Topic: Be Teachable
READ: Matt. 18:1-6, More Lessons: Matt. 13:11-17.

One attribute that endears children to their teachers is their teachableness. Little children are so teachable that if you teach them a wrong concept, it will take a long time to get them to unlearn it. They will disbelieve their parents and cling to their teacher's instructions and doctrines. Little wonder that Jesus in today's reading exhorts His followers to be like little children. In other words, be teachable, which implies a willingness to acknowledge your inabilities, ignorance and lack of skills. It involves being humble and willing to sit under the one who knows better and learn. Jesus calls, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls Matt. 11:29.
Christ is the best teacher whose teachings are with authority and life changing power as testified by His disciples. They enjoyed and profited from the teachings of Jesus through the help of the Holy Spirit. You must acquire the attitude of the disciples, ...as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us....Lk. 11:1.
Being teachable has several advantages
1. It helps to avoid waste of time in ignorance over what you lack skills to do.
2. It leads to increased knowledge for the learner.
3. It adds skills to you as you put yourself under the appropriate instructor.
4. It reduces stress that comes from lack of the know-how.
5. It leads to success without struggle.
6. It is the key to inherit eternal life.
When you stop learning, you stop growing, spiritually and physically, because no man is created an island of knowledge. Somebody always knows something you do not know, and you always know what somebody does not know, it is in exchanging what you know for what you don't know that you become better informed and greatly empowered. Never refuse to learn because knowledge is power; seek for knowledge, buy it, make it a part of all you do. Don't allow any opportunity to learn pass you by. It is one way to be great.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Reject unteachable spirit out of your life.
* Tell the Lord to grant you a teachable spirit like little children.
* Declare that no counsel of hell will prevail over your day.

Like and share

Topic: Activate the Word
TEXT: Rom. 10:8-10, MORE LESSONS: Num. 13:26-33

One of the lessons God sought to teach the Israelites during the forty years of wandering in the desert was to bring them to a definite realisation of the power and supremacy of His Word over all situations. It is only by this clear understanding that people can wait for the fulfilment of God's Word. The Lord also expects His Church to understand that it was for a purpose that He took the people by the way of the wilderness where they encountered hunger, thirst, snakes, wars etc. In all of these God showed the sufficiency of His Word to provide water, food, deliverance from Egypt etc. The lesson today is that for a man to be what God wants him to be, he must be delivered from Egypt and self.
Until a man is delivered from self, it is difficult to learn of God. He wanted Israel to learn to trust His Word in spite of the difficulties. His Word rules over all. He also taught the people to remain resolute in their faith even in the face of opposition. To become anything in God's hands, you must learn to live by His Word even when others don't.
God expects you to stand on His Word as you make choices in all matters, even when such choices are unpopular, as long as they are godly and scriptural, stick to them. God's Word has everything that you need for godliness and prosperity in life and destiny. Read it, obey it and activate its force by confessing it. No matter how great an automobile is, until you ignite the engine none of its capabilities and functions will be useful. You need to ignite the Word by speaking it. Everything is in the Word but it will not go to work for you until you take it out of the written to the spoken, ...The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart.... Rom.10:8. So for effectiveness of the Word, read it, believe it in your heart and confess it. Activate the Word today by believing and confessing it and see the Word go to work.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Ask that God's Word will release its treasures to you as you confess it over any area of your life.
* Declare that you will be a testifier of God's Word at work, beginning from today.
* Proclaim that God's Word will have the rule over your destiny.
Memorise one promise of God today and give thanks to God for its fulfilment in your life. Declare this throughout the day.

Like and share

Living Praise
TEXT: Dan. 6:11-26., MORE LESSONS: Matt. 5:16.

I have found that praising God should not be limited to singing and clapping in the church, it should be an on-going daily activity. The life you live can determine whether your praise is acceptable to God or not. If you sing well but live wrongly, your praise and worship will have no value, but if you live well, your life will be accepted before God as an offering of praise and worship.
Looking at the life of men who brought praise to God by their absolute commitment to Him, two things stand out: 1. Praising God should not be limited to singing on Sunday. Living a life that pleases God is superior to just singing praises to Him. 2. God treasures praises from a holy heart. Daniel is an example of such men. The Bible says Daniel rejected the king's special food that was first offered to an idol so that he could live a life pleasing to God. Daniel became relevant because he lived a life that was pleasing to God.
In Daniel chapter 6, he had to make a choice whether to please the king and stop praying to Jehovah or obey God and be cast into the den of lions. He chose to enjoy God forever instead of temporary pleasure on earth. You too will always need to make a choice between light and darkness, between good and evil.
When Daniel chose to be cast into the den of lions, God sent an angel to shut the mouths of the lions. Eventually, the king acknowledged the God of Daniel as the only true God. Thus Daniel honoured God with his life and in return God protected him and honoured him.
Living right brings praise to God, so let your life give praise to God. It is absolute hypocrisy to dance, sing and clap hands to God out of a sinful heart. In fact, it is an abomination to God, the one that gives an acceptable praise to God is, He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart…. Ps. 24:4. Choir members and worship leaders should know that melody is not God's priority or else it will amount to ordinary entertainment of men. The combination of clean hands, a right heart and jubilant praise to God can do wonders in Heaven and on the earth; it can break prison doors. Living praise is righteous praise and that is what Heaven desires. It can do great things. It is a tool in the hands of the righteous to bring Heaven down.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Ask God to help you praise Him with your life and work.
* Ask God for the power of purified praise.
* Ask God to release the power in praise each time you lift holy hands to Him.

Like and share

Today's Topic:God is Ever Willing
TEXT: Matt. 8:1-3. MORE LESSONS: Matt. 9:18-19

It is a disadvantage to have a wrong perception of God. Therefore, it is wrong for anybody to assume that God is not willing to let him off the hook, like the leper in our text. This is share ignorance. God is merciful, kind and generous. Whatever you are going through, approach Him as a Father and don't be discouraged by the gravity of your sin because the blood of Jesus is enough to cleanse you from all forms of oppression and sin.
The prodigal son took courage and confidently walked to his father after squandering his inheritance, asking to be a servant, I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned ... And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants Lk. 15:18-19. You ought to do the same; go back to God, tell Him you are sorry, He is ever willing to forgive. Don't even have a servant mentality, go as a son, you are not a servant but a son ...I have called you friends.... Jn. 15:15. Your willingness is what is in question, now take a bold step and approach the throne of grace.
It took courage for the leper to approach Jesus because he did not know whether Jesus would be willing to heal him, and also because a leper was an outcast. But Jesus proved to him that none is an outcast no matter their state spiritually or otherwise. He is also willing any day to heal, save, restore, deliver or do any good, if you are willing to approach His throne of grace, If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land Isa. 1:19. The first step to a blessing from God is willingness. It is willingness that brings obedience and obedience stirs Heaven to do anything.
Are you willing to be blessed of God in any area of life? Prove your willingness by living up to God's expectation from today and bring His power to bear in your matter. God is willing if you are willing. In fact, God is more willing than man, if only we will approach Him in faith believing, Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need Heb. 4:16.
The leper came by faith and went away with healing. If you too can approach Heaven through prayer, faith and obedience, you will be delivered.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Ask God to take away anything that is an hindrance to your approaching the throne of grace.
* Tell God you are willing to walk in obedience, He should therefore bless you today.
* Ask that the power that cleansed the leper come upon you and take shame and reproach away from your destiny today.

Like and share

Today's Topic: Overcoming the Flesh in Prayer I
READ: Matt. 26:37-46, MORE LESSONS: Rom.12:1-2

The flesh is scripturally defined as the human nature and desire; it is a great enemy of God (Rom.8:8 ). The flesh is one great enemy of prayer and a man who has not conquered his flesh cannot enjoy a consistent prayer life.
The force of the flesh is at work when the mind wanders in prayer, and it is difficult to concentrate, or sleep takes over or you just can’t pray for a long time. Serious self discipline is required and sometimes deliverance may be sought. Discipline may include taking uncomfortable positions like Jesus had to until His sweat became like blood. Elijah put his head in between his legs (I Kings 18:42).
At another time Jesus moved into the wilderness without food and water for forty days and nights. Often He got up a great while before day (Mk.1:35), and trekked sometimes far to a mountain top to pray. In today's reading we see Jesus battling with the flesh. Spiritually He came for the purpose of redemption but physically it was too much to accomplish. Although He knew that the solution was to pray, He was too downcast to pray. He therefore had to fight the flesh by perseverance (Matt.26:39).
The lesson here is that the flesh resists prayer but you must not give in to the flesh, the more you feel like not praying the more you should pray. This may take discipline but it is not impossible. Obviously, the flesh is an enemy of the Spirit and until the flesh, which consists of the mind (the thinking faculty), feelings and emotions is conquered by a believer, godly, spiritual activities remain a struggle.
Apostle Peter was one disciple who had to battle with the flesh all through Jesus' ministry. Although a disciple, his flesh almost sent him out of the Kingdom like Judas. When at work the flesh is not a respecter of title or position.
The Word of God and a daily refilling with the Holy Ghost is the antidote to the flesh crisis. When the Holy Ghost came upon Peter at Pentecost, all loose and thoughtless speaking ended, the same tongue that landed him in trouble became a tool for preaching, bringing thousands into the Kingdom. When Apostle Paul began to renew his mind (thinking life) with the Word of God he prevailed over the flesh. For victory in the place of prayer and in life generally, give yourself to reading the Word more often and to praying in the spirit constantly. Paul and Peter won, you will win.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Rebuke every manifestation of the flesh against your spiritual life.
* Ask God for strength against your fleshly desires.
* Command the power that helped Jesus in Gethsemane to come upon you now
* Ask that everything that strengthens the flesh be destroyed in your life to its roots.

Like and share

Today's Topic: Overcoming the Flesh in Prayer II
TEXT: Matt. 14:13-23, MORE LESSONS: Col. 3:1-6

The need for us to battle the enemy of prayer is crucial. All men who conquered in the place of prayer had to first deal with the enemy within. Even Jesus had to. The flesh loves comfort, pleasure and cannot tolerate stress or pain for any reason. On the other hand, so much of self-demand and deliberate consecration is needed to make effective prayers like Jesus, When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart.... Matt. 14:13. The people followed Jesus to the desert but after providing dinner for them, He sent the people (including His disciples) away and instead of going to rest, He went up to a mountain to pray till night. Though the flesh must have desired otherwise, the need to pray prevailed over the flesh. When it comes to prayer, you must ensure that the flesh is disciplined enough to respond to the higher call.
The news of the brutal death of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin and a covenant brother, was enough to create an atmosphere of sorrow around Jesus but He quickly left the location of the news. Any man who desires to pray must ensure that the atmosphere around him is conducive for the good work. Just like Jesus, if the atmosphere around you is not good for prayer, change it, any how. A negative atmosphere is all that your flesh needs to stop you from praying, therefore work it out so that you don't help the flesh to hinder you.
The extent to which you allow the flesh in your life will determine how far you go in prayer and spiritual things generally. I have concentrated on the area of the flesh and prayer not because the flesh does not affect other areas of life but because victory in the place of prayer is essentially victory all round. A sinning man’s prayer is not acceptable to God and a praying man cannot sin.
Prayer is a tool to overcome the flesh and victory over the flesh is a prerequisite for answered prayers. Don't treat your falling and rising Christian life with kid gloves, it's a manifestation of a winning flesh and is capable of paralysing every area of your Christian life, including prayer. Deal with it by confessing God's Word and promises; feed more on the sincere milk of the Word, exercise your faith in the Word and pray in the spirit often. Winning over the flesh is a victory for answered prayers. Believe you cannot be defeated. If you have fallen, get up now and keep up the faith, Jesus died for your victory.

PRAYER/ACTION
* Ask God to deliver you from every form of fleshly living and weakness.
* Ask for God's help to be able to renew your mind daily by His Word and thus give no room for the flesh.
* Identify specific areas of weakness in your life and ask God's Spirit to deliver you.
Like and share

Today's Topic: Enduring Works
TEXT: I Cor. 3:6-15, MORE LESSONS: Jn. 4:34-38.

From today's reading we can see that every believer has an assignment in the Kingdom of God as no one is saved to be redundant or idle. There is a part in God's vineyard that you were created to tend. It could be to plant, to water or to build; everyone is called to labour together with God. However, it is not every work that will get to the point of reward, every man's work shall be tested I Cor. 3:13; some works will burn but the works that endure will be rewarded.
In order to have works that will earn rewards at the end, it is vital to consider factors that can help you.
1. The work must be by the Lord and to the Lord, not with eye service, but with singleness of heart -Col. 3:22-23.
2. It must be done to serve the Lord-Col. 3:24.
3. It must be done without murmuring -Phil. 2:14.
4. It must be done without strife, selfish motive or vain glory-Phil. 2:3.
5. It must be done faithfully -I Cor. 4:2.
6. It must be done in humility-Phil. 2:8.
Check the work you are doing in the Lord's house. Does it have these characteristics? In order for your work to abide, you must ask God for the right attitude to the work. Doing anything presumptuously may bring no reward, so check yourself today so that you will be bountifully rewarded after your labour here on earth. The works that will be rewarded must be those that are done according to the will of the Father ...My meat is to do the will of him that sent me…. Ananias and Sapphira did the work of God but not according to the will of God, they had instant judgment instead of speedy reward (Acts 5:1-10). The Pharisees did their praying, fasting and alms giving for public applause and praise, ...They have their reward Matt. 6:2-4 which is the praise of men.
However, men like Paul worked and testified, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness.... II Tim. 4:8-10. In the name of Jesus, you will not work in vain. Your labour in the Kingdom will not be a waste. Every of your contributions as usher, cleaner, giver, helper, Sunday School teacher, security, singer, counsellor, driver, protocol, physical planning etc, shall be blessed, in Jesus' name. But work as unto the Lord, no murmuring, no complaint, no eye service, no praise of men. Work unconditionally.

PRAYER/SECTION
* Ask the Holy Spirit to check your work now and help you offer an acceptable service to the Lord from today.
* Ask the Lord to purge you of wrong and unacceptable works.
* Ask God to forgive you every past murmuring and complaint in His service, right or wrong.
* Ask the Lord to bring to manifestation His blessings upon your service.

Like and share