MOVE AHEAD, DON'T STOP!

MOVE AHEAD, DON'T STOP! 

Exo. 15:22-23,NLT- "Then Moses led the people of Israel away from the Red Sea...They traveled on this desert for three days without finding any water. When they came to the oasis of Marah, the water was too bitter to drink. So they called the place Marah (which means bitter)...." Many people like the Israelites, have travelled throughout this year with so many challenges, which have made life taste bitter. But I see God bringing such people to a place of sweetness in the coming year. "After leaving Marah, the Israelites traveled on to the oasis of Elim, where they found twelve springs and seventy palm trees. They camped there beside the water."(V27) Where you were this year might have been bitter; move ahead to the oasis of Elim, where you shall flourish and be nourished because of the fresh water. "...We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of great abundance."(Ps. 66:12,NLT). Ebenezer; thus how far the Lord has brought you. Welcome to the OASIS OF ELIM! AB@TWD

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(5): NO EXPIRY DATE!

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(5): NO EXPIRY DATE! 

"For the word of God is living and active..."(Heb. 4:12,KJV) You may have believed God for some things from the beginning of the year and still haven't seen anything happen. But there is nothing wrong carrying them into the coming year. Most people think that, once a particular request has not been granted this year, they have to forget about it and start the new year with new petitions. But there is nothing wrong with holding on to the promise of God, no matter how long you might think it has taken. It doesn't have an expiry date. It is the LIVING WORD! When God promised Abraham a son, it took about two decades and a half before Abraham saw the promise. Don't give up on all the expections you've had since the beginning of 2013. If some have not come through, believe God and carry them with hope into the coming year. God watches upon His word to perform. And His word does not have an expiry date! His promises are Yes and Amen. AB@TWD

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(4) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT?

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(4) WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT? 

"Finally brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE...HONEST,....JUST,...PURE,...LOVELY,...of GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be any PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS."(Phil. 4:8,NLT) Many people have allowed certain thoughts to dominate them; and this has enslaved them in the prison of negativity. Everything they say is negative, because their mind has been polluted. Such people may need a complete overhauling for their minds. We must all consciously control our thoughts, because they have the power to affect us either positively or adversely. As a man thinks, so is he. So you are what you constantly think about. No one can call you a poor person if you don't see yourself that way. Neither can anyone see you as a failure if you don't permit them. If whatsoever you think about falls outside the list in our text for today, then you must begin to think right! Think and see only the good side of things. Renew your mind. Be positive and end well! AB@TWD

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(3) TRY AGAIN!

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(3) TRY AGAIN! 

"Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing..."(Luke 5:5,NLT) At this time of the year, many people may have given up on certain dreams and aspirations they started the year with. Simply because, they could not achieve them. Just like Peter told Jesus, they have worked so hard all year round, day and night and still have nothing to show for it. But regardless of the situation, there is still HOPE! There is nothing wrong with failing. But there is everything wrong when one gives up trying. Peter failed too, but he never allowed that to stop him from casting his net again. He said to Jesus: "But if you say so, I'll let the nets down again."(V5) Some people fear to fail so they never start anything at all. Others too after many failed attempts quit trying. But it is time to forget the past and how bad the year may have been and relive your dream. God has a lot ahead for you, but the enemy wants to keep you where you are. Try again! AB@TWD

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(2) ITS NEVER TOO LATE!

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(2) ITS NEVER TOO LATE! 

"Elisha replied, Listen to this message from the Lord...By this time tomorrow in the markets of Samaria, five quarts of choice flour will cost only one piece of silver...The officer assisting the king said to the man of God, That couldn't happen even if the Lord opened the windows of heaven! But Elisha replied, You will see it happen with your own eyes, but you won't be able to eat any of it."(2 Kgs. 7:1-2,NLT) Many of us like the officer, may be thinking it is too late for God to do anything for us. The year is coming to an end and we still have some unanswered prayers. So we think nothing good can come our way. But hear this: "Indeed, the Sovereign Lord never does anything until He reveals His plans to His servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7) "...Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established; believe in His prophets, so shall ye prosper."(2 Chr. 20:20) Its never too late. God can turn things to your favor. Just hold on to His promise! AB@TWD

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(1): OXYMORON?

END OF YEAR MESSAGE(1): OXYMORON? 

Sometimes in life you may think you have it all figured out until something unexpected happens. Then all your deficiencies come to bear. What will you do when all the people who look up to you find out about those shortcomings? The fear that they would stop believing in you alone can cripple you to death. There is a high probability that you may want to give up. But this is a word to you, who think you have done everything but still see no progress. "Arise, shine; for thy light is come..."(Isa. 60:1,KJV) Many people say life is not FAIR. Its a fact, but I choose to say that, life is not just in AIR! The fact that you can breathe in air into your lungs doesn't mean that is all there is to life. Brace yourself to face all the challenges, and have a fighting spirit and a winning mentality. Life is full of contradictions, but your ability to stand through them, will guarantee your success. "Let the weak say,I am strong." This may sound contradictory, but it works! AB@TWD

THE BEST GIFT @ CHRISTMAS:

THE BEST GIFT @ CHRISTMAS: 

"...Behold there came WISE MEN from the east to Jerusalem...V11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh."(Matt. 2:1,11) The best gift you can give to Jesus at Christmas is your heart of worship. A gift pure as gold, with a sweet aroma of myrrh and frankincense. Have you realized that apart from the gold, all the two other gifts presented were sweet scented perfumes? It should tell us that our offering of worship also carries a smell; and it would be accepted or rejected depending on how good or bad it is. A typical example is when Cain and Abel came to offer their sacrifice to God. "And the Lord had respect unto Abel and his offering: But unto Cain and his offering he had not respect."(Gen. 4:4-5) May your worship be a sweet smelling savor to Jesus this Christmas. Merry Christmas-@The TWD family!

HOW SHARP IS YOUR AXE?

HOW SHARP IS YOUR AXE? 

Eccl. 10:10 "If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; But wisdom bring success."(NKJV) "Since a dull ax requires great strength, sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed." (NLT) Many of the world's problems have not been lack of information and knowledge but the right application of the knowledge acquired which is wisdom. "But you, Daniel, keep this prophecy a secret; seal up the book until the time of the end, when many will rush here and there, and knowledge will increase."(Dan. 12:4,NLT) Our world is not limited in knowledge but needs wisdom. Thus the wise man wrote: "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."(Prov. 4:7,KJV) What you need to succeed is in this life is the right application of the knowledge you have acquired. You must sharpen your skill through wisdom for a great success. If your axe has fallen, pick it up and sharpen it. Enjoy lunch! AB@TWD

IS YOUR AX MISSING?

IS YOUR AX MISSING? 

"But as one of them was cutting the tree, his ax head fell into to the river"(2 Kgs 6:5,NLT) In the course of the year, you may have lost something that you so much needed. It could be your job, your marriage, your ministry or family. You thought all was well until things began to fall apart. You thought you had everything under control, till you saw all your plans failing. This was exactly what happened to the group of prophets with Elisha. They had borrowed an axe to cut trees to build a tent, and now the head of the axe had fallen into the river. It was good they had asked the man of God go with them. Because when it mattered most, he came to their rescue. "Where did it fall? the man of God asked. When they showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water at that spot. Then the axe head floated to the surface."(V6) God sent me your way to encourage you. He shall restore all the years that the cankerworms and caterpillars have destroyed. Your axe shall float!AB@TWD

ONLY BELIEVE!

ONLY BELIEVE! 

"So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift...That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, I have made you father of many nations. This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing. Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping-believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God said to him, That's how many descendants you will have."(Rom. 4:16-18,NLT) Have you ever been in a situation where you have held on to a promise for so long that, it looked impossible to come to pass? Abraham had a similar experience, but his secret was that, he believed against hope. It didn't make sense to hold on to the promise, because chronologically it was too late. But Abraham knew the God who works in time, always on time, and at the same time timeless. He held on to the promise and it was fulfilled. God knows it all, so don't give up. He will do it for you too. Only believe! AB@TWD

WORD SERIES-WHAT IS YOUR CONFESSION?

WORD SERIES-WHAT IS YOUR CONFESSION? 

Over the past week we have been studying about the words we speak and the power they carry. Today we are going to put them into practice. We are going to make some declarations into our lives, and as we confess them with our mouth and believe with our heart, they shall surely come to pass. NB "Thou shalt also DECREE a thing, and it shall be established unto thee..."(Job 22:28) Begin to decree..."I shall not die, but live to declare the goodness of the Lord. With long life He will satisfy me. I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. The lines are fallen for me in pleasant places. The Lord shall perfect all that concerns me. No good thing will He withhold from me. I am the righteouness of God in Christ. I am an overcomer. I am a seed of Abraham, joint-heirs with Christ, and seated with Him in heavenly places. I am blessed and highly favored. I am anointed to be a blessing. I am the child of a King. The Great I AM is my Father. I know who I am!" AB@TWD

WORDS SERIES- WHAT IS IN YOUR MOUTH?

WORDS SERIES- WHAT IS IN YOUR MOUTH? 

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth: but thou shall meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: FOR THEN thou shalt make thy way prosperous, AND THEN thou shall have good success."(Jos. 1:8,NLT) Joshua was to take over from Moses and lead the people of Israel into the promise land.This was not an easy task, but God promised He would be with him. God told him exactly what to do to have good success. "...Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do."(V7,NLT) Then God quickly added: "This book of the law shall not depart OUT OF THY MOUTH..." This simply means that, for Joshua to be successful, he had to constantly meditate on the word. In the face of opposition, he was to speak the word and not his mind. What are the words that come out of your mouth? AB@TWD

WORDS SERIES-WHO DO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH?

WORDS SERIES-WHO DO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH? 

"But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are! So they spread this bad report about the land among the Israelites. The land we traveled through and explored will devour anyone who goes to live there. All the people we saw were huge. We even saw giants there...Next to them we felt like grasshoppers, and that's what they thought, too!"(Num. 13:31-33,NLT) Anyone who receives such a report will surely be disturbed. No wonder the Israelites began to weep after this bad report was given. Wrong associations have landed many people in places they never thought they would be. Your association can also determine the kind of things you attract and that with time will influence the kind of things you say. Whether it would be faith-filled words or negative and discouraging reports; all depends on what information you are being fed with. Is it what God has said or what another is telling you? AB@TWD

WORDS CARRY WEIGHT!

WORDS CARRY WEIGHT!

Words carry weight...So much weight that Jesus said if one had a mustard seed size faith he could speak and mountains will be removed. So it is either your words you speak are removing mountains are creating them. You may think you are joking with some of the things you say, but a careful look at your life would show that, you are the outcome of some things you have been saying. Those little foxes...Those small statements we took for granted..."I didn't mean it". The enemy takes you serious so beware. He knows death and life are in the power of your tongue. And since he comes to steal to kill and to destroy, he would have you say things that will kill you quick. Jesus said the words that I speak, they are spirit and they are life. Do your words agree with His? Or you are constantly uttering negative words? God created the whole universe through the words He spoke. You also create your world whether comfortable or otherwise through your words. What are you fond of saying? AB@TWD

WORDS SERIES-WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN?

WORDS SERIES-WHAT HAS BEEN WRITTEN? 

"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed and therefore have I spoken; we also believe and therefore speak."(2 Cor. 4:13,NLT) You must believe the written word of God to the point where it forms part of your speech. You are to say what you believe and not just talk your feelings. The Bible clearly states that, "Let the weak say I am strong and let the poor say, I am rich...". This doesn't deny the existence of weakness or poverty, but rather reveals a higher dimension of life. A level where you begin to see that, even in your weakness, the strength of God is made perfect. You also know that Christ became poor that you would be rich. So any form of lack is not your portion. Once you are aware, then you begin to deal with it. There is a king inside you; and where the word of a king is, there is power: the power to effect changes and cause things to happen. Do you know the written word? What is written is written. Begin to speak it! AB@TWD

WORDS SERIES-WHAT HAVE YOU SAID?

WORDS SERIES-WHAT HAVE YOU SAID?

"It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruits. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."(Isa. 55:11,NLT) Whatever God says comes to pass. Since He made man in His own image, He gave us that ability. Many lives have been ruined due to negative words spoken over them by others or themselves. Words are very powerful and have creative ability. Many people don't know that, inside them is the ability from God to create things. The Bible says: "You shall decree a thing and it shall be established." It doesn't specify "what thing", so it could be good or bad. Therefore the need to be careful what you are decreeing because it could happen. This is a principle that can be of help: If you don't mean it don't say it. And if you say it, then you must mean it. You give God permission to work on your behalf by your words. And in the same way you permit the devil to work against you by what you say. Watch your words! AB@TWD

EAGLES (RELOADED 3)

EAGLES (RELOADED 3)

"As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no god with him."(Deut. 32:11-12,KJV) Yesterday we saw how the eagle flutters over her young to keep them warm and also to protect them. In much the same way, God keeps us under the shadow of His wings where we can hide for safety. Today we are looking at the last trait of the eagle in our text. (3) "As an eagle spreads out her wings and bears her young on them; in teaching them to fly. The same way God bore Israel in leading them out of Egypt." When an eagle is teaching its young how to fly, it throws it high into the sky and leaves it alone. And just when the young eaglet is about to fall due to inexperience, the mother will go under it swiftly and bear it on her wings. In the same way God also keeps us from falling. No matter the situation, God is going under to bear you on His wings. I AM is with you! AB@TWD

EAGLES (RELOADED 2)

EAGLES (RELOADED 2)

"He found him in the desert land...He led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no god with him."(Deut. 32:10-12,KJV) Yesterday we saw how the eagle stirs up her nest to excite her young ones to fly. God can stir up some things in our life to cause us to leave where we are now to where He wants us to be. (2) "As the eagle fluttereth over her young..." The second trait of the eagle we find in our text is that, she broods over her young to keep them warm and protect them in their growth. God also by the Holy Spirit sought to develop Israel and make her strong. The eagle has strong wings which serves as a safe haven for its young. It uses that to cover and protect them from predators and bad weather conditions. God will cover you under the shadow of His wings, to keep you from harm. AB@TWD

EAGLES (RELOADED 1)

EAGLES (RELOADED 1)

"He found him in the desert land...He led him about...He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no god with him."(Deut. 32:10-12,KJV) God found Jacob (Israel) wandering in the wilderness and showed him His tender care, the same way an eagle does her young. We shall be looking at 3 traits of an eagle exhibited by God: 1) "As the eagle stirreth up her nest". As one stirs up the nest to excite her young ones to fly, disturbing them to make them willing to leave the nest, so God permitted troubles in Egypt to make Israel willing to leave the land to become a nation themselves. Sometimes all that God needs to do, is to permit some things to happen. Not for evil, but to bring us into an expected end, just like He did to Israel. We are compelled to exit our comfort zone for greater heights. I can feel a stirring! AB@TWD

EAGLE SERIES (4)-GOD OUR SUN!

EAGLE SERIES (4)-GOD OUR SUN!

"For the Lord God is our SUN and our shield. He gives His grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right." (Ps. 84:11, NLT) The eagle possesses a special ability that other birds and predators do not have. She has special eyelids. As escape from her enemies, she drops her eyelids and flies directly into the SUN. That way the enemy cannot pursue her. David the psalmist knew God as his SUN, the ONLY GOD he went to for refuge. And so he continues "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1, NLT) Your faith in God will carry you through all dangers and fears of life. "No longer will you need the sun to shine by day... for the Lord your God (SUN) will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."(Isa. 60:19, NLT) Eagles lessons -feed on God's word (fresh water), receive fresh anointing (Holy Spirit), wait on God (mount up) and fly to the SUN (God our refuge). EN@TWD

EAGLE SERIES (3)-THE WILL OF GOD!

EAGLE SERIES (3)-THE WILL OF GOD! 

"Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don't be impressed with your own wisdom" (Prov. 3:6-7a, NLT) Seeking the will of God when we have to make a decision is a challenge most believers face. Finding it and knowing when to act on it even requires a closer walk with God. Its impressive that Solomon cautions us. With all his wisdom, he does not get carried away but recognises that we need to turn every area of life to God. "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles... "(Isaiah 40:31, NKJV) Back to the eagle. After annointing her feathers, she goes to the edge of her high place and MOUNTS UP her wings. She does not flap her wings but WAITS for the currents of the wind to lift her up. This is what the found will of God does to our life. No stress no pain, we soar in our endeavours. MOUNT UP today and WAIT for the currents of the wind (Will of God) You are about to soar! EN@TWD

EAGLE SERIES (2)-ANOINTING FOR WORK!

EAGLE SERIES (2)-ANOINTING FOR WORK!

"Then he poured some anointing oil on Aaron's head, anointing him and making him holy for his work" (Lev. 8:12,NLT) Moses had to anoint Aaron as high priest because of the special duties he would perform. Such as being in the most holy place in the tabernacle. Interestingly, an eagle also anoints itself for new escapades. After her beak, talons, feathers and claws are grown again, the eagle grooms itself and waterproofs its feathers by a process called preening. She preens by pressing regularly an oil gland at the base of her tail with her beak. And this oil is worked into her feathers to shine and glisten in sunlight. So is the anointing we receive from the Holy Spirit. "So God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power..."(Acts 10:38a, NLT) Your anointing releases the potential in you for greater works. It sets you up for excellence exceeding human understanding... EN@TWD

EAGLE SERIES (1)-RENEWAL!

EAGLE SERIES (1)-RENEWAL!

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31,NLT) An eagle worn from life usually withdraws to a hidden place where there is fresh water. During this period, she is not able to hunt and has no food because her beak, claws, talons and feathers are weak. While so doing, these parts moult and fall off. As she begins to feed on only fresh water, these body parts get transformed, become new and sharp again. So it is in our christian walk with God. Coming to the end of your rope is not the end of your hope. This is the time to observe a fast like the eagle and sip on fresh water-the Word of God. Jesus said: "I live because of the living father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me" (John 6:57,NLT) You must feed on the living word (Jesus). He is the bread of life. Can you wait on God and enjoy some fresh water? EN@TWD

IS IT A DREAM?

IS IT A DREAM?

"When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream."(Ps. 126:1,NLT) God can bring you to a place where you never thought possible. And what He is about to do for you will be mind blowing; too good to be true. You may face so many challenges, and even fail to realize how God is working on your behalf. But a consciousness of what God is doing is vital for you in reaching your next level. Just like God told the people of Israel, "Behold I do a new thing..." God is up to something, but you must discern it to receive it. He can never forget you, just like a nursing mother can not forget her new born baby. All you need to do is to keep your trust in Him. "Those who trust in the Lord are secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, both now and forever."(Ps. 125:1-2) God will do exceedingly, abundantly above your imagination. It will be like a dream. God is at work! AB@TWD

BIBLICAL SPORTS(1)

BIBLICAL SPORTS(1) 

"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection...No,...I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God through Christ Jesus is calling us."(Phil. 3:12,NLT) Some of Paul's letters he wrote showed that he loved sports or was a sportsman. He used a lot of sporting illustrations to teach us some great lessons. In the various sporting disciplines no one wins a medal by mere participation. One must reach a certain level of excellence to have it. "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training...So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing."(1 Cor. 9:24-26). Christianity is like sports, that is why it is mostly called the Christian race. Aim for the medal. Press on! AB@TWD

BIBLICAL SPORTS(2)

BIBLICAL SPORTS(2)

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead..."(Phil. 3:13,NLT) Many people have not been able to reach their fullest potential because of past regrets and failures. Our past should rather become lessons for today but not control tools. We must learn to let go of the past and embrace the present with hope for the future. Paul stated emphatically that, the one thing he does is "forgetting about the past and looking forward to what lies ahead." He certainly had some failures and successes. But none of these could stop him from moving on in life. Both success and failure can be enemies to potential. Some people become successful and relax. Others fail and give up. But we must look forward. Finally as sportmen in our Christian race, we must know the rules. "And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules."(2 Tim. 2:5,NLT). Go for the medal, but follow the rules. AB@TWD

THE WORD IS ALL YOU NEED TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS!

THE WORD IS ALL YOU NEED TO MEET ALL YOUR NEEDS! 

"I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right."(Isa. 45:19,NLT). Whatever you need in life is hidden in the word of God. Let us study some few things in Psalm 119: "For ever, O Lord, thy WORD is settled in heaven."(V89) As God has declared in heaven, so shall it be replicated on earth. Therefore, your heart shall be at peace once you get to know what He has said. "Thy WORD is a lamb unto my feet, and a light unto my path."(V105) The word also serves as a light to brighten your way and guide your steps from falling. "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."(V130) The word enlightens you and gives you deeper understanding. You are able to appreciate life better and make wise decisions. May you hear His word today. Enjoy church! AB@TWD

WHAT IS YOUR LIMITATION?

WHAT IS YOUR LIMITATION?

"But Moses pleaded with the Lord, O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled."(Exo. 4:10,NLT) When God calls some people for greater works, they can bring out reasons why they can't perform. But even before the excuses, God had chosen to use them. Moses is a typical example. He ran away but was brought back. The limitation is an indication that God can use you to achieve great things. He specializes in using the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. So if you think you are good for nothing, note that to God you are good for something. The strength of God works best in times when men are weak and helpless. Therefore never let your limitation lead to an imitation. Be yourself and do what you have been called to do. Let nothing or anyone stop you. For your days ahead are glorious and better than what is gone. Let the eagle in you begin to soar. No limits! AB@TWD

CAN YOU COPE?

CAN YOU COPE?

"I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little."(Phil. 4:12,NLT) As humans, we can become very uncomfortable when something unexpected happens to us. Sometimes it is like our whole world has come to an end. We become frustrated and don't even know how to manage the situation. But when we study the life of Paul, he always went through very difficult times, to a point where he himself could testify that, he had learned the secret of living in every situation. Can you say the same too? I believe you can, but you must know Paul's secret. I realized that one reason why Paul was able to cope with "every situation" was because he RECEIVED his strength from Christ. He confessed that, "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength."(V13), and I believe this is a secret you must know. You can handle every situation if you rely on Jesus. You too can cope! AB@TWD

EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY!

EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY!

"Never abandon a friend-either yours or your father's. When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance. It's better to go to a neighbour than to a brother who lives far away."(Prov. 27:10,NLT) Can you imagine you are alone one night and it rains so heavily that it takes your roof off? At that point in time, you would definately know you need someone to help you. Some people due to their ego, may prove to be self-reliant and self-dependent. But no matter how much you think you can do for yourself, you'll still need help at some point in time. "As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."(V 17) What makes some people assume they don't need anyone? Let's remember there is power in unity and it can cause a dream that was perceived to be unattainable become achievable. There is someone in your life who is supposed to connect you to your destiny. Don't discard a friend just because you feel like it. They may be of help someday. AB@TWD

WHO TAKES THE GLORY?

WHO TAKES THE GLORY?

"I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols."(Isa. 42:8,NLT) There is a popular saying that, you give honor to whom honor is due. And I also want to add: "You give glory to who glory is due" In our text today, God said, He was not going to allow any other thing or person take His glory, for He alone deserves it. So who or what are you sharing His glory with? "God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath that's , life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is He who says, I the Lord have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people Israel as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations."(V5-6) Many may be called but few will be chosen. God created you for His glory; so you are not ordinary. You must also give Him all your praise. AB@TWD

HAVE YOU GOT LIFE?

HAVE YOU GOT LIFE?

Psalm 103:1 "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name."(Ps. 103:1,KJV) This seems to be a popular psalm, but have we really taken time to think about what David really meant by this text? It is loaded! David literally sold Himself out to God on the altar of praise and worship, and in this verse he is seen commanding his soul to do just that. He didn't do it because he just wanted to catch God's attention, but he realized that, praise and worship were necessary for the well-being of his soul. "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord..."(Ps. 150:6) This simply means that, we also have no excuse not to praise God, once we can breathe. The breath we have alone, must stir up our desire to worship. God made man out of love, and one way to appreciate this love, is by adoring Him. One thing that can also inhibit the flow of our praise and worship is when we fail to see the price that has been paid for us. If you have life, then you can worship too. AB@TWD

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (4)

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (4) 

"God replied to Moses, I AM WHO I AM has sent me to you. God also said to Moses, Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors-the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob-has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations."(Exo. 3:14-15,NLT) Isn't it amazing how God gave His name as "I AM WHO I AM"? This means that He cannot be quantified, limited, understood or explained. He is what He is and nothing else can change His state. He doesn't say one thing and do the other like we men do. His integrity is unsurpassed and His wonders defy logic. He lives in the present, but yet He is the Rock of Ages and Ancient of Days. He is telling you right now that, He can become for you what you need Him to become. He is your maker, your banner and your provider. This is one of God's attributes: EHYEH ASHER EYHEH-I AM THAT I AM. AB@TWD. 

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (3)

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (3)

"Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care."(Ps. 95:6-7,NLT) Once you see the Lord as your maker, your worship must become a daily occurence. It becomes your response to His love. David loved to be in the presence of the Lord. He wrote, "in His presence is fullness of joy." Whenever he was troubled and depressed, the only safe haven he ran to, was in the presence of the Lord; right under the shadow of His wings. Our next attribute of God is "Adonai Osenu"-The Lord our maker. God created all things but made man in His image and likeness. This is for a reason, and that is for man to show forth His glory on earth. As David rightly puts it, we are the people He(God) watches over, and the flock under His care. God can not lose whatever is under His care which includes you. He oversees and has your welfare at heart. He is Jehovah Osenu, and He has everything under control. AB@TWD

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (2)

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (2)

"Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means, the Lord will provide)."(Gen. 22:13-14,NLT). There are some kind of blessings, if God doesn't open our eyes we can't see. God knows our every need and He has already made provisions. What is left is for us to receive what He has already given to us. He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places and as it is in heaven so it is on earth. I perceive the ram Abraham later sacrificed in place of his son, was hidden there long time, but he could not see. He was looking down, where there was no help possible. Thats why David said, I will lift up my eyes to the hills...my help comes from the maker of heaven and earth." As soon as Abraham lifted his eyes, he saw the ram. All you need to do, to have all you want is to look up. God is our Adonai Yireh, the Lord who sees! AB@TWD

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (1):

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (1): 

We are beginning a series from today, and it will help us know some attributes of God as captured in the Bible. As we get to know His nature and how He works we can believe in Him even when all odds are against us. We begin with ADONAI NISSI, which means: The Lord my miracle. Or Jehovah Nissi-The Lord my banner. We can see this in Exodus 17:15 "After the victory, the Lord instructed Moses, Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-nissi (which means; the Lord is my banner)"(NLT) We notice from the text that, God gave Israel victory over Amalek. And He is also fighting on your behalf to give you victory in every battle. You are the apple of His eyes, so no enemy can defeat you: God is your banner! Do you see Him as your Jehovah-nissi or you are fighting all by yourself? Remember that, if the battle is the Lord's, then victory is assured! AB@TWD

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE?

WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE? 

"I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."(Ps. 27:13,NLT) One thing that sustained David in the face of trouble was his belief to see the goodness of the Lord. We must get to the point where we are fully convinced that, we shall enjoy life. We may look at the challenges around us and give up on ourselves; failing to see the gifts that have been freely given unto us by God. We see from our text that, even in his trouble times, David concluded: "Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living."(NLT) That became his confession irrespective of the unfavorable circumstances. And God blessed him and made him great. "The Lord says, I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life...(Ps. 91:14-16,NLT) So you too what do you believe? AB@TWD

YOUR WORSHIP; YOUR PROOF?

YOUR WORSHIP; YOUR PROOF? 

"And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this mountain."(Exo. 3:12b,MSG) It is amazing how God used WORSHIP as the proof of deliverance from captivity. This is quite interesting: the proof that God had sent Moses, was to be seen after the people had finally left Egypt and not when they were still there. The sign was not even any of the miracles that took place in Egypt, because the devil could produce counterfeit through magic. The proof of your redemption, and the sign of your deliverance will be your ability to worship God irrespective of where you have been, what has held you captive, and the pain you may have suffered. Your worship will tell! Today God is sending a deliverer; now in the person of Jesus Christ to liberate you. "There is a Redeemer; Jesus God's own Son." And as the Bible saids, who the Son therefore shall set free, is free indeed. You are free to WORSHIP!!!. AB@TWD

UNCOVERING SIN(2)

UNCOVERING SIN(2)

"We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not..."(1 Jn. 5:18,NLT) Once we are born of God we don't "practice sin." In other words we may fall into it, but we don't stay in it, because the seed of God is in us. People these days do horrible things and still justify them. But sin is transgression of the law, therefore it doesn't matter whether it affects anyone or not. Once it goes against God's instruction, it is classified as disobedience and therefore it is sin. Sin is a choice and not the ultimate. So you can choose to do it or walk away. And you can choose to be enslaved by it or walk in the liberty wherein Christ has made you free. You were made as a "siGn" to the world, to show forth God's Glory. But when the God factor(G) is missing, sin begins to dominate. If you are a 'sign' don't allow sin to rule you. Because when it does, you cease being a sign to show God's glory!...For all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God. What sin does is to take away that glory! AB@TWD

UNCOVERING SIN(1)

UNCOVERING SIN(1)

"How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word...I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not SIN against you."(Ps. 119:9,10,NLT) Sin is like a deadly poison that can kill slowly and unknowingly. It enters into the system and like a virus, attracts other deadly things. It spreads like bacteria and soon causes decay in one's life. You must therefore do everythingpossible not to fall into its trap. It must completely be avoided! This word came to me, as I thought about sin in general: "Sin has a smell and its a bad one. It makes the sinner carry an odour which can be smelled from a long distance, and so makes it easier for satan and his cohorts to make a trace easily. So whenever a person dwells in sin, the enemy dispatches sicknesses, diseases, and poverty to them. All these things are able to find their way to the individual living in sin, by the smell on them. For us to stay pure, clean and smell good, we much obey the word. It must be hidden in our heart. AB@TWD

SUCCESS FORMULAR(3)

SUCCESS FORMULAR(3)

"Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted...It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones."(Ps. 127:1,2,NLT) Over the past few days our focus has been to find out what the word of God teaches about how to be successful. We saw from the first message that, we need to have God's approval in all we do, and that way our success is guaranteed. We also saw the next day that, one other way to be successful is to study the word of God and meditate on it. Then by obeying what is says, we shall have good success. And our text for today says that, to be successful at or in anything, God must be the builder. Whatever we build without Him would be a complete failure. He must be the builder of our career, family, relationship, marriage, ministry etc. and success shall be our portion. Don't do it on your own, but allow Him to build for you. He is the master-builder! AB@TWD

SUCCESS FORMULAR(2)

SUCCESS FORMULAR(2) 

"Study this Book of instruction. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."(Josh. 1:9,NLT) We learnt from our devotional yesterday that, we need God's approval. And by acknowledging Him in all our ways, He shall direct our path and make us truly successful. Today we are looking at another success formular. Many people see the Bible as just another reading material. No wonder they forget what the word says in no time. It is because they only READ. We must move from the level of just reading, to actually studying the word. We must study to show ourselves approved. After we have studied it, we now meditate on what we have studied. But how can we meditate when we have nothing stored inside to meditate on? When we meditate on the word consistently, it may become part of us and now obeying it become much easier to do. It is ONLY after this that our success in life shall be guaranteed. MEDITATE! AB@TWD

SUCCESS FORMULAR (1)

SUCCESS FORMULAR (1)

"And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful.(Ps. 90:17,NLT) You can work so hard and produce little results. Hard work is good, but unless we have God's approval and guidance we can't achieve much. Some people may not fathom why they work from dawn to dusk but always end up with little to show for it. Peter was a victim too, He said: "Masterwe have toiled all night..." He thought his experience was enough to do it. But it was one word from Jesus that turned everything around. It is indeed God who gives us the power to get wealth. So what is this 'I've got it all figured out' attitude among some people? Paul at a point had to admit that, he could do all things by the strength he receives from Christ. Jesus said, "without me you can do nothing." We can't go to Jesus only during emergencies. He must be present in all we do. And as we learn to acknowledge Him in all our ways, He shall direct our path and we shall be successful! AB@TWD

ARE YOU READY TO DIE?

ARE YOU READY TO DIE? 

"About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah...went to visit him...This is what the Lord says: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness. When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, Remember O Lord, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you."(2 Kgs. 20:1-3,NLT) If God should send a prophet to deliver such a message to any of us, we may either say the prophet is demon-possessed or conclude he is not from God. What is our testimonial? What can stand for us as a memorial? Would we be bold enough to say just like Hezekiah did, "I have been faithful in serving you?" Many of us waste so much time on things that do not have eternal value. So when we are asked about the things we have done, we have nothing to talk about or boast of. But I pray God sees us faithful. Set your priorities right before it is too late! AB@TWD

SOUNDS UNBELIEVABLE?

SOUNDS UNBELIEVABLE?

"Kings and queens will serve you and care for your needs. They will bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Those who trust in me will never be put to shame."(Isa. 49:23,NLT) When we come across scriptures like this, they may sound unbelievable. But until we move from dwelling on the logos (the letter that killeth) and begin to catch the rhema (the spirit behind the written word) we may not see the manifestations. The problem is the way we respond to the word. We can't just say we believe and leave it there. There must be a corresponding action that will yield results. The word of God is living and active; and Jesus said: The words that I speak, they are spirit and they are life. As we can see from our text, Isaiah is telling us that, those who will serve us and take care of our needs, are rather kings and queens. It may sound unbelievable, but that is how and what God has made you. Do you still find it hard to believe? AB@TWD

YOUR LATTER WILL BE GREATER!

YOUR LATTER WILL BE GREATER! 

"You crown my year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance."(Ps. 65:11,NLT) Many of us may have started the year with so much hope. And as the year is ending, we don't seem to have done much. Some dreams have been partly fulfilled whiles others are still pending. It is as if we shall end the year just as we started. But no matter how hard things may be, or how worse situations may get, I declare that; OUR END SHALL BE GLORIOUS. This is not just to make us feel good, but it is affirming and confirming what God has already established. Forever O, Lord thou word is settled in heaven. The Psalmist had a deeper insight and wrote: "You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water, it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so."(V9) If God is the one taking care of your life, you can be sure that He will water it, make it rich and fertile. Your best is yet to come! AB@TWD

RECOVERY MODE ACTIVATED!

RECOVERY MODE ACTIVATED! 

"The Lord will reply, Look! I am sending you grain and new wine and olive oil, enough to satisfy your needs. You will no longer be an object of mockery among the surrounding nations...The Lord says, I will give you back what you lost...Once again you will have all the food you want, and you will praise the Lord your God who does these miracles for you. Never again will mypeople be disgraced."(Joel 2:19,25-26,NLT) Whenever you come to God with an expectation it moves Him to act. For the expectation of the righteous shall not be cut off. But what God does through your expectation will be beyond your expectation. He stretches your faith and as you keep hope alive, He releases what you least expected. That is our God; He does mind blowing miracles. And He is with you even now to do the impossible and make happen the unimaginable. It doesn't matter what you may have lost earlier. I see God restoring all of them in these last two months. You shall have them according to your faith! AB@TWD

LEARN TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

LEARN TO SHUT YOUR MOUTH! 

"But the angel said, Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth, will give you a son..."(Luke 1:13,NLT) Some people pray for praying sake. They have no expectations and thus do it as a form of duty and a matter of religiosity. But prayers are meant to be answered and God wants to. Zechariah had been praying all his life for just one thing from God; that is a child. Now an angel appears to him with an assurance that, his prayers have been heard and answered. But look at his reaction: "Zechariah said to the angel, How can I be sure this will happen? I'm an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years"(V18). By this response, does it mean he had prayed for fun? He doubted the very word from God. "But now, since you didn't believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born..."(V20) He faced the consequences. God may have to do some people a favor and shut their mouths before they ruin their destiny! AB@TWD

DO YOU FEEL THE HEAT?

DO YOU FEEL THE HEAT?

"He will sit like a refiner of silver, burning away the dross..."(Mal. 3:3,NLT) I have heard that, goldsmiths spend a lot of time, sitting by fire to make sure there are no dross in their final product. Gold goes through intense heat to become pure. And the same amount of heat that helps to refine gold, to bring out its beauty is the same heat that is needed to take away the dross. Just as Gold is precious to man, man is also precious to God. You may have to go under some intense heat in life, to bring the beauty inside you. And as we can see in our text, the refiner actually sits down to watch the silver and gold burning. He doesn't take them out of the fire because He has a goal. When he takes the gold off the fire before its time, it may not glitter. God also wants to purify and take away all the dross in you. So when the fire gets hot, know that it is not meant to kill, but to make God see His reflection in you. And you can only see a reflection on the surface of pure gold! AB@TWD

YOU ARE JUST GOING THROUGH!

YOU ARE JUST GOING THROUGH!

"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up..."(Isa. 43:2,NLT) There is no where in the Bible where it has been written that, once you become a Christian, you become trouble-free. In fact you rather would have more. "The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time."(Ps. 34:19,NLT) Is it not interesting how it appears the righteous rather go through "many afflictions" whilst the wicked live and enjoy themselves? "Don't worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away..."(Ps. 37:1-2) Yours is to keep your eyes on God and trust in Him. This is for you today: "Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall."(Ps. 55:22) This must assure you that, God has got your back. You are just passing through them! AB@TWD

CAN YOU BE REMEMBERED?

CAN YOU BE REMEMBERED?

"Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name."(Mal. 3:16,NLT) Some people can live on earth without making any impact or anything. There is nothing they can be remembered for. In our text, we see that only the names of those who feared God and always thought about the honor of His name had their names written in the book of remembrace. People can be so concerned about almost everything except the honor of God's name. They see it as reserved for "those in ministry". But we are all in a ministry as far as God is concerned. God did not create anyone to just add to the numbers. He has a purpose for every individual, so no one has any excuse. May you discover your calling and purpose, and in that way you can place a demand of heaven, and it will respond. What would you be remembered for? AB@TWD

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

GOD IS FAITHFUL!

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."(1 Cor. 10:13,RSV) God is always faithful; even in times when it looks like nothing can be done, He makes a way. He is our present help in times of need! When the three hebrew boys were thrown into the furnace, He was present with them to prove that He is a consuming fire. When Daniel was cast into the den of lions, He was there to protect him, to affirm that He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He always shows us a way of escape out of every predicament. He is the always-on-point-never-disappointing God. When Moses was going to face Pharaoh, God told him to tell Pharaoh that "I AM has sent me." So in case you are also facing your "Pharaoh"(any stubborn situation) in life, declare in whose name you have come. And the "I AM" God will be there. He is faithful! AB@TWD

GOD'S SIGNATURE!

GOD'S SIGNATURE!

"I am the Lord; that is my name!... Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens."(Isa. 42:8-9,NLT) Anytime you see, "I am the Lord", then God is reminding us of what He has said or assuring us of what He is about to do. He makes His promises by starting and ending with "I AM the Lord, that is my name", to let us know the potency of such promises. "For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself..."(Heb. 6:13,KJV) The promise of God on your life may sound impossible. But God signed with His name for you to see the possibility, so you can hold Him by His word. Look at the tense used in verse 9, "Everything I prophesied HAS COME TRUE..." That means all the prophesies on your life have already been fulfilled. I know this may sound too good to be true. But that is our God; He calls those things that be not as though they were. His name is I AM, and that is His signature! AB@TWD

WHO IS BEHIND H.A.T.R.E.D?

WHO IS BEHIND H.A.T.R.E.D? 

"Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin."(Lev. 19:17,NLT) Have you at any point in your life entertained hatred? Watch it; the DEVIL is behind. He sows a seed of hatred inside people and causes them to do crazy things. The Bible therefore warns us to guard our heart with all diligence. Let me use an interesting word joggling approach to prove the one behind hatred. Let's have some fun with these words: Take a look at the spellings of the two words-H.E.A.R.T and H.A.T.R.E.D. Do you see one has five letters and another has six? The five letters that come together to form "HEART" are the same first five letters for the word "HATRED", but in this case they are disorganized. When we take these five letters from each of the words, one letter will be left standing on the side of hatred, which is a "D" (DEVIL in this context) NB: The devil is behind all forms of HATRED. Guard your HEART! AB@TWD

WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND GOD!

WE CAN'T UNDERSTAND GOD!

"The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it."(Gen. 3:6,NLT) The devil deceived her that, when she eats of the fruit God had told them not to eat, she would "be like God". That is, do things like God and perhaps become OMNISCIENT. And was that the case? The same devil is deceiving many people today and making them think that, if they do one thing or the other, their eyes would open and they would "be like God". But there is a way, that seems right unto man, but the end leads to death. This was exactly what happened to the first man. Men have tried all means possible since creation to prove God. We have gone to space and the moon all in an attempt to find out who God is. But our God can not be put inside a test tube to be experimented upon. He is above science! Some things will remain MYSTERY and others will become HISTORY but God is still I AM! AB@TWD

CAN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD?

CAN YOU UNDERSTAND GOD?

"Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things."(Eccl. 11:5,NLT) Some people in our world today try to explain almost everything that occurs. Some of them may turn into soothe sayers, diviners and sorcerers with time. Unfortunately, some Christians are being influenced by some of these people. The truth is that, we cannot understand everything God does, neither can we comprehend His wisdom. A lot of things are beyond our human reasoning, so let us save ourselves the trouble and stop probing into everything that happens around us. No man has all the answers to all of life's questions. We must therefore not exercise ourselves in matters that are higher than us. Our God can not lose control. He has held the whole universe and their elements together since creation, so He knows what He is doing. God doesn't want to be understood, He wants to be believed! AB@TWD