THE WORD PROVOKES ACTION

READ: PROVERBS 4:20-22

“For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh” (Proverbs 4:22).
What you hear has a tremendous impact on you. In today’s reading, we are told that if only you can hear God’s Word, good health is possible. In other words, divine health is associated with hearing. Psalm 107:20 says, “He sent His word, and healed them and delivered them, from their destructions”. The spoken word of God carries an anointing to heal and deliver. That word has to be heard, believed and received before the power it carries is released to perform its mission. Romans 10:17 says as you hear God’s word, it produces faith in your heart. When the faith in you is adequate, it serves as a foundation upon which the blessing will come.
In various meetings, God sends His word to accomplish specific purposes in the lives of the people, but on several occasions not listening hinders them from receiving. It takes you to hear a word of prophecy, knowledge or wisdom to stir up faith in your heart to believe and receive it before the blessing is released. We need to pay more attention to God’s word. Many sick people have lost their healing just because they were discussing or distracted from the message.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:14). This scripture establishes the fact that hearing precedes believing and believing precedes receiving. You have more grace and faith to receive what you hear than what you have not heard. Not many people trust God for a car called Lutills because they have never heard of it. But when you hear that such an imaginary car exists and that it drives the owner, is accident proof, goes on road, and during heavy traffic, it flies in the air, and at other times it swims in a river, then you will begin to desire it. You would want to know how much it costs and where you can buy it. All because you heard of it. It is the Word of God that you hear you have faith to receive. From today hear more of the Word.

MEMORIZE: PROVERBS 4:22 –For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

HANDLING STORMS

READ: 2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10

One thing the average bird hates is a storm. They can be drenched in the rain and exposed to cold and even death. Anytime they see a storm coming, you will find them flying fast to their nests and screaming in terror. But the eagle, the king of birds, reacts differently. When it sees the storm coming, it responds in three ways: first, it tries to establish where the storm is coming from, then faces it and waits it is close by. Then the eagle lifts up its wings and the waves of the storm come under it and lifts it up, just as the wings lifts an aeroplane.
Secondly, the eagle begins to laugh, while other birds are turning their backs to the storm and flying frantically homeward. In the same way, you, as a spiritual eagle, must not turn your back to your enemies. If you do so, they can strike you down. Of all the armour available to you, there is not one designed to protect your back (Ephesians 6:13-18). Also 1 Peter 5:6-9 says you should resist continuously in any area of attack. That means, you will face the enemy and say, ‘Satan take your hands off my property, in Jesus name.’
When Goliath drew near to David, David ran to meet his opponent because he was a true spiritual eagle. Never run from the problem. Do not run from those threatening you. Face and withstand them in Jesus name. Similarly, James says you should rejoice when you go through diverse trials. Rejoice! Do not weep. Some people weep daily and ask God what they have done to deserve their predicaments. If you are a true spiritual eagle, you can enjoy a ride one the storms of lack, persecution and affliction, like Paul (2 Corinthians 11:22-30).
Thirdly, the eagle rides on the storm. Ephesians 1:19-23 says God has put all things under the feet of Jesus and we are in Him, so all problems, demons and the storms of life are under our feet. This is why we should not be disturbed by the storms. Satan is under my feet so if he brings any storm, I will just laugh. Paul and Silas, while facing their storm in prison, began to praise God. Peter walked on stormy water to meet Jesus. After his arrest and under the threat of death, the following morning, Peter slept so well in prison that the angel had to hit him hard to wake him up. Ride on your storm! Praise and worship God in the midst of it.

MEMORIZE: PSALM 37:31 –The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

WHAT’S YOUR PRICE?

READ: 1 PETER 1:18

“Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers” (1 Peter 1:18).
How valuable are you to God? You are so valuable that silver and gold cannot buy you. It took the precious blood of Jesus Christ to purchase you. God allowed His only begotten Son to be beaten and torn in pieces for us. When He saw that Christ’s head would miss a share from the scourging, God specially arranged for a crown of thorns. Every part of the body of Christ was tortured for you. If you are that valuable to God, don’t sell yourself cheap! If somebody approaches you with the intention of selling a brand new mercedez benz car for 1000 naira, what will be your response? If you have sense of value, you will immediately know it is a stolen vehicle.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). You are so precious to God that He calls you His priest. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 also says you are the temple of the living God. You are so precious that God apart from dwelling in planet heaven, the next place He decided to dwell is inside you. All the wealth of the world cannot buy you so you should not be someone the devil can tempt with money.
How much is Satan offering you so that you can annoy your God? He can never pay your price. Even when there are believers who do not appreciate their value, and as a result are being bought for peanuts by Satan, there are some few believers who cannot be bought. Several years ago, when we were at Ilorin, some Muslims converged on one brother promising to build him a house, give him a car and lots of money if he converts to Islam. Then they fixed the day for the celebration. The night before this conversion, some Christians went to him and asked him if that was all he was worth. The following morning the Muslims came back to him, and he told them that he was sorry but that he had changed his mind. Obviously, he had realized his value. Don’t reduce yourself to the level of dogs and pigs. For a few thousands of naira some will sell themselves. Some for a few hundreds would sell their bodies for sex. It is because they don’t know their worth. Do you know and value your worth? If Satan can pay a price greater than what Jesus paid for you, then he can have you. If not, don’t sell yourself.

MEMORIZE: 1 PETER 1:17-19 –Forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers.