KEY SCRIPTURE: Luke 1:36 KJV” And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.”

Christmas is a moment of great festivities and merry making. Along these euphoria are certain special packages that you as an individual can take advantage of to bring lasting smiles to you. Among the many sides to the story of Christmas is the miracle of Elizabeth, who used to be known as barren. She became pregnant even at her very old age. This tells us that in this season of Christmas that bitter story about your life can change, if you would dare to believe God’s word.  The angels announced to the shepherds watching their flocks the following statement. Luke 2:14 KJV” Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.”. You are included in those who must have peace and the good will. Good will means God thinks favorably towards you.

What is that thing that turns your mouth sour? This season is your moment for a turn around. Elizabeth was called barren, but because Jesus was to be born her barrenness was terminated. Dear one because of this season God has purposed to turn your situation around, for your good. Elizabeth said in Luke 1:45 that “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord”. God’s power will be revealed to the man who believes. As you believe you would experience that miracle you desire. (Isaiah 53:1)

What must you do to turn your negative situation into a testimony?

1 Know that God is willing to answer you. (Luke 5:13)

2.God is able to change that situation (Eph 3:20 Jeremiah 32:17

3 God is ready to answer you.

With these three mental concepts fully established in you, ask the Lord and thank him for answering you, according to Mark 11:24″ Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Make this Christmas a moment of encounter with the living God for an absolute turnaround of any bad state you find yourself.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly father for giving us your son Jesus, our savour. I accept by faith, your healing, deliverance, forgiveness and any blessing I need. I thank you for your answer in Jesus name.

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 53:1 KJV Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Jeremiah 32:17 KJV “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 2:17 KJV “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

(Read 2 Kings 9 & 10). Zeal in the heart of a man is like fire in coal that burns whatever it comes into contact with. It is a consuming energy that cannot be stopped. Jehu was anointed to be king of Israel. He was commissioned to wipe out all the filth created by Ahab, by wiping out the family of Ahab, destroy all the prophets of Baal and totally stop Baal worship   in Israel. Jehu executed this mission without fail. It was zeal for God burning in his bones that caused him to go that length. He had to use brute force in certain occasions and other times was just tactful. In all these he was very consistent and so he progressed steadily till the whole task was fully executed.

What kept his zeal burning till he got to his ultimate? Among other factors, Jehu expressed his anger against the whoredom and witchcraft of Jezebel in Israel. (2 Kings 9:22) This attitude whipped up his desire or zeal to get his tasks done. What will your zeal do for you?

1 Your zeal causes you to overlook hindrances and reproaches to obtain your goal.

2. Zeal will push you to do whatever God tells you to do.

3.Zeal for God makes you do everything for God in sincerity

4. Zeal in your heart coupled with proper knowledge makes you produce

 your best.

5. Your zeal will make the fire of God to keep burning in you.

You can’t be really effective without your zeal. You would need a great zeal for God to do much for him.

HOW can one maintain his zeal always.? Your zeal must be kept burning lest it will die. You may have to do the following to maintain your zeal.

1 Maintain a constant time of prayer. Pray more in tongues Jude 1:20

2 Have at least one day of the week to be fasting always.

3.Read your Bible and maintain a daily devotional time.

4.Daily witness to the saving power of our Lord Jesus.

5.Spend some moments each day to deeply worship the Lord.

6.Remain JOYFUL always Phil 4:4

7.Stop any appearance of sin, or sinful habit

8.Keep reminding yourself of your goals for God, by writing them down.

As you do these things your zeal will always be alive to execute every task effectively.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly father, may your fire continue to burn in our hearts. Nothing of the flesh will have a place in me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 69:9 KJV” For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me”.

Jude 1:20 & 21 KJV “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Corinthians 6:14 KJV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

(Read 2nd Kings 8:16-29). The experiences of the kings of Israel and Judah, has a lot to teach us about our personal walk with God, as well as experiences in serving God. King Jehoshaphat was a very godly man, his son, should have just followed after his father, but he walked in the sins of the kings of Israel. 2Kings 8:18 KJV “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD”.

The scriptures reveal that he did all the abominable things because he married the daughter of Ahab. Ahab’s daughter like her mother Jezebel will negatively influence her husband. It is always dangerous just to want to marry somebody of significance in the society. You marry the one God’s spirit approves.

Jehoram, the Son of Jehoshaphat, could be compared to any young minister or the son of a servant of God. He could not be equally yoked with somebody who was very ungodly. In the days of Jehoram, the Lord permitted things to go so bad. Edom rebelled from the rule of Judah. Certain ministries go through some type of hardships because the Lord is not pleased with the pastor or leader as a result of their lifestyle. He reigned for only eight years. Most of the kings that lived to honour God reigned for about forty years, or even more, Dear child of God, God cannot be mocked, you would always reap what you sow.

2 kings 8:22 reveals that after Edom revolted from Judah, when Jehoram was king, Libnah also revolted. He kept losing more grounds because his ways did not please the Lord. All of this was as a result of the woman he married. Dear minister of God, yours may not be the woman you have married, yet your life is on a different course from God’s leading. God therefore has no direct rule over you and your work. The result is a consistent stressful life and all kinds of challenges that rise up against your life and the work of God. What is the way out? Look out for where you are going wrong and repent.

THIS is what the Lord says, 2Corinth 6:17 KJV” Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you”. The word of the Lord is clear, separate yourself from everything ungodly and the Lord will receive you, and begin to rule over you and the work you are doing for Him.

PRAYER

Father, may your Spirit help every servant of God to come to a place of total surrender and submission to the word of God, and the way of God.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 6:7 KJV Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Acts 10:34 KJV” Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Kings 7:1 KJV “Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, Tomorrow 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”.

Every one of us would be faced with one challenge of a kind. Elisha was personally faced with a threat on his life, by the king of Israel. He came up with a solution to the situation, by giving    a prophetic word from the Lord. It was a prophetic word spoken in faith. Faith in God, is the number one answer to numerous life challenges. The scriptures teach that by faith one will overcome the world. 1John 5:4 KJV” For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith”. During the ministry of our Lord Jesus, he was met with so many challenges, yet he overcame them all through His faith.

The scriptures speak of great achievements of heroes of faith who also conquered by faith Heb 11:33 KJV “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens”. Dear child of God or minister of God, your faith is of utmost importance for an all-round victory. You must build a strong faith in God and His word for victory. Faith although very potent to achieve so much, is very fragile when one allows   the harshness of the flesh to be in charge. Give attention to feeding your spirit with the word of God. To get certain truths deeply imbedded in your spirit, you may have to listen to word over dozens of times.

Prophet Elisha spoke by the principle of Mark 11:23, that says,” For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith”. Elisha spoke and expected God to honour those words for him. The king’s righthand man doubted and said it shall not be possible, yet Elisha confirmed his faith in God, by saying, it will be as he has said yet that man will not partake of it. From Elisha’s experience, whenever there is a challenge or opposition, speak the word in faith. To speak in faith, means expect God to honor what you said. In Elisha’s story, God used some four lepers to bring the word to pass. You must never worry about how it would happen. Just know that it will happen as you have said.

CONFESSION

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your word that builds my faith. The word in my heart and my mouth is just as God Himself uttering those words. I also do as the word says, and it always yields great results.

FURTHER STUDIES

Mark 11:24 KJV” Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”

Mark 9:23 KJV” Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Kings 6:31 KJV” Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.”

Please read 2 kings 6:26-33.

The king of Israel encountered a woman who complained about a friend who failed to bring her son for them to kill and eat after she had brought hers. When the king heard this he responded by saying Elisha the prophet must die for this. What wrong has Elisha done to merit such a death? This is purely the spirit of ASSASINATION that seeks the destruction of people of God from completing their God given task. Dear servant of God, there is always a spirit of ASSASINATION that would want to stop you from completing your mission on the earth, and you must be aware to prevent it. Some men of God have unfortunately been terminated before their time.

THIS spirit of ASSASINATION pursued the Lord Jesus right from his birth. It followed him throughout His ministry. Luke 4:29, reads “And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” This was the instant the Lord returned from his forty days fasting and announced his mission in the synagogue for the first time. They had wanted to throw him headlong over the hill, but he miraculously escaped. Apostle Paul went through a lot of life-threatening situations, yet overcame all. Paul prayed and desired to get to the end of his ministry. (Phil 3:12&13) The Lord’s advice for his people is to be as wise as serpents and as harmless as a dove (Matthew 10:16). The serpent has a very high survival instinct.

AS a man of God be very much cautious of the devil’s intention to eliminate you before your time. Some have met their untimely death through careless driving. Some have destroyed their health with overeating. Like Samson some have called for an untimely death and had it. There is a departure time for everyone, yet make sure you fulfill your ministry to the very end. What must you do?

1.Commit your life to pleasing the Lord always

2.Refuse to be carnal (Rom 8:12&13)

3.Let your thoughts and words be in line with God’s word. (1st Peter 3:10)

4.Do not rebel against your fathers in ministry. (Remember Absalom)

5.Be always led by the Holy Spirit.

IF you would live this way you would indeed fulfil your days.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly father for the Holy Spirit, who leads me in the path of life. I escape all the traps of the enemy, and focus my life on doing that which pleases the Lord. My path shines more and more unto the perfect day.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Peter 3:10 KJV “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:”

Romans 8:13 KJV “For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”

KEY SCRIPTURE2Ki 6:23 KJV “And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel”.

The king of Syria realized each time he plans to attack the people of Israel, they get to know his plans and prepare for him. He wondered who among them was on the side of the Israelites? (2 kings 6:7-10) In the plan of God Satan should never outwit the people of God. Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit the people of God, must consistently know the next action of the enemy and take steps to overcome them. The king of Syria decided to attack the prophet of God and eliminate him. When they came to attack him (Elisha), was not worried or afraid. He said 2Ki 6:16 KJV” And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. “Dear child of God, do not ever be moved by what Satan throws against you. Greater is he who is with you than the devil who has come against you.

The man of God asked God to make the armies of Syria that had come against him to be blind. God smote all these men with blindness. If God could do for Elisha, a man under the old covenant, how much wont He do for us. Church of God arise out of every unbelief and take your proper place, and by faith stop the enemy. Elisha led them to the king of Israel, and caused their sight to return to them. The king asked, should, I smite them. Elisha answered, no. He rather set a table before them and fed these enemies of his. Why is there so much fear and hatred for the enemy? Most Christians don’t know who they are. By grace we are far superior and far above every devil. You cannot overcome the man that you are afraid of.

There are many Christians, who literally hate their enemies(humans) because they are afraid of them. This is a sign of failure and defeat. You can’t overcome the man you fear. We hate the devil and we deal with the devil. We do not hate humans, yet those who become party to demons will go down with them. We must love all humans, knowing our superiority over   the devil. Our wrestle is not against flesh and blood, but against devils and invisible beings. Deal with these beings and the humans who want to be one with the devil will go down with the devil. Free yourself from the fear and hatred of any man. Know the authority you have and exercise it over the devil.

CONFESSION

I have love for all men. I do not hate, nor fear any man. I have authority over the devil and exercise this authority over them.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 John 4:18 KJV “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

1 John 4:20 KJV “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Acts 2:22. “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:”

Miracles, signs and wonders are a powerful means of advertising the gospel. Every minister or child of God must pursue it for a greater impact of God’s work. (Please read 2 kings 6:1-7) In the preceding passage, Prophet Elisha made an axe head to float on the surface of water, after it sank into the river. What makes some men so powerful to work great signs and wonders? Our key scripture gives a clue. It says Jesus was approved of God. Approval always demands meeting certain requirements or standards. The approval of a man results from one’s pursuit of God. Every man that God has used mightily pursued after God with all his heart. Jeremiah 29:13 “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart”.

What does it entail in pursuing after God? Elisha is a typical example of one who pursued after God with all his heart. When Elijah first met him and cast his mantle on him, he responded by killing his bullocks which he ploughed with and gave it to the people. He then followed Elijah and served him (1 kings 19:19—21). He pursued diligently till Elijah was taken to heaven. He demonstrated his readiness to follow God by always doing what the Spirit required of him. He passed the Naaman test when he refused to take the presents, he brought to him. Following after God means seeking to know Him, his power and to run away from everything God disapproves. It involves developing a personal relationship with God

When one pursues after God in the way described above, he grows in the knowledge of God. His faith in God also grows. It is the growing of one’s faith that brings this approval of the man. The bible calls it being justified. It is only the just who are approved (Rom 5:1) The just live by faith (Rom1:17) Faith in God is the means by which God works miracles through his servants. Heb 11:2 “For by it the elders obtained a good report ‘The path to being approved of God, begins with pursuing after God. The more you honor him by doing the word, God works through you. This grows your faith and will result in God approving you for more signs and wonders.

CONFESSION

 I abide in the Lord and His word abides in me I pursue   after God with all my heart. Through knowledge of God and His word my faith grows exceedingly. God honors my faith by working out signs and wonders through me.

FURTHER STUDIES

Philippians 3:12-14. “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also, I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”.

Philippians 3:10. “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 5:22. “And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes of garments.

Apostle James said in James 1:14,15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. Gehazi followed his lust and kept going down till he was destroyed with leprosy. We see from his experience that, from one lie he kept lying and acting wrongly. He was firstly overtaken by coveting after all that Naaman brought and went for it. He could have stopped the chain of corruption by rebuking the very first thought of going after what his master had rejected. Every wrong thought comes from a demonic source and must always be rebuked, if you must be safe from destructive results.

After lying to Naaman, just watch what he did, 2 Kings 5:24. “And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them in the house: and he let the men go”. Dear minister whenever you fail to address a wrong act you will keep committing more sins. Gehazi left the house, went before Elisha and lied again. He had forgotten that he was standing before a man who had a great ability to discern things beyond the natural realm. Sin always blinds people from a clear conscience

Before such a great man of God he kept lying. Remember that Gehazi was not just an ordinary man, he was under studying Elisha to become a prophet.

All his false steps culminated in a curse from the man of God. The leprosy of Naaman got stuck to him. Can you exchange whatever he got from Naaman with the leprosy of Naaman? Any act of disobedience to the word of God offers you a kind of loss that is far more expensive than whatever you have gained through that wrong act. Romans 8:12. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh”. WE have a better glorious blessing that we must not exchange anything that opposes God’s word with.

PRAYER

Father I thank you for your word that reigns in me. By the truth of your word  I live above every control of the flesh. My mind is not controlled by strange thoughts, but by the word of God.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 8:12 &13. “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live”.

Ephesians 4:15. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 5:16. – “But he said, As the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take it; but he refused”.

Money should never be the motivating factor for whatever a minister does for God. The minister of God must know that; God is his or her sufficiency in all that he seeks to achieve. The answer to covetousness is a true knowledge of God. Elisha knew God, and could not be tempted by the gifts of Naaman. Was it wrong for him to have accepted the gifts of Naaman? I don’t believe it was wrong, yet since he rejected it I believe the Spirit of God asked him not to accept it. A decided mind cannot be tempted. His mind was made up to always do what the Spirit of the Lord wanted him to do. Such a man of God is never a slave of money, but rather a master of money. Money will rather rush into the life of such a man, because he has placed God first.

As Elisha was graciously dominating over the temptations of covetousness, His servant by him, was terribly under the bondage of covetousness. When Gehazi saw that Elisha had refused to accept all the amazing gifts of Naaman, he decided to follow him and get it. Gehazi was a slave of covetousness and his actions was just a manifestation of what had bound him. Who is your master, God or money? Matthew 6:24″

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”. You are a misery if money is your god.

The bible says those who have been overtaken by the lust for money have pierced themselves with many sorrows (1st Timothy 6:10). Please look into your heart and answer this question, who is really ruling over your life? Most of the scandals going around about men of God proceed from the bondage of covetousness. Ironically there are a number of very affluent men of God who do not have a bit of the bondage of covetousness over their life. The world sees them that way, yet a close association with them reveals either wise. Money is a servant to such men because God is their God, and not money.  The secret to real riches in ministry is a heart totally yielded to God and a pursuit of His ways. (Matthew 6:33) If you are bound by covetousness, then pray and set yourself free.

CONFESSION

Thank you, dear Lord Jesus, for your deliverance from the love of money. My heart pursues after God and His righteous ways and so all good things migrate towards me. I am abundantly blessed.

FURTHER STUDIES

Matthew 6:33″- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.

1Timothy 6:10″. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 4:27 -And when she came to the man of God to the hill, she caught him by the feet: but Gehazi came near to thrust her away. And the man of God said, Let her alone; for her soul is vexed within her: and the LORD hath hid it from me, and hath not told me.

Many people visit prophets of God and would always expect him or her to tell them a prophecy about themselves. Some actually request from the prophet to prophecy to them. Such things put unnecessary pressure on the man of God. Some of the prophets fall to such temptations and say things presumptuously. There are certain prophets who make statements on national events by going public   and making such pronouncements. All these are said as prophecies coming from the spirit of God. Does the Lord indeed direct his servants to make such statements?

In our key scripture prophet Elisha was put in such a situation, but he was very sincere by acknowledging that God had not revealed anything to him about the Shunamite woman. Elisha could have done like some of these modern-day prophets do. They observe the situation and try to say something to suit what they anticipate to be happening. Deut 18:22 “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him”.  Dear prophet, you cannot know everything. That makes you a man, depending on God.

Why do some prophets fall into this trap? This happens when a prophet loses the understanding that his or her office as a prophet makes him or her a mouthpiece of God. You are not a prophet for yourself. You do not prophecy for your stomach. You do not also keep the truth from those that should hear it, although it may be difficult for them to know it. No matter how bitter the truth may be, you have to say it, if only the Lord has instructed you to tell that person, or group of people. Dear prophet of God, God is sovereign about certain issues and may keep certain things from you. Don’t talk about what God has not spoken to you.

PRAYER

Dear heavenly Father, I pray for all prophets of God, that they would be very sensitive to the voice of the Spirit. May they never live for their own interest but live for God’s interest.

FURTHER STUDIES

Deuteronomy 18:20 -22″- But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him”.