiators who comes our way convince us to do (b) the vogue mentality: most of our behaviours are not too far from fashion or style of the moment, (c) what people say about me: We like to impress people around who mostly do not like us but will still want to be in their good book. John Maxwell once said ‘We borrow the money we do not have to buy things we do not need to impress the people who do not like us’ (d) Peer Pressure: Actions and responses of people is centred around complying with “everybody is doing it syndrome” come join us. About 75% people hooked on drugs in Nigeria, is traceable to peer pressure (II) INTERNAL FACTORS; (a) My Value System:  Making choice is informed by our belief system (b) My Self Worth: Self esteem goes a long way in affecting the quality of decision made. There is need to create an inner image of who you are not what people say you are. (c) Greed:  Most people make hasty decision due to impulse, most of this group of people regret they actions later in life.

  We are seldom given task of choice in our daily life, but when we make the wrong choice, we feel bad, knowing that we hastily made those choices without taking a deep thought on the outcome of our choices. Any choice to be made based on advice should be well considered. Bishop Thomas Aremu once said “Your choice will determine your chance in life”. Most people in the crowd shouted in favour of the release of Barabbas who does not really know the implication of their choice, they made their choice based on external factor and not based on internal factor.

PRAYER: Lord, help me to inquire of you before making any choice in my life. (AMEN).