WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2020.

SUBJECT: WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8 vs 1.)

READ: Romans 8 vs 4 - 8:

8:4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
8:5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
8:6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8:8: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

INTIMATION:

When you are in close spiritual and salvational relationship with Christ, you come into a saved covenant relationship with God wherein you are not in a state of condemnation. In this state one is free from the bondage of sin. In Christ one is not directing his life according to the desires of the flesh, but according to the directions of the Spirit. He is not walking according to the pride of meritorious conduct, but according to his submission to the word of God.

We must not understand our walk after the Spirit to mean that one is directed by inner nudges of what one would interpret to be a supposed direct intervention by the Spirit. In Christ we are no more guided by our subjective emotions that focus on the emotional performances of the individual, but guided by the apart knowledge of God’s will enumerated in God’s Word. When one is guided by the Spirit, he or she is directed by the Spirit-inspired word that comes from God. Walking after the Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings. 

We all have evil desires, and we can’t ignore them. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively. These desires include obvious sins, such as sexual immorality and demonic activities. They also include less obvious sins, such as hostility, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life. 

Not being guided by the Spirit is being carnally minded, which is to have the mind of focusing on one’s own desires. But those who behave according to the Spirit-inspired directions of God are not living according to their desires to live after their own wills. In a religious context, being carnally minded is focusing on one’s own ability to perform law in order to save one’s self. The carnally minded person is walking in sin, though he may not recognize the fact he is in sin. But the Spiritually minded person focuses by faith on the cross and God’s grace. He has life and peace because he is trusting in the grace of God and not in his abilities in reference to law keeping.

Though we seek to do that which is good, the nature of our being as free-moral individuals in a world of choice does not give us the ability to live flawlessly. Though the conscience of the Christian is made sensitive by the law of God as revealed through the Holy Spirit, the Spirit does not directly control the behavior of the Christian in reference to law in order to guard him from sin. It is wrong for anyone to claim that the Holy Spirit subjects free-moral Christian in order to guard him or her from sinning. 

The person who lives after the Spirit has crucified the old man of sin. He has put to death the desires to allow the lusts of the flesh to direct his life. But the person who lives according to the lusts of flesh in order to follow his own will is headed for eternal condemnation. Though we often willingly corporate with our sinful nature, it is not us but the sin in us that is evil. And it is this power of sin at work in our life that is defeated when we embrace Christ.

Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires. Through faith in Christ we stand righteous before God. We need no longer live under sin’s power. God does not take us out of the world or make us robots—we will still feel like sinning and sometimes we will sin. The difference is that before we were saved we were slaves to our sinful nature, but now we can choose to live for Christ. 

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire is to walk after the Spirit. Engrace me to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit in every area of my life, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE POWER OF SPEECH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE POWER OF SPEECH!

Memory verse: "

You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth" (Proverbs 6 vs 2).

READ: Psalm 141 vs 3; Proverbs 18 vs 21; James 3 vs 2:

Psalm 141: Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Proverbs 18:21: Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 3:2: For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body.

INTIMATION:

The thoughts and intents of our hearts are voiced out in words with the aid of the tongue, the flexible muscular organ in the bottom of the mouth used for tasting, swallowing and human speech. Those words we speak can work wonders, but they can also work blunders! The Bible states that word is a seed (Luke 8 vs 11), and if spoken from a poisoned mind, it is a disaster. An idle word spoken aloud may fall into the soil of someone's heart and poison his entire life. And a good word spoken heals a broken heart. When one realizes that words are the coin of the kingdom and words can be either a cursing influence or a blessing, he or she will learn to value the power of speech.  

Those who realize the power of speech will often use it to their own advantage. Therefore, those who know the power of speech must assume responsibility for what they say. Learn to control your tongue. Avoid careless speech because it is a vicious habit. Multitude of people fail in life because they speak failure. What you say locates you. You cannot rise above your own words. If you speak defeat, failure, anxiety, sickness, and unbelief, you will live on that level. Neither you nor anyone else, no matter how clever, will ever live above the standard of their words. This spiritual principle is unalterable. If your words are foolish, trifling, unpractical, or disorganized, your life invariably will be the same way. 

With your words, you constantly paint a picture of your inner self. Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the. Heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12 vs 34). If you think back on your life, you will probably agree that most of your troubles have been tongue troubles. No one can live without sometimes losing control of his or her tongue. The tongue is the hardest member of the body to control and the last thing that is to be brought under control in one’s life. Realizing the power of speech, one should be careful of the words that he or she utters.

In our memory verse, the Bible says, "Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." Numerous troubles are caused by an unruly tongue! Words spoken in the heat of the moment—words of anger, words of harshness, words of retaliation, words of bitterness, words of unkindness—these words produce trouble for us. In the passage we read today, David knowing the power of speech, prayed God to set a guard over his mouth, to keep watch over the doors of his lips, knowing that in it lies the power of life and death. It's really important that we let God help us overcome our unruly speech habits, for our words can work blunders and get us into trouble. 

The apostle James said this of the mouth, "With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, of a grapevine bear fig? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.” (James 3 vs 9 - 12.) 

At times our words are right and pleasing to God, but at other times they are violent and destructive. Refuse to have a bad speech habit. We are made in God's image, but the tongue gives us a picture of our basic sinful nature. God works to change us from inside out. When the Holy Spirit purifies a heart, He gives self-control so that the person will speak words that please God. We should endeavor to always speak the good things God has promised us, and avoid speaking sickness, defeat, bondage, lack, and failure. Also, repudiate a dual speech habit. For, instance, you say at one moment, "With His stripes I am healed" (Isaiah 53 vs 5) and at the next moment, "But the pain is still there." A negative speech often produces negative result. 

Go to higher level of living in the kingdom of God. Believe that you are who God says you are. Think that way. Talk that way. Act that way. Train yourself to live on the level of what is written about you in God's Word. Do not permit your thoughts, your words, or your actions to contradict what God says about you.

Prayer: Abba Father, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. O Lord, engrace me that my words to be filled with love from a humble heart at all times, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BREAKFAST BY THE SEASIDE
Life's Punchlines... (Volume 3).
❤🇳🇬🇳🇬 Year 2020🇳🇬🇳🇬❤.

Preacher: Priest Godsknight O.J

Topic: Divine Compass.

Text: Is 30v21" Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it", whenever you turn to the right hand, or whenever you turn to the left."

Direction is better than speed 🚑; speed is perfect once you're led ✈( Prov 3v5-6). David returned from battle & realized the Amalekites had carted away all the relevant substances in Ziklag.

After weeping profusely for a while with his men, he did something quite profound. He reached out ✋for the Ephod, hence, got clarity (1 Sam 30v3-19 ).

Happenstances can't mock God's existence in your life, if you have a divine compass. Obstacles will suddenly become your spectacles for achieving the laudable, if you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you ( Rom 8v14-17).

No matter how generous you are, if God did not lead you, you can't meet needs (Acts 3v1-10). Waisting resources is not the same as meeting needs, only those who met needs stayed relevant (Acts 9v36-43 ).

Wicked people find it hard to love others. Unfortunately, the love they claim to have for themselves is laughable. I pray, your enemies shall shoot themselves in the foot for your sake in Jesus Name (Nah 1v9).

Recently, God showed me two lame in demonic realms, who agreed to be lame as a price to slow down my ministry. I just laughed it off 🤣 because they're just foolish ( Num 23v23, Is 54v15-17).

When your ministry is walking on Jesus' legs, you'll have no fear. I pray for you today, your businesses, ministries, marriages, shall begin to work & walk miraculously on waters 🏄🏻‍♂🏄‍♀ in Jesus Name ( Is 50v4-5).

The devil & his mercenaries has  blue prints they want to run your life on (Num 22v6 ), make sure your blue print is from Jesus & run it well (Prov 26v2 ). Receive a divine compass that'll help you navigate through life today in Jesus Name.

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.

HINDRANCE TO GOD’S COMPASSIONSHIP!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2020.

SUBJECT:  HINDRANCE TO GOD’S COMPANIONSHIP!

Memory verse:  "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.” (Psalm 27 vs 4.)

READ:  Psalm 23 vs 6; 27 vs 4 - 6: 

23:6: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

27:4: One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.

27:5: For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle He shall hide me; h0He shall set me high upon a rock.

27:6: And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will I offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

INTIMATION:

One of the hindrances to having God as our constant companion may lie in our desire to be independent. We may submit to Him as Father because we see no other choice. But to invite Him into a closer relationship that culminates into having Him as a constant companion—His being actively involved in every area of our lives, and giving His seal of approval to all we do—is found by many as too intimidating and threatening, apparently because they like their space. 

There are some people who want to be independent and not have others, even God, tell or suggest what they should do. We can be certain if we have any of these tendencies, that the adversary is going to use our weaknesses—our mistrust and self-centeredness—to try to keep us separated from God. Sometimes our lives are clustered that we have a hard time letting the Lord have control. David’s greatest desire was to live in God’s presence each day of his life. Sadly, this is not the greatest desire of many who claim to be believers. What do you most desire? Do you look forward to being in the presence of the Lord? 

Go to God in prayer asking Him to bring you back to basics with Him. Ask Him to strip from you anything which is not from Him and which is not absolutely necessary for your relationship with Him. Demand that He adds anything He wish and ask Him to be first in your life. If you are sincere in this prayer, you will find He will start changing you, taking away your desire for things you do not need right now, or at least giving you the ability to resist their attraction. If God is showing you that there a problem for you in an area, pray something similar to the model of prayer below. Make certain it expresses what you want to say to God:

"Lord, I tend to be independent and want to do things on my own without others interfering-not even You. I know this is wrong, but I will need to give up a lifetime habit of being in control of my life. Help me, Holy Spirit, not only to want to do things Your way, but to have the courage to do whatever You show me to do. Help me submit every area of my life to You. Show me where I have not trusted in You fully and how to resist such doubts from now on. Give me Scripture to counter any enemy attack. Then help me to be happy in releasing all of this to You, in order to keep the enemy from making me feel bitter or resentful. Let me see it as a positive thing. I love You and trust You."

God will begin to fine tune your life in order to strip away small hindrances. These things, even though so insignificant, and may not bother many, are definite barriers to your developing companionship with the Lord. A wise person once said, "When God measures you, He puts the tape around your heart, not your head." So how is your heart doing? At the level of having God as your faithful companion, you should have a more intense desire to spend quality time with the Lord both in prayer and in the Word. 

Becoming a companion of the Lord will give you a hunger for the Word, in part, because that is how to get to know God better. Scripture will become an important resource through difficult situations as He leads you to specific promises to claim in each circumstance. Studying His Word will touch your emotions and give you a greater sense of His care and your security in Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, one thing that I desire; that You may be my companion all the days of my life. Engrace me that I may not be hindered by any faults of mine, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE NOT OFFENDED IN GOD AND MEN!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2020.

SUBJECT : BE NOT OFFENDED IN GOD AND MEN!

Memory verse: “And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." (Matthew 11 vs 6.)

READ: Job 9 vs 4; Isaiah 45 vs 9 - 10:

Job 9:4: God is wise in heart, and mighty in strength. Who has hardened himself against Him, and prospered?

Isaiah 45:9: “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ 

Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’?

45:10: Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’ Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?’”

INTIMATION:

While preparing your heart to approach God in prayer, one of the things you must guard against is offenses. So many have their conscience ensnared with offenses toward God or man, and all they do in prayer is nothing but complain, and murmur. When you are offended in God, you turn Him against yourself; and if God is against you, who will save you? If you despise Him, who will lift you? Everything that moves you to question the integrity of God, or His love for you must be destroyed, so that the altar of your heart can be prepared for the fire from heaven. 

When you are offended in God or man, you bear iniquities in your heart that inhibits God from hearing you (Psalm 66 vs 18). Many are stranded because of offenses. When they stand in prayer, they justify themselves against God. They say, "Lord, I've paid my tithe, I have done everything that You commanded. Only You haven't done your part." In other words, they count themselves faithful and God unfaithful. But the Bible says, "...Let God be true but every man a liar..." (Romans 3 vs 4.)

Anything that makes you to murmur against God is moving you against your destiny. You can't expect Him to answer your prayers when your heart is full of complains and offenses toward God or man. If you have lost anything, God is the reason you didn't loose everything. May be the enemy's intention was to take your life, but God stepped in and you only lost your car. But there you are, offended, and complaining in prayer. If He withdraws His hand from your life, can you imagine what will become of you?

In our memory verse, Jesus said that those who do not take any offense in the Lord are fortunate and blessed. When John the Baptist was languishing in prison, after a successful forerunning for the coming Messiah, he began to have some doubts about whether Jesus really was the Messiah. John thought in his heart that if his purpose was to prepare people for the coming Messiah, and He ha done well in this regard, then why was he in prison when he could have been preaching to the crowds, preparing their hearts. John expected that the coming Messiah should be able to save him from prison. 

When his disciples came and put his question to Jesus,—"Are you the Coming One, or do we look for another?" (Matthew 11 vs 3.) Jesus knew that he was already offended in Him. He asked the disciples to go back to him with the good news of His exploits—The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Obviously, that would have offended John the more because he already had heard all those evidence that indicated the real identity of Jesus, and wondered why He didn't want to save Him from prison. 

The wise and right thing to do when you are in doubt because of happenings around you is turn to Him, and not turn away from Him. Remember, it was in the same prison and the same Jailer that held Paul and Silas. They were doing the work of the Messiah when they were arrested and jailed. But they didn't get offended, both toward God or the men, but instead sang and praised God while in there, and God came in His Might and saved them. But forJohn, he was eventually beheaded when the King's daughter, on the advice of the mother, asked for his head in a platter.

The Scripture says in Hebrews 11 vs 6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." So, set your heart right before Him. Count Him faithful in all things. Refuse to complain, but rather let God know that you have no alternative beside Him, and that you are ready to hang on till your answer comes from Him. Any attempt to step away from God, is stepping into doom. Certainly, there is no unrighteous with God! (Romans 9 vs 14.)

Let your conscience be as that of the apostle Paul who said, "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men." (Acts 24 vs 16.) Give your destiny motion by clearing off every offense from your heart, to establish a thoroughfare to heaven in prayers. This is the way to maintain a good communication line with God.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the Lord, the Creator of all things for Your purposes. All that happen are already known to You, and You allow them for Your purposes. Engrace me with a conscience free from offenses toward You and men, that I may be worthy of Your blessings, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

A LIFE WELL LIVED!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2020.

SUBJECT : A LIFE WELL LIVED!

Memory verse: 

"

But David, after he had served his own generation by the Will of God, fell asleep..." 

(Acts 13 vs 36.)

READ: Acts 13 

vs 20 - 23:

13:20: 

"After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.

13:21: And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.

13:22: And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.' 

13:23: From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior - Jesus -.

INTIMATION:

God created all things to serve His purposes. You and I are created for some purposes. Those who lived purposefully for God were remarkably acknowledged by Him, and that is, "A life well lived." In our memory verse, the Bible strikingly said about David, "But David, after he had served his own generation by the Will of God, fell asleep..." David, in his generation served remarkably in the Will of God. He had, "A life well lived."

In the passage we read today, It is then not surprising that God testified of David, called him a man after His own heart. The Scripture said, "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My Will." (Acts 13 vs 22.) There is no greater compliment than that statement. Imagine such epitaph chiseled on your tombstone: That you served God's purpose in your generation. My prayer is that people will say that about me when I die. It is also my prayer that people will say it about you, too. The phrase is the ultimate definition of "A life well lived."

A life well lived is all about purpose-driven life, doing God's Will in the world that earns you eternal glory—to live with Him forever. God created you, at this time in history, for a purpose. Neither past or future generations can serve God's purpose in this generation, but only we, in this generation, can. Like Esther God created you "for such a time as this." (Esther 4 vs 14.) God is looking for people to use. The Bible, in Second Chronicles 16 vs 9, says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him...." Will you be a person God can use for His purposes? Will you serve God's purpose in your generation? Will God say of you, "He will live his life well, serving My purpose in his generation?"

Any Christian chasing after, "A life well lived," would have the counsel of the apostle Paul recorded in First Corinthians 9 vs 24 - 27, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."

Paul said that he ran straight to the goal with purpose in every step. His only reason for living was to fulfill the purposes God had for him. He said, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1 vs 21.) He was not afraid of either dying or living. Either way, he would fulfill God's purposes. If he lived, it is for good to others whom he labors to teach the ways of Christ. And if he died, he would join Christ to live in eternity with Him. Either way he wins.

The sports race illustration used by the apostle Paul above, explains the required purpose and discipline for believers. As Christians, the required life takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation. We are running toward our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study and meditation, and worship, equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Don't merely observe from the grandstand; don't just turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning. Train diligently as your spiritual progress depends upon it.

One day history will come to a close, but eternity will go on forever. When fulfilling your purposes seems tough, don't give in to discouragement. Remember your reward, which will last forever. The Bible says, "For our light afflictions, which is for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (Second Corinthians 4 vs 17.) Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 

Prayer: Abba Father, eternity with You is my utmost desire. Help me in my quest for a life pleasing to You, according to Your plan and purpose, that I may come boldly to Your throne of grace, and obtain mercy, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BREAKFAST BY THE SEASIDE
Life's Punchlines... (Volume 3).
❤🇳🇬🇳🇬 Year 2020🇳🇬🇳🇬❤.

Preacher: Priest Godsknight O.J

Topic: Be Pleasurable.

Text: Prov 16v7" When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."

Life would be easier, if the God-factor is well understood. It's one thing to review the scriptures constantly, it's another thing to know that we're God's new scriptures (2 Cor 3v2, 6).

We converge weekly in order to use worship, scriptures & prayers to refine our body, soul & spirit ( 2 Tim 2v15). Hence, to increase our knowledge of Jesus (Hab 2v14).

Pleasing Jesus doesn't mean our enemies won't fire arrows 🏹 at us, it's just that such won't find relevance in our lives 🤹🏼‍♂🤹🏾‍♀ (Is 60v18).

No demon can function in your life, if you're informed. They will always need your ignorance to spread their wings over your life; your permission to crucify you (Prov 6v4-5 ).

In this generation, opposite sex should be able to bond better in friendship, without abusing emotion. Up the state of your mind towards those who're emotionally weak, that's why you're made strong ( John 8v1-12).

Hab 2v15" Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to the bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness."

The literal meaning is not really about alcohol or nudity, it could be those efforts made in order to swindle a minor, or disrupt organizations for profit sake, using fake news, et al (Jer 17v11, Hab 2v12).

Are you abusing children in the creche you work with? Repent now, a lot of Made Pages are in limbo because this evil spirit tormented them.

I prophesy, may the arrows causing such acts in your life be broken now, no longer will you have urge for prepubescents in Jesus name ( Ps 107v20).

Finally, let the devil be too broke to bribe you ( Matt 4v8-11). We're made in honour (Ps 49v20), don't reduce for silver, gold, or fame (Dan 3v16-18 ,Heb 12v1-2).

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.