THE ISRAEL IN JACOB

READ: GENESIS 32:24-30

There are two extremes a man can be. You can be a ‘Jacob’ or an ‘Israel’. In between the two are several steps that show to what extent you can tilt towards either end of the continuum. In Genesis 25:24-26, a twin was born –Esau and Jacob. While Esau means red and hairy, Jacob means supplanter, deceiver, fraudster. Right from the womb Jacob was already scheming to overtake his elder brother Esau. The day of birth revealed his unhealthy struggle. Psalm 51:5 says, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” The laws of sin and death had started to operate in everyone right from the womb. Everyone on earth began life as a Jacob. But we don’t have to die a Jacob!
What does the name Jacob represent? It represents everything that is associated with crime, cheating, deceiving, and lies. Anyone including so-called believers who still engage in any form of deception is operating at Jacob’s level. Jacob also signifies a raw state, naivety, and latentness. This means anyone who is yet to develop himself and tap the talents and abilities inside of him is operating at Jacob’s level. It also represents one who struggles to make progress solely by self effort or through worldly wisdom and any fraudulent means. If you remain in the mould of Jacob, you will not secure the promises. You cannot enter your promised land as a Jacob. God’s judgement awaits the Jacobs and they will reap their evil deeds.
In Genesis 32:24-30, 35:9-15, we read that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel. Israel means prince with God. Israel signifies the best you were created to be. Also, it represents you in your finished state. It connotes royalty, honour and dominion. It also means the unlimited, powerful you, operating in partnership with God. Israel means a new you. Jacob would have disappointed himself and unborn generations if he had not succeeded in bringing out the Israel in him. There is an Israel in you. There is a prince within you that is fighting to get out. Until you let him out, you cannot be your best. Until then, you will not be a man who can influence God and man. If you die with your Israel buried in you, you would have failed woefully. Your Israel must come out. You must be all God planned for you to be. For your change to come-from the Jacob to Israel mould-you have to give your life to Christ and wrestle in prayer daily asking for this change until it comes.

MEMORIZE: GENESIS 35:10 –And God said to him, Your name is Jacob: your name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be your name and He called his name Israel.

CLEAN JOB

READ: PSALM 139:1-12

Several years ago, a man has a case in court. His prosecutor sent for some witnesses to come by boat to testify against him. He knew their testimony would lead to conviction so he came up with a plan. He organized for the boat conveying the witnesses to capsize and all of them drowned. Then he made sure those he used in wrecking the boat were also killed. He left no trace and satisfied himself he did a clean job. Years after, he became very wealthy and had forgotten his past. The Lord allowed him to have a stubborn sickness that defied all treatments. In the process of searching for healing, somebody advised him to come to me for prayers.
I prayed for him but nothing happened. So I asked the Lord, Why? And God told me to ask him what he did years ago. When I asked him, he was shocked and asked how I knew something happened exactly that period of time. Eventually he used his mouth to confess what he wasted lives to cover. There is nothing hid that shall not come to the open someday. In various nations and Nigeria in particular, people are asking to know who are behind certain mysterious murders, assassinations and occurrences. They may appear ‘well covered’ but one day the lid will fall off and the truth shall be seen. On that day, the shame shall be great. Whether you believe it or not, one day whatever is hidden will come to the open because God’s Word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89).
Sometime ago, a pastor came from Cameroun asking to join us. He was very popular. He made several promises and claims that appeared far-fetched. One day while waiting on the Lord in my office in the camp ground, he came in, greeted me and began to make certain suggestions. While he was speaking, the Lord spoke to me so I interrupted him and told him, keep quiet. Are you not afraid to lie in the presence of the Holy Spirit? He began to sweat but I told him, he will not die in my office, so he left. A week later the government uncovered who he really was, and soon after he died. Whether in government or out of government, in power, or out of power someday the lid will fall off. Have you swept several evils under the carpet? Repent and expose them now or else when the lid is off, your shame shall be great.

MEMORIZE: PSALM 139:1 –O Lord, You has searched me, and known me.

IN SEARCH OF STRANGE FLESH?

READ: JUDGES 14:1-7

Are you struggling with your flesh? The Lord says, There is a haven of rest for only hose who can ask Him to take them there. Ask the Lord to take you there in each area you are struggling with your flesh. “And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah” (Judges 16:4). One of the most anointed, most powerful judges of Israel after the death of Joshua was Samson. As strong as he was, his adversary was his lust for strange women. His eyes which never saw any beautiful sister in all the tribes of Israel among whom he lived, could see strange women in far away Philistine towns. It takes strange eyes to see strange women. It also takes godly eyes to see godly women. Strange eyes cannot see godly women and true godly eyes can never see strange women. May God deliver us from strange eyes in Jesus name.
When godly eyes begin to see strange women, you can be sure that a change from godliness to strangeness has taken place. Today, there are some Christian youths who cannot see fellow Christians in their search for a marriage partner. All they pant after is ungodly women and even those of other religions. Like Samson, the only woman or man that can please them is those of strange flesh. When your body yearns after an ungodly fellow, you can be certain you have since departed from the kingdom of God. It is impossible for a believer to fall in love with an unbeliever. Why? The attributes of God love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 negates sin in its entirety. God cannot lead you to an unbeliever or cause you to fall in love with an unbeliever because He cannot break His word. Divine love does not thrive in sin or lies (1 Corinthians 13:6). When some youths have been led by their flesh lust; they will ascribe it to God. A believer that falls in lust after an unbeliever has already backslidden. If you are craving for strange women or flesh, you need deliverance. Samson was in lust but he thought he was in love. Lust destroys. It robs you of your possessions. It leads to hell. Break off from that ungodly tie with that boy friend or girl friend or it will destroy you.

MEMORIZE: 1 CORINTHIANS 13:6 –Rejoice not in iniquity but rejoice in the truth.

LOOK ON HIM

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
It is possible to see the unseen, invisible things. Hebrews 11:27 says while Moses was faced with the anger of Pharaoh, he was unmoved because of what he was seeing – the invisible God. He waded through fear and very dangerous terrains by focusing his gaze on the Lord. What do you see in the midst of your trials and dangerous circumstances? If your focus is on the problem, like Peter, you will sink and be swallowed up by the problem. What you continuously gaze at will become magnified until it fills your vision. If you doubt it, try and focus your eyes on one thing for a period of time without being distracted. A time will come when everything in the background will disappear and be replaced by what you are gazing at. Fix your gaze on Jesus and as He is magnified in that situation, He will absorb the problem and you will be free.
Proverbs 29:18 says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keeps the law, happy is he”. Those who cannot see the invisible cannot go far. Do you limit yourself to the physical things in your present circumstances? That will hinder you from going forward. As a minister of God, if you cannot see yourself ministering to millions of people or achieving great feats for God’s kingdom, you may not move from your present position. Some people spend all their lives in a daily routine – waking up, eating, going to work, returning home, eating and sleeping. Nothing more. It is because they cannot see the invisible. The more invisible things you see, the more you desire to have them. Do you know that God wants to show you your future? He wants to guide you regarding the structure and details of the church building or personal project you are embarking on. He wants to guide you on your next assignment, contract, job, business or the next house to rent. He wants to show you your babies before they come. He wants to show you how He sees you presently. He wants to show you your heavenly rewards, crowns and mansion. He wants to reveal Himself to you on a level you have never known. But do you find time to be in His presence to receive them?

MEMORIZE:  2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 –While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

BABIES AND ANGELS

READ: MATTHEW 18:10-11

“Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10) .
Another benefit babies enjoy in guidance. Everyone will readily come out to assist and guide a baby, especially during the crawling stage. But when he is grown, even if he walks towards a river that can drown him, people will say he should know better. Every child has an angel to guide and protect him from danger. Many adults have lost their angels to sin; hence they choose to have paid bodyguards that can offer very limited security.
Thank God for babies. It is the presence of their angels that have prevented demons from over running the Church. Every child comes to church with his or her angel and the demons will be afraid when they see them and flee elsewhere. If you take good care of children, their angels will fight your battles. If you need a miracle that has taken you so long to receive, ask your children to pray for you. Tell your children your prayer points and you will have expedited answers. A child once wrote a letter to Jesus asking for a baby girl for his mother. Then he gave his father to post it. Although God answered the prayer, his mother got a baby boy. When the baby boy was born, the child wondered if Jesus got his letter. Later, he found the letter in his father’s room and concluded his dad did not post the letter. If you have such faith to see your request as letters sent to God, you would achieve much result.
Similarly, if you make yourself a baby, the Lord will care for you while He leaves the adult to care for themselves. In Psalms 8:2, we read that babies know how to praise God and draw strength from praises. Babies praise God from the heart while adults with their lips. Children are strong because they do not fight their own battles. Adults believe they can do it on their own but babies always run back to God. How do you attend to your daily battles? Psalm 68:1 says when God arises on your behalf all your enemies will scatter. Fully rely on Him from today. Have you driven away your angelic bodyguards? Repent and ask God for a restoration now.

MEMORIZE: MATTHEW 18:10 –Take heed that you despise not one of these little ones; for I say to you, that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.