In John 4:14, the Bible says, “But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life”.
I will give you water to drink and you will never thirst, it will become a well of life. The first drink that you receive from the Lord comes from the outside, when it gets inside you, it becomes a well of water that will be springing up to eternal life.
There is a story about one king that went to another and said, “I want to settle here with you.” He was given a place.
He asked, can you give me just one palm tree? The host king said yes, have that one. And he went and cut one of the tender shoots, stucked it on the ground and said some incantations. The entire place was filled with thousands of palm trees. Thinking that he can now get enough palm fronds to build the city he wanted to build. When the host king saw the miracle that happened, he said, ‘you are too powerful for me. You can’t live near here, move a little further up’. As powerful as that second king was, he couldn’t produce palm trees until he was given one.
You can become a well that never runs dry, but first, you have to drink from the Lord Jesus Christ. In John 7:37-39, Jesus said if you come to me and drink and if you exercise your own faith, the well that is in you can become rivers.
I Thessalonians 5:23-24; Man is a trinity, Body, Soul and Spirit. The Spirit controls the soul and the body. If something starts from the spirit, it affects the soul and affects the body. It will first be felt inside, in the spirit; soon the brain which controls the soul will be affected. Not long after that, the body will also be affected.
In the same manner, when you drink the wine called the Holy Spirit, it will first of all, start within you in your spirit. Then it will affect your brain and you begin to think like God, and very soon, your body will be affected.
HOW DOES THE RIVER FLOW?
Matthew 12:34, says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” The river is going to flow out of your mouth. It will flow in various forms. According to Ephesians 5:18-21, it will flow in form of psalms, hymns, spiritual songs; that is, songs that you sing in tongues.
When you are born again and have come to Jesus to drink, early in the morning, you will find yourself singing, you are working in the kitchen and you are singing. As you develop in the spirit, you will even be singing in tongues. Ephesians 5:18 says that you are constantly, to be drunk with the divine wine. In other words, there is a well that can never run dry that you can drink from any-time. You are supposed to be constantly drinking the Holy Ghost.
In John 6:63, the Lord Jesus Christ said, “the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life”. Because he was full of the Holy Spirit, each time he spoke, the rivers of life flowed out of his mouth. When you are constantly drunk with the Holy Spirit, the words coming out of your mouth will be words of life.
Ephesians 6:10, 18:“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”.
You will soon discover that your strength will be determined by how freely you allow this river flow out of you. I Thessalonians 5:16-19 says, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the spirit”.
The Bible says:
(i) Rejoice forever more because the joy of the Lord is your strength.
(ii) Pray without ceasing
How can anyone pray without ceasing? How can the river flow forever more? How can I rejoice forever more? By praying in tongues. If you pray with understanding, no matter what you want to ask from God, by the time you pray for one hour, you must have exhausted all. How can you be praying and eating, except you pray in tongues. How can you be preparing a sermon and be praying? By praying in tongues. When you pray in tongues, your understanding is distinct. It is set apart, because it is your spirit that is praying. Then your understanding can do something else.
And then the Bible says, you must not hinder the flow of the Holy Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit keep on flowing as you rejoice evermore. As you pray without ceasing, let this river continue to flow.
Acts 2:13,“Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine”.
On the day of Pentecost, when the brethren were speaking in tongues, all the people who gathered from all nations, all tribes from all tongues, they all understood what the disciples were saying. God wants everyday to be a day of Pentecost, so that everyone will understand what God wants them to hear, so that thousands will come to the kingdom.
Acts. 2:41,“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls”.
On the day of Pentecost 3,000 souls were saved. Can you imagine if everyday 3,000 souls join our Church? I am sure we will have a good problem in our hand; how-to follow them up, care for them, how to get accommodation large enough to put them. Yet that is the wish of God for us.
Mark 16:18 says, “They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands in the sick, and they shall re-cover”.
If you do not hinder the flow of this river, the river will become so much that your mouth will not be big enough to allow them to gush out, so they will begin to find outlets through the pores in your body, through your sweat, so that when you begin to lay hands on the sick, power will flow through your sweat to the top of their heads, to give them healing. That is why you find somebody like Paul who lay his hands on handkerchief and send it to people and they will be healed.
Acts 19:11-12 says, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchief or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them”.
How come his handkerchief became so charged with power? Paul said, “I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all:” In other words, he allowed the rivers to flow more than anyone else. So they began to flow through the pores of his skin and very soon anything he touched became anointed. The same can be true of you.
PRAYER
Father, let today be another Pentecost for me. I want to be drunk with your Spirit. So that through me, rivers of living waters can flow, out of a well that can never run dry.
Action Point
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PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
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According to John 1:12, a disciple is a son of God. The Father-son relationship can be deepened in quality through constant fellowship with God. You are a son of God. A son can get closer to the Father. Some sons are closer to the Father than others.
In James 4:8, the Bible says, if you draw nearer to God, He will draw near you. It is up to you, how close you want God to draw to you.
In John 4:28, Jesus Christ said, “My Father is greater than I”. But by developing His relationship with the Father, He came to a measure of intimacy with His Father where He was able to say, “My Father and I are one,” one in interest, one in motivation and one in will (John 10:30).
In the same manner, the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd normally develops, first, from the sheep hearing the voice of the shepherd and then later on to knowing the shepherd. And the shepherd also always begins by ‘calling the sheep’ and then moves on to ‘leading them?’ We have a kind of development in relationship.
In John 10:3, the Bible says, the sheep hears the voice of the shepherd. In verse four, the Bible says, the sheep follows the shepherd, after knowing the shepherd, he is able to identify, this is my shepherd, that is the voice of my shepherd’.
The Bible says in John 10:14, the sheep knows the shepherd and they begin to follow the shepherd. Jesus Christ said “I am the good shepherd, I know my sheep, my sheep knows me. The sheep will not follow a stranger, If a stranger calls, the sheep will not follow”. Many people assume that the sheep is stupid. They are very clever. They know the voice of the shepherd. They hear the voice and they recognise and follow correctly.
In John 17:3, there is something more important than knowing God’s voice. That is knowing God Himself. That is what eternal life is all about. Jesus said, “that they might know thee the only true God”, that is eternal life.
We are going to look at Samuel and David, as examples of people who started by hearing God’s voice and then moved on, to knowing Him.
Example of Samuel: In I Samuel 3:3-7, when Samuel first heard the voice of God, he did not even know that God was the one speaking. Later on, from verse 8-10, he began to hear God’s voice clearly and began to recognise it through the assistance of Eli. By the time he got to I Samuel 8:6-9, he now knew the voice of God, without the assistance of Eli.
And then he moved on. In I Samuel 10:1-10, he could hear God clearly. Not only did he recognise the voice of God, he was also able to prophesy. By the time he got to I-Samuel 16:7-12, he had moved on to revelation knowledge. God can now reveal things to him.
When Samuel first heard the voice of God, he did not recognise it and then Eli helped him. Then he graduated to recognising the voice of God without Eli’s assistance and he moved on to prophecy and then he moved on to revelation knowledge. I pray, that like Samuel, you will progress in the knowledge of God, in Jesus’ name.
Example of David: David was a great prophet. He gave an accurate summary of the entire ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything that Jesus would do when He came to the world, when He went back to heaven and when He would return again, were recorded in detail for us by David one after the other.
(i) In Psalm 22:1, David prophesied about Jesus as the Lamb of God who was going to hang on the cross and cry out, My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me’?
(ii) In Psalm 23:1, he gave us the picture of Christ, the Great Shepherd of the sheep, supplying all our needs according to his riches in glory, Philippians 4:19. In other words, in Psalm 23:1, he gave us the ministry of our Lord Jesus for today; a good shepherd, looking after the sheep and supplying all their need.
(iii) And then in Psalm 24:7-10, he talked about Christ the soon coming King of glory, to whom the everlasting doors must open, as it is written in Revelation 19:14, 16.
In other words, he was talking about Jesus Christ of to-morrow.
Thus in Psalm 22:1, David told us of Jesus of yesterday. Psalm 23:1, he told us of Jesus of today and in Psalm 24: 7-10, Jesus of tomorrow.
Everything about the Lord Himself was given to Prophet David, so you can talk about Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.
HOW DID DAVID DEVELOP HIS PROPHETIC ABILITY?
It is through progressive intimacy with God.
There was a time when he said, morning, noon and evening, I will praise the Lord. That is to say three times daily, I will praise the Lord.
In Psalm 119: 164, He had progressed. He said, seven times daily, I will praise Him.
He moved on to say seven times may not be enough in one day. He said, my praise shall continually be of thee, Psalm 71:6.
He moved on to say, more and more will I praise thee, Psalm 71:4. And then he moved on and said, at all times, I will praise thee (Psalm 34:1). When I’m sleeping, waking up, sitting, hungry, on the battle field, on my throne, at all times, I will praise thee.
David developed from three times daily, to seven times daily, to continually, to more and more, until all the times. He kept on moving closer and closer to God.
You too can also grow in spiritual activities from hearing God’s voice to knowing God’s voice, to knowing God Him-self, by closer walk with God, studying and not merely reading the word of God, to meditating on the word of God, to absolute obedience. You will then be able to say, like Jesus Christ said, “My Father and I are One”.
You will notice that when you begin to spend time with God, you will find it enjoyable. The more time you spend with Him, the more time you will want to spend with Him. May God give us grace to move closer and closer to Him.
PRAYER
Why don’t you practice it now, praise Him for about five minutes. Tell Him, this is just the beginning. From now on, more and more will I become one with thee, O Lord.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
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In lesson SA3, we were talking about supernatural beings and we were comparing Elijah and Elisha. In lesson SA4, we want to continue with the supernatural beings. Jesus Christ is our own Elijah and we are His Elishas. We said that our captain, that is Jesus Christ, defeated the devil in the wilderness and brought in Joy, relief and abundance to people; changing water to wine, emptiness to fulfilment, shame to glory and defeat to victory; just as Elijah defeated the devil on Mount Carmel and he brought in showers of blessings.
II kings 2: 19-25, “And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, and as my Lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren. And he said, bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein, and they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of waters, and cast the salt in there, and said thus saith the Lord. I have healed these waters: there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake. And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head: go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tore forty and two children of them. And he went from thence to mount carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria.
When Elisha took over from Elijah in II kings 2: 19-25, Elisha also began to do greater works than Elijah. For example, he changed curses to blessings; he wiped out demon infected creatures. He rescued a woman who was a debtor and destitute. He change the curse on Jericho to blessings; her poverty to abundance. We as the Elishas of Jesus Christ, the Lord told us in John 14:12: he said when you take over from me, after I have gone to my Father, the works that I did you will do. Even as Elisha excelled Elijah, you my disciples will excel me.
In 1kings 17;17 – 24, Elijah defeated death once; he told death, release this boy and death had to obey.
II Kings 4:32-37, “And when Elisha was come into the house, behold, the child was dead, and laid upon his bed. He went in therefore, and shut the door upon them twain, and prayed unto the Lord. And he went up, and lay upon the Child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hand upon his hands; and he stretched himself upon the child; and the flesh of the child waxed warm. Then he returned and walked in the house to and fro; and went up and stretched himself upon him: and the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. And he called Gehazi, and said, call this Shunamite woman. So he called her. And when she was come in unto him, he said take up thy son. Then she went in, and fell at his feet, and bowed herself to the ground, and took up her son, and went out”
II Kings 11:20-21, “And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that behold, the spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulcher of Elisha and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on his feet”.
When he was alive, he raised the son of the Shunamite woman.
When he was dead, his bones raised the dead.
Thus Elisha did double of what Elijah did. And as far as our own Elijah is concerned, he didn’t defeat death just once, he defeated death permanently. Revelation 1:18 says, Jesus conquered death. Not only that, he took the keys of death. He said “I am alive for evermore, never to die again”. As a result of that, we His disciples can say, according to Ephesians 2: 4-7 and I Corinthians 15: 51-55 which says:
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus”.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump,: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on immorality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is writ-ten, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
We also have won the battle over death permanently. We have defeated death permanently. We can say “death, where is your sting?” As disciples of Jesus Christ we have nothing to worry about. In fact, disciples don’t die; they only sleep.
According to Matthew 11:11, the Lord said. “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: not-withstanding, he that is least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Our own mantle, which is the Holy Spirit, is far superior to that of Elijah. Of all the Old Testament prophets the greatest is John the Baptist, that is, he was greater than Elijah, Elisha and all the prophets of the Old Testament.
The Lord went further to say that the smallest of the saints in the Kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist i.e. even as you are looking at me you are looking at somebody far superior to John the Baptist. In Matthew 11:25, the Bible says:
“At the time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes”.
Many people may not know that we disciples of Jesus Christ are greater than all the Old Testament prophets. Maybe you yourself did not even know it until now? But now you know it. However, there is a difference between knowing and believing. It is one thing to know Jesus Christ. The Muslims know Him. The Hindus know Him. At least if you have heard of Him, you have known Him. But few believe in Him. As year five disciples, you are great. Whenever you see a disciple who is in year five or above, you better treat him with respect. You may not believe that you are a supernatural being, but that is what you are. In John 14:6, the Bible says,
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
The Lord Jesus talks about you that you are a super human being. He said, I am the way the truth and the life, and the truth can never lie. The truth says concerning you, Sirs and Ma, you disciples in year five, Jesus the truth said in Mark 9:23, that all things are possible to you. How many things are possible to you? All things; provided you believe. If you don’t believe, its up to you. All things are possible for you.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
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What do we mean by the living spirit? All demons bear the mark of their master the devil. All demons are also called devil. In Mark 16: 17, the Bible says, “…these signs shall follow them that belief, in my name, they shall cast out devils…” The same thing is true in Luke 10:17. Demons are called devils.
So the living spirits bear the mark of their Master, Jesus Christ, who is also the Word. In John 6: 63, Jesus Christ said; the word that I speak to you, they are spirit and they are life’. In other words, if you combine the two, i.e they are spirit they are life, they become the living spirits. The word that I speak’. And Jesus Christ Himself is the word. In John 1:1, the Bible says, in the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God’. So Jesus is the word, and the word that Jesus speaks, they are living spirits.
According to Matthew 8:5-12 the word that Jesus Christ speaks goes to wherever He sends them and they do the same work He will do or could do if He were there himself. Remember the centurion who came to Jesus and said “my servant is sick, I want him healed.” Jesus said yes, I will come and heal him. But the centurion said, you don’t need to go. Send your word, send one of those living spirits, and my servant will be healed.
In Psalm 107: 20 the Bible says, He sent out His words and healed them and delivered them from their destruction So these living spirits will go wherever they are being sent and they will do whatever Jesus Himself could have done if He were physically present there. And they have names. For example Peace is one of them. In Mark 4: 39 and Matthew 8: 23-27, we discovered that PEACE is the name of the living spirit that stills the storms. As soon as Jesus said “Peace”, the living spirit jumped out and took control of the storm. And we discover that these living spirits can never they cannot be destroyed by the enemies, Matthew 24: 35.
Even the unbelievers have a saying that the word that you speak is like an egg. Once it hits the ground, it cannot be recovered. When you speak out, you may even say I am sorry, I apologise, I withdraw what I have said, but it cannot be withdrawn. Once you have spoken it, it is said. Once it is gone out, it is gone out and it cannot die.
In John 1:1-2, we discovered that Jesus was the begotten of the Father, He is part and parcel of the Father. In the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was God; part and parcel of the Father.
According to John 12:49, the words that Jesus spoke out, are the begotten of Jesus and therefore you could call them the grandchildren of God the Father. In other word, God spoke and Jesus came out. Jesus spoke and the living spirit came out. You could call this living spirit the begotten of Jesus and you could call them the grandchildren of God the Father.
This is why the word that is spoken by Jesus Christ is extremely powerful when you quote them. When you quote them you are actually summoning the living spirits into action and saying, “come around”, the same way that Jesus used them years ago.
That is why God expects only words of grace to come out of your mouth because you are now one of His children. You will now speak the words that are only worthy of God because once you have spoken them they are out there. They are ultimately going to relate back to us. Whenever you don’t even know what to say or you are faced with a problem, you are given an assignment you think is too difficult for you. Please never say ‘I can never do it’. If you that, you are creating problems for yourself. Instead, say like Paul said in Philippians 4: 13, “I can do all things through Christ,” I can do all things through the word. Romans 10: 8 made it clear that the ability to do anything, is based on the word of God that is within you, coming out of your mouth. When you speak the word of God out, you summon the living spirits to come to your assistance.
In II Corinthians 3: 5-6, the Bible says that our sufficiency is from God. Our ability to do everything, to be sufficient to every task is based on the word of God that is dwelling in us. They are from time to time believed in and spoken out. Many at times the enemy has come against us to say you have failed this time, you have over stepped your boundary. And you will quote the word and say “with God, nothing shall be impossible.” You will quote again and say, ‘My Father is the God of all flesh and there is nothing too hard for Him’. Speak it out. Even when doubt comes, swallow your doubt. Let the word come out. Speak out living spirits.
According to James 1: 22-25, you are not just to believe what you are hearing, but also be a doer of it. Each time you are acting on the word of God, you are allowing Christ to act through you. All those who have spoken the word of God out in faith, have summoned the Almighty God to their assistance, and they have never been disappointed.
In Genesis 22:7-13 Isaac, said “Daddy, I can see the wood, the fire and the knife; where is the lamb for the offering?” What did the father say? ‘God will provide!’ And by the he got to the mountain top, God had provided. Because he spoke it, the living spirit went ahead and provided the lamb for the offering?
In 1 Samuel 17: 46-51 David said to Goliath, “I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts, the Lord of the army of Israel that you have defiled.” He said, ‘this day, I am going to cut off your head’. When he was saying that, he had no cutlass, he had no sword, but before that day ended, he had cut off the head of Goliath. He said it and he acted it. When Goliath landed on the floor, he was already dead by the time he hit the floor. But David said “that is not where I said it will end, I said I’m going to lift off your head,” so he took the sword of Goliath, he had to carry it with two hands, because it was too heavy, and cut off the head of Goliath. He said it and the living word of God brought it to pass.
In Daniel 3: 16-26; Shedrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, “king, the God that we serve is able to deliver us. And He will deliver us. He will”. They did not know how He was going to do it, but they spoke it out. The living word saw to it that they were delivered out of the predicament.
There are enough of living words that are written in Deuteronomy 28: 1-13 and I know many of you do quote some of them:
‘I will be head only, I will never be tail
I will be above only, I will never be below
I will lend to nations, I will never borrow The enemy that comes against me one way shall flee before me seven ways.
I will be blessed in the city
I will be blessed in the field
I will be blessed when I am travelling
I will be blessed when I come home’ etc.
But there is one little secret, in fact many people have been quoting these words of God and nothing happened. There is a key, there is a pass-word that you must first of all use before you begin to summon the living spirits. When the babalawo chants incantations, what do you think he is He is summoning demons. “Demons, come and help, demons come and assist”. But before he begins to call the incantations, there is something he has to do. He will chew an alligator pepper and mix it with some charms before the incantation will have any effect.
What must we do before we summon the living spirits and they will come immediately to help? It is found in Deuteronomy 28: 1. God said, “if you will hearken diligently to the words I’m speaking to you, to observe and to do them”.
In other words, the one who can summon the living spirits and they will come into action immediately must be absolutely obedient to God. That is another word for holiness. If you would live a holy life, you will receive anything you ask of God. The Bible says if you are willing and you are obedient, you will eat the good of the land.
So my brothers, my sisters, even as we are concluding this section, you know as a year four students of the School of Disciples, that the most important thing in your life is holiness. If you can be holy, anything you want, just quote the Bible, say it is written, this is what will happen. It is written I will prosper and be in good health as my soul prospereth. Believe me honestly, as soon as you quote it, the living spirits concerned will come and make sure it happens. But if you are not holy, then you don’t have the divine key.
PRAYER
Talk to God now. Ask Him to make you pure so that the divine key can be yours.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
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According to 1 John 5:10-12, certain things are settled.
“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”
This passage tells us three things. These are:
(1) You will know that you are born again.
(2) You have eternal life dwelling in you.
(3) Your very life is that kind of God’s life.
“And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15)
Because God is dwelling in you, you will know these seven things:
(1) You will know when your prayers are flesh-induced
(2) You will know when your prayers are according to the will of God.
(3) You will know which prayers God will hear.
(4) You will know which prayers God will answer.
(5) You will stop the prayers which God will not answer.
(6) You will now begin to pray the right kind of prayers which God will hear and answer.
(7) You will develop confidence in your prayers because you know they will be answered.
How do you know God will answer your prayers? If you pray according to God’s will, your prayer will always be answered. We ought to pray according to what His word has said, since we know that His words are forever settled.
SOME OF HIS WORDS
1 Corinthians 3: 21-23,
“Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.”
This scripture makes it abundantly clear that as long as you remain Christ’s, as surely as Christ will ever remain God’s, all things are yours, including victory now and in the future, even control of the world, by faith. The Bible says you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s, therefore all things are yours now and in future as long as you are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.
Also, according to Psalm 23, as long as the Lord remains your shepherd, no wants will be allowed in your life, now or in the future. It says ‘the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want:’
Hebrews 13:8 makes it clear that your shepherd is unchangeable. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
You now have faith that you can build upon so that your faith can even begin to grow.
According to Colossians 2: 6-7, which says that as you keep on walking in Christ, your root will grow deeper and your faith will be higher and higher.
How Will Your Root Grow Deeper And Your Faith Grow Higher?.
1 Peter 2:2 says:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”
This means that you should keep on getting more of the word of God into yourself, remembering that the word of God is life and spirit. They are lively spirits. You will soon become word-possessed. The occultic people are demon- possessed and constantly seek more demons to possess them by memorising incantations and new demonic words in order to increase the demons in them.
As for us in the world of light, the way to grow is to become word-possessed, memorising His word, knowing much of it. Any time you want to speak the first thing that comes out of your mouth is “it is written” Your root will grow deeper and your faith will grow higher.
Secondly, you must keep praying in tongues all the time, according to Jude 20. When you pray in the Holy Ghost, you will build up your holy faith. The occultic man wakes up early, uttering his incantations in order to arouse the demons in him. You as a child of God need to be praying in tongues always, to increase the Holy Ghost power within you.
Take in the word of God, pray by the word of God by saying. “It is written”. Pray in the spirit, and as such your faith will grow.
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According to John 6:47, the Bible says that he who believes in Jesus has eternal life.
If you believe as a disciple that you have eternal life, it means you have faith. Ephesians 1:3 makes it clear to us that we are already blessed with every spiritual blessing and faith is a spiritual blessing, so we have it because we are already blessed. In 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11, 15 the Bible makes it clear that faith is a grace and we have it abundantly because God gave it to us. The question now is; why are some people still praying for faith when it has already been given to us?
Romans 12:3 says that God has dealt to every man a measure of faith. Every disciple has at least a measure. This is good news. It then follows that all things are possible to the disciple (Mark 9:23) because the Bible says here that all things are possible unto him that believeth.
Considering Matthew 17:14-20, according to our Lord
Jesus Christ, faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. In that case, it is sure that your measure of faith no matter how small, as long as it is as big or bigger than a mustard seed, can move mountains and move in a miraculous ministry. You have enough faith to be creative.
Why Then Do We Not Operate In Faith?
There are three major reasons:
Ignorance
Some disciples don’t even know that they have faith, According to Hosea 4:6, the Bible says:
“my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”
Many don’t know that they are endowed with the faith of the Almighty God.
Some people say faith can’t be touched or seen. They say it is intangible, so they can’t know whether or not they have faith. They forget that the most crucial things in their life are unseen, for example; the air we breathe.
Many don’t believe that God has enough integrity to do what He says He will do. Yet God says in Jeremiah 1:12 that He watches over His word to perform it. Isaiah 55:10-11 says that His word will not return to Him void. It will not come back to Him until it has achieved what He sent it to achieve.. In Luke 1:37, the Bible says:
“With God nothing shall be impossible.”
In the original scripts it says there is no word of God that lacks the power to do what God sends it to do.” In other words, as soon as God speaks, His words are loaded with power to fulfil the word.
In Luke 1: 38, when Mary said, ‘be it unto me according to your word, what she was saying is ‘I believe that your word can do what you say it will do, I believe that the word you have spoken has enough power to do what you have said, so don’t withdraw your word from me’.
The Nature of the Word of God
Jesus gave us a great insight into the nature of the word of God.
(1) He said the words of God are like angels, you can summon them and they will function.
(2) The words are life and spirit. They are living spirits. They have power and energy.
(3) They are highly intelligent.
(4) They are quick and powerful and can enter anywhere, even where angels cannot enter.
For example, no angel can enter into somebody without permission but the word of God can enter. Somebody can be made glad or sorrowful by sending correct or incorrect words to him. So you can rely on the word of God.
In Hebrew 4:11-12; the Bible says,
“Let us therefore labour to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 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 joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
The word of God is full of life and power. It is a spirit being. It pierces and enters by force. It is there to back you up. Rest on the integrity of the word. Give no room for unbelief because the word of God is:
(a) Quick- full of life and very fast
(b) Powerful- full of power
(c) Sharper than any two edged sword – highly intelligent.
(d) It pierces to enter by force. This word enters anywhere whether we allow it or not.
(e) It divides asunder – it creates a path for itself, it cannot be stopped from entering where it wants.
According to Luke 1:39-45 the word can enter the most secret part of your life, it can even touch a baby in the womb. The words of God are not dead, they are living. We can trust in them, we can put our faith in them. If we call them to attention, they will work.
According to Psalm 107:20 some words of God act as doctors and medicine to heal. Some go out as warriors to deliver the captives.
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There are two principal actors on the stage of history. These are Jesus Christ and the devil. According to 1 John 3:8, the Bible says for this cause the son of man was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil. In other words the contest in this world is between Christ the champion, the true King of kings and Satan that usurped the world.
According to 1 John 3:9-10, just as we have two captains, Jesus Christ the real champion and the devil who is the pretender, there are also supporting actors they are also in two distinct groups. These are: the people on the side of our Lord Jesus Christ and those on the side of the devil. You must know the group to which you belong. As a disciple, you should belong to the side of Jesus Christ. In 1John 2:15-19, you discover that these two groups of supporters can also be grouped into two distinct categories viz, lovers of God versus lovers of the devil, or winners versus losers. If you are a lover of God, you are a winner but if you are a lover of the devil you are a loser.
In Romans 8:2, we also discover that there are two principal laws governing the contest on the stage of life. Whenever there is a contest, there are rules governing the contest. The two laws governing the contest on the stage of life are:-
The law of life that is in Christ Jesus
Law of sin and death, that is in Satan.
These two laws are also called by other names. In Galatians 5: 1, they are the law of liberty versus the law of bondage. In 1 John 3: 4, these two laws that control the contest in the world are called the laws of life and death. “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
I John 3:4 says,
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
In Romans 5:5, we discover that there is a love within. In John 15:9,10 there is an external love, it is a kind of enveloping love. It is the kind of love you can swim in.
When the love within is linked with the love without, we become entirely surrounded and swallowed up in love; then like God, we can say we are true partakers of divine love. A similar illustration is that of a fish surrounded by and swimming in water. From time to time, the fish swallows this water. There is water both within and around the fish. When the love within us is linked up with the love surrounding us, so that when people look at us the only thing they see is love, then we become partakers of the divine nature because God is love, within and outside.
According to 2 Peter 1:4 we are expected to be true partakers of this divine nature. The only way you can be totally surrounded by something and at the same time be full of that thing without dying, is if that thing is the very essence of your life. A good physical example is the air we breathe. We are surrounded by it and we take it in because if we don’t breathe, we will die.
The most important thing for the God kind of life is love. You must be full of love within and be swallowed up by love. In 1 John 4: 16, the Bible says if you abide in God and God abides in you, that is, you are surrounded by God and also filled with God, then God becomes the very essence of your life and God is love.
In John 14: 9, Jesus said, any man who has seen Him has seen God. This means that within and without, Jesus Christ is also love. When we talk about external love, it is a settled matter with many of us. We find it easy to love on the exterior. It can be said with the mouth. The kind of love that is difficult to have is the internal love. It is the genuine love that comes right from the inside of you. It is when you have this kind of love and it now combines with the external love, that real love can be expressed from the bottom of your heart.
In 1 Corinthians 10: 24, 32, it becomes abundantly clear that if all disciples are swallowed up in love, sin will decrease. If you love your brother, you won’t want to hurt him or offend or sin against him.
Children who are brought up in the atmosphere of love never become criminals. You will be able to discern from their attitudes and way of life, that they were brought up in love.
In Ephesians 1:3-4, we discover that every creature is a love creation. It is the love of God that brings you out of sin and makes you a saint. When you step out of love you step into the devil’s territory. Love produces light, drives away darkness, produces holiness, overcomes sin. So when you step out of love you step out of light and out of holiness into sin. That is, you step into the devil’s territory.
Like the example of Samson, the moment the enemy captured him, the first thing they did was to pluck out his eyes. This is because the eyes are the light of the body. They took away his light and he never regained this light. Don’t stray out of love. No matter what anybody does to you, don’t let them lure you into hatred.
What else will love do? In Isaiah 53: 4 the Bible says, Jesus (who is love) carried our burden for us. That is what love does; love helps people to carry their burdens. In Galatians 6: 2 the Bible says we are to carry the burdens of others out of love. What the Bible is actually saying here is that you are to carry the overload of others. There are some people who are carrying more loads than they are able to bear and you are able to help them. You are to carry them in love.
How did Jesus do it? According to Hebrews 2: 15, Jesus died in order to conquer death and satan, the controller of death. Now what are we to do as disciples who have received mantle? According to Galatians 6:1 we are to rally round the wounded soldiers to bring them back on
their feet, and the battle against the enemy continues. For many of us Christians, rather than rallying round the backslidden Christian, we begin to gossip and spread the bad news. That is not love, if somebody you love falls, you will want to look for ways to cover him up; for the Bible says love covers multitude of sin. This kind of love comes from within.
We are to rally round wounded soldiers, especially disciples that have drawn back from the school of disciples. Romans 12:1 says, sacrifice every and all things to bring everybody to Christ. Anyone who is not born again is over loaded. He has burdens that he can’t carry alone.
Every soul that is not born again is a defeated soul. But if you will preach Jesus Christ to them and bring them to Christ, the burden bearer, He will carry their burdens. A sinner has burdens that he cannot ever express in words. Sinners are walking corpses. We are to bring life to them if we love them sufficiently.
You need to ask God to fill you with His love so that you can be enveloped in His kind of love, and thus be a conqueror of death.
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For the disciple, victory over Satan, as an essential ingredient to a miraculous ministry, has three aspects.
Victory Through Jesus Christ
This is victory as a priviledge. We are victors because the victor himself, that is Jesus Christ, is our friend. We too are victors. Romans 8:37 says we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
We are victors because the victor is our captain. Romans 8:31 says if God be for us who can be against us. The victor is our captain. We his followers are also victors.
We are also victors because the victor dwells in us. 1John 4:4 says:
‘Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.’
If the greater one is dwelling in us, that is Jesus Christ the victor, it means that we are victors also. 1 Samuel 22: 1-2 tells of the story of David in the cave Adullam. The people who gathered themselves debtors, wretched people, and he became their captain. were Why did these people gather together to him. It was because they knew that David had overcome Goliath and so anyone who wanted to bully or oppress them be bigger before he succeed. In the same manner, if Satan comes our way, we can easily refer him to Jesus, our Captain. In Him our victory is established.
d) Our victory is established through our faith in Jesus Christ I John 5:4-5. Who is he that overcomes the world? One with faith in Jesus Christ. The victory we have through Jesus Christ is transmitted to us, according to Philippians 4:13 which says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” In other words, I can be victorious through Christ who gives me strength.
Victory By Personal Responsibility
We are victors as long as we are crucified with Christ. Galatians 2:20-21 says that we are crucified with Christ but nevertheless we live but it is no longer us living but Christ who lives in us. You may say you are a victor, but if you are not crucified with Christ, if you don’t do your part, the victory might not become a reality in your life. The Bible made it clear in Galatians 6:1-8 that we are victors as long as we are willing to share in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his humiliation, in his resurrection, his power, anointing and triumph over the devil. However, God has also made provision for the grace, power and ability to do all these things. Philippians 4:19 says that God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Psalm 27:1 also tells us that the Lord is our light and our salvation. Whom shall we fear? The provision has been made for our responsibilities.
Who then can stop us from a miraculous ministry! It is you who can stop yourself. In other words, from today, you can begin to live a daily life of miraculous ministry.
THE DAILY LIFE IN A MIRACULOUS MINISTRY
Hebrews 2:14-15. The Bible says that Satan has been paralysed, but he is not dead. A paralysed man has a certain zone of activity. It may not be large but the zone is there. He could be on a bed, paralysed there but the zone is there. He can see, smell, hear. These are still in the range of his activities. We know from I Peter 5:8 that Satan has a fairly wide range to roam. He walks about seeking whom he will devour.
In Revelation 20:1-3, the Bible makes it clear that a day is coming when Satan shall be bound and thrown into prison danger zones where you not go. You must also know that God did not say ‘bind’ the det What He says is that you should resist him for his day of binding is coming. You can bind demons but when it comes to the devil, the Bible says resist him.
You must stay away from the danger zone if you want to operate in a miraculous ministry, because the miraculous ministry is a hot ministry.
According to Colossians 1:12-13, there are two zones. One which belongs to Christ, and the other which belongs to Satan. You as a disciple have been translated from the devil’s zone unto Jesus’ zone – Don’t go back into Satan’s Zone. Don’t go into an area where Satan can trap you. I John 2:8-10 makes it clear that we must walk in love in order to remain in the light zone. As long as you walk in love, Satan has no access to you. Once you are walking in love and in the will of God, the devil will have no access to you.
LOVE AND MISSIONS
What does love do? Love will compel you to go to missions. In John 3:35, the Bible says the Father loves the son. There is no doubt about it. And as a result of that, he sent him on the missionary work to the world. (John 10:36; John 9:4; John 8:9; John 3:16). God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son.
Go to the World and become a missionary. In John 16:28 Jesus further confirmed it. He said “I am a missionary, I am here to seek and to save the lost”. It follows in John 15:13 that because Jesus loves you He says to you ‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you’ Jesus sends us into the world because he loves us. It is love that will lead you to the lost. In John 13:20 Jesus called us his representatives. If they receive us they also receive him.
In I John 4:20-21, we find that the only way to respond to God’s love is to love men also. Once you are willing to become a missionary, you begin to see the tremendous power of God working in you. For example Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1 was a missionary. The Bible records that he was a Tishbite.
For the love of Jehovah he was in solitary confinement for months. I Kings 17:8-9 tells us he became a missionary unto Zarephath. In I Kings 18:40 on Mount Carmel, he was able to give a terrible blow to Satan and all his host. By the time you get to 2 Kings 1:7-15, he put the enemy to shame several times. According to 2 Kings 2:11, when he was going to be to glory as a successful missionary the Almighty God sent His own chariot for him.
So if you are willing to walk in love, you can have miracles in your life on a daily basis. Walking in love means being a missionary. Being a missionary doesn’t necessary mean that you will leave your country. You can be a missionary right where you live. There are several people who have not heard the gospel in your country. You can take the gospel to them. Signs will only follow those who go. If you move out, signs, miracles and wonders will begin to follow you.
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-An Essential Ingredient To a Miraculous Ministry.
In Matthew 4:18-25, we discover that the Lord did no miracles until he had settled with Satan. You must have victory over Satan before you can move on to a miraculous ministry. You have to conquer Satan. In Matthew 4:11 Jesus Christ dealt with Satan in the wilderness and got victory over him.
In other words, before he began his miraculous ministry, Jesus had gotten victory over Satan. The following are the steps that Jesus took to his miraculous ministry
Baptism in water
This represents our own conversion and baptism in water. Jesus needed not to repent because he never sinned.
Holy Spirit Baptism
As He was coming out of the water after being baptised in water, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit came upon hin and he was baptized in the Holy Spirit. This represent our baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is the same spirit tha baptized Jesus Christ that baptized us.
He fasted and had over Satan
The Holy Spirit directed Him to the wilderness after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights to be tempted by Satan. This implies that the disciple must have his flesh crucified. Also, if there is a need for deliverance, the disciple must undergo deliverance. The disciple also must be sanctified in order to live a life of holiness. After these 3 steps, miracles can then begin to follow your ministry.
All the miracles Jesus performed were related to the temptations He overcame in the wilderness. There are three major temptations the devil brought before Him.
For example;
1.) In Matthew 4:3-4, the devil had told the Lord to satisfy his fleshly desire by turning stones to become bread, and the Lord declined. In Matthew 14:13-21, the same Jesus who refused to turn stones to bread was able to multiply 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed multitudes.
2.) In Matthew 4:5-7, the devil asked the Lord to defy the laws of nature by jumping down from the pinnacle of the temple. This particular law of nature was the law of gravity. Our Lord Jesus refused, he passed the exam.
But in Matthew 14:22-23, the same law of gravity was set aside when Jesus had to walk on water to meet his disciples on the other side of the shore. There is a link between the temptation to defy the law of gravity and Jesus’ walking on water.
3) In Matthew 4:8-10 the devil asked Jesus Christ to worship him. The Bible tells us that the devil was the one who had power over death. The one who had power over death said to Jesus bow down and worship me’ Jesus said ‘No way’.
But in John 11:41-44, when the time came for Jesus to raise Lazarus from dead. Because he had not bowed down to the power of death he was able to defeat death When Jesus Christ called Lazarus to come out of the tomb he simply said ‘Lazarus, come forth’. He did not say ‘death leave my friend alone’ He ignored death.
Later on, Satan through Peter tried to dissuade Jesus from dying for us. In Matthew 26: 39,42, Jesus yielded to His Father’s will. Jesus Christ gained complete and perfect victory and control over Satan because he did His Father’s will in dying for us and was raised from the dead.
According to Hebrews 2:14-15, because Jesus tasted death for every man, He is able to deliver those who are in the bondage of fear and death. Revelation 1:18 tells us that Jesus not only defeated Satan by submission to His Father’s perfect will which cost Him his life but took all authority from Satan. For he said that He now has the keys of death and of Hell. He is the one who was dead but is now alive forever more, Amen. He has the keys of death and of hell. A key is a symbol of authority.
Matthew 28:18, says that all power in heaven and on earth has been given unto Him. This means all authority, all ‘ecclesia’ (Greek) has been given unto him. This is why Philipians 2: 8-11 is forever settled. This speaks of how God highly exalted Jesus, giving Him a name that is above every other names, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, both things in heaven, under the heaven and beneath the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
In Luke 13:11-16, we see that because the Lord refused to submit to Satan, Jesus was able all the time to command Satan to loose all his victims. If he had submitted to Satan, he would have become the slave of Satan and a slave cannot command his master. That is why in John 8:36 the Bible says that whosoever the Son shall set free shall be free indeed. Jesus gives physical and spiritual freedom.
Before Jesus was able to perform all these miracles, He had to conquer Satan first, which he did. He conquered him for the masses. He conquered him over the question of gravity and so could push aside the law of gravity by walking on water. He refused to bow down to the one who had the power of death and was able to raise the dead anytime he wanted to. And because he is not a slave to Satan, he could command the devil to loose all his captives.
The question now is ‘what about we disciples? The Bible says that our victory has been handed over to us by Christ. According to Romans 4:7-8; 5:1-2; 4:24-25, the Bible makes it clear that we can claim all the victory that Jesus won by faith, because He is our champion. And if your champion wins you have won, if he loses you have lost.
The Bible also tells us in Colossians 2:10-15 that we are complete in Christ. Through him and through His blood we are complete. We have a direct link with the Almighty God. In other words, I can tell satan that I am a victor because my Captain has defeated him, likewise I have defeated him.
In 1 Peter 3:18, the Bible says:
“For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened in the spirit.
He has already suffered for our sins. As many of us that have received him and are washed in his blood, we have already been brought into direct contact with God.
Anytime you want to perform a miracle and the devil questions your authority and ability, tell him that by the special grace of God, you have won the same victory that Jesus Christ won. The three steps he took before he performed these miracles have also been taken by you. You are born again and baptised in the same spirit that baptised Jesus, and you have overcome the devil because your captain overcame him.
His victory is your victory, so you can begin to perform miracles in Jesus’ name.
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PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
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“And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of E-li-jah? And when he also had smitten the water, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.”
This is the story of where Elisha stood by River Jordan, and with the mantle of Elijah he smote the river and asked “Where is the God of Elijah?” God answered him and said “Here I am my son, by your side.”
In John 14:16-18, we see a comparison between us and our Lord Jesus Christ, just as Elijah had a mantle which he handed over to Elisha and it was a visible mantle. The Lord Jesus Christ told us that our own mantle which we are going to collect from him is an invisible one but is more powerful and more enduring because it is the Holy Spirit. He said that we will get the Holy Spirit after he has gone; just as Elisha got the mantle after Elijah left.
In 2 Kings 2:15, when the mantle of Elijah fell on Elisha, it transferred the spirit of Elijah unto Elisha.
In Acts 1:8, when the Holy Ghost falls on us, it is the Spirit of Christ that falls on us which means we now have our mantle in the form of the Holy Spirit. You will discover that Jordan parted for Elisha because the mantle of Elijah was with him.
“As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.”
In 1 Kings 17: 1, you discover that Elijah had the fantastic power that he had because God was with him. He said:
“As the Lord God liveth before whom I stand, there shall be no rain, nor dew until I call for it:”
The basis of the power of Elijah was that God was with him. Now the power of Elisha was directly proportional to that of Elijah. As a matter of fact in 2 Kings 2: 9, Elisha asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah. In other words, the power of Elisha doubled that of Elijah.
The power of Elijah was because God was with Elijah. In Acts 10:38, we discover that our Lord Jesus Christ was with power because God was with Him. This verse says: “How God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him.”
The source of the power of our Lord Jesus Christ was because God was with Him. Jesus is our own Elijah, it follows then that our own power is also directly proportional to that of Christ Jesus who is our leader and brother because Jesus is the first born of our Father. He is the Head of a supernatural generation. This is clearly stated in Colossians 1:15-18. The same Spirit that indwelled him also indwells us. He said himself that the works that he did we also will do. He even went further to say ‘greater works than those He did shall we do’, just as Elisha did greater works than those of Elijah.
You will notice in 1 Kings 18:40-46, Elijah defeated the devil on Mount Carmel and after that, he called for the showers of blessing, which a period of draught to flood. Our own Elijah, Jesus Christ in Matthew 4:1-11 defeated the devil in the wilderness. Almost immediately after that, he was invited to a wedding in Galilee in John 2:1-11. There he brought in joy, relief, abundance, by changing water to wine. He changed the emptiness of the people to fulfillment. He changed the shame of the people to glory; their defeat to victory.
What Elijah did was what Elisha continued. Likewise we are also to continue what the Lord Jesus Christ, ‘Our Elijah’ did on earth. By the power of the Holy Spirit we are to change sorrow to joy, defeat to victory by bringing people to Jesus Christ. We are to turn their emptiness to fulfillment, we are to bring them into a period of abundance and relief but this can be done not by power, nor by might but only by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our own mantle. We must ask God to drop His mantle afresh upon us.
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PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
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According to Colossians 2:3, all the wisdom, knowledge and ability needed to be creative are embedded in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is residing in you, so all you need to become a creator resides in you. For example, the knowledge of all Jesus Christ had done is in you. According to Acts 10:38, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power and he went about doing good, healing all that were oppressed by the devil because God was with Him.
You also know what He is doing now. Right now, He is interceding for you at the right hand of God. He is highly committed to your welfare.
You also know what He can do through you in particular. Because according to Philippians 4:13, you cart do all things through Christ that strengthens you. You know that through you Christ can do anything.
You also know what He plans to do this year by the revelation of His word to you or your leaders.
You also know who you are, according to 1 John 3:1, you are a child of God. The Bible says:
“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
You also know what you can be. 1 John 3:2 says:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he ‘is:
In addition to all this, you have the wisdom to utilise this knowledge. Because all wisdom, all knowledge, all power are embedded in Christ and Christ is dwelling in you. According to Romans 1:20-22, it is clear that darkness is ignorance. It is ignorance both physically and spiritually. Darkness and ignorance go together. I John 1:5 says that our God is total light, there is no darkness in Him. In other words, God’s knowledge and wisdom are total. There is no trace of darkness or ignorance in him. Therefore all the knowledge you need to be creative is inside of you. All the wisdom you need to create is likewise in you.
HOW CAN I BECOME A CREATOR?
Anyone who is not doing something for God, who is not productive or fruitful, might be cut down like a fruitless tree. Start something for Jesus Christ. You are a creator, you ought to create.
According to Colossians 1:19; 2:6-10, it is sin to rely on sense knowledge when you have the entire power of God lieing in you. God is dwelling in you in all wisdom, in all power, in all ability and in all knowledge. Why do you want to rely on your senses.
Starting something however, does not mean breaking out of your church in rebellion. You could start a house fellowship in your house, under your church. It can even grow and become a branch of your church. Don’t become a rebel. You can work for God within your church.
WHAT CAN I CREATE?
Can I create new eyes for the blind? Or bones for the lame? Or a new womb for the barren? According to John 16:14, the Holy Spirit will guide you. John 14:26, he will also teach you all that you need to know.
In Ephesians 3:14-20, the Bible says,
“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”
This is the prayer that Paul prayed for believers. I am also praying for you, that the purpose of God for your life shall be fulfilled in Jesus’ Name.
SUPERNATURAL BEING
What do we mean by supernatural being? Every disciple is supposed to be a supernatural being because they are filled with the Holy Ghost and power. They also have the support and backing of God the Father, God the Son. And God the Holy Spirit. Therefore from now on you are to live as a supernatural being.
In John 11:41-42 when Jesus wanted to raise Lazarus from the dead, we find that the faith of Jesus was based on the fact that God was constantly with him. He said,
Father, I know that you always hear me. He didn’t say that God may hear him.
That is why Jesus said, with God all things are possible God is in you, so with God in you all things are also possible for you. You too can say as Jesus said ‘Father I know you always hear me. God is right inside of you.
Before you even begin to pray He has already heard you God was always with Jesus. That is why he prayed in Matthew 26:39, 42 saying:
“… O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”
He was referring here to the cup of separation between himself and God on the cross as he carried the sin of the World. This was to be so because the eyes of God are too holy to behold iniquity.
That single separation on the cross made him cry My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me.’ Matthew 27:46. This was the cup that Jesus feared.
But the Almighty God has promised to never leave nor forsake you; that there will never be a brief separation between yourself and him. That is why God said in Isaiah 65:24 that before you call He will answer.
That is a promise from someone who can never lie. The Bible says in Isaiah 65:24,
“And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
There is no reason then for us to be uncreative because all we need to do is to tell him that we want to create something, and be productive.
Tell Him to let you know what to create and how to create it. He will answer you.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
The offspring of a dog is a dog. Also, the offspring of a goat is a goat. There is no way the son of a snake will be a bird. It therefore follows that the son of a Creator is a Creator. The Lord Jesus Christ said to Paul on the road to Damascus that He and His disciples are one. In Acts 9:1-5. He said:
“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and there shined round about him a light from Heaven; And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
“And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
‘ME’ here is referring to His Disciples. This means that the disciples and the Master are one.
DISCIPLES HAVE DIVINE NATURE
The disciples have the same nature with the Divine One. 2 Peter 1: 3-4 says that we are partakers of the divine nature. In John 1:4 talking about Jesus, the Bible says: ‘In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.’ The divine nature is life, and we as disciples being one with Him have the divine nature because we have the same life as Jesus Christ.
In John 8:12, Jesus said: “…, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
In other words, the divine nature is light.
In Matthew 5: 14 Jesus told the disciples that;
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.”
That is to say that Jesus and his disciples are one, and both possess the divine nature. The disciples of Christ have the nature of light. As soon as you have the nature of God, then creative ability follows.
In Genesis 1: 3, 6, 11 you discover that the first thing God said was ‘Let there be light’ God first created light before creating any other thing. The divine nature which is light must first be in you before you can stand as the son of the creator of all things in creation. The power to create is already in everyone that is born again because once you are born again and a disciple, the nature of Christ is in you, and according to Ephesians 3: 20, the Bible says God can do exceedingly above that which we can ask or think according to the power that works in us.
The Power that God will use to do great and mighty things is already embedded in us. As disciples of Jesus Christ, we have the power to create.
HOW DO WE CREATE?
Hebrews 11:3 makes it clear that everything that was created was created by the spoken word. God spoke and it was so! If your words begin to move the same way the word of God moves, then you are on the way to creation. As a disciple, as soon as you were born again, you discovered that your language changed. Negative exclamation like ‘Oh my oh my’ now changed to ‘Glory to God’. Immediately you become born again, one of the first things that will be affected is your language – the words of your mouth. Everything now becomes new as the Bible says in 2Corinthians 5:17.
WHY MUST A DISCIPLE BE A CREATOR?
The Almighty is a wise leader. Corinthians 3:7-9 says that our Father works by delegation of duties. For example in the Garden of Eden after God had created all things, he called on Adam it is time for you too to do some work. All the animals will be named by you’. God could have named the animals by Himself but He chose to delegate duties to His people.
In John 15:1-5, Jesus said that He is the Vine and His Father is the husbandman and we the disciples are the branches. This infers that we, the branches, also must be creators, because the vine carries the branches and the Husbandman keeps the vine but it is the branches that bear the fruit. In other words, God distributes work. Jesus Christ will carry us, we are to bear fruits and God the Father backs up His Son.
In 1 Corinthians 1:23-24, we discover that we already have the things needed for creation (power and wisdom). We have because Jesus Christ is the power and wisdom of God. He is the power of God to bring to pass what God wants done, and the wisdom of God to make sure that what is created is the right thing.
Wisdom plays a very important role in creation. The fact that God is in power does not mean we can do just about anything, we need wisdom to know what exactly to create. Creating a four-headed cow will be senseless when you could get four cows each with a separate head.
When you create, it must be with wisdom and backed with power. Both wisdom and power have been given to us in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:13 says;
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”
When you are creating something, for example, in building a house, the first thing is that there must be a desire for something pleasant within you. Also there must be a plan. This also comes from within. Strong determination to carry out the plan is also needed and it comes from within. The power to back the will up also comes from within. The Bible now says that it is God who works within us to do all these things.
Ephesians 3:16 says, the spirit of the Almighty God in us strengthens us. This is where the ability to do a thing comes from. All the things needed to create are given to us in Colossians 1: 9-11,
“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 unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
Knowledge:
Whenever you want to do something, you need knowledge. For example, you need to know the type of foundation to construct for a storey building or a bungalow depending on the choice of house you want to build. You must also know the strength of the materials to be used.
Wisdom:
You also have need of wisdom to wisely use the materials you have appropriately. For example, you need to know the correct measure and ratio of sand and cement to make concrete for the building.
Understanding:
You also need to understand how the materials work together to give the desired result
Strength:
You must have the strength to carry out the plan.
Patience:
Patience is needed until the final result is achieved. The foundation cannot be rushed. It must be solidified before anything can be built on it.
Long suffering:
Whatever it will take, you must keep on and not quit until the final result is achieved.
Joyfulness:
You should rejoice in the Lord always. His joy must be your strenght.
All these things and more have been given unto us. In Colossians 1: 9-11, the bible says,
“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”
In addition to knowledge, wisdom and understanding, you must also increase in good works.
Verse 11 says that: “…You will be Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”
These are the things you need to create; knowledge, wisdom, understanding, strength, patience, longsuffering, joyfulness.
These are all available to the disciples.
Whatever it is that you are going to create, it must be done with joy so that you can do it to the end.
Psalms 100: 2 says;
“serve the Lord with gladness; come before his presence with singing.”
That is what you need to do as a disciple.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
MEMORY VERSE: “And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?” – 2 Kings 7:3 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Kings 7:1-5 (KJV)
1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: In Bible times, people suffering from skin diseases like leprosy were treated as outcasts. There was no cure for the disease, which gradually left a person disfigured through loss of fingers, toes, and eventually limbs. It is, therefore, surprising and challenging how God decided to use these categories of people to bring relief to the nation of Israel during the famine, despite their limitations (1 Corinthians 1:27).
LESSON OUTLINES:
LIVING ABOVE LIMITATIONS
LESSONS TO LEARN
1. LIVING ABOVE LIMITATIONS
Limitations are obstacles on our way to the fulfilment of God’s plans and purposes for our lives. These can come from various sources: spiritual (Daniel 10:12-13), human misdeeds or errors (2 Samuel 4:4), natural occurrences (Exodus 14:10), afflictions (Exodus 3:7), etc. In our Bible passage, 2 Kings 7:1-5, leprosy confined and restricted the purpose of these men’s living because lepers were treated as outcasts; they stayed outside the camp (Numbers 5:2-3), could not live among their brethren (Leviticus 13:45-46), and stayed at the entering of the gate (2 Kings 7:3).
We are bound to encounter setbacks, even as Christians: being Christians does not exempt us from the challenges of life (Jeremiah 1:19). The good news is that God has assured us of being more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). However, we have a lot to learn from the case of the lepers in 2 Kings 7:1-5, who asked themselves a fundamental question “Why sit we here until we die?”
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should share any experience where they succeeded in spite of difficulties.
2. LESSONS TO LEARN
Unity: The lepers were united. Unity is strength and it is easy to accomplish a feat when we are unified (Amos 3:3; Psalms 133:1-3).
Purposefullness: They were determined to achieve their goal and this helped them to conquer their fears despite their condition (2 Kings 7:4; Daniel 1:8).
Understanding: They were able to analyse and interpret the situation they found themselves in. This informed the decision they made and there was no strife amongst them (Proverbs 20:3).
Daring: They were audacious. They made up their mind to go to the camp of the enemy irrespective of the odds (Esther 4:16; 2 Kings 7:4).
Resolute: Twilight is a period of obscurity or haziness but the lepers were not deterred. Even in this period of uncertainty, they still went ahead with their plans. Do not give up on your dreams (2 Kings 7:5a, Daniel 3:15-18).
Saving Culture: Do not eat with “10 fingers!” After eating to the full they still kept some behind. Savings is important to grow big (2 Kings 7:8; Proverbs 21:20).
Compassion: They rebuked themselves and went to report their findings to the king’s household so that everyone could benefit from the booty (2 Kings 7:9; 1 Peter 3:8).
Stop Procrastinating: Immediately they decided to tell the porter of the city their discovery they followed it with a decisive step. They did what they thought in their mind (Proverbs 13:4; 2Kings 7:10a).
Share Information: They did not wholly withhold information about all that they saw at the Syrian camp. They took the good news to the right source; the king (Hebrews 13:16; 2 Kings 7:10).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The class should mention other lessons that can be learned from the lepers other than the ones stated above.
CONCLUSION: As believers, we must see beyond our limitations and fulfil our purpose (Philippians 4:13).
QUESTIONS:
Mention three sources of limitation.
Mention two lessons believers can learn from the four lepers.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five people in the Bible who overcame their limitations and fulfilled their destinies. (2×5=10 marks).
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, O how I love Thee well, I am happy, it makes me glad To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well, Both young and old will sing Thy song, We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Christ was Thy first teacher, The Holy Spirit, great teacher, Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, This testimony is sure, That God, the Father Almighty, Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Though the sun be so bright, Or if the clouds black with rain, I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, I rejoice to see Thee, Will thou pass over me today? Without my being blest?
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
OPENING PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to turn my weakness into strength as I learn from the four lepers
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the Assistant teacher to review the lesson for the previous week.
MEMORY VERSE: “And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?” – 2 Kings 7:3 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: 2 Kings 7:1-5 (KJV)
1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.
2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: In Bible times, people suffering from skin diseases like leprosy were treated as outcasts. There was no cure for the disease, which gradually left a person disfigured through loss of fingers, toes, and eventually limbs. It is, therefore, surprising and challenging how God decided to use these categories of people to bring relief to the nation of Israel during the famine, despite their limitations (1 Corinthians 1:27).
LESSON AIM: To teach students lessons from the biblical four lepers.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to: a. Understand that one can live above limitations. b. Know practical values that can help one to live above limitations.
TEACHING PLAN: To achieve the above-stated objectives, the teacher should:
a. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to the discussion, do class activities and assignment. b. Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, and mark attendance and assignment. c. Teach the lesson outline, summarise, conclude, evaluate the lesson and give assignment to the students.
TEXT REVIEW: 2 Kings 7:1-5.
A. In this passage, Prophet Elisha prophesying concerning the famine experience in Samaria says: i. Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel. V1a. ii. And two measures ………………………..….V1b.
B. But a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said: i. Behold, if the LORD would ……………….V2a. ii. And Elisha said, Behold, thou shalt see ………..………………V2b.
C. Meanwhile, there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? V3. i. If we say ……..…….……………………V4a. ii. Now therefore come, and let us fall …………V4b. iii. And they rose up save ………………..……..V5a. iv. And when they were come to …………..V5b.
LESSON OUTLINES:
LIVING ABOVE LIMITATIONS
LESSONS TO LEARN
1. LIVING ABOVE LIMITATIONS
A. Teachers should explain the meaning of limitations as: i. Obstacles on our way to the fulfilment of God’s plans and purposes for our lives especially as Christians. ii. Setbacks, stagnations, and losing out in the battles of life.
B. The sources of limitations may include but are not limited to: i. Spiritual (Daniel 10:12-13). ii. Human misdeeds or errors (2 Samuel 4:4). iii. Natural occurrences (Exodus 14:10). iv. Afflictions (Exodus 3:7).
C. In our Bible passage – 2 Kings 7:1-5, leprosy (among other diseases) confined and restricted the purpose for living of some men: i. These lepers were treated as outcasts; they stayed outside the camp (Numbers 5:2-3). ii. They could not live among their brethren (Leviticus 13:45-46). iii. They were confounded to the entering of the gate (2 Kings 7:3; Luke 17:12).
D. We are bound to have challenges as Christians (Jeremiah 1:19). i. The good news is that God has assured us of being more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37). ii. However, we have a lot to learn from the case of the lepers in 2 Kings 7:1-5, who asked themselves a fundamental question “Why sit we here until we die?”
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: Students should share any experience where they succeeded in spite of difficulties.
2. LESSONS TO LEARN
The teacher should ask the students to mention the lessons that can be learned from the actions of the four lepers. He/she should then explain the lessons as follows:
Unity: The lepers were united. Unity is strength and it is easy to accomplish a feat when we are unified (Amos 3:3; Psalm 133:1-3).
Purposefulness: They were determined to achieve their goal and this helped them to conquer their fears despite their condition (2 Kings 7:4; Daniel 1:8).
Understanding: They were able to analyse and interpret the situation they found themselves in. This informed the decision they made and there was no strife amongst them (Proverbs 20:3).
Daring: They were audacious. They made up their mind to go to the camp of the enemy irrespective of the odds (Esther 4:16; 2 Kings 7:4).
Resolute: Twilight is a period of obscurity or haziness but the lepers were not deterred. Even in this period of uncertainty, they still went ahead with their plans. Do not give up on your dreams (2 Kings 7:5a, Daniel 3:15-18).
Saving Culture: Do not eat with “10 fingers!” After eating to the full they still kept some behind. Savings is important to grow big (2 Kings 7:8; Proverbs 21:20).
Compassion: They rebuked themselves and went to report their findings to the king’s household so that everyone could benefit from the booty (2 Kings 7:9; 1 Peter 3:8).
Stop Procrastinating: Immediately they decided to tell the porter of the city their discovery they followed it with a decisive step. They did what they thought in their mind (Proverbs 13:4; 2 Kings 7:10a).
Share Information: They did not wholly withhold information about all that they saw at the Syrian camp. They took the good news to the right source; the king (Hebrews 13:16; 2 Kings 7:10).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The class should mention other lessons that can be learned from the lepers other than the ones stated above.
CONCLUSION:As believers, we must see beyond our limitations and fulfil our purpose (Philippians 4:13).
QUESTIONS:
Mention three sources of limitation.
Mention two lessons believers can learn from the four lepers.
EVALUATION: Teachers should ask the students to explain how they can fulfil their purpose in the face of limitations.
CLOSING PRAYER: Father, I receive the grace to fulfil my purpose irrespective of limiting circumstances around me.
ASSIGNMENT: Mention five people in the Bible who overcame their limitations and fulfilled their destinies. (2×5=10 marks).
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, O how I love Thee well, I am happy, it makes me glad To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well, Both young and old will sing Thy song, We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Christ was Thy first teacher, The Holy Spirit, great teacher, Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, This testimony is sure, That God, the Father Almighty, Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Though the sun be so bright, Or if the clouds black with rain, I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, I rejoice to see Thee, Will thou pass over me today? Without my being blest?
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
As soon as a disciple is clearly branded for Christ, he will immediately be clearly noted in hell, and almost immediately, enemy action will begin.
The devil will say, “this is an enemy, let us go and get him”. For example, Saul of Tarsus got born again on his way to Damascus. Three days later, he got baptised in the Holy Spirit and began to preach. Immediately he got converted , he made it known to everybody that he was for Christ. The devil knew, this person who used to be a disciple for the devil is now a disciple of Jesus. He moved to kill him.
“And straightway, he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the son of God. But all thaty heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and come hither for that intent , that he might bring them bound unto the Cheif Priests ? But Saul increased the more in Strength , and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus , proving that this is very Christ. After that many days were fulfilled , the Jews took counsel to kill him . But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night , and let him down by the wall in a basket”.
I mean this fellow has already changed sides. There are many of us disciples, who have been born again now for many years, and the devil has not made a single attack on us. There must be something wrong somewhere. Because the moment you become completely identified with Christ, the devil must try.
But what if you say you are for Christ, and the devil cannot say ” that’s true” , rather He says, “he is for Christ and he is committing sins? Look at the way he dresses. Look at what he is eating, what he is drinking, listen to his language, don’t mind him”. He will say don’t worry about this one, he is still one if us”. But when you say you belong to Christ, everything changes. The Bible says in 2/Corin 5:17,
” Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, old things passed away ; behold all things become new”.
As soon as everything becomes new, the enemy will move. You will remember the story of Daniel, Shedrack, Meshach and Abrdnego in Daniel 1: 8-16, Why is it about people that got into trouble? Very simple. As soon as they got to Babylon, the King said ” these young men were looking handsome. Let us begin to feed them. Let us train them specially. Let us begin to feed them with our own kind of food”. – Delicious meal from the king’s table, meat that the king are, the wine that the king drinks. There are some news that were included in the group.
Daniel, Shedrack, Meshach, and Abednego said, no way. We will not ear king’s meat, we will not drink the wine. Other said, we are in a strange land, when in Rome, we must do like Romans ; Daniel said no way. Shedrach said no way, Meshach said no way and Abrdnego said no way. So, they sent to the head usher, please give us beans and water.
Those who want to eat the animal that has been slaughtered to idols can eat them. Those who want to drink the one that has been poured in liberation to idol can drink it..
After 10days he came back and looked at the three. They were looking more robust than all the others. Which is another way of saying beans and water must be very good food. I think every disciple must be eating plenty of beans and plenty of water. Now seriously speaking, as soon as the devil was these four boys, he said, it means you are ready to be branded for Jehovah. I will deal without. I will finish the three if you quickly. It was the devil who brought the dream to the king.
In Daniel 2, verses 1-49, the king had a dream and forgot it. And said he would kill all the wise men unless they could remember the dream and give him it’s interpretations. The devil was only after the four people – Daniel, Shedrach, Meshach, Shedrach, and Abednego. And he was willing to kill as many other people so that these four would die. But glory be to God, He rescued these four and they got promoted.
Then the devil said, alright, I failed that test number one, I will try to attempt number two! Do he spoke to the king, and said a king like Nebuchadnezzar should be a god, and everybody mist now down to that idol. He knew that these four people who had been branded for Christ would not bow (Daniel 3).
I don’t know where Daniel was when they arrested Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego who were not vowing to the udol. But you know the rest of the story. ;the three boys said ” We will not bow. We are for Jehovah, not for any other ifol”. They were thrown into fire but they came out alive and they git promoted.
In the mean time, the devil said, What about Daniel? Where was he when these three boys were thrown into fire? Let us give him his own attack. That is what landed him in the lion’s den in Daniel 6. But glory be to God again. Daniel came out alive and he got printed, and his enemies were silenced.
When you are branded for Christ, you will be noted in hell, hell will be angry, they will attack you, but will not win, you will be more than victorious.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
MEMORY VERSE: “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” – James 3:2 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 10:19-21 (KJV)
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Words are powerful and can make or mar (Proverbs 6:2). Words can save or put one in trouble. It takes forte, maturity, and self-discipline to be a person of few words (spoken in wisdom). Therefore, being in a rush to speak always is a sign of weakness and foolishness.
LESSON OUTLINES:
THE FOOL’S MOUTH
BEING SLOW TO SPEAK AND ITS BENEFITS
1. THE FOOL’S MOUTH
A fool is a person who acts unwisely or imprudently. However, one of the downfalls of a fool is his mouth which is very quick to expressions. According to Proverbs 18:7, a fool’s mouth is his destruction and his rash words are a trap to his soul. This is because no bridle is employed to keep the mouth shut and to speak only when necessary.
A fool’s mouth is used to engage in ceaseless and unprofitable arguments (Proverbs 18:6) which may end up in a fight. The mouth of a fool runs without control thus bringing about restlessness (Proverbs 17:28). A fool is not trusted because of irregularity in speech (Proverbs 19:1). A fool utters his entire mind (Proverbs 29:11) because he believes he is always right and hates accountability.
The talk of a fool will destroy him because he does not take to instruction and rejects responsibilities (Ecclesiastes 10:12). A fool argues and expresses frustrations openly and thus cannot cease from strife (Proverbs 20:3).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The students should share with the class instances where they were quick to talk and the outcome.
2. BEING SLOW TO SPEAK AND ITS BENEFITS
Being slow to speak is never a sign of weakness. Apostle James, in the book of James 1:19, admonishes everyone to be slow to speak. To be slow to speak, we must learn to do the following:
Think before talking (Proverbs 23:7; 29:20).
Choose and use words wisely (Proverbs 25:11).
Let our words be gracious (Colossians 4:6).
Avoid being rash with words and decisions (Proverbs 15:1; Acts 19:36).
Speak with wisdom (Psalms 37:30).
Talk less (Proverbs 15:28) and listen actively and attentively to others (Job 29:9-10).
Ask the Lord to set a guard at your mouth (Psalms 141:3; James 3:2).
Being slow to speak has a lot of benefits. For instance, it shows we are knowledgeable (Proverbs 17:27; 15:2). Also, it depicts understanding (Proverbs 10:13; 17:28b) and the right use of words (Proverbs 8:8). If we ‘bridle’ our tongues, we will command attention and respect (Proverbs 12:14). Our words will be sound and seasoned (Titus 2:8; Proverbs 15:23). We will avoid needless arguments, troubles, battles, and keep safe (Proverbs 13:3; 21:23).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The students should share any experience where they were slow to speak and its outcome.
CONCLUSION: We can create unneeded tension if we are rash with our mouths. Relationships grow by listening actively and speaking slowly.
QUESTIONS:
Mention three characteristics of a fool’s mouth.
Mention three benefits of being slow to speak.
ASSIGNMENT: Identify five Bible characters who made hasty decisions and these landed them in trouble. Give a Bible reference for each point (2×5=10 marks).
RCCG Sunday School HYMN
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, O how I love Thee well, I am happy, it makes me glad To rejoice at Thy birth.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well, Both young and old will sing Thy song, We long for Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Christ was Thy first teacher, The Holy Spirit, great teacher, Does manifest in thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, This testimony is sure, That God, the Father Almighty, Poured His blessing on Thee.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Though the sun be so bright, Or if the clouds black with rain, I’ll be in Sunday School.
O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, I rejoice to see Thee, Will thou pass over me today? Without my being blest?
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
OPENING PRAYER: Dear God, help me to be slow to speak.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE: The teacher should allow the Assistant teacher to review the lesson for the previous week.
MEMORY VERSE: “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” – James 3:2 (KJV)
BIBLE PASSAGE: Proverbs 10:19-21 (KJV)
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
LESSON INTRODUCTION: Words are powerful and can make or mar (Proverbs 6:2). Words can save or put one in trouble. It takes forte, maturity, and self-discipline to be a person of few words (spoken in wisdom). Therefore, being in a rush to speak always is a sign of weakness and foolishness.
LESSON AIM: To teach students that there is strength in quietness.
TEACHING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lesson, students should be able to: a. Understand the disadvantages of ‘running one’s mouth.’ b. Know how to be “slow to speak.” c. Discover the benefits of quietness.
TEACHING PLAN:
To achieve the above-stated objectives, the teacher should: a. Allow the students to recite the memory verse, read the Bible passage, contribute to the discussion, do class activities and assignment. b. Allow the Assistant Teacher to see to the well-being of the class, mark attendance and assignment. c. Teach the lesson outline, summarise, conclude, evaluate the lesson, and give an assignment to the students
TEXT REVIEW: Proverbs 10:19-21.
The above text discourages excessive talk and rates highly a controlled tongue in clear terms that: i. In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. V19. ii. What does the text say about: a. the tongue of the just? ………………………………………V20a. b. the heart of the wicked? …………….V20b. c. the lips of the righteous?…………….V21a. d. fools? ……………….. ……………………….V21b.
LESSON OUTLINES:
THE FOOL’S MOUTH
BEING SLOW TO SPEAK AND ITS BENEFITS
1. THE FOOL’S MOUTH
A. The teacher should explain the following truths about a fool: i. A fool is a person who acts unwisely or imprudently. ii. One of the downfalls of a fool is his mouth which is very quick to expressions. iii. According to Proverbs 18:7, a fool’s mouth is his destruction and his rash words are a trap to his own soul.
B. The nature of a fool among others is such that: i. No bridle is employed to keep the mouth shut and to speak only when necessary. ii. A fool’s mouth is used to engage in ceaseless and unprofitable arguments (Proverbs 18:6) which may end up in a fight. iii. The mouth of a fool runs without control thus bringing about restlessness (Proverbs 17:28).
C. A fool is not trusted because of: i. Irregularity in speech (Proverbs 19:1). ii. A fool utters his entire mind (Proverbs 29:11). iii. A fool believes he is always right and hates accountability.
D. The talk of a fool will destroy him because: i. A fool does not take to instruction and rejects responsibilities (Ecclesiastes 10:12). ii. A fool argues and expresses frustrations openly and thus cannot cease from strife (Proverbs 20:3).
CLASS ACTIVITY 1: The students should share with the class instances where they were quick to talk and the outcome.
2. BEING SLOW TO SPEAK AND ITS BENEFITS
A. Being slow to speak is never a sign of weakness. Apostle James, in the book of James 1:19, admonishes everyone to be slow to speak. In order to be slow to speak, we must learn to do the following:
Think before talking (Proverbs 23:7; 29:20).
Choose and use words wisely (Proverbs 25:11).
Let our words be gracious (Colossians 4:6).
Avoid being rash with words and decisions (Proverbs 15:1; Acts 19:36).
Speak with wisdom (Psalm 37:30).
Talk less (Proverbs 15:28) and listen actively and attentively to others (Job 29:9-10).
Ask the Lord to set a guard at your mouth (Psalm 141:3; James 3:2).
B. Being slow to speak has a lot of benefits. For instance:
It shows we are knowledgeable (Proverbs 17:27; 15:2).
It depicts understanding (Proverbs 10:13; 17:28b) and the right use of words (Proverbs 8:8).
If we are able to ‘bridle’ our tongues, we will command attention and respect (Proverbs 12:14).
Our words will be sound and seasoned (Titus 2:8; Proverbs 15:23).
We will avoid needless arguments, troubles, battles, and keep safe (Proverbs 13:3; 21:23).
CLASS ACTIVITY 2: The students should share any experience where they were slow to speak and its outcome.
CONCLUSION: We can create unneeded tension if we are rash with our mouths. Relationships grow by listening actively and speaking slowly.
QUESTIONS:
Mention three characteristics of a fool’s mouth.
Mention three benefits of being slow to speak.
EVALUATION: What should be the right attitude of believers to talking?
CLOSING PRAYER: God, help me to know when to talk and to be quiet in Jesus’ name.
ASSIGNMENT: Identify five Bible characters who made hasty decisions and these landed them in trouble. Give a Bible reference for each point(2×5=10 marks).
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself_ (KJV)
Central Truth
Our love for God is demonstrated by our service to others._
The Lesson Outline
1. Love the Lord A. “What Should I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?”
Luke 10:25-26
B. “Love the Lord…and Your Neighbour”
Luke 10:27-28
2. Love Your Neighbour
A. “Who Is My Neighbour?”
Luke 10:29- 35
B. “Go and Do the Same”
Luke 10:36-37
3. Love Without Distraction
A. Where ls Your Focus? Luke 10:38-40
B. Set Proper Priorities Luke 10:41-42
Learning Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Perceive the importance of love of God and others, and see such love as the motivating factor of life.
2. Demonstrate love for God and others in their daily lives.
3. Show love for all, regardless of ethnicity, economic status, and other areas that sometimes cause division.
Introducing the Lesson
It is common for Christians to wonder whether or not their lives are truly pleasing in God’s sight. Some believers even find themselves troubled by this, feeling like they need to be better and do more for God to make Him pleased with them. Yet this reflects a misunderstanding of! Christianity, a perspectlve that ís too focused on our own efforts. The truth is that God is pleased when we love Him, and then love others in response to that love. As Our lives are motivated by such love, we will in turn live in His ways.
Jesus made this clear when He was approached concerning the greatest commandment and the true meaning of the Law. Our Saviour’s answer to these questlons was always the same: Love God with all your heart, then love, others as yourself.
The Holy Scriptures
Luke 10:25 `“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30. And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
38. Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.“`
Commentary and Application
1. Love the Lord
A. “What Should I Do to Inherit Eternal Life?”
Luke 10:25-26
Luke 10 records a situation in which an expert in the Law put Jesus to the test (verse 25; “lawyer,” KJV).
More specifically, he was a Jewish Scribe, or one who concerned himself with interpreting the Law. The scribe’s motive for the question was likely not sincere; he may have even been sent by the scribes and Pharisees to trap Jesus into some kind of statement that could have been interpreted as blasphemy against God or the Law. However, the man’s question to Jesus was an important one: “What should I do to inherit eternal life?” (verse 25, NLT).
Jesus did not directly answer the question, but instead asked questions of His own (verse 26).
Jesus apparently wanted to search His questioner in order to compel him to think about what the correct answer might be. It is important to note that, in turning the man’s question back on him, Jesus appealed to the authority of all the Scriptures in existence at that time (see also Matthew 22:40) and, more specifically, the Law.
What follows in Luke 10:27, then, can be seen as a summary of every command in the Law. All that God commnands, then, can be in some way derived from what is about to be stated.
Questions for Application
If someone asked you how to get to heaven, how would you respond?_
Why do you think the religious leaders of the day were so intent on trapping Jesus regarding the Law?
B. “Love the Lord…and Your Neighbour”
Luke 10:27-28 The scribe’s answer to Jesus’ qestion of what the law of Mosessaid proved to be right on target. Clearly, the man knew and understood the Law (Luke 10:27).
Yet while Jesus acknowledged the correctness of his response, the Saviour did not leave it at that. To simply say, “”You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself” was inadequate. The difference was found in what the man knew versus what he did: “”Right! Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you wil! live!” (verse 28, NLT). Just knowing what is right is not enough. The scribe was responsible to live the truth that he understood. God’s commands are to be acted upon.
The two-fold response of the scribe reflected two very familiar passages of the Law. The first, found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, is often referred to as the shema. The Hebrew word shema literally means “hear or “listen,” and is the first word of the passage. “Hear, O Israel (verse 4, KJV). God told the nation of Israel to focus on the heart of His commandments. The heart of the Law required that the nation love the Lord their God supremely (verse 5).
Jewish thought has long regarded the soul to be the essence of the human being. It was considered to be the place of a person’s understanding, emotions, and will.
The soul was viewed as the essence of life and personhood. So, loving the Lord with all one’s soul meant with the entire substance of his being. Without love, obedience to the commandments of the Lord would be little more than a legalistic exercise. But love can transform duty into true, sincere commitment. God desires that our walk with Him be accompanied by joy, finding pleasure in being His people.
With regard to the second portion of the scribe’s response, in Leviticus 19, God provided a list of various regulations about how the Israelites were to treat one another. Leviticus 19:9-19 lists’ a variety of instructions, joined together by the repeated refrain, “I am the Lord” (verses 10, 12, 14, 16, 18).
This was a strong reminder that these commands came from God himself, so the people were accountable to God if they mistreated one another. It is easy to forget that God’s commands are more than just restrictions. We are not just to avoid certain behaviours, such as stealing, lying, or defrauding someone. The heart of His commands is positive, even as it is restrictive. When we understand them properly, we recognise that we must seek to love people and treat them with godly compassion.
Just knowing the truth is not enough. We must put into practice what we know to be true. Scripture continues to say to us what Jesus said to the scribe: “Do this and you will live” (Luke 10:28, NLT).
Right thinking is good, but it is meaningless uniess a person’s lifestyle reflects his or her understanding. What the world needs from Christians is not just words of truth. The world needs actions that demonstrate these beliefs. When those who say they are followers of Jesus live like followers of Jesus, they will become salt and light to a lost and dying world.
Question for Application
What are some practical ways that we show our love for God?
How will loving others impact the way you live?
*2. Love Your Neighbour* A. “Who Is My Neighbour?”
Luke 10:29-35 Jewish religious teaching at that time had twisted the teaching of Leviticus 19:18 and restricted the obligation of pious Jews to only those who deserved their love and compassion. Jesus made this point when He said on another occasion, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy’ (Matthew 5:43, KJV).
Those who said this were ignoring the teachings of Leviticus 19, which calls upon people to show the same love for the foreigner as for the fellow Jew. (See Leviticus 19:33-34; note that a common practice in debating the Law in New Testament times involved citing a portion of a larger passage, where the unquoted part of the passage is the greater focus of the quote. The scribe knew very well the verses that answering the question as to who is one’s neighbour.)
To answer the scribe’s question Jesus responded with one of His one most familiar parables, the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-35). The parable conveys a vivid contrast. The two people who failed to carry out the true meaning of the Law were religious men.
One was a priest and the other a Levite. Both men likely were on their way to perform religious duties. While their way, they chose not to help a person (generally regarded as a Jewish person) who was in desperate need. They failed the test of loving one’s neighbour. But then the parable introduced another man, a Samaritan. He was from a group of people despised by the Jews, even as they themselves despised the Jews.
The Samaritans were those Jews who were left behind when the Northern Kingdom of Israel was taken into Assyrian captivity. The Samaritans intermarried with Gentile people groups and mingled the worship of God with the worship of idols (see 2 Kings 17). As a result, the Jewish people saw the Samaritans as detestable.
The Samaritan’s actions, then, demonstrated the command to love one’s neighbour as one would love oneself -a fundamental command of the Law. Note the irony in Jesus parable. The most devout of the Jews, who would have seen themselves as a far more righteous than the Samaritan, failed in the most basic of commands, even as the Samaritan obeyed those commands.
There is a powerful message here for Christians today. The community of faith is to be a place of love. Then, as a result, the love of God will flow from us through loving actions to the world around us-those near to us and those who might be seen as hostile-testifying to the transforming love of God.
Question for Application
Why do you think the command to love can be difficult even for Christians?
What are some practical ways that we demonstrate love for our neighbours?
B. “Go and Do the Same”
Luke 10:36-37 This parable is extremely important for us as believers today, as is its clear message as to who exactly is our neighbour, and how we are to treat that person. We need to show compassion and mercy to anyone in need, regardless of who they are, where they come from, or what their spiritual background might be. Only in this way can we obey the Command to love our neighbours as ourselves. Religious titles mean nothing. It is our willingness to show mercy and assist others that pleases God even if we think of that person as an enemy. We must ask ourselves, “What kind of neighbours will I be to others?”
We are also reminded that Jesus summarised the Old Testament Law as loving God with one’s whole being and then loving others as oneself. We must not dismiss the teachings of the Old Testament as antiquated, for they inform us about the heart of God, and His desire for a relationship with people is rooted in love. The Christian life is relational. We must live in a right relationship with God and other people. When we embrace this truth and live accordingly, we will grow spiritually.
Question for Application
What might Jesus be saying to you today through the Parable of the Good Samaritan?
What groups of people might qualify as “modern – day Samaritans” for Christians, and how can we minister love to them?
3. Love without Distraction A. Where Is Your Focus?
Luke 10:38-40
It was Jewish custom. to welcome travellers into one’s home for a meal and a place to sleep. So, when Jesus made His way into the village of His friend Martha, she followed custom and invited Him to be a guest in her home (Luke 10:38). She knew what was expected in this situation: Fix a meal, provide something to drink, and make sure the guest was comfortable. This was simply part of being a Jewish Woman in New Testament times.
Most likely, Jesus wasn’t the only guest in I Martha’s home. Jesus’ disciples were likely present, as well as others who would have gathered to hear Jesus’ teaching. As a result, it would seem reasonable to expec that Mary join her sister in caring for their guests. But this was not the case. Instead, Mary sat with those who were listening to Jesus teach (verse 39). Mary made no effort to care for His needs. She just made herself comfortable and listened to His words.
Martha and Mary were focused on two different things. Martha was focused on the preparations that needed to be made. Mary was focused on what Jesus had to say.Martha, in what appeared to be frustration with both her sister and to help her with the I hostess’ duties Jesus, appealed to Jesus s to tell Mary (verse 40).
It is easy to sympathise with Martha. Most people know the stress of having unplanned visitors. Martha just wanted some help from her sister. Indeed, Christians living in Western society often relate better to Martha than to Mary.
Our culture encourages people to be “doers often, the focus is placed on the outer development of a person, minimising the development of the inner being. This can even happen in the church, where the unspoken message is, “How would the work of the church ever get done if everyone just sat around and communicated with God”?
In Jesus’ response to Martha’s question, discussed below, we see that there is a time to focus on moments with Jesus and there is a tine for service. ldentifying these proper times will help us keep the right perspective in our walk with God.
Question for Application
Do you ever feel that your life is out of balance, and that you are more focused on “doing” than on spending time lis tening to Jesus? Explain._
How can Christians find the balance between doing and listening?_
B. Set Proper Priorities
Luke 10:41-42
Jesus responded to Martha with a gentle rebuke (Luke 10:41). She was allowing the urgent to get in the way of what was truly important. At that point in time, the priority was spending time with Him, listening to His words (verse 42). This is why Jesus commended Mary for the choice she made. There would be time enough later to be busy seeing to the needs of the guests.
We can often struggle with our priorities today, as well. We must make certain that we don’t become so involved in the tasks of the Kingdom that we ignore the King.
Christians might become so focused on service that they fail to develop their relationship with Jesus. The incident with Martha and Mary points us to the truth that both devotion and service are commendable. But we must be balanced, and part of this rests on trusting God that the Kingdom work will be done. Let us take time to be with Jesus and learn from Him before we engage in service on His behalf. Such service needs to flow out of a relationship with the Lord.
Question for Application
_How might an overemphasis on “doing” reveal a lack of trust in God?_
_What will happen if we focus too much on doing and neglect fellowship with Christ?_
Call to Discipleship
Jesus taught that love must be the motivating factor in our lives. Loving God and loving others requires us to prioritise both our time and our resources. Being busy must not distract us from loving God or from reaching out to the needy among us.
Ministry in Action
Spend extra time this week worshipping and loving God for who He is. Reach out to someone outside your family and usual circle of contacts to demonstrate love to them.
Look for some way you can volunteer to help the needy in your church or community regulary.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (NIV)
Focus Every day, the students in your class confront challenges that could have profound impact on their lives – for good or bad. And in the years ahead, they will yet face many major decisions. If your students can learn to recognize God’s voice, they can avoid a lot of confusion and stress.
God speaks in diverse ways: audible voice, inward witness, His Word, signs and wonders, fulfilled prophecies, and His Holy Spirit. But no matter how He chooses to speak, what matters is that your students know the voice of God and choose to obey. Samuel was probably much younger than your students when God’s voice awakened him. So, they, too, can learn to recognize God’s voice.
Perhaps your life has become overcrowded with distractions and you find it hard to “tune in” God’s voice. As you prepare for this study, take time to not only speak to God but to listen. Trust Him to help you and your students to hear His voice more clearly as He speaks.
The Basic Message: Explain to students…
WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA? Christ’s followers can learn to hear and recognize God’s voice.
WHY DOES IT MATTER? Christians who learn to discern God’s voice and confirm it with His Word can avoid being misled.
HOW DO I LIVE IT? Spend time away from distractions, listen to God, then confirm His instructions and obey them.
Illustration Option: TUNING IN
Bring a radio to class and tune it to static. Set the volume just loud enough to be distracting while you greet students, give announcements, and introduce the study. Then adjust the radio to get a clear signal. (Be sure to select a station that is appropriate to play in class.) Explain that distractions or being “out of tune” spiritually can keep us from hearing God’s voice clearly. We stay in tune with God by spending time with Him and listening to what He says.
Study Overview: Explain that today’s study considers…
• What we can learn from Samuel’s response to God’s voice. • Ways God speaks to us and ways He confirms His message to us. • How we must be bold in delivering God’s message.
Inform and Discuss
a). It’s for You 1. Read or have volunteers read 1 Sam 3:1-5. How did Samuel respond when he heard his name? What did his response reveal about him? [Hint: Samuel responded immediately – he ran to Eli, and this was sometimes in the middle of the night. Samuel was a willing, responsive, and quick-to-obey servant.
Guide: Explain that our response to requests, especially under less-than-ideal circumstances, can reveal a lot about our hearts. Some requests don’t come at convenient times or involve things we are particularly interested in. Samuel’s actions showed he was ready to serve.
2. What qualities does God look for when choosing a person to speak to?
Hint: Obedience, a willingness to listen, and a servant’s heart are characteristics often found in those God calls. Although God graciously calls out as well to those who oppose Him.
3. In what ways would it have been more difficult to live for God then than it is now?
Guide: Point out that God speaks today in most of the same ways He always has. The advantage we have now is access to his written Word the Bible – and the examples and instructions He provides in it. The people in Samuel’s time didn’t have the Bible in the form we do today.
b). Who’s There? 1. Read or have volunteers read 1 Sam 3:6-10. How can we become accustomed to God’s voice?
Hint: After mistaking God’s voice for Eli’s three times in a row, Samuel may have felt nervous, excited, or even doubtful, since messages from God were rare – 1 Sam 3:1. But he later got it right. Spiritually, we become accustomed to God’s voice in much the same way we become familiar with a friend’s voice on the phone. At first, however, we can feel a lot like Samuel, mistaking it for another person’s voice because we can’t figure out who is calling us.
2. What are some common distractions that can prevent people from hearing God?
Hint: These could include busyness, stubbornness, preoccupation with other things, persistent in sin, etc.
Guide: Explain that when you’re praying about a particular need – especially for wisdom or direction – God often says the same thing repeatedly to make sure we know He’s behind it. Some refer to having a “growing knowing” on the inside as a person becomes more sure that they’re hearing from God.
3. What are some of the ways God confirms He is speaking to us?
Hint: God never contradicts the directions He has revealed through His Word – the Bible. God also uses other believers to guide us and confirm that we’ve heard correctly. Situations also may reveal the way God wants us to go, but God can override circumstances.
4. Read or have a volunteer read John 10:27. Why is it important for us to act on what we already know God has told us? [Hint: God wants us to do more than learn to hear His voice. He expects us to respond with obedience. Sometimes that means learning to follow the example of our spiritual mentors.
Guide: Explain that it was good that Samuel had Eli as a mentor. Eli, in spite of some personal failures, was the person who helped Samuel recognize God’s voice. As such, he had a big influence on the future prophet.
c). Speak Up 1. Read or have volunteers read 1 Sam 3:11-21. How do you think Samuel felt having to tell Eli God’s judgment on his family?
Note: God’s message from Samuel confirmed an earlier message to Eli from another man of God (1 Sam 2:27.) Eli knew that it was God who had spoken to Samuel and it was futile to resist.
2. Why are we sometimes afraid to tell people the truth?
Hint: We’re Scared of how they will react. Or, maybe we’re not sure that we are Correct.
3 Why does God challenge, rebuke, and punish people?
Hint: We may not know God’s reasons for each of His actions, but we can be sure that He has a purpose. It is His desire that all would know Him.
Guide: Explain that God will continue to speak to trustworthy people. If we comply with His plan, God will continue to use us for His glory. If, however, we fold our arms stubbornly and resist, He will look for someone else who is willing to be used.
Inspire Them: Remind students “The Basic Message” of this study (pg. 103), explain WHAT the Big Idea behind the study is; WHY it matters; and HOW we can live the lesson captured in the study.
Ministry Activity: LISTEN Challenge your students to make a habit of spending a few moments alone with God. Although the classroom may not be the ideal location, have them close their eyes and silently ask God to speak to them, and then to quietly focus on Him. If a thought or idea keeps recurring, they can ask God if it’s of Him. They may want to write it down, so that if God confirms it, they will have a record of when He spoke to them and what they thought they heard. Encourage them to do the same outside the class as well. They might take a walk somewhere they can get away from distractions.
Invitation Option: ANSWERING THE CALL
If you have students who don’t have a relationship with God, take time to pray with any who would like to answer God’s call to follow His Son, Jesus. Lead them in prayer as they confess their faith in Jesus and begin to have a personal relationship with Him.
Conclude by praying that students will desire to spend more time learning to hear God’s voice and obediently carrying out His will.
Teacher Hint: Ask Yourself…
1. Do students understand that they can learn and prepare to hear from God? 2. Can they identify some common distractions? 3. Could they recognize some of the ways God confirms His directions to us? 4. Have they had opportunity to listen to God for themselves in class today?
Daily Dew Drops:
Mon: God Still Speaks – Hebrews 1:1-2 Tue: This Is How to Find God – Jeremiah 29:13 Wed: Learn to Hear Him – Psalms 32:8-9 Thu: A Devoted Heart – Psalms 16:8 Fri: Willing Heart – Psalms 119:112 Sat: Speak for the King – Jeremiah 1:7
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
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The Devil’s battle cry is a kind of standing battle order for all demons against the dicsiple. It is an order that Satanm has given to all the demons concerning youn is, break the fellowship between him and the Lord. Break that Fellowship.
Every time Devil goes to report to Satanthat a particular Pastor, Evangelist or disciple is troubling the kingdom of the devil, the devil will tell him, Go and break the fellowship between him and the Lord, by sin or by diosobedience, It is not a new method; he has been using that method from time immemorial. He succeeded in the Garden of Eden, he succeeded against Abraham, he succeeeded against David, so we just want to look at two classical examples where this battle cry of the devil was very successful.
BALAK/BALAM EPISOODE AS A CASE STUDY
The first concerns the nation of Israel. You will find story in Numbers 23:25. The children of Israel were going to the Promised Land and they were conqwuering all the way.
Anyone who faced them, they destoryed and they got to the land of a certain king called Balak who had heard about all that the children of Israel had done to all other kings.
There was a certain prophet name Balaam . Whatever he spoke came to pass. So Balak sent for Balaam and said, “There is a great people, greater than me and my nation; If I dont do something about them, they will overpower us, come and curse them, I know they will be destroyed. And if you do that, I will pay you a lot of money”. Balaam said, “God, shall I go?” God said, “no, how can you go against my people?”. So he sent back to the king and said “I am sorry I’m not coming”. The king sent again, Balaam asked God, Shall I go? God said I have already told you that you should not go but if you want to gom go”.
So Balaam went. When Balaam arrived and he named his price and asked the King, “Bring me this , bring me that, so I can curse the nation of Israel”. The king provided all he demanded for the sacrifice. When Balaam opened his mouth to curse Israel, instead of curses , blessings were flowing forth and so Balak became angry. I asked you to curse them , I dont say bless them . He tried the second time, instead of curses came blessings. He tried the third time, blessings. So at a stage, Balak had to say to him, listen , if you are not going to curse them, dont bless them”.
Matthew 24:12-19, You see , before Balam left he said , “Alright, nobody can curse these people because God has blessed them”.
He said, let me teach you a method, if you can cause these people to go against their own God, if there can be a seperation between the two of them, if you can break the fellowship between them and their God , then you will not even need to fight them, it is their God who will finish them.
So, the children of Israel were invited to a Peace feast. A lot of food and drinks were prepared and the enemies scantly dressed daughters served the children of Israel. The men of Israel were looking at beautiful ladies. Gradually, they began to touch them. Before king, they were commiting adultery with them, God had earlier warned them not to take a wife from among them (Numbers 25:9). Without Balak raising his sword, look at what happened. When God became angry with the Isrealites (verse nine), twenty four thousand died and the devil kept laughing. Balak did not raise a sword , all he did was he succeeded in breaking the fellowship between the nation of Israel and their God.
SAMSON AS A CASE STUDY
Another example is the case of Samson. When Samson was in fellowship with his God, there was no enemy strong enough to stand. In Judges 14:5-6, when the lion roared against him, he took the lion and tore it into small pieces like a small goat. In Judges 15:11-15, this man single-handedly killed a thousand men. In Judges 16:1-3 , Samson was in the city , the city of Gaza, the gates were shut and the gate of the city in those days were very mighty. They said we will kill him when it is in the morning.
At midnight, because God was with him, when he got to the gate, he uprooted the gte and carried it to the long distance before dropping it. When the demons there reported to Satan, They said, . look at what Samson is doing to us. The devil kept on saying, Break hisb fellowship with God. You still remember the story in Judges 16. After the hair was removed, Delilah said the Philistines are in the house and Samson said I will arise as before, I will go out and destory them. And the Bible said , He didnt know that God had left him.
So when the fellowship between an man and his God is broken, troubkle comes. Then you see one thing about Samson. After some time, after they removed his eyes, they put him into the kitchen to be grinding corn. This mighty man of God , after he started dancing for the idols of the enemy, was sorry. He cried to God to help him. “Let the fellowship be restored once more”. And the Bible said the hair of his head started growing again. As soon as his fellowship was restored , trouble came for his enemy again. In fact, the Bible says that people that he killed in his death were more than those he killed in his life.
When the fellowship was restored, power came agaihn. IS YOUR FELLOWSHIP TO YOUR GOD INTACT? Or is it about to break? Or is it broken already? You know yourself, you can talk to him now. If it is already broken, cry to him for restoration, if it is not very steady, you better be careful. If there is fellowship between you and Him and everything is intact, you better pray that nothing will tamper with that fellowship.
Action Point
Get A Professional Account In Your Business Name. Go Moniepoint.
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points that I have raised in this article. You might not agree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We will appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
Fact Check Policy
CRMNuggets is committed to fact-checking in a fair, transparent and non-partisan manner. Therefore, if you’ve found an error in any of our reports, be it factual, editorial, or an outdated post, please contact us to tell us about it.
