OBEDIENCE BREEDS SUCCESS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MARCH 10, 2020.

SUBJECT : OBEDIENCE BREEDS SUCCESS!

Memory verse: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth; but you shalt meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1 vs 8.) 

READ: Psalm 1 vs 1 - 3:

1:1 Blessed is the man who  walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.
1:2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law he meditates day and night.
1:3: He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

INTIMATION:

Only two paths of life lie before us—God’s way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction. God judges people on their faith in Him and their response to His revealed will—His Word. Those who diligently try to obey God’s will are blessed. These are the righteous: They are defined by their desire to seek the law of God. Their study of, and meditation on the word of God identifies them as the people of God (Second Timothy 2 vs 15). They do not simply read, but think on the things that are read. They are those whose minds are focused on godly things. Their minds are not be so busied with the things of the world that they do not have time to think on God’s Word. 

The faith of the righteous is continually nourished by the word of God (Romans 10 vs 17). God is working for the righteous. They are like healthy, fruit-bearing trees planted along a riverbank with strong roots (Jeremiah 17 vs 7 - 8), and God promises to watch over them. God’s wisdom guides their lives. In contrast, those who don’t trust and obey God have meaningless lives that blow away like dust. Be sure to choose God’s path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity.

You can learn how to follow God by meditating on His Word. This means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself how you should change so you will live as God wants. Knowing and thinking about God’s Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what He says. The more we know of the whole scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily decisions. The more we delight in obeying God, the more fruitful we are. 

In the passage we read today, the writer begins the psalm extolling the joys of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule Him. The phrase “whatever he does shall prosper” does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties. Nor does it guarantee health, wealth, and happiness. What the Bible means by prosperity is this: When we apply God’s wisdom, the fruit (results or by products) we bear will be good and will receive God’s approval. Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God’s Word in our hearts. 

God told Joshua that to succeed he must obey the rules for living found in God’s law. Often we can’t see what the results or future benefits of following God will be. When we are not certain what to do, obedience to what God has revealed in the Scriptures is the only sure step we can take. Resolve to set aside time each day to read and think about God’s Word. Remind yourself of God’s words day and night. Act today on what you know God has said, and God will assure your success in carrying out His purposes.

God told Joshua that success and prosperity come from obeying and being controlled by Him. God said that to succeed, Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous, because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God’s law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law—God’s Word. To be successful, follow God’s words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes—and His opinion is most important and the final.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of obedience to, and meditation on Your Word that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

OPENING THE DOOR TO YOUR DESTINY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MARCH 9, 2020.

SUBJECT : OPENING THE DOOR TO YOUR DESTINY!

Memory verse: "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1 vs 11.) 

READ: Ephesians 1 vs 17 - 19:

1:17: That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
1:18: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1:19: and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. 

INTIMATION:

A person’s life is like a large house, full of stories and experiences. There are various levels and rooms reserved for certain seasons of life, each one unique in style, complex in design and purpose. Within each house are many doors that open and close throughout the course of its existence. Some are easier to open than others. Some require a little prying. Some are best left closed forever. Others, however, require a key. The door to your destiny is one that requires a key—one that can seem very difficult to find. It cannot be created instantly or reproduced in any way. It cannot be bought with money, although it does come at a price. 

Many Christ-followers wander through their houses—their lives—never able to open the door to their destiny because they simply do not know their true identity in Christ. Although people ask themselves what their purpose in this world is, they rarely live out the answer. I truly believe that in this time of history—in a season of worldly chaos and profound self-anonymity—the Lord is calling His Bride to know her true identity and to live out her purpose, effectively advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven.

To know your identity in Christ requires first and foremost that you know Him personally. As cliché as it sounds, it is the truth! How can one really know himself or herself without first intimately knowing the One who created him or her? Our journey to knowing ourselves begins with knowing God’s nature and character. He is the One who carefully molds the key of identity by revealing Himself in our lives as we pursue Him. As we grow in our knowledge of Him, the following significant things begin to take place:

It causes you to know what He says about you. If you truly desire to know what the Lord says about your identity, dive into His Word! Take this for instance; He calls you His child (John 1 vs 12), He calls you His righteousness (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21), He calls you a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven (Philippians 3 vs 20), He calls you forgiven and set free (Ephesians 1 vs 7, Romans 8 vs 2), He calls you royalty and part of a chosen priesthood. (First Peter 2 vs 9). When we become alive in Christ through salvation, He infuses our spirits with the reality of His DNA and His Kingdom. This is the primary building block of our identity in Him.

Knowing Him reveals your authority in Him. Knowing the people He has divinely called us to be sets the precedent for understanding and operating in His authority. A pastor sometime said, “Unused authority creates a spirit of poverty and limitation.” What a profound statement! How grievous it must be to the Lord when His own people do not understand the authority they possess in Him, and therefore live in apathy and purposelessness! When we operate in the supernatural authority He has implanted in us, we trample on the head of the enemy (see Luke 10 vs 19) and are equipped to preach the Gospel to the nations, witnessing signs, wonders and miracles (see Mark 16 vs 15 - 18).

In my considered opinion, the most powerful aspect of our authority in Christ, however, is that we share in His rule and reign with Him (see Second Timothy 2 vs 11 - 13). This is even more empowering when we realize “as He is, so we are in this world” (First John 4 vs 17). Although we can never be God Himself, the fact that He has called us to be as He is in this world makes certain our identity in Him.

Also, knowing Him gives you eternal perspective, especially when you wholeheartedly understand the fact that you will spend eternity with Him! This simple yet deep revelation allows you to live every aspect of your life with an eternal mindset, giving way to your purpose. 

In responding to the truth, be encouraged to seek Christ more! Allow Him to reveal His character and nature, and form your true identity that will lead to living out the destiny He has prepared for you. Evaluate your own life. Are there lies you have believed about yourself that contradict what the Lord has said about you? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where you have negated your self-worth. Pray for God to give you the courage to utilize the authority He has given you. Remember that faith requires action! 

Prayer: Abba Father, enlighten the eyes of your understanding; that I may know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in me, and be enabled to live as You destined for me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MARCH 8, 2020.

SUBJECT : BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE!

Memory verse: "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you. ” (Hebrews 13 vs 5.)

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 6 vs 10:

6:6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

6:7: For We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

6:8: And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

6:9: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

INTIMATION:

Contentment is being satisfied or pleased with what you have. It primarily signifies to be sufficient. It’s not being obsessed with getting more material things, but rather being relaxed with what you have. The Scripture recognizes that there is great gain in being content. This signifies your trust and reliance on God which greatly helps in spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. Contentment helps us to honor God and center our desires on Him, and be content with what He is doing in our lives.

Christian should learn how to live whether we have plenty, or whether we have need. We should take a cue from the apostle Paul who said, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content; I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and suffer need." (Philippians 4 vs 11 - 12.) 

As a Christian, are you able to be content (get along happily) in any circumstances you face? Like the apostle Paul, we should see life from God’s point of view, relying on God’s promises to provide all our needs. We should focus on what we are supposed to do, not what we feel we should have. Christians should have their priorities straight, and be grateful for everything God had given us, detaching ourselves from the nonessentials so that we could concentrate on the eternal. 

How can we learn to be content with what we have? It’s by striving to live with less rather than desiring more; giving away out of our abundance rather than accumulating more; relishing what we have rather than resenting what we are missing. We become satisfied when we realize God’s sufficiency for our needs. When we focus our lives on behaving after the directions of the word of God, we become content with life, realizing that the purpose of life is not to consume the things of this world upon our own lusts. Rather we should focus on spiritual things that will result in eternal life.

Christians who become materialistic are saying by their actions that God can’t take care of them, or at least that He won’t take care of them the way they want. Insecurity can lead to discontentment. However, God ordained that the things of this world are to sustain our brief stay here in preparation for that which is to come. The only antidote to discontentment is to trust God to meet our needs. See God’s love expressed in what He has provided.

King Solomon, in recognition of the need for contentment, says to God, "Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches - Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You. And say, "Who is the Lord?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God." (Proverbs 30 vs 8 - 9.) 

God recognizes the attributes of man; in plenty man is likely to deny Him, and in lack man will do anything to survive, including stealing which will eventually profane God's name. For instance, having too much money can be dangerous; but so can having little. Being poor can, in fact, be hazardous to spiritual as well as physical health. It is for this reason that God prefers to provide for us, but on a day-by-day basis. There is every likelihood that possessions can take away our concentration and dependence on God because we will not be in need of anything hence will remember less of God.

Prayer: Abba Father, teach me contentment in every circumstances, for I know You will. supply all your needs in a way that You know is best for me. May I never desire  nor have what You cannot give me, 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: Redirected.

Text: Matt 21v42" Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the scriptures:" The stone which the builders rejected Has become the Chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes."

Prior to this Bible verse, Jesus spoke a parable of the wicked vinedresser. He interpreted it in a such a way that negates His disciples' expectations (Matt 21v33-44).

Jesus stylishly changed their perspective of God and the much anticipated judgement day. Judgement day has been so wrongly noised, that it lost value before culprits.

Believers are too quick to conclude that Jesus' arrival will condemn the weak & wicked, forgetting that Jesus interpreted this parable to mean, "If we're not bearing fruits, we're wicked".

Listen up, you surely don't have to think the way the devil 😈 wants you to. Psychological victory, is as important as other victories (Ps 66v18).

Be redirected mentally, stop crucifying those you're here to save. Ministry is reconciliation works, not condemnation (2 Cor 5v17-21).

Every "NO", is a "YES" you need to rework on. It could mean; try the next door, next person, next turn, next day, next year etc.

You're not rejected, only redirected. Those that are redirected became Chief cornerstones within their sphere of influence. E.g Bill Gate.

If the greatness in you is not challenged, there won't be a great you that overcame mountainous challenges. Do small things in great ways, & your works will be accepted 🤷🏾‍♂.

Today, be redirected towards those who're weak enough to reside in brothels; smoke hemps, worship small gods in ignorance, & those in prisons because you sued them (Jn 20v21-23).

May His Grace and Mercy redirect us all till we're fully preserve in Jesus Name. I prophesy, you'll be celebrated where you've been mocked in Jesus Name (Is 61v7).

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.

TRUE HUMILITY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2020.

SUBJECT : TRUE HUMILITY!

Memory verse: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." 

(Philippians 2 vs 3.)

READ: Psalm 8 vs 3 - 4; First Corinthians 15 vs 9 - 10: 

Psalm 8:3: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 

8:4: what is man that You are mindful of him, and the Son of man that You visit Him?

First Corinthians 15:9: For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

15:1: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

INTIMATION:

Humility is modesty and meekness. True humility gives a more accurate perspective of oneself and the world. It is seeing ourselves as we really are from God's perspective, and acting accordingly. When we acknowledge God’s majesty, and compare ourselves to His greatness, we will realize how small we are by comparison, and this is a healthy way to get back to reality. True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless or nobody before God, but recognizing God's work in you. It is having God's perspective of who you are, and acknowledging His grace in developing your abilities. We accept God’s gifts and use them to praise and serve Him.

How can we humble ourselves? Some people think that humility means putting themselves down. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realize their sinfulness, and understand their limitations. On the other hand, they also recognize their gifts and strengths and are willing to use them as Christ directs. Humility is not self-degradation; it is realistic self-assessment and commitment to serve. True humility puts others first and allows us to be content with God's leading in our lives. Such contentment gives us security so that we no longer have to prove ourselves to others. 

In one of the passage we read today, the apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthian church, demonstrated clearly true humility. He considered himself least among the apostles, and thought of himself not worthy to be an apostle because of his past records.  Though, his fellow apostles acknowledged him as haven gotten more revelations than them, but yet he considered himself least among them. (See Second Peter 3 15 - 16.) He  worked harder than the other apostles to preach the same message he initially was condemning. 

Paul felt unworthy to be called an apostle of Christ because, as a zealous Pharisee, he had been an enemy of the Christian church; even to the point of capturing and persecuting believers (see Acts 9 vs 1 - 3). His conversion stunned his fellow Pharisees. When Christ saw his zealousness in pursuing his erroneous believes, He arrested him to apply that same zealousness in doing the correct work for God. His eyes were opened to the wrong believes when Christ met him on the road to Damascus, and he was blinded to the erroneous believes.

The apostle Paul was deeply humble. He knew that he had worked hard and accomplished, but only because God had poured kindness and grace upon him which he always acknowledged. In First Corinthians 15 vs 8, he remarked himself 'as one born out of necessity' because he was a special case; the other apostles saw Christ and were with Him in the flesh, but he was in the next generation of believers—he believed after Christ appeared to him. 

Today, people practice of false humility by talking negatively about themselves so that others will think they are spiritual. They will tell of their wretched past, and comparing it to their present achievements, praising themselves for their accomplishments. Rather than give glory to God and praise Him, they appropriate all their achievements to their ability and doggedness. They turn into the doer, and not God; ‘vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds,’ as the apostle Paul described such persons in Colossians 2 vs 18. False humility is self-centered while true humility is God-centered.

We Let us not lose sight of the end result of all our humility and self-sacrifice—a joyous banquet with our Lord! God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless He plans to replace it with something even better. Jesus is not calling us to join Him in a labor camp but in a feast—the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19 vs 6 - 9), When God and His beloved church will be joined forever.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with true humility worship and serve You, and others. Help me to put You first in all things, and to always consider the collective interests of others above mine, in Jesus' Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

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

Preacher: Priest Godsknight O.J

Topic: Melting Point.

Text: Nahum 1v5 "The mountains quake before Him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who live in it."

The situation of this world right now is like, one just need to prepare for the worst daily while expecting the best at the end of each day ( Prov 4v16-18).

God gave us good lives for free, situations tries to make it look like we borrowed it. Something just need to give way for our greatness to manifest 🛫, the devil 😈 has to resign ( Rom 8v18-19).

A lot of people in trying to understand life were led astray. Almost Impossible to retrace their steps, now languishing in despondency. Jesus is counting on us to be their mountains🌋 melting points (Is 61v1 ).

A young lady played emotional community shield and was caught in the very act; her accusers wanted her dead for the devil's sake, not knowing that Jesus is a Melting Point ( Jn 8v 1-11).

Ps 97v5 "The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth."

Every obstacle has an expiring date, except you've not shown it the size of Jesus in your life (Micah 1v4 ).

Handle that crossroad⚠ with wisdom, it will determine if you'll get to the finish line soon, or would have to start all over again and again 🤷🏾‍♂.

If you've killed someone before, Jesus will forgive you. And if someone kills you, Jesus will forgive the person. Revenge time is long past, learn to spare lives and have a secured life too ( 2 Sam 14v14, Ps 91v16).

Melting Point concept is very simple, you're not permitted to remain a slave to your past sins & creditors. Come to Jesus with your loads of care, He'll break those yokes (Acts 10v38, Is 10v27).

I prophesy into your lives, every mountain 🗻 confronting you shall skip like Rams today before Jesus the Melting Point in Jesus Name.

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.

SURVIVING SATANIC ATTACKS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2020.

SUBJECT: SURVIVING SATANIC ATTACKS!

Memory verse: "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (First Peter 5 vs 8.)

READ: Ephesians 6 vs 10 - 18:

6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
6:11: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
6:12: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
6:13: Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
6:14: Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having 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 watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. 

INTIMATION:

The Christian’s struggle is not against the physical things of this world. The struggle is a spiritual battle against the deceptive devices of Satan who seeks to change the moral values of those who are willing to live according to their own desire as opposed to the will of God. The source of all evil that is seen in the world is Satan and his demonic forces that are at work in order to destroy the work of God through Jesus. Beneath the surface of the routine of daily life, is a fierce struggle among invisible spiritual powers constantly being waged. 

In Christian life we battle against “principalities” and “powers”—the powerful evil forces of fallen angels (demons) headed by the devil, who is a vicious fighter. They are not mere fantasies—they are real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from Him and back to sin. To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armor. As you do battle against “the rulers of darkness of this age,” fight in the strength of the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. 

Satan is constantly scheming to deceive the innocent. His deceptive influences are presented to the saints of God through every means. If one is not conscious of the fact that Satan is continually scheming to deceive the righteous, then he will not be vigilant against apostasy. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us His Holy Spirit within us and His armor surrounding us. Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side. 

Christians should first put the truth of God in their hearts by believing and living the truth—God’s Word. They should do such in order that they be transformed into the strong character of Jesus, as well as be able to identify and stand against all that is error and morally wrong. Now, just as the breastplate in the soldier’s armor protects the vital organs of the soldier, Christians’ life in the will of God protects the vital spiritual life of the Christian. It is upon the foundation of the historical event of the gospel that Christians maintain emotional, mental, and spiritual stability. It is the fact of the death of Jesus for our sins and His resurrection for our hope that we can have peace of mind and confidence that Jesus has all things under control for the sake of the Christian. 

The faith of the Christian functions as a shield to ward off the attacks of doubt, discouragement, and despair. The Scripture in First John 5 vs 4 says, “And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.” As the shield protects the soldier’s body against the attacks of the enemy, the faith of the Christian functions in like manner. By increasing faith through the study of the word of God (Romans 10 vs 17), the Christian is able to stand against the deceptions of Satan. Every temptation that Satan may throw against the Christian can be stopped by truth that is learned through a study of God’s word. 

The assurance of salvation of the Christian that is based, not on their works, but in the grace of God through Jesus Christ, protects him or her against the wiles of the devil,  just as the helmet protects the head which is the center of reference of the body, and the soldier can confidently keep his head high in order to engage the enemy in battle. The Christian uses the word of the Spirit to attack the enemy of deception and also defend himself against being deceived. It is the responsibility of every Christian to arm him or herself with a knowledge of the word of God in order not to be tossed to and fro in a world of turbulent religious deceptions. One must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (Second Peter 3 vs 18). 

Christians should maintain a lifestyle that lends itself to prayer. It is through prayer that not only the inward man is strengthened, but also the work of God is called upon by the believers to function  in their lives. How can one pray at all times? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God’s desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. You don’t have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life, and your life prayer, while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence. 

The following guidelines can help you prepare for and survive satanic attacks: (1) Take the threat of spiritual attack seriously; (2) pray for strength and help from God; (3) study the Bible to recognize Satan’s style and tactics; (4) memorize Scripture so it will be a source of help no matter where you are; (5) associate with those who speak the truth; and (6) practice what you are taught by sound spiritual leaders. There is no power that Satan may have that can break through the armor of God that the Christian exercises in his or her life (Romans 8 vs 37 - 39).

Prayer: Abba Father, prepare me a soldier of Christ, constantly putting on Your whole armor for my daily spiritual battle against the devil and his cohorts, that I will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!