RHEMA From Heaven

Following God comes with a sacrifice. Following the things of God also requires sacrifice. Following a man of God, also requires sacrifice.
Sacrifice demands that, you totally deny yourself of pleasure and comfort.

Until you are ready to sacrifice you can’t experience some degree of blessings and fellowship with Him.

Today, many people who have joined the faith to serve God are filled with a sense of insecurity to leave all the things of this world to follow the course of God.
But the truth is that, whatever you want to hold on to will leave you but whatever you are ready to let go because of God will come to you in a better way.

Don’t feel insecure when you have to let go of something in life to fully follow the Lord

Sometimes you have to leave some friends, groups and some ventures to fully pursue the course of God. Jesus once told his disciples, “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s…”(Luke 18:29)

Always remember, following God, and doing the work of God requires sacrifice.

READ: Luke 9:24 “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to sacrifice for the sake of God and the gospel.

The Bible describes the Christian life as a race that we must run and complete. Nonetheless, success in your race is determined by your ability to be “weight free”.
Every weight you carry in a race reduces your speed and finally affects your chances of doing well. Hebrews 12:1 says:”… let us lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run… “.

Laying aside weights must be a conscious effort. You must know what really slows you down in your Christian race, and you must know the sin that just won’t let go or gets you off track. That is how to get yourself ready to lay aside every unnecessary burden.

Your race is time bound, and any delay may cost you dearly. Let nothing distract you, rather keep your gaze on Jesus and finish your race.

Read: James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to daily strip off every weight that has the tendency to slow me down in the Christian race. Amen

One of the keys to receiving answers to prayer is by walking in love. Christians who walk in love, and have given themselves to effective prayer always have results.

Love is God’s nature in us as Christians. Love is not all about emotions or feelings. Love is simply living with the heart of God on earth Until we live in and by love, we will have little results in our prayer life.

It was said about Jesus in the gospels that he healed the sick and the afflicted because he had compassion (love) for them. This is to tell you that, the God-kind of love is not selfish, self -seeking and proud.
Love makes our faith to work (Galatians 5:6). Thus, any believer who is serious about receiving answers to prayer must of a necessity decide to walk in love.

Be sincere in your quest to walk in love.
Know that, if what you call “love” is making you abuse people, take people for granted or act secretly wicked towards people, then you are out of love.

Living without walking in love will put all your prayers to nought.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Let the God-kind of love rule in your heart. Let brotherly love continue. Let your love build someone, let your love get someone saved and let your love make someone live in holiness and in the fear of God.

Read: John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”

Prayer: Lord, I pray that my prayers will not be hindered because of the absence of love in my heart. Amen

The opening text teaches on a great truth and principle of the “Kingdom life”. It tells how God invests into his children.

The parable in Mathew 25 showed how three distinct people used the talents that was given to them. Whiles the first two people used the talents they received and made gains, the third person saw no need for that. He simply dug a hole and placed the talent in it.

When all was said and done, a day of accountability came. The ones that used the talent received from the master a good reward and entered into the “joy of the Lord”. But the one who wasted the master’s talent by not making any gain was thrown out.

You see, the above parable reveals God’s purpose for the things he gives- life, grace, anointings, etc.
God wants you to put into profitable use whatever he has given.

Be faithful and diligent to use that grace you have received from God.
Don’t forget that the day of accountability will surely come.

2 Peter 1:3 says “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to be conscious of all the investments you have made in me and also to use them profitably. Amen

The above question of Jesus still remains one of the greatest questions ever to be asked in life. It tells how possible it is to get something and lose another thing at the same time. In this case, the Bible talks about losing yourself, losing your life or missing it because of your earthly pursuits.

The Bible teaches that fame, wealth or status can’t match the value of your soul. Thus, there is no point or justification for pursuing such things at all cost to the neglect of your “soul”.

Remember that life is not only about your stay here. Make decisions that will not jeopardise your future with God in eternity.

Read: John 6:27 “Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed”

Prayer: Lord, I pray that I will not give my soul in exchange for anything in this world. Amen

The above text tellls the purpose of Jesus on earth. He came on a mission. Thus, there was a grand plan he had to follow to accomplish this mission.

Just like Jesus, every Christian has been sent on a mission. This mission is “soul winning” or bringing people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Corinthians 5:19). It is working the works of God or doing that which pleases the Lord and not that which pleases us. This is the charge we have to keep.

You see, your mission here on earth is specific and time bound. God expects you to work before the deadline.

Never be caught up with life’s busy schedule and set aside your mission.
Before the night comes, you must do everything possible to sign off on this note “mission accomplished”

Read: 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to be focus on the mission for which you have brought me here on earth and to accomplish it. Amen

One way by which we can have order in life is when we submit to the powers that be. There are various forms of authorities, we must recognize and hold in high esteem.These include the family, the Church and the state.

The Church as a spiritual authority must be treated with great respect, for order to prevail. Thus, every Christian must be in the position to respect the orders and men of God,in the house of God.

Hebrews 13:17 says “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you”.
When you submit, you yield yourself to a particular course or order and comply with every given instruction.
That’s to say that, you don’t do things your own way.

Another way to bring order in Church is to honor and love the pastor(s) in the church.
In 2Thessalonians 5:12-13, the Bible says “Dear brothers, honor the officers of your Church who work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because they are straining to help you…”.

Never make your actions and inactions bring disorder and tension in the Church or in the house of God.

Read: Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to always recognize the powers that be and submit to authority.

1 Peter 4:8 says, “And above all things have fervent love for one another: for love shall cover the multitude of sins”.

In teaching the believer what to do in this end times, the Bible places love for one another above all the other things. That is not to say that the former which includes being sober, alertness and praying are not important. They are, but the Bible places premium on the love for one another. That is why it says, ” above all things”.

Love is indeed above all things. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 13:13 that, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”.
You see, love always take the lead.

You must let your love for your fellow brother and sister in the Lord be fervent. The love you have for one another must be heartfelt, sincere and deep-seated. You must never in any occasion walk in pretence.
If walking in love towards one another has to be fervent then there should be no room for ” faking” it.

You see, when it comes to walking in love, then it must flow from your recreated human spirit. That is the only way you will not say one thing with your mouth and also say another thing in your heart.

You see, when we walk in love we cover multitude of sins. Love does not breed sin. In fact, it rather helps us to do away with it.
Love!

Read: Romans 12:9 “Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing-without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for grace to have fervent love for all people.

Serving God is the biggest profit venture on earth. The gains one receives when serving God can’t be compared to anything. In fact, serving God is profitable, and it guarantees us of a reward in this present world and in eternity.

In our above scripture, the Bible talks about the divine protection or exemption from calamity associated with serving God.

People who don’t know the benefits in serving God conclude that it’s a total waste of time to give Him your all.
But you see there is nothing like serving God without benefit.
There is divine protection and provision for all who serve God.
Serving God puts your life under a covering.

See what Exodus 23:25-26 says
“And ye shall SERVE THE LORD your God, and he shall BLESS thy bread, and thy water; and I WILL TAKE SICKNESS AWAY from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: THE NUMBER OF THY DAYS I WILL FULFIL”
Serving God indeed brings a blessing. You are protected from sickness and you receive a blessing of long life with fulfillment.

Be glad you are born again and serving the Lord. That is the only PROFITABLE VENTURE with a return that is certain.

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

Prayer: Lord, I pray that you will always give me the strength and grace to serve you. Amen

1 Peter 4:8-9 also says “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling”.
Every Christian or believer must learn to show hospitality. It’s a course the Bible teaches that we must be given to.

When you are given to hospitality, it means you take into account the need to show hospitality.
Hospitality simply means being kind, helpful to others, friendly and generous.

Your daily walk as a Christian must be characterised by this great virtue.
You must show hospitality to all persons without any form of discrimination or prejudice.

How hospitable are you? Can people eat from your home regularly or as and when the need arises without you grumbling?
Can you treat strangers with love and cater for them as special guests?
Do you discriminate against people?

You see, walking worthy of the call of God and being an ambassador for God’s kingdom involves being hospitable. Don’t only look at your interest.

Be kind!
Be generous!
Help people!
These are ways you can also touch lives for Christ.

Read: 1 Peter 4:9 “Be hospitable to one another without complaint”

Prayer: Lord, I pray for the grace to be kind, generous and also the heart to help people. Amen