Seed of equal benefit

Saturday, April 30th
Seed of equal benefit.

“Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”      
Romans 13:10

The Bible says in our opening scripture, that love worketh no ill to his neighbour. In other words, love does not seek to harm his neighbour in any way. Love does not plan to avenge himself. Love is always willing to forgive.

Kenneth Copeland told a story of how he was in the airport going to Hawaai. He placed his camera on his neck, but as he bent down to get something,  his camera was gone from his neck before he raised his head. A fast guy had stolen the camera from him.

When this happened, he became very bitter about the loss of his camera. Then the Lord asked him, “Why are you angry with the young man?” He answered, “He stole my camera.” Then the Lord said, “Why don't you forgive him?” Then he answered, saying, “okay, Lord I forgive him.”

So, after he boarded the plane to Hawaai, the Lord spoke to him again, saying, “Why don't you count the camera that the young man stole from you as a seed of equal benefit.” Kenneth Copeland agreed and counted it as a seed. Then God asked him, “Then, what is your harvest?” he answered, “I demand for the best camera.”

When he got to Hawaai, he entered the shop of a Japanese man that could not speak the English language well. He asked him for the cost of a Nikon camera that was on display, and the man said, $50. He gave him $50 and he was also able to get the lens for the camera almost at no cost.

Why was he able to get a camera better than the camera that was stolen for less money? It was possible because he turned the loss of the previous camera as a seed of equal benefit, instead of being bitter over the loss. I encourage you to follow this principle and you will always get the same result.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I let go of every bitterness against anyone who has taken anything away from me unjustly. I expect to receive a thousand times more than what was taken in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Genesis 37:26-28, 45:1-8, Genesis 50:15-20.

Doing the Word
Count whatever has been stolen from you as a seed of equal benefit; then name your harvest.

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Love your wife

Friday, April  29th
Love your wife.

“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
Ephesians 5:25

Our opening scripture shows every husband that the kind of love he ought to have for his wife should be the kind of love that Christ has for the Church. This means that, as a married man, you should love your wife just as Christ loved the Church.

From the scriptures, we know that the love that Christ has for the Church is a self-giving love. Therefore, as a married man, your love for your wife must be a self-giving love. You must constantly give of yourself to her, because Jesus gave himself for the Church.

Secondly, I want you to see the purpose of this self giving love from Ephesians 5:26, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” This means that Jesus loved us so that, He can sanctify and cleanse us by the washing of water by the Word.

Therefore, as a married man, be conscious of the words you speak to your wife. Let your words make her know that you respect and honour her. Don't insult your wife. Hold her in high esteem. Remember, she is bone of your bone, and flesh of your flesh. Both of you are one.

As a husband, inspire your wife, speak well of her. Don't talk her down. Use your words to make her what you want her to be. It is your love for your wife expressed through your words that will make your wife without fault.

Finally, Ephesians 5:28(CEV) says, “In the same way, a husband should love his wife as much as he loves himself. A husband who loves his wife shows that he loves himself.”

Instruction.
Please pray for married couples that God will give them the wisdom to know how to do marriage God's way and to grant them a better understanding of their spouse. Pray that peace and prosperity will be sustained in their homes.

For further study, read:
Proverbs 5:18-19, Colossians 3:19, 1 Peter 3:7.

Doing the Word
If you are married, do something special for your spouse today.

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God made marriage

Thursday, April 28th
God made marriage.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24

One of the reasons why marriages fail is that  many do not understand what marriage is. What is marriage? Marriage is an irrevocable covenant to an imperfect person. Marriage is irrevocable because it is a divine joining.
Malachi 2:14-16 (MSG) say, “Do you know why? Simple. Because GOD was there as a witness when you spoke your marriage vows to your young bride, and now you've broken those vows, broken the faith-bond with your vowed companion, your covenant wife. GOD, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. And what does he want from marriage? Children of God, that's what. So guard the spirit of marriage within you. Don't cheat on your spouse. "I hate divorce," says the GOD of Israel. GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies says, "I hate the violent dismembering of the 'one flesh' of marriage." So watch yourselves. Don't let your guard down. Don't cheat.”

Mark 10:6-9 say, “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Instruction.

Please pray for Christian couples all around the world; that God will immune their marriages from every attack of the enemy to bring misunderstanding and divorce.

For further study, read:

Mark 10:10-12, 1 Corinthians 7:1-5, 

1 Corinthians 7:10-11.

Doing the Word

If you are married, always remain accountable to your spouse in every matter. Do not give them any reason to distrust you by keeping things secret. There should always be sincere and open communication between both of you.

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Love conquers bitterness

Wednesday, April 27th
Love conquers bitterness.

“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21

Today, I want to share the story about Smith Wigglesworth and his wife, Polly. Polly was always coming late from Church, and Smith became bitter against her. So, on a particular day, when she came late from Church, he instructed her not to go back to the Church any longer, but she answered and said to him, “Smith, you are my husband, but you are not my Lord.”

When she said that to him, he got angry and chased her out of the house, and locked her out. She remained outside and slept in front of the door of the house through that cold winter night. The next morning, he opened the door and she stumbled into the house, greeted him politely, and went to prepare breakfast for him that morning.

As a result of this act and loving attitude expressed by Polly towards him, Smith Wigglesworth said that his heart smote him; he felt sorry for his actions and went on a ten-day fast during which he got a call into the ministry and became an apostle of the faith, because, his wife, Polly, showed him true love. She chose to express the love of Christ - that unconditional demonstration of goodwill towards others irrespective of their behaviour towards you. That was what she did, and she was able to win her husband, and conquer his bitterness against her with the love of God. As a result, Smith Wigglesworth was able to say, “All that I became under God, was because of my wife.”

Child of God, know that love will always conquer bitterness, hate and selfishness. Receive grace today to walk in such love.  

Prayer.
Dear Father, I thank you because I am strengthened with might by your Spirit to be able to love and act as I ought to, no matter the demand on my emotions to act otherwise, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Matthew 5:43-45, Romans 12:20-21, 1 Peter 3:1-4.

Doing the Word
Sow the seed of love, knowing that your attitude can save a soul.  

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The role of a father

Tuesday, April 26th
The role of a father.

“God setteth the solitary in families: …”
 Psalm 68:6

Every crime is traceable to a lack of fatherly love. The guy who steals, kills, rapes, etc. when you trace to his family, you are likely to discover a lack of fatherly love. The same thing goes for the girl who gets promiscuous; it is founded on the lack of fatherly love.

Therefore, if we are going to begin to fix the problem in society, then we must teach fathers the importance of loving their children unconditionally. This need for fatherly love can also be gotten from your heavenly Father if your earthly father failed to show it to you.

If you have been raised in a home where this need was not met, I encourage you to receive that love from your heavenly Father. Knowing that you are loved unconditionally is necessary for you to have a healthy relationship, marriage and family.

The need for affection has led many into all forms of addictive behaviours and vices. Therefore, until you receive God's love in your spirit to meet that need, you will find it difficult to break free from sexual sin and immorality.  

Prayer.
Dear Father, I have discovered from your Word that I am the object of your love. You said in Jeremiah 31:3 that you have loved me affectionately with an everlasting love and with your lovingkindness have you drawn me. I receive your love to heal my heart of every wound of the past and to meet my need for affection, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Zechariah 2:8, Jeremiah 31:3, Ephesians 2:4.

Doing the Word
Think about the Father's love for you.

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The standard for love

Monday, April 25th
The standard for love.

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:12-13

Love is the essence and nature of God. Therefore, to know God is to love God, and loving God is to love those He died for. That means that if you do not love those whom Jesus died for, it shows you do not know God. In other words, you are not yet acquainted with the character of God.

This is because every born again child of God has the capacity to love because you have the nature of God, and love is the behavioural expression of the divine nature. Therefore, you have the capacity to love others unconditionally even as God has unconditionally loved us.

It is important you understand that God originated love. In other words, love has its origin in God. Therefore, God is the standard for determining what love is. This means that without God, there is no love. Also, without God, you cannot define love, and neither can you know what love truly is.

So, from God's point of view, loving others is treating them the way God will treat them. If you don't, it means you do not love them. And if you do not love them, it means you don't know God. This is because God is the standard for determining what love is.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I ask that you cause my love to abound more and more in knowledge and in all judgment in Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

For further study, read:
 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 4:8.

Doing the Word
Measure your love for others by God's love for you.


   

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God loves you

Sunday, April 24th
God loves you.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
3 John 1:2

Do you know that God loves you and He wants the very best for you? If you are not convinced about God's love for you and your well-being, you will not be able to trust His will for your life. When you believe that God loves you, you can trust His decisions for your life.

There are Christians who become uneasy whenever you tell them to find out the will for God for their lives. The reason they respond that way is because they do not believe in God's love for them.

When you know that God is wiser and smarter than you and that He wants the best for you, then obeying Him becomes easy. When you trust that God's decisions for you will bring you good, it becomes easier for you to accept His plan for your life.

E.W Kenyon struggled to answer the call of God until God spoke to Him saying, “I am more concerned about your success than you are.” I want you to know today that yielding to God's will is for your benefit because He is more concerned about your success than you are.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I believe in your love for me and your commitment to my well being. Today, I humbly commit to accept your plan for my life. I choose to turn away from going my own way even as I yield to your will today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Deuteronomy 11:22, Deuteronomy 30:20,
Jeremiah 29:11.

Doing the Word
Surrender to God's will.

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You are favoured

Saturday, April 23rd
You are favoured.

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”
Ephesians 1:6

You are the focus of God's love. Knowing that you are the focus of God's love meets the need to be somebody. You are already somebody special. You are accepted in the Beloved; this means that you are highly favoured. This is because whenever you are loved by someone it means that you have found favour in their sight.

In 1 Samuel 16:21-22, when David found favour in Saul's sight, the Bible says that Saul loved him greatly and sent a message to Jesse David's father saying, “… Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.” When Esther became queen, the Bible says in Esther 2:17, “And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.”

Therefore, if God loves you it means that you are favoured. That favour on your life can give to you in one day what you will not get in one thousand years of labour.

Instruction.
Sing songs of praise to God and thank Him for such love and favour that He has lavished upon you.

For further study, read:
Daniel 1:9, Luke 1:30, Luke 2:52.

Doing the Word
Expect the favour of God to give you favour with men in all your dealings.

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Don't be insecure

Friday, April 22nd
Don't be insecure.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
Ephesians 1:4

As a Christian if your love relationship with your heavenly Father is not healthy, you cannot have a healthy relationship with any one else. One of your priorities, if you are going to develop a healthy relationship with others, is to focus on developing a passionate loving relationship with your heavenly Father. If that is in place, then every other thing will fall into place.

Having a healthy loving relationship with your heavenly Father will help you deal with your insecurities. If you are still struggling with insecurities or a lack of confidence because of your looks, your past, your economic status, etc. you now know where the real issue is. You have not received God's unconditional love for you. When you do, you will stop being insecure.

Christians who are insecure always seek to impress others to gain acceptance. They pretend about their insecurities instead of exposing those insecurities  and allowing the love of God to heal them and receiving confidence from the Word of God as to who they are in Christ.

If you are a Christian, God accepts you unconditionally and He has accepted you in the Beloved. If you are having any insecurity, confess it to Him and accept His Word concerning who you really are. This will make you confident to face your world.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I thank you for your everlasting love towards me. I lay down all my insecurities and I choose to accept your unconditional acceptance and identity revealed to me in your Word, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

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Love is unconditional

Thursday, April 21st
Love is unconditional.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.”          
1 John 4:11-12

Love is the unconditional demonstration of goodwill towards others irrespective of their behaviour towards us.

You know you are walking in love when you are expressing an unconditional demonstration of goodwill towards others irrespective of their behaviour towards you. You are bound by love to be good to everyone, as much as it concerns you.

Let your love for everyone, whether your wife, husband, friend or your neighbour, be unconditional, so that when they offend you, you will not change your attitude towards them.

This is the Bible way to love. Anyone can love others based on how they feel towards them, but, true love is more than a feeling; it is a demonstration of goodwill towards the undeserving. A.R Bernard said one time, “I love my wife, and the day my wife deserves my love, I don't love her.” That is an unconditional commitment to another.

Child of God, we have been called to love the unlovable. So let God's love dominate and strengthen your heart to keep on loving even when others turn away.

Prayer
Dear Father, I thank you for as my love increases more and more according to the knowledge of your Word, let my heart be dominated and strengthened by your love, to remain committed to the well-being of the undeserving, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.  

For further study, read:
Romans 5:6-8, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 4:9-12.

Doing the Word
Forgive. Stop holding the offenses you are holding against others, just as God has also forgiven you.

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Keep your first love

Wednesday, April 20th
Keep your first love.

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works;”
Revelation 2:4-5

In marriage, there is always the first love. It is based on the way you first saw him or her that made you admire the person. At that time you did not know anything about the person’s flaws. When  you are married, the flaws of your spouse are  known to you. Most people at that point would begin to think differently about their spouse and some would even go as far as wondering why they got married in the first place. If you are married and reading this today, and you are thinking that way concerning your spouse, it means that you have left your first love.

How do you return to your first love in marriage? “… repent, and do the first works; …” What does it mean to repent? It refers to a change in your way of thinking. How were you thinking when you were passionately in love with your spouse? You have to remember what made you admire that person at first and start thinking the same way again. As you begin to think in this way, your first love will be restored and fired up again. Then you also have to start doing the things you were doing when you first fell in love with your spouse.

Go back to the first works that brought excitement to your spouse when you first fell in love. For the husband; do you still call your wife when you are away? Do you send her text messages as often as you did back then? Do you still take her out? Do you still open the door for her? Do you still buy her presents? Etc. For the wife; do you still respect him? Do you still adore him and call him beautiful names? Do you still cook for him and ensure that his food is ready as he likes it? Do you still dress up for him? Do you still give him the preference he deserves? Etc. As you go back to doing these things and keep on doing them your first love will always be aglow.

Instruction.
Please pray for married couples that their first love will be restored.

For further study, read:
Philippians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3,
Songs of Solomon 4:10

Doing the Word
If you are married, go back to doing the first works from today.

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Where love begins...

Tuesday, April 19th
Where love begins …

“And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
Deuteronomy 6:5

Our opening scripture shows us the three dimensions of love; spirit, soul and body. When the Bible talks about loving with your heart, it refers to your spirit. Your heart is your spirit. This is made explicit to us in Romans 2:29 which says, “But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, …”

The first dimension of love is loving with your spirit. Therefore the quality of your love will be the reflection of the condition of your spirit. So if the individual you intend to get married to does not have a relationship with God, that marriage will not be healthy.

True love begins in the spirit. Any other love that is just physical or sexual is lust. So many marriages have been built on physical love and feelings; therefore since the love did not begin from their spirits, after a short while, you will hear them make statements like, “We do not have feelings for each other anymore.” This is because time exposes lust, but strengthens love. If the love for your spouse is getting weaker, instead of becoming stronger with time, you need to reorder the foundation of your love. Loving with your feelings will not last, but loving with your spirit will last forever. As a Christian you must love from your spirit. Remember that God is a Spirit and God is love, so loving with your spirit is loving like God because you have the nature of God.

Prayer.

Dear Father, I thank you for giving me the capacity to love from my spirit because I have your nature in me. Teach me to love just like you always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read: 

2 Corinthians 13:11, 1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:12.

Doing the Word

Love unconditionally.

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No unequal yoking

Monday, April 18th
No unequal yoking.

“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Genesis 2:7

Man has got three parts. He has a body which was formed out of the dust of the ground. Secondly, he is a spirit because God breathed into his nostrils the breath (spirit) of life. Thirdly, he has a soul.

The explanation above will make it easier for you to understand when we say that marriage is more than a physical union. That is why when God talks to us in scripture, he tells us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers (2 Corinthians 6:14). This is why a Christian should never consider marriage with an unbeliever. When the Bible says “What therefore God hath joined together, …” (Matthew 19:6), the word 'joined together' means yoked together. Therefore a Christian and an unbeliever cannot be yoked together because they are not of the same kind. Joining a Christian and an unbeliever together in marriage is an unequal yoking, and God tells us not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

Another reason why you should not consider getting married to an unbeliever is because when you are getting married, you are linking your spirit, soul and body with the other person. Since the unbeliever is linked to satan in spirit, getting married to him or her is inviting satan into that union because marriage is a spiritual union.  

Therefore, never consider marrying an unbeliever; instead pray for their salvation.

Instruction.
Please let us pray for Christian singles; that God will lead them to those He has appointed for them and deliver them from wicked and unreasonable men and women.

For further study, read:
1 Corinthians 15:33, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18,
James 4:4.

Doing the Word
Cut off from every immoral relationship and friend.

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God rewards love

Sunday, April 17th
God rewards love.

“Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that!”
Matthew 5:46(GNB)

From our opening scripture today, we see that if we only love those who love us, we would have no reward from God for those acts of love shown.

Do you show love to your wife only when she is obeying you and doing what you want her to do? Do you love your husband only when he is pleasing you? If your answer to those questions is yes, it means you will have no reward from God for your acts of love. This means that when you demonstrate unconditional love to your wife, your husband, your children, your friends, etc. you will surely receive a reward from God for those acts of unconditional love.
It is important you know that true love always goes the extra mile. The Bible says in Luke 6:35-36(GNB) “"If you love only the people who love you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners do that! And if you lend only to those from whom you hope to get it back, why should you receive a blessing? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount! No! Love your enemies and do good to them; lend and expect nothing back. You will then have a great reward, and you will be children of the Most High God. For he is good to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful just as your Father is merciful.” Always remember that you have a great reward as you choose to walk in love.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I ask that you expose every seed of falsehood that has entered into my belief system concerning love, and I commit to go the extra mile in my love for others by the working of your grace in me in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Luke 6:32-36, Luke 10:25-37, 1 Peter 2:19-23.

Doing the Word
Do not stop being good to others; you will receive your reward.

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Flee premarital sex

Saturday, April 16th
Flee premarital sex.

“And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her.” Genesis 39:21  

Sex is only allowed within the confines of marriage. Conjugation sexually is only permitted when you are married. No man has a right to sleep with a woman he is not married to. Fornication or adultery has great consequences, it ought not to be named among us.

Proverbs 6:20-29 say, “My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.”

Prayer.
Dear Father, I commit to chastity and holy living in my thoughts and conduct. I ask that you continually strengthen me by your Spirit to do what I ought to do and to refuse to do what I should not do, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Psalm 119:9-11, Proverbs 7:7-27, Hebrews 13:4.

Doing the Word

“…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

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The time test

Friday April 15th
The time test.

“And Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.” Genesis 29:18

One of the ways you know true love is through patience or the willingness to wait. Jacob was willing to serve Laban for seven years because of Rachel his younger daughter. That is a practical display of true love.

True love is self-giving, self-sacrificing and patient. Love is the mother of perseverance. One of the ways to test true love is by patience. In Genesis 29:20 the Bible says, “And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.”

If a man or a woman cannot be patient enough to wait till both of you are married before having any marital relationship with you what he or she has for you is not true love. True love is always willing to wait but lust, the opposite of love, is always selfish and self-seeking and never willing to wait. The test of time exposes lust but time strengthens love.

The Bible says that seven years seemed like a few days for Jacob because he loved Rachel. With this example you can judge for yourself if what you have for others is true love or lust.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I thank you for teaching me the truth about love. I ask that you expose every seed of falsehood that has entered into my belief system in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

For further study, read:
Genesis 29:21-30, Songs of Solomon 8:7,
1 Corinthians 13:4.

Doing the Word
Develop the discipline of patience with others.

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Rational vs Subjective

Thursday, April 14th
Rational vs Subjective

“And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.”
Genesis 25:28

Our opening scripture highlights the difference between a man and a woman in the way they love. Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison, but it was not stated why Rebekah loved Jacob. The reason given why Isaac loved Esau shows that the love of man is rational. In other words, it is based on reason. A woman's love is subjective; in other words, it could be based on her feelings or emotions. That is one of the reasons women can find themselves in love with a man before taking his character defects into consideration.

In understanding the difference between a man and a woman, you must understand that a man's love is rational, based on reason. For example, fathers are often referred to as faith, while mothers as grace. Faith requires truth, but grace is unconditional.

When you were younger growing up at home with your parents, you would notice that for your father to be happy, you would have to do something that pleases him. On the other hand, no matter what you do, your mother's love is constant.

Therefore, I encourage every father reading this today to know that they have a responsibility to love every child unconditionally in spite of his or her character defects.

Instruction.
Please pray the prayer in Philippians 1:9-11 for yourself today.

For further study, read:
Genesis 29:17-18, Genesis 29:32 .

Doing the Word.
As a Christian, allow the Word of God to dominate your heart above your natural inclination to love.

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Tell the truth

Wednesday, April 13th
Tell the truth.

“The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.”
Proverbs 12:19

Lying can destroy any relationship and there is no relationship that can be healthy if it is built on a lie. Lying, by any of the parties in a relationship, will destroy trust. When trust is destroyed, the foundation on which to build a lasting relationship has been destroyed. Any relationship that will be established must be built on truth and honesty.

Do not lie to any one, most especially to the one you love. We do not lie to the one we love. You can only lie to the one you are lusting after because deceitfulness is the character of sin. If you are lying to the man or the woman you intend to get married to, it is proof you do not truly love that person sincerely. It means you are pretending and trying to impress them. You are not going to have a healthy marriage that way.

You cannot build anything to last on a lie. It is what is built on truth that will be established forever. Therefore if you want your marriage to be established forever, then do not build your relationship on a lie.

Speak the truth in love. If you are in a relationship with someone you intend to get married to and the person asks about how morally you lived in the past, do not lie about it. Do not say you are a virgin when you are not. If you have a child, let the person  know. Speaking the truth will establish your relationship.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I commit to truth and speaking the truth in all my dealings with all men. May my life, marriage, business, ministry, and all that I build on your truth be established forever, moving from glory to glory in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Proverbs 19:9, Acts 5:1-10, Colossians 3:9.

Doing the Word.
Fear not. Go and speak the truth today.

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What does He want?

Tuesday, April 12th

What does He want?

“And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.”

Genesis 24:67

Sincerely, every man is looking for something in his mother in his wife. Our opening scripture shows us that Isaac brought Rebekah into his mother's tent because his mother has just died. He was obviously missing his mother's love. The love of a mother is always unconditional towards her children. Every man wants to have that unconditional acceptance from the woman he intends to marry or from his wife.

Every man is looking for that woman who will love him without seeing his faults. Men live in a competitive world. In a man's world things are more aggressive, but there is one thing a mother brings into a man's life - comfort. When the child is going through challenges, the mother always brings comfort. She makes statements like, “Don't worry my son, things will get better.”

Women, take note of these things because your husband wants you to bring comfort to him. Always be a source of encouragement to him. Don't nag him; encourage him because this will foster the love and peace you desire in your home. Be willing to stand by your husband during challenging times because that is one of the characters of true love.

Instruction.

Let's pray for marriages and couples today that God will cause His love to abound in their hearts more and more towards each other.

For further study, read:

Ephesians 5:24, Titus 2:3-5, 1 Peter 3:1-5.

Doing the Word.

If you are a wife love your husband unconditionally and always be a source of encouragement and comfort to him.

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The haven of love

Monday, April 11th
The haven of love.

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, …”
Genesis 22:2  

In order for you to properly understand the concept of love, I want us to examine the meaning of love, beginning from the first time the word was used in the Bible. Love was used for the first time in the Bible in our opening scripture. The word love in our opening scripture is from the Hebrew word 'ahab' which refers to 'affection.'

Staying in context with our opening scripture, it become obvious to us that the first place for you to receive love should be from home. Therefore, if anyone is going to grow up to have a healthy relationship with others, it is going to begin from the home where he or she was raised.

This is why I counsel young people to pay attention to the home the person they intend to marry is coming from. This does not mean that they should not marry the person, but they must realize that there are certain issues the person may need to overcome depending on the challenges that were peculiar and prevalent  in such homes.

Therefore, I encourage every parent reading this today, especially young couples, to ensure that their home becomes a haven of love for every child - who is actually a gift from God to them. Remember that you owe every one of your children that affection so that they can develop a balanced self-esteem as they grow into adulthood. Open preferential treatment of one child over the other children can destroy the self-esteem of the other children and bring bitterness and jealousy into your home.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I ask that you fill me with the fullest measure of your divine presence and cause me to encounter the experiential knowledge of your love that surpasses mere human knowledge, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Genesis 37:3-4, 23-28.

Doing the Word
If you are a parent, give to every one of your children unconditional love.

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Pray to a loving Father

Sunday, April 10th
Pray to a loving Father

“At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” John 16:26-27

The reason why many Christians find it difficult to receive from God is that they have not yet understood the Father's love. God loves you and He is always willing to give to you. James 1:5(AMP) says, “If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.” God is the giving God, and He gives liberally without faultfinding. Knowing this will give you confidence to ask whatsoever you desire from Him.

God is your Father and He wants you to relate with Him with that understanding. Jesus said in John 16:23, “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.” Jesus puts prayer on a positive note, letting us know that when we ask from the Father we should expect an answer.

Do not see prayer as talking to a hard task-master; see prayer as talking to your Father. Matthew 7:7-8 say, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

Instruction.

Put your faith to work and ask for whatsoever you desire.

For further study, read:  

John 14:13, John 16:24, 1 John 5:14-15.

Doing the Word

Thank your heavenly Father for the answers.

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The Book of truth 2

Saturday, April 9th
The Book of truth 2.

“Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another--showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way.”
2 Timothy 3:16(MSG)  

Yesterday we learnt that the Bible is ahead of science. Today we see from our opening scripture that the Bible shows us truth and corrects our mistakes.

For example, if you studied geography, you would have been taught that, for many years, men believed that the earth was flat. However, before science discovered that the earth was not flat, it was already revealed in the Bible that the earth was spherical. Isaiah 40:22 says, “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, …” the Message Bible puts it this way, “God sits high above the round ball of earth…”

Secondly, before science discovered the ozone layer, the Bible already revealed that there was a covering over the earth. Isaiah 40:22b (GW) says, “…He stretches out the sky like a canopy and spreads it out like a tent to live in.” That is the covering over the earth and it was already recorded in the Bible before it was discovered.

Similarly, before crude oil and other minerals were discovered, the Bible already recorded in Deuteronomy 33:19 that there is an abundance in the sea and treasures hid in the sand. Love the Word of God and study your Bible because there is so much information in there. If you let the Holy Spirit guide you, He will open your mind and show you greater discoveries from the Bible that no man has known yet.    

Prayer.
Dear Father, I ask that you guide me into all truth by your Spirit from your Word, and grant me knowledge of witty inventions for the glory of your Name, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Proverbs 8:12, Job 37:18, Job 38:4-9.

Doing the Word
Let the Word of God settle your heart on every controversy of science.

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The Book of truth

The Book of truth 1.
Friday, April 8th

“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do.”
Ephesians 4:15(MSG)

God wants you to know the truth and be able to tell it in love. Today I am going to be sharing some truths with you from the Bible which will stir up your love for the Bible and truth.

There are many Christians who do not know that the Bible is a scientific book. Many of the later discoveries of science were already things that were clearly stated in the Bible. This reveals that the Bible is the source of all truth and reveals the truth concerning creation. So any discovery that is contrary to the Bible is false.

Before the scientist discovered that the earth was hanging on nothing, it was already revealed by God in the Bible. Job 26:7 says, “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.” This was already revealed before any astronaut went to space. This reveals that the Bible is ahead of science because the Bible was given to us by a God who was, who is, and who is to come. That means that before God gave us the Bible He was aware of what was to come and He included it in the Bible. So the Bible does not only reveal things that are past, it reveals the present and the things to come. The Bible is not time bound; it is always up-to-date.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I accept the truth in the Bible as the authority on all matters of creation and scientific discoveries. Your Word supersedes all discoveries and remains the anchor of my faith today and always, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 40:26-28, Isaiah 42:5.

Doing the Word.
Study your Bible.

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Do not hate

Thursday,  April 7th
Do not hate.

“It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].”
1 Corinthians 13:5(AMP)

Our opening scripture reveals some of the characteristics of God's love in every child of God. I remember the story about a lady who said she hated her mother in-law. She was in a meeting where Kenneth Hagin was teaching that every child of God can love because we have the nature of God. God is love, so if we have His nature, it means we have the nature of love.

After the meeting, the lady came to Kenneth Hagin and said, “Sir, I have hatred. I hate my mother in-law.” Kenneth Hagin told her she cannot have hatred as a child of God. She still insisted that she hated her mother in-law. So, he told her to say, “I hate my mother in-law.” And she went ahead and said it. After she did, he asked her, “How do you feel in your spirit?” She told him she felt uneasy inside. He then insisted that, as a child of God, she cannot hate. So she asked him to tell her what to do then and he told her to invite her mother in- law to her house and care for her. This lady went back home and did as she was told, she invited her mother in-law home for dinner and cared for her and let her go home. A few days later, the lady's daughter, who had epilepsy, was having an attack and Kenneth Hagin, who was on his way to service that day, was called.

The Lord spoke to him to tell the lady that, now that she is loving her mother in-law, she has fulfilled the law and as such, the devil has no right to put this sickness on her daughter because sickness is a curse. So he instructed her to say to the devil, “satan I am walking in love, I have fulfilled the law, so take your hands off my daughter and go.” As she did, the epilepsy left her daughter permanently. Walking in love gave her victory over the devil tormenting her daughter. This means, if she had loved her mother in- law previously the devil would not have gained access into her daughter's life.

Confession.
In the Name of Jesus, I declare that I do not hate because I am a child of God; God is love and the nature of God is in me. Therefore, I am full of love. I have the capacity to love and forgive all who have wronged me.

For further study, read:
1 Corinthians 3:3, 1 John 3:15, James 3:14-18.

Doing the Word
Choose to buy a gift or do something good for someone you have held an offense against.

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What do you wish others?

Wednesday, April 6th
What do you wish others?

“And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die: And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”
2 Samuel 12:5-6

Today in our opening scripture, you will observe that David was passing a judgment of death on a certain man who, he believed, had no pity. Prophet Nathan was sent by the Lord to David to tell him about a rich and a poor man that lived in the same city. The rich man who had many flocks took the only lamb that the poor man had and killed it to entertain his friend who came visiting. When David heard it, he became angry and said the rich man should be killed and made to pay fourfold. Notice that David was quick to pass judgment on the rich man, but he did not know that he was passing judgment on himself.

In 2 Samuel 12:7-9 the Prophet said to David, “…Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.”

When David discovered he was the one, he began to ask for mercy (2 Samuel 12:16). So, do not be hasty to condemn others. Sow mercy, you may just be saving your own self.

Prayer
Dear Father, teach me to always approve things that are excellent so that I will be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
2 Samuel 12:1-15, 2 Samuel 22:26, Proverbs 11:17.

Doing the Word.
Be merciful when you have the opportunity to judge others.

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Conquer evil with good

Tuesday, April 5th
Conquer evil with good.

“Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.”
Romans 12:17

As a child of God, do not avenge for yourself because of something wrong someone may have done to you. Proverbs 20:22(MSG) says “Don't ever say, "I'll get you for that!" Wait for GOD; he'll settle the score.”

Romans 12:18-21(GNB) say, “Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody. Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." Instead, as the scripture says: "If your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them a drink; for by doing this you will make them burn with shame." Do not let evil defeat you; instead, conquer evil with good.”

Colossians 3:12-15(GNB) say “You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect unity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful.”

Prayer.
Dear Father, I thank you for I have the spirit of power, love and a sound mind. Your love in me dominates my heart and empowers me to overcome the hate and wickedness in the world, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Proverbs 24:17-19, 1 Peter 2:21-23, 1 Peter 3:9.

Doing the Word
“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.” Romans 12:14

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Forgive unconditionally

Monday, April 4th
Forgive unconditionally.

“Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times?”
Matthew 18:21(AMP)

During the days of Peter, the Jewish Rabbis  taught that if one can forgive twice, it is okay.   In Exodus 21:24 the law stipulates an eye for an eye, so when Peter asked Jesus if he could forgive up to as many times as seven, I believe he thought he would be commended. But “Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy times seven!” Matthew 18:22 (AMP). This meant that he should keep on forgiving. Remember we learnt yesterday that the debt  we can never finish paying is the debt of love.

Jesus told the following story in Matthew 18:23-35(MSG) to explain why we must continue to forgive others unconditionally, “"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market. "The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt. "The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!' "The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king. "The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."”

Instruction.
In obedience to the Word of God to you today, sincerely choose to forgive unconditionally those who have offended you.

For further study, read:
1Corinthians 6:6-8, Colossians 3:12-14,  1 Thessalonians 4:6.

Doing the Word
Pursue peace with all men.

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Christian obligation

Sunday, April 3rd
Christian obligation.

“Here is the clear difference between God's children and the Devil's children: those who do not do what is right or do not love others are not God's children. The message you heard from the very beginning is this: we must love one another.”
1 John 3:10-11(GNB)

Love is an obligation to every child of God. 1 John 4:20-21(GW) say, “Whoever says, "I love God," but hates another believer is a liar. People who don't love other believers, whom they have seen, can't love God, whom they have not seen. Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers.”

Romans 13:8(GW) says “Pay your debts as they come due. However, one debt you can never finish paying is the debt of love that you owe each other. The one who loves another person has fulfilled Moses' Teachings.” The only debt you should owe now as a believer is the debt of love. Walking in love is the sum total of all the commandments.

Romans 13:9-10(GW) say “The commandments, "Never commit adultery; never murder; never steal; never have wrong desires," and every other commandment are summed up in this statement: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." Love never does anything that is harmful to a neighbor. Therefore, love fulfills Moses' Teachings.”

Prayer.
Dear Father, I ask that you cause me to increase in love more and more towards other believers and towards all men, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

For further study, read:
Luke 6:35, Ephesians 5:1-2, 1 John 3:15.

Doing the Word
Do not hate anyone.

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Love like God

Saturday, April 2nd
Love like God.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

Yesterday, we learnt that God's love is a self sacrificing love. In other words, God loved us not because of something He wants to get from us but because He wanted to give everything of Himself to us. When God gave Jesus for us, He gave us everything of Himself. Romans 8:32(GW) puts it this way, “God didn't spare his own Son but handed him over to death for all of us. So he will also give us everything along with him.” Understanding the measure of love that God expressed in sending Jesus to die for you will help you to understand that God has given you everything.

Also, from our opening scripture, we learn that love is always willing to share with the object of love; so when you withdraw from sharing or giving, it means that love is dead. 1 John 4:7-12(MSG) express to us how we ought to love and what it will accomplish in us, “My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the  first thing about God, because God is love--so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about--not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God. My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us--perfect love!”

Prayer.
Dear Father, I ask that you strengthen me with might according to the riches of your glory by your Spirit in my inner man. That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith, being rooted and grounded in love. That I may have revelation knowledge of the love of Christ and be filled with all your fullness, in Jesus' Name. Amen.    

For further study, read:
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10, 1 John 4:20-21, 1 John 5:1.

Doing the Word
Give to others the love Christ gave you.

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Keep your first love

Wednesday, April 20th
Keep your first love.

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works;”
Revelation 2:4-5

In marriage, there is always the first love. It is based on the way you first saw him or her that made you admire the person. At that time you did not know anything about the person’s flaws. When  you are married, the flaws of your spouse are  known to you. Most people at that point would begin to think differently about their spouse and some would even go as far as wondering why they got married in the first place. If you are married and reading this today, and you are thinking that way concerning your spouse, it means that you have left your first love.

How do you return to your first love in marriage? “… repent, and do the first works; …” What does it mean to repent? It refers to a change in your way of thinking. How were you thinking when you were passionately in love with your spouse? You have to remember what made you admire that person at first and start thinking the same way again. As you begin to think in this way, your first love will be restored and fired up again. Then you also have to start doing the things you were doing when you first fell in love with your spouse.

Go back to the first works that brought excitement to your spouse when you first fell in love. For the husband; do you still call your wife when you are away? Do you send her text messages as often as you did back then? Do you still take her out? Do you still open the door for her? Do you still buy her presents? Etc. For the wife; do you still respect him? Do you still adore him and call him beautiful names? Do you still cook for him and ensure that his food is ready as he likes it? Do you still dress up for him? Do you still give him the preference he deserves? Etc. As you go back to doing these things and keep on doing them your first love will always be aglow.

Instruction.
Please pray for married couples that their first love will be restored.

For further study, read:
Philippians 1:9, 2 Thessalonians 1:3,
Songs of Solomon 4:10

Doing the Word
If you are married, go back to doing the first works from today.

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The commandment of love

Friday, April 1st
The commandment of love.

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
John 13:34

God's love is a self-sacrificing love. Therefore when He commands us to love others as He loves us, it means that our love for others should be self-sacrificing.

True love has always been marked by sacrifice. Therefore, the measure of love is measured by the measure of sacrifice. So, if we want to know whether we love one another, our love must be equivalent to the way Jesus loved.

When Jesus expressed His love for us, He gave Himself for us. In other words, He sacrificed Himself for us. His example of love towards us becomes our standard for loving others. Jesus said in John 15:12-13, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Ephesians 5:1-3(MSG) say, “Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. Don't allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed.”

Our standard for love is not our emotions or human love. Our standard for love and loving others is Christ’s  love for us.

Prayer.
Dear Father, I thank you because your love has been shared abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit. I ask that my love will continue to increase and abound in knowledge and in all judgment, in Jesus' Name, Amen.

For further study, read:
1 John 2:8-10, 1 John 3:23, 2 John 1:5.

Doing the Word
Love without selfishness.

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