Thursday March 12th 2015 -Devotional

When You Have Sinned - Psalm 51; 1-20

Samuel confronted Saul of his sins but he refused to acknowledge it, defending it was permitted by him subject for a sacrifice to God. Sin is simply acting in defiance of God. At another time, he couldn’t wait for Prophet Samuel to make the sacrifice that Precedes battle. When confronted, he started making excuses. 1 Sam 13 vs 11 and Samuel said unto him ‘’what hast thou done? thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandments of the Lord thy God which he commanded thee. For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now, thy kingdom shall not continue’’ 1 Sam 13 vs 13. When in 2 sam12, Nathan the prophet confronted David of his sin, he replied in vs 13 ‘’ and David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord’’ and Nathan said unto David, ‘’ the Lord also has put away thy sins, thou shall not die’’

Don’t begin to hide from God and his servants and your Christian brethren. They are your family. God is merciful and gracious. Judas perished because he hid his soul from God. Peter wept before God after denying the Christ and was restored. Jesus finally said to him ‘’feed my Lamb’’

When we sin and start running, we will continue to sin and there will remain no grace for such a sinning saint. Sin distances us from God, repentance bridges the gap and brings restoration. Take time to go through psalm 51 vs 1-20 in a quiet place and at a quiet time. God despises such sacrifices because as David his successor, said in psalm 51 vs 17 ‘’the sacrifice of God are a broken spirit and a  contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise’’.

When Christians sin, they break fellowship with God but retains their Son-ship, there only require to seek restoration fellowship. When fellowship is broken, joy of the Lord is lost.

Questions

• How do I know when I have sinned against God?

•     When God hides his face from our sins, on what does he focus it?

• Why is it important we quickly acknowledge our sins rather than increase our offerings and tithes to appease God?

Prayer:

O Lord God, the merciful, faithful and just God, grant unto thy servants forgiveness and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Cast me not away from your presence, take not thy holy spirit from me, so that I do not become reprobate. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Name.

Monday 9th March 2015 - Devotional

It Depends on your Peace of Mind - John 14:1

When we accept salvation by faith we give our heart to the Lord. It is no longer ours but his. He calls it our heart but we call it His. He gave it to us to manage. We should be wise enough to give it back to him to manage for us. In the text (john 14 vs 1) he advices us to let not our heart be troubled meaning that circumstances, Satan, men or life challenges should not be allowed to steal our heart from us, we are to let or let not. When we let the outside waves, storms, vices into our heart, we lose control and peace of mind which invariably negatively affect us including our health. We can close and lock our heart from this forces and enjoy the gift which God joyfully supplies.

Jesus told the disciples that he was leaving them for the father’s presence and that it was for good, to prepare their enter habitation I heaven. But that he comes back to take them. However between then and the present they have to be in control of their heart least it drift to anxiety. We know that God intend good for us. We always believe in a colourful future but the problem is in waiting period before the blessing or future become present.

We must learn to trust in God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. That is God of the past, present, and the future. ‘’thou we keep him in perfect peace, where mind is stayed on thee; because he trusted in thee’’. Isaiah 26 vs 3

Question-

1.       What are you troubled about at present that this devotion is meant to address and handle?

2.       How will you allow your mind to stay on God instead of your problems and challenges?

3.       Who will you trust for your future condition, the circumstances with satan the perpetrator of trouble or in God who always cause his children to triumph in all things through his son JESUS CHRIST

Prayers-

OH! Lord, I beseech thee in Christ Jesus name to help me by your spirit to master my circumstances from my challenges permanently unto you, so I can enjoy perfect peace from you who gives peace that is beyond the worlds understanding.

 

Friday 6th March 2015 - Devotional

Seeing and Believing - Psalm 27:13
Thomas was rebuked by the master because he insisted that he will not believe until he sees Jesus' nail pierced hands and trust his hands through it (Jn 20:25-27). Jesus said to him ''...and be not faithless, but believing''.
The Lord later attributed divine blessedness on those who have not seen but yet believe.
Believing must precede seeing, the reason why answers to prayer eludes us is because we allow human nature to have the best of us. It is human to want to see, possess, touch, taste and feel before believing. The Kingdom business does not work that way.
King David faced a lot of  challenges but was sustained by following the divine order - He believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. And from His end, you will discover that His hope was not futile, he did see the goodness of the Lord. He lived a fulfilled life and died at a good old age in the comfort of his palace. You too will if you make it your confession, in-spite of what you see around you, and believe it in your heart.
When you desire to see, feel and taste it, then you are not walking in faith. Paul told the Corinthians that we walk by faith and not by sight.Choose to walk by faith, choose the winning life because faith wins at all times.

Questions
1. Why did David enjoy such peaceful reign for over 50 years?
2. What will you do different from the past now that you have heard the message
3. What is the difference between David and Thomas?

Prayer
Lord, grant me the grace not to allow my enemies control my emotion, thought and walk. I receive the grace to believe and walk by faith not by sight.
May the power to see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living be released to you IJN.

Tuesday 3rd March 2015 - Devotional

God Faints not, Why Must You - Isaiah 40:28
Have you ever imagined how God manages the vast universe of things and people and yet he never sleeps or slumbers. He doesn't take leave, recess or take a break. He listens to the prayers of millions of His children around the world and handles their problem specifically. Jesus said. ''my father worketh, hitherto i work'', He also said ''the work I do, it is the father in me that doeth it, therefore Christ Jesus while in the flesh also fainteth not. ''He giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he increaseth strength''.
Sure there are a lot of challenges in our world today, problems begging to be solved, battles to fight and win but then God is available at all time and place to help those who will wait on Him in prayer and fellowship vs 30even the youth shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall''. Human strength at best cannot sustain. Therefore we must seek God, trust Him and rely on Him for daily help. He will not fail us. vs 31 '' But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.''

Questions
1. What does it mean to faint not?
2. If waiting on God is spending quality time alone studying the bible, meditation and worship, how can we create more time to do so?
3. How does God give strength to the faint?

Prayer
O Lord, power belongs to thee, thou strength of isreal. Strengthen and empower your children by he strength of the Holyspirit. Give us power to overcome temptations and carry out our divinely ordained assignment without fainting. Thank You lord in Jesus name.