Obedience, A Prerequisite For Abundance Blessings

Devotion for Friday March 23, 2018

Topic: Obedience, A Prerequisite For Abundance Blessings

Text: Deuteronomy 28:1 – 14                

Moses took only 14 verses in this chapter to explain obedience which is a secret to abundance (blessings) life and used the remaining 54 verses of this chapter to speak about disobedience and its consequences (curses). Why did he spend so much time talking about disobedience? He did that because human nature is always inclined to sin and disobedience. 

Moses was emphatic that obedience is the very key (Deuteronomy 28:1, 2) to assessing the numerous blessing mentioned in Deuteronomy 28: 3 – 14. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God. God requires them live righteously in their families and nation at large, and then by God’s providence all their outward concerns would prosper. This is God’s assurance of His blessing upon His people. Those blessings which others greedily follow after, and never overtake, shall follow after them, and shall be thrown into their laps by God’s special kindness because they are His people who obey His voice. 

Naturally, there is the tendency to bless those who obey us and this is same with God. How obedient are you to God’s commandments? Do you make light of them? Remember that just as the whole destiny of Israelites was laid before them, as it was to result from their obedience or the contrary, so it has been laid out for us. Make the right choice now. 

Sing SS&S 493; Abu 175

Food for Thought: Only he who believes is obedient and only he, who is obedient, believes.

Memory verse: Deuteronomy 28:2

Prayer: God, I need the grace to obey your commandments which is a prerequisite for abundant blessing in Jesus name.

Action Generates Abundance

Devotion for Thursday March 22, 2018

Topic: Action Generates Abundance

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 17                           

God instructed Isaac to stay in the land of the Philistines instead of going down to Egypt as his father Abraham did (Genesis 26:2 – 4). Isaac obeyed and dwelt in Gerar (Genesis 26:6). God told him to stay and he took action to ensure that he walks in line with all the promises God made to him. He sowed and the reward was outstanding (Genesis 26:12). The description of the reward Isaac received is challenging (Genesis 26:13) – “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.” It was the action taken by Isaac that God required to bless him. God indeed blessed him which made the Philistines to start envying him. You need to enter into an action God needs to bless you so that it will make your enemies to start envying you in Jesus name. Beloved, if you desire to live in abundance, you need to take a step and action that God requires to bless you. God gave Israelites manna in the wilderness but He did not throw it into their tents. They went out for the manna. You need to take action today. Don’t fold your hands and keep waiting for the promised blessing. Isaac didn’t start sleeping and praying for blessings rather he took action. Today some Christians are lazy. They prefer to stay at home believing and claiming all the promises of God without a corresponding action. The action you will take now will determine what you will become or the kind of abundance that will attend your way this year and beyond. 

Sing A&M 483

Food for Thought: “Great ideas means nothing without world-class willpower to get the big ideas done” – Robin Sharma.  

Memory verse: Genesis 22:12

Prayer: Lord, lead me into what I will do so that your promised blessing will begin to manifest in my life and family in Jesus name. 

Giving Is Source Of Abundance

Devotion for Saturday January 27, 2018

Topic: Giving Is Source Of Abundance

Text: Luke 6:30 – 38

Generosity in giving of material goods as well as love, compassion, and forgiveness of others will result in returned generosity from God and men to us in the same measure. Jesus wants us to be merciful and loving, not selfish or spiteful. He is against retaliation and the concept of an eye-for-an-eye recompense for wrongdoing. The illustration here is of blessings being returned in a bushel basket, filled to the brim, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, then running over.

Jesus wants our measure of mercy and kindness to overflow. Those who give easily will find goodness coming back to them. Those who are stingy and reluctant givers will receive in the same way. Jesus assures that the recompense will be in good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over to accommodate more. Being liberal is the way to riches; giving is the best and surest way of thriving.

The woman of Zarephath gave her last and that opened doors of abundance for her. Beloved, if you want to live in abundance this year, plan and give; give to genuine needy people, widows, destitute, the Levites and others who will not return or recompense your good deeds. Surely, your reward will be great. Start today by giving what you have to that person that will ask for it.

Sing A&M 361; Abu 128

Food for Thought: God has given us two hands-one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. – Billy Graham

Memory verse: Luke 6:38

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to give because it is a way to make me look like you, the giver of all things in Jesus name. Amen. 

One Secret Of Abundance

Devotion for Friday October 27, 2017

Topic: One Secret Of Abundance

Text: James 4:1 – 3

Yesterday’s food for thought was James 4:1- 3, which speaks that we ask amiss and don’t get from God. James mentioned the reason for this in that verse as avarice. Charles Caleb Colton said that, “Avarice has ruined more souls that extravagance.” A greedy person is like a bottomless pit which never gets filled.  Such a fellow will exhaust all efforts to get satisfaction but can never be satisfied. The story of Ahab and Naboth’s vineyard is an example. Lust and greed are inseparable twins. It leads to covetousness and murder as James made us to understand. He reprehends them who are not ashamed to make God the minister and helper of their lust and pleasures, in asking for their wicked motives and uses.

We pray amiss and don’t have when our aims and ends are not right with God. In prayer, we must consider three things; 1) the object, 2) the manner and 3) the end. We must not only guard our affections, but secure our intentions; for prayers that want a good aim, do also want a good issue. What is you aim for the 7 days, 21 days or 40 days fasting and prayers? Is it aimed at expanding the kingdom of God or for worldly satisfactions in cars, husband, job, money, children, etc? If any of these or many others not mentioned here is your reason for the fasting and prayer, you are not getting it right or you may be asking for what God will give you that you will regret at the end. Remember the case of manna the Israelites had with God in the wilderness. Have you ever considered why God don’t answer all the prayers we say?

If we intend to pray and have what we ask for in abundance, then we should always consider our object, manner and end before praying. Certainly, God will answer you, and your joy will be full (John 16:24).

Food for Thought: “If your desires be endless, your cares and fears will be so too” – Thomas Fuller

Memory verse: James 4:2

Prayer: Re-order my motives in prayer O Lord, so I will not do things wrongly and end up without a reward in Jesus name. Amen.

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE 4 (TITHING): Devotion for Sunday February 28, 2016

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE 4 (TITHING): Devotion for Sunday February 28, 2016

Text: Malachi 3:7 – 12                    Memory verse: v 10

Many Christians go about these days in sorrow and poverty because they have refused to apply God‘s basic principle of living in abundance. For the past 3 days, we have seen some of the secret of abundance and today we have another secret. Abundance is never through anointing. It doesn’t come through fasting and prayer. It comes through practice. According to Family Bible Notes, “When God's people meet Him with all the tithes in their hands; He meets them with His abundant blessing. The reason why they so often walk mournfully before Him for a long time and receive no answer, is, that they have, like Ananias and Sapphira, kept back part of the price.” God threw a challenge to us to try Him by paying our tithe. Tithing should not be selective. When we do it whole heartedly, the reward will be outstanding. I have tried this and have seen the reward of it.

Many people are usually afraid they may not survive the month when they remove one tenth of their income. Expression of fear is a trick of the devil to deny you the blessings that goes with tithing. What God needs here is our obedience. This is the message in Leviticus 26. God doesn’t need our tithe to be God. He gave the command to test our obedience and love for Him. How much do you love God? Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandment.” Are you doing that?

Food for Thought: Love for God is seen in our obedience to His command

Prayer: My God and my Father, help me to be faithful in paying my tithe.         

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (ACTION) 1: Devotion for Thursday February 25, 2016

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (ACTION) 1: Devotion for Thursday February 25, 2016      

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 17                            Memory verse: v 12

God instructed Isaac to stay in the land of the Philistines instead of going down to Egypt as his father Abraham did (26:2–4). Isaac obeyed and dwelt in Gerar (26:6). God told him to stay and he took action to ensure that he walks in line with all the promises God made to him. He sowed and the reward was outstanding (26:12). The description of the reward Isaac received is challenging (26:13) – “The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous.” It was the action taken by Isaac that God required to bless him. God indeed blessed him which made the Philistines to start envying him. May God in His mercies, do something in your life that will attract envy of people in Jesus name.

Beloved, if you desire to live in abundance, you need to take a step and action that God requires to bless you. God gave Israelis manna in the wilderness but He did not throw it into their tents. They went out for the manna. You need to take action today. Don’t fold your hands and keep waiting for the “wealth of the Gentiles” as some lazy Christians do or you stay at home believing and claiming all the promises of God without a corresponding action. The action you will take now will determine what you will become or the kind of abundance that will attend your way this year.

Food for Thought: “Great ideas means nothing without world-class willpower to get the big ideas done” – Robin Sharma.  

Prayer: Lord, lead me into what I will do so that your promised blessing will begin to manifest in my life and family in Jesus name.

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (OBEDIENCE) 2: Devotion for Friday February 26, 2016

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (OBEDIENCE) 2: Devotion for Friday February 26, 2016

Text: Deuteronomy 28:1 – 14                 Memory verse: v 2

Moses took only 14 verses in this chapter to explain obedience which is one secret of abundance (blessing) and used the remaining 54 verses of this chapter to speak about disobedience and its consequences (curses). Why did he spend so much time talking about disobedience? He did that because human beings by nature are always inclined to sin and disobedience. Moses was emphatic that obedience is the very key (28:1, 2) to assessing the numerous blessing mentioned in 28:3–14. The blessing is promised, upon condition that they diligently hearken to the voice of God. God requires them live righteously in their families and nation at large, then the providence of God would prosper all their outward concerns.

Here is God’s assurance of blessing His people. Those blessings which others greedily follow after, and never overtake, shall follow after us, and shall be thrown into our laps by God’s special kindness because we are His people who obey His voice. Naturally, there is the tendency to bless those who obey us. This is same with God. How obedient are you to God’s commandments? Do you make light of them? Remember that just as the whole destiny of Israelis was laid before them, as it was to result from their obedience or the contrary, so it has been laid out for us. The choice is all yours.  

Food for Thought: Only he who believes is obedient and only he, who is obedient, believes.

Prayer: God, I need your grace to obey your commandments which is a prerequisite for abundant blessing in Jesus name.

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (GIVING) 3: Devotion for Saturday February 27, 2016

SECRET OF ABUNDANCE (GIVING) 3: Devotion for Saturday February 27, 2016

Text: Luke 6:38     Memory verse: v 38

Generosity in giving of material goods as well as love, compassion, and forgiveness of others will result in returned generosity from God and men to us. Jesus wants us to be merciful and loving, not selfish or spiteful. He is against retaliation and the concept of an eye-for-an-eye recompense for wrongdoing. The illustration here is of blessings being returned in a bushel basket, filled to the brim, pressed down and shaken together to make room for more, then running over. Jesus wants our measure of mercy to overflow. Those who give easily will find goodness coming back to them. Those who are stingy and reluctant givers will receive in the same way.

There is not one text of scripture that declares the bounty of God more fully in rewarding acts of charity and mercy than our text today. Jesus assures that the recompense will be in good measure, pressed down shaken together and running over to accommodate more. Being liberal is the way to riches; giving is the best and surest way of thriving. The woman of Zarephath gave her last and that opened doors of abundance for her. Beloved, if you want to live in abundance this year, plan and give; give to genuine needy people, widows, destitute, the Levites, etc. Surely, your reward will be great. Start today by giving what you have.

Food for Thought: God has given us two hands-one to receive with and the other to give with. We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for sharing. – Billy Graham

Prayer: Lord, teach me how to give because it is a way to make me look like you, the giver of all things.