LOVE AND SERVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 29, 2020

SUBJECT: LOVE AND SERVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART!

Memory verse: "So he answered and said, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and your neighbor as yourself.’” (Luke 10 vs 27.)

READ: Deuteronomy 11 vs 13 - 15:

11:13: And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

11:14: then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

11:15: And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.

INTIMATION:

God demands our love and service (total devotion) to Him, and in sincerity of heart, not with eye-service, but doing the Will of God from your heart. Doing the Will of God is obeying His commandments passionately, that is from your heart! How do you know when you are serving God from your heart? The first telltale sign is enthusiasm—your excitement, and great interest in serving Him. When you are doing what you love to do, no one has to motivate you or challenge you or check up on you. You do it for sheer enjoyment. You don't need rewards, or applause or payment, because you love serving in this way. This is exactly what God requires of us. 

The second characteristic of serving God from your heart is effectiveness. Whenever you do what God wired you to love to do, you get good at it. Passion drives perfection. If you don't care about a task, it is unlikely that you will excel at it. In contrast, the highest achievers in any field are those who do it because of passion, not duty or profit.

God’s interest in the man’s heart is because the heart is the center of the man. Your heart reveals the real you—what you truly are, not what others think you are or what circumstances force you to be. Your heart determines why you say the things you say, why you feel the way you feel, and why you act the way you do. The Bible, in Proverbs 27 vs 19, says, "As in water face reflects face, so a man's heart reveals the man." The Bible uses the term heart to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have. Your heart represents the source of all your inspirations—what motivates you, you love to do, and what you care about most. Even today we still use the word in this way when we say, "I love you with all my heart."

It’s for this reason that God demands our heart (our passion) in loving and serving Him.

Our heart—our feelings of love and desire—dictates to a great extent how we live because we always find time to do what we enjoy, hence God’s interest in our hearts. In Proverbs 4 vs 23, the Scripture says, "Keep you heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life." It tells us to guard our heart above all else, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path—the path of God. When your heart is centered on God, your affections push you in the right direction—the path of God—and consequently, you put boundaries on your desires, and will not do or go after everything you see. 

Another word for heart is passion. There are certain subjects you feel passionate about and others you could care less about. Some experiences turn you on and capture your attention while others turn you off or bore you to tears. These reveal the nature of your heart. Your emotional heartbeat is the second key to understanding your shape for service. God gave each and everyone of us some inborn interests. Don't ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God's glory. 

Now, what is your passion for God? God wants you to serve Him passionately, not dutifully. Let the service come from your heart. The Bible repeatedly tells us to "serve the Lord with all your heart."  People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about. God wants you to use your natural interests to serve Him and others. The reason you love to do those things you love doing is because you derive great passion in doing them. Listening to inner prompting—signals from your heart—can point you to the ministry God intends for you to have. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your Will is that I love and serve You, and others with passion. Engrace me to manifest fully in passionate love and service to You and others, O Lord, 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: Pray For SARS.

Text: Is 62v1 "For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns."

I was having an intercessory session on Tuesday morning, when the LORD said, "There is a need to pray specifically for this unit".

The rate at which members of this unit commit deliberate blunder, suggests that they have a handful of spiritual & psychological problems.

Security agency members, especially in this part of Africa seek protection and fortifications using fetish means. This gives the devil 😈 an edge over those who patronize him.

When those who are suppose to value lives, now waste lives than armed robbers do, it means blood thirsty demons has taken over their souls.

God is of the opinion that, complaining about SARS without waging spiritual warfares on their behalf is wrong.

From the days of John The Baptist, spiritual violence has been legalized. Don't wait till SARS members kill your loved ones before you attack incessant Evil schemes.

Cursing the SARS unit is not wise, don't give the devil 😈 an occasion to activate more spell on them. The ripple effect might be undesirable, let us pray:

1) Father, every spell that is controlling the SARS unit, neutralize such with Your ever potent blood in Jesus Name ( Col 2v14-15 ).

2) Every Spirit of confusion in the life of SARS, consume with Your refiner's fire 🔥 in Jesus Name ( Exod 3v2).

3) LORD Jesus, I decree that none of my friends, family member will be a victim of rituals in Jesus Name (Heb 11v33-34 ).

4) Father, inject the spirit of love for humans into the life of every SARS member in Jesus Name (Matt 7v12 ).

5) Father, raise a standard against the spirit causing this unit's senseless killing ( 1 John 4v1, Is 54v15).

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.

THE LOVE OF GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 28, 2020

SUBJECT: THE LOVE OF GOD! 

Memory verse: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3 vs 16.)

READ: Romans 5 vs 5 - 8:

5:5: Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

5:6: For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
5:7: For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet perhaps for a good man some would even dare to die.

5:8: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

INTIMATION:

The love of God was manifested by the death of the Son for those who were unworthy. God sent Jesus Christ to die for us, not because we were good enough, but just because He loved us. If the death of Jesus on the cross were the result of debt that God had to pay for the merit of those who kept the law and performed meritorious deeds, then there would be no manifestation of love and grace. However, since Jesus died for the unworthy sinners—to pay the wages of sin we owed—then love and grace are manifested. Whenever you feel uncertain about God’s love for you, remember that He loved even before you turned to Him.

The problem of being human is the fact that we cannot live in a manner that is sinless before God. Therefore, we cannot live in a manner that would merit the mercy of God. Mercy is not given out of debt, but out of love and grace. God’s mercy is not something that we merit according to law. It is given out of love and not on the basis that it is legally earned. When we realize how far God had reach to bring us out of sin, we realize how far we were in sin and how hopeless our situation was in sin. However, regardless of our sinfulness, God loved us to the extent that He sent His Son to die for our sins.

If one’s knowledge of God’s love offering of Jesus on the cross does not stimulate a loving response to God, Then one’s heart is hardened. It is not a heart that is fit for eternal dwelling. Because God has first loved us, we love in response (Romans 5 vs 8). Because He had mercy on us, we have mercy toward others. The nature of the hearts that are fit for eternal dwelling is merciful because of love.

God’s action toward man was the result of love. Therefore, “We love Him because He loved us first” (First John 4 vs 19.) One must not exercise a simple belief in Jesus, but rather God’s grace to us on the cross through Jesus must stimulate an obedient faith response. The faith response is the condition, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is  rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11 vs 6.) Those who do not respond to God’s grace by obedient faith will perish from the presence of God. But those who do believe and respond, will have life because they will remain in the presence of God throughout eternity.

The message of the gospel comes to a focus in our memory verse. God’s love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. Here God sets the pattern of true love, the basis of all love relationships—when you love someone dearly, you are willing to give freely to the point of self-sacrifice. God paid dearly with the life of His Son, the highest price He could pay. Jesus accepted our punishment, paid the price for our sins, and then offered us the new life that He brought for us. When we share the gospel with others, our love must be like Jesus’—willingly giving up our own comfort and security so that others might join us in receiving God’s love.

Now, look at the conclusion of the whole matter as the apostle Paul says, “....We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor power, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8 vs 37 - 39.)

These verses contain one of the most comforting promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, and even death. These sometimes cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. But Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can separate us from Christ’s presence. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid.

Prayer: Abba Father, Your love has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit who was given to me. You adopted me as Your son, I am complete in You, and have Your fullness in Christ. You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. I am in You, and You in me. Strengthen me with might according to Your glorious power that I may be fruitful in every god work, worthy of Your calling and fully pleasing You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD’S LAW OF MEASURE FOR MEASURE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2020

SUBJECT : GOD’S LAW OF MEASURE FOR MEASURE!

Memory verse: 

"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6 vs 38.)

READ: Matthew 7 vs 1 - 5:

7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged.
7:2: For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged: and with what measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

INTIMATION:

God has a divine law of measure for measure; tit for tat. Therefore, understand that it is the measure with which you give that determines what you will receive in return. That is to say, ‘What you measure out is measured back to you in return.’ Do not pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down, that critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. Be easy on people, you will find life a lot easier. Give away your life, you will find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.

The thrust of what Jesus teaching is that we will be dealt with in the same manner by which we treat our fellow humans.  Therefore, when we measure mercy to others, God will in turn measure mercy to us. A forgiving spirit demonstrates that a person has received forgiveness. If you are critical rather than compassionate, you will also receive criticism. If you treat others generously, and compassionately, however, these qualities will come back to you in full measure. Jesus taught us to love others as ourselves, not judge them, and is on the premise love that the fulfillment of all laws consist.

Jesus’ command to love others as you love yourself (Matthew 22 vs 39), is foundation of meting out godly and goodly treatments to others, and thus receiving the same in return. When believers lose the motivation of love, they become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Have you talked behind someone’s back? Have you focused on others’ shortcomings instead of their strength? Remind yourself of Jesus’ command on love. When you begin to feel critical of someone, make s list of that person’s positive qualities. When problems need to be addressed, confront love rather than gossip.

The Scripture says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another; for He who loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13 vs 8.) Why is love for others considered something we owe? We are permanently in debt to Christ for the lavish love He has poured out on us. The only way we can even begin to repay this debt is by fulfilling our obligation to love others in turn. Because Christ’s love will always be infinitely greater than ours, we will always have the obligation to love our neighbors. 

The Bible say, “Talk no more so very proudly; let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; with Him actions are weighed.” (First Samuel 2 vs 3.) Undoubtedly, God is All-knowing, and nobody can escape His judgement. He will  give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings (Jeremiah 17 vs 10). God will weigh your deeds as well as the deeds of those who have wronged you. 

Jesus statement “Judge not,” is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement to overlook wrong behavior of others but a call to be discerning rather than negative. 

We need to speak out against sin, but we must do so in a spirit of humility. Often the sins we notice most clearly in others are the ones that have taken root in us. If we look closely at ourselves, we may find that we are committing the same sins in more socially acceptable forms. For example, a person who gossips may be very critical of others who gossip about him or her.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the good spirit of love that I may treat others lovely; measuring out goodly and godly treatment to others, and receiving in like manner, 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: A Caravan That Blesses!

Text: Num 23v20" Behold, I have received a commandment to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it."

Nothing should interest more than the fact that, when God's hand is stretched forth to bless you, no devil can turn it back ( Is 14v27).

If they bribe people to curse you, they'll mistakenly bless you incontrovertibly ( Num 23v23). Henceforth, your enemies won't call you a debtor (2 Kings 4v1-7).

Everywhere Jesus went, He did good. We are expected to replicate the same feats throughout the Nations, strive to be a caravan that blesses today (John 14v12 ).

As a caravan that blesses, you'll be castigated without a cause. Recently, a female Gospel musician was criticized for dancing 💃 more than David danced🤷🏾‍♂ ( John 15v18-19).

The LORD started this week with a revelation (1 Cor 14v6-8 ). He asked me to tell you that, "You're no longer a debtor to spiritual warders!" You won't go to that prison they prepared for you, if only you can shout the name of Jesus vociferously ( Prov 18v10).

Spiritual traders are everywhere, they won't establish their businesses in your life in Jesus Name. The name of Jesus shall electrocute them with that magnet they want to use to drag you to prison ( Is 7v7).

As a soldier of the Cross, I'm ready to stand in the cold with the flocks till it's warm ( Zech 11v17), the devil 😈 must get tired.

The LORD showed me a vision into this morning, I saw that prisoners gained freedom. Receive it now in Jesus Name ( Is 61v1).

Caravans that blesses always engage in warfares. Joseph engaged in warfares before he could bless Israel & Egypt (Gen 39v1-23 ), the angels sent to Daniel also did (Dan 10v12-13 ).

I'm here to collect that long standing battles from you, & replace them with medals 🏅( Luke 4v18-19). Receive them now in Jesus Name.

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.

PLUGGING INTO THE POWER SOURCE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26, 2020

SUBJECT: PLUGGING INTO THE POWER SOURCE!

Memory verse: “Finally my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Ephesians 6 vs 10.)

READ: Ephesians 6 vs 11; 14 - 18:

6:11: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

6:14: Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

6:15: and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

6:16: above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

6:17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being and watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

INTIMATION:

God himself is the source of all peace and victory. And it is through the things of God—the things we do in fellowship with God, that plugs us into the Source of power. If there is anything the devil tries to do, is to keep people out of fellowship with the Lord. Satan knows that once you are connected to the source of divine power, it is finished for Him.

Do you know what happens when you spend quality time with God? You begin to act like David when he faced the giant Goliath. You begin to take a stand and demand of the enemy, "Who do you think you are to defy the army of the living God?" (First Samuel 17 vs 26.) As soldiers of the Cross, you and I are not supposed to be afraid of our enemy—the devil. Instead, we are to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.” When the spirit of fear comes along, rather than shaking like a leaf, we are to be bold as a lion, and remind the devil that "God has not given us the spirit if fear but of power, love and a sound mind" (Second Timothy 1 vs 7).

The devil comes against those who are doing damage to his kingdom, those who are doing something for God. How then do we withstand the devil? By girding on the full armor of God, taking the shield of faith, by which we can quench his fiery darts, and by wielding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6 vs 14 - 17.) But all of that armor, and all of those weapons come from spending time in fellowship with the Lord; “praying always....” (verse 18). Being strong in fellowship with God is praying always, which strengthens you to properly wear the armor.

Fellowship with the Lord is what ensures a victorious and peaceful Christian life. Salvation is not based on your fellowship; it is based on the blood of Jesus, and your believe and confession of Christ Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. But without fellowship with the Lord, you will struggle the entire time you are here on this earth as a Christian, even though you will be saved because your name is in the Book of life.

It does not mean that you will be in a room with God all the time. If you will give twenty or thirty minutes of sleep in the morning in order to get up early and seek His face, God will honor that sacrifice. It you are willing to turn off the television for thirty minutes in the evening and spend some time in fellowship with the Lord, you will be richly rewarded. However, God is a Loving Father, He will not require more of you than what you are able to give Him. He is not an ogre out to make you miserable. He knows what you need in order to have that abundant, enjoyable, victorious life, and it doesn't come from methods, but from Him.

When you fellowship with the Lord, you learn to quickly follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. However, you should come apart with the Lord in prayer privately, before you come apart publicly. Spend time with God so you can remain stable as you deal with the daily affairs of life. The Christian’s strength is maintained if he or she remains in fellowship with the Lord who is the source of power against Satan.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of prayer and supplication without ceasing, that I may be in constant fellowship with You, and be engrace with the power of the Holy Spirit to meet my needs in all life’s circumstances, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE CAN BE GOD’S PAN!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE CAN BE GOD’S PLAN!

Memory verse: "But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50 vs 20.)

READ: Genesis 37 vs 27 - 28; 45 vs 5 - 8:

37:27: Come Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened.

37:28: The Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

45:5: But now , do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

45:6: For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

45:7: And God sent me before You to, preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

45:8: So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his House, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

INTIMATION:

Perhaps no other account in all of Scriptures illustrates the strange vicissitudes of life more vividly than the biography of Joseph (The Dreamer), and God’s sovereignty. God’s creations are tools in His hands to achieve His plans. His knowledge and wisdom are beyond human comprehension, and past searching out. Joseph was born into privilege. He was the eleventh, and the favorite son of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israelite history. Though Joseph was loved by his father, he was hated by his brothers because of his favored status. Joseph stoked his brothers' hatred by telling them of dreams he had, where his brothers bowed down to him.

One day the brothers could contain their rage no longer. They seized Joseph and threw him into a pit. Their first thought was to kill him, but they changed their minds when they saw a caravan heading for Egypt. Instead of murdering him, his brothers sold him as a slave to members of the caravan—the Ishmaelites. They returned home and told their father that he had been killed by a wild beast. People may mean evil against you, but in God’s plan, such situations are for good. No matter what you are going through in life, remember God is in control. When others intend evil against you, know that they can only be God’s tools. As Joseph said to his brothers in our memory verse, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” 

In Egypt, Joseph became the trusted servant of Potiphar, an official in the king's court. Unfortunately, Potiphar's trust was shattered by one false accusation against Joseph by his master’s wife. Without so much as a court hearing, Joseph was thrown into prison. He was doomed, or so he thought. But a perplexing turn of events raised him to unexpected heights.

In prison, Joseph met the king's cup bearer and the king's baker. Both men were troubled by strange and mysterious dreams. When they told Joseph their dreams, he interpreted the strange visions for them. Days later his words came to pass in precisely the way he had announced. What kind of special powers did Joseph possess? How could he interpret these dreams? Joseph merely attributed his ability to the God of Israel, a God not worshiped in Egypt. 

Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream. His advisors could not even begin to interpret it. Joseph was summoned from the prison to decipher the strange, troubling images. After a moment of silence, Joseph declared that the visions meant that Egypt would be blessed with seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. 

In grateful response, Pharaoh appointed Joseph second-in-command in Egypt (a Prime Minister in a foreign land). Again, Joseph downplayed his own abilities and spoke instead of the power of the Awesome God. And just as he predicted, the seven years of abundance came, as did the seven years of famine. Joseph's unique supernatural gift of God propels him to power.

Joseph's appointment to second-in-command, remains an astonishing moment in ancient history. How do we explain his rise from an impoverished foreigner to an imperial leader? Joseph said to his brothers, "God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to to high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people" (Genesis 50 vs 20). And that is the best explanation of all—the wonderful act of an awesome God. 

The experience in Joseph’s life taught him, and teaches us, that God brings good from evil for those who trust in Him. He overrules people’s evil intentions to bring about His intended results. In Joseph’s case, He brought good from the brothers’ evil deed, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation, the butler’s neglect, and seven years of famine. Trust God enough and wait patiently for Him to bring good out of bad situations you face.

Although Joseph’s brothers didn’t kill him outright, they wouldn’t expect him to survive for long as a slave. They were quite willing to let cruel slave traders do their dirty work for them. Joseph faced a 30-day journey through the desert, probably chained and on foot. He will be treated like baggage, and once in Egypt would be sold as a piece of merchandise. His brothers had wanted to get rid of him, but God used even their evil actions to fulfill His ultimate plan. He had sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, save Egypt, and prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel. God is sovereign. His plans are not dictated by human actions! Hallelujah!

Prayer: Abba Father, I completely put my trust in You. Your thoughts for me are for good, not evil. I pray You upturn all evil intentions of people in my life for good, after the order of Joseph in the Scripture. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!