March 2020 First Week

Friday March 6

THE ALTAR OF PRAYER

Luke 18:1 ” And he spake a parable unto them [to this end,] that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.”

Luke 6:12 ” And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

 

Prayer was a vital part of Jesus ministry. He was the one who taught us about all-night prayer. Prayer is meant to be a way of life – our lifestyle; something we do every day and so often. Don’t ever get tired of praying.  Spiritual power is generated in the place of prayer and time alone with the Lord. Jesus returned in power after 40 days of prayer and fasting. Satan will do everything possible to hinder you from praying effectively. He will make you too busy to pray. He will make you feel sleepy when it’s time for prayer. That’s because he knows that effective prayer generates spiritual power that will thwart his evil plans and schemes. Elijah, by the power of prayer locked up the rains of a whole nation for three and a half years (James 5:16-18). Heaven respected his word because of righteousness. Only the prayer of a righteous man is accepted by heaven. We can only break the negative trends and patterns in our families by standing in the gap and taking authority.

 

Thursday March 5

TOPIC: PAY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS

Scriptural text: Acts 4:13

“When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

More texts: 1 Timothy 4:15, Joshua 1:8, 2 Corinthians 10:4

The reason that the Pharisees could see without any doubt that the disciples had been with Jesus was that his influence on them was visible. Many people hang around Jesus but never reflect him after a long time because they do not pay attention to the details He is communicating to them. Being with Jesus is life transforming. Only those who stay with him whole heartedly will experience the promised transformation (1 Tim 4:15). Peter and John were not highly educated, yet they manifested wisdom and boldness that amazed the literati of their time. Your background or past doesn’t matter. Your education or socio-economic status is not a hindrance to what God can do with you. He can make you amazement to the world (Acts 4:13). Pay attention to the details (Joshua 1:8). Every instruction from God counts/matters. Don’t practice selective obedience, doing only what you find convenient; or waiting to understand it before you do it. God has commandments and they are not grievous/burdensome (1 Jn. 5:3). Our power to resist the enemy will be effective when our obedience to God is complete. (2 Cor. 10:6).

Wednesday March 4

TOPIC: UNTAINTED

 Scriptural text: James 1:27, Ephesians 5:27, 1 Thessalonians 4:4

Js. 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Eph. 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

1 Thess. 4: 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;

 

We live in a generation that makes it increasingly difficult and humanly impossible to live a pure life before God. The Lord calls us to perfection/blameless living (Matt. 5:48). Not perfection before men, but before Him. No one can please men, but we can please God perfectly. He instructs us to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. It is possible that is why he said we should do it! The Lord wants a church without spot or wrinkle – that is, one that is blameless (before Him). He also wants us to know how to remain holy. It takes practical wisdom to achieve this. As we think in our hearts, so will we become (Prov. 23:7). Let us have a possibility mentality about this, and the Lord will empower us to achieve it. Impossible thinkers have cut off themselves from God’s grace to achieve it. Holy living is a key to: closeness with the Lord now (Is. 59:2), answered prayers (John 9:31) and to enter heaven in the end (1 Corinthians 6:9). So, learn to ask God for grace and wisdom to overcome every temptation that comes your way.

 

Tuesday March 3

TOPIC: ABIDE IN ME

 Scriptural text: John 15:4-8

v 6: “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.”

Abiding in Jesus is very important for every Christian. It is the key to survival, life, fruitfulness, His presence and answered prayers. How can we abide in Him? (1) Be led by the Spirit of God (Rom. 8:14).

(2) Seek His presence with all your heart (Ps. 27:4).His presence brings rest in the storms of life (Ex. 33: 14-15). (3) Be planted in  the house of God (Ps. 92:12-14). Don’t miss church/fellowship meetings (Heb. 10:25). (4) Feast on His word. Esteem His word more than your physical food (Job 23:12, Ps. 119:105).

Some aids to learning God’s word better: audio bible, online messages, bible study/reading plan, daily devotional, mp3 messages, daily bible reading etc. (5) Watch and pray always (Mt 26:41). (6) Rejoice always, praise always – no matter what happens to you. Always be thankful.  Joy is a choice, do it always (Phil. 4:4). Joy is your strength (Neh. 8:10). Joy is the means to enjoy all your inheritance in Christ (Is. 12:3). (7) Associate with the right people (2 Tim. 2:22).

Monday March 2

TOPIC: DISCERNING THE WILL OF GOD

1 Samuel 30:8 And David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I pursue after this troop? Shall I overtake them?” And He answered him, “Pursue, for thou shalt surely overtake them and without fail recover all.

 

It is important that we go through life with a consistent ability to pray and find out God’s mind concerning questions or decisions to be made. David had a consistent habit of enquiring from the Lord for directions to be taken at critical points in his life. And his patience to get feedback from the Lord helped him to make wise decisions and also kept him out of trouble and premature death. As believers, we need to cultivate the habit of asking the Lord for direction and learning to hear from Him what He would have us do. Some helpful tips are: (1) Be desperation for the will, purpose and plan of God – Hab. 2:1. (2) Neutrality of interest – Rom. 12:1-2. (3) Ask sincerely –  Matt. 7:7. (4) Soak in and study the word of God to have an understanding of His ways.  (5) Maintain the climate of worship and praise – Acts 3:12