OCTOBER 20TH; THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE

Romans 8:14 says ‘ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.’

DAILY READING; • Hebrews 11:1-22; Exodus 13:1-14:31; Proverbs 5

During summer of 2015, Hamas terrorists secretly began to build tunnels that would enable them to transport weapons and invade Israel.
These terrorists had planned for their tunnels to exit in an area that was near the farming village of Sufa in Israel. It was perfect to them because this was an area of farmland concealed by tall stems of wheat. Their plan was to come out of their tunnel and hide in these wheat fields and from there attack the Jewish population in that area.
However, what the terrorists didn’t take note of was the Jew’s obedience to the instructions of the Bible. According to Jewish customs, there is a biblical mandate that requires farmers to harvest before a sabbatical year. And so in obedience, the Jewish farmers harvested all the wheat before the commencement of that sabbatical year.
Still thinking the farms were full of tall wheat that would hide them, these Hamas terrorists then exited their tunnel on July 17th 2015. It was a rude shock to them to find themselves in an empty open land. Without the tall wheat for cover, the terrorists were quickly spotted and intercepted by the Israeli Defense Forces. A potential massacre was avoided because of this miracle.

Through their obedience to the Biblical commandment, these Jewish farmers were preserved, while their enemies were exposed. Indeed obeying God will always enable us to escape the plans of the wicked.

Especially in this perilous times, as the enemy goes about looking for whom to devour, we will enjoy divine immunity when we walk in the path of obedience to God’s Word.
Growing in spiritual maturity and sonship means coming to the point where we are no longer being led by our five physical senses, rather we are being led by the Spirit of God.

Romans 8:14 says ‘ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.’

Our manifestations as the sons of God will be a function of our obedience to divine guidance. It will mean operating with spiritual discernment which will enable us escape the snares and pits of the wicked.

The truth is that we are living in dangerous times, and we need God to continually guide our feet and expose the secrets of men’s hearts to us.
We cannot afford to live or walk carelessly in this season. We are at a time where you don’t just leave your house in the morning without ensuring you are under divine cover. But as we carefully follow Biblical instructions and quickly obey divine promptings, God will go ahead of us and make every crooked path straight. As we fulfill God’s demand of obedience He will surely avenge for us against every disobedience of the wicked.

2 Corinthians 10:6 says ‘ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.’

Indeed when we fulfill all that God demands of us, no force in hell can resist our advancement on earth.
Let us therefore today, receive the grace for delight-some obedience to God’s Word . As we continually walk in obedience, we will live in dominion and rule in the midst of our enemies.

PRAYER, Father I thank You for granting me the grace to walk in total obedience to Your Word at all times. As I do, I thank You Lord for releasing Your manifold blessings in my life in this season in Jesus Name

QUOTE
God knows how to work everything together in your life for your own good . WORDBITE 222.

OCTOBER 19; PRAYER CHANGES THINGS..

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ‘For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;’

DAILY READING; Hebrews 10:19-39; Exodus 11:1-12:51; Proverbs 4

During the Cold War, Germany was split into Western and Eastern Germany. Because West Germany was more prosperous, there was a mass migration of people of East Germany to West Germany. In a bid to stop this, the oppressive communist government of East Germany, in 1961 built a massive dividing wall across their border.
Unable to escape anymore, the people of East Germany, especially the Christians, suffered a lot of oppression under the atheist communist government.

In the town of Leipzig, Pastor Christian Führer began to rally people around to pray for God’s intervention in their Nation. Though he was arrested by security forces and warned to stop, yet the number that gathered at the Church for these prayers continued to increase.
Finally the government decided to send the military to forcefully stop the prayer gatherings on October 9th 1989.
On that day, because a blood-bath was expected, doctors set up emergency clinics.
Yet, despite barricades and hundreds of armed police, that night about 8,000 people crammed into the church, with as many as 70,000 people outside. It was the largest impromptu demonstration ever witnessed in East Germany.
With the pastor leading the congregation, they marched out on the streets, holding candles, linking arms and praying. It seemed incredulous, that the people were attempting to fight military hardware with prayers.
However, as they marched in defiance to the government, astonishingly, inexplicably, it seemed as if an invisible hand stopped the police from shooting. Not a single shot was fired. A government official would later tell the media “We were prepared for every eventuality, except for prayers…”
Indeed the spiritual weapon of prayer defeated the hardware weapons of tanks and guns.
God continued to do amazing things as soon confusion erupted among the government officials and a week later, East Germany leader, Erich Honecker was forced to resign.
Then on 9th of November, exactly a month after the failed massacre of Christians on 9th October, the Berlin walls came down inexplicably. On that day, while addressing a press conference, the government spokesman mistakenly declared that the government had opened the borders. Before he could correct himself, a lot of people rushed to the Berlin wall and overwhelmed the border guards who abandoned their posts. That day many people freely crossed into Western Germany, The berlin wall was eventually brought down, marking the end of the separation and an end of the oppressive communist government of East Germany.

Indeed every move of God begins with a prayer investment. The revival and revolution that ushers change into a nation is often birthed in the womb of prayer.
The change that came to East Germany through the Leipzig Prayer Rallies is a clear example of this. Prayer is indeed powerful.
Every oppression in our nations can be overturned through prayer. It doesn’t matter how intimidating the machinery of the opposition, when we fight on our knees, we stand in victory. Indeed the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. [2 Corinthians 10:4-5]

One of the greatest theologian of the 20th century, Karl Barth, said that “to clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.”
Indeed when we sincerely begin to cry out in the place of prayer for change, God will orchestrate events for the birth of a new season. The prayer altar is a labor room that has the capacity to birth a nation at once. (Isaiah 66:7-8).

When we engage the power of prayers, God will arise to heal our land.
In 2 Chronicle 7:14 God says “14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

God will use our prayers to usher in an awakening and a righteous revolution in our land.
As sons of God we have been given the power to control the affairs in our nations. When we bind or lose on earth, Heaven acts accordingly.
Therefore, as we stand at threshold of a new beginning, let us begin to wield the weapon of prayer like never before. As we pray, declaring God’s Word and praising Him, certainly God will arise to establish Heaven’s agenda for us and our nation in this season.

PRAYER; Father we thank You for the great and mighty things You are doing in our lives. We thank You Lord for imposing Your will over our nations and establishing Your perfect will for us in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
When you are living and walking in the supernatural everything natural becomes subservient to you – WORDBITE 222.

OCTOBER 18; GOD WILL VINDICATE YOU..

Psalm 34:5 says ‘‘They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.’

DAILY READING; Hebrews 9:23-10:18; Exodus 9:1-10:29; Proverbs 3

In 1947 a strange incident took place which astounded the world and firmly shut up the mouth of Bible critics. That year, God orchestrated an event that certainly unnerved the naysayers who had been questioning the authenticity of the Bible.
Before then, in the early 20th century, critics had been having a field day by claiming that the Bible was full of errors because there were no ancient scripts that supported its originality.
However in an unexpected turn of events, God made a Bedouin shepherd boy who was looking for his lost sheep to find the Bible’s ancient scripts. The shepherd boy had thrown stones into a cave where he thought the lost sheep might be hiding, but to his surprise what he heard was the echo of the stones hitting jars. Curios, he went into the cave. There he discovered ten tall jars with scrolls carefully placed in them.
This was the opening chapter to the astonishing discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. What is amazing is that those scrolls had been lying in that cave undisturbed for 1900 years! And just when it mattered most God caused these ancient scripts to be discovered. Their discovery would be one of the most important finds in the history of modern archaeology.
Amazingly, though these scripts were at least a thousand years older than the oldest Bible Script at that time, it was discovered that their words were the same words as those found in the modern Bibles. This indeed proved that there were no errors in the modern Bible, and it brought to a halt the argument of the naysayers.

Psalm 34:5 says ‘‘They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.’

We can always trust the faithfulness of God, He indeed knows how to defend His Name and how to defend His people.
Also in our lives, God knows how to show up at the right time and vindicate us in ways and manners that will utterly shut up our critics. He is indeed able to orchestrate events that will prove you before men. You can’t explain it, but suddenly God can do things that will put to shame your detractors and authenticate your testimony as a child of God. The truth is that those that put their trust in God are never put to shame.
Perhaps you have been believing God to vindicate you over certain issues. Though it may seem to be taking long, it doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen. Just remain faithful and trusting, stay in faith and keep giving glory to God.
God has indeed seen every wrong that’s been done to you. He has seen every person that hurt you, every tear you shed, every lonely night and every injustice. And just like He vindicated the Bible through discovery of the ancient Scripts, God will arise and vindicate you because you are His child.
God is about to show up and do things in your life that will let men know that this can only be the finger of God. While they may be waiting for your downfall, God will suddenly lift you and prepare a table for you right in the presence of your enemies.
What was meant for evil, God will turn it all around to your advantage. God will open doors in your life that no man can shut. God will compress time in your favor and restore to you the lost years and establish your dream. As you continually praise Him in this season, He is going to take over your battles and fight for you and indeed give you certain victory.

PRAYER: Lord, Thank You for vindicating me and fighting my cause. Thank You Lord for Your good hand upon my life that is turning things around in my favor in Jesus Name.
QUOTE
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you. WORDBITE 222

OCTOBER 17; FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST.

Proverbs 22:29 says ‘Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.’

DAILY READING; • Hebrews 9:1-22; Exodus 6:28-8:32; Proverbs 2

Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist whose music ranks amongst the most performed of the classical music repertoire. Beethoven composed some of the most glorious music played in the Church during his generation and beyond.
He remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music and up till today, he is widely celebrated for being an innovator and an undisputed master at his art.

Beethoven dedicated his life to become the best at his work, which meant countless hours of practice, revisions, and overcoming many personal and professional difficulties.
From the age of seven years he made his first public recital on March 26, 1778, where he played impressively.
By 12 years he was already earning money through music and helping to support his parents. As a prodigiously talented musician, Beethoven’s fame soon quickly spread and he was in high demand.

However, at the age of 26, he began experiencing hearing difficulties. Though initially devastated, yet he didn’t let that stop him. He determined to continue producing music and went on to compose some of his greatest works while he was deaf. Indeed his faith in God, his diligence and dedication to his work, made him to become one of the greatest composers of all time. During his time, he was highly sought after by kings and queens and played in the best courts and palaces of that era.

Proverbs 22:29 says ‘Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.’

To be outstanding in life we must give total focus to our calling.
It is tragic that today many people run after whatever can give them money with little regard for their God-given talent. They seek influence in every area, but miss pursuing the gift that is meant to give them the greatest influence and affluence. They know how to do many things with average ability, but lack the skill to do exceptionally well the one thing they are gifted in.
God has given each of us a specific gift which is meant to bring us before great men and ensure that we end up with a glorious destiny.

In Jeremiah 29:11 God says ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end’.

However, though God has such great plans for us, our glorious destinies begin with the discovery of God’s plan and focus on our area of calling. As we seek God first, spend time in His Word and prayers and listen for His voice, He will show us where to focus our time and energy on.
To actualize God’s plan for our lives, we must concentrate on our area of uniqueness and strength and continuously develop it.
It is expedient that we invest in it and give it our total focus, because that is what will determine our ultimate rating in life.
In this endtime, we can’t afford to be a jack of all trade, wasting energy in pursuing everything, rather than investing in the one thing that matters most, which is our calling.

When we stay focused on our calling and give it all it takes, we will maximize our potentials and fulfill God’s preordained plan for us on earth.
Indeed when we seek God and His kingdom first, then every other thing shall be added unto us. .

PRAYER: Lord I thank You for granting me the grace to focus on the area of my calling. As I seek Your will, I thank You for Your blessings being released upon me in this season in Jesus name.

QUOTE :
God’s promises in Christ in your life may appear delayed, but never forget that delays are not denials. WORDBITE 222

OCTOBER 16; LIFTED BY THE WORD..

Hebrews 4:12 ‘For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart .

DAILY READING; • Hebrews 8; Exodus 5:1-6:27; Proverbs 1

Emmanuel Pacquiao, popularly known as Manny, is a Filipino professional boxer and politician. Manny is the first boxer in history to win ten world titles in eight different divisions, making him an eight-division world champion.
Manny grew up poor in the Philippines and at 12years of age, he began to fight, rising through the ranks as a talented boxer.
With the money he earned, he began to support his poor mother. However, as Manny grew older, though he was born into a Christian family, he began to stray from God. He began living a riotous life of drinking, gambling and adultery. The money he earned from his budding boxing career was spent so carelessly that he stopped assisting his mother. One day he received a letter from her saying his sister had dropped out of school because there was no money. Manny was so immediately full of remorse that he wept bitterly, blaming himself for squandering all the money on alcohol.
That same night in 2011, Manny had a powerful dream where he said he heard the voice of God calling him. The dream so powerfully impacted him that it became the turning point in his life. Soon after that, he felt compelled to pick up the Bible and begin reading. As a result of the power of God’s Word, and the working of the Holy Spirit, Manny surrendered his life to Jesus Christ. From then on Manny’s life became transformed as he began to experience unprecedented growth in his spiritual life and also saw great progress in his boxing and political career. Today, he remains vocal about his Christian faith and continually gives God the glory for the positive transformation in his life.

Hebrews 4:12 says ‘For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart .

Indeed the power in God’s Word can break through any hardened heart and bring about a positive transformation.
When David strayed from God’s will by committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering Uriah, his conscience appeared to be hardened. But when God sent the prophet Nathan to him, the Word of God broke through David’s hardened heart when nothing else could and brought him to repentance. (2 Samuel 12).

At any point a believer’s heart becomes hardened or disconnected from God, through the Word of God, the hold of sin can be broken and he can experience restoration.
The entrance of God’s Word gives light, it can lift a man from any depth of despair and break every hold of darkness in his life.

If perhaps today you are feeling depressed, discouraged or simply spiritually dry, God’s Word is able to lift you up out of any mental or emotional pit and set you back upon your feet. As you study the Word, the Holy Spirit accesses your heart and begins His work of restoration.

Ezekiel 2:2 says ‘And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.’

It is through the Word of God, that our minds are renewed and our lives are transformed. [Romans 12:2]
Indeed the Word is the primary instrument God uses to advance us into spiritual growth and progress in life. The more we feed on the Word, the more we are able to think and act as sons of God.
No matter where you may be today, God’s Word is indeed able to transform you and bring definite restoration.
Let us today, indeed praise God and thank Him for the power in His Word, which is able to lift us from any depth, set our feet upon a solid rock and give us a definite positive change of story.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for total divine restoration in my life through the power in Your Word. Thank You Lord for the manifestations of Your glory in every area of my life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
The study of The Word will keep shame and disgrace far from you. WORDBITE 222

OCTOBER 15; EQUIPPED FOR DOMINION..

Hebrews 12:6-7 ‘For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

DAILY READING Hebrews 7; Exodus 3:1-4:31; Psalm 41

The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special unit of the British Army, equipped and trained for missions that are deemed impossible.
In September 2000, this Special Forces unit undertook a daring hostage rescue operation in the war-torn West African country of Sierra Leone.
11 British soldiers and one Sierra Leonean soldier had been captured by a vicious armed gang known as the West Side Boys. This extremely dangerous and unpredictable gang had kept these hostages hidden deep in the jungle.

Fearing the execution of their soldiers, the British government tried to negotiate with the gang for their release. But when negotiations broke down, the SAS special forces were then dispatched to Sierra Leone to execute a daring rescue operation codenamed ‘Operation Barras’.

It was a high-risk operation, that meant the team had to travel by boat to hide in the deep jungle near the West Side Boys’ bases. This British special troop endured grueling days of living silently in dense vegetation, suffering insect bites and other irritants.
On September 10, against the odds, the special forces invaded the base of the west side boys. At some point these soldiers had to jump out of the helicopters into a waist-deep swamp, to engage the west side boys in a bitter fighting. The British special troop eventually emerged victorious and rescued all the hostages.
The skill and professionalism of Britain’s Special Forces were applauded globally, however it was a result of years of intense training, where they are equipped to survive in the toughest conditions.
SAS selection is one of the most grueling military training courses in the world, where barely 10% of the participants pass.
However successful candidates who endure to the end are badged and posted to become part of this celebrated British Special forces.

As believers in this end-times we are God’s special troop. We are the sons of God dispatched on earth for the special rescue mission of captives held in the wicked grip of the devil.
Indeed the whole earth is groaning , waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God to rescue them.

God has given us a divine assignment to go into all the world and preach the Gospel for the rescue and deliverance of mankind. And for us to be successful in this mission we must be willing to subject ourselves to rigorous spiritual training and discipline. Remember that our wrestle is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. And if our mission is to rescue souls then we must first be empowered to bind the strong man holding them captive.

Therefore for us to be successful we must grow in spiritual maturity. We must grow in the spiritual discipline of prayer, worship, diligent study of the Word, fasting , fellowship with the Spirit, etc.

No one can fulfill God’s divine mandate while living an untrained and undisciplined life. Spiritual discipline is what shapes and sharpens us for victory in our assignment. Being sons of God means we must continually subject ourselves to His discipline, chastening and corrections.

Hebrews 12:6-7 says ‘For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Indeed to be victorious, we need to discipline ourselves to constantly hear God’s Word and promptly follow His instructions. Through high level spiritual discipline we will become fully trained and equipped to operate as sons of God and successfully carry out His divine rescue operation on earth.

PRAYER; Lord please help me to constantly subject myself to spiritual discipline of Your Word and the guidance of Your Spirit. Thank You Lord for the grace to fulfill Your divine assignment for my life in Jesus Name.

QUOTE

When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from destruction, WORDBITE 222

OCTOBER 14; PROTECTED BY THE BLOOD.

Exodus 12:13 ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’

DAILY READING – Hebrews 6:13-20; Exodus 1:1-2:25; Psalm 40

Recently many global news outlets reported that there is a massive dent in Earth’s protective shield. This shield is the magnetic field around the Earth that acts as its protection. The shield is responsible for repelling and trapping charged particles from the Sun.
Usually, the Sun expels a constant outflow of particles and magnetic fields known as the solar wind. The protective shield around the earth keeps these particles away from the earth and its orbiting satellites.

However recently in August 2020, World’s premier space agency NASA said that this earth’s protective layer is in danger because a massive chunk of it has become weakened thus causing a dent in it. This dent, located over South America and Southern Atlantic Ocean, [called the South Atlantic Anomaly, or SAA] is splitting into two and getting wider with the passage of time.
This is causing a huge concern for scientists as it is feared that particle radiation in this region can knock out computers and interfere with satellites. Currently, a host of NASA scientists are carefully observing and monitoring this phenomenon in order to predict future changes – and help prepare for future challenges to satellites and humans.

Just like the protective shield around the earth, spiritually also, there is an invisible shield that surrounds and protects every believer. This is the shield of the precious Blood of Jesus. However, what a joy to know that we never have to worry about the weakening of this shield that protects us day and night. The crimson stream of the Blood of Jesus is our eternal protection that will never lose its power. It is the most awesome shield and protection available to mankind. The fountain of the Blood never runs dry, it never suffers a dent and it is never depleted. It is our ever constant shield from the evil in the world.
In the book of Exodus, the Blood effectively protected the Israelites from the plagues of Egypt. Through the blood applied to the doorposts, while the plague raged in Egypt, God kept His people safe under the covering of the blood. .

In Exodus 12:13, God said ‘And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.’

In the same way, today, the Blood of Jesus continues to protect us from every plague on the earth. As we daily plead the Blood, it acts as a shield around us and our household. Through the blood of Jesus, no evil shall befall us and no plague can come near our dwelling place.
The Blood of Jesus ever remains powerful to protect us from the arrows of the wicked that fly by day and night. It protects us from sickness, from harm and from every evil on the earth. The power in the Blood of Christ is ever sufficient to cover and protect us, no matter what may be going on in the world.
Therefore whatever may seem to be coming against you today, as you confront it with the Blood of Jesus, your victory is assured. Indeed as long as you abide secured under the Blood, there is no weapon that is formed against you that will ever prosper.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that by the Blood of Jesus I am shielded and protected from every arrow of the wicked. Thank You Lord for the constant shield of the Blood around me and my family now and always in Jesus Name.

Quote
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you. Wordbite 222

OCTOBER 13; LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BRIGHTLY…

Psalm 119:11 ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’

DAILY READING; Hebrews 4:14-6:12; Genesis 49:1-50:26; Psalm 39

A.C. Green is an American basketball star, who is known as the NBA’s ‘Iron Man’, for his record of never missing a single game from 1987 to 2001. He played a total of 1,192 consecutive games and holds the NBA’s record for most consecutive regular season games played.
This record is perhaps a testimony of his consistency as a committed Christian, as he is known for practicing what he preaches.

He is also well known for his decision to stay celibate until marriage. Initially, this had made him to become a laughing stock among his teammates as they didn’t take him seriously. Some teammates even took bets, saying it was only a matter of time before he changed his mind, because in the NBA, the chances for immorality was rife and the temptation was high.
As months flew by and his teammates realized that he was indeed serious, some of them began to plot to directly get him to fall into immorality. They would often send beautiful women to his hotel room to tempt him. But A.C Green would use the opportunity for evangelism as he preached to these women and gave them Scriptures quotations.
Through commitment, dedication and discipline, A.C Green remained a virgin until 2002 when he eventually got married. His life of purity and exemplary Christianity has today positively affected many people for Christ.
Ironically also, some of the team mates that used to laugh at him, would eventually come back later to tell him they wished they too had practiced abstinence until marriage, because of the consequences of their bad decisions, which they had begun to see.

As believers we really need to practice what we preach. One of the best advertisements for the Christian faith is a transformed life. The way we live our lives should be an example to the world that there is power in the Gospel that we preach.

Jesus said we should let our light shine before men so they may see our good works. This means we must turn on our light in the dark world. No one lights a lamp just to hide it under a basket. A lamp is meant to be placed on a stand to give light to everyone around. We are therefore to live exemplary lifestyles before men that will point them to Christ.

Light is the most effective in dark places. As a representative of Christ, you’re like a walking light bulb in a dark world. And people are constantly watching to see how your walk matches your talk. When people see us practice a life of excellence and integrity it impacts them perhaps more than what we only preach.
We indeed need to be a model of good works to the world around us.
We cannot allow ourselves to be overcome by the darkness in the world and live like everyone else. Rather we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires (Romans 13:14).

As you shine God’s light in the world, people may sometimes laugh at you or even resist you for living righteously. But when you remain a consistent witness, it is only a matter of time before the light within you overcomes the darkness around you.

However, you can’t give what you don’t have. This is why it is important for us to grow in spiritual maturity and discipline.
Through the Word of God we receive the power to live disciplined lives. God’s Word carries sanctifying virtues that enables us to live righteously.

Psalm 119:11 says ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’

The Scriptures say whosoever is born of God does not commit sin because His seed is in him. And the seed is the Word of God.

We also need to live prayerful lives because though the spirit is willing, the flesh is often weak. [Mathew 26:41].

Indeed through a lifestyle of fervent prayers, diligent study of God’s Word, and praise; our light will so shine before men that they will see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

PRAYER; Lord, please help me to maintain a lifestyle of diligent study of Your Word, fervent prayers and praise. As Your light shines through me, may it shatter every darkness around me in Jesus Name.

Quote
God knows how to work everything together in your life for your own good. WORDBITE 222.

OCTOBER 12; BORN TO OVERCOME…

1 John 5:4 ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith’.

DAILY READING; Hebrews 3:1-4:13; Genesis 48; Psalm 38

On March 30, 1981, President Ronald Reagan was standing outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington D.C., when an assassin, standing just 10 feet away opened fire on him. One of the bullets hit the left side of the presidents chest, piercing his seventh rib and coming to rest in his lung.

He was immediately rushed to George Washington University Medical Center. But despite being severely wounded and bleeding, the president, insisted on walking into the hospital by himself without any aid. In so doing, Reagan who was a Christian and a man of great faith was exercising his belief that through God he would survive the deadly attack.

And God indeed intervened to save Reagan through a series of miracles. Doctors were amazed to find that despite losing 3.7 quarts of blood, which was more than half of the blood in his body, Reagan was still alive. Even more amazing was the fact that the bullet had stopped just an inch from piercing his heart. The FBI also later found out that the bullets that hit him were “Devastators,” which were customized .22-caliber cartridges designed to explode upon impact, yet it had failed to explode within Reagan, despite being shot at very close range.

Miraculously, less than two weeks later, on April 11, the resilient Reagan was discharged and returned to the White House. He concluded his diary entry for that day with this statement:
“Whatever happens now I owe my life to God and will try to serve him in every way I can.”
Afterwards, Reagan not only publicly forgave his assassin but also sought for a private meeting in which to personally forgive him.

Indeed every one born of God is born to overcome. The distinguishing attribute of the sons of God is the exercise of great faith.

1 John 5:4 says ‘For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith’.

Faith will always guarantee us victory. However, we must not wait for trouble before we begin to build up faith, rather we must prepare for war in the time of peace.
We must always live ready because life is a warfare and not a fanfare; it is a battle ground and not a playground. We must therefore build up our faith in advance, so that during trials and challenges, we will always have what it takes to overcome.

Every believer has the responsibility to go in pursuit of faith by deliberately making daily withdrawals from the Book of life. It is something we must do consistently, to position ourselves for constant victory in life. We must never assume we have faith, if we have not first developed a lifestyle of diligent study of God’s Word. Faith comes by hearing and understanding the Word of God (Romans 10:17).

As sons of God in these last days, we must always live vigilant because there is an enemy who is going about looking for whom to devour. But as we live spiritually prepared through a life of faith, prayer and praise we will always be the victors in every battle and never the victims. Indeed as we constantly take up the shield of faith, we will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked (Ephesians 6:16).
Through the exercise of our faith, we will indeed always overcome the world.

PRAYER; Lord, I thank you for the grace to always live ready by consistent study of your word. Through the faith built up in me, I know I am more than a conqueror in every battle of life in Jesus Name.

Quote
When you apply The Word of God, it will work for you, anywhere and anytime- WORDBITE 222.

OCTOBER 11; A LIFE OF POWER AND IMPACT

Hebrews 5:13-14 says ‘For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

DAILY READING; Hebrews 2; Genesis 46:28-47:31; Psalm 37

Billy Graham died on 21 February 2018 at the age of ninety-nine years. Long before he died, he had said beforehand, ‘Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.’

Indeed Billy Graham could be sure of where he was going due to how he had lived his life.
From the age of sixteen years, after hearing God’s call, he had become a faithful messenger of the Gospel.
He preached with so much fire that German newspapers once called him “God’s Machine Gun.”
He became well-known internationally and became one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century.

Billy Graham preached to live audiences of 210 million people in more than 185 countries and territories through various meetings. Because of his crusades, Graham preached the gospel to more people in person than anyone in the history of Christianity. He indeed lived a life of great impact that continues to positively affect the world even today.

As children of God, we are ordained for global impact and mountaintop lives on earth.
Matthew 5:14 says ‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid’
It is indeed God’s will that we impact the world around us for His glory.

However, to fulfill that glorious destiny, certain things must be in place. For our lives to manifest in glory and power, we must first be prepared to pay the required price of undergoing the process of spiritual maturity.

Spiritual growth is a non-negotiable requirement in manifesting God’s glory in our lives. And our diet for spiritual growth is God’s Word. The more of the Word we eat the more we will grow spiritually.

When we received salvation, we became born again as spirit beings. And just as our physical body eats food to grow to adulthood, so also our spirit man must eat the Word to grow to spiritual maturity.

Our level of impact is not about how long we have been born again but the depth of our knowledge in the Word of God. Maturity is not a function of age but of depth.

To experience spiritual growth and development, we must therefore be willing to learn from God’s Word.

Our depth in the Word will determine our height in life.
Indeed until our mind is renewed; our lives cannot be transformed.
When we study deeply, eating the strong meat of the Word, we will develop the spiritual muscles to live in dominion and power as sons of God on earth. Then, that is when we can begin to manifest God’s glory and live impactful lives that will positively affect our generation for Jesus. .

PRAYER;

Lord, I thank You because dominion has been restored to me through salvation. I bless You Lord, for the authority and power that You have given me to manifest Your glory on earth in Jesus Name.

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When you obey God’s instruction you are delivered from
destruction. WORDBITE 222