YOU WILL SURELY DIE?

YOU WILL SURELY DIE?

"But the Lord God warned him; You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden-except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die."(Gen. 2:16-17,NLT) God gave man the right to eat of every tree found in the garden, but excluded one particular tree-the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Just like tithing in Christianity; God has given us the power to get wealth and prosper, yet out of the same wealth lies the commandment that forbids us from eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evi l(in this case our tithe) Dying here doesn't only mean a physical one but we may die in some areas of our life, and would not see the increase, growth and fruitfulness we desire, because we have eaten the forbidden fruit. We die financially, emotionally, spiritually etc, just because we have disobeyed God. So much wealth has been stored for you as an inheritance. But to unlock it, you need to give what is due God to him, so you don't die. Kezia@TWD

SOMETHING ABOUT THE NAME JESUS!

SOMETHING ABOUT THE NAME JESUS! 

There is no name given in heaven and on earth by which men can be saved, than the name JESUS. Satan trembles and demons flee at the mention of the name Jesus. The atheists can not fathom the power behind the name. It has transcended generations and has still not lost relevance. The name does wonders and break barriers. It does miracles and removes obstacles. The Pregnant woman about to deliver calls the name Jesus. The Pilot about to have a plane crash calls the name Jesus. The Patient about to die calls the name Jesus. The Pastor casting out demons calls the name Jesus. The Prisoner about to be executed cries out the name Jesus. The Prince in the palace also whispers the name Jesus...Whatever the situation; No matter the condition; Whether in confusion or frustration, know that there is still power in the name JESUS. As you begin to mention the name Jesus, things will begin to change in your life. There something about the name Jesus and you must experience it today! AB@TWD

YOUR FALLING IS NOT YOUR FAILING"

YOUR FALLING IS NOT YOUR FAILING"

There is hope for a tree that has been cut down; it can come back to life and sprout."(Job 14:7,GNB) Many of us have been deceived into believing that, anytime any person falls, then that is their end. But this is what our Bible tells us: "The Lord guides people in the way they should go and protects those who please him. If they fall, they will not stay down, because the Lord will help them up."(Ps. 37:23-24,GNB) The problem is not that we have failed by falling, but whether we would rise up again after the fall. "No matter how often honest people fall, they always get up again..."(Prov. 24:16,GNB) God has made us in such a way that, we can always bounce back no matter how hard or low we fall. We have an inherent ability to get back on our feet and move on. So never settle for less because you are by nature designed to reign. And never let your present state dictate the pace of your future or be the bearing for your tomorrow. You failed so what? Get up and move ahead! AB@TWD

ARE YOU BEING CHILDISH OR CHILDLIKE?

"Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."(Matt. 7:20,NLT) We can say a person is being childish or childlike based on his or her actions. "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things."(1 Cor. 13:11,NLT) We can see from our text that, through speech, thinking and reasoning, a person can be said to be CHILDISH. On the other hand, one is described as being CHILDLIKE when he exhibits humility in his character. "So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."(Matt. 18:4,NLT) The point we are making is that, it is important for one to BE LIKE A CHILD but not to BEHAVE AS A CHILD. There are some qualities in children we must have as adults. But at the same time, there are some behaviours among children that we must not have as we grow! Knowing the difference is wisdom. Be childlike but not childish. AB@TWD

AM I NAKED?

"One day he drank some wine he had made, and he became drunk and lay naked inside his tent. Ham, the father of Canaan, saw that his father was naked and went outside and told his brothers."(Gen. 9:21-22,NLT) You may be wondering why we chose this portion of scripture for our devotional today. It is simply because many of us are not being our brother's keeper. Many have been turned intomockers! What do we do when we see a brother being embarrassed? Do we expose him to be subjected to further humiliation or we cover his back? This is not to condone wrong doing. But we are looking at a situation where we can save a brother's face from an impending disgrace; and not necessarily the consequences of their wrong decisions. In church, what do we do when the preacher man makes a slight mistake? In our offices, what do we tell our colleagues when our superiors make a decision and it turns out to be a wrong move? Let us all watch each others back. This is LOVE; for love covers all wrongs. Am I naked? AB@TWD

WHAT SOUND DO YOU HEAR?

Ps. 89:15"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance."(KJV) "Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord."(NLT) Sounds are very important; as they help you identify certain occurences in life. Some are sweet to the ears whiles others are detestable. What comes to mind whenever you hear the sound of a siren, an ambulance or a fire service vehicle? It shows you something is going on somewhere. We see in our text for today that, those who hear and know the joyful sound or call to worship, are blessed (happy). The sound you hear really matters. "And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a SOUND of abundance of rain."(1 Kgs. 18:41,KJV) No matter how bad the sound you are hearing is, I come as a prophet from God to release a counter sound that will crash every foundation of poverty, barrenness and shame. You shall hear a new sound! AB@TWD

CHOOSE TO BE HAPPY!

"Always be joyful"(1 Thes. 5:16,NLT) Paul knew very well that, keeping one's joy would not be easy. So he was admonishing the people to make an effort to stay joyful all the time. The truth is that, whenever our joy is taken away by anything, we stop living. Many at this point are no more excited about life and begin to waste away. Where there is no joy everything freezes. David knew this so he wrote that, "the joy of the Lord is my strength." I believe the strength he mentioned here was the ability to live and move. Happiness is a choice, so you must make an effort to have it. Because, there are a lot of things in life that may fight against you. You must therefore decide to make yourself happy. Some people may not like you; don't force them to. Others may criticize or despise you, but never lose focus. Some too may reject you, but don't try to win their acceptance. "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength."(Prov. 17:22,NLT) Selah! AB@TWDevotional

JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL!

"Master, Simon replied, we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, I'll let the nets down AGAIN."(Luke 5:5,NLT) What have you been doing for years that doesn't seem to be working? What have you been trying to change that seems unchangeable? Could it be a business, a relationship, a career or a ministry? Allow the Lord to step in, and He will show you the way out. You can pretend before others to be strong, but hide in your closet and cry. You can make others believe you have it all, but secretly chase after favors. Note this: Your strength can only take you as far as it is humanly possible. So what happens when faced with the humanly impossible? It is time to let your hand off the wheel; you are not the good driver you thought you were. Let Jesus take over. You have failed at all your attempts to make things work but to no avail. The master says: (V4)"Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish." Would you go? AB@TWDevotional

CARRY ME JESUS!

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah"(Ps. 68:19,KJV) Many a times you can be so careful about your life that, fear grips you. You even become afraid of what doesn't really exist. Your anxieties and frustrations cloud your sense of seeing God's provisions. The truth is that, God daily provides, supports, and upholds you with His own salvation. But this has been hidden from many, so they always wish for another 'manna' to fall. Those days are over; you are under a new dispensation. I once heard a quote that: "If you don't know who you are, you pay double for what is yours." So as a child of God, you have been given all that pertains unto life and godliness. "Praise the Lord; praise the God our savior! For each day he CARRIES us in His arms."(NLT) "Blessed be the Lord, who bears our burdens and CARRIES us day by day, even the God who is our salvation! Selah[pause, and calmly think of that]! Let the Lord carry all your burdens! AB@TWD

ITS YOUR OWN PEOPLE!

"Then Jesus told them, A prophet is honored everywhere EXCEPT in his own hometown and among his own family."(Matt. 13:57,NLT) It is very sad how a person's gift can be rejected; not by anyone but his own people. "Your enemies will be right in your own household."(Matt. 10:36,NLT) Unfortunately this is happening in our days just as it did in the days of Jesus. Some people can not seem to come to terms with the fact that, the same person they have been around with is being such a blessing. The Jews thought they knew Jesus too well for Him to be performing such miracles. They wondered how the son of a carpenter can be the Messiah at the same time. "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing, and it is wonderful to see?"(Mark 12:10-11,NLT) If you have also been rejected in anyway, keep being a blessing. It happened to Jesus too, but He still fulfilled His purpose. You can also make it.Amen! AB@TWD

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE THE ANSWER?

In life many opportunities will come your way. Some may require the use of your talent, resources or even your time to help bring a solution. But how do you respond to such open doors? I read a quote sometime ago which said "Many people miss their opportunities because it comes in overalls so they see it as work" What you may be seeing may not be appealing. Yourattempt to help out may even be an inconvenience. But here is the trick: There is something in you that must respond to that question or need. And that can lead to the release of a major breakthrough in your life. It could be just an idea! Like we saw in our morning devotional, even in prison Joseph offered solutions to his fellow inmates for nothing. And when the time came he was recommended before the king of Egypt. It is true your gift will make room for you and bring you before kings. That gift inside you makes you the answer to a problem. Don't hide it; expose it and bring glory to God. Enjoy lunch! @AB

YOU ARE GOD'S IDEA!

Your purpose is not what you desire to do in life but what you were made to do. You must therefore identify why God made you and what He designed you to accomplish. Once you know that, you will live a stress-free life. And by stress-free I don't mean you may not meet challenges, have difficulties or face opposition. All these may come your way, but with the knowledge of where you are going, none of these can stop you. Personal ambition is not the same as purpose. You may see some things that may appeal to you and begin to pursue them. But it doesn't mean that is your purpose in life. It could even be far from the original plan of God for your life. One truth you must note is that, God created you with your purpose in mind. So don't try to manufacture your own now. That is the reason for so many frustrations these days. The Bible says: "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations."(Jer. 1:5) @AB

WHEN YOU ARE THE ANSWER!

Gen. 41V33 "Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt."(KJV) To Joseph he was just being honest, little did he know that he was pronouncing his new position by his own words. Did he really think that after interpreting Pharaoh's dream, he would get another person to manage the affairs of the nation? Today I see you as not just offering a solution to others but being the solution yourself. You are the answer to a prayer. Don't despise yourself: there is a need only you can meet. You have the ability to solve mind boggling issues. V38-39"And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art"(KJV) People are on the run in search for you. V41"And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See I have set thee over all the land of Egypt."(KJV) You are also the answer! AB@TWDevotional

THERE IS NO "NO" IN GOD!

All of God's promises have their fulfillment in Christ. His promises to you are sure and can never prove false. 2 Cor. 1:20-"For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with resounding Yes! And through Christ, our Amen (which means Yes) ascends to God for His glory."(NLT) "For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes (answer) in Him (Christ). For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him (in His person and by His agency) to the glory of God."(AMP). "For all the promises of God in Him are Yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."(KJV) This is a deep revelation! If you don't get something you prayed for, it doesn't mean God answered NO! It is just that He had something better to offer you than what you requested for. All the promises of God are YES in Christ: And Christ in you, the hope of glory. Be anxious for nothing. That promise you have been waiting for has been APPROVED and STAMPED. And its a YES! AB@TWDevotional

THE PLACE IS YOURS!

Jer. 42:2-4(NLT)"They said, 'Please pray to the Lord your God for us. As you can see, we are only a tiny remnant compared to what we were before. Pray that the Lord your God will show us what to do and where to go." The people sought God concerning their situation by asking the Man of God to intercede for them; which was a very good decision. We can't do without true men of God in our lives. V4"All right Jeremiah replied, 'I will pray to the Lord your God as you have asked, and I will tell you everything He says. I will hide nothing from you." V7"Ten days later the Lord gave His reply to Jeremiah. V9-12"He said to them, 'You sent me to the Lord, the God of Israel, with your request, and this is His reply: STAY HERE IN THIS LAND. If you do, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you. Do not fear the king of Babylon anymore...I will be merciful to you by making him kind, so he will let you stay here in your land." Be at the right location! AB@TWDevotional

WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED?

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."(Ps. 16:11,KJV) The way to a fulfilling life can only be found in God. All the good things men desire to enjoy life are hidden in God, but we must watch our location. Many people have missed some blessings, because they were wrongly positioned. There are some crops that can only do well in some specific areas. Once they are planted in such suitable places, there would be increase. The best environment for you to also increase is IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. It is the best ground you must be planted for you to be fruitful. "A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!"(Ps. 84:10a) David realized that even being a doorkeeper in the house of God was enough blessing. Where have you pitched your tent? Where are you located? "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High, will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."(Ps. 91:1) AB@TWDevotional

WHERE IS THE ARK?

"David was now afraid of God, and he asked, How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care? So David did not move the Ark into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of God remained there in Obed-edom's house for THREE MONTHS, and the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom and everything he owned."(1 Chro. 13:12-14) This is an interesting account of a man who became so blessed within a space of 91-Days. We have been told that, this man willingly accepted to host the Ark of God, which even David was afraid to send to his city. Within a short time, everything this man owned was blessed. There is something supernatural about the presence of God that no human effort can compare. It releases favor, gives strength and grants wisdom for greater works. It may have appeared to be a lot of work for Obed-edom, at the thought of hosting the Ark of God. But at the end, it paid off. Let the presence of God be with you and enjoy blessings! AB@TWDevotional

YOU ARE NOTHING WITHOUT THIS!

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't LOVE others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't LOVE others, I would be nothing."(1 Cor. 13:1-2) We need the kind of love that is not based on merits. The one that is unconditional. True love is shown at a time the recipient least expected. For God commended His love towards us, in that whiles we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. "There is no greater LOVE than to lay down one's life for one's friends."(Jn. 15:13) This is not to say you must die physically, but rather die to self. "Three things will last forever-faith, hope, and LOVE-and the GREATEST of these is LOVE."(1 Cor. 13:13) Without love, nothing else you do will be worth it. You need love, and i mean the one from God-Agape! I feel love in the air... AB@TWDevotional

YOU NEED A MAN OF GOD!

Exo. 16V8"Then Moses added, The Lord will give you meat to eat in the evening and bread to satisfy you in the morning, for He has heard all your complaints against Him" The Israelites murmured on their way to the promise land, and God heard them. One thing God is not happy about is to see His own children complain. The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, so there is no way His own people should lack. God gave specific instructions to Moses about what He was about to do, and Moses told the people all that God had said. But they still forgot. V15"The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. What is it? they asked each other. They had no idea what it was. And Moses told them, It is the food the Lord has given you to eat." The man of God had to remind them of the promise God gave to them. Sometimes you can forget, and that is why you shouldn't despise the man of God with you. Believe in God and you'll be established. Believe in His prophets and you shall prosper! AB@TWDevotional

GOD, THE LAWYER!

"This is what the Lord says to Jerusalem: I will be your lawyer to plead your case, and I will avenge you."(Jer. 51:36,NLT) Sometimes you find yourself in certain situations that you feel as though help is coming from nowhere. You then feel like giving up because from the look of things, you have lost your case. But hear these comforting words from the God who never abandons His own. He says, "I will speak on your behalf..." It means you need not worry about what you would say to convince others or justify yourself. He will vindicate you. No matter how 'some way' you feel right now, or how bad things have turned against you in life, God is here to defend you. And He has the final say in all of life's matters and your own is no exception. "Who can command things to happen without the Lord's permission?"(Lam. 3:37,NLT) It is true things may not have gone well and you couldn't even stand to speak for yourself. But your lawyer is in court so take heart. Now court rise! AB@TWDevotional

CALLED OR CHOSEN? (2)

In Deuteronomy 7:6, YHWH identifies the nation of Israel as His treasured and chosen people. The Messiah was to come out from them. They were indeed God's own people. Now by the coming of the Messiah to die on the cross for mankind, all who would believe in Him and receive this new birth become joint heirs with Him-Christ. We are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession. (1 Pet. 2:9) Indeed "many are called, but few are chosen." The Lord has invited and called a lot of people, but only a few may respond. And they are the CHOSEN. Every born again christian has been chosen for that matter. Therefore anyone who does not accept this truth may live and do things anyhow, as he or she feels is right. But we who know that we are a peculiar people and chosen for a purpose, will want to live right and work out our salvation with fear and trembling. There is a difference and its in how we see ourselves. Are you chosen or God is still calling you? Innocentia@TWDevotional

CALLED OR CHOSEN?

"The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come! And he said to his servants, the wedding feast is ready, and the guest I invited aren't worthy of honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see. So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike....But when the king came in to meet the guest, he noticed a man who wasn't wearing the proper clothes for a wedding." (Mt. 22:1-14,NLT) This guy had to be thrown out into the dark. Even though he knew he had been CALLED, he was not CHOSEN; because he was in a wrong outfit. "For many are CALLED but few are CHOSEN." As a child of God, you've been called for a purpose, but you must be available to be chosen! In the potter's house are many vessels. But the one that will set itself apart would be fit for the master's use. AB@TWDevotional

DID ESAU DO ANY WRONG?

"But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God.(This message shows that God chooses people according to His own purposes; He calls people, but not according to their good or bad works) She was told, Your older son will serve your younger son. In the words of the Scriptures, I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau. Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! For God said to Moses, I will show mercy to anyone I choose and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it."(Rom. 9:11-16,NLT) When it comes to some of these things that happened in the Bible, I am very careful. Just like Paul said that He would not exercise himself in matters that were higher than himself. But I would want to point out that; God chooses people according to His own purposes. It is not because one was good and the other was bad. It's purely by His MERCY! AB@TWDevotional

ANY MORE EXCUSES?

"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. Then the Lord asked Moses, Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say. But Moses again pleaded, Lord please! Send anyone else. Then the Lord became angry with Moses. All right, He said, What about your brother Aaron? I know he speaks well"(Exo. 4:10-14,NLT) God has given you the ability to accomplish that task or start that venture. What excuse are you still giving? Moses thought he could out-smart God by presenting before Him(God) a list of his weaknesses. Little did he know that, the strength of the Lord is rather made perfect in his(Moses) weakness. You must also shun any excuse and do what you have been called to do!AB@TWDevotional

CAN GOD TOO BE ANGRY?

"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime." (Ps. 30:5,NLT) We may talk about how good and loving God is, and turn to forget that He can be angry too. In the Old Testament, God showed His displeasure anytime Israel sinned. He never condoned it. His anger sometimes brought punishments on them. And until they were ready to TURN from their wicked ways, they suffered the consequences. God is loving and merciful; it is an undeniable fact, BUT we cannot take it for granted. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. David did many horrible things in life, but his intimate relationship with God, revealed an aspect of Him (God) that many don't really see. Yes God can be angry, but for a while. It is for a moment; and that is when we choose to return to Him. Never take His loving kindness for granted. God doesn't want to be angry with us like some of the stubborn people in the world. For we are His sheep and the people of His pasture. AB@TWDevotional

CHECK YOURSELF!

"When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen, says the Lord Almighty."(Zech. 7:13,KJV) What would make God not want to listen to His own children when they call Him? Is He not the one that said "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know?"(Jer. 33:3) So what has gone wrong? The truth is that, God expects us to simply obey Him. When we fail to do this, we create a gap between us and Him. "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear, But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."(Isa. 59:1-2) But catch the secret here: God says, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and TURN from their wicked ways, then I will HEAR FROM HEAVEN, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."(2 Chro. 7:14). Its about time you checked yourself! AB@TWDevotional

A MESSAGE OF HOPE:

"Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!"(Hab. 3:17-18,NLT) May be you expected a promotion and you were denied, or someone gave you a promise and disappointed you, or you confided in friends and they betrayed your trust, or your family didn't stand by you when you were in trouble. You feel like throwing in the towel. It may be hard coping with some of these issues, but nothing is too hard for God. There is no impossibility when it comes to Him; His name is I AM. Now let me attempt and paraphrase our text for today: "Even though your bank account may be empty, or there has not been any promotion for a long time, or no child after many years of marriage, or you couldn't pass an exam, yet will you rejoice in the Lord of your salvation." There's still hope! AB@TWDevotional

(RELOADED)

When Saul was made king, we saw that there were some people who thought he was not qualified for that position. The same way when God promotes you, some people will think you don't merit it. They may ask, what class did he even get? But our God takes the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. It is also not he that willeth, or he that runneth, but it is the Lord that showeth MERCY! When the mercy of God locates you, it doesn't matter how late you came in or where you find yourself in the queue, you shall be fished out. People may ask such questions like, who are you to marry that person? who are you to have that car? who are you to grow such a ministry? And how much money do you have to own such an estate? But be encouraged by this word: "Who can command things to happen without the Lord's permission?" (Lam. 3:37,NLT) "Thou shalt arise, and have MERCY upon Zion: for the time to favor her, yea, the set time, is come."(Ps. 102:13,KJV) Ignore them! Enjoy lunch @AB

ICHABOD! (2)

"For all have sinned and come short of the GLORY of God" (Rom. 3:23,KJV) We saw from our devotional yesterday that, Christ came to restore our lost glory. In our scripture for today, one thing that can cause the glory (chabod) to depart from us is SIN. I love this translation: "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard."(NLT) David knew the important role the glorious presence of God played in his life, so when he fell into sin, he pleaded with God not to take away His Holy Spirit from him. You also need the CHABOD! "For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like His Son...And having chosen them, he called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His GLORY!(Rom. 8:29-30,NLT) Your glory may have been lost in sin, but today Christ is calling you into a new and glorious life in Him. You shall no more say ICHABOD, for your GLORY is here! AB@TWDevotional

ICHABOD! (1)

"As she was dying, the women attending to her said "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention. She named the boy Ichabod, saying "The Glory has departed from Israel..."(1 Sam. 4:20-21,NIV) There are some kind of news when you hear, your testimony freezes and your joy is paralyzed. May such be far from you in Jesus name! This pregnant woman just at the time of her delivery heard that the Ark of God had been captured and she had also lost the husband and father-in-law. I wonder why such a message couldn't wait till after she had delivered? But should it have, how would we have known that it meant to cause her pain? The woman couldn't even pay any attention to the news of her new born baby. She now substituted the gain of the incoming, with the pain of the outgoing. Ichabod is like literally asking, "Where is the glory?" But I'm here to announce to you that; your ARK has been returned-"CHABOD"...For Christ in you, the hope of GLORY! AB@TWDevotional

BE GODLY AND GAIN!

"The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled; the hopes of the godly will be granted. When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the godly have a lasting foundation. The hopes of the godly result in happiness but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing."(Prov. 10:24-25;28,NLT) I always wanted to understand why Paul wrote to Timothy that, "Godliness with contentment is great gain" I wondered how being content can be of gain? In our world today, the word CONTENTMENT is not so common. You can see from our scriptures quoted that, the hopes of a righteous man will be granted. There are no limitations, and what they hope for, is what they receive. No disappointments! We also see that, even though the storms of life may come, the godly have a strong and lasting foundation. They are unmovable! Lastly the hopes of the righteous will end in gladness. Sorrow can not consume them. This makes me understand why godliness with contentment is great gain. Be godly! AB@TWDevotional

THE LITTLE THINGS WE IGNORE!

"I want you to show LOVE not offer sacrifices. I want you to KNOW ME more than I want burnt offerings." (Hos. 6:6,NLT) God may not be so much concerned about some of the things you may do for Him, than whether or not you have a relationship with Him. Intimacy is His priority! The story of Mary and Martha is a clear illustration of the fact that, God wants us to sit at His feet and learn to know, just like Mary did, than to busy ourselves with activities. Many of us think that we would make God happy once we do one thing or the other. But the fact is that, "Nobody can IMPRESS God." Its the little things you do, that catch His attention, and not even the big offerings or sacrifices. You may do your best to prove a point, but what God expects from you is not even sacrifices but your OBEDIENCE. Once you obey Him, it becomes a proof that you LOVE Him. And as your love for Him is expressed, it becomes a confirmation that you KNOW Him. So don't ignore these little things! AB@TWDevotional

STATE OF EMERGENCY!!!

"The great day of the Lord is near; It is near and hastens quickly."(Zeph. 1:14) Every state of emergency requires a sense of urgency. In labour a woman has no time for make-up or how she looks, during a fire outbreak no one thinks of property but their LIFE. During a state of emergency, there is fear and tension. Such are the times we live in and this is to create an awareness, to keep you alarmed. "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days."(2 Tim 3:1) He who thinks he stands must take heed lest he falls. "Continue to work out YOUR OWN SALVATION with fear and trembling." (Phillipians 2:12b) Let us redeem the time because the days are evil. Drop any besetting sin and ran the race, for we are living in a state of emergency. We need to attach seriousness to our spiritual life. Don't just live any how, but be mindful what you do. We are indeed in a state of emergency! Beware! Ruth@TWDevotional

WHEN MAKING A CHOICE BECOMES DIFFICULT!

"Andrew, Simon Peter's brother was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus"(Jn. 1:40,NLT) A time comes in every person's life, when they may have to make a decision to leave something or someone and be hooked to another. Whenever we are in such a valley of decision making, it becomes easier when we are to choose between good and bad. But in the case where we are faced with two good options, it can be very difficult, if not impossible to choose. We can't serve two masters at a time, because we may either love one or hate the other. In such times, you may have to leave where you are, to where you have to be. Sometimes you realize that good is only good enough until you find something better. When Jesus confronted Andrew, he saw Jesus had something more to offer. So he had to decide whether to stay with John or follow Jesus. What decision are you too making? Be mindful; it can affect your entire life. AB@TWDevotional

VICTORY OF PRAISE!

'He said, "listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours but God's." (2 Chronicles 20:15, NLT) Believers of God do not win battles with their own strength, in fact they recognise the mighty power of God and invite Him to the battle front. The power of praise remains our greatest artillery. As we put on a mind of praise, we shall see sweet victory in the battle. The plunder will be bountiful you cannot gather. "After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendour... At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of... to fight among themselves (2 Chronicles 20:21-22, NLT) This is your day of praise, see the Lord mighty in battle give you sweet victory... EN@TWDevotional

SEAL WORTHY?

"Wait! Don't harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants." (Revelation 7:3, NLT) Ghana is not the only place in a state of tension and fear, the world at large continues in a state of heightened tension and turmoil. "But all this is only the first of the birth pains with more to come". (Matt. 24:8, NLT) This is not to spell doom but reality is that more of hardship is to come. Are you a SEALED SERVANT? Children of God rather than add to the talk of the fear of the Supreme Court ruling and its effect on your plans, put your gaze on securing the seal of God. "They were told not to harm the grass or plants or trees, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. (Rev. 10:4, NLT) I see the angel of the Lord sealing foreheads now, are you prepared to receive your SEAL? Arise this is your time of divine SEALING...EN@TWDevotional

ARE YOU NOT ROTTING ENOUGH?

'But his officers tried to reason with him and said, "Sir, if the prophet had told you something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!' " So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child's, and he was healed! (2 Kings 5:13-14,NLT) Human nature is such that we never learn from or change sinful habits when we go through little struggles. What we want is to be hit by severe, besetting, reputational damages before we are ready to make a quick turn to God. Why do you want to learn the hard way when God is calling from the cool evening breeze in the garden. Come out of your hide out and He will show you the way. GO and WASH and be CURED. ARISE this is your time for God's business. EN@TWDevotional

I FELL; HE CALLED!

"When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, where are you?" (Gen. 3:8, NLT) In yesterday's devotional we read that because God holds us by the hand we will never fall after a stumble. Today i come to declare that the fallen shall be called. God says "where are you?" Will you appear? What sin makes you hide in the garden? Adultery, fornication, masterbation, orgies, homosexualism, lesbianism, bitterness, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, occultism, lies, drug abuse? Arise and shine for your light is come. Arise you who think God will not give you a chance again! Arise the down hearted! Arise I say ARISE! Seven times a man shall fall and seven times he shall rise....You have no excuse than to rise up! Yes you fell but He is calling you today...EN@TWDevotional

ARE YOU STUMBLING?

"The Lord directs the steps of the godly, He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."(Ps. 37:23-24,NLT) Many people have given up in life and on their dreams because they stumbled. The truth is that, stumbling is not equal to falling. Stumbling may be a normal occurrence once you start a new journey. Since it may be your first time, you may stumble at some point. It doesn't mean you have failed or fallen. David knew better thats why he wrote: "Though they(the righteous) stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand." Just like a little child may stumble when learning how to walk, so would you in your journey of life. The baby will not fall because the father is holding the hand as he teaches him/her to walk. Thats the same way God is holding your hand too. A few stumbling blocks may come your way but your father has His grip on you. You shall get there if even you stumble! AB@TWDevotional

IS IT A COINCIDENCE?

"He had to go through Samaria on the way."(Jn. 4:4,NLT) Our unpreparedness to host Jesus shouldn't cause us to think that Jesus is out of reach. He sat by the well of Jacob because He foreknew who was coming there and what was to happen. It was never a coincidence! If it was the writer wouldn't have stated clearly that "Jesus needed to pass through Samaria...". No wonder He chose to stay behind as His disciples went to get food. He knew that this Samaritan woman needed to be saved at that point in time. It didn't matter how many times she had messed up. Once she believed in Jesus as the Messiah, she would be set free and now have access to living water. The time and place God would meet you may not be so special. Just like Jesus met Zacchaeus on a tree and told him He would go to his house. Because it was in the original plan of God for them to meet. Jesus is meeting you too right where you are now. He wants to surprise you. Will you say its a coindence? (Still S.O.F.T) AB@TWDevotional

JUST AN ORDINARY DAY?

"And Jesus and his disciples were ALSO invited to the celebration."(Jn. 2:2,NLT) This is a very interesting account; it looked like Jesus and the disciples were ALSO invited because the mother of Jesus was there. It wasn't surprising Mary took it upon herself to ask Jesus for help when she realized the wine had finished. She wanted to prevent any embarrassment on their host, who might have been a friend. But here is the point:To Jesus and the disciples, it was an ordinary day. Jesus didn't announce he was going to perform His first miracle. Neither did He give His disciples any heads-up of what would happen in the day. It was an ordinary day for them, yet still a great miracle was about to occur. Just like you may meet your future spouse on an ordinary day or win a contract the day you don't look your best, God sometimes does extraordinary things on most ordinary days. If you are seeing today as an ordinary day, then expect a miracle. It may shock you!(Still S.O.F.T) AB@TWDevotional

"HAVE FAITH IN GOD AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF"

Many dreams have died and many visions have gone unfulfilled. Many people have given up not just on their dreams but on themselves as well. They've lost hope in their abilitty to make it in life. They certainly have faith in God, but believing in the potential God has placed inside them, to be able to accomplish their purpose is the problem. Believing in yourself is not pride! It is just acknowledging what God has made you and what He has deposited in you. The Bible never said "not to believe in yourself" but "not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to." If someone says; "you believe too much in yourself", just give them a smile. Only make sure you are not being complacent. Believe in yourself, for if you don't no one would. If you have a dream or vision, believe in it as well. Because no one can believe in it more than you. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. So believe you can make it. @ABTruworshipa

HOW TO FIND FAVOR!

"Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation."(Prov. 3:3-4,NLT) Even though God has promised us favor in this season, we can not neglect our part we have to play to attract the kind of favor we desire. As we can see from our scripture, when we show LOYALTY & KINDNESS, we automatically find favor with both God and men. To be LOYAL is to be unswerving in allegiance and faithful. To be KIND is to be of a sympathetic or helping nature and showing affection. It is not out of place we are talking about these two traits. If we want to be favored, we must be faithful in all our dealings and also be willing to help others. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy..." Perhaps your favor has delayed because you are not taking these two keys serious. Be faithful in the little you have and you shall receive more! AB@TWDevotional

S.O.F.T POINTERS!

Here are a few things to look out for in your SEASON OF FAVOUR TRANSFER, so that you don't miss your portion. Kindly pick as many of these pointers that you may want to relate with and read the scripture attached. Be alert and catch signals of the favours that shall come your way. Look out for some of the ff: When your time of favour comes; 1)It may cause some people sleepless nights. They may become restless until they release what is due you-Est. 6:1. 2)Whatever you request for is granted-Est. 5:2. 3)You choose the kind of food you may want to be served even when its not allowed-Dan. 1:8-9. 4)You're quickly remembered for honor. You're also sought for-2 Sam. 9:3,5-7. 5)Meetings are suspended until you are available. People may wait for you before they take certain decisions-1 Sam. 16:11. 6)Some rules are amended for your benefit-Est. 8:5-8. 7)Your haters become your promoters-Est. 6:11. 8)People will do things for you before they think about it-Exo. 12:35-36. Watch out! AB@TWDevotional

ITS S.O.F.T!

"But thou, O Lord, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generation. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea the set time is come."(Ps. 102:12-13,KJV)

I have realized that, there comes a time that the favour of God is released for divine accomplishments. And what it takes is sensitivity and alertness to receive. Sometimes certain doors of opportunity can open and some believers ignorantly and cheaply call it L.U.C.K! I call that "Living Under Carnal Knowledge".(L.U.C.K). It is about time we become conscious of God's favour and stop thinking and explaining everything as mere coincidence. See it as God at work! Your time of favour is NOW, so begin to walk in it. Speak it, believe it, think it and see it manifest. God says we should keep Him in remembrance. And it doesn't mean He has forgetten us, but it demonstrates our readiness to receive from Him. We are in a Season Of Favour Transfer(S.O.F.T) So don't miss your portion. AB@TWDevotional

IS YOUR LIGHT ON?

"No one lights a lamp and then hides it or puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house."(Luke 11:33, NLT)

We see from the above scripture that, scarcely will a person light a candle and hide it under a table. It is rare! But lets paint another picture by replacing the light in our scripture with knowledge. When one gets knowledge or becomes enlightened in any field, the best thing would be to share and not to hide it from others. The same way light is put on a stand to be seen by all who enter the house. But what we mostly see among many people is that, they keep "their light" or "their knowledge" to themselves. Your light(knowledge) must be placed on a stand, where it can benefit those who come into contact with you. "You are the light of the world-like a city on a hilltop cannot be hidden."(Matt. 5:14) Are you hiding? Arise, shine; for thy light is come. Shine your light and let the whole world see! AB@TWDevotional

DO YOU HAVE A SONG?

"By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion!' How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?"(Ps. 137:1-4).

Sometimes singing the Lord's songs may not make sense. Especially when you look at your current state or situation and all you see is pain. It becomes hard to respond "Halleluyah" even when you hear a "Praise the Lord." The enemy's ambition is to cut the flow of the songs of your God, so that others may not hear your testimony of how great and good He is. Your praise renders the enemy powerless because God steps in when you praise. And every chain is broken to deliver you from any bondage. But what do you do when you have been hit so hard by a storm? What do you say when you find yourself in an unfamiliar zone? Do you still testify of your God? Do you have a song? AB@TWDevotional