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. 

ISAAC SOWED: Devotion for Saturday September 3, 2016

ISAAC SOWED: Devotion for Saturday September 3, 2016

Text: Genesis 26:12 – 14           Memory verse: Genesis 26:12     

The instruction God gave Isaac in Genesis 26:2 & 3 was "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.” Isaac obeyed God’s instruction and stayed in Gerar (Genesis 26:6). He didn’t just stay, waiting for fulfillment of God’s promise. In the interim, he sowed in the land where he was a stranger and God blessed him 100 times more than what he sowed. He was not waiting for the death of the Philistines to inherit their blessings. The blessing of God upon him attracted envy of his landlords, the Philistines (Genesis 26:7). They forced Isaac go out of their country. Wisdom and discretion teaches us to give up our right, and to draw back from contentions. That was what David did when Saul went after him. He ran to the Philistines.  If we are wrongfully driven out from one place, the Lord will make room for us in another. So it was in the case of Isaac.

We should understand that Isaac didn’t wait for God’s blessings as promised to start manifesting. He went ahead to do something for himself. It was what he was doing that God blessed and he prospered therein. God has promised to bless us. But we still have a part to play in bringing the promises to fulfillment. When God provided manna, He kept them outside and not inside the tent. He could have sent them into their tents but it wasn’t so because He wanted to teach them that they have a part to play in their blessings. Again it was to test their obedience. Isaac obeyed God and stayed in Gerar when God blessed him and he prospered. How obedient are you to God’s instructions?

Food for Thought: What and where can you sow so as to reap abundantly?

Prayer: As I sow, O Lord, may I reap in abundance in Jesus name. Grant that I will not reap into a leaking pocket in Jesus name.

We Have A Wonderful Future: Devotion for Thursday September 1, 2016

We Have A Wonderful Future: Devotion for Thursday September 1, 2016

Text: Proverbs 23:17, 18               Memory verse: Proverbs 13:18

Most times, it is easy to envy those who get ahead, unhampered by responsibility to God’s laws. These people do not care if God’s law exists. They can do anything to make ends meet or acquire wealth without thinking about the consequences that might follow. For a time they do seem to prosper without paying any attention to what God wants, but they have no future. Everything they have acquired is temporal and most unfortunate aspect of it is that they cannot take any of that wealth out of this earth.

Do not resent them because of the perceived liberty they take to sin at will or the success they have may have acquired in sin. Certainly, it will cost them dearly as they do not have future and they are to be pitied instead of being envied. Envying them means that we are not sure of the God we serve. Again, we should note that there is an end of all their prosperities and successes. They will not continue forever. They are limited and are vanity upon vanity. In the same manner, I wish to remind you that there will be an end of your afflictions, pain, sickness, poverty, humiliation, etc. Therefore, be not weary of the problems you are currently passing through, an end of your hard services, afflictions, pain, sickness, poverty, humiliation, warfare, etc, is at hand. Your will and desires will be accomplished. Therefore, we shouldn’t envy sinners. We have well known cases of their end in our neighbourhood. Can you recall any?

To those who follow God, He promises a hope and a wonderful future, even if they don’t realize it in this life. Perfect love casts out fear, and your expectation of the reward not only will not be cut off, or disappointed but it will certainly be done. The knowledge of our wonderful future will help to reconcile us to all the difficulties and discouragements of the way (Heb. 12:2). Don’t let the disappointment of last month spoil your joy of this new month. You have a wonderful future. Don’t give up. God hasn’t done with you. There is something special waiting for you in this new month. Happy new month!   

Food for Thought: The knowledge of our wonderful future will help to reconcile us to all the difficulties and discouragements of the way.

Prayer: Lord, grant me full understanding that I have a wonderful future which will guide my actions today and forever, in Jesus name.

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.