RHEMA From Heaven

Behave wisely

1 Samuel 18:30 says “Then the Philistine commanders (princes) came out to battle, and it happened as often as they did, that David acted more wisely and had more success than all Saul’s servants. So his name was highly esteemed”
Nothing can set you apart in life like behaving yourself wisely.

To behave means to act or conduct oneself in a specified way, especially towards others. Thus, to behave yourself wisely means that you further engage wisdom to determine how you should act or conduct yourself when dealing with all manner of persons.

Our opening text, revealed how this truth of “wise behaviour” brought David, the shepherd boy to the limelight.
You see, no matter how beautiful or handsome you are, until you engage wisdom in how you conduct yourself towards others, you are going nowhere.
In fact, a foolish behaviour can make you lose your God ordained ministry, career or marriage.

Let the wisdom in God’s word guide you in all you do. It will teach you how to talk, how to answer people, how to dress, how to work, how to honour, how to respect, how to serve, how to deal with superiors and colleagues.

Irrespective of your age, you attract favour before God and men when you behave yourself wisely.

Read: 1 Samuel 18:5 “And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants”

Study: 1 Samuel 18:14-15

The same things

Philippians 3:1 “Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you”
Our opening text reinforces one of the most important things in life. It tells the reason for emphasis and repetition of some basic truths in our walk with God.

You see, you must never outgrow some truths and teachings. But that also means that, you must consistently give yourself to these teachings by listening to it every now and then.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Phillipians told them that it is expedient that he writes the same things- teachings, instructions and the word they have heard from him previously.

Never in your crave for new things or teachings make you throw off the basic teachings of the word. Not only that, don’t allow pride make you think that you know too much so that you neglect repeated teachings.

When teachings or sermons are repeated, it reinforces your conviction and safeguards you from deception.

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”

Study: Acts 20:32

Only once

Hebrews 9:27 says “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”.
Most appointments of life is only once or one off. For instance, you will be born once, live on this earth once, die once etc.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 puts it more clearer: “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: [2] A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted”.

So as a Christian you must remember that you cannot come back here after your exit. It’s once and for all and you must get it right the first time.

Unfortunately, most people understand life when it is all over. But for wisdom to be useful, it must be applied.
Knowing about the brevity of life, and purpose thereof calls for urgency.

Thus you must do what God has called you to do and also do it at the right time.
Be purposeful. Know that some of the major opportunities you have in life is for once. Don’t misuse it or abuse it.

Read: Numbers 13:30 “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.”

Study: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Finish your race

Ecclesiastes 7:8 says “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
Starting the Christian life or being born again is a great thing but until you keep the faith to the end it will profit you nothing.

The Christian life can be compared to a race so making it to the end of the race is what matters.
Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:7 said that, “I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error].”
You have to understand that, reaching the end of your Christian journey is something God wants from you. You don’t have to start and stop midway.

You see, you must not be a Christian today and give up the faith in some years to come. Neither must you start working in the house of God and stop along the way.

You see, it is not without doubt that troubles, distresses and challenges will come your way, but it is part of the journey. Thus, you must be determined to finish at all cost.

In keeping your faith to the end, you must lay aside any hindrance that may come your way. Hebrews 12:1 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”.
Many things slow people down and eventually cause them to exit the Christian faith. For example, some have fallen off and left the faith because of the love of money, immorality, pride, and the like.

Nonetheless, you must be determined to finish your race well. Keep your gaze on the Lord and keep moving forward. Remember that it is in finishing that you obtain a reward (Rev 21:7)
Never draw back in your walk with God. Persevere to finish your race in the Lord

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

Study: Hebrews 12:1-3

Give honour to whom honour is due

Romans 13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due ; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour“.
Whoever you relate with or the relationships you have, puts you under some divine obligation.
There are people you have to honour or hold in high esteem.

Reading from Romans 13:1, the Bible makes it clear that, leaders or people that God has put over you deserves to be respected and honoured. In your home, you must respect and honour your parents, in the church you must respect and honour your pastor or spiritual father.

Not only that, any relationship that puts you under a certain authority demands your respect and honour. The Bible says it as something you owe. Meaning that you must do what is right by paying what you owe.

In honouring people that God has blessed you with demands that you don’t speak evil of them, criticize them, or disregard their instructions.

Whatever happens don’t disrespect and dishonour whoever deserves to be respected and honoured by you. Obey God’s word on this matter.

Read:1 Peter 2:17 “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor”

Study: Ephesians 6:2
“Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise”

Understanding, your key to success

Proverbs 4:7 says “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding“.
Your success in life is fully dependent on the understanding you have.

Having understanding means that you know or realize how or why somethings happen.
Understanding also means knowing or realizing the meaning of words, a language, what somebody says, etc.

Understanding comes from the Lord. Job 32:8 says “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding”.
Thus, the seed of understanding is in you as a believer and what or all you have to do is to draw from it for your daily life.

You must know that reading something or hearing what is being said is not synonymous to having understanding. It is knowing what is said, why it is said that reveals that you have understanding.

As a Christian it is understanding that will make you do well in your walk with God. Not only that, it will help you to handle the issues of life, make wise choices, relate well with people and even have some opportunities. Don’t forget that, it is by understanding that you can build your ministry, career, and have a successful relationship and marriage.

Without understanding you will make your way hard, engage in loose talk, become controversial and unproductive.

Read: Proverbs 9:6 “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding”

Study: Psalm 119:125
“I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies”.

Obey when no one is looking

Philippians 2:12 says “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling”.
Living in obedience is a whole life affair. Thus, you shouldn’t be obedient at some particular times and be disobedient on some other times.

In Philippians 2:12, the Apostle Paul admonished the believers to remain obedient at all times.
You see, as a Christian you are to obey God’s word irrespective of where you find yourself.

When it comes to obedience, you don’t need to be policed by your pastor or any person.
You must willingly obey the word you have been taught whether your teacher or pastor is present with you or not.

Never become hypocritical when it comes to obedience. Folks who only live in obedience when they know they are being watched by someone never get far in their walk with God. In fact, such folks lose out on God’s best for their life.

Be obedient at all times.

Read: 1 Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams”

Psalm 119:60 “I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands”

Sin has no power over you.

Romans 6:12 says “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires”
The born again Christian has been freed and delivered from the power of sin. That means, sin has no power over the believer (Romans 6:14).

Know that, the moment Christ became the Lord over your life, you entered into freedom (Galatians 5:1).
But now that you have been set free, it’s dependent on you to keep yourself from being under the bondage of sin.

You see, even though the devil will still try to influence you to sin, you must decide not to yield.
Psalm 4:4 says, “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah“
Standing in awe is one way to keep your freedom in the Lord. It means constantly walking in reverence to God. This “holy fear” will help you not to “make a practice of sinning”.
You see, living in sin as a child of God, is one of the greatest dishonor to God.

Today, we have some believers who take God for granted. They lie, steal, cheat, get involved in immoral stuffs and still “take things cool” as if nothing has happened.
But the Bible says, ‘stand in awe”. Have reverence for God. Don’t treat God’s sacred temple which is your body with contempt. In other words, don’t corrupt yourself.

Remember that, nothing but a fiery judgment is what awaits anyone who takes “grace” for granted and uses it as a license to sin.
Refuse to bring yourself under any wrong and satanic influence.
Walk in the new life and fight any attempt of the enemy to influence you to sin.

Read: 1 John 3:8-9 “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God”

Study: Romans 6:1-14

Make positive confessions

Hebrews 10:23 says “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”.
What you confess has the power to make or unmake you. This is why positive confession is crucial.

Your duty as a christian is not to ruin and to destroy, but to establish and to make things work by the confession of your mouth.

Positive confession determines your state of rest and survival. It will determine what you can have or not have. This is because confessions are always made unto something.

Master the act of positive confession despite the circumstances you may encounter.
You see, those who want to succeed must see themselves in the light of the scriptures, and make a decision to confess what the word says about them until they see results.

Never say something about yourself when it is inconsistent with the word. Say only what the word says about you. There can be nothing more glorious to that.

Remember that wrong confession will bring you into bondage, and unnecessary troubles.

Be determined to confess what God says about you and live like that.

Read: Job 22:28 “Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways”

Study: James 1:22

Choose your words carefully

Proverbs 15:1-2 says “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

Words are powerful and as a believer it demands that you choose your words carefully before you utter them. Our opening verse gives an account of the impact of words; that it can either bring peace or chaos.

You see, choosing your words carefully will help you keep and maintain relationships the Lord has blessed you with. Thus, choosing your words carefully in the course of interacting with your spouse, children, and colleagues at work, school or church will help you promote peace and love.

Applying wisdom in your speech can also open great doors for you. God blesses your works and brings your way great people who can thrust you forward into your destiny because you won’t destroy them with your words.

As a Christian, learn to choose your words carefully. In all you do and say, be guided by the Spirit and the word of God so that you will be a blessing to your generation.

Read: Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

Study: Ephesians 4:29