Read:
1 Kings 19:9-18
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 28:1-30:19
Psalms 72
Hymn:
Sing hymn 1
Other blessings of solitary living include divine authority, divine
revelation and divine direction. In our memory verse for today, we read
that Elijah was a man who possessed divine authority that controlled the
weather. He commanded rain to cease and it was so; when he felt it was
time to release the rain, he commanded it to start falling and it was
so! The Bible says in 1 Kings 17:1:
“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead,
said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand,
there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
This did not come by careless and flamboyant living. This authority came
as a result of solitary living and a separated life. We can understand
this by what God said to Elijah in 1 Kings 18:1:
“And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD
came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab;
and I will send rain upon the earth.”
It took instruction from God before Elijah could show himself to Ahab.
He had been in solitary confinement ever since he made the proclamation
of the drought. Some Christian ministers would want to be seen
everywhere, at every public function and yet they want authority, they
want divine revelation and direction. They dine and wine with the elites
in the society and yet they want to exercise divine authority. It does
not work like that. Elijah said, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth,
before whom I stand…” Children of God, pastors, where are you standing?
Before God or in the crowd?
In the reading of today’s Bible text, it is amazing to know that not
only spiritual but also physical encouragement came to Elijah during his
solitary time with God. Through this divine physical provision, the
Bible says that he travelled for forty days and forty nights without
eating anything else. One lesson we must quickly grasp here is that God
is interested in our physical and spiritual well-being. It is a pity
that some Christians spiritualise so many things at the detriment of
their physical well-being. Imagine God saying, “Arise and eat; because
the journey is too great for thee.” This divine consideration came
because Elijah took time to be alone with God. One other lesson we must
learn is that, still in his solitude, Elijah was visited by God and he
was able to lodge his complaint against the society he was living in and
consequently he was told what to do. We receive divine instruction when
we are alone with God. Our misconceptions about life situations will
receive clarification and better understanding when we are alone with
God. The Bible says:
“The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.”
Psalm 25:14
Unknown to Elijah that he was not only the prophet standing for God, he
wanted to die. However, he was told that God himself has preserved seven
thousand prophets who had not corrupted themselves! What a revelation
and a lesson. Never think you are the only one keeping the bound of
holiness, there are others unknown to you. So don’t give into Satan. God
will never change and He will never lower His standards. God bless you
as you continue with God in holiness.
Memorise:
Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed
earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the
space of three years and six months.
James 5:17
Prayer Point:
Father, grace to be separated unto You, not following the multitude, please give to me.
Friday 30 September 2016
IN THE STORM - Our Daily Bread 2016 - October 2
READ:
Mark 4:35-41
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
-Mark 4:39
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 14-16
Ephesians 5:1-16
A storm was brewing – not just on the horizon but also in a friend’s home. “When I was in Hong Kong,” she shared, “the local meteorological service announced that there was a superstorm approaching. But more than the storm that was looming outside my window, there was a storm brewing at home. While my dad was in the hospital, family members were trying to balance their home and work responsibilities while also travelling to and from the hospital. They were so tired that patience was wearing thin, and the situation at home was tense.”
Life can feel like a storm – tossing us around with winds of misfortune, grief or stress. Where can we turn? When Jesus’ disciples were caught in a great windstorm and wondered if He cared, they still knew where to turn. He demonstrated His power by calming the howling storm (Mark 4:38-39).
But often He does not calm the storm immediately. And, like the disciples, we may feel that He doesn’t care. To calm our fears, we can cling to faith in who God is and what He can do. We can take shelter in Him (Psalm 91:1). We can find His help to relate to others with grace. We can rest in an all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving God. He is with us in the storm and cradles us through the storm. – Poh Fang Chia
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons or men, or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of the ocean, and earth, and skies. – Baker
One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think. – Brother Lawrence
Mark 4:35-41
And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
-Mark 4:39
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 14-16
Ephesians 5:1-16
A storm was brewing – not just on the horizon but also in a friend’s home. “When I was in Hong Kong,” she shared, “the local meteorological service announced that there was a superstorm approaching. But more than the storm that was looming outside my window, there was a storm brewing at home. While my dad was in the hospital, family members were trying to balance their home and work responsibilities while also travelling to and from the hospital. They were so tired that patience was wearing thin, and the situation at home was tense.”
Life can feel like a storm – tossing us around with winds of misfortune, grief or stress. Where can we turn? When Jesus’ disciples were caught in a great windstorm and wondered if He cared, they still knew where to turn. He demonstrated His power by calming the howling storm (Mark 4:38-39).
But often He does not calm the storm immediately. And, like the disciples, we may feel that He doesn’t care. To calm our fears, we can cling to faith in who God is and what He can do. We can take shelter in Him (Psalm 91:1). We can find His help to relate to others with grace. We can rest in an all-powerful, all-wise, and all-loving God. He is with us in the storm and cradles us through the storm. – Poh Fang Chia
Whether the wrath of the storm-tossed sea,
Or demons or men, or whatever it be
No waters can swallow the ship where lies
The Master of the ocean, and earth, and skies. – Baker
One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think. – Brother Lawrence
THE POWER OF RITUAL - Our Daily Bread 2016 - October 1
READ:
1 Corinthians 11:23-34
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
-1 Corinthians 11:24
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 11-13
Ephesians 4
When I was growing up, one of the rules in our house was that we weren’t allowed to go to bed angry (Ephesians 4:26). All our fights and disagreements had to be resolved. The companion to that rule was this bedtime ritual: Mom and Dad would say to my brother and me, “Good night. I love you.” And we would respond, “Good night. I love you too.”
The value of this family ritual has recently been impressed on me. As my mother lay in a hospice bed dying of lung cancer, she became less and less responsive. But each night when I left her bedside I would say, “I love you, Mom.” And though she could say little else, she would respond, “I love you too.” Growing up I had no idea what a gift this ritual would be to me many years later.
Time and repetition can rob our rituals of meaning. But some are important reminders of vital spiritual truths. First-century believers misused the practice of the Lord’s Supper, but the apostle Paul didn’t tell them to stop celebrating it. Instead, he told them, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Rather than give up the ritual, perhaps we need to restore the meaning. – Julie Ackerman Link
Lord, when we observe the Lord’s Supper, help us avoid the trap of letting our observance grow routine. May we always be moved with gratitude for the wonderful gift of ritual.
Any ritual can lose meaning, but that does not make the ritual meaningless.
1 Corinthians 11:23-34
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
-1 Corinthians 11:24
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Isaiah 11-13
Ephesians 4
When I was growing up, one of the rules in our house was that we weren’t allowed to go to bed angry (Ephesians 4:26). All our fights and disagreements had to be resolved. The companion to that rule was this bedtime ritual: Mom and Dad would say to my brother and me, “Good night. I love you.” And we would respond, “Good night. I love you too.”
The value of this family ritual has recently been impressed on me. As my mother lay in a hospice bed dying of lung cancer, she became less and less responsive. But each night when I left her bedside I would say, “I love you, Mom.” And though she could say little else, she would respond, “I love you too.” Growing up I had no idea what a gift this ritual would be to me many years later.
Time and repetition can rob our rituals of meaning. But some are important reminders of vital spiritual truths. First-century believers misused the practice of the Lord’s Supper, but the apostle Paul didn’t tell them to stop celebrating it. Instead, he told them, “As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Rather than give up the ritual, perhaps we need to restore the meaning. – Julie Ackerman Link
Lord, when we observe the Lord’s Supper, help us avoid the trap of letting our observance grow routine. May we always be moved with gratitude for the wonderful gift of ritual.
Any ritual can lose meaning, but that does not make the ritual meaningless.
THE BLESSING OF SOLITUDE I - Open Heavens 2016 - October 1, 2016
Read:
Genesis 32:23-30
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 25-27
Psalms 71:14-24
Hymn:
Sing hymn 1
One of the characteristics of the eagle that we learn from the School of Disciples of the Redeemed Christian Church of God is its lonely lifestyle. We learn the virtues of a solitary lifestyle because more often than not, the crowd could be distracting. Our Lord Jesus Christ, in our memory verse for today, demonstrated the need to withdraw and be done with God periodically. The Bible says in Matthew 14:23:
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
What was Jesus doing alone? He was having fellowship with His Father and probably the angels were ministering to Him as we read in Matthew 4:11
In our text for today, Jacob was facing a frightening situation and he needed to sort things out with his Maker. So, he decided to be alone after discharging his family to go before him. What he was doing could be assumed in the light of verses 9 to verse 26. There are many lessons we can learn from this story: Firstly, to be alone with God we must separate ourselves from the crowd. Secondly, to be alone with God requires denying ourselves the luxury of family fellowship and affection. Jacob parted with family including the wife he laboured have for fourteen years. The only time the Bible allows a temporary separation between the husband and wife is when it comes to being alone with God. The Bible says:
“Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”
1 Corinthians 7:5
The third lesson we can learn from this story is that solitary living is of no use if you cannot get the best out of it. Jacob did not just isolate himself from the crowd, he had a nice and meaningful with his Maker, and he did not miss out the essence when he said: “…I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” (Genesis 32:26). I always pity people when they come for big meetings like the Holy Ghost service, Festival of Life, Holy Ghost Congress, etc. and they sleep all through the programme, even while prayers are going on. These people left the luxury of their beds and comfortable houses, only to come here and waste their time in the presence of the Lord. Jacob did not do this; he went for the best from his God. Another lesson we can learn here is that as a result of this separation unto God, Jacob’s terrible past was erased and he was mightily blessed. Finally in this story, we learn that we don’t need the details of how God will perform our desperately needed miracles. All we need is faith to believe whatever the Lord says concerning us, either in His Word or through prophetic utterances from His genuine prophets. Jacob asked for the name of the man with whom he was wrestling and the man said that knowing his name was no necessary; all he needed was miracles and blessings, so he blessed him. This is a mighty reward of solitary living; being alone with God pays a lot. As you choose to separate yourself unto the Lord and away from the world, I pray that the blessings of the Lord shall characterise your separated life in Jesus’ Name.
Memorise:
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Matthew 14:23
Action Point:
Decide to dedicate some solitary time for prayer and have meaningful fellowship with your Maker.
Genesis 32:23-30
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 25-27
Psalms 71:14-24
Hymn:
Sing hymn 1
One of the characteristics of the eagle that we learn from the School of Disciples of the Redeemed Christian Church of God is its lonely lifestyle. We learn the virtues of a solitary lifestyle because more often than not, the crowd could be distracting. Our Lord Jesus Christ, in our memory verse for today, demonstrated the need to withdraw and be done with God periodically. The Bible says in Matthew 14:23:
“And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.”
What was Jesus doing alone? He was having fellowship with His Father and probably the angels were ministering to Him as we read in Matthew 4:11
In our text for today, Jacob was facing a frightening situation and he needed to sort things out with his Maker. So, he decided to be alone after discharging his family to go before him. What he was doing could be assumed in the light of verses 9 to verse 26. There are many lessons we can learn from this story: Firstly, to be alone with God we must separate ourselves from the crowd. Secondly, to be alone with God requires denying ourselves the luxury of family fellowship and affection. Jacob parted with family including the wife he laboured have for fourteen years. The only time the Bible allows a temporary separation between the husband and wife is when it comes to being alone with God. The Bible says:
“Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.”
1 Corinthians 7:5
The third lesson we can learn from this story is that solitary living is of no use if you cannot get the best out of it. Jacob did not just isolate himself from the crowd, he had a nice and meaningful with his Maker, and he did not miss out the essence when he said: “…I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” (Genesis 32:26). I always pity people when they come for big meetings like the Holy Ghost service, Festival of Life, Holy Ghost Congress, etc. and they sleep all through the programme, even while prayers are going on. These people left the luxury of their beds and comfortable houses, only to come here and waste their time in the presence of the Lord. Jacob did not do this; he went for the best from his God. Another lesson we can learn here is that as a result of this separation unto God, Jacob’s terrible past was erased and he was mightily blessed. Finally in this story, we learn that we don’t need the details of how God will perform our desperately needed miracles. All we need is faith to believe whatever the Lord says concerning us, either in His Word or through prophetic utterances from His genuine prophets. Jacob asked for the name of the man with whom he was wrestling and the man said that knowing his name was no necessary; all he needed was miracles and blessings, so he blessed him. This is a mighty reward of solitary living; being alone with God pays a lot. As you choose to separate yourself unto the Lord and away from the world, I pray that the blessings of the Lord shall characterise your separated life in Jesus’ Name.
Memorise:
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Matthew 14:23
Action Point:
Decide to dedicate some solitary time for prayer and have meaningful fellowship with your Maker.
Thursday 29 September 2016
GRACE, NOT DISGRACE - Open Heavens 2016 - September 30, 2016
Read:
Psalms 23:1-6
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 23-24
Psalms 71:1-13
Hymn:
Sing hymn 11
Grace is the favour of God to human
beings. It is the demonstration of God’s goodwill towards humankind in the
person of Jesus Christ, and the effects of that goodwill in human lives. The
word is rarely found in the Old Testament but employed frequently in the New
Testament, leading some to declare the New Testament period as the dispensation
of grace. The Christian life is completely dependent upon the grace of God.
God’s grace compensates for human weaknesses in that God shows Himself gracious
in His dealings with human beings. John 1:16-17 says:
“And of his fulness have all we
received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but
grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
God’s grace is abundant (Romans 5:17).
This grace is not only abundant but can be exceeding in one’s life (2
Corinthians 9:14). Grace is one way God makes up for our shortcomings. Grace
covers our human frailties. Through grace, God uses our very limited strength
and resources to do the impossible. This He does by adding His own strength and
resources to ours. With grace, your lack, limitations, and defects are fully
covered. When you have exceeding grace, it means God’s provision far exceeds
your need. Grace is in action at those times that the Holy Spirit helps us to
pray in accordance with God’s will when we do not know how to pray (Romans
8:26-27). When you have prayed, fasted and tried without measuring up to
standard, then it is time to fall back on His grace. Grace can be accessed at
varying measures. To some people, grace may be unavailable, to some, only a
little, while some will have it in abundance, and for some others, grace will
outnumber their needs. What level of grace do you have access to? If you want
to access extreme levels of grace, do not frustrate God’s grace that is
currently available upon you, do not waste it and do not become a storage tower
of grace, but rather, be a channel of grace. Always use grace for the purpose
it is given to you. Be gracious to others. Be generous. Live a holy life. 2
Corinthians 6:1 says:
“We then, as workers
together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace
of God in vain.”
God does not wish that we receive His
grace in vain; He wants us to be progressive by growing in grace. God wants us
to share His grace with others for them to taste and see that the Lord is good.
May His glory fill the earth, that His Name may be praised forever more.
Memorise:
As it is written, Behold, I
lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth
on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 9:33
Prayer Point:
Father, let Your grace be sufficient for
me. Please Lord; make me a distributor of Your grace.
Wednesday 28 September 2016
THE SURE REFUGE - Open Heavens 2016 - September 29, 2016
Read:
Philippians 2:9-11
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 21-22
Psalms 70
Hymn:
Sing hymn 6
Refuge is used in the Bible as a
reference to a secure shelter or a place of protection from danger or distress.
A refuge is a stronghold that is commonly used for retreat, healing and
renewal. Ultimately, refuge is a common metaphor for God in the Bible. 2 Samuel
22:3 says:
“The God of my rock; in him
will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my
high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.”
In effect, God is our fortress, a strong
tower, a rock of defence, our shield, a shade of protection, and a shelter in
the time of storm. He is Mighty to deliver, Mighty to save, the Mighty man in
battle and the Lord of hosts. What a father does goes a long way in affecting
the life of a child. Our Heavenly Father does not only neutralise weapons
designed against His children, He also protects them from harm. Here is a story
I have shared severally; In the 50s, while I was still very young, we had
mining activities going on in my village and the roads were very narrow.
Nigeria was still under colonial rule then. Normally, white men came in a jeep
to collect the gold that the miners got. They were so powerful in those days
that the villagers believed that if they killed your child, you have to tell
them “thank you” so that you will not be sent to prison; they were dreaded. One
day, my sister and I were returning from the farm when we suddenly heard the
sound of a jeep coming at top speed. My sister immediately grabbed my hand and
we both jumped out of its way, landing in an empty mine pit. We barely escaped
the jeep but before we could heave a sigh of relief, we found ourselves before
a snake. Because our Father can preserve lives, I lived to tell the story. In
Luke 10:19, God empowered all believers in Christ over snakes, scorpions, power
of the enemy, and over demonic agents and all their activities. I prophecy in
the Name that is above all other names, God will protect you and defend
everything that is yours this season in Jesus’ Name. Psalms 20:7-8 says;
“Some trust in chariots,
and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our
God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and
stand upright.”
The Word of God is trustworthy, reliable
and dependable. Whatever you may be passing through, trust in God and call upon
His Name today, He will give you peace all round.
Memorise:
The name of the LORD is
a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10
Prayer Point:
Father, thank you for being my hiding
place and my refuge, please keep me secure for the rest of my life in Jesus’
Name.
NO STOPPING, NO WAITING - Open Heavens - September 27, 2016
Read:
Philippians 3:13-17
Bible in one year:
Ezekiel 19-20
Psalms 69:22-36
Hymn:
Sing hymn 9
Patience and long-suffering are
indispensable virtues for all believers in Christ. In the first place, the race
we are called into can only be run through patience because it is a marathon.
Also, there is hardly any promise of God that can be fulfilled in the life of
believers without the combination of faith and patience (Hebrews 6:12). As
indispensable as faith is to a Christian, so also is patience. No wonder it is
listed as part of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. Do you know that
when your faith is being tried, God uses that trial to generate patience in
you? This implies that the longer the period of trial, the greater your level
of patience. But, when you fail to handle a particular trial of faith the way
you should, it will not generate the level of patience that it should. For this
reason, many who have gone through trials complaining saw God as an opposition
and therefore grumbled against Him. In the process, some even abandon the
faith. This attitude is contrary to the Word of God as recorded in Hebrews
6:12:
“That
ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience
inherit the promises.”
Children of God must learn not to be
weary in well doing because God has promised us a bountiful harvest if we faint
not. We must completely trust in His superior wisdom to decide the timing of
our blessings. For instance, He knows the end of every line of action even at
the beginning of that action. This is why you must trust His sense of judgment
at all times, because His decisions are not limited to what your eyes can see
today but also what may happen tomorrow. Many years ago, while we lived in a
part of Lagos that harboured several drug addicts and reckless drivers, my
children asked me to buy them a bicycle. If I had obliged their request the
first time, they might not be alive today. God still deals with us based on
what He knows about us today and tomorrow. Be sure that the Lord will not give
you the blessing you are not prepared for, lest it destroys you.
Whenever an expected blessing is delayed
or when faced with difficulties, long-suffering is required to remain composed.
Even when the situation appears hopeless, just take time to read and study the
Bible, asking God to give you a word for that situation. Grab whatever God says,
obey and follow-up with action, then wait for the result, and you will never be
disappointed.
Memorise:
And let us not be weary in
well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9
Prayer Point:
Father, please help me to patiently wait
for your perfect timing in all things in Jesus’ Name.
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