Little by Little

Read: 1 Corinthians 10:11-13
Memory verse: Ecclesiastes 11:5
Psalm 31-33

Key Point
People fall little by little and rise little by little. If you don't want a negative surprise, watch little developments that are taking place in your life.

Memory Verse
As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. Ecclesiastes 11:5
Message
It is good to know the weapons with which to engage the enemy, but this is not enough. It is important to also know the techniques of the enemy so that you will be guided on how to apply the weapons you have. The more I study the devil, the more I am convinced that he is a good boxer. In boxing, there are three major types of blow: the jab, the hook and the uppercut. The average boxer aims at hitting the head of his opponent but he may not start there. He starts with the jabs at the head, while the opponent is dodging these jabs, his stomach is exposed and the boxer capitalises on this to give the hook on the stomach. If he succeeds in hitting the solar plexus in the stomach, the opponent tilts forward and the boxer gives the uppercut because the head is closer and most likely not protected.

This tells us something about Satan's modus operandi, particularly in bringing down committed, Heaven–bound Christians. Although his goal is to completely severe the believer from his helper, so that members of the kingdom of darkness can do whatever they like with the fellow, he carries out this plan on a piecemeal basis. To succeed in this plan, the enemy can be very patient. The devil is satisfied with separating you from the Vine little by little. As is commonly said, 'Little drops of water make the mighty ocean'. This is why you must be concerned about your
decrease in spiritual matters as little failings lead to a great fall. If you are gradually accepting Satan's excuse - It doesn't matter, know that something is wrong somewhere. If you have moved from no lie to little lies once in a while, you are already heading for a fall. If your Bible study has decreased, you are backsliding. If a little anger is now permitted by you, know that great anger is on its way. Never allow the little sins! Never give room for secret sins. No matter the size, sin is ultimately going to separate you from God your Ally. Take steps to know God more, obey Him and have more of Him. Little by little keep making efforts to grow in faith no matter how little the effort is each time. Don't stay at the same spot!


Credit: Unknown

Written by Kachi

Blessed Wherever You Are

Deuteronomy 28:3
3“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

You may have heard of people who think that to have better “luck”, they have to move to a new home, work for a certain company or even migrate to another country.

The truth is that it is not the place that gets you the blessings, but whether God’s blessing is on you. And for you, child of God, you are already blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:3) He has paid for your blessings with His blood. So the blessing is not on the land but on the man!

It was in the city of Jerusalem that Jesus was whipped, cursed and spat on. And it was outside the city on Calvary’s hill that He was pierced and crucified. That is why you are blessed in the city as well as outside in the country! In fact, you are blessed regardless of your location.

Perhaps you work in a non-Christian company and your boss doesn’t quite like you. In fact, he sometimes mistreats you. But God can still bless you in spite of your boss. You get blessed because you believe God for it. It has nothing to do with your boss or the company.

Why then don’t you seem to see the blessings?

My friend, if you don’t see the blessings, check what you have been believing and saying. Some people complain and blame everyone and everything around them — their parents, race, gender, environment and government — for their lack of blessings. Beloved, I want you to believe and confess that you are blessed because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross, not because you are of a certain race or work in a certain place.

It does not matter where you work or live, what color your skin is or what you do for a living. If God blesses you, you are blessed! And it is all because of Jesus. So say to yourself, “I am blessed wherever I am — blessed in the city, blessed in the country!”

Thought For The Day
God’s blessing is not on the land but on the man!

Credit: Joseph Prince
Written by Kachi

Nothing Shall By Any Means Hurt You!

Luke 10:19
19Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Years ago, while traveling on a domestic flight in the United States, I was seated next to a woman whose whole body was tense with fear. Concerned, I asked if I could help her in any way. Between sobs, she told me about her fear of flying. I told her, “Don’t worry. I am on board. Nothing will happen to the plane.” I did not say it with pride. I said it knowing that the Lord was on board the plane with me and that I would have a safe journey because He has promised that “nothing shall by any means hurt you”.

Once, when Jesus was in the boat with his disciples, He told them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” (Mark 4:35) Believing that they would cross over to the other side, He fell asleep in the stern. A great storm arose, but it could not rouse Him from His sleep, only the cries of His terrified disciples did. They had forgotten what Jesus had said about them crossing over to the other side. They had also forgotten that with Jesus in the boat with them, there was no possibility of them going down. Nothing could by any means hurt them because Jesus was with them.

Even being thrown into a fiery furnace could not hurt three young Hebrew men because they believed that God would deliver them. They had proclaimed to the heathen King Nebuchadnezzar, “... our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.” (Daniel 3:17) And in the midst of their fiery trial, their deliverer not only walked with them in the fire, He also delivered them from all harm. King Nebuchadnezzar even said, “Look! I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25)

Beloved, in the midst of your storm or fiery trial, because Jesus is with you, nothing shall by any means hurt you!

Thought For The Day
Nothing shall by any means hurt you because Jesus is with you!

Credit: Joseph Prince

Written By Kachi

When Tempted, Resist the Devil

And accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.

Eph6.17.

After we've humbled ourselves and submitted to God, the Bible teaches us to defy the Devil. We don't passively resign ourselves to his attacks. God tells us to fight back.

The New Testament often describes the Christian life as a spiritual battle against evil forces, using war terms such as fight, conquer, strive, and overcome. Christians are often compared to soldiers serving in enemy territory.

How can we resist the Devil? Paul tells us, "Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:17 NLT)

The first step is to accept God's salvation. You won't be able to say no to the Devil unless you've said yes to Christ. Without Christ we're defenseless against the Devil, but with "the helmet of salvation" our minds are protected by God. Remember this: If you are a believer, Satan cannot force you to do anything. He can only suggest.

Second, you must use the Word of God as your weapon against Satan. Jesus modeled this when he was tempted in the wilderness. Every time Satan suggested a temptation, Jesus countered by quoting Scripture.

He didn't argue with Satan. He didn't say, "I'm not hungry," when tempted to use his power to meet a personal need. He simply quoted Scripture from memory. We must do the same. There is power in God's Word, and Satan fears it.

This is why memorizing Scripture is absolutely essential to defeating temptation. You have quick access to it whenever you're tempted. Like Jesus, you have the truth stored in your heart, ready to be remembered.

Credit: Rick Warren

Written by Kachi

Your Answer Is In His Word

Proverbs 4:20–22
20My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. 21Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart;22for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh.

God has given us a sure way to receive the answers to our problems and challenges. It is His Word. Every answer or solution we need is found in the Bible.

Yet, many Christians are not walking victoriously in certain areas of their lives. This is because the devil continuously wages a war of distraction against them. He has managed to take them away from the one thing that can bring them victory — the Word. He will do everything possible to prevent them from opening the Bible because he knows that the Word will deliver them.

The distraction can be very subtle: A lot of things to get done, a lot of TV programs that interest you, or it may take the form of a big problem that makes you feel that you need to focus all your attention on it. The enemy knows that if he can get you to take your eyes off the Word of God, he can keep you from winning the battle.

When you are going through a tough time, it is not enough to know that God’s answer to the problem is “somewhere in the Bible”. Find the scripture in which God has promised the solution. Meditate on it until the truth of that scripture is revealed to you. When you do this, no demon or devil can prevent that word from God from bearing fruit in your life.

Even Jesus Himself used the Word to defeat the devil in the wilderness — “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4:4) The way to defeat the enemy is with “It is written…”

My friend, there is no substitute for the written Word. God tells us that we will find life and health if we give our attention to His Word and keep it in the midst of our hearts. So get into the Word and let God’s promises abide in you.

Thought For The Day
Every answer we need is found in God’s Word.

Credit: Joseph Prince

Written by Kachi

Time To Use Your Authority

Exodus 14:15–16
15And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it...

The problem with the body of Christ today is not that we are not praying. We are praying. But many of us are praying desperate prayers. We are praying, “God, help… God, please… God, do something about my problem!”

If you are smiling a little by now, most likely, you know about such prayers and might have prayed a couple yourself. My friend, God does not want you to pray pleading prayers all the time. He wants you to use the authority He has given you to pray powerful prayers, to boldly command and to “stretch out your hand” and see miracles happen.

When Moses stood before the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army in hot pursuit, the Bible tells us that he cried out to God. But God told him, “Why do you cry to Me?”

There is a time for you to cry out to God and there is a time for you to use your authority. God told Moses, “Tell the children of Israel to go forward. But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.”

The “rod” you have today is the name of Jesus. As you command in Jesus’ name, your “sea” will open and you will go on dry ground through the midst of your problem.

Do you realize that Jesus did not say, “Go and pray for the sick”? He said,” Go and heal the sick.” (Matthew 10:8) So stop pleading and asking all the time, and start using the authority you have in Christ.

Jesus told the church, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore…” (Matthew 28:18–19) My friend, God wants you to go and use the authority that He has given you. And as you go, miracles will flow!

Thought For The Day
When you start using the authority you have in Christ, miracles will flow.

Credit: Joseph Prince

Written by Kachi

Confident About the Future

How long is forever going to last? Forever! Someday your body is going to die, but you aren't! You're going to live forever in one of two places - heaven or hell. They're both real places. You will spend eternity in heaven or hell.

Why should Christians be the most confident people about the future?

"Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:6, 8 NIV)

For Christians, death is a transfer, a promotion. It's on to better things; no more problems. You're not ready to live until you're ready to die. You don't know how to live until you're ready to die. Only a fool would go all through life totally unprepared for something that everybody knows is inevitable.

You're going to die - someday. If you've accepted Christ, then you're going to go to heaven. You'll be released from pain, from sorrow, from suffering, from depression, from fear: "He'll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good - tears gone, crying gone, pain gone - all the first order of things gone." (Revelation 21:4 MSG)

Credit: Rick Warren

Written by Kachi

God Still Performs Miracles

John 11:40
40Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

God, who parted the Red Sea, rained manna from heaven, caused the walls of Jericho to fall, shut the lions’ mouths, healed the sick, raised the dead and calmed the sea, still performs miracles today.

However, some Christians doubt that God wants to work a miracle for them today. They believe that there were miracles when Jesus walked the earth, but they think that the day of miracles is over. And they talk about how everything will be perfect one day in the sweet by and by. But God wants us to know that He is still the God of miracles today.

Martha was like one of those Christians. She wondered if Jesus could perform a miracle when her brother Lazarus died. By the time Jesus arrived on the scene, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. So she thought that Jesus was four days too late. That is why she said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (John 11:21) And even when Jesus said that Lazarus would rise again, she said, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” (John 11:24)

Martha believed that Jesus could perform miracles in the past and would do the same in the future, but she did not believe that He could give her a miracle when she needed it right then. You see, Martha was someone who lived wishing that the past could be changed and believing that the future would be better. But she did not believe that the “I Am” was there to meet her present need.

Today, God stands at the point of your need. What miracle do you need from Him? Believe that He is still the same miracle-working God today. Believe that you will see the glory of God. Believe and you will see your miracle!

Thought For The Day
The “I Am” is here to meet your present needs!

Credit: Joseph Prince

Written by Kachi

God Smiles When We Trust

Imagine this scene: One day God comes to Noah and says, "I'm disappointed in human beings. In the entire world, no one but you thinks about me. But Noah, when I look at you, I start smiling. I'm pleased with your life, so I'm going to flood the world and start over with you and your family. I want you to build a giant ship that will save you and the animals."

There were three problems that could have caused Noah to doubt: 1) Noah had never seen rain because prior to the flood God irrigated the earth from the ground up; 2) Noah lived hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean; 3) There was the problem of rounding up all the animals and then caring for them.

But Noah trusted God completely, and that made God smile.

Trusting God completely means having faith that God knows what is best for your life. You expect him to keep his promises, help you with problems, and do the impossible when necessary.

Trusting is an act of worship. Just as parents are pleased when children trust them, your faith makes God happy. The Bible says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

In what areas of your life do you need to trust God completely?

Credit: Rick Warren

Written by Kachi

God is Interested in the Work You Do

Many Christians don't make the connection between Sunday and Monday. They compartmentalize their lives. They think, "Well, I've got a spiritual life, and I've got a secular life. My spiritual life is when I read the Bible, when I pray, when I go to church, I do good things for others. That's my spiritual life."

And that's over in one compartment. So then, they think, over in another compartment: "This is my secular life. That's my work, my job, my career, my business decisions, my finances, my pension plan; all these things are my secular life."

God says, "No, that's wrong. All of life is spiritual."

The word secular isn't in the Bible. Your whole life matters to God. He is as interested in your work as He is in your prayers.

The fact is, your relationship to Christ is like marriage -- it's a full-time commitment. What do you think would happen if I came up to my wife and said, "Honey, I'm going to only act married when I'm at home."

The fact is, all of life is important to God, and you can't separate your Christianity from your work -- just as you can't separate your Christianity from your life

Credit: Rick Warren

Written by Kachi

Do you have the whole armour of God on?

Study passage: Ephesians 6:14-18.
It says "stand ready with truth as a belt" Child of God, how often do you speak the truth? Imagine a soldier at war with a belt that doesn't have a proper hold of him, fighting and pulling his pants up, the distraction would get him killed.
"Righteousness as your breast plate" righteousness not self righteousness. The righteousness we attain by faith, by believing in Christ, not the righteousness we claim to attain by the standards set by the world.
"As your shoes the readiness to announce the good news of peace" how often do we announce the good news? Are we peace makers? Do we share the good news with friends, brothers, sisters, parents, colleagues? Does your shoe fit properly or is it over/under sized due to your inability to share the good news? Do you even have shoes on?
"At all times carry faith as a shield" if your shield can't protect you of what use is it? Faith, believing without seeing. If your faith is not enduring, you will not endure (Isaiah 7:9).
"Accept salvation as a helmet"
Accept! It has been given to you free of charge. Christ has paid the price already, just accept him as your only Lord and saviour.
"The word of God as a sword"
The word of God is alive and active, sharper than a double edged sword. It cuts all the way through to where soul and spirit meet, to where joint and marrow come together.(Heb 4:12)
Be sure that the book of law is always read in your worship. Study it day and night and make sure you obey everything in it.(Joshua1:8)
How often do you study your bible? Do you even know its content? Can you confidently go into battle with the word of God as your sword?
"Do all these in prayer, asking for Gods help. Pray on every occasion as the spirit leads. For this reason keep alert and never give up, pray always for all Gods people."
I encourage us all today, to honestly question ourselves. "Am I really a soldier of Christ? Am I fit for battle?" Remember, soldiers don't prepare for war in the battle field, they prepare before the war breaks out, keep watch, be awake, pray, be ready!
May God help us all to know our loose ends and right our wrongs so as to be fit and ready soldiers of His. Amen.

Written by:
Linda Opara.

To the "circumcised" of our society.

The letter of st. Paul to the Galatians is all basically about how the Jews wanted the Gentiles to be circumcised before they could be approved or accepted as christians. The question here is how can we relate this to our society of today, do we still have such people? Yes we do, but now its not actual circumcision that they require, its your appearance, your look, your standard, that's the circumcision of today. They believe that as a christian there is a certain way you must look/dress anything short of that makes you unworthy.
Paul wrote to the galatians reminding them that God doesn't judge by outward appearances (Gal2:6) and that's what he's telling us today. He wrote, "A person is put right with God only through faith in Jesus Christ, never by what the law requires (Gal2:16). If we earn righteousness by our outward appearance, it means christ died for nothing. This life of faith that we all live has been given to us by Christ Jesus because of His love for us, do not reject Gods grace by trying to be self righteous.
A question paul asked the galatians of then, I ask us all today, Did you receive Gods spirit by hearing the gospel and believing it or by doing what the law requires?(Gal3:2). Also does God give you the spirit and work miracles among you because you do what the law requires or because you hear the gospel and believe it? "Only the person who is put right with God through faith shall live".
The purpose of the law is to show what wrong doing is. If the obeying of this law could give us eternal life then why did Christ have to die for us? When we are in union with christ Jesus, neither your look, your smell, your level of education, family background, relationship status etc or the lack of these makes any difference, what matters is faith that works through love.
We all as christians are called to be free, Christ has brought us freedom, embrace it! But don't let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you, instead let love lead you. If the spirit directs your life, you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature(carnal nature) such as indecency, immorality, decietfulness, etc.
If the spirit leads you, you are not subject to the law.
It doesn't matter whether or not one is "circumcised" what matters is being a new creature in Christ.


Written by;
Linda Opara.

CONTENTMENT.

Contentment means, being happy or satisfied either with yourself, your position, family,.....etc. As christians can we honestly say we are satisfied with what we have, what we've been given by God? Often times we find ourselves saying "if only I had that car, if only I had his job, if only i had a son/daughter,if only this, if only that,......" Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't aspire for greater heights/achievements but we should aspire with joy and happiness within us to share/show Gods goodness and not with anger or frustration.
In the creation story (Genesis 1) after every creation God made, it says "God made them all and He was pleased with them." Learn from this that however you are, tall, short, fat or slim, God made you and He's pleased with you!
Also we can look at Christ's contentment with His father's will for Him. Christ knew the task ahead of Him, He knew what He was going to face to save us all, yet He did it! How many of us christians today can face the challenge of knowing great pain is coming our way and courageously say, "Father, let thy will be done"?
Unhealthy
comparisons/competitions are bad for your soul, be satisfied with who you are and what you've achieved by Gods grace trusting that Gods plans for you are plans to prosper you, of good and not of evil.
Know your God, if you do you'll know what He's capable of, you'll be satisfied with who you are knowing that God has a plan for you. How? You may ask, know the Word of God, study it day and night for the Word of God is God Himself.
Dis contentment leaves you with self-centredness, over-ambitiousness, greed, jealousy, etc.

Here are some bible passages to study for more insight/knowledge on contentment:
Jeremiah 29 vs 11.
Joshua 1 vs 5
Isaiah 26 vs 12
Psalm 139 vs 14.
You could also share with us any bible passage that could help with this topic, thanks.

Written by:
Linda.

CONTENTMENT.

Contentment means, being happy or satisfied either with yourself, your position, family,.....etc. As christians can we honestly say we are satisfied with what we have, what we've been given by God? Often times we find ourselves saying "if only I had that car, if only I had his job, if only i had a son/daughter,if only this, if only that,......" Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we shouldn't aspire for greater heights/achievements but we should aspire with joy and happiness within us to share/show Gods goodness and not with anger or frustration.
In the creation story (Genesis 1) after every creation God made, it says "God made them all and He was pleased with them." Learn from this that however you are, tall, short, fat or slim, God made you and He's pleased with you!
Also we can look at Christ's contentment with His father's will for Him. Christ knew the task ahead of Him, He knew what He was going to face to save us all, yet He did it! How many of us christians today can face the challenge of knowing great pain is coming our way and courageously say, "Father, let thy will be done"?
Unhealthy
comparisons/competitions are bad for your soul, be satisfied with who you are and what you've achieved by Gods grace trusting that Gods plans for you are plans to prosper you, of good and not of evil.
Know your God, if you do you'll know what He's capable of, you'll be satisfied with who you are knowing that God has a plan for you. How? You may ask, know the Word of God, study it day and night for the Word of God is God Himself.
Dis contentment leaves you with self-centredness, over-ambitiousness, greed, jealousy, etc.

Here are some bible passages to study for more insight/knowledge on contentment:
Jeremiah 29 vs 11.
Joshua 1 vs 5
Isaiah 26 vs 12
Psalm 139 vs 14.
You could also share with us any bible passage that could help with this topic, thanks.

Written by:
Linda.

You Are Not Alone

2 Kings 6:8-17

Mount Everest, the highest peak on earth, is undoubtedly one of the world’s most difficult and dangerous mountains to climb. On the mountain, extreme temperatures, lack of oxygen, high winds and risk of avalanche can make this climb seem impossible. For even the most experienced mountaineer, the risk of death is always present. The truth is, it is virtually impossible to make the ascent to the summit without the help of the Sherpas. These guides make the ascent possible. If you were to try to go it alone, your chance of success would be virtually zero.
As a prophet of God, Elisha knew he needed help and that he was never alone. But as Elisha and his servant slept, the king of Aram sent horses and chariots and a strong force to confront them; they literally surrounded them and the entire city. The king was angry that Elisha always seemed to know their next move and was able to warn the Israelites of possible attack. Elisha’s servant had woken up early only to see this vast army. Terrified, overwhelmed and isolated, he ran back inside to tell Elisha. But Elisha was unmoved. He was calm and confident. He didn’t panic as his servant hid in fear.
Even though the situation looked impossible, he knew something that his servant didn’t—they were not alone! Elisha told his servant to relax. He said, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16). Then Elisha prayed that God would open his servant’s eyes to see a whole new reality—the spiritual realm where the battles are really won and lost. The servant’s eyes were opened and for the first time he could see what Elisha saw all along—the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire. This was God’s army.
Many times in life we feel alone. But we are never alone. In fact, not only are God’s angels present, but His Spirit also lives in us to guide and teach and comfort.
Jesus never leaves us. On this journey of life, you are never alone.

Credit: Jimmy Pena

Written by Kachi

OUTNUMBERED AND OVERWHELMED

The Lord said to Gideon, “I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites with the three hundred men who lapped the water. Tell everyone else to go home.” (Judges 7:7 GNT)

The Midianite army of 135,000 badly outnumbered the Israelites, who only had 32,000 men ready for battle. But even that was too many. God instructed Gideon to reduce his army to only 300 men! Before the battle, Gideon worshipped God and then divided his men into three companies. Their weapons were only trumpets and empty jars with torches inside them!

God wanted Israel to know that victory does not depend on strength or numbers, but on obedience and commitment to Him. As proof, the Midianite army fell before them without the Israelites drawing a single sword.

What in your life seems too hard to conquer? "Midianites" sometimes come in the form of parenting challenges when we feel outnumbered and overwhelmed. Whatever you're facing, remember that the battle is God's. Don't let fear overcome your faith. But like Gideon, remember that we are never prepared to do battle until we bow in worship to God.

Make your choice for faith and trust that God will fight for you.

Credit: parentingbydesign

Written by Kachi