IT IS YOUR MOMENT OF GLORY

WEDNESDAY, 3OTH SEPTEMBER

TEXT: Isaiah 60:1-3King James Version (KJV)

60 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.

2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Wherever you are reading this I want you to know that the topic for today is deliberate. Over here at the City of Refuge, the home of The Glorious Fountain Ministries, we are overwhelmed with great anticipation as we joyfully prepare ourselves for a great encounter with the Lord that will usher in our Moment of Glory. 

You can join us by being physically present or by our live streaming through the internet. You must not miss out in God’s agenda for the moment. The heavens are pregnant with your miracle and it is ready to deliver to release your destiny. No matter what you have been going through I want you to know that our God is ready to make your life much more glorious. His word from our text in Isaiah tells us to Arise! Don’t let anything stop you. 

Arise from your depression and prostration. You don’t have to let that ugly situation continue, make up your mind to take the command from God in this scripture seriously. Arise! And you will be amazed what will follow. Arise to a new life and shine. I trust God to give each one of us a glorious testimony before it is 6:00am tomorrow morning. If you believe, you will certainly testify. IT IS YOUR MOMENT OF GLORY.

GUARD JEALOUSLY YOUR ACCESS TO GOD

TUESDAY 29TH, 2015

Psalm 85King James Version (KJV)

85 Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.

2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.

3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger.

4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?

6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.

8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.

13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

The greatest thing that can happen to any man is for him to have access to God. Forgiveness of our sins restores our access to Him. If God holds your sin against you, there is no way you can have access to God. Once you know you have been forgiven it empowers you to have expectation, but if you do not have the assurance of forgiveness, you live in fear of condemnation.

The man who reverently shrinks from sin will have the glory of God tabernacle and abide in his life. Sin has a mission, it cuts short His glory from your life.

When people are living in sin, the anointing (presence) that follows them is from the devil. The devil deceives them by telling them lies like, “Don’t be troubled, God is a merciful God, He will forgive you.” By accepting this lie they willfully go into sin only to end up cutting short the glory meant for their souls. Righteousness is the only position with God that brings peace. So, if you really want to have peace in your life, live righteously. Some people do not have peace, even in the church, because what is in their minds and hearts are unclean.

If you want to be productive and impactful in the Kingdom of God, you must take your mind off every unclean thing. When you make up your mind to live for God, you position yourself for a supernatural packaging. The Lord says if you will take your commitment to Him serious, you will see the amazing things He will do in your live. Your life will be settled in a short while as you take Him seriously and with you, He will shake the nations. May the glory of the God of Israel rest upon you and send His Holy Spirit to guide you on the right path. Amen.

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS A DIVINE EMPOWERMENT

MONDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER

TEXT: 2 Corinthians 5:21King James Version (KJV)

21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

If certain situations in your past led to the alteration of something about your life that is causing you to go downhill, by God’s righteousness you can receive renewed life. There is newness of life for you today in the righteousness of God. Jesus died to redeem you totally from sin and its dominion. In the Old Testament, the atonement for sins covered the sins but in the New Testament it blots out sin. Jesus offered Himself once and for all and took away our sins completely. It is one thing to have your sins forgiven, it is another to have it taken away. If you had owed someone money and have been forgiven only to have them tell you that they have not forgotten your debt then you are not truly free. You need to understand what it means for God to forgive and take your iniquities away. When the Lord forgives, He takes away every trace to it.

He has taken away whatever has been standing in your way preventing you form entering into your breakthrough and whatever has been disqualifying you from your blessings all these years as soon as you yielded to His will. If there is any sense of guilt or condemnation in your heart, it is time to speak the word of God against it until it bow. He has taken away every sin but you need to deal with the voice of the accusation and condemnation from the accuser.

Though you did not qualify for it, but by His blood you have been made worthy. He became sin who knew no sin, that you might become God’s righteousness, because His blood speaks for you, there is no more condemnation.

Do not listen to the lies of the devil trying to demoralize and deceive you, by making you think you are unworthy. If you will come to God, He will accept you. His loving kindness and mercy is upon your life to terminate every judgement against your life through the power of His righteousness in you. Arise from your depression and prostration and shine.

HYMN- Praise To the Lord the Almighty

TEXT: Psalms 100; 103:1-6; 104; 150; Colossians 1: 15-20

Let the people praise thee o God; let all the people praise thee (psalm 67:3)

Great expressions of praise to God have come from many different traditions and backgrounds. Throughout the centuries God has used the talents of people from various cultures to provide His church with hymns of praise so His people might be known as people of praise and thanksgiving.      

The author of this inspiring hymn text, Joachim Neander, has often been called the greatest of all German-Calvinist Reformed hymn writers. He wrote approximately 60 hymns and composed many tunes. Nearly all of his hymns are triumphant expressions of praise.                                                                                

This hymn is a free paraphrase of Psalm 103:1-6, which begins, “Bless [praise] the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless His Holy name”. The translator of this text, Catherine Winkworth, is regarded as one of the finest translators of the German language. Her translations helped to make German hymnal in 1665. It is said that Neander personally chose this tune for his text, and the words have never been used with any other melody. 

Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the king of creation!. O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and thy salvation! All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wonderfully reigneth, shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee, decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee; How oft in grief hath not He brought thee relief, spreading His wings for to shade thee!

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breadth, come now with praises before Him! Let the Amen sound from His people again: Gladly for aye adore Him!

TAKEN FROM “AMAZING GRACE; 366 INSPIRING HYMN STORIES FOR DAILY DEVOTION”

GOD WILL ANSWER

SATURDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER

TEXT: Psalm 119:36-41King James Version (KJV)

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

 

No matter what you are going through don’t give up, God will give you an answer to confound those who are taunting you. Until He renews your life, clothes you in mercy and loving kindness, you will not have boldness to come against your enemies. When they have concluded that you are already done for, God will show up for you and give you a renewed life.

Time cannot be against you when God is involved. If He did it for Sarah, Elizabeth and for other people before you, He will do it for you. From now on, you will not only have God’s word, but His word will become a living proof in your life. When people are asking for your God, He will show up on your behalf and you will have an answer in Jesus name. He will give you verifiable proof; what people cannot gainsay, and it will stand the test of time. The God of Israel will fight your battles and bring you victories that cannot be denied.

It may seem that your faith may not be rewarded but be encouraged for God is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He will reward your faith and renew your strength. The Lord will fight for you and you will hold your peace. Your harassment has come to an end, the cloud of God’s glory is over your life. The judgement on your life is over and God’s judgement is against your enemies from this moment. Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. So shall it be in the mighty name of Jesus.



Beginning from today, you will walk in the manifestation of God’s glory and abundance in Jesus name. Just keep your walk with God and all will be well.

THE MASTER KEY TO YOUR TESTIMONY

FRIDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER

TEXT: Psalm 119:36-41King James Version (KJV)

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

41 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.



The word of God is sometimes called testimony or precept. This is because anytime you involve God’s word in any situation, there is bound to be a testimony (Psm. 107:19-20). You may have been afflicted by the enemy but today I say to you, never again, in the mighty name of Jesus. As many that will take a stand with God in righteousness, will see every dominion of darkness over their lives destroyed in the mighty name of Jesus.

There is a user of this devotional who is in need of restoration, whether in your health or other aspects of your life, I decree, you shall have it in Jesus name.

There is an emerging glory that will cause things to be transformed in your life very soon. Jesus has the master key and He has given you the keys to unlock the doors which the enemy locked up. Unlock your glory through His word. You now have access to your blessings and I decree, every door that has been shut against you, opened in the name of Jesus.



Today, their dominion expires, it is completely important that you receive it and walk in your liberty by faith. The Lord’s glory is revealed in your life. Your life is dedicated to the Lord for signs and wonders. Whatever altar or authority that has been contending against your life, from this moment, the altar of the Lord contends with them and nullifies their dominion over your life in the mighty name of Jesus. It is time for you to manifest the glory, it is well with you, body, soul and spirit in Jesus name. Amen.

KEEP A WATCH OVER YOUR MOUTH

Wednesday, September 23rd

Psalm 141:3Amplified Bible (AMP)
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].
How you hear is more important than what you hear. Everyone must be careful, quick to hear but slow to speak. Being quick to hear does not mean you need to have your ear for everything, it means your ear should be so selective and sensitive to discern what you hear.

Also, we must learn to open our mouth with wisdom, not just anything that comes to mind. You weigh your words before you speak. The reason God gave us two ears and one mouth, is so you can hear twice as much as you talk.

A lot of people have mortgaged their destinies, they have truncated divine agenda for their lives by their actions and words. Some people would have achieved a lot in life but for the careless words of their mouths (Prov. 6:2). The ensnarement they have is not as a result of any form of demonic oppression but words from their own mouths. If a number of us would learn to keep our mouths shut for most of the time, our lives would be glorious.

Some people have been fasting and praying without any result, because each time heaven is prepared to do something in their lives, they use their mouths to negate it. You can hear and receive a prophetic word and only for you to nullifying it with your mouth. Every prophecy from God is powerful, but what you do between the prophecy and the appointed time of its fulfilment is so vital, as it will determine its materialization. So if you got a prophecy that did not materialize, it may be more important for you to take time out to look inward first. Ask yourself sincere questions to find out what you did between when the word was given and the time it was expected to come to pass. If you find that you need to make amends, do so ASAP. Change your attitude and by God’s mercy, your blessings will manifest to take you to a new altitude.

A READY HEART TO SERVE

Tuesday, September 22nd

Romans 12:11Amplified Bible (AMP)

11 never lagging behind in diligence; aglow in the Spirit, enthusiastically serving the Lord;

Nobody can make himself serve God because no one has the capacity to do so. You may try but you will only end up being religious. It is the love of Christ that constrains us. You cannot serve God by yourself, this is only possible when His love stirs you up.

Anything you do or give without love is a waste of time or investment. We must not do anything in God’s house for the favor of man, it has to be stirred up by your intimate relationship with God. For when it is all said and done, when you stand before the Lord, no man will be there with you. Those who serve for the sake of pleasing a man or due to eye-service will be highly disappointed. Your service is between you and God and your understanding of his divine agenda for your life is very essential.

If people are involved in a particular activity, say evangelism, and you join in grudgingly, it would have been better you stayed back at home, except you were able to change your attitude along the way. If you do not have any need to continue in a particular place, it would be better for you to quit rather than you being there doing halfhearted service. God has called each of us to a unique assignment and there are persons that He desires to accomplish it through. So, if it is not convenient for you, do not bring a curse upon yourself by being a part of it. If you decide to be a part of a ministry or church willingly, you are duty bound to comply with whatever goes on there. If you do not want to comply anymore, you must quickly step aside, by so doing, you are free in the sight of God from any wrong doing (rebellion).

SERVE GOD FERVENTLY

SEPTEMBER 21ST 

TEXT: Proverbs 18:9, Romans 12:9-11King James Version (KJV)

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

Romans 12:9-11King James Version (KJV)

9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
There are certain glories about your life that should be made manifest, but when you deal with a slack hand concerning God’s work the Bible says you are a brother to the waster. Heaven has given us the serious responsibility of imparting God’s glory into lives while we are here on earth but not many of us live with this consciousness. Are you going to be passive and deal with a slack hand? Are you going be a brother to the waster or fervent in the spirit, serving the Lord? The choice is yours.

It is not age that makes you relevant to your generation, it is the manifestation of the grace and glory of God upon your life. All the people making impact all over the world, do not have their age as an issue. Jesus had only three years of ministry but made such great impact through what He did, that if they were to be recorded, the world would not be able to hold them. Your life counts if it is impactful. Let your impact speak for you.

HYMN-PRAISE TO THE LORD THE ALMIGHTY

SEPTEMBER. 20TH.

TEXT: Psalms 100; 103:1-6; 104; 150; Colossians 1: 15-20

Let the people praise thee o God; let all the people praise thee (psalm 67:3)

Great expressions of praise to God have come from many different traditions and backgrounds. Throughout the centuries God has used the talents of people from various cultures to provide His church with hymns of praise so His people might be known as people of praise and thanksgiving. The author of this inspiring hymn text, Joachim Neander, has often been called the greatest of all German-Calvinist Reformed hymn writers. He wrote approximately 60 hymns and composed many tunes. Nearly all of his hymns are triumphant expressions of praise. This hymn is a free paraphrase of Psalm 103:1-6, which begins, “Bless [praise] the Lord, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless His Holy name”. The translator of this text, Catherine Winkworth, is regarded as one of the finest translators of the German language. Her translations helped to make German hymnal in 1665. It is said that Neander personally chose this tune for his text, and the words have never been used with any other melody.

Praise to the Lord, the almighty, the king of creation!. O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and thy salvation! All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near; join me in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wonderfully reigneth, shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth! Hast thou not seen how thy desires e’er have been granted in what He ordaineth?

Praise to the Lord, who with marvelous wisdom hath made thee, decked thee with health, and with loving hand guided and stayed thee; How oft in grief hath not He brought thee relief, spreading His wings for to shade thee!

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breadth, come now with praises before Him! Let the Amen sound from His people again: Gladly for aye adore Him!. 

TAKEN FROM “AMAZING GRACE; 366 INSPIRING HYMN STORIES FOR DAILY DEVOTION”

SERVING THE PURPOSE OF GOD

SEPTEMBER 19TH

TEXT: Acts 13:36-37King James Version (KJV)

36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

37 But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Our focus in today’s text is taken from the “A” part of verse 36 with emphasis on “served God’s will and purpose and counsel”. There are certain glories you cannot walk in even if you fast and pray, you can only access them by following the principles and purpose of God. It is important that we align our lives with the commands of God. It is in the process of growing our walk with God that we find glorious treasures to unlock our destinies. The word of God in Hebrews tells us that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He is also not unfaithful to forget your labor of love. To get God looking in your direction, do what He wants you to do with your whole heart and He will certainly reward you.

There is nobody who cannot walk in great glory, the major challenge is the manifestation of the flesh. But once the flesh is tamed or cut off, the glory will be revealed.

There is something on your inside waiting to be made manifest to your generation. The Bible says David served the purpose of God in his generation, he fulfilled God’s plan for his life. By the time you are done and gone, what would be written about you? What will people know you for? People have acquired so many material things, but once they were dead, those things were either sold off or squandered. While some others made so much impact, and one generation after another still remembers them. If you will wait upon the Lord, you will be amazed what He will do through you. It is so important to obey and serve the purpose of God. 

TOUGH LOVE IS LOVE

SEPTEMBER 18TH


TEXT: Proverbs 27:5-6King James Version (KJV)

5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Our scripture for today makes us to understand that open rebuke is better than secret love. Someone who does not have your interest at heart, even though he may pretend to be sweet, wants you to fail. But somebody who is your friend will tell you the truth even though it may be a rebuke. A loving confrontation is an indication that you value a relationship and want whatever is not right to be fixed. But when you ignore it, it is an indication that the relationship is dead. Your friend sharpens and helps put you back on track so that whatever is crooked in your life is taken care of. Whoever does not do this to you is not your friend, it is the person who loves you that will correct you when you are going the wrong way.

Each one of us are unique and a bundle of grace and glory. Often than not, your countenance speaks of your character and personality. If we are going to see the great move of God in our midst, we need to be sincere to each other. The way you talk to and about others reveals your perception of their personality. If they are important to you, you do not address them in such a way to make them look stupid but to awaken them to the reality of life. You do not relate to people based on their social status but according to God’s plan and purpose. Who are you to your friends?

BE JOYFUL IN SERVICE

SEPTEMBER 17TH


TEXT: Philippians 1:21-23King James Version (KJV)

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Our scripture for today should be a big rebuke to many of us. Too many of us are only serving God for our selfish reason. It is so bad that if some cannot see any immediate gain, they will find some excuse to run away. Paul was so sold out to God that he considered being alive as an opportunity for more service and exploit for God. The reason why some people want to live long is for them to keep acquiring things that has no eternal value. This kind of persons do not rejoice over opportunity of service in the kingdom. Some people complain each time they have to do something for God. We should not complain but rejoice at opportunities to serve. Do not see it as too much burden or work. Paul said the reason he would want to continue living, should be to bring more sons unto glory and make impact in our generation. You should ask yourself what is the reason for your existence. If your mission on earth is to go after vain things, you cannot be useful to heaven. You should be thinking of something more better than that.

Paul said should he remain, that would be to promote the progress of others in the kingdom of God. This is the heart of a shepherd and it is very scarce in the time we are living in.

Mike Murdock said “the more valuable a relationship is, the greater the price.” There are somethings you do for others not because it is convenient for you, but because of your relationship with such persons and a determination to bring joy to that soul. Whatever you are willing to sacrifice as touching any relationship reveals your value of that relationship. What are you really willing to sacrifice? If you are full of excuses, it means you do not value the relationship and you cannot be depended on. There are certain glories that cannot manifest in your life until you value relationship and are willing to go extra miles. Make some difference today.

WHAT IS YOUR PURSUIT?

 SEPTEMBER. 16TH.


TEXT: Matthew 6:30-34King James Version (KJV)

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Too many of us are just too conscious of the rat race of life and this is the reason many are missing the divine purpose of God for their lives.

The Spirit of the Lord wants us to understand that before God not everything counts. Too many are busy trying to please God with our titles and positions but your pursuit and passion for the things of the kingdom of God are much more important. Some people pursue recognition, fame, prestige, or money only to miss that which will bring God glory. What do you go after?

Before you go after anything please stop and ask yourself if this is meant to be of some benefit to His kingdom or your selfish desire/ambitions. Those who go after pleasing God get the job done and then the blessings that others die for will begin to follow them.

If Jesus said that it is the heathens that seek after these things then it is a demotion for any child of God to settle for that. The truth is that God knows what our needs are and He knows just how to give us these things. God is too willing to bless us when He sees that our heart is prepared to use it to bring glory to Him. But the truth is that He will not open the door until our hearts are ready. In your personal life, if you want to see God’s glory it is very simple, just go after Him with all your heart.

THE GIFT OF MEN

SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2015

Proverbs 27:17-18Amplified Bible (AMP)

17
As iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].
18
He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
And he who faithfully protects and cares for his master will be honored.

If you are willing to follow God, it will not be difficult to acknowledge the gift of God in the lives of those He has positioned in your live to be a blessing to you. God placed them there so that certain things will be easier for you. You can decide to ignore them, and do what you want, but you will have to face the unpleasant consequences of rejecting God’s plan yourself.

Some of the people you look down on may be those God has positioned to connect you to your breakthrough. They may not look like it today but when the time comes you will be amazed what difference they will make. Every one of us are here to make great impact and to be a blessing, not to compete with each other. In 1 Corinthians chapter 3, we are made to understand that if we are involved in stupid competitions, wanting to know who is more anointed, we are still carnal.

We are all fellow laborers in the kingdom of God and it does not make any sense trying to prove that you are better. Some of us believers still get involved in such childish comparisons. We should not have any reason to compete with anybody if we are truly working to bring glory to God. This is so true because we are all here to complement one another. If you fail to understand the reason God brought those around you into your life, you will cut short your own blessing.

Sometimes it is in the process of dealing with someone else’s weakness, that the Lord strengthens us. It is important for us to celebrate the reward of the various relationships we have with different gifts and graces wrapped up in others around us. Many of the time we often take this for granted and then miss the true blessing meant for us. Why not take some time today to appreciate the gift of God around you. God bless you as you do.  

THE POWER OF UNITY (PART 2)

SEPTEMBER. 14^TH.

Psalm 133Amplified Bible (AMP)

The Excellency of Brotherly Unity.

A Song of [a]Ascents. Of David.

133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2
It is like the precious oil [of consecration] poured on the head,
Coming down on the beard,
Even the beard of Aaron,
Coming down upon the edge of his [priestly] robes [consecrating the whole body].
3
It is like the dew of [Mount] Hermon
Coming down on the hills of Zion;
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing: life forevermore.

If we fail to accept and appreciate the grace and glory the Lord has deposited in the lives of others, we will destroy the blessings of having them in our lives. Each one of us are a blessing, and we need to appreciate this concerning others. When we acknowledge this there will be no room for unhealthy competition among us. We all have our place, graces and glories, but it is important that we position ourselves so as to access it.

Some of us have cut short the glory of God upon our lives because of sin. Sin is one weapon the enemy will always use to reduce or cut off people from the glory they are meant to carry or walk in.

Many of the time, God has blessed us with so much glory, but we unnecessarily shut it down through our actions. Living in sin when expecting your blessing is like pouring water on the firewood we hope to use in cooking our meal.

Heaven is cooking something glorious for us and we must not be the ones adding cups of water to quench the fire. Holiness or righteousness is the flame designed to quicken the manifestation of God’s glory in our lives. The presence of sin in our lives causes unnecessary wait and delay. There are a number of people for whom the Lord desire to do glorious things in their lives but we have shut it down by our actions. Many of the time we are unnecessarily fighting those God has placed around you to bring great blessings our lives, we must learn to live right so we can see and enjoy such persons as the priceless blessings of heaven in our lives. You will not lose your moment of glory in Jesus name. Amen.

HYMN- HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

     SEPTEMBER. 12^TH.

Memory Verse: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care. (Psalm 95:6,7)

TEXT: Psalm 145:8-21; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:5-11; 5:13

"O Lord, grant that I may desire Thee, and desiring Thee, seek Thee, and seeking

Thee, find Thee, and finding Thee, be satisfied with Thee forever."                                                         -Augustine

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty who was, and is, and is to come" (Revelation 4:8). These are the words of worship that believers will proclaim in heaven one day. This majestic text based on these words was written approximately 150 years ago by an Anglican minister, Reginald Heber, and it is still one of the hymns most frequently used in our corporate worship.

Worship is the cornerstone of a believer's spiritual life. The bedrock of the local church is its worship service, and all aspects of the church's ministry are founded here. It is only as a Christian truly worships that he begins to grow spiritually. Learning to worship and praise God, then, should be a believer's lifetime pursuit. Our worship reflects the depth of our relationship with God. We must learn to worship God not only for what He is doing in our personal lives, but above all for who He is-His being, character, and deeds.

Reginald Heber was a highly respected minister, writer, and church leader, serving for a time as the Bishop of Calcutta. His early death at the age of 43 was widely mourned throughout the Christian world. One year after his death, a collection of 57 of his hymns was published by his widow and many friends as a tribute to his memory and faithful ministry. It is from this collection of 1827 that these words were taken:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee; Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty! God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! All the saints adore Thee, casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea; cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Tho the darkness hide Thee, tho the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see. Only Thou art holy-there is none beside Thee perfect in pow'r, in love and purity.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea; Holy, Holy, Holy! Merciful and Mighty! God in Three Persons blessed Trinity!

ACTION POINT: What does the term worship mean to you? How could your life of worship be improved? TAKEN FROM “AMAZING GRACE; 366 INSPIRING HYMN STORIES FOR DAILY DEVOTION”.

THE POWER OF UNITY (PART 1)

Psalm 133Amplified Bible (AMP)
The Excellency of Brotherly Unity.
A Song of [a]Ascents. Of David.

133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2
It is like the precious oil [of consecration] poured on the head,
Coming down on the beard,
Even the beard of Aaron,
Coming down upon the edge of his [priestly] robes [consecrating the whole body].
3
It is like the dew of [Mount] Hermon
Coming down on the hills of Zion;
For there the Lord has commanded the blessing: life forevermore.

The only reason the kingdom of darkness seem to have great power and boldness to operate is because the church is not united as intended. The kingdom of God is the most powerful force on earth loaded with blessings for the children of God. When we get to the place where we are truly united as brethren, God’s blessings and anointing will easily follow us.  That is when angels are free to act on our behalf and things begin to work in our favour.

His blessings does not have free course when our hearts are not free. Our relationship with God and our fellow man is of great essence. There are blessings we can never experience until we humble ourselves to seek the face of God and in humility grow our relationship with God and our fellow brothers. 1 John 4:20 tells us that we cannot claim that we love God who we cannot see, and they have problem loving the human being that we can see. The truth of the matter is that in some cases, the vessels through which God want to bless us are people we don’t want to have anything to do with. This is the reason many person have remained in one position in life. They are Bible carrying and tongue speaking brethren but they operate by the principles of this world. The sad reality about this is that the church is filled with many of such persons. Until we take off our religious mask, and follow the Lord in sincerity, people will never see the glory meant for us. May you not miss you moment of glory in Jesus name.   

THE UNFOLDING GLORY

 SEPTEMBER. 11^TH

TEXT: John 1:1-4Amplified Bible (AMP)

1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [b]Himself.

2 He was present originally with God.

3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

You are welcome to another glorious day that the Lord has made. It is important to call your attention to the glory on your inside. Yes, there is a glory in your life that is  greater than what you have seen but you need to do something to activate it.

Any man who has access to divine revelation has access to uncommon elevation ahead of others. You can make progress in your spiritual journey if you have access to divine revelations that gives you the enablement to unlock mysteries. Yes you can unlock mysteries. The word of God from Genesis to Revelation is full of divine codes that are carefully placed there by God to determine success or failure, victory or defeat, etc, but we need to know how to access and decode those mysteries.

 The Christian life is not supposed to be difficult if we would allow God lead us. The challenge we often have is that we just want to do what we like and because we think we are smarter, we end up frustrating our access to decode divine mysteries and in so doing we lack the much needed revelation.

 You need to ask God for help to know how to unlock the glory in your life. Each one of us has a dimension of glory upon our lives and our ability to understand this divine purpose is what makes the difference for any life.

The Bible says the road the righteous travels shines brighter and brighter unto a perfect day. It is the degree to which we yield ourselves to God that determines the glory we carry. You can be anointed, and walk in the glory of God, if you know just how to yield yourself to Him. Like Kathryn Kuhlman would say, “God is not looking for silvery or golden vessels, but for yielded vessels”. If God will find any man who is yielded from the heart and not full of the superficial, putting on an act, the glory of God will begin to emerge in that life. How deep is your walk with God? 

LIVING FOR JESUS

SEPTEMBER 10^TH.

Habakkuk 1:7-9 King James Version (KJV), Psalm 66:18 King James Version (KJV),
7 They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.

8 Their horses also are swifter than the leopards, and are more fierce than the evening wolves: and their horsemen shall spread themselves, and their horsemen shall come from far; they shall fly as the eagle that hasteth to eat.

9 They shall come all for violence: their faces shall sup up as the east wind, and they shall gather the captivity as the sand.
Psalm 66:18 King James Version (KJV),

16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

God has such pure eyes that He cannot behold sin, He protects His eyes from sin. David said if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. The Lord loves righteousness and hates wickedness, therefore, when a man decide to live in sin, he invokes the anger of God upon himself. But the man who loves and lives a righteous life is saturated with the presence and glory of God because the Lord loves righteousness.

The greatest misery that can happen to any man is to live a life without God. Hell is not hell because of the fire, but because of the absence of the presence and intimacy of God. Heaven is heaven, because we will be with Him forever. If there is anything to dread, that should be anything that will make God withdraw his presence from your life. The most awful moment for Jesus was when He took our sins on himself on the cross, because at that moment, God the Father could not look at Him for his eyes cannot behold sin that was why Jesus cried “My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” In order to get back quick to the Father, He gave up the ghost as he offered himself as a sacrificial Lamb. This shows how much He cannot tolerate sin. So, once sin came, Jesus preferred to die for he is not comfortable with sin. When he offered himself and atoned for our sins by his blood, He won the victory and was reconnected with the Father. Get rid of whatever will keep the loving eyes of the Father from you so you can enjoy the favor of his presence.

THE HEART OF SERVICE (PART 7)

 SEPTEMBER. 9^TH.

TEXT: Revelation 2:8-11King James Version (KJV).

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

8 And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, Who died and came to life again:

9 I know your affliction and distress and pressing trouble and your poverty—but you are rich! and how you are abused and reviled and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.

11 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no way be injured by the second death.

Each assignment from God is unique and comes with its own challenge. The password to overcoming it is in God’s hands. Approach each situation as one who does not know anything, ask God to tell you what you are to do, and He will show you. Until He shows you what to do, do not act. Some of us have become too sophisticated for God, and have allowed our titles and the various things we have accomplished drown His voice, so we say because we are so and so we already know how to handle every challenge.

So many have missed the perfect will of God for their lives because they think they are something, they no longer depend on God for help. This is the reason the love and hunger they once had for God has been watered down to mere religious activities. To them some things like reading their Bible, joining others to fellowship regularly are elementary things meant for baby believers. Whenever one becomes too big for the elementary things that made them grow, the faith they have begins to backslide.  Do not play with the elementary things of the Spirit, humble yourself under God’s mighty hand and in due season He will exalt you. Do all you can to be humble before God, don’t get sophisticated with Jesus. Approach and serve Him with a clean and sincere heart. Too many of us have allowed impure things into our hearts, instead of things that are pure and lovable. If you allow evil communication in your mind, you will be corrupted and before long, you will have the wrong attitude. Keep your passion for Jesus hot and burning. 

THE HEART OF SERVICE (PART 6)

 SEPTEMBER. 8^TH.

TEXT: Revelation 2:8-11King James Version (KJV).

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

8 And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Smyrna write: These are the words of the First and the Last, Who died and came to life again:

9 I know your affliction and distress and pressing trouble and your poverty—but you are rich! and how you are abused and reviled and slandered by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested and proved and critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life.

11 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no way be injured by the second death.

Some times in life, we have need to encourage ourselves especially when things are not going the way we expected after all the prayer and fasting. When you fast and pray about a particular challenge, you expect things to begin to change once you are done but that may not be the case at all times. Such times are often the period our faith is being tried. At such times, when your attitude is that of complaining, it is a sign that you are sinking and have drifted far from God. When something goes wrong in your relationship with God, every other thing will fall apart. Some of us can no longer hear the voice of the Master, but are still very busy with being religious and have no results. When something goes wrong, check to make sure your relationship with God is right. Too often we blame everything else but fail to look inward, making sure that we are doing what God asked us to do. The church at Syria went through serious trail in the hands of religious people but at such times the word of the Lord unto them were words of encouragement, not that angels will come to stop the trail but that they should be prepared to face the challenge. 

THE HEART OF SERVICE (PART 4)

MONDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER

Revelation 2:1-5Amplified Bible (AMP)
2 To the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:

2 I know your industry and activities, laborious toil andtrouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars.

3 I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

4 But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love].

5 Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

At first glance, the testimony of the church at Ephesus looks wonderful and it is obvious that many of our churches today do not have anything close to what they had. The church of Ephesus was very hard working, but the Lord recognised that it was all empty service without an intimate relationship with him. He observed that they have left their first love. When a man leaves the place of personal communion with God, that is when he thinks he is doing God a favour by the things he is doing in the house of God and he begins to have problem with others and complain. None of us can live this christian life except by God’s help (Phil. 2:8-9). We are not what we are because we are smart. Except we continually depend on God and keep our communion with Him we will fail. But  no matter how ugly the situation is, when we trust in the Lord everything will end up for our good. God says His plans for you are good and not evil, and if we miss the way, we will hear His voice telling us, “this is the way, walk in it. Your walk with God is much more important than your service and religious activities. Get real with God and all will be well.

NEARER MY LORD TO THEE

 AUGUST 16^TH.   

Memory Verse: Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. (James 4:8 KJV)

TEXT: Genesis 28:10-22; Psalm 16:7, 8; 73:28; 145:18; Jeremiah 29:13; Acts 17:27

This well-loved hymn was written by a talented and charming English woman no lived only 43 years. In spite of her delicate health, Sarah Flower Adams had an active and productive life. After a successful career on the London stage as Sheakespeare's Lady MacBeth, she began to write and became widely known for her literary accomplishments. The cross mentioned in the first stanza of her hymn text may have been the physical handicaps that limited her many ambitions. Sarah's sister Eliza was gifted musically and often composed melodies for her sister's poems. Together they contributed 13 texts and 62 new tunes for a hymnal that was being compiled by their pastor. One day the Rev. William J. Fox asked a new hymn to accompany his sermon on the story of Jacob and Esau. Sarah spent much time studying Genesis 28:10-22 and within a short time completed all of the stanzas of "Nearer, My God, to Thee." Since that day in 1840, this hymn has had an unusual history of ministering spiritual comfort to hurting people everywhere.

These lines picturing Jacob sleeping on a stone, dreaming of angels, and naming the place Bethel, meaning" the house of God," seem to reflect the common yearning-especially in times of deep need-to experience God's nearness and presence in a very real way. 

Nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee! E'en tho it be a cross that raiseth me; still all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Tho like the wanderer, the sun gone down, darkness be over me, my rest a stone, yet in my dreams I'd be nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Then with my waking thoughts, bright with Thy praise, out of my stony griefs.

Bethel I raise; so by my woes to be nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

Or if on joyful wing, cleaving the sky, sun, moon, and stars forgot, upward I fly, till all my song shall be, nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer, my God, to Thee, nearer to Thee!

KEY POINT: When I seek God, He has promised to draw very close to me. What a joyful experience to know His intimate presence throughout every hour of this day.

TAKEN FROM “AMAZING GRACE; 366 INSPIRING HYMN STORIES FOR DAILY DEVOTION”

THE HEART OF SERVICE (PART 2)

SATURDAY 9TH

Philippians 4:4-8Amplified Bible (AMP)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

5 Let all men know and perceive and recognize your unselfishness (your considerateness, your forbearing spirit). The Lord is near [He is [a]coming soon].

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstanceand in everything, by prayer and petition ([b]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that [c]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall [d]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence andis honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovelyand lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtueand excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

We are living in a time when people are said to be zealous in the service of God due to the benefits they enjoy and the glamour in a place. With this set of people their heart is very far from their service. They are the once who are moved by sight and so they are often men pleasers because of the favour they seek.

There are persons whose commitment to God is tied to what is happening in their lives. If all is well with them, they will be shouting “God is good”, but immediately things are not going the way the expect they will act to show that God is not just. If your faith is hinged on circumstances and situations, then it is very small. The book of Prov. says if you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small. Until the elementary principles in the Bible are influencing and manifesting in your life, you are still a babe in Christ. Being a babe in Christ is not determined by how long you have been a christian. Maturity is determined by the depth of your submissiveness to God and how much of self has died in you. If you have been in church for donkey years but yet there is still the easy manifestation of your flesh, beloved, do not be quick to say you are mature. As long as we have people who are immature in their attitudes and disposition in life in the church, we will continually have problems. Where do you really belong?