DECEITFUL KISSES

READ: PROVERBS 27:1-6

In 1 Samuel 24:16-22, after the seeming settlement between king Saul and David, the former retired to the palace. One would have thought an end had come to the problem. If David had been foolish, he would have gone home too. David however, knew that he must not trust the pleasant words of an enemy. He knew that the enemy’s feigned surrender may just be another strategy to make him relax so that he could be caught off-guard. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6).
Satan is a stubborn enemy. He is full of craftiness. He is the one pushing your enemies against you. When your enemy comes to tell you, ‘let’s bury the hatchet,’ agree but never take him serious. He may have suffered much from your spiritual missiles. Agree with him but return to your hold and intensify your prayers. When he really surrenders, you will not need a prophet to tell you. A certain pregnant woman who had some misunderstanding with an agent of darkness was visited by the latter. She brought a basket of fruits as a peace move. The woman, who was earlier warned by a prophet, locked up the fruit for a day or two. When she opened the cupboard they were already rotten. So she threw them away. When she met the ‘peace maker’ the latter was annoyed that she did not eat the fruit. How did she know? Later the woman delivered twins. The twins were the target of the ‘peace’ visit. Never trust your enemy! “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; but the desire of the righteous shall be granted” (Proverbs 10:24).
Your enemies are afraid of you. They fear that you will succeed. They fear that they may not be able to hinder you for long. They fear that you will be more outstanding. They fear that your joy will be full while theirs will be terminated. They fear that you will destroy them. They fear that you will succeed where they failed. They fear that you will overthrow them. They fear that the things they are celebrating as your misfortune will soon become your fortune and source of celebration. In the name of Jesus Christ, I say Amen to all the fears of your enemies this year. All the fears of your enemies concerning you, your family, business or work place, ministry, academics and projects shall come to pass this year. You are more than a conqueror. Your enemies’ fears are your desires. This year, the Lord will grant you your desires.

MEMORIZE: PROVERBS 10:24 –The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

WIND OF DOCTRINE

READ: EPHESIANS 4:11-15

“That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Ephesians 4:14). Another factor that causes Christians to slumber and sleep today is indiscriminate exposure to every wind of doctrine. Watch what you read and hear. Sieve them so that you can internalize only what is in consonance with the word. There are all kinds of doctrines nowadays. When prosperity preaching came, it went to the extreme. Today, even ministers of God do not care about their source of wealth anymore. They have become so deceived and depraved that what informs their choice in appointment of leaders; is money not the Spirit. They forget that it is holiness and obedience; not wealth or prosperity that bring divine approval.
When the wind of faith doctrine began to blow, it also went to the extreme. I live daily by faith. I do not just preach it. The proponents of faith refer to the story of the prodigal son as an example that you can continue to backslide and return and be accepted by God. This negates Romans 6:1-2 which says God forbids any of His children continuing in sin. Such extremists have forgotten that the prodigal son backslid only once. If he had gone out the second time, he may never have returned. Apart from this, even though he was welcome back, he returned as a disinherited child. His father said his remaining assets belonged to his elder brother. He had no part of that inheritance (Luke 15:11-32).
If you backslide or compromise, you are wasting your fixed deposit. If you continue to do so, you may not even be able to make it to Heaven. Be warned. Never toy with sin. Never sport with sin (Proverbs 10:23). Never compromise with sin. Don’t be seen with it. Don’t drink it. Sin is a destroyer, a betrayer and a robber. What strange doctrines are you welcoming into your heart, from the internet, radio and television sermons and books? Shun them. When the congregation begins to know more than their Spirit-filled pastor (after yielding to strange doctrines) they begin to sleep spiritually. May the Lord deliver you from spiritual sleep.

MEMORIZE: EPHESIANS 4:14 –That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.

SETTLED IN HEAVEN

READ: 1 KINGS 18:41-44

After the 450 prophets of Baal were executed, Elijah asked Ahab to begin to celebrate because he had heard the sound of abundant rain. King Ahab believed him and complied immediately. Thereafter, Elijah went up to the mountain to pray. He kept praying until he got his answers. Why pray after prophesying that it would rain? It is because you need to surround every good thing with prayers.
To bring down fire from heaven, Elijah prayed one simple prayer. To bring down rain, he prayed seven times. Why? From this we learn that you must not share your testimony until it is complete. When he called down fire, he did not announce it first. He only called for competition. But he announced the sound of rain a little too soon, and the devil showed up to say that he has not resigned from being the prince of the dark kingdom.
“He that keeps his mouth keeps his life. But he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3).   
Announcing a half-cooked miracle; is an invitation to powers of darkness to contest and terminate it. Joseph could have kept his big mouth shut. He could have kept his dream to himself and quietly sought God’s face on it. He would have been spared the agonies of envy and God would have fulfilled his dream through some other means. Keep your mouth shut. Many Christians have provoked unnecessary battles and even lost some miracles out of heralding a fledgling miracle. Do not tell anyone you have bought a car until you have the keys. Do not tell anyone you have been awarded a contract until you have signed the contract. Not all who claim to be your friends are truly so. Isaiah 30:15 says your strength is retained in quietness but lost through careless talking.
We also learn here than when a man of God has spoken what God said, sometimes it may appear God did not speak. This might seem as if the prophet had lied. The good news here is that once God has spoken, it will surely come to pass. Another lesson is that Satan can delay but not prevent your miracle. Psalm 119:89 says that God will do whatever He will do no matter how wide you open your mouth. However, this requires prayers and patience. God’s word is settled in Heaven!

MEMORIZE: PROVERBS 13:3 –He that keeps his mouth keeps his life. But he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction.