2015 MFDL

Apostle Paul was always praying for the Church in Ephesus. His request was that the eyes of their heart may be enlightened so that they can have a clearerunderstanding of the hope to which they are called. Theimplication is that the eyes of the heart can be blind. Imagine theimplication for the church and to all who are connected to theone whose eyes of the heart is blind. It is an important prayer forall times and for everyone because with the physical eyes onecan only see the riches of this world which are temporal. Seeingthem will also lead to craving after them. But when the eyes oftheir hearts are enlightened and they see the glorious riches inChrist Jesus which are eternal, certainly they will go for it.This prayer is most apt in this our generation where we talk somuch about prosperity. We disregard the true prosperity andthink more of the worldly prosperity. As much as we need themto enhance our spiritual worship, the true prosperity givesmeaning, security and durability and can be well utilized.Have you got that true prosperity? It can only be secured inChrist Jesus. It is more than the car, house, lucrative job etc thatyou are looking for. Discover the glorious riches today in Christand all these material things will follow.PRAYERLord Jesus, you exhort us to seek first your kingdom andrighteousness and the rest will be added. May we not turn it theother way round. 343

The people had just returned from Babylon where they had been on exile for over seventy years. At their return life was pretty difficult, it was a time of adjustment andsettling down for a new life in their cradle. While they weretrying to settle down, it was necessary that first thing shouldtake its rightful place. They were meant to begin with Godbefore thinking of themselves. The temple of the Lord whichwas the rallying point for the community was neglected. Theyfelt it wasn't time yet. They haven't got enough money yet, theharvest has not done well, as soon as money comes they wouldface the house of the Lord.Meanwhile, they had money to build their own houses even skyscrapers, there was money to celebrate marriage, to do burialand every little thing was being celebrated. But the more theyengaged themselves in all these mundane things at the expenseof the house of the Lord, the less they had for themselves.It was at this point that God raised Haggai the prophet whospoke to the people. All these priorities they have chosen havesucceeded in putting holes in their purses. The year is graduallygoing again, have you really done something tangible in thehouse of the Lord? Give careful thought to your ways.PRAYEROur dear Father, to neglect your work is to rob ourselves of ourblessing. Revive us O Lord that your work will takeprecedence. 344

Before Haggai could end his message, the people were convinced that the Lord had sent him to them. Therefore, they feared the Lord and they obeyed.The experience they had in this period of negligence wasstrange. Even in the land of Babylon, it was not so, how muchmore in the Promised Land. It was clear to them that theheaven was shut against them.As a child of God, do not wait to have this type of nastyexperience. If heaven is shut against you, it will be a difficulttime. The devourer will not hesitate to carry out his havoc.Out of all that God has endowed you with, that whichbelongs to God, remove it so that the rest can be sanctifiedand it will be multiplied for you. But if you do not removethat which belongs to God, then you have defiled the entirelot.The people obeyed the message of the Lord through Haggaiand without hesitation they started to build the house of theLord. Are you suffering from any abandoned project? Thismay be because you have abandoned the Lord's project. It istime to rise up and obey the word of the Lord, and resume Hisproject, then yours will resume.PRAYERHeavenly Father as the people accepted the message ofHaggai, give grace to our generation to accept your word. 345

The people of God responded to him through the message of Haggai and they began to build the house of the Lord. As the work progressed, the word ofencouragement came from the Lord through Haggai again tothe people. The Lord asked them, \"who of you is left who sawthis house in its former glory? How does it look to you now?Does it not seem to you like nothing?\" Through thesequestions, I could see God himself as the master builder andthe grand designer. The people who are working and theirtools are just instruments in the hands of the Almighty God.He is the invincible hand at work. As long as the people arewilling to offer themselves to him, certainly the later glory ofthe house will be greater than the former.As you resume your abandoned project in the church, theLord is completing your personal abandoned project. Now,as the master builder he is going to build it to his own tasteand you will be surprised, people will ask you how did youdo it, you will say it is the Lord's doing.This is a new beginning for you; believe it and you will havethe testimony. The reason for all these is the fact that the Lordis going to carry out some shaking up.PRAYERFather when you promise a later glory it shall be greater thanthe former. I believe it in my heart. 346

The building of the house was progressing, but grace cannot increase where sin abound. According to Apostle Paul, \"what shall we say, then? Shall wecontinue go on sinning so that grace may increase\" (Rom6:1). God demands our total obedience in all things. It was notenough for the people to obey the Lord in matters of buildinghis house, whereas the people that will worship there are un-repented sinners. They thought that as long as they werebuilding the house of God, it was enough for the Lord. Theycan defile themselves at will just to come and offer theprescribed sin offering then they can go back again.Our God is a holy God. He demands holiness from his people.Some think that with their contributions to the Church Godwill overlook whatever mistake they make. This is how theycontinue in sin on daily basis. As much as God wants you tolove him with your wealth, he demands that you love him withyour heart, all your soul, your mind and all your strength.God demands our total obedience; never you think we canbribe God. God will never lower his standard; therefore he hasmade a provision through which we can enjoy his blessing infull.PRAYERMy Lord and God, help us to be obedient to you in all thingsthat we may maximize our blessing. 347

Zerubbabel was at the center of the building of the house of the Lord. According to Zechariah, \"The hands of Zerubbabel have started the temple andwill also complete it\". (4:9). The Lord spoke again, this timeto Zerubbabel who was the governor. God was going to carryout another shaking up. Every throne that is not of God willbe shattered, parallel kingdoms will be demolished and theirpowers including weapons of war will be ridiculed. When allthese might have taken place, on that day God will upholdZerubbabel his servant and he will be like signet ring. Thesignet ring is a kind of seal that acts as a signature; it is apledge or a guarantee of full payment. Such ring is importantevidence, which is what Zerubbabel will be in the scheme ofthings.This is the promise of God to all those who love the appearingof his son Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit which they havereceived is a seal guaranteeing their inheritance that is in themaking. This promise is to only those who have been washedin the blood, who are looking beyond this world and what itcan offer. These are people who on daily basis strive to liveabove sin because they are aware that they have been chosen.Added to this is their relevance in the scheme of things.PRAYERLord we know that heaven is sure please keep us relevant inthis life and in our generation. 348

The world has become a theatre of crisis. No part of this global village is enjoying absolute peace. While natural disaster is taking its toll on our world, insurgencyoccasioned by religious fanaticism is also destroying the world.In some cases an entire family completely gone, while in others,children are left behind without parents. The casualties are alwaysin hundreds with people of different age groups particularly theyounger generations. Why all the troubles we engage ourselves?Our Lord says we should not be troubled in the midst of these uglyhappenings. Wherever you may find yourself it is important welive our lives as if this is the last minutes to eternity. This is bestoption we can offer ourselves. As we were writing we read in thenews of the plane crash in the Bahamas. Inside the plain was aninternational acclaimed minister with his wife and daughter. Wewere compelled to ask, could this be the plan of God for him toend in this tragic way. This is sufficient enough to trouble one'sheart but the Lord says we should not be troubled. The implicationis that we should surrender to His will at every given opportunityso that we can always be at peace.To the disciples Jesus brought his words of comfort, \"Do not betroubled, trust in God and also in me\". The same message comesto you today. No matter what it is Jesus the same yesterday, todayand forevermore.PRAYERLord Jesus, there are things that can trouble the soul, but help us totrust you completely. 349

It is a common knowledge that you hardly get something in this country except somebody at the top is holding your hand by recommending you. School mates have gone for the sameinterview. One was preferred to the other not on the basis of meritbut one big man was behind the fellow. We have seen cases whereexcellence is sacrificed at the altar of mediocrity. There are manygood hands that are jobless because no big man is holding theirhands. Some have been denied of promotion and insteadsomebody from the bottom had been promoted over them.Two people went for an interview. At the interview, they bothperformed. Because one had nobody at the top, she was not takeneven when vacancies still exist. This is the Nigerian way ofdoing things. This reminds us of the immigration recruitment thatwas conducted last year. With all the directives of the presidentthe people concerned were not adequately compensated.Well all hope were not gone, we trusted the Lord for anotheropportunity. Not too long another opportunity came and she wastaken. Do you know? She later went ahead of her friend and shehad to help her to get her rightful position. This is always the caseof those who the Lord has taken hold of their hands. This is thecomfortable message to you. Let the Lord hold your hand thebetter for you.PRAYERLord Jesus Christ take hold of the hand of your children thatvictory would attend their efforts. 350

The book Deuteronomy is essentially a farewell message by Moses to the children of Israel who were on their way to the Promised Land. These were his comfortable words tothem, to be obedient to the Lord so that they could possess theland the Lord was giving to them. The people they were going tomeet in the land, no doubt were giants but they should not beterrified by them. They should know that the Lord their God whois among them is great and awesome, therefore He is to be feared.Once they were confident of this then they could go on to attacktheir enemies.Beloved, what a better privilege we enjoy as Christians. In the OldTestament, the Lord was among them, but in the New Testament,not only that the Lord is among us, but He is in us. We have noreason to fear the enemy. In the Old Testament, their weaponswere carnal, but ours is spiritual. Where ever you are, you winyour battle, you do not need to go and meet the enemy where he is.Now take note of other promises \"you will be blessed more thanany other people; none of your men or women will be childless\".Do you think with our privileges in Christ Jesus, ours can be less?Certainly, we enjoy a superior covenant. As children of God, letus begin to claim all that belongs to us; do not be afraid of thegiants around. They are ants.PRAYERThank you Lord, for the provision, and promises you have madefor your children. May they manifest in our lives on daily basis. 351

Joshua was not left out of these farewell messages. During the time of Moses, the promises were given and during the time of Joshua they were fulfilled. When Moses was handing thepromises of God to them, it was like dream. To them, howpossible could they conquer the land and occupy it? Now theyhave conquered the land and they now possessed it. Joshua calledthem and told them how the Lord has fulfilled every promise hemade. Their obedience to the Lord was still required in order toconsolidate on their gains.God's promises to you this year may have been fulfilled. You nowfind yourself in the place of your dream. This is the beginning ofyour absolute allegiance to the Lord. We have seen people havinggot their miracles, they forget about God. They are too busy toattend programmes in Church. They have forgotten those wholabour in prayers for them. Some were lured into cults in order toconsolidate on their position.Some of these people are already in problems; the position isbecoming a curse to them. This was why Joshua had to warn thepeople, if they were not careful, the survivors of the nation willbecome snares or traps and they will whip their back. Never youforget that there were many who were interested in the privilegeyou have now, but you were highly favoured.PRAYERLord as many that may have enjoyed your goodwill help them tobe faithful to you on daily basis. Every gift you have given tothem, Lord, let them handle it in obedience to you. 352

The healing power of God is not limited to the physical body. With God all things are possible. God heals everything that concerns us. Elisha the prophet arrivedat this unnamed city. The men of the city cried unto Elisha abouttheir problem. According to them, the city is well situated. It hasall it takes to be productive so that the inhabitants can enjoy, butthe water is bad. As a result of the bad water, the land had turnedbarren inspite of the reputation of fruitfulness.Sometimes people find themselves in a situation that issupposed to be fruitful, but bareness has taken over. It could be aparticular problem that is making every other thing to fail.Perhaps a curse has been placed somewhere, therefore nothingcan work. Every effort will always yield to nothing. The menwere tired of an unproductive life, thus they turned to the man ofGod to come to their rescue. Elisha ordered for salt and theybrought it in a bowl. The man of God then declares the will ofGod for the land, and he threw the salt into the spring and thewater was healed immediately.You can see how the devil was holding that community inbondage. The only spring which is their source of water waspoisoned. But when the power of God came, it was healed. Youtoo can have the experience today, if your spring is in bondage.PRAYERO God! Sweeten the life of the church and our community, letevery bitterness turn to sweetness. 353

You may have shared the good news of salvation with an unbeliever and you told him about the second coming of the Lord. His response may be embarrassingespecially when he tells you that you are not the first person tosay it. It has been said for more than two thousand years.There are others who were Christians, but have backslid.Today, they are difficult to talk to because they know what youare saying. These are the categories of people that Peter isreferring to as scoffers making mockery of believers. They nolonger believe that Christ is actually coming again. Accordingto Peter, if we are to go by God's calculation, Jesus has onlyspent two full days since he left the earth. God is working withhis own time and not by ours. You can never tell when it willhappen.However, one thing is clear; God is not slow in keeping Hispromise. He is a patient God, waiting for the repentance ofthose scoffers, who will share the good news of the kingdomfrom their experience. He does not want anyone to perish, butthat all may come to repentance. There are some in the churchwho are almost going to give up the faith for something else.The comfortable word is Jesus is coming again.PRAYERThank you father because your promise would always befulfilled. Give us grace never to lose sight of this. 354

As the year comes to an end so the world will come to an end therefore we must look forward to a new heaven. Why should we be tired of waiting for his secondcoming? For us to have given our lives to him we stand to losenothing, rather we have much to gain. What has Christ demandedof us that is not to our advantage? He called us to a holy living, it isto our benefit. If you look at the world today, the only way throughwhich you can have peace is to be in Christ. Nothing in this earthshould make you disregard his coming again or the time of hiscoming. His coming will be like a thief. Nobody knows when athief will come, that is why wise people would always keep theirdoors closed. Jesus Christ will come at a time you are tempted tothink he may not come.At his coming, the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Allthose things that prevented you from spending your days andresources wisely will now be consumed by fire. When thishappens, what are you going to do? You spent all your life toacquire things on earth, without any place in the new heaven andearth, where will you be? Dear friend, this is the time to bereconciled to him who died to save you.Why not sit down and find out how much you have invested in theworld to come. Certainly if your treasure is in heaven, your mindwill be there the home of righteousness.PRAYERMy Lord, I cannot afford to miss the home of righteousness let melook beyond this world unto where you are. 355

The final word to you is in the words of Apostle Peter, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ\". This is my message of comfortto you as we conclude this theme.You may have shared in the sufferings of Christ as you followhis steps. I am confident that the God of all comfort must havecomforted you. Stand on your secured position. Do not allowthe devil to give you another message.Dear friends, there are so many temptations around. Do notallow yourself to be intimidated, do not look inferior, you arethe original, the child of promise. Nobody can change yourdestiny; God has given you a position. Make every effort tohold it prayerfully. You are the head and not the tail; you havebeen set apart for blessing. Your miracle will surely come; theGod of all comfort will not leave you comfortless.Beloved, leave everything at the feet of Jesus you are about tosmile. Nothing can stop it. These are prophetic words to you asyou look to a new beginning that will usher you into the realmof abundance. Claim it and it shall be so. Don't be carried awayby the error of lawless men, so that you will not fall from yoursecured position.PRAYERThank you Lord for my privileged position in Christ. I believeevery prophetic word to me in your name. 356

When the Lord had been taken to heaven with a promise that He would come back very soon, the disciples took the task of preaching seriously. There was an earnestexpectation of His 2nd Advent. With this eager expectation onthe part of the Thessalonians Church, Paul therefore wrote tothem that the day of the Lord will not come until the rebellionoccurs, that is, opposition to the rule of God. This is going to beheaded by the man of lawlessness that will be revealed. Hiscommon name is the anti-Christ. One who is against Christ.Certain things that are already taking place now are regarded tobe a prelude to his coming e.g. the Euro currency that has begun.However, apostles John in his writings tell us of many \"anti-Christ\" (1 John 2: 18). The one that the world is expecting may bethe worst of them. I believe that, there are many \"anti-Christ\" allover the places now and the secret power of lawlessness isalready at work. These are the oppositions to the gospel in ourtime. So many teaching centres calling themselves by differentnames, deceiving Christians, telling people that you can reachGod through other means besides Jesus Christ. We are now in theperiod of lawlessness; do not allow the devil through his agents torob you of your Christian hope. This season of Christmas someact of lawlessness will take place, hope you will avoid them.PRAYERHeavenly Father, we pray thee, may we not be given to deceit ordelusion in anyway, grant us the strength of mind to hold on toyou. Amen. 357

Today we celebrate the birth of the Saviour in the little town called Bethlehem. Joseph belonged to the house of David and in obedience to the decree of Caesar Augustus,he left with Mary his betrothed wife to go and register. Whilethey were there it was time for Mary to deliver her first child. Shehad her baby in a manger where animals feed. Although, thisspeaks eloquently about the humility of Jesus Christ, but on thepart of the world no room was made available for Jesus Christ.The world had room for other things but the Saviour had noplace. It is really unfortunate for the world that throughout hisministry, the son of man had no place to lay His head even atdeath no tomb for burial.As we celebrate his birth today, it is pertinent to ask ourselves.Do we have room for Jesus the one whose birthday we arecelebrating? Many of us have spent so much for our immediatefamily and ourselves, have we tried to extend His love towardsothers who may not have the where withal to celebrate?Christmas time is a time of showing love by giving gifts topeople. Our gifts should be more than cards. Many are hungrythey need food. Jesus is the bread of life. Your celebrationbecomes meaningful with lots of rooms for Jesus Christ if weextend this love to others who may not expect it.PRAYERGrant O Lord that we make room for you in our celebrations andmay Christ be known through our celebration. 358

Our text is what I call an encompassing prayer for the Church of God in Thessalonica. Take note of \"sanctify them through and through\". In other words they are tobe sanctified both inwardly and outwardly. The Good Newsversion of the Bible translates it thus; \"make you holy in everyway\". For us to be fit for His coming, sanctification is demandedof our lives. It is not going to be like that of the \"mixedmultitudes.\" The Lord will take His time to separate those whoallowed the work of sanctification already begun at theirconversion to be completed.This sanctification has to do with our whole being - Spirit (theGod conscious aspect), Soul (the self conscious aspect of theinner life) and our Body (the physical aspect that we see). This isvery important because many of us are more concerned about ourbody; we spend too much to nurture it. Yet it is still corruptible.These three are to be kept blameless and perfect. We should notdeceive ourselves that nobody is perfect. Children of God who arelooking heaven - ward are made perfect, because their heavenlyFather is perfect, the Holy Spirit is able to make them perfect.For you to be blameless, you need to respond to the leading of theHoly Spirit, on daily basis he will be carrying out the process ofsanctification and you are becoming blameless. The Christianhope is meant for blameless people.PRAYERO God of peace sanctifies me today through and through, that bythe leading of the Holy Spirit I may be blameless. 359

Stephen the first martyr of the Christian Church was one of the seven men chosen to look after the distribution of assistance to the widows in the early church. Among the seven of themStephen stood out from the others in faith, grace, spiritual power andwisdom (6:5, 8, 10). He was chosen to serve the tables but he had todo more. For he was among those foremost in working miracles andpreaching the gospel.As a result of the grace of God in his life, members of the Hellenisticsynagogue could not contain his ministry. It was too powerful forthem; therefore they brought him before the Sanhedrin on charges ofblasphemy. Stephen with angelic face answered the people with awell calculated historical survey of Israel, how they and their fatherskilled the messiah.At this, he incurred the fury of the council.Without due process for his trial, he was sentenced to death. He methis end courageously, as did his master because he was a man ofhope. While he was being stoned to death, he prayed as Jesus haddone (Luke 23:34) for his persecutors to be forgiven and committedhis soul into Christ's keeping. As we commemorate the death ofStephen as a martyr, we discover that the persecution that followedhis death led to a more widespread preaching of the gospel. Hisdeath prepared the ground for the conversion of Saint Paul. Stephensaw his ministry beyond the tables, how do you see your ownministry?PRAYERHeavenly father, as Stephen prayed for those who stoned him grantthat when we suffer for the truth we may follow his example offorgiveness. 360

John the son of Zebedee, probably the younger son was both an apostle and Evangelist. He was one of the inner circles, what we may call \"inner caucus.\" John seemed tobe the cousin of our Lord Jesus on his mother's side. His parentswere well to do, for his father, a fisherman had \"hired servants\"(Mark 1:20). Mark reported that immediately Jesus called himand his brother James, they left their father and followed(1:19). John and his brother James were nicknamed Boanerges\"Son of Thunder\" (Mark 3:17), probably because they werehigh-spirited, impetuous Galileans, whose zeal wasundisciplined and sometimes misdirected (Luke 9:4-9)The place of John in his master's ministry is undisputable, at thetransfiguration, at Gethsemane, preparation of Passover meal,he was there. Always available at every given opportunity andfor every assignment. Certainly, he was, \"the disciple whomJesus loved\", who lay close to his breast, entrusted with thecare of his mother (John 19:26-27). On the first Eastermorning, he was at the tomb. John lived on to a great age, hewas at Ephesus. He was the author of the gospel, epistle and theRevelation banished to the island of Patmos where he had therevelation. This is the man we remember today, what wouldyou be remembered for?PRAYERMerciful father, guide your Church by the teaching of yourapostle John that we may walk by the light that has come tous and know him as the light of everlasting life. Amen. 361