DAILY BREAD

  #DEVOTION

The word ‘devotion’ implies total commitment to someone—giving them your time and attention, enjoying their company, seeking to please them, and making them a priority in your life. And that should be the goal of your daily devotions. But here are two pitfalls to look out for and avoid: 1) ‘Me-itis’. God has promised to bless you, but when you seek His blessing instead of pursuing a relationship with Him, you become me-centred rather than Christ-centred. The truth is you can pray until you’re blue in the face but God won’t give you certain things, if you’re not mature enough to handle them. More than anything in life, Abraham wanted a son. And God gave him one. Yet when God asked him to offer his son as a sacrifice, he didn’t hesitate. Abraham proved there was nothing he loved more than God, therefore God promised to bless him and multiply all that he possessed (Genesis 22:17). Abraham became one of the most successful men of his generation, but his real claim to fame was that God referred to him as a ‘friend’ (Isaiah 41:8 NKJV). 2) Being too busy. One of the dangers in working for God is that you can fail to spend time worshipping Him. The Psalmist said, ‘Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name…’ (Psalms 29:2 NIV). The word ‘due’ means ‘deserving of’. When John saw the multitudes in heaven praising God, they were singing, ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power…’ (Revelation 4:11 NIV). So start your daily devotions in praise by saying: ‘Lord, I’m here because You deserve to be worshipped and adored.’

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“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine”

Do you remember the hit song by Dean Martin, ‘You’re Nobody till Somebody Loves You’? Such lyrics show up our deepest concern. We want our lives to matter, to mean something. Our deepest fear is of coming and going—and nobody knowing! We strive with our lack of education, our spot on the financial totem pole, and our looks. That’s why it bothers us when a friend forgets to call, or a teacher forgets our name, or a colleague takes credit for something we have done. We crave attention, drop the names of important people in conversations, and put flashy hubcaps on our cars. Fashion designers tell us, ‘You’ll be somebody if you wear our jeans.’ So we go out and spend half our wages on a pair of Italian jeans. But then—horror of horrors—the style changes from tight to baggy, faded to black, and we’re left wearing yesterday’s jeans, feeling like yesterday’s news. Simply stated: you can’t gain significance from the outside. It’s an inside job. Your sense of significance must come from someone you trust, someone you know will never change, someone who knows the worst about you and always believes the best. And there’s only one such source: God. So read on: ‘Thus says the Lord, who created you…who formed you…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned…For I am the Lord your God…you [are] precious in My sight’ (vv. 1-4 NKJV).

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#Heaven

Amy had battled cancer for 5 years. Then the doctor told her that the treatments were failing and she had just a few weeks to live. Wanting some understanding and assurance about eternity, Amy asked her pastor, “What will heaven be like?”

He asked her what she liked most about her life on earth. She talked about walks and rainbows and caring friends and the laughter of children. “So, then, are you saying I will have all of that there?” she asked longingly.

Amy’s pastor replied, “I believe that your life there will be far more beautiful and amazing than anything you ever loved or experienced here. Think about what’s best here for you and multiply it over and over and over. That’s what I think heaven will be.”

The Bible doesn’t describe in detail what life in eternity will be like, but it does tell us that being with Christ in heaven is “far better” than our present circumstance (Phil. 1:23). “There shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him” (Rev. 22:3).

Best of all, we will see the Lord Jesus face to face. Our deepest yearnings will be fully satisfied in Him.

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#OurValueInGod'sWorld
Think for a moment of the power, beauty, and majesty of a galloping horse—his head held high, his mane flying in the wind, and his legs working in unison to provide speed, power, and abandon.

What a wonderful example of God’s magnificent creation is the horse! God created it not just for our amazement and enjoyment but also as a complement to the human race (Job 39). Properly trained, the horse is fearless when we need a courageous companion. The horse was used to carry the soldier faithfully into conflict with speed (v.24) and anticipation (v.25).

Although God was using creation to teach Job about His sovereignty, we can also be reminded through this passage about our own value in God’s world. We are created not simply as a beautiful creature with a job to do but also as a creature made in God’s image. The power of the horse is amazing, but the value of each human transcends all other creatures.

God created us uniquely to have a relationship with Him and to live with Him forever. While we praise God for the magnificence of the creatures of nature, we also stand in awe that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps. 139:14).

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#BeStrong!

 The Bible says, ‘“God is strong”,’ and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensible weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out’ (vv. 10-18 TM). The way to make a comeback is to get back up and move forward. Winning consists of getting up one more time than you were knocked down. Booker T. Washington said, ‘Success is not measured by the heights one attains, but by the obstacles one overcomes in its attainment.’ The God you serve is bigger than the obstacles you face. The strength He provides is greater than the forces arrayed against you. So be strong in the Lord!

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 #ThePowerOfPrayer
When the Bible says, ‘Pray without ceasing,’ that means pray every day, not just periodically or when you’re in trouble. ‘The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much’ (James 5:16 NKJV). The word ‘fervent’ means passionate, persistent and determined. It’s not the number of our prayers, how many they are; nor the rhetoric of our prayers, how eloquent they may be; nor the geometry of our prayers, how long they may be; nor the music of our prayers, how sweet our voice may be; nor the logic of our prayers, how argumentative they may be; nor the method of our prayers, how orderly they may be; nor even the theology of our prayers, how good the doctrine is, that God responds to. Fervency of spirit is what ‘avails much’. The most powerful thing you can do is pray! And when you join with a prayer partner, your potential is awesome. ‘If two of you agree on earth concerning anything that [you] ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven’ (Matthew 18:19 NKJV). It works like this: the less you pray, the less you want to pray; the more you pray, the more you want to pray. Nothing will motivate you to pray like answered prayer. But you can’t start with the answer; you’ve got to start with the prayer! Here’s a fact of life: we only keep doing what rewards us. So the key to building a great prayer life is to pray until you get answers. Think how deeply rooted doubt can become in our hearts when we’re actually surprised to find our prayers answered! So pray in faith and expect God to answer!
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#DiffrentKindsOfFears

There are different kinds of fear. There’s the kind that warns you to stay away from fire. There’s the kind that cultivates respect for God (Psalms 2:11). Oswald Chambers said, ‘When you fear God, you don’t have to fear anything else.’ There’s fear that makes you feel helpless; sometimes it’s rooted in parental criticism or a bully’s threats, and although it’s groundless, it still haunts you. There’s the fear of failing, which if left unchallenged becomes the father of failure. Job said, ‘What I feared has come upon me’ (Job 3:25 NIV). There’s fear of the unknown where your imagination runs amok. What if you never meet the ‘right person’, or you lose your job, or the biopsy confirms the worst? Over and over in His Word God says, ‘Don’t be afraid…I am with you.’ Paul Tournier notes: ‘Life and faith always insist on moving on—and I cannot move forward without leaving something behind. The trapeze artist must let go of one trapeze at precisely the right moment and hover in the void before grabbing the other. Faith calls us out of our comfort zone…to learn new skills and minister in different ways.’ But we get uptight. We think, ‘What if God asks me to do something I can’t do?’ or ‘I don’t have the strength, wisdom, or faith.’ If you were relying on your own resources, you’d be in trouble. But the fact is, ‘God…knew you and chose you’ (1 Peter 1:2 NLT). Every time you meet a new challenge He strengthens you by proving that He not only supplies the tools, but is responsible for the outcome.

One day Jesus touched the eyes of a blind man and he exclaimed, ‘I see men as trees, walking’ (Mark 8:24 KJV). In other words, ‘I see something, but it’s not completely clear yet.’ So Jesus touched him again, cleared his perceptions, removing his limitations and setting him free to become the man God made him to be. Without a God-given vision you’ll stumble through life, blind to who God is and what He can do; blind to who you are and what He can accomplish through you. Thomas Edison ‘saw’ incandescent light before the first electric bulb ever glowed. It’s what sustained him through thousands of failed experiments. Bill Gates ‘saw’ a PC in every office and home, while the so-called experts were busy announcing, ‘It’ll never happen in our lifetime.’ Forty years before Israel set foot in the Promised Land, Moses ‘saw’ it (Hebrews 11:27 NKJV). God can be doing all sorts of things, yet you don’t see them because you’re spiritually blind. Remember the two disciples on the Emmaus Road? It was only after Jesus had walked with them for seven miles and explained the Scriptures to them that we read, ‘…Their eyes were opened and they recognised Him…’ (Luke 24:31 NLT) When you begin to see God at work in your situation, your fear is diminished and your faith is strengthened. How does He reveal Himself? At church? Sometimes. But mostly He opens His Word and our understanding and we start to see Him in a way we never have before. So today pray, ‘Open my eyes that I may see…’ (Psalms 119:18 NIV).

Today Christian marriages are falling apart at the same rate as non-Christian marriages. And those who go through it need our love, not our condemnation. But clearly, something’s wrong that needs to be put right! Two of the leading causes of divorce are financial stress and pornography. When you become overextended by purchasing things you can’t afford and don’t need, you’re heading into trouble. And when you open your mind to sexual fantasy, you entertain images your mate can’t live up to, and your relationship begins to deteriorate. Solomon writes, ‘Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes’ (Song of Solomon 2:15 NKJV). Notice the word ‘tender’. When we fail to treat one another tenderly, graciously, lovingly, considerately, and with respect, the plane we’re flying in together takes a nosedive. A neglected partner is vulnerable to anyone who comes along. Resentment wells up and takes over. If God’s Word doesn’t work in your home and in your marriage, then it won’t work anywhere else! An instrument-rated Christian understands that the secret of having a good marriage is not just in finding the right person, but in becoming the right person. And that can only happen when you make a daily commitment to living by the principles of God’s Word and demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The story is told of one spouse who said to the other, ‘I never knew what real happiness was until I married you - now it’s too late.’ Unless you want that to be your story, start tending the home fire.

God bless you

Robert and Liz Sebunya
Team Leaders  www.mercylinkfoundationafrica.org

 

THE RIGHT PLACE TO GIVE YOUR

The first man to give tithes was Abraham. No one taught him this truth. Obviously he learnt the grace and glory in giving, when the God of glory appeared to him (Gen 14:18-20) 

Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, the priest of the most high God. We too should give tithes to Melchizedek i.e. to the priest or ministers of God who have consecrated themselves after the order of Melchizedek- ‘Without father, without mother, without descent…’ (Heb 7:3). Jesus taught this consecration to his disciples- “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:26). THOSE WHO HAVE NOT THUS CONSECRATED THESELVES ARE NOT SCRIPTURALLY FIT TO RECEIVE TITHES.

Before Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek, Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine (which is a type of giving Holy Communion).  This shows that tithes should be given at the place where a believer worships and receives Holy Communion. Some think that tithes can be given where the need is most. But the word of God says, “unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose … thither ye shall bring … your tithes” (Deut 12:5, 6).

Before Abraham gave tithes, he was blessed- And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all. (Gen 14:20). Our giving tithe is a sign of gratitude and an acknowledgement that God has blessed us and given us victory over our enemy, the devil.

One ld man testified that the Lord blessed him so much after he started giving tithes that he gradually kept increasing his giving to the Lord from one-tenth to nine-tenths! “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10).

THE SECRET OF GREAT

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

“There hath not come a razor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become weak, and be like any other man” (Judges 16:17)

Samson had a great, high calling. Before he was born an Angel appeared to his mother and told her about the birth. Even his manner of life and his calling to be a judge were foretold. Despite all this, Samson’s life and ministry turned out to be an utter failure. He lost all his strength and anointing. He could not deliver the people of Israel from the bondage of the Philistines. He eventually committed suicide. Why? Had God failed to fulfill his plan concerning him? No, rather Samson failed God by allowing a razor (sin) to come upon his head (thoughts).

We may have a high calling on our life and God may have planned great things for us. However, there is a apart that we have to play for the Lord to fulfill His plan. We must keep our lives in purity.

Samson failed to keep his Nazarite vow and failed the Lord miserably, but thank God, there was someone else in the Old Testament who kept his Nazarire vow. It was Samuel. His mother Hannah made a vow, saying, “If thou … give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:11). Samuel kept his vow until the end of his life. As a result, he was given a multiple ministry that no one in the Old Testament had. Samuel was priest, prophet and judge- three blessed ministries were bestowed on him and in all these three ministries, and he was outstanding. If, we like Samuel, will not let a razor come upon our head, if we do not let sin enter our thoughts, the Lord will richly bless us and let us a blessing to everyone.

Dear friend, perhaps today you feel like Samson. You might have repeatedly given room to sinful thoughts and defiled you mind and failed God. Repent and come to the Lord. In this grace period, God can change a Samson into a Samuel.

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW, DON'T SPEAK. PEOPLE RESPECT YOU WHEN YOU HAVE THE WISDOM AND HUMILITY TO SAY, 'I'M NOT SURE, BUT IF YOU GIVE ME TIME I'LL PRAY ABOUT IT, CONSIDER IT MORE FULLY AND GET BACK TO YOU.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, '...Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah"-not knowing what he said...And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!"' (vv. 33-35 NKJV). Another spirit Jesus identified among His disciples was: An impulsive spirit. Note the words, 'not knowing what he said'. Peter's penchant for saying whatever came into his mind drew a strong rebuke from heaven: 'This is My beloved Son-hear Him!' There's an important lesson here. Your need to appear wise and have all the answers can get you into trouble with people-and God! Generally speaking, you're not learning while you're talking. So learn to be quiet, observe what's going on, and listen for what God may want to say. When you don't know, don't speak. People respect you when you have the wisdom and humility to say, 'I'm not sure, but if you give me time I'll pray about it, consider it more fully and get back to you.' Experts say the average person is now bombarded with thirty-five thousand messages a day: e-mails, text messages, billboards, television, radio, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, etc. It's 'information overload'. People don't need more information; they need answers that work! And God has those answers. So talk to Him first, then you'll have something to say to others that's worth listening to. 'Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!' (Proverbs15:23 NLT)

To lead people successfully, you must know them

Get to know the people. No minister has ever had so much trouble with a congregation as Moses had with the congregation of Israel in the wilderness. At the Red Sea, he was so happy that he wrote a song to celebrate their spectacular victory. But later, when the complaints were coming at him from every direction, he told God he wanted to die. It reminds us of one pastor who asked another, ‘How many active members do you have in your church?’ The other replied, ‘Five hundred. Half of them are actively working for me, the other half are actively working against me.’ Pastors, different people in your churches will play different roles in the plan God has given you. Some of the people you will like, some you won’t. But you’ve been called to lead them all, so get to know them. On his deathbed, Jacob prophesied over each of his twelve sons describing both their nature and their future. He said Reuben was unruly, Simeon and Levi were prone to anger, Judah was born for leadership, Zebulun would extend his borders, Issachar was willing to carry the load, Dan was sharp when it came to dealing with people, Gad was a fighter who wouldn’t retreat, Asher loved cooking, Naphtali loved raising children, Joseph would be wounded but would come back stronger than ever, and Benjamin would be an entrepreneur who knew how to excel in business (Genesis 49). To lead people successfully, you must know them. So pray, ‘Show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight.

 

FREEDOM FROM SEXUAL ADDICTION

For fifteen years Mike Cleveland, airline pilot and founder of ‘Setting Captives Free,’ seemed powerless as his addiction to online pornography devastated his life, his marriage and his family. The spiral of lust enslaved him ‘until there wasn’t a moment of his days free from its tortured domination.’ The cycle of prayers for deliverance, followed by repeated indulgence in porn, XXX DVDs and sex chat-rooms, plunged him deeper into the darkness of despair and self-loathing. He longed to escape the slimy, secluded underworld of secret soul-destroying sin, but every pathetic attempt left him unchanged, unhinged, and uncertain that freedom was possible for him. Mike turned to self-help books, counselors and friends without success. His repeated disappointment, when every effort failed, led to increasing guilt and self-incrimination. When his wife insisted on a last-ditch visit to see her pastor (all other remedies had been exhausted), the lights in their bleak prison cell suddenly came on. Mike learned that ‘…deliverance belong(s) to the Lord’ (Jonah 2:9 AMP), and its rules are all dictated by Him. Mike’s old motivations for getting clean—‘saving my marriage for my kids’ sake; I’m a Christian, a seminary graduate and preacher’—were full of ‘loopholes and escape clauses’ and produced one botched disaster after another. His pastor taught him that the only viable motivation for getting clean and staying clean was a commitment to glorifying God in all of his decisions, because God delivers the powerless, ‘For the glory of [His] name.’ When Mike learned, ‘…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God’ (1Corinthians 10:31 NIV), the doors to freedom from years of sexual addiction began to open. Yours can to.

IF YOUR ATTITUDE AND WORK ETHIC ARE POOR, YOU’RE IN    TROUBLE WITH GOD!

Your value in a job is determined by the value you add to the job. When a Christian goes to work each day, God holds them accountable for adding, enhancing and improving things in their workplace. Jesus told the story of three men who were each given money. One was given five bags of it, another two, and another one. The first two ‘…went and traded with them, and gained…’ (Matthew 25:16 NAS). They showed skill, initiative, and made 100 percent profit. So they were commended by their master. But the third man just punched the clock, called in sick, didn’t train, try, dare, or do. So his job review didn’t go too well. And Jesus said something that ought to make us all sit up and take notice: ‘To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.’ 

That means if your attitude and work ethic are poor, you’re in trouble with God. So, let’s stop and think about your job. If Jesus were your supervisor, would you do your work any differently? How would you answer the phone, type documents, treat your employees, or teach your pupils if Jesus were checking your work? As a citizen of God’s kingdom you need to periodically review your attitude on the job, solicit feedback on how you can grow, demonstrate love and grace to those you work with, make your company profitable, and enjoy the work you do. 

HOW TO RAISE A TIMOTHY

Leaving your mark on your children isn’t optional, but leaving a godly mark on them is. The seeds you sow today will continue to grow in them lifelong and in your grandchildren too. Paul saw in Timothy the potential harvest he’d produce for Christ. He saw, too, that the fruit originated with the root: a mother and grandmother who were sold out to Christ. What an encouragement for widowed, divorced, single mothers and those without believing husbands. These two women raised a servant of God without the help of a Christian father. And Mother, God can enable you to do likewise!

What does it take to raise a Timothy? Two things: 1) It takes a role model. Paul spoke of Timothy’s ‘sincere (Greek: un-hypocritical) faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and…now lives in you.’ The faith they imparted ‘first lived in’ each of them. If it’s to live in our kids, they must first see it living in us. In a world where fakes sometimes masquerade as Christians, genuine faith stands out like a beacon against the night sky. Our children have a built-in ‘detector’ that picks up on counterfeits and rejects them. But the genuine article will draw them like a magnet. 2) It takes teaching God’s Word. Timothy’s mother and grandmother planted the Scriptures in the receptive soil of his young heart before the surrounding culture could get to him. Paul reminded him ‘How from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures’ (2Timothy 3:15 NIV). That’s how to raise a Timothy.

DARE TO GO TO JESUS

“Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water” (Matthew 14:28)

Though there were twelve disciples in the ship, only peter had the longing to go to Jesus, braving the wild winds and waters. In the same way, though many have been met by Jesus and know His loving grace and wonderful power, there are only very few who, like Peter, venture to go to Him. Others may give the excuse of the sea being rough or the waves being wild-for refraining from refraining to go to Jesus.

The real Christian life is the life of ‘walking on the water’- not of sailing comfortably in a boat or one of basking on the sea shore. Yes, the wind and the waves are rough, but Jesus wants us to brave it all and go to Him. How happy Jesus must have been when Peter said “Bid me come unto Thee on the water”! The reply of Jesus was sweet and short-“Come.” Peter lost no time getting out of the ship and, ‘’he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.’

Some children of God want to go to Jesus without walking on the water. ‘Waters’ refer to trials, difficulties and sin temptations. Without overcoming these, we can never go to Jesus.

Peter did not walk in the water, but on the water. Dear child of God, if you walk in sin you can never go to Jesus. Jesus walked on the water and showed us an example that we too may walk over all sins, trials and temptations without getting drowned in them. Walking above sin while in this mortal body is indeed a possibility by the grace of God. Jesus walking on the water was a shadow of this truth. Like peter let us also dare to go to Jesus.

THE COST OF A GOD-GIVEN DREAM

Your dream will never be fulfilled unless you’re willing to pay the price that comes with it. And that price is paid not once, but over a lifetime. First, there’s the initial cost. You will have to make personal and sometimes painful sacrifices. You may have to walk away from attractive options and valued relationships because they don’t fit into God’s plan for your life. Leaving things that have given you your security and your identity will require grit and grace that only God can provide. Paul’s résumé included being ‘…of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews…a Pharisee’ (v. 5 NIV). Paul once had wealth and status. Scholars reckon that when he committed his life to Christ, as was customary, his friends and family would have held a funeral service and considered him ‘dead’ to them from that point forward. Paul’s calling was to cover Asia with the gospel and write half the New Testament. But great assignments call for great sacrifice. And Paul wasn’t alone. ‘By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward’ (Hebrews 11:24-26 NIV). So the question is: Has God given you a dream? Do you have the faith and fortitude to fulfil it? Have you counted the cost and are you ready to pay it? 

CHECK YOUR SPIRIT

“…that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thess 2:3,4)

Although the Antichrist will be revealed in bodily form only after the rapture, the spirit of Antichrist already exists and is at work. (1 Jn 4:3)

This ‘son of perdition’ or the Antichrist sits in the temple and demands worship. We are the Temple of God (1Cor 3:16). In these last days we should be very diligent to see that the spirit of the Antichrist does not enter us. How do we know when the Antichrist has entered the temple, he will begin to demand worship and honor. If you are demanding or expecting respect, honor from others, beware, the ANTICHRIST IS ALREADY IN THE TEMPLE! If we do not immediately repent and return to God, this proud spirit will devastate our Christian life.

The Bible does not say God resists sinners or backsliders. But He resists the proud. “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Jms 4:6). If God resists a man, what will his destiny be! After saying God resists the proud, it says, “Resist the devil”-as if proud people are like demons!  Indeed, the proud are, in one sense, the embodiment of the devil.

We can see the spirit of the Antichrist in operation in many modern preachers, singers, faith healers, etc. how often we see children of God getting embittered and leaving the church because they were not given enough respect and honor! By that they further yield to the spirit of the Antichrist that is within them. Eventually, they destroy not only themselves, but also many others, by injecting the same foul spirit into them. “Who opposeth and exalteth himself…” No surprise, such ‘antichrist-possessed’ people are often in the centre of opposition and contentions- with a view to exalting themselves.

The spirit of Antichrist is a self exalting Spirit but the spirit of Christ is a self abasing spirit- “I must decrease; He (Others) should increase (shine or be more useful than me).” Oh reader, which spirit is ruling in your life?

 

THE TREASURE WITHIN YOU

God has given you talents and He wants you to use them. They may lie dormant under layers of failure, fear, or low self-esteem. You may be aware of them, yet not know how to put them to work. Maybe you’ve been going from relationship to relationship hoping to find someone who will acknowledge what’s within you and draw it out. If so, read this: ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.’ Only the God who placed your talents within you knows where they’re hidden and how to release them. Delayed destiny is the devil’s delight. By not allowing God to develop your talents you play into satan’s hands, living far below your potential. The fact is; you have so much treasure buried within you that the enemy is out to steal it. You never have to wonder about satan’s motives. Jesus said he comes ‘…to steal, kill and destroy…’ (John 10:10 TLB). You don’t try to rob somebody unless they have something worth taking, right? Your talents may be raw and undeveloped, or buried under years of self-doubt, unconfessed sin, bad habits, regret and despair. But God can take something that looks like nothing, and create something wonderful with it. Just think: He made the earth from nothing—so imagine what He can do when He has something to start with! Today get down on your knees and pray, ‘Father, help me to recognise and maximise the talents You have placed within me, and use them for Your glory.’ That’s a prayer God will answer!






















SALVATION DOESN’T ENROL YOU IN A CLUB FOR THE RELIGIOUS ELITE; IT ENLISTS YOU IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD

Being ‘self-controlled and alert’ to satan’s strategies empowers you to be proactive in your personal war with him (1Peter 5:8 NIV). But your next step is crucial. The art of war follows set rules of engagement. If you’re losing more than winning, then you may have omitted this vital rule: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God.’ Salvation doesn’t enrol you in a club for the religious elite; it enlists you in the army of the Lord. And this war isn’t just about you—it’s also about your King, His rulership and authority, and who acknowledges it. Kingdom power is only given by the King to His subjects. To win this battle you must recognise your King and submit to Him. The Roman centurion who met Christ understood this. ‘I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, “Go,” and he goes; and that one, “Come,”’ and he comes…’ (Luke 7:8 NIV). He recognised that he, like Jesus, got his power by submitting to authority. Submitting yourself to Jesus is what gives you the power to battle satan successfully. Don’t hurl yourself into the battle. Instead, recognise Christ’s authority and submit to it because it’s the submitted life that overcomes. At the point of your temptation, seize the moment and surrender yourself to Jesus, the King of kings, Who said, ‘…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth’ (Matthew 28:18 KJV). Under His authority you discover that victory over satan comes, ‘…Not by [human] might nor by [human] power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of hosts’ (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV)

Give God your whispering thoughts

Give God your whispering thoughts. Throughout the centuries, Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers. These Give God your whispering thoughts. Throughout the centuries, Christians have learned the value of brief sentence prayers. These are prayers that can be whispered anywhere, in any setting. Frank Laubach sought unbroken communion with God by asking Him questions. Every two or three minutes he would pray, ‘Am I in your will, Lord? Am I pleasing you, Lord?’ Imagine considering every moment as a potential time of communion with God. By the time your life is over, you will have spent six months at traffic lights, eight months opening junk mail, a year and a half looking for lost stuff, and a whopping five years standing waiting in various queues. Why don’t you give these moments to God? By giving Him your whispering thoughts, the common becomes uncommon. Simple phrases such as ‘Thank You, Father,’ or ‘I stand on Your Word,’ or ‘My desire is to please You,’ can turn a commute into a pilgrimage. You needn’t leave your office or kneel in your kitchen. Just pray where you are. Let the kitchen become a cathedral and the classroom a chapel. Give God your waning thoughts. At the end of the day, let your mind settle on Him. Conclude the day as you began it—talking to God. Thank Him for the good parts. Question Him about the hard parts. Seek His mercy. Seek His strength. As you close your eyes, take assurance in the promise, ‘He who watches over [you] will neither slumber nor sleep’ (Psalms 121:4 NIV). If you fall asleep as you pray, don’t worry. What better place to doze off than in the arms of your Father?

HOW GREAT THOU ART!

The difference between heaven and earth is so very great that there is no example we can use to illustrate it. Our galaxy is called the Milky Way and, according to scientists, in this galaxy to which our solar system belongs there are over 30 million suns. 1.5 million Earths can be put into one earth and there are in all about 100,000 galaxies. God put all these 100,000 galaxies together to create heaven. This gives us some idea of the vastness of the heavens. “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth His handiwork!” exclaims the Psalmist (Psalm 19:1).  God created this vast universe and, side by side, He created this vast universe and, side by side, He created the tiny earth in which we are just little specs.

Compared to the majesty of the universe, how magnificent is man; and yet God who could and did create such glory, made man in his own image! He who created the entire universe also created this puny man. This reveals to us the greatness of God and also his great love for man 

“When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained; what is man that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him? ” (Psalm 8:3, 4)

A great leader never sets himself above his followers except in carrying responsibilities.

 Paul surrounded himself with people who were willing to lay down their lives for him (Romans 16:3-4). Some of them are virtually unknown. Ever heard of Tertius? He recorded Paul’s thoughts so we could read them. We all know about Timothy, but do you know about Gaius? ‘…He is my host and also serves as host to the whole church…’ (Romans 16:23 NLT). Many served in the shadows so Paul could work in the limelight. Sadly, when some leaders arrive at the top, they spend their time trying to push others off it. They play ‘king of the hill’ because of immaturity, insecurity and competitiveness. That may work for a while, but it doesn’t last long. When your goal is to knock others down, your time and energy is spent watching out for people you think would do the same to you. It’s a miserable way to live, and it’s no fun for those who have to work with you. Jules Ormont said, ‘A great leader never sets himself above his followers except in carrying responsibilities.’ If you’re in a leadership position, don’t rely on your title to convince people to follow you. Build relationships. Win people over. When you don’t love people, you’re only a few steps away from manipulating them. When that happens, you’ll have a high turnover. A few years ago the three great tenors—José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti—were performing together. When a reporter tried to find out if there was any rivalry among the superstars, Domingo said, ‘No, you can’t be rivals when you’re together making music.’ 

 A MAN OF REVELATION

“Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground” (Gen 4:2).

The first job man ever chose was the best job-keeping sheep, which typifies looking after souls. We need the heart of a shepherd; we must have a burden, concern and care for others, for perishing souls and for those in need. In particular, a servant of God must diligently watch over the souls entrusted to him. Later on we find that God had respect onto Abel and to his ministry or offering. So also, those who serve Jesus willingly will be honored by the Father. “If any man serve me, him will my father honor” (John 12:26).

The profession that Abel chose is stated first-his service was more pleasing to God. While Abel was serving sheep, Cain was serving the ground that was cursed by God. Cain did not clearly have the kind of heart God wanted-a heart of concern for others. Later, when God asked him, “Where is your brother?” “Am I my brothers keeper?” he retorted.

Abel was a man of revelation. The Job he selected, doubtless, was inspired by God; and so was his offering. Abel brought ‘of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof’ (v4). The ‘firstlings of the flock’ are the best out of the flock. The ‘fat’, in Hebrew, means the best part. So Abel offered the best of bests, and therefore his offering was honored as, ‘a more excellent sacrifice’. “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice” (Heb 11:4). Faith gives new revelation, and excellent faith gives excellent revelations.mercylink2@gmail.com

WHEN GOD LIGHTS A FIRE UNDER YOU!

Jesus never intended for His disciples to get comfortable in Jerusalem and stay there. He told them, ‘…Forgiveness of sins will be preached in [my] name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem’ (Luke 24:47 NIV). They were only supposed to remain in Jerusalem long enough to be infused with power, then take the gospel to the world. But they ‘…returned to Jerusalem…And…stayed continually at the temple, praising God’ (vv. 52-53 NIV). Now it’s okay to wait on God for directions and the power to carry them out, but not to keep repeating some earlier experience you’ve had. Jesus said, ‘You will receive power…and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8 NIV). So how did God get them out of their comfort zone? By lighting a fire under them! ‘…Great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and …Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went’ (Acts 8:1-4 NIV). We all believe the gospel must be preached to every nation, but few of us want to leave home and take it to them. We’re willing to pray, and even pay, as long as we get to stay. But when God has a mission for you, He will do whatever it takes to get you moving. Before He will let you miss out on your destiny, He will permit trouble to uproot you. You can’t freeze-frame the past or relive it. And you can’t keep God’s blessing to yourself. When God lights a fire under you, He’s saying; ‘It’s time for you to move

‘WHEREFORE BELOVED,

BE DELIGEND’

The Lord God had put the man in the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it (Gen 2:15). The woman should have been ‘a help-mate’ for Adam in this work. As she neglected her responsibilities towards Adam, the devil lost no time in making use of her negligence to duty, to make her busy in his own pernicious plans. True, the idle mind (and also the body) is the devil’s workshop. If we are not busy in Gods business then we will get busy in the devil’s business.

“At the time when kings go forth to battle… David tarried still at Jerusalem” (II Sam 11:1). This utter negligence to duty soon made David an adulterer and murderer, the stain of which sin clings to him eternally (Read II Samuel 11^th chapter).

Let us labor with Jesus in His garden, the church. The devil will come after us only if we are slothful in laboring or suffering in the church.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet 5:8).

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind; for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” (I Pet 4:1).

“My beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”

 (1 Corinthians 15:58).

WHEN YOU BEAR A GRUDGE, YOUR CHILD WILL ALSO BEAR A GRUDGE.

While Jesus traveled and taught, His dear friend John the Baptist was still locked up in prison. King Herod had put him there because John had told him he should not have married his brother’s wife, a woman called Herodias. She hated John and wanted him dead. If it had not been for Herodias, John would have been free.

On King Herod’s birthday he held a big party and invited all his friends, family, counselors, generals and other important people who served him. The palace was full of people laughing, drinking and eating. The musicians started playing a strange and lovely song and everyone turned to watch as a beautiful young woman started dancing. Her feet hardly touched the floor. She was more graceful than any dancer they had ever seen.

King Herod smiled. “That is the daughter of my wife, Herodias.” He said. “Nobody else can dance like her.”

Slowly, but surely, the girl made her way over to Herod’s table and danced right in front of him. With a last twirl and toss of her head, she knelt before Herod. The king felt even drunker when he looked into her eyes.

He said. “Ask me for anything you want and I’ll give it to you.” Then he promised with an oath which could not be broken.

The girl ran off to her mother, Herodias and said. “What will I ask for?”

Herodias smiled wickedly. “Ask for the head of John the Baptist on a tray.”( Now Herod had arrested John, bound [him], and put him in prison on account of Herodias,^* the wife of his brother Philip, 4^e for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5^f Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet.Mathew 14)

When the girl returned to the king and told him her request, the king was very upset.

“John is a good man, how can I possibly have him killed?” He thought to himself.

He looked around; all the important people were watching him. Herod felt weak.

“Very well.” He told a guard. “Bring me John’s head on a tray.”

When John’s disciples and friends heard that he was dead, they went to the prison and claimed John’s body for a burial. They went and told Jesus about John’s death. When Jesus heard that His closest friend was dead He grew very, very sad.mercylink2@gmail.com

To be a good leader you must do these two things!

 1) Spend time with the people. For four hundred years the children of Israel had been leaderless. As a result, they had no identity or self-worth. Actually, they had a slave mentality. So Moses often walked amongst them, because sheep gain confidence by smelling the shepherd’s scent and rubbing up against him. Getting the idea? If you’re afraid to get close to people, maybe it’s because you’ve too much to hide—like pride, or insecurity, or weakness. Only when people feel truly valued will they value you and follow you. 2) Get out ahead of the people. How do you know when it’s time to move to new territory? ‘…The people murmured against Moses…’ (v.3). That’s because there was no water where they were, and thirsty sheep always complain. When the murmuring starts, you may have spent too long ocializing. It’s time for transition. ‘The Lord said unto Moses, “Go on before the people…smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it’’’ (vv.5-6). When you stop trying to fit in, and get out ahead of them, God will give you supernatural resources equal to the challenge you’re facing. No vision is permanently stopped by lack of finances, but by a lack of faith and courage, and an unwillingness to step out and take risks. When you do, you’ll discover that God can ‘…supply all your need according to His riches in glory…’ (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). According to what? His riches! And they are available when you’re willing to get out of your comfort zone and act boldly!