CONNECTING HEAVENLY BROADCASTS

Memorise: And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. (1 Kings 18:41)
Read: 1 Kings 18:41-46
And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. (1 Kings 18:41) So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, (1 Kings 18:42) And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. (1 Kings 18:43) And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (1 Kings 18:44) And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:45) And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:46)
Bible in one year: 2Chronicles 1-3
Message
The gift of prophesy entails being told or shown future events by God. What are the implications of such gifts? It is to enable you see the invisible and to hear the inaudible. Believe it or not, when we gather in God’s presence, there are big, angelic beings in our midst and around us. One reason God may not want to show them to us is so that we do not become frightened or distracted. Because angels are usually of great size, if your eyes are opened to see them, the first thing they will say to you is, Fear not. This season, the Lord will open your eyes to see angels and they will minister effectively to you.
All around us, we are surrounded and bombarded with messages in the air waves from local, national and international radio and television stations as well as the internet. If you look at the sky, you will see nothing because these broadcasts are invisible, but if you have the appropriate equipment, and begin to tune to the different stations, you will be amazed at the number of information that is passing through the airwaves that the fellow who lacks such equipment may be completely oblivious of. In the same way, there is so much information being transmitted from the heavenly ‘radio and television stations’. God is constantly speaking: He can be saying so much yet you may be unable to hear a single word because you lack the right equipment. It takes possessing one or more of the revelational gifts to enable you hear the inaudible and see the invisible. In 1King 18:41, Elijah told Ahab to go and eat and stop worrying because he has heard the sound of abundance of rain. Nobody else could hear the sound because they did not have the gift. The truth is, when a major earth-shaking event is about to take place, the heaven will be pregnant with this information. If you can key into the spirit, you can spiritually sense what is coming. Do you know you
can sense your turnaround? You can sense your breakthrough with the help of these gifts. Ask God for the revelational gifts today.
PRAYER POINT
Father, make me sensitive to heaven’s communications. Henceforth, let events no longer take me by surprise.

DRESS UP!

Memorise: For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

(2 Corinthians 13:8)

Read: Ephesians 6:13-18 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)

Bible in one year: Romans 5-8

Message

Resisting the devil is a battle order to carry out a dangerous assignment because of the kind of enemy we are facing, but we thank our God who has won us the victory and equipped us with the right battle gear to carry out this assignment. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Your fight is not a carnal, visible fight but a spiritual one. You are not fighting fellow human beings, you are at war with the negative powers using this human beings against you. By the time you obey the Lord’s command by going out, and casting out demons, you expect the devil to fight back. Some people are afraid of such attacks so they mind their business expecting the devil to leave them alone. Unfortunately, whether you plunder the kingdom of darkness – by leading souls to Christ, healing the sick, and delivering the oppressed or not, they will still attack you. If you know this, is it not better to be on the attacking side? 

To remain victorious in the battle against the kingdom of darkness, you must never joke with your battle gear. They are listed in Ephesians 6:13-18. First of all, you must be saved before you can be enlisted into this army, thereafter, you must ensure your helmet of salvation is always worn to protect your head. Satan will do everything in his power to make you lose your helmet. Another part of your dressing is the belt of truth. Belts help to hold your dress together and to look smart. Belts are worn on a very sensitive position of the body bordering on the navel, which is linked with the foundation or root of a man’s life. Truth is very crucial to the soldier of the cross. Truth helps to hold everything else in your body-family, ministry and work together. If the truth is missing, everything else will be in shambles. Whatever happens, stick with the truth. Nothing can be done against the truth but for the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8). In addition you

must live a righteous life. That is the breastplate which secures your heart. Any soldier of Jesus who lives in sin must expect to be defeated. Besides these, you must wear the Gospel boots by evangelizing regularly. This protects your feet, helps you to tread on your enemies and to go through bad terrains. Are you wearing the right gear?

ACTION POINT

According to Psalm 33:4, everything God does is in truth. Ask that from today, whatever you do will be in truth

PAINS OF EX-CHAMPIONS - 2

Memorise: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. (1 Corinthians 9:27)

Read: Psalm 79:9-10

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. (Psalms 79:9) Wherefore should the heathen say where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. (Psalms 79:10)

Bible in one year: Isaiah 28-30

Message

When Samson lost his savour, he was thrown into darkness and became a slave of the people he once terrorized. Have you been casting out devils and setting the captives free? Then you must never lose your worth or else, the same demons you dealt with will be waiting to have their pound of flesh. If you must know something about the devil, it is that he has no love and so he cannot forgive. The best way to overcome his attacks and reprisal attacks is to remain a champion on the side of Jesus Christ. It is very important you maintain your position. Take a cue from football: when the Nigerian national football team the Green Eagles were victorious over their opponents, they were renamed as the Golden Eagles and their praise was on the lips of virtually everyone. But when they eventually lost out, instead of a heroic arrival, nobody knew when they entered Nigeria.

Whenever you are tempted, be it in the secret or in the open, always remember that you are a champion, and that it is very distasteful to be an ex-champion. In Hebrews 11:25, we learn that at best you can enjoy the pleasure of sin only for a moment, yet the shame that follows can be beyond lifetime. Besides the shame, what of the ridicule of being called an ex-champion? Do you know that ex-champion face the exact opposite of what they went through while still champions? How? While still reigning champions, many of them try to avoid going through public places because of their popularity. There are even those who disguise themselves before appearing in public as people will not allow them to be themselves. That is on the positive. On the other side, if such a champion is defeated and become an ex-champion, to avoid being ridiculed, he will also begin to hide from the public. One question ex-champions are asked is: where is now your God? In Psalm 79:9-10, David told God never to allow the world ask him this question. In other words, he was saying he did not want to be an ex-champion. If you prayed in the past and sicknesses and demons took their leave, but now you say the same prayer and sicknesses and demons refuse to leave, ask yourself what has gone wrong: where is the presence of the Spirit in your life? Do everything possible to remain the champion that you are!

PRAYER POINT

Father, you said I shall be the head only, let me never be an ex-champion in Jesus name.

PLANTED IN HIS COURTS?

Memorise: Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in

the courts of our God. (Psalms 92:13)

Read: Psalm 92:12-15

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in

Lebanon. (Psalms 92:12)

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts

of our God. (Psalms 92:13)

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

(Psalms 92:14)

To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no

unrighteousness in him. (Psalms 92:15)

Bible in one year: Isaiah 25-27

Message

True freedom is desired by all but experienced only by a few. For you to be free, you must follow a particular path. You must be ready to continue in the words of Christ (John 8:31-32). To continue means to stay with, dwell on, or to abide with the words of Jesus. This is why Psalm 91:1 says, “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

This means, as long as you remain in God’s presence, you are free and protected. Watch it! The devil will try several ways of drawing you out of God’s presence so that he can get you into bondage. Psalm 23:6 says as long as you dwell in God’s house, you will continue to experience God’s goodness and mercies, while Psalm 92:13 says that what guarantees your prospering to the level of flourishing is your ability to remain planted – firmly established in God’s house.

There are many people who are visitors or guests in God’s house. They probably think they are doing someone a favour by attending church. They go to church to make somebody happy. Some go to church only when they are in need of spiritual, material or financial assistance. But whenever somebody in that church offends them, they will want to get even – by not going to that church again. Some others go to church just to socialize – to make friends. If their friend leaves the church, off they go! Some attend church just as cover up: they may be into something evil but believe that if they attend church, their evil deeds may not be discovered. Why are you in church? Some people do not mind being in church for donkey years as an ordinary member but when it comes to being committed, they will take their leave. Those that will partake of God’s enduring blessings, protection and freedom are those who are permanent residents in God’s house. They are so planted there that no excuse can make them leave. Their lives revolve around God, God’s house and Kingdom. They have made their greatest commitment to God; their allegiance is to the King of kings. His interest is their interest, His likes their likes. What He hates they hate. Nothing so attractive can draw them out of God’s presence. No wonder God does not withhold any blessing from them. What is your level of devotion to God? Let your allegiance be total from today!

KEY POINT

You can identify those who are planted by God in a church by how much their lives positively affect members, God’s work and the Kingdom

DELIVERANCE IS YOUR DUTY

Memorise: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:17)

Read: Mark 16:15-18
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15) He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (Mark 16:17) They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:18)

Bible in one year: Isaiah 22-24

Message

If you will succeed as a soldier in God’s army, you must know how to relate with the devil and his cohorts. We are commanded to steadfastly resist the devil. This is a true statement, but according to 1 Peter 5:8, before doing so, we must be sober and vigilant. Being sober has everything to do with having coordinated, solemn thoughts. A drunk for instance, is not a sober minded fellow. You must be able to think seriously and be in your right mind. This means those who are under the influence of alcohol once in a while will find it difficult to resist the devil. If you are a very emotional fellow, you will find it challenging to resist the devil. You need to be thinking right to be able to overcome the devil. Similarly, to be vigilant is to be alert, watchful, looking out for possible danger, trouble or attack. In other words, a vigilant fellow is proactive: he pre-empts the attack of the enemy and moves ahead to forestall them. If you are always on the defensive, you would have been taking in one of Satan’s traps before realizing it. Be on your guard always! As a soldier of the cross, God expects you to dislodge agents of darkness, even before they get at you. Some believers brand themselves deliverance ministers whereas deliverance is part of what every Christian is called to do.

According to Mark 16:15-18, you do not need to be a minister to cast out devils; from the day you receive Jesus Christ, if you have acquired knowledge about your new position in Christ, you can easily cast out demons. Casting out demons is deliverance. When last did you command demons out of a given individual or situation? God has empowered you at salvation and much more at Holy Spirit baptism. He now expects you to locate those who need deliverance so that you can deliver them. Take the battle to the gates of the enemy, break it down and liberate the captives. You should be a terror to the kingdom of darkness. They should fear you or quake whenever they hear of you. How is it with you today? What are you using the power of Holy Spirit to do? How many souls have you won? The greatest deliverance an individual can have is deliverance from sin. How many sick people have you channelled the healing anointing to? Are you proactive or reactive? It shall be well with you.

KEY POINT
Jesus and His disciples casted out devils. If you are like them, you too will cast out devils. How many devils have you casted out since you believed?

NO VACUUM

Memorise: Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth: (Luke 3:5)

Read: Genesis 1:1-3

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

(Genesis 1:2) And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. (Genesis 1:3)

Bible in one year: Isaiah 19-21

Message

God is a perfect God and does not allow for a vacuum in man. In Luke 3:5, we are told that every valley shall be filled. God created us as His dwelling place. Every space inside you that is not given to God shall be taken over by something else, because there is no room for a vacuum. If you do not fill your mind with God’s Word, it will be filled with other things like worldly knowledge, the advice of men, suggestions of demons and perhaps dirty

thoughts. The tithe you fail to pay to God will definitely be paid to devourers – sicknesses, fraudsters, loss, etc. A sister once shared her experience. She was taught in a church to pay her tithes but she did not like to. She felt that considering her meager salary, tithing would be a big loss to her. To prevent being disturbed, she stopped attending the church. In the meantime, there was a micro finance bank very close to where she was working. There she saved her salary regularly until one day, somebody asked her to check them out. By the time she did, the bank had gone under and she met lots of people outside with some armed policemen. All her savings together with the promised interest had gone with the wind! Those who think they are smart by avoiding tithes will later realise how foolish they were. Decide who to pay tithe to – God or devourers.

Everyone is born into ignorance but as you grow up and acquire knowledge, ignorance is gradually displaced by knowledge. Similarly, when you were born, you were born into sin. But after you knew the Lord by accepting Him into your heart as Lord and personal saviour and began to study the Bible and receive Bible teachings, your old nature will begin to give way to the divine nature. The more you yield to God, obey Him and please Him, the less Satan will be able to have access to you. It is your duty to ensure you are filled with the right substance. God is perfect in all His ways and so He does not permit superfluity. This means that, if a person can do a particular task, God will not assign the task to two people. That is a waste because if the two of them are doing what one person can do, efficiency will be compromised, while an aspect of the general Kingdom assignment

somewhere else will be suffering. This should guide us as we build departments; do not over-staff one department where many become redundant, while other departments are under-staffed thereby exposing

them to so much pressure. Ask God for wisdom to manage your resources.

KEY POINT

Whenever there is a vacuum in your life, the Holy Spirit wants to fill it up.