Category: Religion

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.’” Luke 15:20 NKJV

Our text today is from the parable of the prodigal son who sought to receive his inheritance from his father, with a plan to travel to a distant land where he squandered it on various activities. By this request and subsequent action, this young man displayed a rebellious nature of wanting to live independently of his father’s will. This is the position that many of us find ourselves in today, even as Christians.

Unfortunately, a famine hit the land after he was done wasting his resources, and he found himself in a pigs’ pen where he had to eat the same meal with them to survive. Then, after he came to himself, he decided to return to his father, whom he had abandoned, but not as a son, but as a servant.

While the prodigal son was still afar of, his father sighted him and ran to receive him. What does that tell you? The father had been expecting the return of his son. He was always on the lookout for him; that was why he could recognize him from a great distance. Put on your imagination: The young man must have been battered, having suffered from the famine and stressed from his journey. Even in that deplorable state, the father still ran to meet him and embraced him, out of compassion.

According to the Jewish law and culture, it was forbidden and very disgraceful for a father to run in that manner. Following the tradition of the day, the son would have been welcomed to a ceremony of shame because of what he had done. But rather than allow that, his father reached out to him in love, and extended grace to him, even when the law condemned him. Even with all his filth, the father still embraced and kissed him. Oh what manner of love! This is how God loves us in spite of our mess.

Further Reading: Luke 15:11-24
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 15-16; Evening- Matthew 27:1-26

BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 5: 33-37

33. ” Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’
34. “But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35. “nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36. “Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
37. “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. MESSAGE:
    Jesus taught against swearing. He forbids swearing by anything by heaven because it is the throne of God or earth because it is God’s footstool. He enjoins us that our yes should be yes and our no, no. Jesus practised the life of transparency throughout His ministry on earth. Samuel stood before all Israelites and their new King, Saul, and asked them to say publicly whom he had defrauded while discharging his duties as a Prophet. The people answered, “no one” (1 Sam. 12:1-4). What a man!

Through swearing, people want to prove their innocence. When we were growing up, to prove we were telling the truth, we would spit on one of our fingers, rub it on the ground, touch our tongue, raise the finger and declare/shout, ‘truth to God!’ Once you did this, you were discharged and acquitted. Thank God that He did not strike us down because most of us swore in lies. Jesus is the Truth (John 14:6) and when you encounter Him, you will not struggle to tell the truth in any situation. Whenever you encounter others, they will believe whatever you tell them. Even in secular gatherings, believers are usually entrusted with money because of their integrity. Are you among those that tell the truth? Can people believe what you say? Society is looking for truthful persons. May we as Christians, be found by society to be truthful!

PRAYER:
Oh Lord, help me to always tell the truth. Amen.

Daily Fountain Quote of the Day

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You, and You have healed me. O Lord, You have brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit … For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:2,5)

Good morning sir/ma.

“Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord” Romans 12:11 KJV

Don’t allow the devil lie to you. You are God’s ambassador and His powerhouse. You are God’s authorized agent on earth. Yes, challenges may come as you navigate through the banana peels of life but you will come out victorious! By virtue of the price that has been paid on your behalf, you can never be stranded in life. However, we must never trivialize our relationship with God. That is why prayer is important. That we operate under grace does not mean we are no longer going to pray, worship or even fast; those are the things that test your understanding of God and assist you in your walk with God.

Don’t let anyone or anything stop you from serving God consistently. You must keep your enthusiasm alive in order for you to possess what God has made available for you. When you are not getting the results you’re expecting and believing for, check your enthusiasm and your pursuit. As the race gets tougher, never get casual with God. Rather, choose to be consistent. You are not worshipping God to make Him God; you are worshipping Him because He is God already. With or without you, He is God and He does not actually need you for anything. It is a privilege to have Him as your God. So, when God is telling you to get involved in whatever He is doing, it is rather for your good. He is complete all by Himself.

That circumstance will not be the end of you. I am standing in faith with you that with your eyes, you will see the manifestation of everything you have believed God for. Let the tempest rage and let the billows toss high, God’s plan and purpose for you will be established. The covenant keeping God will keep you and no evil will come near your dwelling place. Only with your eyes shall you behold the recompense of the wicked. Take your eyes away from impossibilities and set your eyes on the finished work of Christ.

Further Reading: Romans 12:1-21
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 13; Evening- Matthew 26:26-50

BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 5: 27-32

27. ” You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’
28. “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29. “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast [it] from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
30. “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast [it] from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.
31. ” Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’
32. “But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. MESSAGE:
    Jesus taught a deeper truth than what was known: He redefined fornication and adultery. Ordinarily, each of the two involves physical contact but Jesus made his listeners to understand that if you look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. All sins are first manufactured in the heart before execution. So, thinking about adultery is equivalent to carrying it out. Do not allow adultery in the heart to graduate to a physical one. Sexual sin is done with the body (1 Cor. 6:18).

When someone thinks deeply about any issue, he can carry it out if he has the opportunity. This includes adultery. Many men and women must have committed adultery in their hearts. How shocked your partner could be if they have the opportunity to see what is in your heart. Some men abandon their wives they swore in the church to stick to and look for other men’s wives and widows. Same goes for some women. These things start with unchecked lust in the heart. Proverbs 4:23 advises thus, “Keep your heart with all diligence. For out of it spring the issues of life. “Consciously watch the thoughts of your heart only a surrendered heart can be free from sin. Have you surrendered your heart to Jesus? If you have not, please do so now.

PRAYER:
May You help me dear Lord to check my thoughts so they don’t turn into action.

Daily Fountain Quote of the Day

“For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more …” (Psalm 37:9)

Goof day Sir/ma

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works…” Revelation 2:5 (KJV)

I remember when we were growing up and our ministry was starting. Every group was actively on fire. When you come to church, you will be hearing prayer from every corner. From children to adults, everyone was involved in spiritual activity. There was spiritual fire all over the place. I remember the young men of those days, many of whom are occupying powerful positions in society today. But they looked like nothing in those days; all they knew was to pray. There was so much passion for the things of God!

But today, even to be in church on time is a problem. Some people are not really sure whether they want to be in church at all; they would rather check online. Frankly, there is an anointing you can never receive online. There is a place of our gathering in our spiritual walk with God; except when government regulations do not permit church gatherings.

Why would anyone want to follow you to church when there is nothing enthusiastic about you? People are looking for something real. When they look at you and do not see how passionate you are about the God you profess to them, they may not want to serve that God because they don’t see Him in you. What are you showing the world that will make them want to follow you? The whole world is in a cup of trembling. Things are turning upside down. The only hope is Jesus. How can you stay from January to December, and there isn’t one person that you led to Jesus or that your life influenced? Do you really believe in this heaven? That if someone dies without Christ, he or she has gone to eternal damnation? Or, do you think it is a theory? If you believe it, you will cast them out of fire with every zeal that you have.

Don’t sabotage your own future by yourself. Let your zeal and fire return! Your life is Christ! You can never catch Christ without passion.

Further Reading: Revelation 2:1-7
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 8-10; Evening- Matthew 25:31-46

BIBLE READING: MATTHEW 5: 17-20

17. ” Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
18. “For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
19. “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches [them,] he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20. “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. MESSAGE:
    Jesus stated clearly that He did not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to fulfil them. During the Transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17, Moses represented the Law while Elijah represented the Prophets. God showed that power had changed hands when He declared at the mount, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him ” (Matt. 17:5). Hebrew 1:1-2 states that God in the olden times spoke through the prophets but now He has spoken through His Son, Jesus Christ. So, Jesus is the embodiment of the Law and the Prophets. He fulfilled both the Law and the Prophets: there is no controversy on that.

It is not easy keeping the Law. The Scripture states in James 2:10 that if one keeps all the laws and fails in one, he has failed in all. If it was easy to keep the Law, Jesus would not have come. The Law came through Moses but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17). When one accepts Jesus as Lord and personal Saviour. Jesus helps him fulfil the Law. Whoever has Jesus does not need struggle with keeping the Law. Jesus energises him and gives him the grace to fulfil the Law. Are you still struggling with keeping the Law? Jesus is here to your rescue. Invite Him today!

PRAYER:
Oh Lord, us You fulfilled the Law, may You help me to also do the same. Amen

Daily Fountain Quote of the Day

“The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25)

You are bless today and ever in Jesus name. Good day Sir and Madam.

“And he said, take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.” 2 Kings 13:18 (KJV)

In 2 Kings 13:14, Elisha was sick and about to die. This was the same Elisha who had received double portion of Elijah’s anointing. He performed twice the number of the miracles of Elijah; yet, he was sick and later died. Anointed men of God fall sick too. They pass through the same challenges as others because they did not fall from heaven.

Then Joash the king of Israel came down unto Elisha and wept calling him: “my father, my father.” Israel was in battle with Syria and the King needed direction. So, he came to the man of God. Elisha was not the king’s biological father but the king saw a father figure in him. When you see a father figure in someone, then he can pronounce the father’s blessing over you.

In verse 15, Elisha said, “take the bows and arrows.” Elisha’s instruction did not really make sense, but he obeyed. Then he was asked to put his hand on the bow, and he did. Elisha then put his hands upon the King’s hands. In verse 17, Elisha asked the king to open the window eastward and then Elisha asked him to shoot.

When Elisha asked him to smite the ground, he smote the ground thrice and stopped. Elisha was angry with him and said that the king should have smitten five or six times. Elisha was upset with him because he didn’t tell him to stop but he stopped. Thus, the king had placed a limitation on his victory. He had become casual. You know why? He probably thought he already knew what to do. The worst thing you can do to yourself is to assume that you already know what God will do. One of the things that set David apart from the rest of the kings is that he always inquired of the Lord. He never assumed that he knew every way by which God will function.

Further Reading: 2 Kings 13:14-19

Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 4-5; Evening- Matthew 24:29-51

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:” Hebrews 10:24. KJV
We live in a generation that is not so enthusiastic about God like before; a very lukewarm generation! It is important, therefore, that we continue charging one another as the dangerous days’ approach. Today, I would like to ask you: Where is your passion? Where is the fire you used to have for the Kingdom business? Where are the things that made you daring and go crazy for God? Where did you drop them? Have you joined the bandwagon of those that say, “let us just take it easy with this God?”

Jesus said in Revelation 3:16: “If you are neither hot nor cold, I will spue you out of my mouth.” (KJV). Some people who used to be on fire for the Lord have become smoke today. You need to check your passion. How excited are you in reading your Bible? How excited are you in waiting to hear what God is going to say next? How excited are you about coming to church? How excited are you about getting involved in spiritual activities?

It is a joy and a blessing to be involved. You never know the capacity you have until you start getting involved. That is what keeps us strong. Probably you are praying for several things and God is trying to bring out something from your life. However, you are limited because the fire is no more burning in you. I have often said that a fly does not perch on a hot pot. If demons are tormenting you and putting obstacles around you, could it be because you are no more zealous?

It is a costly thing to lose your zeal and miss your time of visitation. That can be very expensive. If you lose your zeal, it will affect every area of your life negatively. When God is telling you what to do, you may not be able to hear Him. I pray for you today that you will not lose your zeal and passion for God.

Further Reading: Revelation 3:14-22
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Leviticus 1-3; Evening- Matthew 24:1-28

”According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that has called us to glory and virtue.” 2 Peter 1:3 (KJV)
Everything you need to succeed in life, everything which pertains to life and godliness has been made available to you in Christ. So, you have no reason to fail. You have been called to a life of glory and virtue and God wants to showcase this glory in every area of your life. His intention is to bless and increase you until His hand is clearly evident in your life. No devil in hell will be able to stop you.
It is clear from the above scripture that the key to obtaining these exceeding great promises is nothing but the knowledge of God and His Word. It is vital for you to understand the place of knowledge if you must be rightly positioned. Paul understood this and said: “and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Philippians 3:8 KJV). In Colossians 1:9-10, Paul prays: “For this cause, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God” (KJV).

Let me draw your attention to another scripture in Ephesians 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (KJV). Beloved, these spiritual blessings are positioned in Heavenly places. This means they are in the realm of the Spirit. Thus, it’s your responsibility to download them into the realm of the physical where they can be experienced. This requires knowledge. So, you must seek knowledge and go after the truth.

Further Reading: John 8:32, Colossians 1:9-18
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Exodus 36-38; Evening- Matthew 23:1-22

“Not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 (MSG)
There is a blessing you can never receive by staying alone. The scripture tells us that we should not forsake the assemblies of ourselves together, as the manner of some is. When we gather as a church, there is a dimension of blessing that flows among us that can never flow when you are alone. That is why fellowship among us is very important. We may have one or two who are misbehaving; it still does not change the fact that we must fellowship because it is part of our amour. The Scripture declares: “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour” (Ecclesiastes 4:9 KJV).

When the enemy understands that you are not alone, you have brothers and sisters interceding on your behalf, he will back off from you. It is a blessing to have brethren who connect in the realm of the spirit on your behalf to destroy the yoke of darkness. When you belong to the family of God, you belong to a major family that the devil cannot destroy. Jesus said: “…build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18 KJV).

As you go about your assignment, never be afraid. The powers of heaven will fight for you! They will speak for you and silence the voice of your enemies. You are not alone! He has assured us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. The God that you and I serve will honour His Word in your life. He will exceed your imagination. He will open doors for you and make your miracles speak for you. Get ready for an overflow!

Are you believing God for a miracle? Then get ready. God will exceed your expectations! No satanic force will rob you of your joy. Your joy is coming, and it will affect your business, your job, your marriage, finance, academics, health, etc. Nothing will stop it!

Further Reading: Psalm 133:1-3, Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Daily Bible Reading: Morning- Exodus 34-35; Evening- Matthew 22:23-46