WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?

WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?

"I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem's darkest corners to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. They think the Lord will do nothing to them, either good or bad."(Zeph. 1:12,NLT) Sometimes we can do some weird things, and deceive ourselves into thinking that no one saw us and even God too would have missed that episode. But bear in mind that, "He that keeps watch over you, never sleeps nor slumbers..." He sees whatever goes on even in the secret. His eyes run to and fro over all the earth and there is nothing that can be hidden from His sight. His eyes radiate the light of His glory. He is Jehovah who SEES! Are you in anyway being complacent and unwilling to confess some secret faults? Are you thinking God doesn't mind you living anyhow? Our text for today is quite an interesting one. It says that, God Himself will search with lanterns or candles, the darkest corners of Jerusalem, in this case our hearts, to punish those who sit complacent in their sins. Are you one? AB@TWD

SURGERY(RELOADED)

SURGERY(RELOADED) 

Our lunch edition today has been inspired by a feedback we received on our devotional page after sending today's message. The person quoted: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."(Ps. 51:10) and also added; 'A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will i put within you: and i will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and i will give a heart of flesh."(Ez. 36:26) All these were confirming that, we needed some kind of spiritual heart surgery. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it?"(Jer. 17:9) God does and therefore wants to replace the heart of stone with a heart of flesh. That operation could be painful. It may mean that you get rid of some habit you so much enjoy having, or forgive some people you never thought possible or even wanted to. Whatever it is, the surgery must go on. Are you ready for God to work on your heart? Allow Him to deal with those issues no one knows about. Enjoy lunch! AB@TWD

IS YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK OF LIFE?

IS YOUR NAME IN THE BOOK OF LIFE? 

"And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it...I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books."(Rev. 20:11-12,NLT) Anytime we come across scriptures such as these, they sound like fiarytales, but they are very true. It is scary to even imagine missing heaven. But yet we live our lives as if to say, come what may we don't care. But beloved, we must care even if others see it as foolishness. Because when the Day of the Lord finally comes, there would be no chance to make any wrong right. You would be judged by what has been recorded concerning you. "And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire."(Rev. 20:15) There would be no partiality! And it wouldn't be "whom you know" but rather "who knows you". Will God say I don't know you? Think about it! AB@TWD

HOW PREPARED ARE YOU?

HOW PREPARED ARE YOU?

"From then on Jesus began to preach, Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."(Mt. 4:17,NLT) When I was a child my parents used to tell me to be a good boy, so that when Jesus comes I will go with Him. And I used to ask, so when is He coming? And their answer was VERY SOON. So many years have come and gone and His coming is still "very soon". Now we see bill boards with "JESUS IS COMING SOON" on them and its sounds like a cliche. But I just want to take one more opportunity to let you know that, it is going to happen. It is no joke! "But the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what godly lives you should live, looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along."(2 Pet. 3:10-11,NLT) Beware! AB@TWD

(Revelation+Relationship) x Reverence=WORSHIP:

(Revelation+Relationship) x Reverence=WORSHIP:

"You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship..."(Jn. 4:22,NLT) Until we catch a revelation of who God is, our worship will not be complete. We must know Him in a special way. Jesus said the Samaritans knew very little about the one they said they were worshipping; which meant there was more they needed to know, which only could come by REVELATION and not by human ideologies or philosophies. We must have a personal revelation of God and build a personal relationship out of that. "The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way."(Jn. 4:23b) Worship can never exist outside a relationship. There must be a connection between the worshiper and the one being worshipped. And here Jesus makes it clear that, it is a Father-child relationship. "...the Father is seeking for true worshipers." This means anytime we worship, we must see God as our Father. And when we do this in all REVERENCE, the end product will be an acceptable WORSHIP! AB@TWD

YOU MAY SAVE YOUR MONEY BUT SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY!

YOU MAY SAVE YOUR MONEY BUT SHARE YOUR TESTIMONY!

"Then Jesus said to him, Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along an offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be A PUBLIC TESTIMONY that you have been cleansed."(Mt. 8:4,NLT) Don't get it wrong! Jesus was not telling the man not to share his testimony with others. He rather instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened, but instead to go to the priest for examination and confirmation of total cleansing. There are some things when God does for you, you can't hide them. Sooner or later you shall be exposed. So the earlier you shared them to encourage and bless others the better. We have reached a point in our generation, where people can't even share what God has done for them openly and genuinely. So instead of showing forth what God has done so we can give Him the praise, we hide them. But note that testimonies are to be SHARED so don't be SCARED! AB@TWD

OPEN YOUR GATE!

OPEN YOUR GATE! 

"Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring the forces of the Gentiles..."(Isa. 60:11,KJV) When God gets ready to bless you, He will not use the back door; only thieves do that. He will cause foreigners to bring you wealth. But the secret is how to know when to open your gate and when to shut it. Many people have missed their breakthroughs because when their angel brought their blessings, their gate was shut. A gate is an entry point to a place, mostly guarded by fully armed soldiers. It is never left ajar, especially at night when enemies can enter unknowingly and cause destruction to lives and property. But this time God Himself is saying: "Your gates will stay open day and night to receive the wealth of many lands."(NLT) It is for a reason. He has dispatched some blessings you don't have to miss. I pray your gate would be widely opened when it gets to your end. Open the door of your heart and receive, He is right behind! AB@TWD

GIVE GOD NO REST!

GIVE GOD NO REST!

"...I have posted watchmen on your walls; they will pray day and night, continually. Take no rest, all you who pray to the Lord. Give the Lord no rest until he completes His work..."(Isa. 62:6-7,NLT) We may think when we pray a lot, God may be disturbed. But He is never bothered and He loves that kind of fellowship to go on without ceasing. There are a lot of promises in God's word for His children, but we have to pray to see the manifestation. We must be relentless in our quest to receive answers when we pray. Some people easily give up when they see no change in their situation after praying. Lets learn a lesson from the text below: "The judge ignored her for a while, but finally said to himself, I don't fear God or care about people, but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests."(Luke 18:4-5) Never give God rest, until He finishes what He started with you. He is never bothered by your prayers! AB@TWD

CALLING, CONVENIENCE, CAREER?

CALLING, CONVENIENCE, CAREER?

"So dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen."(2 Pet. 1:10,NLT) Calling is a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action, mostly divine. You don't manufacture it, but you discover and walk in it. "I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."(Jer. 1:5,NLT) This is so clear, it would be difficult to miss it. In the same way, God has set each of us apart to fulfil our specific assignments. But two things that can distract us are convenience and career. What I mean by convenience is that, many of us choose to do only the things we enjoy or have pleasure in, other than the original things we have been called to do. Others too have been consumed by a chosen career, it has become difficult for them to respond to their original calling. Where do you fall? Have you identified your calling? Never forsake it! AB@TWD

CATALYST(RELOADED)!

CATALYST(RELOADED)!
Some people can influence others negatively to form part of their evil schemes. They use them to further their evil agenda, so be careful of such people. Sometimes you may not know, but before you realize you have been involved in something you never imagined possible. Be careful of such negative influences from "so-called friends." "And Amnon, was vexed, that he fell sick for his sister Tamar; for she was a virgin; and Amnon thought it hard for him to do any thing to her. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab...And he said to him, Why art thou being a king's son, lean from day to day? Wilt thou not tell me? And Amnon said unto him, I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister. And Jonadab said unto him, Lay thee down on thy bed, and make thyself sick: and when thy father cometh to see thee, say unto him, I pray thee, let my sister Tamar come and give me meat..."(2 Sam. 13:2-5,KJV). At the end, Tamar was raped. Do you see a catalyst here? Think about it as you enjoy lunch! AB@TWD

ARE YOU A CATALYST?

ARE YOU A CATALYST?

"One day Jesus said to his disciples, There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. So watch yourselves!"(Luke 17:1-3,NLT) Have you sat down to carefully consider the above? There are a lot of things we say and do to others, that could make a person go crazy. But once we are not at the receiving end, its no big deal. It could be that something you told a brother, made them bitter; or what you did made them curse the day they were born. Such little things we ignore may go a long way to destroy a lot of things. I would beseech us to be mindful of the way we treat others. As far as it lies in our power, let us be at peace with all men. Never cause another brother to sin, either by your actions or inactions. Don't speed up any negative reactions. Don't be a catalyst. These people matter to God. AB@TWD

WORSHIP JUST GOT BETTER!

WORSHIP JUST GOT BETTER! 

"Then I will purify the speech of all people, so that everyone can worship the Lord together" (Zeph. 3:9, NLT). God created man in His own image and likeness for a purpose. He put them in a perfect place (Eden) for a purpose - to worship Him. Not just on the sabbath day, and not in a mid-week service, but rather a daily walk with Him. Like Zephaniah to the people of Judah, God is not given up on us yet. Worship is a way of life, and they that worship must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Is your worship genuine and true? Are your actions all day long worship to Him? Is what you do in secret worship to Him? What takes your whole attention is that which you worship - money, your new car, your new phone or your new love friend? Symbols of power, pleasure and prestige. They have become your idols. "So my dear friends flee from the worship of idols" (1 Cor. 10:14, NLT) I see purification for worship...Let your life be full of worship from today. And be a true worshipper! EN@TWD

ARE YOU A TRUE WORSHIPER?

ARE YOU A TRUE WORSHIPER?

"But the time is coming-indeed it's here now-when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth..."(John 4:23,NLT) To become a true worshipper, one must know WHEN? WHO? and WHERE? to worship. Simply, when it must be done-PERIOD. Who the target is-PERSON. And where it must be done-PLACE. Jesus gave us answers to all these in our text for today, when He met the Samaritan woman at the well. He dealt with her confusion about where to worship? He made it clear that, we no longer have to go to a particular place to be able to worship. But our worship must be IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH. Thus, it could be done anywhere we find ourselves-no boundaries. What is important is the heart. When it came to the issue of time, Jesus said "an hour is coming, and now is...". It means the very moment you see this, that is the right time to worship. Lastly the target of our worship must be the Father. The only "Person" who deserves it. Today take sometime and evaluate your worship. AB@TWD

SIGNALS (RELOADED)!

SIGNALS (RELOADED)!

There are some people when you meet in life, you just know you've encountered a person of destiny. There is just that knowing! You may not even understand or explain it. But God brings them your way as a sign that you have a great future. It also confirms that, something great is about to happen to you. Most often than not, we either ignore such "leaps" within our spirit or fail to sense them. But whatever the case, there is always that "jump" inside. Just like your phone vibrates when you receive a text message. There may be a prompting in your spirit to notify you that something has taken place. When you receive a text message, you may feel the vibration immediately, or miss it and realize later you have a message but didn't know. That is the same way it works in the spirit. We receives alerts and signals at various points in time, but we sometimes miss them. I can strongly sense something good coming your way. It may be someone. I pray you don't miss that encounter. Enjoy lunch! AB@TWD

WHAT IS THE SIGNAL?

WHAT IS THE SIGNAL?

"A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary's greeting, Elizabeth's child LEAPED within her"(Luke 1:39-41,NLT) I wonder why it wasn't stated that, 'Mary greeted Zechariah', even though it mentioned, she went to where Zechariah lived. He was the head of that household but it took his wife to understand the kind of miracle that had taken place in Mary's life. She knew that the same God who caused she(Elizabeth) to conceive even though she was well striken in years could also cause a young lady to conceive having known no man. She totally believed with God all things were possible. While the men (Joseph&Zechariah) were doubting these miracles, the women were declaring "Be it unto us, according to your word O Lord." The baby in Elizabeth's womb literally jumped when it heard Mary's voice. So you too what happens when you meet those connected to your destiny? Any signal? AB@TWD

ARE YOU GOING TO EGYPT?

ARE YOU GOING TO EGYPT?

"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!"(Isa. 31:1,KJV) Where do you go when you need help? Do you seek counsel from ordinary men? Or do you go before Elohim in prayer and seek His face? Going to Egypt for help is just like going back into bondage and slavery. God through Christ has set us free and has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. Even though there may be challenges, God will never forsake His own. "Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.(V 3). Let your hope and trust be in God and don't go to Egypt. Look unto the hills, from there you would find your helper; the maker of heaven and the earth. AB@TWD

GOD UNDERSTANDS YOU BETTER!

GOD UNDERSTANDS YOU BETTER!

"The Lord looks down from heaven and sees the whole human race. From his throne he observes all who live on the earth. He made their hearts, so he understands everything they do."(Ps. 33:13-15,NLT) God is a specialist when it comes to heart issues. He is the one who made it and therefore understands the way it functions better than anyone else. In 1 Sam. 16:7b(NLT) it says: "The Lord doesn't see things the way we see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." The Lord is primarily concerned with the motives behind our actions; so we can't hide anything from Him. He understands our hurts, frustrations and weaknesses. He knows how much load we can carry and our capacity. "God knows people's hearts..."(Acts 15:8) and He knows yours too. Let this be your prayer today: "Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."(Ps. 139:23-24) AB@TWD

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU!

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU! 

"The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes. But the Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken."(Ps. 33:10-11,NLT) One thing we would be happy to see, is the specific plan God has for us at each point in our life. And when we get to know it, we would not be under any form of pressure to make things happen by our ownstrength. For "the Lord frustrates the plans of nations..." So it would be prudent to find out His plan and walk in it. "This is what the Lord says: You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."(Jer. 29:10-11,NLT) The intention of God is not to keep us in bondage. His name is not glorified when His children suffer. He has an expected end in mind for us. He has a plan for you! Selah. AB@TWD

DON'T TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY

DON'T TAKE LIFE TOO SERIOUSLY

 "So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can."(Eccl. 3:12,NLT) Sometimes we become extremely careful about our life that, we miss out on the fun in it. We are too hard on ourselves. But the fact is that, life is a gift from God. So it doesn't matter how hard you work or how serious you think you are about life, it is still God who is at work and not you. Your strength can not take you any farther than where you are standing now. But by His grace you shall accelerate and overtake those who took the lead. "And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God."(V13) We are not saying people should live casually. But rather we must realize the gift of life from God to us each day and enjoy it fully. Don't become too anxious and frustrate yourself. Make time and enjoy what God has blessed you with now and leave the rest in His care. He shall do it for He cares for you. Enjoy life! AB@TWD

DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE GOD PICKED YOU FROM?

DO YOU REMEMBER WHERE GOD PICKED YOU FROM? 

Let us study something in Ezekiel 16:4-7(NLT) "On the day you were born, no one cared about you. Your UMBILICAL CORD was not cut, and you were never washed, rubbed with salt, and wrapped in cloth. No one had the slightest interest in you; no one pitied you or cared for you. On the day you were born, you were unwanted, dumped in a field and left to die. But I came by and saw you there, helplessly kicking about your own blood. As you lay there, I said Live! And helped you thrive like a plant in the field. You grew up and became a beautiful jewel. Your breasts became full, and your body hair grew, but you were still naked." We are most times entangled in some mess which we don't and can't even understand. It takes the spirit of God to give us wisdom and revelation. God can come after us to turn our hearts back to Him, because His love is so real. I remember where God picked me from. Thank God for grace. His grace found us just as we were and made us who we are! AB@TWD

FAITH HAS PATIENCE!

FAITH HAS PATIENCE!

"My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning...." (Ps. 130:6,KJV) We are in a dispensation where everyone and everything seems to be running with speed. But we must not be caught up in this as Christians. We must learn how to wait on the Lord. And we must wait patiently. People talk about having faith but at the same time can not wait. Abraham-the father of faith, exhibited the virtue of patience as he waited on the Lord to fulfill His promises. You prove your faith by your ability to wait. Show me a man who can wait, and I will show you a man of faith. Many of us are in so much hurry that, we even think that God is too slow. But God has always been on time. We rather have to work on our impatience, because it can lead us to doubt and finally make us lose our faith. It is in the place of waiting on God that our greater blessings are delivered. It is while we wait that the secrets that will affect us and our generation will be revealed. AB@TWD

DO YOU KNOW YOUR REAL FRIENDS?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR REAL FRIENDS? 

This is still a hard truth, but the Lord has laid it on my heart to share with us, so we know the kind of people we associate with or call friends. Here are a few ways to test fake friends: They are quick to leave you when they see you are in trouble or need help. "My loved ones and friends stay away, fearing my disease. Even my own family stands at a distance."(Ps. 38:11) They only stay with you once they know you are rich or have something they want. "The poor are despised even by their neighbors, while the rich have many friends."(Pr. 14:20) They always cause confusion and conflicts whenever they are around. "A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best friends."(Pr. 16:28) They can't let go but hold on to grudges. "Love propers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends."(Pr. 17:9) They don't let others know you are friends when in public. "A friend is always loyal..."(Pr. 17:17) We need wisdom! Enjoy lunch AB@TWD

WHO DO YOU CALL A FRIEND?

WHO DO YOU CALL A FRIEND? 

This may come as a hard truth, but it must be said because many people are being destroyed due to wrong associations. So I ask, who is your friend? "There are friends who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother."(Prov. 18:24,NLT) Before you call someone a friend, you must find out why he/she likes you, and why you are also attracted to him/her. If the friendship is BASED on something material, then the friendship may collapse when that thing is gone. Beware of the ff: People who are quarrelsome- You may spend your lifetime settling issues and dealing with matters arising. People who bring contention among friends and gossip- You would lose focus and frustrate yourself trying to win them to your side. People who are quick tempered- They can infest you too with it and lead you astray. "An offended friend is harder to win back than a fortified city. Arguments separates friends like a gate locked with bars."(V 19) Know who you call friend! AB@TWD

SHUT DOWN AND RESTART!

SHUT DOWN AND RESTART!

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who begun a good work in you will complete it"(Phil. 1:6,NKJV) Sometimes we get to a point in our life and its like everything has come to a halt. Things just freeze! No money, issues in the office, betrayal from friends, and series of challenges. But kindly pause for a minute: Put yourself back together and RESTART. May be at some point in your life, you knew you could break some serious addiction but failed. It is time to do it again. You also had some big dreams but you have become frustrated due to delays. Dream again. No one believes in you and no one encourages you so you think you are good for nothing? Encourage yourself in the Lord just as David did. God would not put the promise in your heart unless He intended to fulfill it. "There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish."(MSG) We believe in your future! Enjoy lunch. AB@TWD

ANY NEW IDEAS?

ANY NEW IDEAS? 

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved."(Mt. 9:17,NLT) Some people have tried to force new ideas on themselves whiles sticking to their old ways, and have become frustrated. The reason is that, every new idea requires a new way of thinking and doing things. If not "...the old skins would burst from the pressure." Most people are stuck to their old ways of doing things and therefore can't embrace new methods. The fact is, if you don't like what you are seeing about your life today, then you must change your approach to see a better tomorrow. If you keep repeating the old mistakes, there is no way you can get things right. You also can't hook on to the old and negative relationships and see any progress. Today I see glory ahead of you. There is a new beginning for you with a bright future. But you need to renew your mind. Selah! AB@TWD

STRONG OUTSIDE BUT WEAK INSIDE?

STRONG OUTSIDE BUT WEAK INSIDE?

Many people have exhibited mastery in the face of opposition whiles in public, but became vulnerable in the private. If you don't build inner strength and the capacity to handle the pressure within, it can lead to internal bleeding which can kill your dreams. What sustains a person is not what they are on the OUTside but who they are and what the carry on the INside. David won battles in public but lost some serious emotional wars in his house. He was indeed a great warrior and physically strong but emotionally weak. After causing Goliath the giant, who was armed from his head to his feet to fall, David rather fell at the mercy of a woman who did not even have arms and was completely naked. Samson also, after he had killed lions and even used the jaw bone of an ass to slay a thousand men, fell to Delilah and was reduced to a piece of bread. My advice is that we don't build muscles outside and neglect our inside. Invest in your inner self. Do you have stamina?

CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD (RELOADED)

CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD (RELOADED)

"So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed, and Lot went with him." (Gen. 12:4,NLT) The original command was "Leave your native country, your relatives and your father's family..."(V1) But for Lot to go with Abram even though he left his homeland, was a sign that there would be problems in the future. And that was exactly what happened. Anytime we carry along certain people or things which are not originally part of God's plan for us, there is always bound to be issues at some point. Abram did well by obeying God when He asked him to leave his family to another place. But what was Lot's business going with him? Did God ask him to follow Abram? Abram had to suffer for not cutting that "umbilical cord" completely. As we all know, his decision to have "LOT" with him, rather cost him "A LOT". As soon as the disconnection was done, God reaffirmed His promise to Abram in Gen. 13:14. You must also deal with that person or thing that is fighting your destiny. Chop it off! AB@TWD

DO YOU HAVE STAMINA?

DO YOU HAVE STAMINA? 

Proverbs 24:10 "If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small."(KJV) "If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn't much to you in the first place."(MSG) Being tenacious is not a quality of a person who is only physically strong but one who is mentally built as well. Many of life's battles are not only fought physically with muscles. For whiles some may be spiritual, others may be psychological or emotional. God has therefore made grace available, so we can stand even in perilous times. God told Paul, "my grace is sufficient for you." In order words, all that Paul needed to handle his challenge was the grace of God, which was sufficient. Paul later wrote: 'Even when I am weak, then I am strong.' He also said, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.' He had come to realize that, it wasn't his own strength, but the strength of God which was made perfect in his weakness. You have the same grace. So be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might! AB@TWD

CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD!

CUT THE UMBILICAL CORD! 

The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you."(Gen. 12:1,NLT) At the age of 75, it wasn't easy for Abram to move away from his family. But to become what God had destined for him, he had no choice than to leave. He had to cut that umbilical cord. An umbilical is the point of attachment of the cord to the fetus. It also depicts a heavy dependence in a close relationship. As we all know, immediately a baby is born, one of the things that is done is to cut the umbilical cord, to separate it from the mother. When this is not done, one of them could die. In the same way, when God calls a man, he would have to detach himself from certain places and people. But some of us still keep certain close ties and ruin our destiny. The fact is we don't need all those people and connections where God is taking us. We are on our way to better days. There is therefore the need to cut any "umbilical cord." AB@TWD

ARE YOU AT BETHEL?

ARE YOU AT BETHEL?

"Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn't even aware of it!"(Gen. 28:16,NLT) Jacob never thought God would be IN the place he found himself. But to his utter dismay, where he was sleeping was actually an entrance to heaven. "But he was also afraid and said, What an awesome place this is! It is none other than the house of God, the very gateway to heaven"(v17) The very place you may despise could be the same place God may decide to have an encounter with you. That place is your BETHEL (which means House of God). God is everywhere (omnipresent), but He can choose to manifest Himself in diverse ways to those who reverance and worship Him. This makes worship more than a place! "Jesus replied, Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem."(Jn. 4:21,NLT) Where you are today can be the place God would meet you! AB@TWD

YOU NEED THE PASS-WORD!

YOU NEED THE PASS-WORD!

"Blessed are the people who know the passwords of praise, who shout on parade in the bright presence of God."(Ps. 89:15, MSG) I personally love the way this verse has been captured in The Message Bible. For anyone to enter into any "system" they would have to know the password/secret code. In the same way, knowing the passwords of praise can give us easy access into the presence of God. For God Himself says, He inhabits (abides, dwell, lives) the praise of His people. This means for us to access the "system of God" we need the secret code, which is our praise. If all we do is to grumble, complain, murmur and criticize, we literally drive the presence of God farther away from us. David continues: "Delighted, they dance all day long; they know who you are, what you do-they can't keep it quiet! Your vibrant beauty has gotten inside us-you've been so good to us! We're walking on air! All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel our King!"(V16-18). Use this password! AB@TWD

NO REASON TO PRAISE?

NO REASON TO PRAISE?

"My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. That is why I can never stop praising; I declare your glory all day long."(Ps. 71:7-8,NLT) Many of us have become so sophisticated that, we want to see God doing some big things before we praise Him. But God simply commands that, once we have breathe in us, it is a good reason enough to praise. David was right to say that, there is no praise in the grave. It is only the living that can praise God. So we don't praise God only because our bank account is full, or because we received some promotion. Neither do we praise God only because we had a new car or house or job. If we lost the contract, we must still praise God. The same way if we have been betrayed by a loved one. David wrote: "I will bless the Lord at ALL TIMES..." The most important thing is to have a new day to live and declare the goodness of the Lord. What if there was no life? We have no more excuses, so let us get our praise SWAG on! AB@TWD

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

 "What can I do to help you? Elisha asked. Tell me, what do you have in the house?"(2 Kgs. 4:2,NLT) Many of the people God blessed had "something in their hands." Irrespective of how insignificant it was, it became a tool of blessing. God does not expect you to have everything before He can do anything for you or with you. All He needs is your availability and your willingness to offer the little you have. David thought he only had a sling, but by that same weapon Goliath who was fully armed, was defeated. Sampson had just the jaw bone of an ass, but that was all he needed to slay a thousand men. Moses thought he had a mere stick for a rod, but when he offered it to God and lifted that same rod, the red sea divided into two. I want to challenge you to discover the treasure in this earthen vessel. You have a gift, a potential, a talent, an idea, and that is all you need to be blessed and be a blessing. God would use what is IN HAND to deal with the problem AT HAND! What do you have? AB@TWD

FAITH HAS PATIENCE!

FAITH HAS PATIENCE! 

"My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning...." (Ps. 130:6,KJV) We are in a dispensation where everyone and everything is is running with speed. But we must not be caught up in this as Christians. We must learn to wait on the Lord. And we must wait patiently. People talk about having faith but at the same time can not wait. Abraham who was called the father of faith exhibited the virtue of patience as he waited on the Lord to fulfill His promises concerning his life. Show me a man who can wait, and I will show you a man of faith. Many of us are in so much hurry that, we even think that God is too slow. But God is always on time. None of His promises has once failed. We rather have to work on our impatience, because it can lead us to doubt and finally make us lose our faith. It is in the place of waiting on God that our greater blessings are delivered. It is while we wait that the secrets that will affect us and our generation will be revealed. @AB

CAN YOU HOST GOD?

CAN YOU HOST GOD?

 "My Lord, he said, if it pleases you, stop here for a while. Rest in the shade of this tree while water is brought to wash your feet. And since you've honored your servant with this visit, let me prepare some food to refresh you before you continue on your journey."(Gen. 18:3-5,NLT) Should God decide to visit you today, how prepared are you to host Him? How organized is your home to accomodate Him? Zacchues did not have much time to impress Jesus. As soon as Jesus saw him on the tree, He told him he was going to dine with him that night. What if Zaccheus was not ready to take care of a guest? Always know that when God decides to visit you, He wouldn't do it casually. When He visited Abraham, He was in no hurry. He took time to sit, waited for the food to be prepared, ate and conversed. He didn't just pass by. So the next time God stops by your residence, bear in mind that He is in to spend some quality time with you. Never be in a hurry to push Him out. Can you host him now? AB@TWD

CAN GOD BRAG ABOUT YOU?

CAN GOD BRAG ABOUT YOU? 

"Then the Lord asked Satan, Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil."(Job 1:8,NLT) I humbly request that we all use today for some small self-examination. Ponder over this: If God was to recommend you to someone, what would be some of the things that He would say about you? Could He boast of your credibility and integrity? Does the way you serve Him make others want to come and know and serve Him too? It was God Himself who asked Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job?" This clearly showed how much confidence God had in the man Job; to ask the devil to consider him. The way God could believe in a mere human being, tells us of how righteous this person was. "There was a man named Job...He was blameless-a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil."(Job 1:1,NLT) That was a great endorsement from God. What is exceptional about you too, that God could boast of? You need to know! AB@TWD