YOU ARE AN APOSTLE

"Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake". Romans 1:5 NIV 

"Grace and Apostleship" means that we have been given these gifts and are honored to receive them as a favor from the Lord and the anointing of the Holy Ghost. Since Paul, and all of us, have been given such great and precious gifts from the Lord, then it is necessary that we take these gifts, obey the teachings of Christ, walk by faith, and work in the ministry that we have been given. 

Jesus is The Apostle; He was the Great Finisher, He completed the work the Father sent him to do. Through Him, we have access to Heaven because Christ our Apostle did not fail in His holy mission of redemption. An Apostle is an ambassador, a finisher, a messenger commissioned to carry out the instructions of the commissioning agent i.e, one sent as a messenger. 

To be an apostle, there are characteristics you must follow; "you must be sent by someone else"; "you must be sent on a particular mission" and "you must be sent with sufficient power to accomplish the mission". See how perfectly Christ fits this description. He was sent by the Father in heaven. He was sent to be the Savior of the world. He was sent with all the prerogatives of deity clothed in human flesh; Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18 NIV). 

As an apostle, it is our responsibility to carry out the assignment given us by Our Lord Jesus Christ. God has graced us and He wants us to be sensitive to the things that He cares about. He wants to see people empowered by the Spirit of the living God to turn our communities right size up for Jesus Christ. As an apostle, showcase your God given ability and do as He has instructed. 

Further Scripture Study: Mark 16:15-18; Hebrews 3:1, Matt 28:19-20 

Declare This: Father thank You for commissioning and making me a messenger of Your mandate. I yield myself to Your instructions and I go as the sent one to my world in Jesus name Amen.

CHRISTIAN EXAMPLE

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy ‭4:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬

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One important instruction we are always reminded to follow in the Bible is to be an example to all believers. There are many examples to follow in the Bible, but the greatest example of all is Our Lord Jesus Christ. When you study the life of Christ you will discover that He was a man whose life was a life of service even unto death and anyone who came in contact with Him experienced His love immensely. 

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I remember a story of a dear Christian brother who had a good job and was making good money. Suddenly he got a memo from his boss saying because of the hard times the company was experiencing, there was going to be a thirty percent cut down from his paycheck. At 30% pay cut wasn’t the issue but some few months later, a 60% cut became a serious issue. This brother at that time had access to the company’s finances and when he realized it was becoming very easy for him to get tempted to stealing from the company, he quickly tendered his resignation letter; why? Because he would rather be a good Christian example and not steal. Not long after, he started his own business and he prospered mightily in it; this is how you stand out as a perfect example. Be uncomfortable doing some certain things because you are been watched.

How sad it is when you hear some Christians getting involved in things they shouldn’t, we must always remember that every believer is an example for other Christians and for those who are not yet saved. It’s very important to follow the example Christ showed, walk in His steps and faithfully stay true. Don’t be a Christian in the open and a non-Christian when you think no one else is watching, because someone is watching, the hosts of Heaven is watching and even the kingdom of darkness is watching too. You are the example others see.

Further Scripture Study: Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬; John 13:15 

Declare This: Dear Father, I am conscious of who You made me to be and I will show it to all I come in contact with today and always in Jesus name Amen.

FAITH TO FAITH

"For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith". Romans 1:17 ESV

The Christian life is a life of faith and as Christians we know the value of faith. For example, we know what the Bible says concerning it. Hebrews 11:6 says “Without faith it is impossible to please God..."; Mark 11:22 says “Have faith in God”; Mark 9:23 says “All things are possible to him that believes.” and Hebrews 11:1 gives us the definition of Faith; “Faith gives substance to our hopes and makes us certain of realities we do not see.”

Most of us do not question the value of faith. It is the acquisition of faith that we struggle with. Have you ever longed to have more faith but didn’t know how to get it? Have you ever wanted to live by faith, like those we read about in Hebrews 11? Have you ever said to yourself, “I wish I had more faith because I know that I would be a better person.” Well, right in our text is the key to opening the door to a greater faith. It's from "Faith to Faith.”

Faith, is like muscle, it grows strong with exercise. From faith to faith means; from saving faith to a power-giving faith (fruitfulness); from faith as a foundation to faith that identifies us; from faith that is all about assurance to faith that tells us what we can become; from faith that deals with redemption to faith that deals with Truth. The faith of last year cannot sustain the faith for this year. The faith of yesterday cannot nourish today's faith neither can the faith of today validate the faith for tomorrow. Faith to Faith is activating the real you from one level of success to another; exercise your faith daily because the just shall live by faith.

Further Scripture Study: Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 5:7 

Declare This: Dear Lord, I will exercise my faith on a daily basis and I ensure to grow it and move higher in Jesus name Amen.

YOUR CONDUCT MATTERS

Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 AMPC

Paul had to admonish the young Pastor Timothy to be an example in the way he conducts himself. Be an example in conducting yourself with gravity and prudence. Do not disgrace yourself with complacency, indiscipline lifestyles or follies that cause others to disrespect you. 

In conduct also means "behavior", that is, the way you behave. If you are a Christian, act like one who is saved. We are to demonstrate that we are followers of our Lord Jesus, that we are living in and for Him. You can tell if someone is saved or not by the way they act. Have you heard the saying "it doesn’t matter how I act or look on the outside, it’s the inside that counts! "WRONG! Matthew 12:34 says "...For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks; in other words, it is what you have and carry inside of you that will definitely be expressed outwardly. You may fake it outwardly but not for long. 1 Samuel 16:7 "But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 

If what you teach and preach is not seen in your lifestyle, you are in danger of discrediting all of your teaching and influence. How you react to things is very important. Your attitude is key. Your conduct will change when you get right with God. Are you living rightly? Is your conduct worthy of emulation? Is your lifestyle an example to follow? Is the way you conduct yourself at home, the same way you do in public? These questions will either make you or break you. 

Further Scripture Study: Ephesians 4:22-24 

Declare This: Dear Father, thank You for showing me the right way to conduct and carry myself. I will not pretend to be who I'm not; I am Your child and I live the right way You ordained me to live in Jesus name Amen.

SERVANT OF GOD

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God" Romans 1:1 KJV

Paul describes himself as a servant of Christ Jesus, he does not mean that he is to be set apart from society and kept in isolation; while he preached the gospel, he still supported himself as a tent-maker, and he interacted freely with all levels of the society.He was set apart to a commitment of serving God as a preacher of the gospel to all people. 

Paul's work as a servant of Christ Jesus was often difficult. He describes his life as a servant of Christ in his Second Letter to the Corinthians. He was imprisoned, beaten, shipwrecked three times, gone hungry, and he was under mental pressure as he bore the heavy responsibilities of the churches he was serving. But Paul remained committed to preaching the gospel even though he faced the kind of hardship that would make most people want to quit.

A true servant of God will never quit despite the circumstances surrounding him. As God's servant, you have to serve Him with your whole heart and be fully committed to preaching of the gospel. Paul's obligation to preach the gospel was based on a sense of duty. A servant has a duty to perform the responsibilities given him and God has given us a duty to carry out His mission. Necessity is laid on us to preach the Gospel. You are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. You are obligated to serve the gospel of God, because you are the righteousness of God and the reward for His servant is eternal life.

Further Scripture Study: 2 Timothy 2:24-26 

Declare This: Precious Heavenly Father, I recognize who You have made me to be. I am obligated and mandated to preach the Gospel with all boldness and I will do my duty in Jesus name Amen.

ABSOLUTELY RIGHT

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe[confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me. John 14:1 AMP

I read a story; two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town judge. The first man went to the judge's home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the judge said, "You're absolutely right." The next night, the second man called on the judge and told his side of the story. The judge responded, "You're absolutely right." Afterward, the judge's wife scolded her husband. "Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That's impossible, they can't both be absolutely right." The judge turned to his wife and said, "You're absolutely right!

To be absolutely right means without exception, to be definite and on point. It means to be convinced and precise of an information received or given. Are you absolutely convinced of this Gospel? Are you definite of your God given inheritance? Are you absolutely right with the information that comes out of your mouth? Are you absolutely following the instructions in God's Word? To be absolutely right is to follow the total instructions and directions of the Holy Spirit. 70% or 90% isn't absolutely right, 100% is absolutely, definitely, precisely and on point right. 

When the devil tries to come against you in anyway, when you know you are absolutely right on with the Holy Spirit, he cannot touch you. Even when you are asleep, you are always absolutely covered and protected in God.

Further Scripture Study: Hebrews 10:36 

Declare This: Dear Lord, I want to be absolutely right with all the instructions You've given me and also all You want of me in Jesus name Amen.

OBEY HIS VOICE

“To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John 10:3 ESV

Whenever you receive a call from your doctor, you always recognized his voice at any point in time even if you just woke up from your sleep. My question to you is; if God calls you, can you recognize His voice? One of the most common ways God speaks to us is through His Word, "The Bible". There is no question you will ever ask on earth that cannot be answered. The Bible has all the answers to every single question. 

You know when I bought my car some years ago I got an important item with it. It was found in the glove compartment; It was the owner’s manual. That is the designer’s instructions on how my car is intended to be used and maintained. It was designed to teach me how to take care of my car. This is exactly what the Bible does; It is our owner’s manual. It is designed to teach us how to take care and maintain our lives. 

God also speaks through teachers, preachers and pastors and it changes our lives if we listen to them. In fact the Bible says that we will become better equipped if we listen to them; their job is to equip you for ministry. It is the Pastor’s main job, according to this scripture, to prepare you for ministry. Underline these three words: “Equipping”, “For”, “Ministry”. This is the pastor’s main job – “equipping you for Ministry”.

The more you listen and obey God’s voice through His Word, the more successful you become. If you want to be successful, productive and effective in life, tune into God. Obey & listen to what He says and do what He has asked you to do.

Further Scripture Study: John 10:27; Ephesians 4:11-12; James 5:13-15 

Declare This: Dear Father, I acknowledge that Your Word is all I need for a productive life. I will always recognize your voice which You've given me through Your Word in Jesus name Amen.

FAITH THE OVERCOMER

"For everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. 1 John 5:4 AMP

John writes and says "Everyone born of God overcomes the world". When Christ comes to live within us, His life lived out through your life and mine overcomes the world; and all Satan seeks to do is to try and lead us away from God. The strategies of Satan are as many as the sands on the seashore, but God frustrated and defeated them all through His victorious Son living through you and me. John understood this fact so clearly and that is why he said in 1 John 4:4 "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

You and I are in a battle every day. If you are not aware of the battle that rages against you by the enemy then it's evident that you are losing ground. This battle is not won by intellect, strength, or the power of the will; it is won because of the victory of the Son of God. Whatever battle you are facing today you need to know that through Christ Jesus you are more than a conqueror.

Overcoming by faith is never a result of our own efforts. Effort is involved, but the results does not come from that. Victory is a sign that we have the Lord Himself within us and this victory is won already when He died on the cross for you and I. We are not the ones who brought the victory or overcome the world, but Christ living in us. All that we contribute is simply to keep using our faith because it's our faith in Him that overcomes every battle that comes our way.

Further Scripture Study: John 16:33; Romans 8:37

Declare This: Thank You Lord for winning the victory on my behalf. I put my faith to work on a daily basis and I ensure to overcome every battle that comes before me in Jesus name Amen.

YOU ARE A SAINT

"To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ". Romans 1:7 KJV

It is important to note that the Word of the Lord, written under the anointing and direction of the Holy Ghost, was not addressed to the Emperor of the Roman Empire; nor was it addressed to the great Roman Senate. It was also not addressed to every citizen of Rome. It was addressed only to those who were Born Again saints of God living in Rome at that time. Those saints, whether they were rich or poor, bond or free, male or female, young or old, Jew or Gentile, were all included in Paul’s letter.

People today have the idea that a saint is someone only who lived a holy life while being unreservedly devoted to the work of the church. That is not the scriptural definition of a saint. Who is a saint? A saint is a carrier of God; one who is saved and actively spreading the Good News. The word saint comes from the word holy, meaning to set apart. The saint is the sanctified one who has been set apart for holy use. Saints are those who have responded to the call of God. 

A Saint is a risk taker; when he is called of God - he answers. For the fact that you took the risk and accepted Him as your Lord & Savior shows you truly are a saint. A Saint is one who is "in" Christ. The very moment you believed with your heart and you confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, you became a saint in God's kingdom because now you are "in" Christ and you have become a partaker of the Grace of God. As a saint, your responsibility is to carry the Good News to your world, take advantage of this opportunity given you.

Further Scripture Study: Romans 10:9-10 

Declare This: Oh what an honor to be called a saint. As a saint I will carry out my responsibility of spreading the Good News to every one in my sphere of contact in Jesus name Amen.

INDECISION

"And every decision you then make will be uncertain, as you turn first this way and then that. If you don’t ask with faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.". James 1:7-8 TLB 

Life is full of decisions and life is basically a series of choices we make every day. We have to evaluate, decide and draw conclusions. As humans, we all have a great possibility for error. We wait too long, we pay too much, we say the wrong thing and make the wrong decision. Some are making difficult decisions this very week, while some others don’t know it yet but will have a major decision to make next week. Life is full of choices. Someone once said, "we make our decisions and then our decisions make us." How true that is! The quality of your life will be determined by the kind of decisions you make in life. Some of them you'll regret and some of them you'll feel good about.  

Indecision is on the rise and the solution to this is wisdom. James says, Get wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom you should ask God who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him". Pray to God and talk to Him. How do you get wisdom? By listening to the news or by reading magazines? No! No!! The Bible says you get wisdom by "asking God". Wisdom comes from God. So you have to talk to Him about it and in faith, ask for wisdom. When you do, He'll give you the wisdom you need in making and taking the right decisions. The decision you take will determine your next move. When the move is made, accept and own the consequences.

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 6:2; James 1:5 

Declare This: Dear Father, I receive wisdom for life. You are the Wisdom I need for any decision I have to take and I refuse to be pulled apart in different directions in Jesus name Amen.

ANGER FURY

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath; Neither give place to the devil.” ‭Ephesians ‭4:26-27‬ ‭KJV

What is anger? This is a strong feeling of annoyance and displeasure and it is usually emotional. It makes you lose your sense of reasoning and most times when one is angry all you want is revenge or how to inflict pain on the person who made you angry in the first place. I have seen Christians who pride themselves of being very furious and out of control when they get angry, and they become boastful of such attitude. 

We are admonished to be slow to anger as stated in James 1:19-10. Notice it didn't say quick to anger; this means when you are slow to anger - you should be quick to listen, slow to speak because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” When you come across someone who makes you angry and you are able to keep your cool and calm the situation, you are the wise one, “A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.” (‭‭Proverbs 19:11‬)

‭‭Anger is a spirit and when the spirit of anger takes a hold of anyone, it tears apart and ruin relationships and its effects can be devastating. It is like fire; If the fire is controlled, it can be helpful and productive but if the fire gets out of control it can be harmful and deadly. We are all responsible for the way we respond or deal with a situation, even if someone’s actions stirs up anger in you, you have a responsibility of diffusing the situation by responding back in love, yes it might take a lot of effort on your part, remember that God is counting on you and He has given you the ability to handle the situation rightly.

Further Scripture Study: Proverbs 15:18; Proverbs 16:32 

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Declare This: Thank You Father for Your Word, I recognize I can calm and control my spirit always. I declare that every anger is put under subjection and anger has no authority over me in Jesus name Amen.

HE IS FAITHFUL

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". 1 John 1:9 KJV

It's wonderful to know that we have been set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). We never have to submit to the slavery of sin anymore. But what do you do when, in spite of this truths, you stumble and fall into sin? Our opening verse says to confess our sins to God for He is faithful and just to forgive us. You must understand that God is faithful to forgive. When you have accepted this truth, then run to Him genuinely and repent. 

There are some instead of running to God, they let fear and guilt drive them further away from God. Some start having the wrong mindset thinking, well, I've missed it now. I might as well forget the rest of it and live like the devil. Don't ever make that mistake, don't let Satan talk you into sinning in one area of your life just because you missed it in another. When you get off track with God, truthfully confess it and get right back on; but don't take the mercy of God for granted. He is a faithful God.

Further Scripture Study: Romans 10:10; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Deuteronomy 32:4 

Declare This: Dear Father, I thank You for the privilege to come before You to confess my sins, whether knowingly or unknowingly in Jesus name Amen.

LOVE LIKE HIM

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It is important to note that when God gave His Son to die for the world, it wasn’t for the Christian or select few alone but for the whole world, sinners, dejected and rejected included. Anyone can receive this salvation irrespective of who they are or what they did. This act by God showed us how to love everyone not just those we choose to love. There some Christians who say they hate a particular person maybe because of what the person has done or who the person represents, they just can’t find themselves to love this person or persons.

This is not the example God wants us to emulate when He gave His only precious Son to die for all. In fact the Word says that love is a debt that we owe each other, so it is mandatory for us to love and show love to others irrespective of how we feel about them; doing otherwise is disobeying God and rejecting the ultimate sacrifice of the death of His dear Son. Imitate His love and express this kind of love to others genuinely.

Further Scripture study: Romans 13:8 

Declare This: Dear Father, I thank you for showing me how to love. You demonstrated this through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I declare that I make loving and showing others love as a priority. I am a love being and I am born by a love God. I do not have the nature of hate in me in Jesus name Amen.

ASK ME

"Ask of Me, and I will assuredly give [You] the nations as Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Your possession". Psalms 2:8 AMP

What an awesome invitation from the Lord. He has given us an open check to ask Him. To Ask means to inquire, place a demand, request or a petition. God has given you the right to inquire and place a demand on Him and when He says "Ask of Me", it is a divine command, a present continuous tense instruction that you have to always follow. The Lord Jesus Christ in Mathew 7:7 said "Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; What a privilege and an honor we have of the Lord, that at any given time we can ask for whatever we desire and as He promised He will perform.

Asking is quite easy but receiving can be challenging for some. The reason its challenging is because of the way we ask. There is a way of asking; its either you ask the "Right way" or the "Wrong way". Asking the "RIGHT WAY" is; Asking in the name of Jesus (John 14, 15:16, 16:23), Asking in Faith (James 1:5-8), Asking Diligently (Deuteronomy 13:14), Asking in agreement (Matt 18:19), Asking in Prayer (Matt 21:22, Mark 11:24) and Asking according to His Will (1 John 5:14-15). When you ask rightly, your joy will be full and complete. 

The wrong way of asking is asking for the wrong reason or motive (James 4:3), Asking out of fear or panic, Asking with the wrong attitude, Asking vaguely and Asking by begging. You are not supposed to beg God for anything because He has already given you all you require for life and godliness. All you need do is to place a demand on what is rightfully yours. It's time for us to lay claim on your inheritance. It doesn't matter where you function, ASK OF ME and I will do it.

Further Scripture Study: Hebrews 4:16; John 16:24 

Declare This: Dearly Heavenly Father, I come boldly to Your Throne of Grace to ask and receive whatever it is I require and want in Jesus name Amen.

BE READY FOR IT

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it" 1 Corinthians 10:30 NIV.

When temptation comes, there are three ways man generally deals with it; it's either by simply giving into it, or spend all the time fighting with their own strength, or overcome temptation through the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ. I encourage you to follow the third way, turn temptation into triumph. To some it may seem impossible but the truth is, it's not. 

All of us can learn the spiritual process of conquering temptation. It is possible to experience victory in this life everyday. However, there are several things you must know if you want to experience it. Firstly, the verse above says, God is Faithful who will not let you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. This means that you have the ability to overcome any temptation that comes your way. There are different levels of temptation, you will always be at the level of your temptation and no temptation above your level is permitted to come near you. Any temptation that comes to you only means you have the ability to win over it. 

Whenever you overcome any temptation, you are promoted to your next level of success and also your next level of temptation. Secondly, When the temptation comes, He will always provide a way of escape for you. As long as you understand that He is always with you and will always make a way where there seem to be no way, that confidence in you will give you the victory over any temptation.

Further Scripture Study: John 14:18 

Declare This: Dear Lord, I know that You always make a way for me to escape any temptation. I refuse to negotiate with any, rather I stand in faith of Your Word and ensure I win always in Jesus name Amen.

DEDICATION

"But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." Ruth 1:16 NIV

Ruth is one of the most attractive, feminine and godly of the women of the Bible. She is one of two women in the Bible about whom books have been written and after whom those books have been named. She was the great-grandmother of David, and mentioned in the first chapter of the New Testament as one of the ancestors of our Lord Jesus. She is revered and honored still today; Children are named after her. Her earnest consecration is displayed, her determined friendship with her mother-in-law Naomi was undeniable and above all her faith. Please read the full account of her total commitment to Naomi in the book of Ruth. 

Ruth was so dedicated to a fault; she said in verse 17 of our text chapter, "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried...." This is undivided trust and genuine love. This is how we should be dedicated to the things of God. When you stay connected, committed and dedicated to God, your inner man is built; your character and your ability to trust God increases and your love for Him will be on the high. Be dedicated to the WORD and not to the things of the world. 

Further Scripture Reading: Ruth 1 to 4

Declare This: Dear Father, my life is in You Lord and I stay dedicated to Your Word at all times. I will not let the things of the world dictate to me in Jesus name Amen.

TAKE HEART

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV

Before His ascension, the Lord Jesus promised and He fulfilled His promise by giving us His Holy Spirit to make us victors amidst the strife, hardship and adversity. He has given us the mastery to overcome whatever complex difficulties we face and He continues to actively work all things together for our good for those who earnestly love Him and obey His directives. 

Jesus knew that the disciples closest to Him would suffer because of their faith and we see that most of the disciples paid the ultimate price for spreading the Gospel. John was exiled and died of natural causes. Phillip, Thomas, Bartholomew, all the others but John were martyred. We know Peter and Andrew were crucified, James, son of Zebedee was killed by Herod. Jesus knew they would face trials, persecution, and death. He knew they would have grief, so He comforted them to take heart irrespective of what was going to happen around them. If you're having problems right now, Jesus is still your comfort.

Jesus showed His disciples how to be an overcomer through prayer. He told them to "Watch and pray so that they will not fall into temptation. One of the most secure way to keep your heart is through prayer; through prayer you become more vigilant and confident in every challenge that shows up. In the end, Victory is yours. Always know that "Whatever you need God has it". 

Further Scripture Study: 2 Timothy 3:12; John 14:15-18; Matt. 26:41

Declare This: Dear Lord, thank You for winning the world on my behalf. My heart is fortified, I'm staying steadfast in prayers and vigilant to all the devices of the evil one in Jesus name Amen.

GOD'S ANNOUNCEMENT

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God— the Gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures". Romans 1:1-2 NIV 

If God were to call a press conference and issue a news release for the world today, what do you think He would say? Some people think they know what God would say, but do we really know? Well fortunately we don’t have to guess about it. God has already given us everything He wants us to know in His Word. The most comprehensive explanation of God’s press release to the world is found in the Book and it's called the GOOD NEWS.

Romans is a letter written by the Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament books. He wrote Romans while he was in the Greek City of Corinth. This Gospel was never used to describe bad news, but Good News only. This good news is described as God’s Gospel; In other words, Paul claims that this is God’s own announcement, God’s personal press release. This Gospel isn’t a human philosophy, or drafted by a committee of theologians, but it’s God’s own personal announcement. 

God’s press release is the Good News (The Gospel), tell everyone you know of His announcement. You are His mouth piece here on earth.

Further Scripture Study: Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Declare This: I am a partaker of the Good News and as a product of the Gospel, it's my responsibility to announce this Gospel to the ends of the world in Jesus name Amen.

WHAT IS YOUR TESTIMONY?

"Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you." 1 Corinthians 1:6 KJV

There’s a difference between confession and testimony. The confession of the Word and the testimony of God’s Word are not the same. When we confess the Word, we are responding to God’s Word in agreement with Him. Testimony is bearing witness of Him. The text verse says the testimony has been confirmed in you! How important this is, the testimony of a Christian. The devil likes to stop us from testifying but it is very important to testify. It’s just that some people don’t know what testimony is. Someone may say, “I lost my bunch of keys but praise God I found it”. This is good but there’s more to testimony than that. 

Testimony should speak of the faithfulness of God, so when you testify, it carries the faithfulness of God in it. Some testimonies are able to influence positive changes while other statements are met with disbelief? We live in a world where there are many personal testimonies that obviously lack credibility, power or authority. The great apostle’s testimony affected lives because it came from a man who could identify with the pain of his audience. Make your testimony compelling in the sense you are constrained by the love of Christ.

Today, testify to the grace of God in your life. Testify to the efficacy of the Word of God in your life; testify to His love in your life. As a child of God, you have a testimony! Testify of your victories in Christ. Testify of what he has done in your life. Don’t wait to feel it or see it first, no! testify. The bible says, “they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony…”. Testimony gives you the victory over Satan. Glory to God.

Further Scripture Study: Revelation 1:2; Revelations 12:11 

Declare This: Dear Father, I will testify this day and always. With my testimony, I put the devil to shame and I claim my victory over him in Jesus name Amen.

LOOK TO YOU

"Keep a close watch on all you do and think. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you and use you to help others." 1 Timothy 4:16 TLB

As a Christian, are you expressing the life of Christ daily? The Bible talks of growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This growth in grace must always take place starting with you; you must plan to increase the grace in your life everyday. When you function in the grace, you'd find out that everything just works easily for you. How much grace do you need to do what you've been called to do? It's all up to you. 

Look at yourself critically and find out if you've grown and made progress. Take time to evaluate yourself. Ask yourself, have I grown in the past few months? Have I become more effective in my work? What is the level of my impact and responsibility(ies) in church? Am I expressing the love of God? and many more questions. Upon these evaluations, pin point the area for change and go for it. Have time for personal study, personal prayer time and personal devotion; you must have a consistent lifestyle of growth, you are a Christian and you must spend time with the word of God. Stay true to what is right and God will bless you. 

Further Scripture Study: James 4:6; Romans 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:15

Declare This: Dear Father, I will continually pay attention to myself and ensure I am making progress and accelerating in every area of my life in Jesus name Amen.

WORKING FOR THE LORD

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Every Christian has a role to play in the work of the ministry and as Christians, we are to fulfill the call of God in our lives. We are His children and the work of our Father on earth must prosper through us. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. God saw you faithful & entrusted His work into your hands and gave you His ability to do the work. 

We need to be committed to the instructions given. When we do, God promised that we will definitely receive an inheritance as our reward because He is the One you're serving and not man. You will be required to give account of how you fulfilled your God given responsibility. See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord. 

Further Scripture Study: Matthew 28:19; John 4:34; Colossians 4:17

Declare This: Dear Lord, I am committed to the work of the ministry. I will ensure to carryout my responsibilities to serve You alone because my reward comes from You in Jesus name Amen.

HUMILITY

"In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time". 1 John 5:5-6 NIV

From the scripture above, we are being instructed to allow God to humble us. The word humility, in the Greek language, means to make low, to abase, or to make small. When you allow God to humble you and you make yourself low, He is actually elevating and placing you higher to your world with increased confidence in yourself. 

Humility means accepting God's rule instead of ours even when we don't understand and when He doesn't give us an explanation. It comes from a proper understanding of the Grace of God because all that we have comes from Him. It's a gift and you cannot buy it. The Bible is clear; God wants us to be humble. He sent Jesus Christ to this world as our Savior as the true example of humility. If you want to know what being humble is like, look to the Lord Jesus. We have to follow His foot steps and always be thankful to God for giving Jesus Christ to us. 

Humility releases God’s Power and gives you easy access to the Throne of Grace. Humility is something we "DO", not something we "FEEL". You have to do it because the war to remain humble must be fought every day on all fronts, when you do more grace is given you to excel on all sides and in due time He will lift and exalt you. 

Further Scripture Study: James 4:6 

Declare This: Dear Lord thank You for the gift of humility You're given me. I choose to be humble and my mind is made up to follow humility all the way in Jesus name Amen.

THE LOVE NATURE

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8.

Love is one of the strongest attributes of the new creation in Christ. As a new creation, you don’t have to struggle to walk in love. You can live the love-life naturally, loving those around you with the same love that God has for the whole world. 

God knew that if the children of Israel would walk in love, they would obey all the commandments He gave them in the Law. However, they were unable to keep those commandments, because they didn’t have the love-nature in them. Their hearts were hardened towards God and towards each other. But then, Ezekiel, prophesying about the new creation (us), declared the mind of God: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). So as a new creation, God has given every believer in Christ His kind of love.

This was God’s plan all along, to usher in a new class of people, born of Him, with His nature of love. When Jesus died and was raised back to life, this was the greatest miracle that ever occurred. This new species of love-led, love-filled and love-dominated beings was born, and you’re one of them! That love-nature is what you got in exchange for the hardened, stony heart. Now you can freely express the God-kind of love to everyone around you.

Further Scripture Study: Romans 13:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:16 

Prayer Guide: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving me Your very nature. I am a love being and I demonstrate this love to my world in Jesus name Amen.

BETWIXT TWO

"For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better; Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you". Philippians 1:23-24 KJV

Have you ever been so exhausted from the never-ending challenges of life that the thought of dying and going to Heaven sounded like a wonderful thing to you? You wished the Lord would immediately call you home to Heaven? Deducing from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we can see that his heart was being heavily tugged toward Heaven while he was a prisoner in Rome. He had already done more than anyone else could claim to have accomplished. He had suffered endlessly for his ministry and felt tired. It would have been very easy for Paul to say, “Lord, I’m tired. I’ve done enough. I’m ready to go to Heaven. Please take me home.

When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he said he was in a strait betwixt two; he made it very clear that the temptation to leave life and to join the Lord was before him. His choice of words in the verses above made it very evident that a choice was before him: to continue in the flesh so he could completely fulfill his ministry to the saints, or to depart this life and to be with the Lord. After thinking through these options, Paul made the choice to abide in the flesh and to continue his ministry a little longer.

Paul knew that part of his ministry remained unfinished. He said “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” He was pushing toward the finish line. At that time in his life, he was on his last run before the race concluded. Rather than slowing down, taking it easy, or resting, he chose to put forth all his efforts and push harder than ever before so he could finish first, knowing that he had given his very best to the very end of his life. I encourage you to choose life, press forward as you run your race with joy and victory till the end.

Further Scripture Study: 2 Timothy 4:7; Philippians 3:14; 2 Corinth 11:25-28

Declare This: Dear Lord, You have given me a huge assignment for my life, and I’m only getting started in fulfilling what You have asked me to do. Death is not an option right now. Life is my only choice because my world needs me right now in Jesus name Amen.

ABIDE IN HIM

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7

To Abide means to stay connected firmly, to fellowship, to mingle, to live with and stand for. Abiding gives us a picture of being grafted (embedded). Here we see Jesus exhorting us to be grafted (implanted) as a branch to Him who is the Vine. What does it mean? Jesus is explaining that He is our source of life and strength. Without Him we are lifeless and unfruitful; we must have our complete dependency on Him.

Abiding in God means to know Him, to walk with Him and in Him and to obey Him. As believers our lives are hid with Christ and in Christ. We are completely ruled by His Words which is deeply rooted in our hearts. We must not only remember his words but continue to relish and savor it. Just like the air we breathe everyday, we must stay in Him daily and allow Him regulate our lives.

There’s an excellent example in Luke 10:38-42 of the importance of abiding. We see Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to Him teach, and then we see Martha working hard to accommodate her guests. Martha complains to Jesus that Mary is not helping her with the chores, but Jesus replies to Martha that Mary “has chosen that good part, which will not be taken from her” (10:42). However, the Scripture tells us about Martha that she “was distracted with much serving” (10:39). This passage reveals that Jesus desires to have us abiding and worshiping Him alone. Abiding is our obligation and our responsibility. It requires continuous feeding, watering, and mingling in the vine. 

Further Scripture Study: John 15:1-17; 2 John 1:9

Declare This: I am forever grateful to You, I choose to continually abide and stay connected to You. Thank You for Your Word which abides in me always in Jesus name Amen.

YOU ARE GOD'S MINISTER

"Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." 1 Corinthians 4:1 KJV

When you are serving faithfully and trying to obediently do what God has asked you to do, the devil hates it! He’ll do everything he can to dissuade you to stop. Often he attacks the mind with allegations, such as, Why are you doing this? No one appreciates you anyway! Here you are, working, striving, sweating, and slugging it out for the church while others are having a good time. You're not getting a salary are you? you’ve done enough! If you’re not really committed to staying in place and doing what God asked you to do, those allegations from the devil may pull you off the bench where God called you to serve.

Paul gave two distinct qualities and lifestyle of a Christian. Two very important roles of a Christian; A Minister (servant of Christ) and a Steward. A minister is one who carries and conveys a message. He is a representative and a dispenser of the vision, mission & mandate. He is authorized to conduct, give service, care, attend and contribute to a course. 

As a Christian, you are God's minister and representative here on earth. You have been given the authority to speak and use the name of Jesus. God wants us to be faithful to what He has called us to do. He is not going to measure you based on your attendance in church, how many years you served in the church, great things you have done…All these are very important and required. But what God really wants to see is our faithfulness to Him. As an appointed minister, your faithfulness is key in carrying our His Purpose.

Further Scripture Study: 1 Thessalonians 5:24 

Declare This: Dear Father, thank You for entrusting me as Your representative. I have a job to do and I’m going to do it! I will not jeopardize my destiny by succumbing to the discouraging voice of the enemy in Jesus name Amen.

COMMITMENT TO THE CHURCH

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 NIV

Your commitment to the church consists of your commitment to Church Attendance, to the growth of the church and to the church needs. Like a Pastor once said "don't get promoted out of church". The moment you see the church as secondary, you are placing yourself in a very unpleasant environment. When the church is primary to you, you will be promoted on all sides. 

Let me tell you a story using four typical church members; I’ll name them: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to do and Everybody thought that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it but none of them did it, so it wasn't done. Somebody got angry because it was Everybody’s job. Everybody thought for sure that Somebody would do it, but Nobody asked Anybody. In the end the job wasn’t done, and Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody asked Anybody. The essence of this story is for you to realize that you cannot wait for someone else to handle your responsibility for you. You have to Trust God, and just do it with all of your heart. He is the one that gives the increase. 

We need to be committed, to giving to the church. It’s more than offerings, it’s supporting the Church, with your love, your prayers, your time, your availability, your talents and your abilities. You need to be committed. 

Further Scripture Study: Matthew 28:19; 2 Corinthians 9:8 

Declare This: Lord I am committed to the work of the ministry. I will support the church on all sides till You come in Jesus name Amen.

IN PURITY

Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 AMPC

Paul in his letter to Timothy warned him that because he had no long record to establish credibility, he would have to earn the respect of his people. The Greeks at the time with its cultures, subordinated youth to age. If a man did not have age, he would have to earn respect. To offset that youthfulness, Paul exhorted Timothy to be an example of those who believe "in purity". 

Timothy was to be an example in purity; that is, to live moral and clean. To Live a just and honest life; a life that far exceeds the standards of the world. To practice holy and pure living. You can overcome the world’s perception by being an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and in purity. Be diligent in these matters, do not give in to anything that will dilute your mind. It is easy to grow tired and weary in well doing but remember, we will reap if we faint not.

Further Scripture Study: Titus 1:15; 2 Timothy 2:22; Psalms 24:3-4 

Declare This: Dear God, I thank You for giving me Your Word to direct and caution my life. My heart is pure in all I do in Jesus name Amen.