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NO MORE A SPECTATOR

“And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships...”
(Luke 5: 7)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When Jesus wanted to preach to the crowd at Lake Gennesaret, He had two ships to choose from, and He chose Peter’s ship. He used Peter’s ship as a platform to preach. Peter enjoyed the spotlight alongside Jesus; but the partners within the vicinity who also had a ship got no attention from Jesus. Some men appeared to have been left behind.

After Peter’s net breaking miracle, he invited the partners who also had a ship. The people who seemed forgotten suddenly became relevant again. They may have been away from the spotlight for a while, despite having a ship, but when it was time for results, they were not left behind. They didn’t even do as much as Peter did, but they got results.

Friend, you may not be in the spotlight yet, you may not have been chosen yet, your testimonies may not have begun yet, you may seem to have been left behind, but God says, when it is time for results to manifest, you won’t be left behind. You may not work as hard as others who are currently ahead of you, but when it is time for results, as they count theirs, you will count yours.

God says, you won’t be left behind in the matter of success. You won’t be a spectator while others tell the tales of their Exceeding Expansion. You won’t be counted among those whose ships remained empty while others had their ships laden with God’s abundant supply.

The same God who did it for others will also do it for you; the same God who remembered others will also remember you.

2 Corinthians 9: 8 says: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:”

Prayer : Lord, as You do for others, You will also do for me, in Jesus’ name!Amen

SHARE YOUR OVERFLOW

“And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships...”
(Luke 5: 7)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When Jesus granted Peter the net breaking miracle, the fishes were so many that Peter beckoned on his partners in another ship. Peter had fishing partners whose ship was empty; he had people connected to him who were empty handed. Some people around him had no testimony.

Peter’s ship got filled with fishes, and he invited his partners who came and filled their ship too. The miracle of Peter soon became the miracle of his partners. Peter’s miracle soon overflowed to people who were connected to him. Peter’s testimony was an overflow that was extended to others.

Friend, as God grants you an Exceeding Expansion this year, remember, there are people around you and people connected to you whose ‘ships’ are empty. There are people who may have watched you succeed though they have nothing to show for their own labours; there are people who are depending on your testimony in order to testify; there are people whose breakthroughs lie in that overflow that God has granted you.

God says, when you walk into your overflow, allow your partners to partake from you; allow your family, friends, and people connected to you to be partakers of your Exceeding Expansion. Let people connected to you find relevance through your relevance.

Jesus did not tell Peter to invite James and John to fill their ships with fishes. Peter just took the initiative. Connect your partners to your increase. Let your Exceeding Expansion flow into the lives of people connected to you.

Hebrews 13: 16 (NIV) says: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

Prayer: Lord, I choose to share my overflow with people connected to me, in Jesus’ name!Amen

YOU WON'T LOSE CONTROL

“6. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. 7. …they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.” (Luke 5: 6-7)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When Peter caught a great haul of fishes and invited his partners to come to his rescue, soon, both ships were filled and the net got torn. Soon also, they faced the possibility of having their ships sink in the sea because of the load of fishes they carried. Their miracle appeared to be leading to losses and negativity.

In subsequent verses, Peter and his partners brought the ships to the sea shore. So their ships did not sink and their fishes did not get lost. Things seemed to be out of their control, but in the end, things did not go wrong. They were not in control of the situation, but they definitely did not lose control.

Friend, hear God’s prophetic word: you may not be in control but you won’t lose control. You may not be in charge of what is going on around you, but God says, things won’t turn against you. The tide may seem to be turning against your interest, but in the end, nothing will go wrong. People may make arrangements to truncate your destiny, but God says, no matter how hard they try, you will be unscathed and you won’t lose control.

Peter got a word from Jesus, and there was no way his ship was going to sink in Jesus' presence. If you are connected to Jesus, He won't allow the tide to turn against you when you are not in control. When Jehovah is involved in your life, even when the enemies of your destiny appear to be on the brink of winning, God won’t let them win.

Don’t lose sleep whenever you are not directly in control of any situation. God says, you may not be in control, but you won't lose control.

Prayer : Lord, I may not always be in control, but I won’t lose control, in Jesus’ name!Amen

NEVER THE LESS

“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.”
(Luke 5: 5)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When Jesus instructed Peter to let down his net, Peter reminded Jesus of how he had made fruitless efforts. Peter came with a nasty experience of working hard and having nothing to show for it. He had a fresh memory of failure; he had a fresh memory of what didn’t work for him.

After reeling out his experience, Peter said, “…nevertheless, at thy word I will let down the net”. The word ‘nevertheless’ can be broken into three words: never the less. Peter seemed to say to Jesus, “At thy word, I can never be the less”. Peter was not about to become the less because of a word from Jesus.

Friend, if you can operate with a word from Jesus, you can never be the less. If you run your race in 2016 with a constant confession of God’s word over your life, you will never be the less; if you keep believing and insisting on what God has said concerning you, you will never be the less. God’s word is the passcode that will stop you from being the less in all your ways.

Circumstances sought to make Peter the less, but God’s word gave him more. When you stay connected to God’s word, Jehovah will have no option but to give you more than you asked for. When you keep listening to God’s word, the word will prevail over every circumstance that wants to make you less. In the absence of the Word, you are less; but with the Word, you are more than you imagine.

Jesus’ word did not fall to the ground. Jesus told Peter what to do, and when he obeyed, he caught a great haul of fishes. Be obedient to God’s word in all your ways, and God will cause you to experience an Exceeding Expansion.

Prayer : Lord, by Your word, I shall never be the less, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Receive Grace To Be More!

AWAY FROM DARKNESS

“And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing...”
(Luke 5: 5)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When Jesus instructed Peter to let down his net for a catch, Peter reminded Jesus that he had toiled all night without results. Peter made professional efforts, those efforts were made at night, and he came out empty handed. He made efforts under the cover of darkness, and the efforts were fruitless.

Darkness is synonymous with satanic activity; so could it be that Peter’s efforts were marred by satanic activity? Could it be that forces of darkness caused a professional fisherman like Peter to make efforts that should have brought results, but somehow, the results were nowhere to be found? Could it be possible that 'darkness' crippled Peter’s efforts?

Friend, arise in warfare prayers against any force of darkness that wants to make a mess up your efforts. Pray against every satanic projection that wants you to end up empty handed; pray against every territorial demon that wants to make you labour without results; speak against every force of darkness that wants to waste your time and efforts.

Jesus was absent while Peter made efforts at night, and he ended without results. The absence of Jesus is the greatest darkness that will cripple you. If you leave Jesus out of your efforts, forces of darkness will take over and have dominion over your genuine, professional and competent efforts.

Any darkness around your efforts will open the door for disappointments and disgrace. Destroy every satanic activity surrounding your efforts, and you shall have amazing results.

Ephesians 6 vs. 11 advises: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

Prayer : Lord, destroy every 'darkness' that wants to make my efforts fruitless, in Jesus’ name!Amen

TAKE ACTION

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
(Luke 5: 4)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

When Jesus was done speaking God’s word to the multitudes, He commanded Peter to launch out into the deep. While Jesus was teaching the Word, Peter’s ship was just a little bit from the shore. Jesus preached and Peter heard the word in shallow waters. Ordinarily, it is more convenient to come out of shallow waters than to escape from deep waters.

Peter heard the word in shallow waters, but when it was time to take action, Jesus told him to get into the deep waters to catch fish. The hearing of God’s word by Peter was in the place of convenience, but the action that was to follow was at the place of inconvenience. Peter heard the word conveniently, but he took action inconveniently.

Friend, you may hear God’s word conveniently, but dare to do it inconveniently. When God’s word inspires you to take a step of faith, take it even if it is not a convenient action. When God impresses it upon you to sow a seed, do it even if it is not convenient.

If God desires that you serve Him, serve Him even if the service robs you of some comfort. Take the necessary actions, make the necessary prayers, etc even if it is outside of the zone of convenience.

God’s word may sound good to your ears, but it may not be so convenient when you want to practice it. God’s word may excite you, but the actions it demands from you may not be exciting. The steps of faith that God’s word demands from you may not be such that you would readily want to engage in.

Inconvenience is the pathway to the next level. If you can't deny yourself of pleasures and do what your flesh is not comfortable with, you may not be prepared for your Exceeding Expansion.
Prayer : Lord, I shall do Your word even when it is not convenient, in Jesus’ name!Amen

NO MORE FRUITLESS EFFORTS

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
(Luke 5: 4)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

Prior to Jesus’ encounter with Peter, Peter toiled all night and caught nothing. He made efforts with no results to show for it. He worked hard as a fisherman, he did what should attract results, yet he was empty handed. Peter seemed to be stuck in a cycle of efforts without results. He was in a chapter of his life where he had nothing to show for his efforts.

When Jesus got involved, He instructed Peter to lay down his net for a catch, after which Peter caught so much fish that his own ship could not contain. Peter moved from a phase of fruitless efforts to a phase where little efforts brought resounding results. He moved from emptiness to abundance.

Friend, hear God’s prophetic word: you are stepping out of the season of fruitless efforts and stepping into a season where your little efforts will bring resounding results. You are breaking out of the season of being empty handed despite your efforts. Henceforth, everything you do shall prosper; every effort you make will bring results; every opportunity you take will pay off; every seed you sow will bring a harvest.

When Jehovah is involved, there is no such thing as fruitless efforts. When Jehovah is involved, even a little, regular effort can bring you resounding results. When God remembers you for good, everything you touch will prosper. When God gets involved in the work of your hands, you will move from fruitlessness to super abundance.

Peter’s new tale of fruitfulness began when Jesus became a part of what he was doing. Get God involved in your efforts, and He will cause you to be fruitful.

Prayer: Lord, my little efforts will bring resounding results; no more fruitless efforts, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Welcome To Your Fruitful Season.

BE INSTRUCTED BY GOD

“Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
(Luke 5: 4)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

In our Focal Scripture, Jesus instructed Peter to launch out into the deep and let down his net for a catch. Jesus unveiled His agenda for Peter, and also told Peter where to channel his efforts. God told Peter where his results were waiting for him. The Lake of Gennesaret had different areas, and Jesus didn’t send Peter to try his efforts in the entire sea; He gave Peter a specific instruction that gave him success without trial and error.

Friend, when God gives you specific instructions concerning your efforts, you will hit your target without engaging in rigmarole. When God points you to specific opportunities that He has tailor-made for you, you will walk into them and succeed with ease.

When you allow God to guide you into the right business, career, location, relationships, partnerships, clients, etc, you will be amazed at how your minor efforts will bring you results that your efforts cannot ordinarily explain.

Peter may have done all the trial-and-error he knew, yet without success; but when Jesus instructed him, he only tried once and filled two ships. Trial and error has limits; you can’t become outstanding through trial and error; you can’t become famous through trial and error. Time is too precious to be wasted in a wild goose chase that may never pay off.

Ask God to instruct you in all your ways; ask God to show you the right move to make, the right business interest to pursue, the right clients to retain, the right location to be in, etc.

Ask God to give you specific instructions that will make your Exceeding Expansion easier and faster.

Prayer : Lord, give me instructions that will make my Exceeding Expansion easy, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Receive Divine Instructions For Your Exceeding Expansion.

UNFAMILIAR IDEAS

“2. ...but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 4. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
(Luke 5: 2, 4)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

In our Focal Scripture, Jesus instructed Peter to let down his net to catch fishes. Peter had toiled all night, and as a professional fisherman, he had good reasons to jettison Jesus’ idea. According to fishermen, it’s better to fish at night than to fish during the day, reason being that fishes come out more at night.

Jesus made an unfamiliar suggestion to Peter, but it led to an amazing result. It was an unconventional process leading to a huge, amazing result. It didn’t seem like the best idea for one to give a professional fisherman, but when Peter took and acted on that advice from Jesus, he caught enough fishes that filled his boat and the boat of his partners.

Friend, are there unfamiliar ideas that God has planted in your heart? God says, it may be an unfamiliar idea, but it will bring you a profitable result. The God-given ideas you want to act on may not sound reasonable to people around you, but God says, as you act on them, you will smile to the bank with huge profit, you will get more results than you imagined, you will break previous limits, and you will step into a new level.

Other fishermen may have gone home because there was no sense in fishing in the day, but Peter let down his net at Jesus’ instance and without any competition, he got a huge result. That uncommon, unfamiliar idea may be God’s way of sending home your competitors.

Isaiah 45 vs. 3 says: “And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places...”

Prayer : Lord, give me an uncommon, unfamiliar idea that will distinguish me, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Let The Floodgates Of Heaven Pour Out Uncommon Ideas To You!

DON'T GIVE UP

“2. ...but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. 4. Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”
(Luke 5: 2, 4)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

At about the time when Jesus wanted to preach to the crowd that was pressing on Him, Peter was washing his net. Peter had toiled all night and caught nothing; as a fisherman, washing his net was an indication that the business of the day was over.

Jesus entered Peter’s ship, and gave him the grace to catch a large haul of fish. Peter ended his fishing process, but Jesus began a new process that brought amazing results. Where Peter ended was where Jesus began; when Peter declared a breakdown, Jesus showed up with a breakthrough. Jesus began a new process that favoured Peter.

Friend, you may have ended some processes that didn’t give you desired results, but it is time to allow the Lord to begin new processes that will favour you. Allow the Lord to usher you into new profitable relationships; allow the Lord to bring you new opportunities that will distinguish you; allow God to bring you ideas that will lead to your Exceeding Expansion. If you have come to the end of the road, let God show you a new way.

When Peter gave up was when Jesus came with the amazing miracle that changed Peter’s story. You may think it is over but God says it is not over yet. That result you have given up on can still become a reality. That new job, marriage, financial breakthrough, etc can still happen. Your cookies may crumble, but God has better options.

Psalm 30 vs. 5 says: “...weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Prayer : Lord, whenever I give up, begin a new process that will cause me to smile, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Expect A New Beginning; Don't Give Up Yet.

CONNECT TO SUCCESS

“And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.”
(Luke 5: 3)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

It is instructive to note that whereas Peter failed to catch fish all night, he remained in the Lake of Gennesaret where Jesus used his ship to preach to the multitude. Peter failed, Jesus was about to succeed, and Peter offered his ship to help Jesus succeed. Peter’s failure did not cause him to walk away from the environment of success; Peter failed, but connected to someone who was in the business of succeeding.

Friend, even if you think you are a failure, connect to the success of others. Connect with those whose ideas are higher than yours; connect to those whose results make a mess of your own results; connect to those whose successes will trigger and inspire your own success; connect with men who can give you hope again; let your failure not rob you of a chance to be in the atmosphere of success.

If Peter had walked away because he failed, just maybe he wouldn’t have got a second chance to catch a large haul of fish. If you allow your failures to push you out of the radar of success, just maybe, you will forever be confined in failure until you wake up and walk away from it. If your failure causes you to go into hiding, how will success locate you?

It doesn’t matter how much you have failed: stay on the grind, connect to those who have succeeded, celebrate the successes of those who succeeded while you failed, let the advancement of others propel you forward, and in a matter of time, your success will be revealed to the amazement of your generation.

Prayer : Lord, I refuse to walk away from the environment of success, in Jesus’ name!Amen
This Week, Success Will Locate You.

IT SHALL COME TO PASS

“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God...”
(Luke 5: 1)

That is the Focal Scripture of Streams of Joy Devotional today.

Our Focal Scripture began with “And it came to pass”. That phrase speaks of time. The time that came to pass revealed a multitude that pressed on Jesus; time revealed pressure that came to Jesus. Pressure often connotes negativity. So time seemed to reveal negativity; time revealed what wasn't good.

The crowd that pressed on Jesus came to hear God's word. The pressure may have seemed negative, but the people who came with it came for something positive. So time first revealed something that seemed negative, and in a matter of time, it also revealed something positive. Time revealed the pressure, time also sorted it out.

Friend, the same time that revealed the pressure you are facing right now will also sort it out. The same time that revealed negativity will also reveal positivity. Whatever negativity you see around you will fizzle out in a matter of time; those bitter tears you are crying will dry up in a matter of time; those disappointing tales in your life will soon give way to tales of joy and gladness. Lack will soon give way to abundance.

You may not have received all you desire, your prayers may not yet be answered, your next level may not have manifested, your Exceeding Expansion may still seem impossible, but God says, it is a matter of time. Time will cause negativity to give way; time will cause positivity to manifest.

Be patient when time seems to give you more negatives than positives. Soon, the tables will turn; soon, God will cause a mighty change that will favour you; soon, your days of pain and shame will end. Soon, it shall come to pass.

Prayer : Lord, cause time to reveal positives in my life; every negativity shall pass away in a matter of time, in Jesus’ name!Amen
Your Time Will Bring Forth Positives.