MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 13/08/2023

SUNDAY- 13TH AUGUST, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

THE NAMES JUPITER AND MERCURY

Acts 14:11-12, KJV

"11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

You can earn yourself a name. Name is very powerful as a means of identity. Paul and Barnabas earned themselves names. Not that they were intentionally driven at that but that was one of the honours of their being used by God. 

After the healing of that lame from his mother's womb, everybody in surprise of what was done couldn't keep shut but rather say, "the gods have come down to us in the likeness of men". Why would they say that? Why would they compare them to the gods? That's obviously because of the great miracle wrought by their hands. They are privy to how long that lame must have been there. They'd repeatedly seen him. They knew it was not a scam that he therefore rose up and walked. Seeing that, they accord it as only what the gods could have done. And indeed, a miracle is not what any human could do. Christians only do it because the Holy Spirit (a God) enables him. So, they're correct to an extent when they said, "the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men". Only that they were corrupt in their understanding of who to give credit and glory to. It wasn't the gods Jupiter or Mercury or any other but God almighty who don't live in houses made by human hands.

On that note, seeing there are two speakers, they named Barnabas, Jupiter and Paul, Mercurius. Who's Jupiter and who's Mercurius and why would they name these two apostles after them (in their own understanding and as a means of venerating them - the apostles).

Briefly, Jupiter is the god of the sky and thunder, and king of the gods in ancient Roman religion and mythology. Jupiter was the chief deity of Roman state religion throughout the Republican and Imperial eras, until Christianity became the dominant religion of the Empire. Meanwhile, Mercurius is a major god in Roman religion and mythology, being one of the 12 Dii Consentes within the ancient Roman pantheon. He is the god of financial gain, commerce, eloquence, messages, communication (including divination), travelers, boundaries, luck, trickery, and thieves; he also serves as the guide of souls to the underworld. 

We may begin to gather insights into why Paul especially was given the name Mercurius. Mercurius is the god of eloquence, messages and communication. No wonder Paul was given that name on the basis that he was the chief speaker. Chief speaker immediately reminds you of high school debates where there's a main and supporting speakers. For the orality of Paul, he earned a name after a god whose characteristics he displayed. 

Now, you may wonder and rebuke Satan for these two apostles. You may be jealous for their sakes and do not want them be joined to idols. However, you ought see that it is the life they already have and which they lived out that earned them that name. They're not trying to mimick those gods in attitudes. If it were possible, it's the gods and their people who are looking unto them. They didn't give that name to them from expectation. They did from experience and contact of having known them to be supernatural men - the likes of the gods. On that note, they have those names. The truth is that you can earn a name by what you do, how you live or what you're reputed for. This same name, "Barnabas" was a surname given to Joses. Barnabas means "the son of consolation" (Acts 4:36). As we all know, consolation or comfort is the byproduct of a prophet's or exhorter's offices. Having observed he has such gift, they recognized it by naming him after a life he lives and the task he does. So, he earns Barnabas. 

Christians are in this world to be light and sweet perfume spreading the fragrance of Christ. The testimony concerning us should be so blessed that we'll be reputed for a healer, lover, giver, comforter, helper, encourager, blesser etc. Watch it if you've been misnamed due to unrighteousness and misbehaviour. 

PRAYER: Teach me holily and power packed living that I may be answers to all in needs. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Nehemiah 3:15-5:13; 1 Corinthians 7:25-40; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 21:5-7

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 01/08/2023

TUESDAY- 1ST AUGUST, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

Happy Risen & Upright Month!

THE WOES OF DEMAS

II Timothy 4:10, KJV

"For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia".

Did you read that? Let me quicky ask you this. What would you be reputed for? Paul says, "Demas has forsaken him, having loved this present world". Let me say that God is not saying you shouldn't have other loves or interests. However, nothing must rival or tower Him. For Demas, something towered God's love and the calling in his life. It's such thing that you love more that'll eventually have you. That's why Demas couldn't escape it. Paul says, "having loved this present world". That's the world that'll fail, that'll pass. You should observe what idea Paul seeks to convey. The revelation that what he fell for doesn't worth it. He fell for this present world - what you and I know will pass away with its lust (I John 2:17). Many are still falling for the ephemeralness of what Demas fell for. They yet haven't seen the tangibility in operating their callings but rather to seek after distraction. Just for a little kingdom of the world dangled before them, they immediately forget they are on a messianic mission to save people and bring them Christ's light. The devil tempted Jesus with this present world also. He told Him to bow to him and that He'll be rewarded with "all these things". You see, "all these things" have been the woes of many men. 

Matthew 4:8-9, KJV 

"8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me".

It is that "all these things" that Demas couldn't resist. All these things stole him from God's kingdom and its righteousness. So little. Probably a few gold, purple dresses, proper shelter and ladies' bosoms that he could grab and hold unto. That's all. Or it might be a personal ambition or dream devoid of Christ and His will. Paul in anguish lament at that. Just look at the expression. 

Demas has forsaken me also reveals a sort of betrayal that's not expected or that which causes awe but what would he do? Demas has made his choice of who to go be with. Paul here is symbolic of the call and Demas has chosen to separate from him. Demas sure has his lot in their ministry. However, his eyes couldn't stay in one place. He loved this present world and went to Thessalonica after it. As typical of those who later went to be with the world (departing from their calls), they must have longed, interacted and visited the world for long occasionally until they finally decided to take that last step to be with it and stay with it perpetually. The step that tore them separably from Christ. The very opportunity Satan was awaiting all this while. Eventually, his wishes has come to pass over them. 

Jesus speaking of Satan and his desires over men, especially men of the calling says this to Peter. 

Luke 22:31-32, KJV

"31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren".

When you sift something, it's to make a separation between two things and to regard one and disregard the other. When Satan asks to sieve Peter, he wanted to sieve him of all the substances of his faith so he could be easily trapped and handled by him. Nothing will remain because the substance of faith, virtue, prayer, fellowship, Bible study, zeal for God would have all been eliminated. It means such victim is now a shaft that the wind could not only carry but toss wherever it wants. How? What would make him endure, resist and persevere has been taken away. So, he'll just be too weak and vulnerable to resist Satan one bit. That was Satan's plan, wish, desire and prayer over Peter. However, he found grace because somebody interceded for him. Ooooh, may you enjoy intercession and interception. May you not be taken away like that. May there be a fight over you which will result into your eventual salvation. This road of forsaking the call which you're beginning to tour, may its cycle not be completed over you. May you come to your understanding. May you not leave where you already have a measure of testimony and could be said to have obtained a part of the ministry to ephemeralness and what doesn't really reward. May you not sell your share and remove yourself from being a stakeholder in what Christ owns which you're building on. May you stay and grow old with your call. 

PRAYER: Lord, save me from covetousness. A man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of what he has. May I not be enticed successfully by this present world.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21; Romans 15:1-22; Psalm 25:1-15; Proverbs 20:13-15

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 15/07/2023

SATURDAY - 15TH JULY, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE -  Olusola ADEJUMO

BUT IT'S NOT OVER

II Timothy 1:6, KJV  

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands".

"Once a soldier is always a soldier", is what I said and used as a short admonishment on a platform for one of our past excos with whom I served. It's not that she backslided. That's not our prayer for anyone. But I said that to put her in remembrance of God's grace on her. Many are likely to forget how God started with them and so despise their little days of beginning instead of stretching it further. The Bible recorded how Samson in his beginning began to be stirred by the Spirit of the Lord. It began somewhere in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol (Judges 13:25). Also, Paul had to put Timothy in remembrance of what he had received in the very beginning.

II Timothy 1:6, KJV  

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands".

When do you think he received the gift being spoken of here? In his beginning. Not at the time this was coming from Paul to him. Never! He had already received. So, I just found myself saying that under the anointing. After saying that, I found the anointing hit me and stirring a teaching in me. So, I set pen to paper. 

One thing that you must not let die is the former things in your life which you have received from God or started this spiritual journey with. Spiritual gifts, calling and God's doing with which He started in your life should not decrease but daily and often seek expression and glow in flying colours. 

Jesus speaking to one of the seven churches says, "4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent" (Revelation 2:4-5, KJV). 

Look at what Jesus said to this church. That it has left its first love. Let me ask you, especially those who used to be something on campus and at their very beginning if you're still that thing or now still continues and grows in the spirit of that thing. If not, you have left your first love. But did you hear what the Lord said there? "That he should remember where he has fallen and repent."

Whenever you have a thing like that said about you, God is trying to call you into account of your life and He wants you to go back in retrospect to search and locate what the point of entry is in your life when you begin to leak God's investment, grace and so begin to diminish in content - spirit and anointing. You must remember where you have fallen. Repent and do your first works. Not doing so is very consequential. You must not despise this call of God to grace, replenishment and restoration. Currently, God is coming for people who have been wasted. Looking at them, they are the carcasses of themselves. They look like a desolate or wasted land. They no longer resemble who they were or what they started with in those former days. As a matter of fact, the story they now tell and what they have to boast is just the old wine of those old days. God is saying, strengthen what's left!" Something is still left. Once a soldier is always a soldier. That's our saying on campus and it's indeed true. Those of you God has enlisted long time ago into His army but who have gone back, God is saying I have not withdrawn that call on you. It is still there. The calling and gifts of God are without repentance (Rom.11:29). Kick-start in the things of God again. Let the Holy Spirit hook you up to a divine assignment and you shall see those buried, latent and hurt virtues rise and speak great things. At the scent of water, it shall bud up again. So says the Bible (Job 14:9). 

I am sensing, there are those who are weak, too weak to stand up on their own which is why God has brought this grace to help them stand and regain their stamina by first finding their foot in the things of God. The grace to take them by the hands and lift them up from where Satan, sin and all sorts of disobedience have reduced them to a crumb of bread is what God has brought now. If especially you're a victim of witchcraft but used to be something before, God is concerned about your restoration also.

Do you know the passage of the Bible that occurs to my mind? It's the images of Peter and John at the beautiful gate. It is written that they took him by the hand and lifted him up. Who?

"2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 

6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.  

7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.  

8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God." 

Immediately, there's a testimony that his feet and ankle bones received strength but that's because he was aided or assisted by a supernatural deposit. You must know that the touch of Peter helped established a contact and so he received the anointing to help him over that particular deficient area of his life. You're receiving such help but supernaturally now in JESUS' name. You, you'll be aided to rise, stand up and walk in your grace, office and anointing again. You shall see visions like those days again. Your flow is flowing again. 

Currently, strength is aiding you. I say, stand up. Receive Spirit's aid. Let strength rush to your area of weakness and superiorly superimpose itself over your weakness. Your weakness shall no longer backstab you because today, God is coming to lift you from that place you are dropped, forgotten and have been relegated to - cringing like a beggar though you're a spiritual warlord. I say, rise. I call you forth from the dead. Whereever your prince has been walking on foot, I declare, "be reinstated." God's supernatural power is doing it. What I hear is that, "the zeal of the Lord God of hosts is doing it" (Isa.9:7). It is now and not tomorrow. Let your graves open. Fly out of every prison. Let your shackles be broken. Be collected from the holes and every dry wells. Receive a new donation of strength to run and serve with. Be glad and jubilant like that man. Run and not be weary. Mount up with wings like an eagle. Go in the strength of today's ministration and fulfill your destiny by going full length like Elijah went in the strength of those meals all the way to Mount Horeb, the mount of God. So shall it be. It's the hands of the Lord that has caused it. Receive your great revival, the opening of your graves, your setting on your feet a great army from nothingness and the spoil of the enemy. Never forget but always be put in remembrance.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for the restoration.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14; Acts 27:21-44; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 18:23-24

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