The Most High Rules in The Affairs of Men

‘You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses’ (Dan 4:25).

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire, who reigned 605 BC – 562 BC. He conqueredJudah and Jerusalem, and sent the Jews into exile and is also credited with the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and also known for the destruction of the First Temple (Wikipedia). However, as a result of his sin and pride, this ruler of this Neo-Babylonian world empire was driven from human society and was made to live in the fields with wild animals and to eat grass with them as a cow, and was drenched with the dew of heaven. It is believed that his form was not changed into that of a beast but he was stricken mad and he avoided man’s company and was cast out because of his tyranny. He remained in this state for ‘seven years’ until he acknowledged and learnt that the Most High God rules in the affairs of men and that He gives them to anyone He chooses. Before the incident occurred it was prophesied by Daniel and it all happened just as he prophesied (Dan 4).

At the end of the seven year period, Nebuchadnezzar looked up to heaven and thanked the Most High, and praised and honored Him as the one who lives forever, that his power lasts forever and His kingdom lasts from one generation to the next. And he also declared that, ‘everyone who lives on earth is nothing compared to God. He does whatever He wishes with the army of heaven and with those who live on earth, and that there is no one who can oppose Him or ask Him, “what are you doing?” (Dan 4:35). Just as he was making those declarations, his mind came back to him. His royal honor and glory were also given back to him. His advisers and nobles wanted to meet with him again. He was given back his kingdom and made extraordinarily great. Then he said, ‘now I, Nebuchadnezzar, will praise, honor, and give glory to the King of Heaven. Everything He does is true, His ways are right, and He can humiliate those who act arrogantly’ (Dan 4:37).

The main lesson here is that the Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth, reigns on high and is sovereign; He has the power to do anything and everything, in accordance with His purpose, and for man’s benefit. He even changes human governments in favor of His children. God’s word translation renders Dan 4:25 as, ‘the Most High has power over human kingdoms and that he gives them to whomever he wishes’. Sometimes in our times of trials we tend to limit God and his ability to do all things. But the truth is God can do anything and everything. With men some things are impossible but with God all things are possible to them that believe (Mark 9:23).

Today, take those limits off God, He reigns in the affairs of all men. If you will acknowledge Him as the God of all creation and the savior and master of your life, He will deliver and restore you like He did for King Nebuchadnezzar, believe in Jesus and you shall be saved together with your household (Acts 16:31). 

Waiting Patiently for the Lord

‘I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps’ (Psalm 40:1).

"Patience is the willingness to respond to irritating circumstances with love, grace and kindness as you wait on the Lord to guide you in how to handle a situation" (James Merritt). Also, patience is what God gives you when bad things remain unchanged. Faith comes by hearing, but sometimes, patience comes by silence. Psalm 40:1 is a Messianic Psalm and it foretold Christ’s agony in the garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross, and how He responded in patience, trusting the Father to help and deliver him. Like Christ, all men have their periods of Gethsemane and Calvary. It is the place where the pains of our troubles seem unbearable and throwing in the towel and giving up on one’s faith in God, sometimes seems like the best option. However, in periods like that, holding unto one’s faith in God a little bit longer and staying faithful to Him always leads to victory.

Waiting for the Lord, involves patient endurance. Abraham was already 75 years old when God promised that he will be the father of many nations, but it was after Abraham was 99 and his wife was 90, that they finally had Isaac (Genesis 21:1-2). So Heb 6:15 says ‘after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise’ . ‘Those that wait patiently for God do not wait in vain’ (Matthew Henry). So, apart from faith you also need patience to fulfill your destiny. Also, it is impossible to wait on the Lord without prayer. It is the strength we receive from the Lord through prayer that makes waiting possible. In Psalm 40:1, the psalmist said that God listened and heard his cry, meaning he cried unto God in prayer.

As we wait for God, it is important to trust his goodness and faithfulness. Knowing that God is good and He has allowed your troubled times for a purpose, gives one strength to hold on. Secondly, reminding yourself of God’s faithfulness also brings strength in troubled times to remain faithful to him. ‘Christ is the Rock on which a poor soul can alone stand fast. Where God has given steadfast hope, He expects there should be a steady, regular walk and conduct’ (Matthew Henry). Finally, after God has delivered you out of the ‘horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set your feet upon a rock, and established your steps, it is important to sing his praise, so that many will hear of the glorious things He has done, stand in awe of him and put their trust in him. ‘We overcome the enemy not only by the blood of the Lamb but also, by the word of our testimony (Rev 12:11).

Do you feel like giving up? Have the faith to wait a little bit longer. ‘There is power enough in God to help the weakest, and grace enough to help the unworthiest of all that trust in him’. ‘Those who trust in the LORD Are like Mount Zion, Which cannot be moved, but abides forever’ (Psalm 125:1). Trust in God through prayer, hold unto his word and endure the present storm. As you wait on him remember He is a good and faithful God.

Ageing Well

‘However many years anyone may live, let them enjoy them all. But let them remember the days of darkness, for there will be many. Everything to come is meaningless’ (Ecc.11:8 NIV).

We are in the middle of another year and the hard truth is, folks are not growing younger. ‘The secret of ageing well is staying young at heart, staying close to God, and staying fully engaged with life. The mirror isn't your problem; how you see yourself is. In his eighties, Rubinstein amazed audiences with his piano-playing skills. Gladstone became Britain's Prime Minister for the fourth time in his eighties. John Wesley preached every day aged 88. Moses led Israel at 120. Caleb led his troops against an army of giants at 80, and won. Two-thirds of the world's greatest works of art were accomplished by people over 65. Don't let a little rain, a falling tree or a possible risk stop you.

Culture often gives old age a bad image, but clearly God doesn't agree. To Him, old age is the reward for a life well-lived, a privilege earned, an accomplishment worth celebrating, and wisdom shared to benefit succeeding generations. Note how God sees ageing. He views long life as evidence of His favor. He says, 'Through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life' (Proverbs 9:11 NIV). Longevity, with all its aches and pains, is a blessing. 'The fear of the Lord adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short. Have you noticed how 'young' some older people are, and how 'old' their peers seem? Seeking the elusive fountain of youth isn't the answer, nor is surrendering to time and fate. Rather, do these two things.

First, be realistic! Nothing is sillier than a woman made up to recreate what she hasn't been for decades - except an older man in an unbuttoned shirt flashing jewellery intended to recreate the macho image of a lost youth. When you are comfortable with your age and stage of life, others will be too. Solomon points out that age decreases vigour, dims vision, slackens muscles, stiffens joints, whitens hair, and so on (Ecclesiastes 12:1-5 TM). Vitamins, exercise and a good attitude help, but you must be realistic in order to handle ageing with dignity.

Second, keep giving. 'Be generous; invest in acts of charity. Charity yields high returns. Don't hoard your goods; spread them around. Be a blessing to others' (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 TM). Don't stop investing your energy and resources into God's kingdom because you think it's time for the young folk to take over. If you do that loneliness and depression will set in, and illness and death soon follow. When you shut the door, draw the curtains and isolate yourself, you're old at any age. But when you stay in the mainstream, give yourself to God and others, you'll stay young all your life!

Ageing well requires that you stay flexible. The Bible says, 'Clouds always bring rain; trees always stay wherever they fall. If you worry about the weather and don't plant seeds, you won't harvest a crop' (Ecc. 11:3-4 CEV). Certain things are inevitable in life. Clouds bring the rain. Trees fall in a storm. Like the weather, circumstances arise that you can't control. Hazard-free living is a myth; every undertaking entails risk. 'If you dig a pit, you might fall in; if you break down a wall, a snake might bite you. You could even get hurt by... chopping a log' (Ecc. 10:8-9 CEV). You say, 'At my age, I play it safe and take no chances.' Avoiding risk guarantees missing what God has for you just ahead. So how can you enjoy the final years of your life? Don't avoid; rather, adjust, adapt and advance. But be practical; pace yourself!

Don't let fear dominate your later years. Don't let life's 'unknowns', such as finances, health, loneliness, loss of friends and family members, get you down. There's much in life you'll never know, yet God has brought you this far! So, 'Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do. He's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God’. 

The Laws of prosperity (Lesson 2)

‘But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light’ (1Peter 2:9).

In an era when countries that are classified as world powers and many individuals, including world acclaimed business entities are in debt crises; one may ask, "can the financial life of a Christian be any different from that of the masses?" The answer is a big “yes!” A Christian does not live according to the economies of the earth but the economies of heaven. Our God supplies all our needs according to His reaches in Glory. Clearly God’s word teaches that Christians are a peculiar or special people. We are the light and the salt of the earth. God reigns on earth through the church and we are partakers of God’s divine nature. Definitely, we are not ordinary people, the wisdom and power of God sets us apart from ordinary men. There was nothing ordinary about the life of Christ, so is every Christian born of the spirit of God an extraordinary person. As a follow up to the previous lesson, ‘The Laws of Prosperity’, this lesson addresses the final six laws of prosperity as outlined by Finis J. Dake.

The fifth Law of prosperity is to be unafraid in launching out into new ventures and make the best of opportunities that come. Many men could have been prosperous in life if they had not been afraid to take hold of opportunities that came to them. Eccl 9:11clearly teaches that two major determinants of success are time and chance.

The sixth law of prosperity is to follow certain business principles taught in scripture like diligence, living within one’s means and giving (Rom 12:9-21, 1 Thess 4:11-12, Prov 22:29). China, the largest foreign holder of United States debt, said that Washington needed to “cure its addiction to debts” and “live within its means,” just hours after the rating agency Standard & Poor’s downgraded America’s long-term debt ( Newyork times - Aug, 2011). God is a God of principle, who does nothing without His Word or principles (Jn 1:1-2).

The seventh law of success is to obey the golden rule. This means that you will always do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Mt 7:12). If you do this you will never take advantage of any man in order to prosper. You will never be selfish; you will never sell a product you will not use for yourself. You will always let your customers know how you appreciate their business and show them how you seek to be of service to them.

One unfailing law of prosperity is to ‘seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness’. If we do this we are promised that all these things (blessings of life) will be added unto us (Mt 6:33). If we will give up our selfish living and seek first the Kingdom of God and it’s righteousness we will receive a hundred fold in this life and in the life to come everlasting life.

One law of prosperity is that of giving to others. If there is one thing you can succeed in life doing, it is giving. You become a hero when you give. Something happens when you give to others.

The last law of prosperity is to honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of your increase (Prov 3:6-12). If we do this we have the promise that our barns will be filled with plenty (Mal 3:10-11). There are many testimonies of people who were poor and are now rich due to tithing. Examples are Mr. Crowell, founder of Quaker Oats Company, Mr. Colgate, founder of Colgate soap, perfumes and powders. May you be the next on the list.

The Laws of Prosperity

‘But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today’ (Deuteronomy 8:18).

‘A hiker with two heavy hold alls was walking down a road in 90-degree heat. A truck driver stopped and told him to hop on. Later when the driver looked in his rearview mirror, the hiker was standing in the truck-bed still holding his bags! We smile, but as Jon Walker points out, many of us “stand in the truck of faith carrying our burdens, thinking they're independent of the ride we're taking. We think God can carry us but not our burdens”’ (Bob Gass). Salvation is a package; Christ has delivered us from sin and all the consequences of sin including poverty. His word is, ‘I wish above all that you will prosper and be in good health’ (3 John 1:2)

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob prospered in the midst of famine and it is said that, Isaac prospered until he became the envy of the philistines (Gen 26). Definitely Abraham and his descendants had something that made them poverty proof, it was the blessings in God’s covenant. As descendants of Abraham, we operate in the same covenant blessings. ‘In God’s plan for man, Finis J. Dake writes that the belief that, it is God’s will for men to be in poverty and want, to keep them saved is a fallacy. He teaches that It is not God’s will for man to suffer misery and want in order that he might keep humble and enough to be finally saved; this does not have to be man’s lot in life; rather man is enabled by the gospel to overcome all obstacles of life and be saved, prosperous, and happy in Christ. The focus of today’s devotion is the laws of prosperity, as outlined by Dake.

The first law of prosperity is to believe that it is God’s will for you to prosper and that you are in his will. Why should it be God’s will for you to lack the things you need in life if you are His child, and then give them to those who rebel against Him. This does not make sense. Paul said that, ‘my God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Glory in Christ Jesus’ (Phil 4:19). Jesus also taught that God loves us more than we love our Children (Mt 7:7-11).

The second law to follow, is to make God your partner in life. Work with Him and obey His own laws of prosperity. Make Him the senior partner in your business. Recognize Him in all you do. Keep in touch with Him concerning His guidance in every business deal. After turning things over to God don’t interfere and spoil things.

The third Law of prosperity is to get in the life work that you feel God would have you in, or for which you are best suited. God has a life work for you and you can be extremely happy and successful if you find that work and make God your life long partner. If your life work is not clear to you get this settled once and for all. Real happiness lies in liking what we are called to do, not in doing something solely because we think we should like it.

The fourth law of prosperity is faith in God. You must believe that God loves you and that he is with you giving you strength to overcome all hindrances to your happiness and success in life. All men who have made a success in life have had to finally overcome all opposition to their progress. The lives of successful people abound in stories of how they overcame obstacles and finally succeeded. It is in the Struggles of life that you need faith in God. All your struggles shrink to nothingness when compared to the promises of God and the faith in God that they create. Remember the just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:38).

God’s promise is, ‘I will give you power to make wealth’; today hold God accountable to His word. The remaining six laws of prosperity will be discussed in the next lesson.

The Power of Choices

‘And David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her…’(2 Sam 11:3-4).

The Bible is a book of choices and consequences. By people’s daily choices they write the stories of their future and carve out their own destinies (Joshua 24:15). The secret of a man’s future is hidden in his daily routines. The things seen and heard affect one’s thoughts. Thoughts result in choices or actions. Choices made repeatedly grow into habits. Habits form character and every one’s character carves out their individual destiny.

Everyday we face innumerable decisions, some of which have the potential to change the course of our lives forever. Certain avenues open to us are with pitfalls or lead in harmful directions. In some instances the wrong choice can even bring death. What do you do when faced with temptation? How do you decide what choices to make? This study examines the choices of David the resulting consequences. What choices did David make that brought negative consequences in his life and that of his family.

1.             He should have gone to war but he chose to stay home: Kings went to war at spring which marked the end of the rainy season. During spring the roads were passable, there would be fodder for the animals and an army on the move would be able to raid the fields for food.

2.             The first time he saw Barsheeba he should have exercised self control and fled like Joseph did, when Portiphar’s wife tempted him.

3.             He should have repented after the first sin and not committed more sin to cover up.

4.             He shouldn’t have abused his leadership authority by sending people to bring Beersheba and finally commanding Joab to get Uriah killed. Today many are abusing their God given priviledges, forgetting that they will give an account to the one who gave them that priviledge.

5.             He should have been accountable and taken responsibility for his actions. Most of the time we blame others for our misfortunes, without doing our part to solve the problem. You can blame others for your past and present situation but not your future.

6.             He shouldn’t have been secretive and covered his sin. ‘You’re never more vulnerable than when you can hide from others. Secrecy is the ideal breeding ground for deception, leading us into sin’ (Bob Gass). Jesus points out that we love darkness rather than light because our deeds naturally gravitate toward evil (Jn 3:19).

What were the consequences of David’s Actions? First, the child he fathered with Bathsheba died. Secondly, his son raped his daughter, and he didn’t have the moral authority to deal with it. Thirdly, Absalom the beloved son destined to inherit his throne, fomented war and died at the hands of his own people. Fourth, civil war broke out in Israel and thousands of people died as a result. Fifth his son slept with his wives. Sixth, Absalom killed his brother Amnon for raping his sister. The lesson is clear: never accuse in another what you excuse in yourself.‘Principles can never be broken, they contain inherent judgment. For example when you put your hand in fire, you can expect to get burned because fire produces heat. In other words you don’t get burnt because God burns you or the devil burns you. You get burnt because heat is a principle of fire’ (Miles Munroe).

God set in motion certain laws and they never change. One is the law of gravity. Another is the law of sowing and reaping. “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest…shall not cease” (Ge 8:22 NKJV). This law works both negatively and positively. If you sow good things you will reap good things; if you sow bad things you will reap bad things.

Persistent Labor

‘My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you’ (Gal 4:19)

‘The victory of His cross is extended only as faithful intercessors wrestle against dark powers and win through the power of Jesus name and the blood’ (Dick Eastman). Through the cross Jesus delivered all God’s creation from the power of sin and death, but the realization of that victory depends on a Christian’s labor or ministry to others. The little decisions we make whether to pray or not, whether to preach to that stranger or not, whether to have a little more patience for that new convert or not, is that which determines the final outcome. So Jesus prayed that the lord of the harvest will bring in more laborers. God is looking for Christians who will labor for souls in His kingdom.

The Apostle Paul’s words in Gal 4:19 paints a brilliant picture about what every Christian’s attitude should be when it comes to ministering to others. To begin with, Paul saw himself as a father; God has ordained you as a father, a caretaker to some people. Their future depends on the decisions you make. He has ordained that rivers of living waters will flow from your life to others, that the knowledge of God that flows through your life will bring life, hope and restoration to multitudes.

Secondly Paul reveals how much he labors for the people God has placed in his care, to be saved and transformed through God’s word. He compares ‘his pains and labors in the ministry of the word to the sorrows of a woman during the time of childbearing’ (Barnes). Clearly his love and tender compassion for the souls God has placed in His care is evident. As a Christian you should equally labor and go the extra mile to see others saved and transformed. This might mean sacrificing your time, money, prestige, etc.

A laborer works hard, and making disciples really demands hard work. Parents’ work does not end at the birth of their offspring but really begins there. Similarly the work that needs to be done for a born again Christian to grow is as equally challenging as the work of evangelism. Follow up and discipleship are the two main areas that a lot of churches are struggling to make an impact.

The harvest is indeed plenty, let us put aside all excuses and ‘deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, 'surely we did not know this, 'does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?’ (Proverbs 24:11-12)

A House Prayer

‘Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves’ (Mat 21:12, 13).

  

Whenever the church gets to a stage where its focus turns from a hungry and a desperate pursuit of God, to a gratification of self and pursuit of personal material needs, the church is in serious need of revival. The focus of the church should be on God and pleasing Him, but not on the sinful nature of self and pleasing it. ‘Christ found some of the courts of the temple turned into a market for cattle and things used in the sacrifices, and partly occupied by the money-changers. Our Lord drove them from the place, as he had done at his entering upon his ministry, John 2:13-17. If Christ came now into many parts of his visible church, how many secret evils He would discover and cleanse! And how many things daily practiced under the cloak of religion, would He show to be more suitable to a den of thieves than to a house of prayer’ (Matthew Henry).

Going through Church history; (from the first century revivals to the Welsh and Azusa street revivals until now), every revival was preceded by a praying church, one that was hungry for more of God. The same principle applies to the church today. If the church can make an impact and prepare the world for Christ’s second coming, we cannot afford to replace prayer with anything else. If Jesus could not make an impact without prayer and is believed to have prayed for about twelve hours in Mat 14:13-25, then the church needs not try achieving anything without a devotion to prayer. Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7 ‘my house shall be called a house of prayer’ and a portion of Jeremiah 7:11, ‘but you have made it a ‘den of thieves’ when He saw what was happening in the temple. When the church gathers in a place of worship as it were in the early church, it is meant to be a time of spiritual fellowship and communion with God, through the sharing of His word and prayer. It is supposed to be a time of spiritual renewal (Acts 6:4).

Whenever a church gives heaven its attention, that church also gets the attention of heaven. Many local churches begin with a strong emphasis on prayer and hearing from God but sometimes the unfortunate happens and the focus gradually shifts to materialism and application of formulas. Their mentality moves from, ‘thus saith the Lord’ to ‘this is what will bring in money and more people’. ‘It doesn’t matter the activity you are involved in, if you are not in touch with the Word and prayer, you soon lose your color (value)’ - D. Oyedepo. The importance of prayer in the church cannot be overemphasized. Our ability to commune with God and hear His directions for the church, is that which makes a church. As the church prays we become sensitive to God’s guidance and the will of God is realized and done on earth as it is in heaven (Mat 6:9-13). The early Church valued prayer and as a result they were empowered and literally guided by God in their day to day endeavors (Acts 2:1-4, Acts 13:1-3).

God is looking for people who will restore the place of prayer in their local churches and bring revivals across the globe; you can be one of those. Thus saith the Lord, ‘And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication…’ (Zech 12:10). Arise and receive the grace for prayer today. The next lesson will be entitled, ‘The Power of a Praying Minister’.

The Power of a Praying Minister

‘But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the Word’ (Acts 6:4)

‘The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men. The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men…men of prayer. Praying Men Are God’s Mightiest Leaders, they are the only productive workers for God. Praying men are God’s chosen leaders’ (E. M. Bounds). Going through the Bible, both in the Old and New Testament, it is evident that all the leaders that made an impact were men of prayer. In the kingdom of God, leaders lead on their knees. John Wesley said ‘I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it.’

Moses prayed for forty days, Elijah prayed and for three and half years there was no rain. Jesus prayed and fasted for forty days and nights. In Heb 5:7, it is said that ‘during the days of Jesus’ life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears’. Jesus depended on prayer, He led a life that was committed to prayer and taught His disciples to do the same. There are several instances in the Bible where He prayed for hours on end (Mat 14:13-25, Mat 26:39-46). His words where ‘the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’ (John 5:19-20).

The critical question is, on the average what is the prayer life of a minister today? On the average, how long does a pastor pray today and how satisfied is he with his prayer life. A recent research made by Toni Ridgaway(ChurchLeaders.com) revealed that, 16 % percent of Pastors are very satisfied with their prayer lives; 47% are somewhat satisfied with their prayer lives; 30% are somewhat dissatisfied and 7% are very dissatisfied with their prayer lives. The research also revealed that pastors who are very satisfied spend an average of 56 minutes a day in prayer and spend more time listening to God and less time making requests. Pastors who are somewhat satisfied spend an average of 43 minutes a day in prayer. Pastors who are dissatisfied, average 29 minutes in prayer a day. Those very dissatisfied spend an average of 21 minutes a day in prayer. On the average, Pastors spends 39 minutes a day in prayer.

In the early church, when the Apostles saw the burden of the administrative work on them, they chose seven deacons and their words were, ‘we will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word’ (Acts 6:3, 4). My earnest prayer is that God will grant ministers of this day the grace to give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of God’s word.

Apart from spending tangible time in prayer at a set time, it is important to also have an attitude of prayer. ‘Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude—an attitude of dependency upon God’ (Arthur W. Pink). A study of Moses and other heroes of faith will reveal that apart from their set time for prayer, they were in constant communion with God for guidance as they were taking day to day decisions. At the Red Sea, Moses cried to God with the people and the answer came (Ex 14:15). In the wilderness when the people thirsted, and when Amalek attacked them, it was also prayer that brought deliverance (Ex 17:4, 11). At Sinai, when Israel made the Golden Calf, it was prayer that averted the threatened destruction, (Ex 32:11, 14). ‘Wishing will never be a substitute for prayer’ (Ed Cole). Is the burden of ministry weighing you down? Abraham Lincoln said ‘I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go’.

God’s word for you is, ‘If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land’ ( 2 Chron 7:14). ‘The distinction between the leaders that God brings to the front to lead and bless His people and those leaders who owe their position of leadership to a worldly, selfish, unsanctified selection is this: God’s leaders are pre-eminently men of prayer’ (E. M. Bounds). Today, make prayer your steering wheel but not your spare tire.

The Lessons of Calvary

^‘Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us” (Luke 23:39). 

The period that Christ hung on the cross was the moment of His greatest trauma both physically and spiritually. As He hung on the cross He said, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani’ which in Aramaic means my God my God why have thou forsaken me (Mat 27:46, Mark 15:34). This reveals how deeply He felt His separation from God as He bore the sins of the whole world.  Physically, He had travelled a long journey to the site of His crucifixion, carrying the cross which weighed between 30 to 40 pounds, not forgetting the effects of the floggings He had received from the Roman soldiers. As He hung on the cross, He suffered from bleeding due to His wounds and He also suffocated because of His body posture. Due to His body posture He struggled to exhale, even though inhaling was relatively easier.

The focus of today’s study is the character that Christ exhibited on the cross in the midst of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual torture. In our spiritual warfare, our flesh is one of the main weapons the devil uses against us. In the case of Christ, Satan made sure that at that crucial hour, whatever blows or jabs he gave Jesus on the cross were the best and most effective ones he could ever give Him, in order to tempt Him to give up on His mission of dying to save the world. However, Jesus displayed tremendous strength in the form of love, self control, focus and a passion for souls among other virtues in this moment of His greatest pain. Below are some important lessons that can be learnt from Christ’s character on the cross:

         “One of the criminals who was hung there hurled insults at Him”, the chief priest, the scribes and the soldiers also mocked Him (Luke 23:35-39). But there is no record of Christ answering back in any of the four Gospel accounts. Here Jesus exhibited great self control and focus. His heart and mind were fixed on heaven and the billions of souls to be saved, not forgetting the glory that was awaiting Him. Heb 12:2 says, He endured the cross and despised the shame, (Prov 19:11).

         The criminal went on to say “Aren’t you Christ save yourself and us”. There again Christ passed the test. He exhibited great self-worth. The lesson here is, be confident of who God has made you. There is no need to prove who you are, your capabilities and status to others, against the will of God. Don’t measure your self-worth by your net worth. Remember, the praise of men will not last but the praise of God will last forever. Those who lead many to Christ shall shine like stars forever in heaven (Dan 12:3). 

         Also, Christ could have indeed saved Himself, but He rather choose to die to save the world, what a display of love and selflessness, He was indeed dead to self. ‘Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Phil 2:4).

         In the forty third verse, Jesus told one of criminals that, “today you will be with me in paradise”. His words here reveal that He cared about the salvation of that precious soul. He was winning souls in that period of great torment. That was a great sign of compassion for the lost.

         On the cross Jesus also said ‘woman here is your son and to the disciple ‘here is your mother, from that time on the disciple took her into her home’ (John 19:26). Here Jesus was building relationships, underling the importance of relationships.

         Lastly, Jesus prayed.  Instead of focusing on the physical abuse and trauma; He was communicating with the father, when He said ‘…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34). He also prayed saying, ‘why have thou forsaken me’. His last words were also words of prayer; father,into Your hands I commit My spirit’. (Luke 23:46). Isn’t it interesting to note that the last thing Christ did on the cross was prayer?

The lessons above clearly prove that Christ’s had a character test on the cross, and His love, discipline and wisdom were displayed in making the right choices. God’s strength is wrapped up in His wisdom. Jesus passed the character test both after fasting for forty days and nights, and at Calvary, are you passing yours? Without that your spiritual maturity is in question.

The Power of Gentleness

‘So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs” (John 21:15).

Gentleness (Greek- epiekeia and prautes) involves not standing on one’s right, being conciliatory and showing forbearance (NIV Compact dictionary of the Bible). It is a fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22) and it describes the character of God (2 Sam 22:36, Psalm 18:35). Another word that is synonymous with gentleness is meekness; which means real strength under control. Isaiah 40:10 describes God as coming to Israel with a strong hand, but it is interesting to note that the next verse says that, ‘He shall feed His flock like a shepherd… and shall gently lead those that are young’. Contrary to the world’s perception, gentleness is no sign of weakness but it is real strength under control. It is the master key to possessing the earth.

Gentleness requires tenderness and carefulness in correcting someone or something without being destructive. It takes into account the strength of the one that is being corrected. It is a crucial virtue in every relationship; whether it is in a marriage, a business or in the church setting. Gentleness is one of the marks of divine wisdom (James 3:17, 18).  In dealing with people, it takes the wisdom of God to know when to be gentle as a dove and when to be bold as a lion. That balance is very important in building relationships especially when one is in the role of leadership. As a leader, Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church saying, ‘we are gentle among you even as a nurse cherishes her children’ (1 Thess 2:7).

This lesson focuses on how Jesus used the virtue of gentleness to handle a very precarious incident among his apostles. After the death of Christ, Peter the Apostle decided to go fishing, contrary to the commission that Christ gave him to be a fisher of men. To add insult to injury, Peter took along with him Thomas, Nathanael, James, John and two other disciples. 

After they had toiled all night without any catch, they saw a man standing on the beach. He asked them, ‘children do you have any meat’? And they answered Him no, without knowing that it was Jesus. He then directed them to cast their net to the right side and their obedience resulted in a catch that was so much that they couldn't draw the fish into the boat. It was at that point that John told Peter that, ‘it is the Lord’. After they joined Jesus at the other side He asked them to bring some of the fish they had caught and He had breakfast together with them. Today may your obedience bring you mind-boggling blessings that will cause you to know God better.

After they had eaten and were full, Jesus said to Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonas, do you love me more than these?’ Clearly, Peter had failed Jesus, by neglecting his calling and influencing others to do likewise. But the gentleness with which Jesus handled the situation offers a great lesson. He could have rebuked them straight away when He saw them, but He helped them find fish and went on to dine with them before rebuking Peter by asking him questions. By the time Jesus was done with them, Peter and the rest were back to their senses and on course to fulfill their calling.  Jesus handled the disciples who were certainly wrong, with great love and care. Love is the root of gentleness. David loved his son Absalom so much that even when Absalom was seeking to take David’s life, he instructed Joab, Abishai and Ittai, ‘deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom’ (2 Sam 18:5).

In as much as a leader has to be firm and decisive, gentleness is crucial in making an impact. Today be gentle in your dealings with others, ‘speak evil of no one, be peaceable and gentle, showing all humility to all men’ (Titus 3:2)..

Secret Anger

‘Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many’ (Heb 12:15). 

Anger is a natural emotion that was given by God; its role can be very beneficial if it is controlled and it does not lead to sin. Like pain and fear, anger is a natural emotion that usually comes as a natural reaction to a negative situation. It is usually a signal that something is not right. Ignoring these emotions can be very detrimental, even causing loss of lives. There are numerous examples of acceptable anger in the Bible. Psalm 7:11 says, ‘God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day’. There are other examples of God being angry when men sin. There are also accounts of Jesus being angry when men sinned (Mark 3:5). Clearly, it can be established that anger cannot be always classified as sin. So Paul told the Church in Ephesus, “be angry, and do not sin” do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Eph 4:26).

The Bible is very clear about the importance of controlling anger. Many are in jails because of actions they took during a few minutes of rage. Also, there are others who have a habit of been easily angered at the slightest provocation, pushing people away and destroying valuable relationships. Another aspect of anger that can be more dangerous is secret anger. It can breeds bitterness. This bitterness can become a deadly poison that can destroy a person, families and an entire society if not dealt with (Heb 12:15). This lesson focuses on the dangers of secret anger and how to deal with it.

This is how Bob Gass describes the dangers of secret anger, ‘It can ‘eat away’ at you, replacing kindness with animosity. You try to keep a lid on it, but inevitably it explodes, surprising (and sometimes devastating) those who thought they knew you so well. Secret anger hurts most the one who carries it, for it colors your world, embittering you to everything around you. As it percolates, you feel less and less joy, and all your experiences are filtered through the lens of resentment, instead of gratitude. It can hide behind smiles and laughter, yet still be simmering towards the person you eat and sleep with. It can take some event that happened 20 years ago, label it “irreconcilable differences,” and make it the basis for a divorce.

Instead of being consumed by it, God tells you to forgive it and let it go. When you deny your feelings and stew under the surface, you give the devil the advantage over you (2 Corinthians 2:11). But by dealing scripturally with the situation your painful experiences can make you better, not bitter. If you're struggling with bitterness today do these three things.

         First, forgive. Forgiveness isn't based on an emotion. Don't wait until you 'feel' like it; decide today to let the offence go. When you do, God's Spirit will calm your emotions and help you overcome the urge to retaliate. Jesus said, 'blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy' (Matthew 5:7 NIV). Since you yourself will always need to make withdrawals, God calls you to keep making 'mercy deposits'. 

         Second, pray about it. The moment you sense resentment, turn to God and He will give you the strength to act in love rather than react in anger. When you commit to living this way He promises to give you '...power to keep [yourself] calm in the days of adversity...' (Psalm 94:13 AMP).  

         Third, think scripturally. Look up every verse you can find on showing forgiveness and meditate on them. Remember, each time you choose to do the right thing, a little more of the old you dies and the new you develops. That's how God prepares you for greater blessing. But you must be in position to receive it. So decide now that although you've been 'burned', you won't become bitter’. Remember, ‘Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city’ (Proverbs 16:32 NIV).

On the other hand, if you have wronged others, it is your responsibility to apologize to them. Make an effort and apologize to them and help their healing process.

The Reward of Diligence

‘In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty’ (Proverbs 14:23).

‘The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it’ (Gen 2:15). Work is a timeless responsibility. Before God created man He worked, after He created man He commanded man to work and even after the fall of man He still commanded man to work. Nothing works until you work it (David Oyedepo). If God worked for six days before He rested on the seventh, you should realize that nothing can be achieved without work, and until you work you don’t deserve rest. The good news is, ‘In all labor there is profit’. Everyone who works receives wages, regardless of their spirituality, be it an atheist or a Christian. The difference is Christians hear God’s voice and have His guidance, giving them an opportunity to work with great wisdom, excellence and productivity. The principle of sowing and reaping remains as long as the earth remains. Spirituality is no excuse for laziness. As a Christian you are supposed to ‘Work as if you were to live a hundred years. Pray as if you were to die tomorrow (Benjamin Franklin).

After God created man and placed him on earth, it already had invisible computers, aircrafts, and all the wonders of technological advancements we find in the present century. Adam would have been blown away with amazement if God had unraveled life in this century to him. But the truth is God had placed all the potentials and ideas to make those developments in man, and He had also placed the resources to make them on earth. So His words to man was, be fruitful (productive), multiply (impart your knowledge and duplicate yourself), replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion (Gen 1:28). Before God gave man this command, He had placed in him all that it takes to achieve all the details of his purpose. But the key to unlocking all these purposes was work.

'Nothing is to be got without labor; and he that is laborious in his calling, whether it be by manual operation, working with his hands that which is good; or by hard study, much reading, and constant meditation, is like to gain much for his own use and the good of others. A man that spends his time in idle talk, boasting of what he can do and does, and yet does nothing, is in a fair way to come to beggary: so all talk about wisdom, and knowledge, and religion, without making use of the proper means of improvement, tends to the poverty of the mind (Gill’s exposition of the entire Bible).

Many Christians are good at confessing the promises in God’s word and that is very wonderful, but the truth is after confessing God’s promises and His will for you, you are to be inspired by those promises to plan and diligently work towards a realization of those promises. Remember, God accomplished His work during His creation by sticking to the plan he had laid down. For six days He worked, creating something specific every day. On the seventh day He rested. The common believe is that people rest after they are tired of labor. The lesson here is diligence, ‘the plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty’ (Prov 21:5).

God has ordained an awe-inspiring purpose for your life. His word to you is eyes have not seen ears have not seen neither has it entered in to the hearts of men the purpose I have for those who love me (1 Cor 2:9). No man, not even you have an idea about the depth of potential God has placed in you, but the key is to remain connected to your maker, discover your purpose, make long term and short term plans for your life, add value to yourself and work diligently to fulfill those plans. Finding one’s true calling in life makes hard work bearable and fulfilling. Confucius, the Chinese philosopher said, ‘Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life’.

Dealing with Challenges in Marriage

‘The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”(Genesis 2:18)

Marriage is God’s perfect union between two imperfect people. Because of different temperaments, individual weaknesses, and different back grounds or upbringing, there are bound to be challenges in every marriage. In times of challenges, many people ask themselves whether they married the wrong person. That is not usually the case. In Genesis 2:18, God told Adam that, He will make him ‘a helper suitable for him’.  This underlines the fact that, Eve was the right person for Adam. However, they needed to work on each other for the treasures hidden in them to be unveiled. Apart from submission from the wife and love from the husband discussed in the previous lesson, below are nine important keys to maintaining and enjoying your marriage.

Be guided by God’s Word and His Spirit: Eph 5:18, 25-31 teaches about a Holy Spirit guided relationship. The first key to a successful marriage is the guidance of God and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. This is because, the first virtue needed in a relationship is love or selflessness, and without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, selflessness is not possible.  The natural man does not have enough love to love with. Secondly, it takes a great deal of wisdom to maintain and enjoy marriage, and the Holy Spirit is the one who can give guidance in all marriage decisions. Also, the Holy Spirit enables the husband and wife to have Self control when they yield to Him. For your marriage to work, you need an authority that is higher than the two of you and your love for each other. That authority is God’s word.

Leave and cleave (be one): Most marriages are destroyed by a third personality. It can be a parent, a sibling, a friend, money etc (Mark 10:7). God is the only third person in a marriage who can make it work. Apart from God’s voice, your partners’ voice should be the most important voice you hear.

Pray together: God blesses where there's unity. The right environment for answered prayer is one that's free from '...anger or disputing' (1 Tim 2:8). That's why Satan works so hard to keep husbands and wives at odds with each other. That way we won't pray together, much less expect our prayers to get God excited. Peter said when a couple's prayers are hindered, the devil has the key to the house and he can come and go at will.

Value, Honor and respect each other: ‘If you don't treat [your wife] as you should, your prayers will not get ready answers' (1 Peter 3:7). Malcolm Gladwell writes about a relationship expert who was able to predict the potential success of a couple's marriage based on their interaction with one another. What was it he looked for that indicated a marriage was headed for trouble? Contempt! If one treated the other with contempt the relationship was usually doomed to fail. 

Show love and affection: Romans 12:9, 10 teaches that we should not pretend to love but really love, and that we should love with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.

Be transparent to each other: ‘Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame’ (Genesis 2:25),being naked means being transparent financially, sexual, emotionally etc.

Stay attractive: Esther 2:17 says, 'The king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor.' She took the time necessary to prepare herself. Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatment (Esther 2:12). There are no shortcuts. The price of success is study, preparation and discipline. Those who pay that price aren't lucky, they're rewarded.

Resolve Conflicts through proper communication: Knowing your spouse and knowing when and how to resolve your conflicts is the key to a overcoming the conflicts. There is a need to get help from ministers and professional counselors when problems persist and threaten the marriage (Proverbs 1:5). 

Don’t give up on your marriage: Have the faith to wait a little bit longer. Faith comes by hearing, but sometimes, patience comes by silence. Patience is what God gives you when bad things remain unchanged.

Take me Deeper (Lyrical Video) - Albert & Grace Colinwud (Ft Cassie Amoako)

Take me Deeper (Lyrical Video) - Albert & Grace Colinwud (Ft Cassie Amoako)

Marriage as God Intended

‘Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil’ (Eccl 9:9).

Marriage is the most sacred union God created between a man and a woman. It is the only union that God uses to signify His relationship with the church. After God made Adam, he was blessed with a beautiful garden and a relationship with God. However, there was still a big vacuum in Adam’s life. Adam was alone and he needed a companion and a helper, so God made him a wife (Gen 2:18). There is a need in every human being to be loved and valued, and God created marriage to meet that need. 

Marriage is a package with countless blessings, and Solomon gives very good clues about the value of marriage and the joy it brings. In Songs of Solomon 1:2, he tells his spouse ‘kiss me and kiss me again, for your love is sweeter than wine’. He also says that, ‘the man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord’ (Prov 18:22). Here, he describes marriage as a treasure and a blessing from the Lord. The sad reality is that we live in an era where man is trying very hard to redefine marriage apart from God’s intent and plan. The main lesson from this study is the importance of marriage and the God-given family structure.

For a marriage to be enjoyed as God intended it, both the husband and wife need to have a clear understanding of their primary roles. The God-given family structure is that, the Husband should be the head and the wife a helper. Both the husband and wife, play very important and complimentary roles. When two people decide to drive a moving car they are most likely to be involved in an accident, one has to drive whiles the other helps with guidance. The woman’s role as a helper and a mother is very crucial, but the man has the responsibility of leading the family. Husbands are commanded to Love their wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, wives are commanded to submit to their husbands (Eph 5:22-25, Col 3:19). Clearly, Husbands are being taught here, to love their wives to the point of making sacrifices for their sake when need be.

The truth is, it becomes very easy for the wife to submit to the husband, when she is sure about the husband’s love for her. In communication, it is important to note that, anything a husband will hear or accept should be said by the wife in respect, and anything the wife will hear and accept should be said by the husband in love. Love from the husband and respect from the wife are the two wheels that move the bicycle of marriage. In the Garden of Eden man fell because, Adam failed in fulfilling his role as the leader and Eve failed in her role as the helper. When this God-given family structure malfunctions, the society is doomed. 

Are you having challenges in our marriage? Pray to God for wisdom and strength,’ fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife’ (Proverbs 19:14) .The next study is about ‘Dealing with challenges in marriage’.

The Value of Marriage

‘And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’ (Gen 2:18 - NKJV).

Anytime God wants to do something in a society or the world at large, He uses a family. When the God-given family structure malfunctions, the society is doomed. It is said that, one of the reasons the Roman Empire fell was divorce. God did not set up the institution of marriage by mistake. Marriage is one of the greatest gifts God gave man. Our purpose of exercising dominion on earth (ruling with authority), being fruitful, multiplying and replenishing what God gave to us, was intended to be possible through marriage. So Gen 1:27 says ‘Male and female he created them in the image of God’.

History shows that, the strength of any society depends upon the strength of its families, and the Church is no different. Family is the rock-solid foundation on which a society’s superstructure is erected. It is remarkable and interesting to note that, when God wanted to fulfill His purpose in creation, He did it through Adam and Eve. When He wanted to save the world from the coming flood, He did it through Noah’s family. Also, when He wanted to bless the fallen man, He did it through Abraham and his family.

With this knowledge, the devil has waged war on the institution of marriage, especially Christian marriages. Many Christians, including Global Christian leaders of great influence have fallen as casualties of this onslaught, and the negative repercussions are been felt in many homes and the society at large.

Below are some disheartening statistics about the negative effects of divorce

1.    75% of delinquents and most adult criminals are from broken homes.

2.    75% of prisoners in our jails come from female-headed families.

3.    75% of drug users are from broken homes.

4.    More than 75% of the criminal minors handled by the Florida Division of Youth Services are from broken homes.

5.    In Baltimore, Maryland in U.S.A, 60 % of their juvenile criminals are from broken homes.

6.    More than one in three children of broken families drops out of school.

No wonder God says ‘I hate divorce’ (Malachi 2:16).

Marriage is a gift God gave man, and like any other gift it has to be maintained through work. Work to build your relationship with your spouse. Enjoy your marriage; marriage was made to be enjoyed, not endured.  Are you having challenges in your marriage? Don’t give up, pray and get some counseling, with God all things are possible. Do it for the sake of love and your kids.

“I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery." (Mat 19:9). The next study is about ‘Marriage as God intended'.