Topic: Draw Close to Him [Monday November 13, 2017]

Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. — James 5:16

Do you want to be closer to God? He wants to be closer to us. The scripture above says His Spirit dwells in us and yearns to be welcome with a jealous love. So how much closer can you be?

We can always draw closer in our relationship with God. In fact, we are the ones who determine just how close our relationship with Him will be. Even though He lives in us, the Holy Spirit won’t force a relationship with us. He wants us to make Him welcome in our lives.

God created us for fellowship, and He greatly desires relationship with us. He longs to talk to us, to listen to us, to teach us and guide us—simply to be a part of our lives. And we are the better for it! We are renewed when we fellowship with God. The benefits of spending time with the Father are endless.

My friend, I encourage you to be relentless in making time for fellowship with the Father. He is waiting. He is saying, “Come to Me…” So go ahead…and see what’s in store!

Prayer Starter: God, it amazes me how You desire fellowship with me. I want to be closer to You too. Thank You for loving me and drawing near to me as I draw near to You.

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries

Topic: Activating The Glory Of God [Monday 13, November 2017]

Memorise: “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? “ – John 11:40

Read: John 11:39-44

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

Bible In One Year: Acts 4-5. Hymn: Sing Hymn 3: Deeper, Deeper in the Love

MESSAGE:

Believing what God says about the way condition we are going through is very vital to our walk as Christians. When we believe the Word of God, we are expressing our confidence and trust in His abilities. There is nothing beyond Him. This is why you cannot afford to continue in sin. If you want to activate the glory of God in your life, you have to know Him, and live a life worthy of His calling.

You must learn to always look beyond bad situations and lift your eyes to God Almighty. Overlook all the reports, conditions, difficulties and obstacles; lift your eyes to the Lord in prayer, in praise, in worship and in fasting, and you will be surprised at what the Lord will do. There is no solution elsewhere; the real glory is in Christ Jesus.

Prayer Point: Father, let Your glory be made manifest in my life.

Sing Hymn 3: Deeper, Deeper in the Love

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.

Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.

2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.

3. Deeper, deeper! though it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.

4. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.

5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue

Open Heavens Daily Devotional for Teen’s guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries.

Topic: Engaging the power of the Holy Spirit for Sanctification!

Welcome to the month of November, your season of encounter with the Holy Spirit! I have no doubt that through the ministration of the Holy Spirit, you shall experience Supernatural Breakthroughs!

We understand from scriptures that every child of God is ordained to live a sanctified (Holy) life. This is because every believer by redemption has the potential to be as holy and perfect as our heavenly Father. Remember, God cannot tell us to be what he has not empowered us to be. This is why the scripture admonishes us to: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

While sanctification does not connote a state of ‘sinlessness’, it is man’s quest to please God at all costs as a lifestyle. By this, we mean an insatiable hunger and thirst for righteousness; for blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; they shall be filled (Matthew 5:6). This makes sanctification a possible adventure which many have imbibed and are walking on the highway of holiness. For instance, we saw how Paul, the great, lived a sanctified life, and as such, he had a glorious ministry.

In essence, our desire to please God spiritually at all times, determines our level of glorification; as no one’s life will ever be more glorified than his or her commitment to be sanctified.

However, sanctification is not possible without engaging the ministry of the Holy Spirit. That means, when you try to live a sanctified life in the energy of the flesh, frustration sets in. This is because the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of holiness as described in Romans 1:4: … declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Thus, until we engage the Spirit in our quest for sanctification, our effort will be in vain. We saw how Jesus the son of God needed to depend on the Holy Spirit to live a sanctified life. In order words, that was the Spirit at work in Christ that empowered him for dominion over sin.

Furthermore, the Scripture describes the Holy Ghost as the refiners’ fire that purifies the sons of Levites so they can offer unto God offerings in righteousness. It is written: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness ( Malachi 3:5).

It is common knowledge that gold is precious but until it passes through the furnace, it holds no value. Likewise, every one of us carries an enviable destiny, which must be processed through the refinery of the Holy Ghost for our real values to manifest.

In addition, according to scriptures, there is the mystery of iniquity; nevertheless,  there is also the great mystery of godliness which can swallow the mystery of iniquity just like in the case of Aaron’s rod swallowing up the rods of the magicians (2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Timothy 3:16). However, it is important to recognise that the mystery of godliness lies in the ministry of the Holy Ghost.  There is no personal effort that can set a man free from sin; except through the Spirit (Romans 8:13).

A wise man once said, ‘When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable.’  It also means, if we don’t know why we need something, we may never be committed to it. This is why we need a better understanding of why we need sanctification to avoid being victims of sin and its evil vices.

WHY DO WE NEED SANCTIFICATION?

It is a Requirement for Answered Prayers: The Scriptures lays credence to the fact that without sanctification, our prayers will remain unanswered. It is written: If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me… (Psalm 66:18).

For New Levels of Anointing: Our enviable destinies require new levels of Anointing; but we cannot achieve this if we keep living in sin (Psalm 45:7; Luke 5:39; Proverbs 1:23).

Security of Destiny: Many great destinies in scriptures crashed for lack of sanctification. Among others is Achan, who saw a wedge of gold, coveted it, dug the ground and kept it there. That did not only end his destiny, but his entire family, were stoned to death (Joshua 5:19:25). We saw another great destiny by name Gehazi who was the heir apparent of the prophetic office of Elijah but his destiny crashed because of the love of money. Also, Judas, one of the twelve disciples was not left out as he sold his master for 30 pieces of silver, after which he hanged himself (Mathew 26:14-26; 27:3-5). It is regrettable that many will do anything to get money; and this has landed them in miserable and irrecoverable conditions.

As regards the lust of the flesh, Samson and Solomon, who had great destinies, crashed as a result of lust (Judges 16:1-2; 1 Kings 11:1-3). In addition, pride is a sin before God and as such, we cannot fulfill destiny with it. We saw the great destiny of Ahithophel, crashed to pride because his counsel was rejected; as a result, he hanged himself.  Likewise Herod and Nebuchadnezzar destinies crashed as a result of pride. No truly sanctified man walks in pride because the anointing of the Holy Ghost naturally destroys it. However, today, by the encounter of the Holy Ghost, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life will be destroyed and that will open up your destiny to a colourful fulfilment.

Nevertheless, are you born again? If you are not, this is an opportunity to do so. Simply say the following prayer: Lord Jesus, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me with Your precious Blood. Today, I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Thank You Jesus for saving me! Now I know I am born again!”  For further reading, please get my books: Anointing for Breakthrough, Understanding the Anointing, Anointing for Exploits, Release of Power.

I invite you to come and fellowship with us at the Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, the covenant home of Winners. We have five services on Sundays, holding at 6:00 a.m., 7:50 a.m., 9:40 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1:20 p.m. respectively. I know this teaching has blessed you. Write and share your testimony with me through: Faith Tabernacle, Canaanland, Ota, P.M.B. 21688, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; or call 01-4548070, 01-4548280; or E-mail: [email protected]