FINISHING THE RACE

MEMORISE: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 2 Timothy 4 : 7.

READ: 2 TIMOTHY 4 : 6 – 8.

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALM 70 – 72.

God has called us into an uncommon race. But unlike an earthly or carnal race, the strength for you to run this race can only be supplied by the Holy Spirit. If you read 2 Corinthians 11 : 23 – 33 and 2 Corinthians 4 : 7 – 9, you will see some of the difficulties and challenges that Paul encountered during his race, yet he kept going on by the power of the Spirit. When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, it becomes easy to finish strong. In a football game, 22 people would have kicked the ball up and down for the better part of 90 minutes or more; although the men become tired, yet the ball remains strong. Are you battered, beaten and kicked about like the ball? Hold on to the Holy Spirit! He will ensure nothing deflates you. As long as He has filled you, you will be able to fly and weather every negative situation that comes your way.

Moreover, Paul declares in 2 Timothy 4 : 6 – 8 that he successfully finished the race. When you are through with your divine assignment on earth, you will know. May you finish your assignment before your time is up. John the Baptist completed his assignment after he pointed everybody to Jesus. After that, he was just marking time, waiting to be called home. Paul equally completed his assignment on earth and after that; he began to long for his heavenly rewards. Beloved, there are several cases of people dying before they completed their assignment. Such people will be served a query in Heaven. But it is also possible to say like Paul: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Timothy 4 : 7.

In the lives of many believers today, there are so many pending issues: pending repentance, pending restitutions and unfinished assignments from the Master. Some people are yet to win the number of souls that God has assigned to them. Some others are debtors in following up of converts. Tithes, offerings, vows and pledges are areas many still owe God. Check your life and find out where you owe God, and immediately put your house in order. If Paul can finish the race, you too can.

ACTION POINT:

Go for a comprehensive medical check up: thank God for the good result but prayerfully stand against any negative report.

MEET A CHAMPION.

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER 2013 THEME: MEET A CHAMPION.

MEMORISE: There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10 : 13.

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 10 : 12 – 14.

12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALM 67 – 69.

In life, most potential champions never become champions. But one potential champion that became a champion is Joseph. He was one of the 12 sons of Jacob. He was specially loved by his father being a son of his old age and product of his late heartthrob – Rachel. Considering that we live in the end times, we can conveniently claim to be children of an ageing world too. He was favoured and had a dream which infuriated his brothers the moment they heard of it. At some point, Joseph overcame the death his brothers had planned for him. Later, the devil came in the form of a woman and tempted him, but he told himself that if he loses that battle, he had lost his destiny. He passed the test even though it landed him in prison. It was not an easy road for this potential champion turned champion

.

From his history, we see that one boy had a dream out of 12 brothers and he stood out. Whenever you face temptation, always remember that God loves you. God gave a big dream to a small boy. This tells us that potential champions are not usually chosen according to their biological age. Take Moses for example: he was the youngest of three, yet he was chosen. Joseph was number 11 in a family of 12. What of David? He was the last born of his father’s house. On the other hand John the Baptist was the first born and was chosen ( Luke 1 : 1 – 17 ). The most important thing is not when and how you were born but whether God has a purpose for your life ( Jeremiah 1 : 4 – 5 ). Whenever we are ordaining people, all we are doing is replicating what had already been done in the spirit realm. Also, the bigger the dream that God gives to you, the tougher will be your opposition. Usually, competitions are done according to weight. We have light, middle, feather and heavy weight. Bringing a featherweight to fight a heavyweight is a mismatch. God’s plan for your life will determine the selection of the enemies and situations you will face in life. May you never fail God in the challenges of life and may you come out victorious like Joseph.

PRAYER POINT:

Father, You helped the patriarchs of old to overcome and make it to Heaven, help me to overcome and to make it to Heaven too.

 

WORK-IN-PROGRESS

MEMORISE: For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark 4 : 28.

READ: MARK 4 : 26 – 29.

26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;

27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.

28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALM 64 – 66.

God wants your hope to rise. He wants you to rise up. You can rise by being pushed up, pulled up or carried up. This season, you shall rise up. In 1 Kings 18 : 41 – 45, we notice that while the fist-like cloud that appeared in answer to the prayer of Elijah was rising, it was also spreading. Verse 45 of that scripture says,

“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.” This simply, tells us that God does certain things in stages. The Gospel of Jesus Christ that would spread to all parts of the earth started one day in Israel through the Saviour Himself. A business that would cover the world may start small in a hidden location.

This speaks of progressive increases. Sometimes, some blessings are received bit by bit progressively, yet they are from God. The lame man started by rising, then walking, then leaping and praising God at the beautiful gate ( Acts 3 : 1 – 11 ). Even naturally, God designed trees to grow progressively.

“For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself: first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.”

Mark 4 : 28

God takes some people from nothing to being great and allows that greatness to spread and to keep on rising until the fellow becomes very great and is envied by a nation. There are some people who are too impatient with God. When He starts a miracle, they sense it. In the process of Him moving it from one stage to another, they become impatient and start to complain that their miracles are hanging or incomplete. In the process, many have bungled their miracle. Be wise! Has the Lord started something good in your life or circumstance? Thank Him. You are a work-in-progress in His hands. You may not get the clear picture until He either shows it to you or when you meet Him on the other side of eternity. Know that the One who has begun a good work will surely complete it. He will perfect every good thing that pertains to you. Is there any unfinished business in your life? Engage thanksgiving from today.

KEY POINT:

The gap between where you are now and where you are going can be filled with thanksgiving.

WAIT ON HIM

MEMORISE: If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Job 14 : 14.

READ: PROVERBS 27: 18 – 19

18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: PSALM 61 – 63.

It is better to be conveyed while flying than to fly by self effort. The One who is carrying you in that flight is Jesus (John 15 : 5). He is the aircraft you will be riding in; hence Philippians 4 : 13 says,

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

This means you will be accomplishing things, attaining heights and breaking new grounds using His resources – physical and divine energy, wisdom, guidance, etc. While you are spending His resources yours are intact. He will be doing the work while all you have to do is wait on Him. When He says you must wait, then you must wait. Many of us do not want to wait on Him but we want to reap the benefits of waiting. How can this be? You go to His presence and pray for five minutes and you think that will do. To get to the top, you must learn to wait on Him. You must separate yourself in a room and just wait on Him by praising and worshiping Him. Wait on Him by thanking Him and studying His Word. Sometimes, you may just worship Him and wait on Him in silence to hear what He will say to you. Be in no hurry. 

Waiting on God is one thing we must learn.

Sometime ago, one of our past presidents during his tenure said he wanted to see me. The appointment was for 11 a.m. but I was there by 10 a.m. He did not see me until I threatened to leave because I had sick people waiting for me. I could say so because he needed my help but if it was the other way round, I would have been prepared to wait until 10 p.m. Do you know that the Almighty God is greater than any president? Yet many of you can wait for days for an earthly king to answer you but find it difficult to wait for the King of kings to answer you. If you can wait on Him, He will definitely make it worth your while. Just one blessing from waiting on Him can put a stop to sorrow in a particular area of your life forever. From today, create time to wait on Him and gradually improve on it.

KEY POINT:

Waiting on Him is a major secret for open doors.

PROBLEMS AND SIZES

MEMORISE: And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13 : 30.

READ : NUMBERS 13 : 26 – 31.

26 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Kadesh; and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and shewed them the fruit of the land.

27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : GENESIS 40 – 42.

If you truly want to have a big testimony, then you are indirectly inviting a mountain. The best a little problem can deliver to you is a small testimony. A man who is healed of headache will have a small testimony compared to a man who is healed of cancer. But even that is small compared to the man who died and resurrected after God’s intervention. This season, every big problem facing you will produce big testimonies.

On the other hand, the size of your mountain is proportional to the size of your destiny. The bigger the mountain you are confronted with, the greater your destiny is. The longer the period the mountain remains, the more enduring your glory will be. If God is leading you to a great promised land, expect giants on your way. In Numbers 13 : 26 – 33, the spies that Moses sent to spy out the land of Canaan returned with their report. After confirming that the land flows with milk and honey, verse 28 says,

“Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.”

This clearly shows that giant problems would most likely occupy a land flowing with milk and honey. When your destiny is big, your mountains will be big too. When Satan sensed that David was going to be king, he brought a giant to face him. Why? Satan wanted to rob David of his destiny by bringing a mountain in the form of a giant before him. Every giant the devil has brought before you shall fall in Jesus name. In the same vein, when the Lord Jesus was to go through major temptations at very crucial stages of His life – starting of His ministry and preparation for the Cross, Satan did not send his demons but went to tempt Him himself. Even today, when it comes to a very important issue that will affect both kingdoms seriously, Satan still personally tempts God’s bona fide servants. When your mountain is big, it is likely you are a spiritual heavy weight champion in God’s Kingdom. Be encouraged if you are facing mountains, you are in a privileged position to prove the power of your God.

KEY POINT:

Encountering big problems should not discourage you but encourage you that you have a big destiny ahead of you.

AVOID BURN OUTS

MEMORISE : And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. Mark 6 : 31.

READ : :MARK 6 : 30 – 31.

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : GENESIS 37 – 39.

If you look at the story of the ten virgins recorded in Matthew 25 : 1 – 13, you will find out that in the beginning, all their lamps were burning. However at some point, some ran out of oil. God generally created things to be refillable. Plants generally draw on the soil to derive nutrients on a regular basis. Animals such as goats and sheep regularly feed on grass and water to survive. Some time ago, while discussing on animals with my wife, we realised and concluded that almost every living thing spends about half of their time looking for what to eat. We also concluded that animals that feed on grass keep on multiplying whereas those who prey on fellow animals like themselves are fast becoming extinct. If you survive by destroying others, you will soon be extinct. We also discovered that normally, people eat two or three times daily, unless they are fasting.

Ministers of God must learn to refuel. After Jesus Christ performed some special miracles in Matthew 14 : 15 – 23, He found a secret place to refuel. Unfortunately, many of us think we do not need to recharge. No, we do! Some of my colleagues keep asking me why I keep fasting. Believing I have enough, they also ask, “What do you want again?” It is dangerous to keep working for God without recharging. It will lead to burn out. In Mark 6 : 30 – 31, when the disciples returned excited, the Lord simply told them to step aside and rest for a while. Some ministers don’t attend our Solemn Assembly programme because they think it is a waste of time. They would ask why they should come and sit down for four days when souls are perishing. Of what use are your efforts if you do not make it to heaven? If you are fagged out, then it will be easy and even attractive to fornicate, steal or patronise the flesh. An African proverb says: “When a big problem knocks you down, the small ones will climb over you.” Those who experience a burn out are not far from sinning.

KEY POINT :

If you are too busy to rest and recharge, be prepared to crash and be spent. One is obviously cheaper than the other.

WAYS OF RISING

MEMORISE : I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. Psalm 40 : 1.

READ : JUDGES 6 : 11 – 16.

11 And there came an angel of the Lord, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.

16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR : GENESIS 33. – 36.

If you are prepared to start small, God is prepared to turn that small thing into something beyond your wildest imagination. This season, hope will arise for you in Jesus name. There are different ways to arise, one way is by being pushed up. One person that was pushed up was Moses. In Exodus 4 : 10 – 17, God told him he was going to be used to deliver His people, but he refused. God showed him some miracles to convince him but he still did not yield, so God had to push him up. Another person God pushed up was Joshua. In Joshua 1 : 1 – 8, God had to tell him thrice to be strong and to be of good courage because he was afraid of stepping into the shoes of his master. What of Gideon? God chose him but he refused to yield so God had to push him up (Judges 6 : 11 – 16). In any way you are refusing to key into God’s plan for your life, the Lord will push you up in Jesus name.

Another way to experience a rise is to be pulled up. Psalm 40 : 1 – 3 describes how God brought up the Psalmist from the miry clay, set him on the rock and established him. Also, in 1 Samuel 16 : 11 – 13, David who was only a shepherd boy saw himself being anointed king in the midst of his able-bodied brothers. God pulled him up. In the name that is above every other name, wherever you are, in the depth of sin, sickness, lack, ignominy, shame, disgrace, bondage or defeat, the Lord will pull you up this season. Yet, a third way to rise is to be carried up. Isaiah 40 : 31 talks of people mounting up on eagles’ wings. In 2 Kings 2 : 11, Elijah was carried up into Heaven by chariots of fire. In 1 Kings 1 : 11 – 40, Solomon did not know what was going on and suddenly he was declared king. This season, the Lord will carry you on wings like the eagle. Your effort will not solely be the determinant factor but also His favour and grace. You will see yourself rising from now on. It is your set time of favour (Psalm 102:13). You shall begin to rise and no one and nothing will be able to stop you.

PRAYER POINT :

Father, beyond my expectations, lift me up