November 2012

 

Thanksgiving: Psalm 18

 

 

 

We must be prayerful to turn retribution of negative seeds sown to significance. Retribution may want to hinder significance.

 

The name Shallum means ‘retribution'. His father`s name means `dry`. He reigned for only 30 days. The actions we perform are recorded. Antonio mentioned in Shakespeare`s Julius Ceaser`s that the evil that men do lives after them, while the good is often interred in their bones.

 

Significance  

30 represents a new beginning of limitless opportunities for greatness and fulfilment of purpose – Jesus was 30 when he began His ministry in Luke 3:23, Joseph was 30 when he became a prime minister in Genesis 41:46, also see 2 Samuel 5:4

30 is a point of prayer, Abraham interceded for 30 righteous people in Sodom – Genesis 18:30

30 is an empowerment to deliver the helpless - Jeremiah 38:10

30 is a point of testing – Daniel 6:7

30 is a picture of antagonism and betrayal, Zechariah 11:12, Matthew 27:3

30 is a measure of fruitfulness - Matthew 13:8

30 is a point of prevailing strength – 2 Samuel 23:13

 

 

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.  - Abraham Lincoln

 

“Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't
own it, but you can use it. You can't keep
it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it
you can never get it back.” 

 

 

Our endurance in the mountain of prayer cannot be short-lived.

 

 We must tarry in His presence as we seek His face. Our fellowship with Him must not be short. Our reign with Him is going to be for eternity.

 

This is the promise He has promised us: eternal life and this life is in His son - Jesus. (1 John 2:25)

 

• Give thanks.

• Saved?

• Father, help me to live a life of significance for you.

• Lord, do not allow retribution reduce my calling and destiny. Retribution will not prevent me from shinning.

• Personal prayer points

 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. - Isaiah 60:1

 

 

           

 

 

Menahem means ‘comforter’ or the ‘consoler’. His father’s name is Gadi, meaning ‘my happiness’. The comforter/consoler, son of happiness operating as a destroyer and creating loss, weeping and mourning! Have you destroyed the future? Are you destroying the future? Menahem followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat and paid Pul, king of Assyria a thousand talents, approximately $12m

 

• The prime duty of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy; creating woes, weeping and loss. Menahem destroyed Tappuah, also known as Tiphsah. Tiphsah means ford, passage, leap or step.

• Children represent a leap, passage or step into the future. Destroying children is destroying the future.

• May the destroyer not come near you or your dwelling place in Jesus name (Psalm 91).

• What ‘rips up’ unborn children from the mother’s womb, as lifeless? – abortion.

• The pregnancy may be an idea God has planted within you, but the zeal to accomplish it is gone, ripped up. It may be an educational goal, a career objective or a ministerial plan. May God restore anything and everything the devil has stolen from you, in Jesus mighty name.

• Menahem ripped up wombs, killing both mother and the unborn child. If a man die shall he live again? Job asked. Only God can bring to life the things that are dead. Jesus declared 'I am the resurrection and the life, if a man believes in me, though he was dead, he will live again'. Jesus said ‘Your brother shall rise again’. Whatever represents ‘your brother’ - something dear to you, which was dead, shall live again; in Jesus mighty name!

 

How do you establish the future?

• You need to guide the children entrusted to your care. These include people in your sphere of influence, who may not presently have Jesus as Lord and savior, but may potentially accept Jesus. Listen to God's testimonial about Abraham: For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him (Genesis 18:19).

• Praying for children, unborn grandchildren and the community - Genesis 18:19

• Establishing your glorious future through prayers. Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands, you command me - Isaiah 45:11

• As you ask God to establish a glorious future concerning you, your family and your future generations, God is faithful to complete it. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand - Proverbs 19:21.

• Taking steps to establish righteousness, holiness and the counsel of God through prayers and instruction. "Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth."- 2 Timothy 2:25

• Remember that 'Actions are performed in the present. Excellence depends on the preparation done in the past, taking cognizance of the future you desire to  create'.

•  Peter Drucker stated that "The best way to predict the future is to create it." This you could achieve by pondering on the points above and taking steps towards achieving them.

• In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists. - Eric Hoffer

• May God use you to establish a glorious future for yourself, your family and community; in Jesus mighty name! May commitment in the place of prayers and instruction enable a glorious future for you and all yours in Jesus name! Amen and Amen and Amen!

 

• Give thanks.

• Saved?

• Father, help preserve my future, make it significant for you.

• Lord, do not allow m reduce to destroy the future in any way.

• Lord, let my future be glorious.

• Personal prayer points.

 

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. - Isaiah 60:1

 

 

 

 

In what or who do you trust? when push turns to shove, what would you do?

 

 

 

Satan blinds the hearts and minds of people not to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour!

 

Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4, Romans 7:6

 

Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins -  Colossians 1:13-14

 

You have to repent from your sins, accept Jesus as Lord and savior by asking, `Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins,  forgive me my sins, wash me in your blood, write my name in your book of life, give me your Holy Spirit to enable me live above sins and keep me till life eternal with you, in Jesus name! If you have prayed that prayer, you are saved from eternal destruction or separation from God. Congratulations, you are now a child of God.

 

If you will not be saved, your sins do not go away, in fact you are assured that:

 

But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. Numbers 32:23

 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

 

 God forbid! For those of us who have died to sin, how shall we live in it again? Romans 6:1-2

 

• When push turns to shove, where do you turn for help, strength and encouragement?

• To who do you look?

• When the chips are down; who do you call on? which number do you dial?

• Do you rely on experience?, human connections? or relationships?

• Trust in the LORD forever: for in the LORD GOD is everlasting strength: (Isaiah 26:4)

• Pekahiah was deposed even though he had two 'strong', seemingly dependable bodyguards with him - Argob and Arieh. Argob refers to a stony heap, an island previously ruled by Og the giant, in the land of the giants. Arieh means a lion, the king of the animals.

• Pekahiah, whose name means 'the Lord opened his eyes' was still overcome by antagonists even though the Lord had opened his eyes!

 

Jeremiah 17:

 

• Our trust, our help. must be in the Lord alone (Jeremiah 17:5-9). He alone can make people, events, even 'lions' rise up for your help and defend you when it matters most.

• The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turns it wherever he will (Proverbs 21:1)

• As you trust in the Lord, may He open your eyes to see the invincible. May you understand and know the things that matter. May He shield you from the attacks of the enemy; uphold, strengthen and help you continually; in Jesus mighty name! Amen.

 

Prayer

• Give thanks.

• Saved?

• Father, help me trust in you alone.

• Lord, help me to not rely on myself, experience or others.

• Lord, let my future be glorious.

• Personal prayer points.

 

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.                  Psalm 143:8

 

 

 

The children of the world who do not have Jesus as Lord and savior have their eyes opened to sin and closed to God by the devil:

 

 

 

We need to pray for everyone to come to the knowledge of the truth of God, that Jesus is Lord.

 

 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. - Galatians 4:29

 

But you have an unction from the Holy One, and you know all things. 1 John 2:20

 

And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me to his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. -  2 Timothy: 4:18

 

• Give thanks.

• Saved?

• Father, help open my eyes to the things that matter.

• Lord, help me to not rely on myself, experience or others.

• Lord, shield me, deliver me from every evil attack and work.

• Personal prayer points.