Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry : August 2023

Thursday, August 31, 2023

JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE

FRIDAY, 1ST SEPTEMBER, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: JESUS CHRIST, THE ONLY WAY TO ETERNAL LIFE

MEMORIZE: “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6.

SCRIPTURE READING: John 14:1-7.

“"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

4 ¶ "And where I go you know, and the way you know." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 7 "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."”

EXPOSITION:

There are three words, upon any of which stress may be laid.

Upon the word “troubled”: Be not cast down and disquieted.

The word “heart”: Let your heart be kept with full trust in God.

The word “your”: However others are overwhelmed with the sorrows of this present time, be not you so. Christ's disciples, more than others, should keep their minds quiet, when everything else is unquiet.

Here is the remedy against this trouble of mind, “Believe”. By believing in Christ as the Mediator between God and man, we gain comfort.

The happiness of heaven is spoken of as in a father's house. There are many mansions, for there are many sons to be brought to glory. Mansions are lasting dwellings. Christ will be the Finisher of that of which he is the Author or Beginner; if he has prepared the place for us, he will prepare us for it.

John 14:5, This is one of the most basic and important passage in Scripture. How can we know the Way to God? Only through Jesus. Jesus is the Way because He is both God and man. By uniting our lives with His, we are united with God. We must trust Jesus to take us to the Father, and all the benefits of being God's child will be yours.

In John 14:6-7, it is written: ⁶ "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ⁷ "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him."

Jesus says he is the only Way to God the Father. Some people may argue that this Way is too narrow (Matthew 5:13-14) In reality, it is wide enough for the whole world, if the world chooses to accept it. Instead of worrying about how limited it sounds to have only one Way, we should be saying, "Thank you, God, for providing a sure Way to get to you! "

JESUS CHRIST is the Way, The Truth and The Life.

1. Christ is the sinner's Way to the Father and to heaven, in his person as God manifest in the flesh, in his atoning sacrifice, and as our Advocate.

2. He is the Truth, as fulfilling all the prophecies of a Saviour; believing which, sinners come by him the Way. He is the reality of all God's promises. He is the Truth of God that sets free - John 8:32-36; 14:6. He is the teaching and the source of truth - Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:14; John 1:14,17.

3. He is the Life, by whose life-giving Spirit the dead in sin are quickened. Nor can any man draw nigh God as a Father, who is not quickened by Him as the Life, and taught by Him as the Truth, to come by Him as the Way. He is the source of eternal Life. As Life, He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally.

By Christ, as the Way, our prayers go to God, and his blessings come to us; this is the Way that leads to rest, the good old Way. He is the Resurrection and the Life.

All that saw Christ by faith, saw the Father in Him. In the light of Christ's doctrine, they saw God as the Father of lights; and in Christ's miracles, they saw God as the God of power. The holiness of God shone in the spotless purity of Christ's life. We are to believe the revelation of God to man in Christ; for the works of the Redeemer show forth his own glory, and God in him.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, thank you for being the Way unto usto God. Hallelujah. Praise God.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 29 – 32.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2023

PRAYER

THURSDAY, 31ST AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: PRAYER

MEMORIZE: “… men ought always to pray, and not to faint;” Luke 18:1

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 31:9-18

“Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed. 11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me. 12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel. 13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. 14 But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God. 15 My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me. 16 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake. 17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave. 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.” Matthew 6:9-13

EXPOSITION:

“… Prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse.” –Steps to Christ, p. 94.

WHAT IS PRAYER? Psalm 31:9.

1. A cry for mercy and help. Psalm 46:1.

2. A call for strength and refuge during trouble. Luke 11:2.

3. The opening of the heart to our trusted Father in heaven. Hebrews 4:15, 16.

4. Coming to Jesus, our Saviour and High Priest, who understands us. John 15:15.

5. Communing with Jesus, the Friend who never fails.

WHAT DOES PRAYERS ACCOMPLISH? Hebrews 11:6.

1. God rewards us when we come to Him in faith. Matthew 21:22.

2. Whatever things are asked for will be received. Daniel 9:21-23.

3. Some prayers are answered immediately. Luke 18:1-8.

4. Other prayers are answered after a delay. Do not faint or give up. Romans 8:26, 27.

5. The Holy Spirit intercedes; God answers in the best way–not always as we would have it, as in Paul’s case (2 Corinthians 12:7 9), and as in Christ’s plea of agony (Matthew 26:38, 39).

HOW SHOULD WE PRAY? John 14:13; 15:16.

1. In Jesus’ name, all heaven will open to such prayer. James 1:5 8.

2. In faith, not wavering. Philippians 4:6.

3. With thanksgiving. Habakkuk 2:1, 2.

4. Listen as well as talk. Mark 1:35; Matthew 14:23.

5. Alone. Matthew 18:19, 20.

6. As a family, group, or church. Luke 22:40, 41.

7. Christ knelt down and prayed. (See also Psalm 95:6; Daniel 6:10; Acts 20:36.)

WHAT IS NECESSARY FOR ANSWERED PRAYER? Proverbs 28:9.

1. We must not turn away from the law. Psalm 66:18.

2. If we regard iniquity in our hearts, God will not hear us. Proverbs 28:13.

3. We must confess and forsake our sins. Matthew 6:14, 15.

4. We are to forgive and pray for others. Matthew 5:44.

5. We should pray for our enemies and persecutors. Job 42:10.

6. Job’s captivity was turned when he prayed for his inadequate friends. James 5:16.

7. We must confess our faults to each other and pray for one another. 1 Peter 4:7; Luke 21:34-36.

8. We are admonished to pray especially in the last days of deception and peril.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, revive our prayer life in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 26 – 28.

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Tuesday, August 29, 2023

WHERE COMES WAR AND ENVY AMONG US?

WEDNESDAY, 30TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: WHERE COMES WAR AND ENVY AMONG US?

MEMORIZE: ”From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? " James 4:1.

SCRIPTURE READING: James 4:1-10

“ 1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and He will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

EXPOSITION:

Since all wars and fightings come from the corruptions of our own hearts, it is right to mortify those lusts that war in our members. Wordly and fleshly lusts are distempers, which will not allow content or satisfaction. Sinful desires and affections stop prayer, and the working of our desires toward God.

Let us beware that we do not abuse or misuse the mercies received, by the disposition of the heart when prayers are granted When men ask of God prosperity, they often ask with wrong aims and intentions. If we thus seek the things of this world, it is just in God to deny them. Unbelieving and cold desires beg denials; and we may be sure that when prayers are rather the language of lusts than of graces, they will return empty.

In James 4:4, the Lord warned us to avoid all criminal friendships with this world. Worldly-mindedness is enmity to God. An enemy may be reconciled, but “enmity” never can be reconciled. A man may have a large portion in things of this life, and yet be kept in the love of God; but he who sets his heart upon the world, who will conform to it rather than lose its friendship, is an enemy to God. So that any one who resolves at all events to be upon friendly terms with the world, must be the enemy of God. Did then the Jews, or the loose professors of Christianity, think the Scripture spake in vain against this worldly-mindedness? or does the Holy Spirit who dwells in all Christians, or the new nature which he creates, produce such fruit?

Natural corruption shows itself by envying. The spirit of the world teaches us to lay up, or lay out for ourselves, according to our own fancies; God the Holy Spirit teaches us to be willing to do good to all about us, as we are able. The grace of God will correct and cure the spirit by nature in us; and where he gives grace, he gives another spirit than that of the world. The proud resist God: in their understanding they resist the truths of God; in their will they resist the laws of God; in their passions they resist the providence of God; therefore, no wonder that God resists the proud. How wretched the state of those who make God their enemy! God will give more grace to the humble, because they see their need of it, pray for it are thankful for it, and such shall have it.

Submit to God, James 4:7. Submit your understanding to the truth of God; submit your wills to the will of his precept, the will of his providence. Submit yourselves to God, for he is ready to do you good. If we yield to temptations, the devil will continually follow us; but if we put on the whole armour of God, and stand out against him, he will leave us. Let sinners then submit to God, and seek his grace and favour; resisting the devil. All sin must be wept over; here, in godly sorrow, or, hereafter, in eternal misery. And the Lord will not refuse to comfort one who really mourns for sin, or to exalt one who humbles himself before him.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, give us grace to walk worthy of your coming in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 22 – 25.

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Monday, August 28, 2023

EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY

TUESDAY, 29TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY

MEMORIZE: “Encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thess. 2:12 NIV)

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 25:14-30

“"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 "And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 "Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 "And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 "But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. 19 "After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 "So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.' 21 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 22 "He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' 23 "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' 24 "Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 'And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' 26 "But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 'Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 'For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 'And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”

EXPOSITION:

This parable tells us about a wealthy man who went on a journey. Before he left, he entrusted three of his servants with some money to manage for him. When he returned from his trip, he called each of his servants to give an account of their stewardship. Two had wisely managed what their master had left them and were rewarded. The third had not and was punished.

This parable challenges us to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted each of us with. But you will notice here that the servants were not all given the same amount to work with. Some had more, and others had less. What the master gave them to do was according to their ability. But not their reward. Their reward was based on what they had done with what they were given. The one starting with two bags received the same reward as the one who started with five bags.

God knows each of us who are following the Lord Jesus. He knows our abilities and what we are capable of. You might be very talented and gifted, able to serve the Lord in significant ways. Or you might be less talented and gifted with a more limited range of opportunities to serve. But your talents and gifts are not as important as what you do with them. Be faithful in the much or little you have been given. That is what our master cares about. Not what or how much you have done. But how faithful you have been with what you were given.

Your faithfulness to what you were given will determine how productive you will be, this in return will determine your rewards. “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, I receive grace to be faithful and fruitful to your purpose for (gifts in) my life in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 19 – 21.

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Sunday, August 27, 2023

THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS - Part 2

MONDAY, 28TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS – Part 2

Who Are Those Qualified For The Rapture?

MEMORIZE: “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:3.

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

EXPOSITION:

Since the Scripture has established the fact that Jesus is coming back again, it is necessary to know who he is coming for. Though he died for the sins of the whole world, yet only those who believed in Him are His own. John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”.

God's design in sending his Son into the world was that the world through him might be saved. He came into the world with salvation in his eye, with salvation in his hand. Therefore the offer of live and salvation is sincere, and shall be made good to all that by faith accept it John 3:17: God sent his Son into the world, this guilty, rebellious, apostate world; sent him as his agent or ambassador, not as sometimes he had sent angels into the world as visitants, but as resident. Therefore, only those who accept Him as their Lord and personal Saviour shall be saved.

Psalm 24:3-4 also declared who will be able to stand before God at rapture: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

No unclean person shall be rapturable. Isaiah 35:8: “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” Notwithstanding, our righteousness does not come from our human effort, it is the righteousness of Christ that he imputed in us. For it is written, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6. For without holiness, no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.

Therefore, have you given your life unto Jesus Christ? Is your name written in the book of life? Are your hands and heart clean to be with the Lord at rapture? Your decision here will determine your position before him at rapture. Let the blood of Jesus Christ wash you clean from all your sins, known and unknown today.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over my spirit, soul and body to be purified and qualified for the rapture in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 16 – 18.

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Saturday, August 26, 2023

THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS – Part 1

SUNDAY, 27TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: THE RAPTURE OF THE SAINTS – Part 1

MEMORIZE: “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:52.

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17.

EXPOSITION:

There were two phases of our Lord’s first advents, so there will be two phases of his second advents. He came as God-manifest in the flesh to die for the sins of the world. He appeared at a later stage as the victorious, risen and glorified Saviour, in this form ascending in to heaven. We believe that God’s word clearly teaches two phases of the second advent, separated by a period of time.

THE RAPTURE AND THE REVELATION

1. THE RAPTURE is the first stage, when the Christ comes in the air, catching up to himself all living true believers, uniting them to the great throng of resurrected saints (1Thess. 4:16-17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”)

2. THE REVELATION is the final stage when he will return with all his saints to this earth, his feat resting upon the mount of olives (Zech. 14:4 “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.”).

At the RAPTURE, he appear as the bridegroom to take his bride to himself. At the REVELATION he will come with his bride to establish his reign over all the earth. Zech. 14:9 “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.”. Between these two phases of his coming, the great tribulation will run its course. The greater portion of the book of Revelation has to do with the events that will transpire on this earth between these two stages of his appearing – Revelation 22:16.

At the RAPTURE Christ appears as the “Morning Star”. At the REVELATION, he is seen as “THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS” Malachi 4:2. The rapture particularly concern all the believers of whatsoever nation, tribe or tongue. The revelation puts in action his program for Israel and the nations. Informed believers are waiting for “that blessed hope” – (the Rapture). “And the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.

THE MEANING OF THE WORD “RAPTURE”

Strange to say, the word itself does not appear in the Bible. The English word means: to transport to a state of happiness. It comes from a Latin word “rapio” meaning “to seize quickly or suddenly or to snatch away.” If you will carefully consider 1 Thess. 4:13-18, you will note that in the day of Christ’s sudden coming for his own, they are to be “snatch up suddenly”. From this, we derive the term, “rapture” commonly used among the pre-millennial teachers in referring to the first phase of his second advent.

This same Greek word is used in another place where its meaning is perfectly clear. In Acts 8:38-39, we read that “the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip that the eunuch saw him no more.” This is an illustration of what will happen in the case of every true believer when Christ comes as the Bridegroom.

We have another Greek word also translated by the thought of catching up. It is “harpazo”, literally meaning “to take away by force”, as when a beast seizes and carries off its prey. It is of interest to observe when this word is used. We have it in Matthew 13:19 – the wicked one catching away the good seed sown in human hearts. In John 10:12, it expresses the catching away of the sheep by wolves, a reference hireling shepherds who failed to care for their sheep. This is the word used in John 10:28-29 when it rendered “pluck” – “no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” In Jude 23, the same word is translated “pulling” in exhorting the Christian workers to pull the unsaved out of fire. Thus we have the thought of being seized, catch up, snatch away by force, pluck out, pull out, etc.

Now let us turn to John 14:3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” A Greek word rendered: “receive you” is the same strong term: “take you by force”. Who will he take by force unto Himself? Those who are truly believe in Him – his saints. The word is translated “come again” literally means: “a going forth to return with.” It is the word used in Acts 28:15 telling how Paul was nearing Rome. Jesus Christ clearly promised He is coming back as the King and the Judge of the earth. Prepare and be ready for His coming.

ACTION POINT: Give and dedicate your life unto Jesus Christ today as your Lord and personal Saviour. Don’t be caught unaware unprepared. Tomorrow may be too late.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 12 – 15.

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GOD'S MISSION TO HIS SERVANTS

SATURDAY, 26TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: GOD’S MISSION FOR HIS SERVANT

MEMORIZE: “⁹ Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:9-10.

SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 18:7-10 (NKJV)

“At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. 9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; 10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

EXPOSITION:

1. He must attempt to reform the nations, to root out, and pull down, and destroy idolatry and other wickedness among them, to extirpate those vicious habits and customs which had long taken root, to throw down the kingdom of sin, that religion and virtue might be planted and built among them. And, to the introducing and establishing of that which is good, it is necessary that that which is evil be removed.

2. He must tell them that it would be well or ill with them according as they were, or were not, reformed. He must set before them life and death, good and evil, according to God's declaration of the method he takes with kingdoms and nations, Jeremiah 18:7-10. He must assure those who persisted in their wickedness that they should be rooted out and destroyed, and those who repented that they should be built and planted. He was authorized to read the doom of nations, and God would ratify it and fulfil it (Isaiah 44:26), would do it according to his word, and therefore is said to do it by his word. It is thus expressed partly to show how sure the word of prophecy is--it will as certainly be accomplished as if it were done already, and partly to put an honour upon the prophetic office and make it look truly great, that others may not despise the prophets nor they disparage themselves. And yet more honourable does the gospel ministry look, in that declarative power Christ gave his apostles to remit and retain sin (John 20:23), to bind and loose, Matthew 18:18.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, help all your ministers to be faithful and vibrant for you in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 8 – 11.

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Thursday, August 24, 2023

GOD’S WORD TO HIS SERVANTS

FRIDAY, 25TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: GOD’S WORD TO HIS SERVANTS

MEMORIZE: “Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth." Jeremiah 1:9.

SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 1:5-10 (NKJV)

⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." ⁶ Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." ⁷ But the Lord said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸ Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the Lord. ⁹ Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. ¹⁰ See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

EXPOSITION:

God told Jeremiah to go to whosoever He will send Him. He must not be afraid of them. He must not present himself as he that cannot speak for God will enable him to speak.

(1.) To speak intelligently, and as one that had acquaintance with God, Jeremiah 1:9. He having now a vision of the divine glory, the Lord put forth his hand, and by a sensible sign conferred upon him so much of the gift of the tongue as was necessary for him: He touched his mouth, and with that touch opened his lips, that his mouth should show forth God's praise, with that touch sweetly conveyed his words into his mouth, to be ready to him upon all occasions, so that he could never want words who was thus furnished by him that made man's mouth. God not only put knowledge into his head, but words into his mouth; for there are words which the Holy Spirit teaches, 1Corinthians 2:13. It is fit God's message should be delivered in his own words, that it may be delivered accurately. Ezekiel 3:4, Speak with my words. And those that faithfully do so shall not want instructions as the case requires; God will give them a mouth and wisdom in that same hour, Matthew 10:19.

(2.) To speak powerfully, and as one that had authority from God, Jeremiah 1:10. It is a strange commission that is here given him: See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms. This sounds very great, and yet Jeremiah is a poor despicable priest still; he is not set over the kingdoms as a prince to rule them by the sword, but as a prophet by the power of the word of God. Those that would hence prove the pope's supremacy over kings, and his authority to depose them and dispose of their kingdoms at his pleasure, must prove that he has the same extraordinary spirit of prophecy that Jeremiah had, else how can we have the power that Jeremiah had by virtue of that spirit? And yet the power that Jeremiah had (who, notwithstanding his power, lived in meanness and contempt, and under oppression) would not content these proud men. Jeremiah was set over the nations, the Jewish nation in the first place, and other nations, some great ones besides, against whom he prophesied; he was set over them, not to demand tribute from them nor to enrich himself with their spoils, but to root out, and pull down, and destroy, and yet withal to build and plant.

PRAYER POINT: I receive grace to obey you in you send me do in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Ezekiel 4 – 7.

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ANCHOR OF LIFE is the daily devotional guide written by PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE, General Overseer, Anchor of Life & Redemption Ministry Int’l. It is an extraction of God’s word designed to draw the sincere seekers closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word. Read, Meditate, Pray and Share this message to others. For prayers, Counseling and further enquiries, call or whatsapp +2347032993319; +2348056130469. Or Email: anchoroflifeministry@gmail.com

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

IF I BUILD AGAIN THE THINGS WHICH I DESTROYED…; FOR FORBID!

THURSDAY, 24TH AUGUST, 2023.

AUTHOR: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: IF I BUILD AGAIN THE THINGS WHICH I DESTROYED…; FOR FORBID!

MEMORIZE: “For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.” Galatians 2:19.

SCRIPTURE READING: Galatian 2:17-20

“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

EXPOSITION:

Since the day I acknowledged my sinfulness and was sorry for it, I renounced sin, confessed them and turned away from living in them any longer. I carried my cross and follow Jesus Christ. I have disowned the world and all its enticing lusts. I have preached leading many people unto Jesus Christ. Many brethren are looking at me as if they are seeing the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. The devil also stirs at me as a threat to his kingdom… Having done all these, should I now turn back to what I have destroyed? I make myself a transgressor. If what I have condemned is what I’m doing in the secret, then I am the guiltiest of all.

Thus Apostle Paul says in Galatians 2:18, "For, if I build again the things which I destroyed” -- if I (or any other), who have taught that the observance of the Mosaic law is not necessary to justification, should now, by word or practice, teach or intimate that it is necessary – “I make myself a transgressor;” I own myself to be still an impure sinner, and to remain under the guilt of sin, notwithstanding my faith in Christ; or I shall be liable to be charged with deceit and acting inconsistently with myself.

Brethren in Christ, most especially, the ministers of our Lord Jesus Christ: Have you not returned back to your vomit of sin? Are you not compromising the standard of your holiness? Many are now struggling to be on the track because they are been monitored. Are you still protecting the testimony of your salvation? The testimony of integrity and holiness of many soldiers of Christ has been is terminated as they fell into the traps of the enemies. Are you not rebuilding what you have destroyed?

PRAYER POINT: Lord, hold me to the end, don’t let me fall from following you in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Ezekiel 1 – 3.

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ALL THINGS WORK FOR OUR GOOD

WEDNESDAY, 23RD AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: ALL THINGS WORK FOR OUR GOOD

MEMORIZE: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

SCRIPTURE READING: Psalm 57:1-3 (NKJV)

¹ Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by. ² I will cry out to God Most High, To God who performs all things for me. ³ He shall send from heaven and save me; He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. God shall send forth His mercy and his truth”

EXPOSITION:

The concurrence of all providences for the good of those that are Christ's, Ro 8:28. It might be objected that, notwithstanding all these privileges, we see believers compassed about with manifold afflictions; though the Spirit makes intercession for them, yet their troubles are continued. It is very true; but in this the Spirit's intercession is always effectual, that, however it goes with them, all this is working together for their good. Observe here.

1. THE CHARACTER OF THE SAINTS, WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS PRIVILEGE; they are here described by such properties as are common to all that are truly sanctified.

(a) They love God. This includes all the out goings of the soul's affections towards God as the chief good and highest end. It is our love to God that makes every providence sweet, and therefore profitable. Those that love God make the best of all he does, and take all in good part.

(b) They are the called according to his purpose, effectually called according to the eternal purpose. The call is effectual, not according to any merit or desert of ours, but according to God's own gracious purpose.

2. THE PRIVILEGE OF THE SAINTS, THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THEM, that is, all the providences of God that concern them. All that God performs he performs for them, Psalm 57:2. Their sins are not of his performing, therefore not intended here, though his permitting sin is made to work for their good, 2 Chronicles 32:31. But all the providences of God are theirs--merciful providences, afflicting providences, personal, public. They are all for good; perhaps for temporal good, as Joseph's troubles; at least, for spiritual and eternal good. That is good for them which does their souls good. Either directly or indirectly, every providence has a tendency to the spiritual good of those that love God, breaking them off from sin, bringing them nearer to God, weaning them from the world, fitting them for heaven. Work together. They work, as physic works upon the body, various ways, according to the intention of the physician; but all for the patient's good. They work together, as several ingredients in a medicine concur to answer the intention. God hath set the one over against the other Ecclesiastes 7:14: a very singular, with a noun plural, denoting the harmony of Providence and its uniform designs, all the wheels as one wheel, Ezekiel 10:13. He worketh all things together for good; so some read it. It is not from any specific quality in the providences themselves, but from the power and grace of God working in, with, and by, these providences. All this we know--know it for a certainty, from the word of God, from our own experience, and from the experience of all the saints.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, open my eyes of faith to see you at work for my good in all I am passing through in life in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Lamentation 3 - 5.

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GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD

TUESDAY, 22ND AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: GOD WORKS FOR OUR GOOD

MEMORIZE: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 8:27-28 RSV

“And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”

EXPOSITION:

Romans 8:28 is a popular verse among many Christians. It states that in all things, God is working for my good. For those who, like me. This is an appealing message. God is working for my good. While I might be experiencing some struggles now, they are temporary. God will soon step in to work it all out and fix things for me.

But is that really what this passage says? I don’t believe it is. It is not a promise that I am going to be debt free, with a nice car and house, a good job, and adoring wife and obedient children. I might think those are good for me. But God is looking at something bigger. He is preparing me both for service here as well as for eternity.

ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE…

You notice that the verse and passage read, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” - Romans 8:28. The Bible says, God is working for the good of those who love him. Those who have been called according to his purpose. There is a lot in that, but of particular interest is the expression ‘called according to his purpose’. God is not working for my purposes, but for his in my life. He is working, though all things, to make me good for his purposes. He is the master craftsman. I am just a lump of clay. He is not working to make me what I want to be. But what he wants me to be. A good and useful pot that he can fill.

The two verses that follow describe some of what God is doing in and for me – “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30. He predestined me to be like Jesus. That is what this lump of clay is being molded into: to show forth His praises. And he has called me, justified me, and glorified me for this purpose. God is indeed working for my good. In all things.

PRAYER POINT: Lord Jesus, help me to discover your purpose for my life and help me to fulfill it to your glory in Jesus Name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Lamentation 1 – 2.

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Sunday, August 20, 2023

WAR WITHIN

MONDAY, 21ST AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: WAR WITHIN

MEMORIZE: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate… So then it is no longer I that do it, but sin which dwells within me.” Romans 7:15, 17 (RSV).

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 7:21-25 NIV

“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

EXPOSITION:

In this passage Paul describes a war that is going on within himself. On one side is his inner being, his spirit. This side loves God and wants to live in obedience to him. On the other side of the battle is the flesh, his human nature. This side wants to gratify its own desires and passions. And the two sides are in conflict with each other, with the flesh seeming to be the stronger.

Some folks see this as a battle that was in Paul’s past, before becoming a believer. But he describes it in the present tense rather than the past. And his delight in God’s law is something that would seem inappropriate for an unredeemed person. I believe Paul is describing the experience of many, if not most, believers. I want to serve God wholeheartedly, but I just seem unable to do that. Other competing desires and priorities are constantly distracting me and keeping me from that wholehearted devotion. Sin is an ever present reality in my life. Is there any hope for me?

On my own there is not. But thankfully God has not left me to live the life he called me to on my own. The Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to us (John 14:16-17), will enable us to have victory over our old nature. The battle will wage on as long as we live in the flesh, but Christ has delivered us from bondage to it, enabling us to live for him.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, I receive grace to live victoriously above the ruling of sin and flesh in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 50 – 52.

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Saturday, August 19, 2023

REMEMBER YOUR BEGINNING

SUNDAY, 20TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: REMEMBER YOUR BEGINNING

MEMORIZE: “Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel.” 2Sam 7:8.

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Samuel 7:8-11

“Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people, over Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great men who are on the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. Also the Lord tells you that He will make you a house.”

EXPOSITION:

Every greatness has a starting point called small beginning. Failure to call to remembrance the memory of your beginning, you will likely end up in pride. God reminded David how he started as a shepherd boy with his father’s sheep in the bush before grace anointed him in preference above his brothers. He was anointed king over Israel. Saul sought to kill him on several occasion but God saved him all through. This goodness of God increased his virtues and value. Calling to remembrance your past makes you think and act wisely.

When king Saul was full of himself in pride, God reminded him his little beginning… “So Samuel said, "When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?"Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, 'Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'"Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?"” 1Samuel 15:17-19.

The word of God give us warning against being proud… “Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:6b, 10.

The question is: What do you have that you were not given? Then, why pride? You owe all to God, the great Provider and the One who can promote and increase value. Always remember where and how you started (the days of your little beginning) and apply your heart unto wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

PRAYER POINT: Lord, help me to always humble myself before you so as not to suffer forceful humiliation in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 47 – 49.

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Friday, August 18, 2023

CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY

SATURDAY, 19TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: CLEANSING OF THE SANCTUARY

MEMORIZE: “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24.

SCRIPTURE READING: Leviticus 16:16 - 19.

“So he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, for all their sins; and so he shall do for the tabernacle of meeting which remains among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 "There shall be no man in the tabernacle of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, that he may make atonement for himself, for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 "And he shall go out to the altar that is before the LORD, and make atonement for it, and shall take some of the blood of the bull and some of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar all around. 19 "Then he shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times, cleanse it, and consecrate it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.”

EXPOSITION:

The earthly sanctuary was symbolically cleansed once a year of the sins transferred to it. Leviticus 16:17, 30. The high priest made atonement for the holy place and for all Israel. Leviticus 23:27, 29. This annual day of atonement (the judgment day) was God’s last call to repentance. Matthew 27:50, 51. The services of the earthly sanctuary came to an end at the death of Christ. “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Hebrews 9:24.

When the priest had come out from the sprinkling the blood of the bullock before the mercy-seat, he shall kill the goat which was the sin-offering for the people (Le 16:15) and go the third time into the holy of holies, to sprinkle the blood of the goat, as he had done that of the bullock; and thus he was to make atonement for the holy place (Le 16:16); that is, whereas the people by their sins had provoked God to take away those tokens of his favourable presence with them, and rendered even that holy place unfit to be the habitation of the holy God, atonement was hereby made for sin, that God, being reconciled to them, might continue with them.

He must then do the same for the outward part of the tabernacle that he had done for the inner room, by sprinkling the blood of the bullock first, and then that of the goat, without the veil, where the table and incense altar stood, eight times each as before. The reason intimated is because the tabernacle remained among them in the midst of their uncleanness, Le 16:16. God would hereby show them how much their hearts needed to be purified, when even the tabernacle, only by standing in the midst of such an impure and sinful people, needed this expiation; and also that even their devotions and religious performances had much amiss in them, for which it was necessary that atonement should be made. During this solemnity, none of the inferior priests must come into the tabernacle (Le 16:17), but, by standing without, must own themselves unworthy and unfit to minister there, because their follies, and defects, and manifold impurities in their ministry, had made this expiation of the tabernacle necessary.

Christ, the High Priest, entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to cleanse it. the hour of judgment began for all of God’s people, from Adam and Eve to the living in our day, who were now to be judged. (see “Daniel 8 and 9). It opened to view a complete system of truth, connected and harmonious, showing that God’s hand had directed the great advent Movement, and revealing present duty as it brought to light the position and work of His people.”

KEY POINT: Jesus Christ is our High Priest and Sanctifier. Trust Him for His cleansing power to be at work in you.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 43 – 46.

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Thursday, August 17, 2023

THE SANCTUARY

FRIDAY, 18TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: THE SANCTUARY

MEMORIZE: “Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary.” Hebrews 9:1.

SCRIPTURE READING: Hebrews 9:1 - 9.

“Then indeed, even the first covenant had ordinances of divine service and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; 3 and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, 4 which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people's sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience.”

EXPOSITION:

EARTHLY SANCTUARY

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.” - Exodus 25:1, 2, 8; Hebrews 9:1, 9.

Sacrifices and gifts centered in the sanctuary for the first time under Moses, and they continued there until the time of Christ. Exodus 26:33. The sanctuary had two apartments–the “holy” and the “most holy” (in addition to the outer court where the sacrifice was slain by the sinner). Hebrews 9:2; Exodus 40:26, 27. The first, or holy, place contained the candlestick, the table of shewbread, and the golden altar of incense. Hebrews 9:6. Service in this first apartment was conducted daily by common priests and the high priest. Exodus 26:33. A veil divided the holy place from the most holy place. Hebrews 9:3, 4. The most holy place contained the ark of the covenant. Deuteronomy 10:1-6. The ark contained the Ten Commandments (two tables of the covenant). Exodus 25:21. Above the ark, which contained God’s law, was the mercy seat. Exodus 25:22. Above the mercy seat was God’s presence. Hebrews 9:7. The service in this most holy place was performed only once a year–on the day of atonement–by the high priest alone. Matthew 27:50, 51. These sacrifices and services ended with the death of Christ.

HEAVENLY SANCTUARY

“"And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. "According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.” Exodus 25:8, 9. The earthly sanctuary had a pattern. Hebrews 8:5. The pattern was the heavenly sanctuary. Hebrews 8:2. The heavenly sanctuary was pitched by God. Revelation 4:5; 8:2-4. John saw in vision the same articles in the holy place of the heavenly sanctuary as were in the holy place of the earthly sanctuary. Revelation 11:19. John also saw the ark of His covenant (containing the Ten Commandments) in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. Hebrews 8:1, 2. Christ, after sacrificing Himself, became High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary in order to minister in our behalf.

Today, believers’ hearts become the sanctuary (the Temple) in which God dwells. It is written, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.”. Therefore, we must keep our bodies, which is the temple of God, clean.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, I sanctify myself for your use. Dwell in my heart, and let it be your temple in Jesus Name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 39 – 42.

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Wednesday, August 16, 2023

ORDAINED FOR GOD’S PURPOSE – Part 2.

THURSDAY, 17TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

ORDAINED FOR GOD’S PURPOSE – Part 2.

MEMORIZE: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” Isaiah 43:21.

SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 1:4 - 7.

“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." 6 Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." 7 But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.”

EXPOSITION:

God told Jeremiah that before he was born, even in his eternal counsel, he had designed him to be prophet for him to the nations. He must know that he who gave him his commission is the same that gave him his being, that formed him in the belly and brought him forth out of the womb. Therefore God was his rightful owner and might employ him and make use of him as he pleased, and that this commission was given him in pursuance of the purpose God had purposed in himself concerning him, before he was born: "I knew thee, and I sanctified thee," that is, "I determined that thou shouldest be a prophet and set thee apart for the office."

The same way Apostle Paul says of himself that God had separated him from his mother's womb to be a Christian and an apostle, Galatians 1:15-16: “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood”.

In this study, we observe,

(1.) The great Creator knows what use to make of every man before he makes him. He has made all for himself, and of the same lumps of clay designs a vessel of honour or dishonour, as he pleases, Romans 9:21 “Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?”.

(2.) What God has designed men for he will call them to; for his purposes cannot be frustrated. Known unto God are all his own works beforehand, and his knowledge is infallible and his purpose unchangeable.

(3.) There is a particular purpose and providence of God conversant about his prophets and ministers; they are by special counsel designed for their work, and what they are designed for they are fitted for: I that knew thee, sanctified thee. God destines them to it, and forms them for it, when he first forms the spirit of man within him. Original endowment, not education, makes a prophet.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, I receive grace to fulfill your purpose for my creation in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 35 – 38.

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Tuesday, August 15, 2023

ORDAINED FOR GOD'S PURPOSE

WEDNESDAY, 16TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: ORDAINED FOR GOD’S PURPOSE.

MEMORIZE: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” Isaiah 43:21.

SCRIPTURE READING: Jeremiah 1:4-5.

“Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

EXPOSITION:

Jeremiah's early designation to the work and office of a prophet, which God gives him notice of as a reason for his early application to that business (Jer 1:4-5): The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah with a satisfying assurance to himself that it was the word of the Lord and not a delusion; and God told him, that he had ordained him a prophet to the nations, or against the nations, the nation of the Jews in the first place, who are now reckoned among the nations because they had learned their works and mingled with them in their idolatries, for otherwise they would not have been numbered with them, Numbers 23:9 sys “For from the top of the rocks I see him, And from the hills I behold him; There! A people dwelling alone, Not reckoning itself among the nations.”. Yet he was given to be a prophet, not to the Jews only, but to the neighbouring nations, to whom he was to send yokes (Jer 27:2-3 "Thus says the LORD to me: 'Make for yourselves bonds and yokes, and put them on your neck, 3 'and send them to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon, by the hand of the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah.”) and whom he must make to drink of the cup of the Lord's anger, Jer 25:17 “Then I took the cup from the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations drink, to whom the LORD had sent me:”. He is still in his writings a prophet to the nations (to our nation among the rest), to tell them what the national judgments are which may be expected for national sins. It would be well for the nations would they take Jeremiah for their prophet and attend to the warnings he gives them.

The word God sent you as His minister or believer, how are you doing it? Who are you afraid of? When you look at men by their face, you will not be able to deliver the message with courage. You need to look unto God for strength and courage to faithfully discharge the message and be fruitful in it. Those who fear men will not be able to stand before them (men) and God. The worst men can do is to kill the body but have no power over the soul, therefore, fear God, who can kill the body and destroy the soul in hell fire.

Therefore, if God chose to use you, never underrate yourself or what God can do through you. Instead, believe Him, release yourself to Him and trust Him. He has interest in you, obey Him, and He will make you a little savior on earth.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, help me to obey you and make me a little savior on earth in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 31 – 34.

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Monday, August 14, 2023

SALVATION: GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE WORLD.

TUESDAY, 15TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: SALVATION: GOD'S PURPOSE FOR THE WORLD.

MEMORIZE: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise...but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (II Peter 3:9)

SCRIPTURE READING: Ephesians 1:9-10.

“Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (His plan, of His purpose). And it is this: In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, He planned for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and had them up and consummate them in Christ, both things in Heaven and things on earth.

EXPOSITION:

From the beginning of time God had a divine purpose on which He based His relation with and His promises and prophecies to mankind. God has revealed His purpose to believers: Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (His plan, of His purpose). And it is this: In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, He planned for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and had them up and consummate them in Christ, both things in Heaven and things on earth. (Ephesians 1:9-10, The Amplified Bible)

God's divine purpose from the beginning of time has been to unify all of heaven and earth in Jesus Christ. His vision is global in nature and... The Lord is not slack concerning His promise...but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)

God's purpose is salvation for the world. Because it is His purpose, it must become our purpose. We must make His global cause a priority. There are many needs in the world including hunger, poverty, sickness, and social injustice. Traditional missions have been involved in all of these areas, and rightly so, for the Bible teaches such concern. But the vision of the harvest fields, of reaping men and women for the Kingdom of God, must remain a priority. The other needs are met once communities of responsible believers are established. Missions involves all levels of human need but spiritual harvesting, the winning of lost men and women to Jesus Christ, must be to us as it is to God: The priority purpose.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, help us to be fruitful in soul winning to your kingdom in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 27 – 30.

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CHECKING YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH

MONDAY, 14TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: CHECKING YOUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH

MEMORIZE: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? --unless indeed you are disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Peter 2:1-3.

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

EXPOSITION:

In this world, checking our health status regularly is a sure way to prevent health deterioration. It helps in discovering in time if there is any challenge coming up. Likewise in the realm of faith, the word of God commands us to examine ourself to know if we are still in faith. As it is written in 2 Corinthians 10:12, "“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

In order to check one’s spiritual health, here are some of the most important vital signs of a true Christian:

1. Christian fruit (John 15:8)

2. Love for God’s people (John 13:35)

3. Concern for personal holiness (1 Pet. 1:13–21)

4. Love for God’s Word (1 Peter 2:2–3)

5. A desire to obey (John 14:15, 21, 23)

6. A sense of intimacy with God (Rom. 8:14–17)

7. Perseverance (Phil. 1:27–28)

8. Fellowship with God’s people (Heb. 10:24–25)

9. A desire to glorify God (Matt. 5:13–16)

10. Witness to Christ’s personal reality (1 Pet. 3:15)

As a result of testing their spiritual vital signs, Christians are not to linger or remain at the childhood level but are to grow up in all things. As this individual maturity or growth occurs, it extends to the building up and growth of the corporate body of Christ (Eph. 4:14–16). Spirituality involves God’s Spirit taking God’s Word and maturing God’s people through the ministry of God’s servants for the spiritual growth of individual believers, which results in the growth of Christ’s body. This is the ultimate goal of systematic theology—to increasingly think and then act in accord with God’s will as one matures in the Christian faith.

ACTION POINT: Examine your spiritual life if you are growing or not. It is a growing life that bears fruits.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 23 – 26.

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Saturday, August 12, 2023

OBSTACLES TO CHRISTIAN GROWTH

SUNDAY, 13TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: OBSTACLES TO CHRISTIAN GROWTH

MEMORIZE: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” — 1Cor 10:12 (NKJV)

SCRIPTURE READING: Romans 12:3.

"For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

EXPOSITION:

Growth is not always easy or uniform; however, it should be the direction of a true Christian’s life. Several obstacles face the believer in this lifelong pursuit. Christians need to know about them and stay on guard to avoid them or to correct them if they become a part of one’s thinking:

1. One may think more highly of self than one ought and not pursue holiness as one should (Rom. 12:3).

2. One may presume upon salvation and assume that since one is saved, holy living is optional (Rom. 6:1–2).

3. One may have been erroneously taught about the nature of Christian living and so neglect the lordship of Christ (1 Pet. 3:15).

4. One may lack the zeal or energy to make holiness a priority (2 Cor. 7:1).

5. One may think that he or she is saved but not truly be so and then try to live a holy life in the power of the flesh (Matt. 13:5–7, 20–22).

Nature teaches that growth is normal and to be expected; conversely, a lack of growth should sound an alarm that something is seriously wrong. Scripture teaches this principle too in a spiritual sense. Frequently, Acts reports that the early church grew and expanded (see 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7; 9:31, 35, 42; 11:21; 14:1, 21; 16:5; 17:12). God also has expectations for individual growth in the Christian’s life. These exhortations of Scripture need to be taken seriously (1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18). The chief agents for this growth are God’s Word (John 17:17; 1 Pet. 2:2) and God’s Spirit (Eph. 5:15–21). When growth occurs, one can quickly acknowledge God as the cause (1 Cor. 3:6–7; Col. 2:19). The Holy Spirit plays a prominent role in providing a true believer with the assurance of salvation. His assurance connects directly with growth (Rom. 8:16–17; 1 John 3:24). Having formerly been spiritually dead but now made alive to God, the believer can check his vital signs to substantiate the fact that he is indeed alive, because he walks in the works that God has prepared (Eph. 2:1–10).

PRAYER POINT: Lord, help me not to fall victim of these obstacles to spiritual growth in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 5 – 8.

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Friday, August 11, 2023

SANCTIFICATION

SATURDAY, 12TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: SANCTIFICATION

MEMORIZE: “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

SCRIPTURE READING: Philippians 2:12–13.

“¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”

EXPOSITION:

Closely connected with holiness is sanctification. In many New Testament uses, the word means “salvation” (Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 1:2). Sanctification, or being set apart in salvation, should result in believers being set apart for Christian living. Sanctification not only includes the immediate act and fact of salvation but also involves a progressive or growing experience of greater holiness and less sinfulness. It expresses God’s will and fulfills the purpose of God’s salvation call (1 Thessalonians 4:3–7).

Sanctification includes one’s responsibility to participate in continuing what God’s Spirit began in salvation (2 Timothy 2:21; Revelation 22:11). Christians are constantly exhorted to pursue in their Christian experience what God has declared to be true of them in salvation. Believers are also promised that what is not now complete, God will ultimately finish in glory (Philippians 2:12–13; 1 Thessalonians 5:23). These passages express one of the great paradoxes of Scripture: Christians are to become what they already are and one day will be. Such certainty of the Christian’s future is captured in texts like these: For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13) For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18) Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. (Romans 13:11) Sanctification involves the spiritual process that is pictured by a body growing into adulthood (Hebrews 5:11–14) or a tree bearing fruit (Psalm 1:3).

PRAYER POINT: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for our sanctification in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 5 – 8.

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Thursday, August 10, 2023

PRAYER AND EVANGELISM

FRIDAY, 11TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: PRAYER AND EVANGELISM

MEMORIZE: “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2.

SCRIPTURE READING: Luke 10:1-2.

“After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

EXPOSITION:

Nothing in the realm of the spiritual can succeed without prayer. As a believer, you are part of the Body of Christ sent out to a lost and dying world to share the good news of the Gospel. But this spiritual body is directed, controlled, and energized by the head, functioning like a natural body which is guided by the head. Just as a natural body must be attached to the head in proper alignment of nerves, bone, and muscle in order to function, the spiritual body must be in contact with the spiritual head, the Lord Jesus Christ. This contact is made through prayer.

To use another illustration: Jesus is the vine and we are the branches where the fruit is borne. Jesus is the stalk and root that gives life to the branches. The picture is one of mutual dependence. He depends on us to bear the fruit, we depend on Him for spiritual life and energy (John 15.). This relationship cannot exist without proper contact between you and the Lord. There is an example of this in the account in Matthew 17:14-21. The disciples were unable to minister to a young boy because of lack of prayer. Prayer is not a preliminary to the actual work--it is the work.

Prayer should precede evangelism. In Luke 10:1-24, Jesus tells His disciples to pray (verse 2), then He tells them to go (verse 3). Praying precedes the going. Perhaps if we prayed more we would win more. In Acts 2 they prayed 10 days, preached for ten minutes, and 3000 were saved. Today, we pray for ten minutes, preach for ten days, and only a few get saved.

Praying "evangelistically" means that you pray for:

(1) Laborers in the harvest (Luke 10:2).

(2) The Gospel to have "free course" (II Thessalonians 3:1-2). "Free course" means to "run or swiftly advance."

(3) Opportunity: In Colossians 4:3, Paul asks for prayer for himself that God would open a "door of utterance" that he might share the Gospel.

(4) Boldness: Paul asked the Ephesian Church to pray that he might share the Gospel boldly (Ephesians 6:19).

(5) Salvation: It is Biblical to pray for people to get saved. Romans 10:1 indicates Paul prayed for Israel that they might be saved.

(6) Peace: In I Timothy 2:1-4, Paul tells us to pray for those in authority so we can lead a peaceful life. He says to do this because it is good in the eyes of God who "desires all men to be saved." The Gospel spreads more rapidly in peaceful conditions when it is not hindered by persecution, war zones, travel restrictions, etc.

A measure of success may follow our prayerless undertakings for the Kingdom of God, but our efforts fall short of what could be accomplished if we were to recognize the vital function of prayer.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, give life to our prayer lives to bring souls unto you in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 13 – 15.

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THE WORD OF GOD AND EVANGELISM

THURSDAY, 10TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: THE WORD OF GOD AND EVANGELISM

MEMORIZE: For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

SCRIPTURE READING: (Mark 16:20)

“And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following.”

EXPOSITION:

The Gospel has the power within it to accomplish spiritual birth in a receptive soul (Romans 1:16). You do not have to be a gifted speaker to be a messenger of the Gospel. All that is necessary is that you share the Gospel message which alone can save man. When you share God's Word, the hearer's faith does not rest on your wisdom or skillful delivery (I Corinthians 2:5). You can also be assured that God's Word does not return void. It will accomplish God's purposes (Isaiah 55:11). The Word releases the powerful demonstration of signs and wonders which convince unbelievers of the truth of the Gospel (Mark 16:20).

GOD'S ROLE IN EVANGELISM

God is the one who changes a person's life through the born-again experience. You can witness, preach, and teach the Gospel to the best of your ability, but only God can convert a soul. Once you understand this, much of your worry about evangelizing is relieved. You are simply the messenger, a human instrument for the divine workman. It is impossible for you to convert someone. The born-again experience is conceived and birthed by God. When a person is born again, he is "begotten of God": Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him. (I John 5:1)

THE ROLE OF JESUS IN EVANGELISM

Jesus is the one who gave the mandate of evangelism and sent the Holy Spirit to equip you for the task. He is the one who works with you with confirming signs and wonders: And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. (Mark 16:20)

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE IN EVANGELISM

In New Testament times, the Holy Spirit drew the crowds to the messengers of the Gospel. How else can we explain the throngs that followed their ministries? There were no newspapers, radio, or television advertisements in those days. Instead of using worldly methods to attract the masses, we should take time to tarry in our upper rooms like the early Church did until we, too, are endued with power from on high. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts men and convinces them of the necessity of salvation. Proven evangelistic methods are useful in spreading the Gospel, but God does not want you to depend upon them. You must depend on the convicting power of the Holy Spirit: Nevertheless, I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:7-8)

It is the power of the Holy Spirit that energizes evangelism. The disciples became effective, active witnesses after they experienced that power (Acts 1:8 and chapter 2).

PRAYER POINT: Lord Jesus Christ, help us to be obedient to your call and commission in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 9 – 12.

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Tuesday, August 8, 2023

THE NEED FOR EVANGELISM

WEDNESDAY, 9TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: THE NEED FOR EVANGELISM

MEMORIZE: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14.

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 28:18-20.

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”

EXPOSITION:

The word for "evangelism" (or "evangelization") comes from a Greek word "evangelion." There are actually four forms of this basic word. One word means "good news," two words mean "to proclaim the good news," and one refers to the "evangelist" or person doing the proclaiming.

Why does the world need to be evangelized? To answer this question you must understand two things: The definition and the destiny of the lost.

DEFINITION OF THE LOST:

Read about the creation of the world and man in Genesis chapters l and 2. Then read Genesis 3 about how sin entered the world. When Adam and Eve were first created, they had a perfect sinless nature. After they sinned that nature was corrupted. As Adam and Eve began to reproduce and have children, these new additions to the human race were born with a basic sin nature. Man was no longer good as God had created him. His natural thought and action patterns were evil.

Genesis 4:1-6:4 describes the pattern of sin as it began to spread throughout the world. These chapters record the first murder, the first lie, and how the wickedness of man grew until every thought, as well as action, was evil. Finally, the whole world was so sinful that God actually repented that He had made man (Genesis 6:5-6). Because of the rapid growth of sin, God decided to destroy the earth with a flood but saved one righteous man, Noah, and his family. (Read the story of Noah and the flood in Genesis 6:8-9:17.) After the flood, Noah's family began to reproduce. Almost immediately, the pattern of sin reoccurred. This is why all people everywhere are called "sinners": For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)

All people who have not repented of sin and experienced the new birth described by Jesus in John chapter 3 are considered "lost" because they have lost the sinless nature with which God originally created man. We may also say they are "unsaved" or "unbelievers" because they have not been saved from their sins through believing in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.

DESTINY OF THE LOST:

Because of the original sin of Adam and Eve, death entered into the world and because of this eventually everyone dies physically. After physical death comes judgment: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27)

After death, we will stand before God for judgment. People who have not repented of their sins will face a second death. They will die the "spiritual death" of eternal separation from God. Their destiny is Hell: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. . . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12, 15)

When you really understand the destiny of the lost, you realize the urgent need for evangelism. If people are not reached with the Gospel, they will die in sin and be destined for eternity in Hell.

PRAYER POINT: Lord, help us to be fruitful in evangelism and soul winning in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 5 – 8.

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Monday, August 7, 2023

LEAVE YOUR HARAN BEHIND

TUESDAY, 8TH AUGUST, 2023.

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

TOPIC: LEAVE YOUR HARAN BEHIND

MEMORIZE: “Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.” Genesis 12:1.

SCRIPTURE READING: Genesis 11:31-32

“And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt there. 32 So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.”

EXPOSITION:

In Old Testament times, God told Abraham that through him all the nations of the world would be blessed. But with this blessing came a great responsibility. Abraham had to leave his country, his own people, and his father's household to go to a land God would show him (Genesis 12:1). Abraham first went to a place called Haran and settled there (Genesis 11:31). He was tempted to stay at Haran, but to receive the blessing he had to obey God and leave this place. Abraham could not become the father of a great nation and fulfill his own selfish ambitions at the same time. Crossing the city limits of Haran and moving on to fulfill God's plan was a great decision for Abraham.

Did you know that you are a believer today because of Abraham's decision? Because Abraham left Haran, God blessed him. Through Abraham, all men and women of all nations everywhere are blessed with the Gospel. They are blessed because salvation through Jesus Christ came from the family of Abraham because of his obedience. Like Abraham, when you receive the blessing you also receive a great responsibility. To those who have been blessed with salvation and the Holy Spirit, evangelism is not an option. It is an obligation (Acts 1:8).

Spiritually speaking, every believer eventually faces a "Haran" in his life. This spiritual "Haran" is the place where God asks, "Are you willing to lay down your own ambitions for the sake of the Gospel? Are you willing to leave your homeland, your people, your father's house should I ask it"? You cannot fulfill your own selfish ambitions and bless the nations at the same time. You must cross the line and leave Haran behind.

ACTION POINT: Lord, I leave my Haran to my Canaan land flowing with milk and honey in Jesus Name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – Jeremiah 1 – 4.

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