WAR OF WORDS

READ: PROVERBS 18:20-21

“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). Words are powerful! Life’s event are controlled, shaped or determined by words. Destinies can change for good or bad through words. One’s way can be blocked or opened by words. Even enemies fight and destroy themselves through words. Whether you will succeed or fail in your earthly existence depends to a large extent on words – what God says about you, what you say about yourself and what others say about you. 
God’s words are powerful. Jesus says: “There are spirit and life.” The psalmist says they are forever settled in heaven. They were the avenues for framing the worlds. They cannot fall to the ground unfulfilled because God hastens his Word to perform them in due season (Jeremiah 1:12). Anything God has spoken concerning you shows you his intention. Once he has said it, he is committed to fulfilling it. But what do you say about yourself? God says it shall be well with you. He says you will prosper and be the head. He says you will defeat your enemies. Do you believe all God has spoken concerning you? What do you confess about yourself? If what you confess varies with what God says about you, what God has said will give way to what your enemies are saying.
Your archenemy is Satan. He is the one who, after luring you to sin against God, stands to accuse you before God, giving him reasons why he must not bless you. Satan is the one who will propel his agents on a diabolic assignment to say evil things and cast spells, incantations, curses and enchantment against you. His purpose to hinder your good desires and God’s perfect counsel for your life. God says you will prosper. Believe it and begin to desire and confess prosperity while living a life that glorifies God continually. When enemies enchant and place a curse against your prosperity, it will fail because you are confessing what God is confessing about you. If your words, confession and lifestyle align with God’s, Satan’s curses and schemes will be neutralised. Start to confess what God says about you from today on. Control your life with your words.

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 12:37 –For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

WHO FIRST?

READ: LUKE 14:25-27

Our children have devised an acronym for the word JOY as follows: Jesus first, yourself last and others in-between. As popular as this may sound, not many Christian adults have put God where he belongs. Who comes first in your life? For some Christians, God comes first except in matters that involve their husbands, wives or children. For a long time Abraham and God were close friends. All the years he waited for God to fulfil his promise, God remained first. But after the promise materialised, Abraham shifted his attention from God to Isaac. That made God jealous. It took a trial of faith for Abraham to realise the shift and put things right again.
For many, material things have taken the place of God in their lives. All your time is spent on your job. The job you engaged has disengaged you from serving the Lord. In fact for others that job they prayed and fasted for is now their ‘genuine excuse’ to be absent from church services. People today are ready to pay any sacrifice to maintain their jobs. Some leave their houses as early as 4 am or 4:30 am so they are not late for work. But when it comes to keeping an appointment with the King of kings, they expect him to wait at least an hour before they get there.
If you put anyone or anything else first, you cannot enjoy the kind of relationship God desires to have with you. Also, if your first consideration is what your spouse will say or feel about a particular action, and how God will feel about the same thing is not paramount, then you cannot truly be Christ’s disciple. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33).
If instead of making God you desire, you put material things first – job, wealth, wife, husband, car, house – then God will step aside. Yet, you will not be able to enjoy peace or true fulfilment. It is only God that satisfies. Why not put him first today and see if all the other things will not fall into place?

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 10:37 –He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

RECHARGING YOUR BATTERY

READ: JUDE 17-25

There is hardly anything in creation that has permanent strength. Be it man, animal, plant or inanimate object designed by men, after expending energy, to remain functional it must refill from a source. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who is our perfect example, was no different. He used a spiritual thermometer to gauge his level of anointing. He knew when each virtue was being released to heal, save or deliver. He was very careful to prevent complete burn out, and sometimes in the midst of a very busy ministration, he sneaked out to rest and recoup.
‘And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserved place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.’ (Mark 6:31). The believer is a vessel, a container that the Holy Spirit can fill and thereafter use to accomplish certain good works. But if such a believer does not know when the thermometer is reading ‘red’, he will continue until he attempts to spend what is not there. Be very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. A disciple is not above the master or the servant above his Lord (Matthew 10:24). You cannot know more than Jesus. Apply wisdom today! When your bank account is fully drawn upon, at best you can have a little overdraft but afterwards, any cheque you issue will be returned. When you have exhausted your spiritual reservoir, all your decrees, requests or demands may go dishonoured. Go for a refill.
Jude says: “Build up yourself.” Go to a private place, like your house, where you can access God’s presence undisturbed. Take time to recharge your batteries. Spend quality time praising and worshipping God. Then begin to pray in tongues, by which act Paul says you will build up (edify) your spirit (1 Corinthians 14:4). Also, study God’s Word and commit it to memory and to your heart. His Word is spirit and life. The more of the Word you hide in your spirit, the more of his power and life you will receive. Recharge your battery before you go for another assignment. If your battery is weak, you may be unable to offer any benefit to those you are going to minister to, except noise. If you take time to refill your spiritual containers regularly, you will remain significant in God’s plan. Otherwise you may be discarded. Choose right today.

MEMORIZE: JUDE 20 –But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.

INTERNET AND YOU

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:11-14

There has been a major technological breakthrough with the emergence of the Internet. The world has been reduced to a global village, thereby facilitating high-level communication. This has been prophesied in Scripture: “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time to the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Daniel 12:4). However good the opportunities offered by the Internet may be, each user is faced with some challenges which if not carefully handled, may be to one’s detriment.
It is highly addictive. This will rob you of precious time meant for other things. It is a big time waster! Also, it has many immoral sites that, if care is not taken, can pollute your mind. Young folks can be exposed to diverse information detrimental to their mind. The reading in verse 12 says: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” The Internet may be readily available to you but not all the sites or information on it are profitable. Care has to be taken jealousy to shield your heart from filth. Some may expose themselves to pornography. The temptation is worse if the computer is kept in a private place. Hence there is need to practise safe surfing.
The ability to access Christian resources and programmes on line has reduced the enthusiasm of some to attend church meetings regularly. After all, they argue, they now have the church in their homes. But this is a strategy of the devil to break your fellowship with the brethren, before striking at you to destroy you. Hebrews 10:25 says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,…” However, the Internet, if well managed, will afford you great opportunities for spiritual growth, to lead others to Christ via e-mail or websites or even through one on one discussions. Like Paul, by all means, see how you can use this medium to save some souls.
Every Christian has to define his or her relationship with the Internet, to know what to avoid and what to use so as to protect your soul. Do so today.  

MEMORIZE: 1 CORINTHIANS 6:12 - All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

CHANGE THROUGH PRAYER

READ: JAMES 5:16-18

The power to change the world, situations, events and decisions, is in the hands of Christians. Many of them do not know it. Many of them do not know it. Many of those who know it, do not use it. The negligible few who use it stand out as 'specially favoured by God'. When faced with unpleasant situations, many Christians resort to complaining and grumbling. They can spend five hours in self-pity, tears, grumbling and trading blame, but cannot spend one minute in changing the situation.
God will not intervene in any situation he has already empowered you to change. He will expect you to take a step in the right direction. A man who has a gun and fails to use it when the thief approaches, will soon lose it. That is where many Christians find themselves. They can brag about the fact that they are empowered over devils, that they are seated together with Christ in heavenly places; that the One inside them is greater than the mountains, but they refuse to act accordingly by putting such powers into action.
In several homes where a partner wants his or her spouse to change over some issue, he or she usually resorts to threats, nagging, complaining or even strife. Et having done this for so long without a change they fail to resort to the power they have to change the situation.
When Elijah was challenged with changing a three-and-a-hal-year drought into fruitfulness, he did not complain. He knew if he complained from today until tomorrow, nothing would change. He went on his knees, used the power of prayer and unlocked heaven.
Through effective, persistent, faith-provoking prayers from the mouth of one who lives in complete obedience to God, all unpleasant situations are only temporary and soon give way to one's desires. From today, talk less to man about that problem and more to God, trusting him to bring about the desired change. I assure you, soon you will be smiling, on your way to testifying of God's goodness.

MEMORIZE: 1 JOHN 5:14 -Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

PILLAR OR CATERPILLAR?

READ: EZEKIEL 22:28-31

As free moral agent, man is allowed to make decisions and determine his course of action. Whatever you choose to do by free will, however, will have far reaching effects on you and generations after. Over the ages, God has searched and still searching for pillars. Pillars connote dependability, ability to bear the burdens of other and the characteristic of providing support to prevent a fall. Any multi-storey building without pillars will not be standing for long. Watch out: in no time it will crumble.
Believers are special people to God. The Bible says God upholds the world by his Word. That means God is the pillar sustaining the earth and all he has made in it. God knows the value of a pillar, because he is one. Hence he is seeking for pillars today. In verse 30 of our reading, God sought for a man among men who could “make a wall, and stand in the gap”. God was not looking for ordinary people. He was looking for a man of a special kind – a pillar like himself with whom he could share the burden of people. Do you qualify as one?
Today the churches are loaded with ordinary men, but the true pillars who can put their time, money, and even lives on the line to ensure that others are saved, are very rare. Jesus exemplified this by dying on the cross for you to be saved. What don't you decide to be a pillar today?
Caterpillars on the other hand comprise all those who indulge in acts of gossiping, backbiting, strife, segregationalism and the like, which are capable of rubbing of the honour of the leader, causing division and quarrels and damaging the body of Christ.
As you resolve to be a pillar today, handle anything controversial with care and wisdom, prayerfully stand in the gap for others, speak words that edify and build up others and support the vision the Lord has given to your pastor, to ensure it becomes a reality. This way, you will be a pillar in God's house and will be made to flourish in the courts of God.

MEMORIZE: PSALM 52:8 -But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.