YOU SCORE CARD

READ: 2 TIMOTHY 4:4-8

God assesses the services, commitment, love and sacrifices of His children regularly. He is the greatest and fairest examiner. Right from the time of creation, God is introduced as the unbiased Examiner. After each work of creation, the Lord awarded grades accordingly. Unlike earthly examiner who would assess you strictly on performance, God considers other factors behind your performance, before awarding you marks. In 2 Corinthians 13:5, we are enjoined to examine ourselves. Many Christians would prefer to get to Heaven before knowing their score card. This is dangerous because it is possible they have not met Heaven’s criteria all their years on earth. Also, they will not be able to make amends in heaven. For some, the way they handled God’s business could rob them of Heaven, hence the need for self examination.
“But the LORD said to Samuel, look not on his countenance or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
God’s yardsticks for assessing us are very different from man’s. Some people we hold in the highest regard on earth are not worth the least regard before God. Since God is the final Examiner and Judge, we are duty bound to be acquainted with the criteria He has laid down in the Bible and to satisfy them. In Revelation 4:14-19, we understand we can receive our score card on earth so that we can make amends. After several years of serving God, the church of Laodicea assessed their activities and gave themselves good grades. They said they were vibrant, rich, increased, and had no need. To help them, the Lord released their score card which showed they were lukewarm, wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. They gave themselves ‘excellent’ but Heaven gave them ‘fail.’ What is your score card like? Do you take time to ask God to show you your score card in love, forgiveness, giving, service, prayer, faithfulness, evangelism, obedience, etc?  If God would announce to the world that creating man without the woman was below average, He will show you your score card. Ask Him and make amends today. If this is properly and regularly done, you can have a fair idea like Apostle Paul, of your reward and placement in Heaven.

MEMORIZE: 1 TIMOTHY 6:12 –Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

THE IDEAL HOUSE

READ: JUDGES 16:20-21     

There are some houses that have been built. Their finishing is superb and everything is set in order but they are never occupied. That shall not be not portion in Jesus name. You are God’s building. He is building you up so as to reside in you. But if your heart is not circumcised or is full of evil, you can be sure you will a house not inhabited by the builder and owner. Moreover, there are some houses that will never be completed. One reason for this according to Malachi 3:8-12 is that sends devourers to rob those who rob Him. How? People could borrow money from such a brother and never pay back. Some visitors may come at a time the fellow was planning to do something with money and in the process the money is spent on his guests.
A devourer can be your car and your mechanic. Haggai 1:3-6 talks of bag with holes. This could operate through mysterious loss of money. The household appliances can breakdown one after another or a high voltage from power supply can finish them in seconds. Anyone who opens the door to the devourer will sing a dirge. This is not your portion in Jesus name. You shall sing songs of joy. Your joy shall be full. Allow God to have His way in your life.
Some houses are rebuilt after they have been broken down while some which were not roofed are eventually roofed. This is an act of God’s mercy. Samson is an example of this. He was once a mighty man of God, then he became a collapsed building. Through God’s mercy, his hair grew again. Nebuchadnezzar was once a great king but because he offended the One who should not be offended, he became a strange beast in the forest. Out of mercy God built him again. Are you a backslider? God is calling you now to return and He will build you again. What kind of building are you? Cry out to God now to build you. The greatest house is the one that is completed and eteranally inhabited by the Builder and the Owner. Paul, John, Peter and James are examples here. You can be that building.

MEMORIZE: 1 CORINTHIANS 3:9 –For we are labourers together with God, you are God’s husbandry, you are God’s building.

WORD OF WISDOM

READ: 1 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10

There are nine main gifts of the Holy Spirit. They can be classified into three groups namely Revelation, Inspiration and Power gifts. Revelation gifts consist of word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and discerning of spirits. The inspiration or utterance gifts consist of prophecy, diverse kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. The Power gifts on the other hand are made up of faith, healing and working of miracles. Let us take a closer look at these.
First, let us look at the word of wisdom. There are three types of wisdom: satanic wisdom which is corrupted and diabolic, human wisdom which essentially is common sense and the wisdom of God. The gift of the word of wisdom falls into the third type of wisdom. James 3:17 says, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”
God’s wisdom is holy and shows you how to make it to Heaven. It makes you have sober reflections on salvation. It makes you understand that all the commandments of God are for your benefits. It moves you closer to God. Our God has a large data bank consisting of the past, present and future. He gives a bit of such information at a time of need. The word of wisdom is needed both over spiritual and secular affairs. For instance, a tailor who is given this wisdom will excel other tailors in town. God will supernaturally guide him on how to make clothes. To succeed as a managing director or pastor, you need supernatural wisdom (Deuteronomy 34:9). This gift can help you come out of tight corners. It helps you escape from the enemy’s trap and make them enter instead (john 8:3-8). It provides answers to very difficult questions. A sentence of God’s wisdom is enough to deliver you from trouble (Acts 22:24-29). It makes a fool to defeat the wise. It provides direction. It will assist in actualizing you destiny. Ask the lord for this gift today.

MEMORIZE: JAMES 3:17 –But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

DELIBERATE DESTRUCTION

READ: 2 KINGS 1:11-12

A wise investor who loses his capital in an investment will carefully prevent a reoccurrence. The first batch of soldiers king Ahaziah sent to arrest Elijah were roasted alive. Without asking questions, he sent another set that suffered the same fate. From this we learn that Satan is a very stubborn enemy. He hardly gives up on anything he has made up his mind to accomplish. Luke 4:13 says, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season”. Some Christians believe the only time Satan tempted Jesus was when He was in the wilderness. But this Scripture says Satan only took a break before resuming his temptations.
You can predict the actions of a stubborn person. You can correctly predict Satan’s actions sometimes. You can be sure that he will repeat a particular temptation in different ways. The fact that you defeated him a moment ago would not stop him from coming to you in a different way. Hence you have to stubbornly and steadfastly resist him (1 Peter 5:8-9). The only language he understands is spiritual violence. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).
If you persistently resist Satan and return fire for fire, you will discover that he has no stamina for anything that is too hot. Whenever demons encountered Jesus, they were always at His mercy. You have Jesus, why are you at the receiving end of Satan’s attacks? Another lesson from our reading is that Satan likes to waste the lives of those who serve him. King Ahaziah knew the second and third batches of soldiers would be roasted, yet insisted they must go. If you are serving the devil in any capacity, he will have you roasted. Satan cannot protect you. He has nothing good to offer you. All your years of service to are wasted. Repent today and come to the Bishop of your soul – Jesus Christ.

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 11:12 –And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.  

A NEW HEART

READ: JOHN 7:37-39

The human heart is a very important organ. In size, it is slightly bigger than the fist, yet it wields tremendous influence over the whole body.  It starts working from the womb and does not stop until death. It does not stop for repairs or servicing. If your heart is tired, there is very little you can do to bring it to rest. Spiritually, the heart is equally a very vital organ. It reveals the hidden intentions of man (Proverbs 27:19). Before you say anything, your heart would have said it (Psalm 27:8). Jeremiah 17:9 describes the nature of the unregenerate heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”
There are some possibilities with the heart. After Nabal regained soberness from his state of drunkenness, Abigail told him how death had been averted. He was so frightened that his heart died and became like a stone. A few days later, he died (1 Samuel 25:36-38). The heart can give instructions and counsel according to Psalm 16:7. The spiritual state of the heart determines the quality of counsel it can produce. Isaiah 29:13 says the heart can go on a journey. It is also possible for the heart to be turned. 1 Kings 11:4 says when king Salomon became old; his wives turned his heart from God.
Similarly, there is a door into your heart which can be opened or shut. In Acts 5:1-3, Ananias opened his heart to Satan and he was filled with spiritual filth. If you shut your heart against God’s word, it cannot penetrate to perform its assignment. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus asks you to open your heart to Him and He will be your guest. Whenever God deals with men, He looks at the heart. God has promised to give you a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26). If you must please God, fulfil your destiny and make it to Heaven, this heart is for you. Wickedness, deceit and depravity of your former heart have no place in this new heart. If you still see such tendencies in your heart, it is an evidence of the old heart. According to John 7:37-39, out of this new heart will flow rivers of living waters. This heart can be fixed in praising, praying and pleasing God (Psalm 57:7). Ask for your new heart today!

MEMORIZE: EZEKIEL 36:26 –A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.