KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:9 KJV “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”

Peace makers are the lubricants of our associations, and so are simply indispensable. Every Christian is supposed to be a peacemaker. What are some of the ways., we do make for peace?

1.We make peace by preaching to others about the prince of Peace.

 Rom 10:15 KJV” And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

2.We make peace by being fair to parties that are at longer heads with each other

3. We make peace by giving up on our difficult stands with others. (James 3:17)

4. We make peace by forgiving those who offend us.

5. We also make peace by praying for the spirit of peace 1Tim 2:1 KJV” I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

There are certain actions that divide friends which we ought to be aware of;

1 A whisperer who slanders others separate friends Prov 5 :28 KJV” A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

2 THE man who repeats wrong information to others. Pro 17:9 KJV” He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

3.When people get unnecessarily difficult by taking entrenched positions which does not create peace for all parties.

4 When people seek to take advantage of others.

The underlying grounds for division and disunity is selfishness or self-centredness. Our place in Christ means our old selfish nature was crucified with Jesus. We no longer live for ourselves in anyway. Say to yourself my tongue would never destroy anyone nor carry false information about anyone. As a peace maker, always ask yourself the following questions before making comments about others

 1 Would I be pleased if such words were said about me?

2 Are these words I am about to say to others from the devil or the Holy Ghost

3.Are these things I am about to say about my neighbour true.?

4 If they are true, is this the right place and time to talk about these things.

5 Are words from my leaps seasoned with salt?

With proper answers to the above questions, you may now make the right comments avoiding those that would create trouble for others

CONFESSION

I am a peacemaker. I live by the power and nature of Christ. I handle all matters whether personal or about others by the Spirit of God. My words bless and heal. Men are lifted and encouraged by what I say, glory be to God.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:8 KJV” Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God”.

Purity of heart is a highly priced virtue that every child of God must keenly work hard to be establish in his or her life. It is non negotiable and indispensable. The Lord says people with a pure heart would see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) Seeing the Lord also means encountering His power. Prophet Daniel put it this way, Dan 11:32 KJV “……: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” The pure are normally free from certain demonic harassment. This makes the pure in heart a more peaceful person and subsequently a happy person.

There are a number of Christians who are unfortunately given to very impure ways. They would break the trust reposed in them. Because of the wrong impure thoughts that they allow their minds to fellowship with, they find themselves, stealing, cheating, fornication, getting drunk and many more. This cut across all levels of life. From the church, the home, business setting and many more. Such actions rub the culprits of their peace and happiness. Rom 2:9 KJV” Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; “Such anguish of soul and distress of life is simply unnecessary for the Christian to find himself in them. Every child of God has been called to peace and happiness. Dear child of God, kill the impurity from today.

HOW would a child of God become impure? If he feeds himself with impure stuff, and less of the word of God. 1Co 15:33 KJV” Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. “The next thing that creates impure thoughts or heart is meditating on the wrong things (Rom 8:6)

To maintain a pure mind

1.Decide to have a pure mind

2. Listen to messages that challenge you unto uprightness.

3. Refuse any thought or suggesting that is contrary to the word of God.

4.Meditate on the word and declare, my heart is pure. Saying it, is very important, because it establishes you in that light.

IF you would do the above your heart would not be grounds for demons, impure thoughts, but be filled with holy thoughts that make you peaceful and happy always.

CONFESSION

I have a pure heart, devoid of suspicion bitterness, lust, theft and what have you? I am filled with love, sincerity and many more. I give no place to wrong fleshly views to hang around my mind. Thank you Lord.

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 12:14 KJV” Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

Ephesians 4:27 KJV” Neither give place to the devil”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:7 KJV “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”

The Lord gives further another tonic for happiness. He says those who are merciful will live a life of happiness. If you are always feeling depressed or disturbed then you might not have been showing mercy. Mercy is the foundation on which forgiveness functions. There are many people who are finding it very difficult to forgive their offenders. They justify their grounds not to forgive. Well, this is most unfortunate, because your happiness and joy will remain buried. Hebrews 12:15 KJV “Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;” Mercy protects you from failing of the grace of God. By mercy bitterness will not take a hold of you.

IT takes mercy to help the poor. Prov. 14:21 KJV” He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he”. It is a sin to despise the poor when you are in the capacity to help. Dear child of God mercy for the needy gives you a great standing with God. How can you be depressed when God is favourably attracted to you? Prov 19:17 KJV He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay by him again. Can you imagine investing in God for a latter time withdrawal? Mercy makes this possible.

Mercy will turn turbulent hurting homes into havens of peace. All the quarrels and the heart breaks in our homes proceed from disobeying the call to show mercy. What is the biggest barrier and hindrance to a life of mercy? The answer is SELFISHNESS. As a Christian you have been delivered from every selfishness. Jesus died and slew the old man of selfishness. It is Christ who is presently alive in you. Let the Spirit of Christ show mercy to the one who has hurt you. Show mercy to the poor. God will likewise show mercy to you. Whatever is legally claiming your life will be stopped because God has had mercy on you.

CONFESSION

GOD has shown mercy on me, so I likewise show mercy to all persons. To the man or woman who hurts me, I show mercy. I am favourably attracted to the poor because I show mercy on them too.

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 21:13 KJV “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”

Prov 22:9 KJV “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor” .

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:6 KJV “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

There are two kinds of righteousness revealed in the scriptures. There is righteousness as a nature of God, received by faith and becomes our nature through salvation Rom 3:22 KJV” Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:”. There is a second kind of righteousness which is right living This could be defined as righteous acts. Our key scripture is referring to the second type of righteousness. It says those who will hunger and thirst after living an upright life shall be satisfied. To be hungry or thirsty for a thing is a very strong desire and could be described as a desperate desire for something. Men by nature have a heart that is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). It is the heart that has been regenerated through faith in Jesus that turns favourably towards God. (Titus 2:11&12).

Pursuing after righteousness is the escape of the soul from mundane actions and freedom from satanic influences. The sorrows, soul distresses. and all the pain in the hearts of men proceed from going after unrighteous ways. As children of God, it is our nature to do things that are right. We have been created that way. Eph 2:10 KJV” For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” We are new creations in Christ and the old nature with its ways are no more with us. As a Christian any longing for that which is unrighteous is very abnormal with us. Fight it, refuse it and give it no place.

The Apostle Paul says such things, which are the works of the flesh should not be named among us. Certain Christians have lived in the midst of the ungodly corrupting their righteous souls, to a degree that certain wrong acts have become normal with them. We are the righteousness of God and so we pursue and go after righteous ways. We do not allow our flesh to dictate to us. When a man pursues right ways, according to the Lord, he is filled or satisfied. Such a man has escaped the sorrows, pain and worries of this life caused by the deceptions of sin

CONFESSION

I am the righteousness of God. It is very normal with me to seek and pursue after righteous ways, because that is who I am. I am filled with peace, joy and full of life for these are the fruits of righteousness. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of righteousness.

FURTHER STUDIES

Titus 2:11 KJV” For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Romans 2:7-10 KJV “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life, But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:5 KJV” Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth”.

We keep listening to our Lord Jesus as He teaches on the mountain. The Lord teaches that, the meek are blessed because they would inherit the earth. Some associate meekness with weakness, yet that is a big error. Meekness is rather, strength under control. The Lord described His yoke as easy and His burden as light. He explained this as possible because of His meekness (Matt 11:28,29) The Burden and yoke of the master was simply humanly impossible, yet He says it is easy and light. What is meekness? Meekness is defined as submissiveness. It is a lowly or humble attitude that makes an individual ready to take responsibility with excitement. Difficulty of tasks, no matter the form it is, is depended on whether when executing that task, one is excited about doing that task, or apprehensive about doing it. To the man who is excited about undertaking that task, the task will be easy, but would be like carrying the whole globe if the individual is apprehensive about doing it.

The Lord taught that the meek is a very happy man. Lack of meekness is the reason for the stress of some people. Some wives complain from sun to dust about their chores, because of the absence of meekness. Some husband’s also do so Some workers would lose their employment because they are unable to give their best, because of their particular assignments are unbearable to them. Their trouble is nothing but lack of meekness. There are certain congregations who find it so difficult doing evangelism in a cooperate manner or on a personal level, while, the immediate next church close by keep winning souls with ease. Why this big difference? One group is very meek to respond to instructions, and the other church are not meek, and so find it very difficult doing what the Lord expects them to do. From the above explanations, the meek will inherit the earth, because, the meek does not despise any task, rather they joyfully accept and execute it.

Dear child Of God, are you having a stressful life because of what you are engaged in? If you have the Holy Spirit in you, then you have the spirit of meekness. God our Father takes a great delight in the meek

 Psalms 149:4 KJV For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Stop thinking of yourself as too important and consider yourself as a vessel of God, whose pleasure is in doing that which pleases God.

CONFESSION

I am extremely excited with my tasks. I take real pleasure in doing it, so God would be pleased in me. I consider it a great privilege and opportunity to do what I am doing.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 25:9 KJV” The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.”

Isaiah 29:19 KJV. The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:4 KJV “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted”.

What type of mourning is the Lord talking about? Mourning in the old testament is normally associated with fasting. Dan 10:2 KJV “In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks.” In this verse mourning is in relation to fasting. The other idea is to be concerned about the plight of the oppressed and to mourn for them. In the old testament mourners always wore sack clothes and slept on ashes. Isaiah 58:5 KJV Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? This was the normal posture of fasting in the old testament, yet the Lord says his main expectation of us in a fast is to seek that justice is metered out to all. A proper mourning involves being concerned about others.

The Lord describes those who mourn for the plight of others as happy or blessed people. When one does that which pleases the Spirit, He ignites a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction within. Unfortunately, most people   have mainly concerned themselves to only praying for themselves when fasting. Isaiah 58, the chapter devoted solely to fasting reveals what is the proper kind of fasting that God expects from us. Isa 58:6 KJV” Is it not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? This verse literally means that in the time of fasting you do no wicked acts. Everyone within your influence who is under any kind of bondage must be set free. You should not fast and practice any kind of wickedness.

The above explanation is the literal meaning to that piece of scripture. It can also imply that during a fast you seek the freedom of all and any who are oppressed by interceding for them. The Lord says people who mourn for others in such a way would be comforted. They would receive assistance from the spirit of God. The Lord would answer their personal longings as well.

CONFESSION

When I fast, I seek the liberty of all those who are under any form of oppression. I literally seek their freedom and also pray to seek God’s intervention for their liberty. God answers my needs as well.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 58:11 KJV” thee the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not”.

Prov 11:25 KJV” The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 5:1 KJV “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,”

Matthew 5:3 KJV” Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. The Lord gave a teaching on the mountain. He taught about what has come to be known as the beatitudes or the be happy attitudes. These are again known as the Christian charter. These are principles for victorious living Everyone who lives by these principles will have a life of peace and happiness. The verse 3 says, those who are poor in spirit, to them belong the kingdom of God. To be poor in spirit is not referring to being physically, poor, that is lacking basic necessities of life. But to be humble at heart.

To be poor in spirit is to acknowledge your great lack of the things of the spirit and reach out to God for them. The following verse explains the point in verse three. Luke 1:53 KJV” He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away”. Who is the hungry? The man who comes to him knowing he has nothing and so longs to be satisfied. Such a man, who is poor in spirit, leaves with an abundance of blessings. The man who thinks he is rich is complacent in the presence of the Father. Such a person is self righteous. He does not come into the presence of the father with any sense of emptiness, but with self justification. Salvation by grace is only for those who acknowledge their emptiness and believe on the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus to save them. The one who counts on his efforts remains lost in his sins. The blessings of the kingdom are not given to him that thinks he is rich, and self sufficient.

God our Father is no respecter of persons, But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. (Acts 10:34). Righteousness in the context of our discussion is to be poor in the Spirit. This explains why some people leave the prayer closet with an assurance of what they requested, whiles others, leave empty although they might be screaming as they prayed.  The question is, what is the condition of your heart? Dear child of God, always come to the Father in prayer with a consciousness of God being your sufficiency. With this attitude you would always receive your heart desires.

CONFESSION

Thank you, dear father. I am nothing without you. You are my sufficiency. I continually humble my life before you, that I may bear much fruit to your glory.

FURTHER STUDIES

John 15:5 KJV” I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.:”

Luke 18:13 KJV. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner, I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

KEY SCRIPTURES: Matthew 4:17 BBE” From that time Jesus went about preaching and saying, Let your hearts be turned from sin, for the kingdom of heaven is near”.

In our walk with Jesus, we find the Lord Jesus preaching about the kingdom of God after his fasting. The essence of every spiritual encounter is to go out to where the sinners are and win them for Christ. The Lord emphasised that he must work the works of him that sent Him, whiles it is day, for the night comes when no man could work John 9:4. The Lord indeed demonstrated His commitment to this call. Remember that when he was only twelve years old, He stayed in the temple to be sharing the word of God with the scholars and lawyers. When the parents asked why He did that, He answered that He must be about His father’s business. (Luke 2:49) He saw winning others for the father as the father’s business. What is your attitude to sharing the gospel to the lost.?

In John 4:34 the Lord answered His disciples that His meat is to do the will of the Father and to finish it. The Lord kept going from town to town, village to village and in some occasions from person to person. It was on such mission that many heard of His miracle power and came around to receive their healing. In Matt 4:19 He met some fishermen and asked them to come follow Him and he would make them fishers of men. This statement clearly spells out the reason for calling on all of us. It is to make of us fishers of men.

The Lord taught that to be made fishers of men, we had to follow him.

The Lord seeks to raise men and women who would be fishers of men. Unfortunately, many of us are not doing what it takes to be fishers of men. May we follow diligently the master’s approach to fishing for men. The following points are some of the attitudes the Lord had towards winning the lost.

1.He acknowledged He had been sent to fulfill that task (John 4:34)

2.He was committed to completing it, because it was the most important desire of the Father.

3.He committed His whole life to doing it.

We must follow these three points and become real fishers of men.

CONFESSION

I respond to the call of the Lord to become a fisher of men. I diligently follow the Lord’s example in fishing for men.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mark 16:15 BBE And he said to them, Go into all the world, and give the good news to everyone.

Luke 2:49 KJV “”And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” 

KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:14 KJV “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”

The Lord Jesus according to the scripture returned in the power of the Holy Spirit and his fame went abroad. The Lord had received divine approval from the father. Act 2:22 KJV” Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:” Dear child of God working the works of God comes through a divine approval. To be approved, you must observe certain divine protocols. What are some of these protocols? In the Lord’s experience, they were;

1.He submitted Himself to the baptism of John to fulfill all righteousness. John was His fore runner and therefore, he must initiate and launch him into the ministry through baptism. If the Lord had not allowed John to baptize Him, then there was no way God would have approved of him.

2 He Submitted himself to tempted by the devil. Heb 5:8 KJV” Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”

3.He submitted Himself to undergo a forty-days fasting.

The Lord’s life was focused on pleasing the father in every step he took. You can’t flow in power by doing what you like. Power is simply the supply of grace, and humility is what unlocks and increases this grace in a man’s life. James 4:6 KJV “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

When the Lord encountered the centurion in Matt 8:9, He said I am a man under authority, and I say to this go, and he goes, and to another, come and he comes. What this centurion seeks to establish is that, because he submits to Emperor Caesar’s authority, he has Cesar’s backing that makes other servants submissive to him.     Get this truth once and for all. Power is always released to those who submit to the order, and systems that God has instituted. Know the chain of authority and systems God has set in place, submit to them in love and humility and God would approve of you to exercise his power and authority.

PRAYER

Father I pray that the church of God would learn to submit to every order of authority, set up by the Lord

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 8:9 KJV” For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it”.

Matthew 10:1 KJV “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mat 4:2 KJV “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred”.

We continue with our walk with Jesus through the gospels. After considering the Lord’s temptations we must also consider the fast he undertook as well. Fasting is a spiritual discipline in which one abstains from food, so he could focus on things of the Spirit. The Lord fasted for forty days and forty nights without food. During the Lord’s fast, He was tempted, yet he overcame it.

 Fasting is a means of humbling the soul Psalms 35:13 KJV” But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom”. The fast strengthens one’s resolve to keep the flesh under check. Note: the real aspect of one’s ability to hold himself or herself from doing wrong is a renewed mind, that is decided to please God.

Fasting also quickens an individual’s faith. When the Lord’s disciples could not cast out the deaf and dumb spirit from the boy, the Lord said, they could not do so because of their lack of faith. He then added that, this kind can go out only, by prayer and fasting.

Matthew 17:21. The implication is that fasting strengthens faith. Fasting also generates supernatural power. Luke 4:14 KJV ” And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.” Among the many benefits of fasting is that, it also speeds up one’s healing from various ailments (Isaiah 58:8).

Despite the many benefits of fasting, it seems a number of Christians are very reluctant to fast. Fasting is not an option for the Christian. It is a demand from God.  Matthew 6:17 KJV “But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;”

The word did not say if you fast, but when you fast. This means then, that the Christian must fast. Please note, that one of the essences of fasting is to humble the soul. This is achieved through the hunger and weakness the body goes through. Do not be afraid to feel hungry and weak. The most important aspect of the fast is to focus on God in prayer and meditating on the scriptures. Dear child of God, allow your mind to be renewed, your faith built up, and a great supernatural power generated in you, as you fast.

CONFESSION

Thank you, dear heavenly father for the privilege of fasting and prayer. My soul is humbled, yet made more stronger as I fast. My life is greatly enriched in many ways through fasting.

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 4:14 KJV” And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”

Isaiah 58:6 KJV” Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?