September 2, 2012
Back to school blessing: An Excellent Spirit
May God grant you:
Divine Commitment
The grace to stay with what is important until it is accomplished. Do not defile yourself with pollution in the environment and culture of the day.
And Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicate food, nor with the wine which he drank; and he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not have to pollute himself. - Daniel 1:8
Divine Favor
God's hand that singles you out for positive preferential treatment instead of negative attitudes, rejection and disposition.
Now God had brought Daniel into favor and kindness with the prince of the eunuchs - Daniel 1:9
Requirements?
No matter how challenging or difficult the tasks or problems you are given or faced with, you will excel, you will have the solution(s) in Jesus mighty name!
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. - Daniel 1:4
Divine Endowment
May God endow you with what is takes to excel.
As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. - Daniel 1:17
Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. - Daniel 1:20
An Excellent Spirit
May God grant you an excellent spirit that will make you stand out of the crowd for good.
Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. - Daniel 6:3
because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. - Daniel 5:12
Use what you've been given to help others
Apply yourself. Get all the education you can, but then, by God, do something. Don't just stand there, make it happen. Lee Iacocca
Prayer
• Give thanks
• Saved?
• Prayers
• Blessing
• Personal prayer points.
Keep on rejoicing in the Lord at all times. I will say it again: Keep on rejoicing! - Philippians 4:4
Sunday September 9, 2012
King Jehoahaz – Plead!
Then Jehoahaz pleaded with the LORD, and the LORD heard him because he saw how the Aramean king was oppressing Israel. - 2 Kings 13:4
God heard the prayer of an evil king, when he cried out. God hears your cry in whatever state you are in. He does not despise a cry of mercy. He will not despise your cry.
Jehoahaz whose name means 'whom the Lord sustains/Jehovah has held', ruled for 17 years and followed the serious idolatrous sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat. In his sinful state he cried out to God for deliverance and God delivered him (2 Kings 13:1-8). Never be fearful to cry out to God for His mercy, He will hear you and come through for you, in Jesus mighty name! Amen
"I have so much to do today that I should spend the first three hours in prayer." - Martin Luther
Jesus, Paul, Daniel, Joshua and the widow in the story of the unjust judge cried out to God and were heard, you will be heard!
Prayer
• Give thanks
• Saved?
• Father, Help me in the place of prayer.
• Personal prayer points.
Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know. - Jeremiah 33:3
Sunday September 16, 2012
King Jehoash – In the face! - 1
Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. - 2 Chronicles 25:17
Sometimes we don't want to fight, but situations stare us in the face, challenging us to a duel, at work, play, the culture, in the community or nation (2 Kings 14:8-14).
Jehoahaz did not want to fight, but Amaziah was determined to fight against him. How do we handle such situations?
Jehoash means – Jehovah given, he ruled for 16 years, followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, yet defeated a righteous king, Amaziah king of Judah in battle, he also defeated Syria 3 times by prophecy from Elisha.
• Pray – Like Daniel in the lions den and David in his fight against Goliath.
• Listen – David listened to Goliath, before he was able to respond appropriately. Understand what you are up against, physically and spiritually.
• Negotiate – Jehoash negotiated, Abijam negotiated. Moses and Abraham negotiated without giving away what is important.
• Pray – For guidance, sound speech, wisdom and guidance like David in his fight against the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5:17-25.
• Suggest alternatives – To divert difficult situations away, like Jehoash did.
• Pray – For divine support and victory in battle like David, Joshua and Moses.
• Battle – Because victory is sure – You are more than a conqueror through Him who loves you - No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37.
• Give thanks - For current and future outcomes - Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. (Psalm 107:1)
Prayer
• Give thanks
• Saved?
• Father, help me to adopt the right response.
• Personal prayer points
17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.
- Psalm 34
Sunday September 23, 2012
King Amaziah – In the face! - 2
Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. - 2 Chronicles 25:17
Jehoash means – Jehovah given
Amaziah means – Strength of God, the Lord is Mighty
Jehoash ruled for 16 years; Amaziah 29 years
Followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat,
Amaziah did what was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart – 2 Chronicles 25:2
Jehoash defeated Amaziah king of Judah in battle
Jehoash defeated Syria 3 times by prophecy from Elisha
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” - Henry Ford
Amaziah
• Did what was right, but not with a perfect heart
• Had soldiers, numbered them – 300,000
• Secured additional 100,000 mercenaries
• Won Edom in war, killed 20,000 of them
• Took the valley of salt – economic power
• Renamed Sela (boulder) as Joktheel (subdued by God)
• Brought the idols of Edom home to Judah and started worshipping idols
• Refused to listen to God and the man of God
• Took wrong advice to fight Israel & Jehoash
• Refused to listen to suggestions/alternatives
• Defeated in war & lost treasures
• Assassinated by conspiracy
• Fled to Lachish
• Proud
• Loved Jehoash? He should have been trying to win Jehoash over to the worship of the Most High God instead of fighting with him.
Never, never, never give up.
Winston Churchill
Prayer
• Give thanks
• Saved?
• Father, Help me to adopt the right response.
• Personal prayer points.
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."
"The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."
The LORD is fighting for you! So be still!"
The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14
Sunday September 30, 2012
King Jeroboam II – Deliverance by the hand of prophet Jonah!
You will be marvellously helped!
He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath to the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher - 2 Kings 14:25
Jeroboam an evil king succeeded where it mattered most - in the place of battle, because he laid hold on the prophecy of a man of God. Jeroboam means ' Increase of the people' and he ruled for 41 years during the ministries of the prophets Hosea (Hosea 1:1), Amos (Amos 1:1) and Jonah (2 Kings 14:25). He followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, defeated Syria, recaptured Damascus and Hamath based on prophecy from Jonah.
God is ready to help you marvellously like he helped Jeroboam and Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat was helped 2 Chronicles 20
He feared (v3)
He set himself to seek the Lord
Proclaimed a fast
Asked help of the Lord/prayed (4-13)
God spoke through a man of God (14-17)
Jehoshaphat accepted and believed (18-20)
Started praising God (21)
God made the enemies to fight themselves (22)
His enemies/antagonists destroyed one another(23-24)
Jehoshaphat and his people were blessed with abundance and peace (25-30)
Prayer
• Give thanks
• Saved?
• Father, Help me
• Personal prayer points.
The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."
"The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent."
The LORD is fighting for you! So be still!"
The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace. Exodus 14:14
At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. 2 Chronicles 20:22