Your Faith Is What Counts Friday, Feb 10th

Pastor Chris

If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small (Proverbs 24:10).

Is it possible for a Christian to be attacked by the evil one? Yes, but it makes no difference. The attack or onslaught of the enemy against you will not amount to anything, because you’re more than a conqueror ‘’Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world’’ (1 John 4:4). The Bible however talks about ‘’the evil day’’ (Ephesians 6:13) or ‘’day of adversity,’’ as read in our opening verse. It’s not a day to dread, but the day when your faith is tested.

Your faith must remain unwavering and resilient in the face of adversity; that’s what matters-not whether or not Satan or his cohorts are against you. Isaiah (MSG) says ‘’if any one attacks you, don’t for a moment suppose that I sent them, And if any should attack, nothing will come of it.’’ Here the Lord describes the futility of the enemy’s onslaught against you; nothing will come of it! No attack, ploy, maneuvers or machinations of Satan can work against you when you stand your grounds in faith: ‘’…Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’’ (James 4:7).

The word ‘’strength’’ used in the opening scripture refers to your faith. When your faith is little or weak, it means your strength is small, and will not be able to stand in the day of adversity. The cure for this is to feed more on God’s word and put the word to work in your life; that’s how to build your faith strong.

God doesn’t think Satan or his cohorts are factors; the factor is your faith. Ephesians 6:16 says ‘’Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.’’ That sickness has attacked you is not a problem; the question is ‘’Where is your faith?’’ It’s not about how bad the situation is. With faith in your spirit, every adversity will be walkover. Your faith is the victory; so get into the word and meditate on it consistently, and faith will be stirred in your spirit to walk through every adversity or opposition.

Confession:

I’m not moved by the physical circumstances, but I stand firmly on God’s word, taking advantage of the faith that has been imparted to my spirit to ward off the fiery missiles of the adversary. I declare that the power of God is released to cause a desire change as I put my faith to work. Hallelujah!

Further Study:

Romans 10:17; Mark 11:23

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Mathew 27:1-26

Exodus 38-39

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 9:1-15

Esther 7-8

Give Him Your Cares! Thursday, Feb 9th

Pastor Anita

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body raiment? (Mathew 6:25)

The verse above is an invitation from the master for you to trust Him with your life. He wants you to have no care or anxiety whatsoever about anything, Because God loves you greatly, and tenderly cares for you. He’s saying to you ‘’Give me your cares!’’

As a child of God you must come to a point in your life where you know, without a doubt, that God is not only big enough to take care of you but equally willing to do so. He’s more willing for you to live and enjoy life to the full than you could ever be. This takes the stress out of life; knowing that you serve a loving and compassionate father, whose desire is for you to live a victorious life. The reason many people in the world are unhappy and burdened with lots of worries, being surfeited with the cares of life is that they’re yet to accept His invitation: they haven’t given Him their cares.

1 Peter 5:7 says ‘’casting all your cares upon him; for he careth for you.’’ God cares for you personally; that means he knows you and He’s concerned about you, therefore trust Him with your life. The psalmist knew what it meant to trust the Lord this way; he was so sure of God’s ability and willingness to guarantee his safety hence declared with all certainty: ‘’ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt receive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me’’ (Psalm 138:7). This should be your attitude as a child of God.

Too many are focusing on the challenges and problems they’re facing, and as a result lose sight of God’s grace and presence with them. By meditating on their challenges they short-circuit the power of God from working on their behalf. Refuse to dwell on what ever challenges you may be facing right now! Rather, think on the ability of the spirit; He’s all-great and powerful and can put you over every adversity.

Prayer:

I refuse to fret or worry over any thing because God loves me and He’s big and powerful enough to take care of me! Therefore, I live victoriously in rest today, having cast all my cares upon Him. Blessed be His Name.

Further Study:

Mathew 6:25-34

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Mathew 26:57-75

Exodus 36-37

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 8:31-40

Esther 5-6

Believe And Receive Love Wednesday, Feb 8th

Pastor Chris

Herein is love, not that we love God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10).

God created man with the ability to love and receive love. So love is not only meant to be given, it’s also to be received. Receiving love is equally as important as giving it. Some people struggle in their relationship with God and others because they don’t know how to receive love. Imagine a wife who says to her husband ‘’I know you really don’t love me.’’ Such a woman is unknowingly dousing the love her husband has for her. The man may not be able to explain it, but he’ll gradually tend to love her less. The same will happen to a man who thinks his wife doesn’t love him.

Love has to be believed and received. It has to be acted upon. The Bible tells us about one of the disciples of Jesus named John. He described himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20). This doesn’t suggest that the Lord loved John more the other disciples; He loved them all equally. Any one of them could have placed his head on the master’s chest (John 13:23), but only John believed and received the master’s love enough to do so. That’s the right response to love.

John’s boldness to describe himself as one beloved of the master wasn’t rooted in pride; rather, it was based on complete trust. He caught the picture of the master’s love and dared to believe he was the object of such unfeigned and unwavering love. The Bible says the love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). It’s up to you to choose how much of that love you’re going to receive and express. It’s a natural response which, when understood, attracts even more love to you.

Prayer:

Dear father, I thank you for lavishing your unconditional love on me, and for sending Jesus to be the propitiation for my sins. My lips shall praise you, my king, for I see from your word today that I’m the object of your love and the apple of your eyes. I love and adore you in return, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:

John 13:23-25; Song of Solomon 2:4

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Mathew 26:31-56

Exodus 34-35

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 8:16-30

Esther 3-4

Maintain Your Good Character Tuesday, Feb 7th

Pastor Chris

Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God. –what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect (Romans 12:2 GNB)

Often at times you find people who allow their good character to be corrupted or negatively influenced by bad behaviour or ill treatment they receive from others. For instance, someone could decide to stop greeting a neighbor or Colleague, because each time he greats that neighbor or colleague, he or she doesn’t answer. To make such a decision will mean you’re allowing someone’s bad behaviour change your good character. Never allow that happen to you.

That a friend or an acquaintance took undue advantage of your good behaviour is no justification for you to change to the worse. Maintain your good character. Keep on being the nice, loving and caring one; it will pay off. The question to ask before making a decision to change your good behaviour should be ‘’was it right for me to do what I did?’’ If it was right, then you shouldn’t change it because someone else doesn’t like it.

Don’t be moved by the negative actions, comments or ill treatments from others. Rather, response in love to those who hurt or despitefully use you. If you act this way, you’ll be protecting your spirit and at the same time promoting love, harmony and unity. Make the quality choice not to allow someone’s bad behaviour change your good character.

Confession:

I refuse to allow the inadequacies of others rub-off on me or change my disposition. I’m who God says I am; a bright light, shining in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. With the word of God, my mind is constantly renewed and I walk in God’s will for me.

Further Studies:

Romans 12:2; Philippians 2:15

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Mathew 26:1-30

Exodus 32-33

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 8:1-15

Nehemiah 1-2

Sow The Seed Of Love Monday, Feb 6th

Pastor Anita

And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath…

(Deuteronomy 28:13).

Some people get frustrated when they feel unloved or unappreciated by others. This is because they depend on others to make them happy, and when they meet people who don’t seem to care for them, they feel crushed. That’s not God’s dream for any believer. Instead of waiting for people to care for you, He wants you to be the one to care for others. That’s the way to think; don’t wait for people to care for you. Rather live life from the start point of a blesser, and look out for people that need to be loved, blessed and cared for.

You need to see yourself as God’s outstretched hand to bless your world. God said to Abraham: ‘’And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you [with abundant increase of favours] and make your name famous and distinguished, and you will be a blessing {dispensing good to others]’’ (Genesis 12:2 AMP) You’re the seed of Abraham, and you’ve been called to dispense good to others. When you learn to see yourself this way, your happiness and joy won’t be dependent on others, but will naturally effused within you: ‘’But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering gentleness, goodness, faith’’ (Galatians 5:22)

Be willing to show to others the same love you desire to receive. If you show love, you will receive love. The Bible says, ‘’Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap’’ (Galatians 6:7). If you sow the seed of love in abundance, you’ll surely reap a harvest of love from others in a greater measure. The beautiful thing about it is, when you sow love in abundance, you won’t only receive love from those to whom you expressed love, but also from people you never new before.

Prayer:

Dear father, thank you for expressing your love through me to my world today. I function from a position of advantage today, refusing to be dependent on others for love and fulfillment, but freely dispensing the love of God that’s shed abroad in my heart, in Jesus’ Name. Amen

Further Study:

Mathew 5:13-16

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Mathew 25:31-46

Exodus 31

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 7:46-60

Nehemiah 13

Separate The First Fruits Unto The Lord Sunday, Feb 5th

Pastor Chris

Thou shall not delay to offer the first of thy ripe fruits, and of thy liquors: the firstborn of thy sons shalt thou give unto me (Exodus 22:29).

Someone once asked if it was necessary to give the first-fruit offering only at the beginning of the year: Couldn’t one give it any other time of the year? First, you have to understand that God is not a man; He is a spirit being (john 4:24), and the Bible refers to Him as ‘’…the father of spirits…’’ (Hebrews 12:9). So you don’t deal with Him as you would a man. When such a spiritual instructions comes to you in your local assembly, to give your first fruit at the beginning of the year, put it into action immediately. Delay or procrastination in your giving first fruits or other offerings to God is actually a delay to receive from Him.

This is important at the beginning of the year, but as the Lord blesses you in the process of time, perhaps you received a rise in your salary, or a blessing of any kind, you should separate the first fruit unto the Lord, and pay it as well.

Romans 11:16 says ‘’for if the first fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.’’ If you give God your first fruit at the appropriate time, the Lord will watch over the entire lump-your entire resources. He’ll sanctify, separate and consecrate everything you receive afterwards. He will see into it that you don’t encounter any austere moments or dryness in your finance.

Always be prompt to pay your first fruits, tithes, and seed-offerings. Remember, the word says ‘’…God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, ‘’prompt to do it’’) giver [whose heart is in his giving]’’ (2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP). When you give, there is a promise for a harvest. Proverbs 3:9-10 says ‘’honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.’’ This is one of the surefire recipes of financial abundance. So be excited to give your first-fruit offering, for it’s holy to the Lord.

Prayer:

Dear father, I thank you for showing me the essence of responding swiftly to spiritual instructions. I’m resolved today to act on your word by giving my firstfruit, tithes and offerings. And as I do, I’m divinely protected and all my resources are sanctified. The devourer is rebuked for my sake, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Further Study:

Psalm 116:12-14; Proverbs 3:9-10

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Mathew 25:1-30

Exodus 29-30

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 7:31-45

Nehemiah 11-12

Real Faith Never Fails! Saturday Feb 4th

Pastor Chris

And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13)

One thing you must settle in your mind as a believer is that faith always works. Our opening scripture outlines faith, hope and love as three creative and abiding principles of the human spirit. That means they’re not unstable; they are well founded and will always produce result; they never fail. Our study today, however, centres on the first of the three-faith! Jesus said in Mathew 17:20 ‘’…if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.’’

The master never lied or exaggerated in His expressions. He spoke absolute truth. Therefore, if He said this, it must be true. Some Christians, however, would say they believe the words of Jesus above and yet cite instances where their faith didn’t work. The truth is, they really had no faith. It reminds of a similar experience Jesus had with His disciples, after the disciples had tried fruitlessly to cast out devils from a little boy. The father of the boy then besought Jesus saying, ‘’master, if you can do anything, please have compassion on us and help us’’ (Mark 9:22). Summarily, Jesus cast out the devil out of the little boy, and he was healed.

Afterwards, the disciples came to Him privately and asked, ‘’master why couldn’t we cast the devil out?’’ (Mathew 17:19). He answered them pointblank: ‘’Because of your unbelief’’: meaning, lack of faith. The disciples must have thought they have faith and believed they could cast the devil out, otherwise they wouldn’t have tried. But Jesus made them realize the reason they couldn’t cast the devil out was because of their unbelief.

If you’re one of those who still wonder why your faith is not working, you might just be paddling the same boat of unbelief as the disciples when they tried fruitlessly to cast the devil out of that little boy. Real faith in God and His word always work! So get back to the word, build your faith strong and put it to work today.

Prayer:

Dear father, thank you for the entrance that your word has given me light and understanding, I’m glad to know that my faith in your word will never fail; I therefore declare that my life is a celebration of unending victories as I put my faith to work, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study:

Mark 11:22-23

1 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Mathew 24:36-51

Exodus 28

2 Year Bible Reading Plan:

Acts 7:16-30

Nehemiah 9-10