MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 19/08/2023

SATURDAY- 19TH AUGUST, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

AT SEVENTEEN!

Genesis 37:2, KJV

"These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report".

Imagine what we have above! Joseph being seventeen years old was feeding the flock of his father with his brethren. Just at seventeen or at seventeen! 

Number is not just for mentioning. It's for a purpose. That verse also reveals something in association with Joseph's age. It calls him a "lad" who feeds the flock with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. That should tell you something that's obvious. While David is seventeen years old, just a lad and has entered into active activity and active service, the people he does it with are way older than him. It's not any surprise that they are going about their father's business but we should have our attention commanded reading about the enrollment of Joseph with them as a shepherd (when the Bible calls him a lad).

"...and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah". These are the children of the two maids and Jacob has found none other to enroll Joseph with but them. May you be wise to be enrolled early with those who are known to be professionals in their fields. 

If at seventeen, Joseph feeds his father's flocks and has the testimony of just being a lad, this should tell you how much God wants you to straighten up and discover what to live for. Careless living at one's early age is a curse and inhibition to the satisfactory fulfilment of purpose. If we can find a boy to enroll into service with others who we could call professionals, then such boy ought to be praised for having come early. God wants you to come early. He wants you to begin in the way you'll go that early. Destiny training shouldn't be something that'll await your years to come. It should be foundational so that you might learn and run with it. 

You can have the testimony of pasturing and feeding the flock with those who have been there for long. You may be the youngest in that practice or profession yet your being young doesn't denote stupidity, inadequacy or professional foolishness. As we see of Joseph, he even exercises responsibility and leadership trait by bringing their evil report to their father. The same work the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah (who could be said to have attained) do is what Joseph does. All of them are pasturing and feeding their father's flocks but here's a seventeen years old boy with them. That's a boy whose attention could have been on some other things. However, the father has chosen for him a training to ready him for the future. Anyone who relents the process for you is destroying you. They're secretly making you inadequate. Rather, don't let anyone despise your youth. Prove to be capable like Joseph. Exceed expectation as a young chap that you are. Do this by finding an enterprise to enroll in this early. 

Do remember that Joseph was just seventeen (a lad, a boy) when he feeds his father's flocks with the mature sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. You can be this fortunate to be reputed to have started this early. 

PRAYER: Lord, may I be weaned early and given to purpose and known to match along in purpose with those reputed for it. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Esther 4:1-7:10; 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Psalm 36:1-12; Proverbs 21:21-22

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Click TRANSLATE on the blog & read in your own language. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ http://morningwingsministry.blogspot.com

GOD: OUR PRESENT HELP - Understanding The God Of The Three Tenses (Past, Present & Future) While Affirming The Present Tense And Now God

GOD: OUR PRESENT HELP - Understanding The God Of The Three Tenses (Past, Present & Future) While Affirming The Present Tense And Now God 

I was in devotion this morning when I heard, "God, a present help..." I knew its in the Psalms. However, with it came the remembrance of a hymn we have sang for years. It was only its first stanza that came and appealed to me but I'll sure post all for your encouragement. 

Lyrics - O God Our Help In Ages Past

1. O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

And our eternal home.

2. Within the shadow of thy throne,

Still may we dwell secure.

Sufficient is thine arm alone,

And our defense is sure.

3. Before the hills in order stood,

Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting thou art God,

To endless years the same.

4. O God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Be thou our guide while life shall last

And our eternal home".

This hymn is not ordinary and was not ordinary when it was written or ministered to me. Not that I was gagged or pressed on all sides at the time of receiving but I perceived the Lord gave it to me this morning (as I was doing my own thing) just to encourage many whose hands will find it so. 

"O God, our help in ages past" forever brings to my consciousness that David says, "moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine" (I Sam. 17:37, KJV). 

Can you come to a place in life where when new serial challenges confront you, your default reply would be, "moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will (yet) deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine?" If you're yet not here, it's either you don't know God at all, knows Him but intentionally denies Him (so He might not receive the glory) or you're simply an ingrate. Then, you need an entrance into understanding. 

David being confronted with Goliath seems to be assuring King Saul and the entire army to be at rest because, "He has known a God of last year who's as well the God of this year and who of course will be God of years to come". It doesn't matter what day or what year we're in. That God shall be God over all of them. He's the God of the seasons and times of our lives. The Psalmist knows this and so he confesses in full trust of God and His act, saying, "my times are in God's hands" (Psalm 31:15). Is yours in His hands? Is your yesterday, today and tomorrow reputed to be His to administer and see to? Are you sure of that? Are you born again for it to be His to administer?

The Lord our help in ages past is not only our help in the yesteryears that has passed. That hymn also says, "our hope for years to come". It tells me something. God takes thought for us. He has gone ahead us to put plans in place. He doesn't want us to suffer and so like a child, He bore and delivered us yesterday. But this His work of delivering us (which He did yesterday) did not end there, it extends to the today we are in and the tomorrow we shall be in. 

On this note, God is fit to be called, "our very present help in trouble". Many people have cried and He heard them. He's not only a God whose usefulness strides the yesteryears we've experienced and left; the tomorrow and future we anticipate which we have not seen but that same God qualifies as "our very present help in trouble". That is, "our help today and for today". Hallelujah!

Psalms 46:1, says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble". What do you think that mean? A refuge is a stronghold - a place you run to and into for safety. Simply put, it is a fort or a safety house. God is a refuge. It means, God is your shelter. In Him, no harm can and will come to you. In Him, your security is assured even if you're in a tattered war zone where arrows in stray bullets fly around to harm and pestilence contagiously ruins. Remember, God is all in all your keeper (from it all). If God is your refuge then, it means you can't be shaken, scared and put to flight. Do you know why? A refuge is a place, thing or person that's impregnable. You can't take, capture or defeat it. It always stands tall, still and ever remaining to continue in existence. Refuge is not only security, it is secured itself! Since it can't be shivered, shifted or moved therefore, (and you're in such refuge which is God), it consequently means you won't be moved, removed, relocated or put to flight at the sight of fear and upturning (Psalm 46:2-3). Look, you've become the planting of the Lord therefore. Who will root you up?

But, He's also your strength. God is reputed to supply strength to the weary and give strength to the faint (Isa. 40:29, 31). Those'll be made up of the depressed and downtrodden by Satan, people, national economy and life's events etc. Irrespective of your status which has resulted in lack of strength (joy), God is saying, "I am your strength". Wherever you have lost ability and have been dsyfunctioned, God is saying, "I take interest. It's in such lowliness and weakness I do reveal my strength for your perfection". It means your enabler over life and its events is God. People, God is a strengthener indeed. If you've found strength when you were discouraged, tired and confused before (even at just a simple call on God), you'll know that though God is invisible yet He's interested in human affairs and lives up to all His names (called Him) and revelations (that explains Him). He is not called, "refuge, strength or present help in trouble" in vain. All these reveal God's characteristics. His very essence; tangibility; the smoke he smokes and the fire he can fire. Strength is to pact you together. That's why what lacks strength is what always falls off, away and scatters. Strength is what holds things together. Strength can be invisible yet it will welds you together to keep holding in the face of challenges.  Strength will ensure you still hold together and believe (in continuance) when situation that could cause the natural man to end or run away occurs. It is strength which is God's nature impacted to you that makes you trivializes what crushes others. When you're strengthened, you'll suddenly arrive at faith and have faith in the face of fierce turbulence. Let me affirm that with a passage. Just read and see. 

Genesis 49:23-24, KJV

"23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:).

How many of you read that place? Did you read how, "Joseph's bow abode in strength and how the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob?" They were butchering him but he was not butchered. They want him to give way and succumb to all they're doing to him but he excels them in strength by giving off the opposite of their intention. May your bow today abide in strength. May you always say, "what could Satan, men or situations do to me? I shall remain unafraid" (Psalm 118:6, 56:11).  What do robbers do? They break doors. Imagine five people hitting, beating and clubbing a door (with the intention of pulling it down and gaining entrance through it) but which to their amazement and refusal, the door abides in strength. Strength when impacted to you will make you stand without eroding, melted or ever intimidated. You'll be pact and compacted together. You'll just be and remain like a surrounded city that cannot be taken. I'm hearing, "like the hills surrounds Jerusalem", so are you! Yes, so have you become (Psalm 125:1-2). 

But more importantly, Psalm 46 says, "God is our present help in trouble". Good! Very good! If you're in trouble, don't be embarassed. Being in trouble (though the kind might differ) is uniform to all humans that still breathe. None of us is spared of one trouble or the other. That includes all ministers of God or vessels God do use to evacuate problems in people's lives. That includes me. I have my trouble and will still have my troubles (that's not a curse) but in all, "God is said to be our/my very present help in trouble". 

"...very present help in trouble" means, "rapid response squad; as soon as possible help or deliveries". All of us know how America is portrayed (even in movies). As a country that gives present help to her citizens in trouble. A house ablaze would promptly receive the service of fire fighters and things would be salvaged. A kidnapped citizen by terrorists would immediately receive a commanded troop of operational combat soldiers to quickly rescue her and she'll be rescued. And as such, they praise America. They're not negligent. They're always available. They could be reached. You could call them and they'll pick your call (on time). If you dial their number when it's happening, in that emergency, you can trust their availability and rescue mission. However, let's ask, could America's impeccable services (though not always surviving) tangles God's? So, when the Word of God establishes the fact that, "God is our present help in trouble", it means He's always "at hand". It means, "He's our standby". It means He's constant, sure, reliable and dependable. If you're in trouble at midnight, night, dawn, morning, noon, midday afternoon, evening, summer, winter, dry, rainy seasons etc and you'll acknowledge Him, He'll always come riding on the wings of the cloud to bring you out. Summarily, God doesn't forsake individuals in their trouble and forsaken condition. He spared Joseph in the dry well, collected him from there and set his feet on the road to destiny. He saved Daniel in/from the lion's den and the Hebrew boys even in/from literal fire. In all conditions, He has not failed and will not fail being our present help in trouble. He sounds and answers for us always. 

This idea of, "we run 24 Hours Service" and could be reached is God's idea, identity and life but which was made man's reality in order for us to have an immediate answer and responses to/for all human endeavours of concern. That is what becomes the action of the health sector for which they have helicopters for critical emergencies in order to have a speedy means and edge of saving endangered ruptured lives. If you've been to Lagos, Nigeria before; you'll see the heart of a Government that doesn't want a single life to be lost even when they fall victims of road accidents. On that note, the Government built a facility (a Quick Response Emergency Hospital) by the express road to collect injured victims of road accidents, salvage and put them in the zone of life until total and proper treatment could further be given them. They even have emergency numbers and a transport system that works. You see, all these human innovations are derivations, deductions and acts garnered from the reality of who God is and what He does. That's why America would be stupid to kick God out. The resemblance of anything that works in their system comes from the perfect nature of God that their early founders deducted and took after. If they're now collapsing the stones on which they've been raised, I wonder how long they'll last and how far they could go protecting against things falling apart, the centre not holding and anarchy not reigning?

God is our very present help in trouble. He's not only the God of years past or of ages to come. He's our very present help in trouble - the today God, the now care and deliverance giver. That "very" means He's the immediate deliverer, healer, minder, comforter, encourager, enlarger, strengthener, insurer, inspirer, helper, advocate, intercessor, provider, shield, cover and anything that may be your own need in trouble. 

"In trouble" means at the time of need. You see, all of us will have our darkest moments but the unshakeable reliable truth is that in it, God is our immediate present help. He will deliver us and none of our bones shall be known to have been broken. He'll rescue you and the hurt of the fire will not be seen on you. He'll cleanse you and your flesh shall be reputed to have come alive like that of a newborn from all dieseases (that is having passed through the fire and the waters (but which He disallowed from consuming and overflowing you). What a salvation! What a deliverance! What a rescue and what a Rescuer!

Hmmmm! I give Him kudos! I sound the alarm to celebrate Him. I give an offering just to adore Him. I prostrate fall at His feet! He's overwhelming. One man testifies that, 'He [God] sent from above, he [God] took me; he [God] drew me out of many waters" ( 2 Samuel 22:17, Psalms 18:16). 

That's the type of salvation God is reputed for and for which I'm teaching on His behalf. As soon as people calls or as soon as He notices them there, there's a prompt that soonest. He always come to rescue them out of their many waters. That reminds me of how a water once took me away in my dream and how at the invoking of the name of Jesus, I was brought back. God is with you! Ever with you! Presently with you! Immediately present with you! Very close to you! Always moving things for you, meeting your needs and ploughing ahead for your sake. You may not see Him but He's present and active. He's interested in you (and what you're passing through). He is your very, now and immediate present help in trouble. 

On this note, may He hears you and be for you! If God be for you, who can be...?

Olusola ADEJUMO,

M'Wings. 

Morning Wings Ministry, Nigeria.

+234 81 3704 6812

morningwingministry@gmail.com

15/08/2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 15/08/2023

TUESDAY- 15TH AUGUST, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

THE MOVE OF LOT

READ Gen.13

Genesis 14:11-12, KJV

"11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed".

There are two places on earth: where God is and where He has left. Ensure that you're always where God is. Your everyday safety is tied to that. 

The undoing of Lot begins when he separates from Abraham to pitch his tent towards Sodom (Gen.13:10-12). The Bible witnesses however that the people of Sodom are wicked before God (Gen.13:13). Do you know that in all you do, you must ensure you do not miss God. If you leave where God is to where God is not, you'll have successfully missed God. Many people there be who are just like Lot. They're leaving and separating from where they have good cover to leave for a place where in the nearest future, they'll be taken as prey. What difference would it have made for Lot if he never moved towards Sodom. He does and only turns prey to the events of life. He became a victim of circumstance and a war he knew nothing about. The movement of Lot to Sodom just coincides with the warring of some kings and unfortunately, the king of his city was defeated and put to flight. On that note, Lot and all he has is taken as booty of war. Only for a fellow who came to tell Abraham, the Hebrew. If not, Lot would not have been recovered at all. He would have gone just like that. When he was packing for relocation and settlement, he was actually going where he'll coincide with the evil of the day to come. What difference would it make if he were led by God and had not chosen by sight or prevalent economic situation (Gen 13:10). 

God is our insight into the future we yet don't see and He gives protection to His own who carries Him along all the way. At this level, I don't expect a Christian who has walked with the Lord for at least five years to make decisions on his own on where to live or settle any longer. Such should have understanding enough that there's no where on earth that's safe except where God tells one to stay. Or else, you can pack from A and go to become prey in B. Look at Lot, he just became a cheap prey and war booty because he went to live where he shouldn't have. It doesn't matter who you are or what you have, if you miss God, natural events that shouldn't have caught you but which do happen to natural beings would catch up with you. You'll just be trapped like a fish in an evil net (Eccl. 9:12). The regrets would be much. 

Our insight into escape of futuristic evils is God. I don't have to know all that the future holds. What matters is hearing God on where not to stay, who not to go with, where not to invest my money or where to generally. If I ever get such correctly, if there's a pit down the line hidden or obvious, I shall escape it. God can't lead you and you'll have the testimony of having gone to be ditched. No! The Bible says, "the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want" (Psalm 23). I shall not want means, "I shall not lack or miss anything". It means you'll search all your goods and it'll be whole. You'll inspect your house, number your men and none of them will be wanting.

Numbers 31:49, KJV

"And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge, and there lacketh not one man of us".

Did you read, "and there lacks not one man of us?" It means they missed nothing. That'll be because the Lord is your shepherd. If He is, it means there won't be any area of your life that'll be lacking or wanting. You won't have the testimony to have suddenly incurred lost somewhere. If He ever shepherds you, it'll be to shelter, abundance and great bounty. You won't say, I have losses to count in this area. If you do, you're wanting and in want in that area. But God doesn't lead us to diminishing. He rather leads us so that our path and that of the destroyer will not meet. I pray for you, you won't miss God. You won't fall prey to the circumstances of your time. You'll always be ahead of what's coming. You'll escape today and forevermore. 

PRAYER: Lord, I am not taken unawares. I am shepherded and shall never be in want (look up for an area to be settled or met). All shall have been fixed for me by submission to Your leading.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Nehemiah 5:14-7:73a; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 21:8-10

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Click TRANSLATE on the blog & read in your own language. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ http://morningwingsministry.blogspot.com

WHAT YOU'RE CALLING WILL COME TO BE WITH YOU

WHAT YOU’RE CALLING WILL COME TO BE WITH YOU

That’s what I heard as I continued in God’s presence. Without missing it, it's for us here.

Beware of what you’re incessantly calling. That thing has hearing faculty and would come to be with you. Many people have made requests, signed creeds and entered into accords with spirits, people, events and even places just by their words and how they use it to nod to and validate a connection between themselves and those things.

When you continually cherish and take pride in talking about the country’s economy in its bad light for instance and lend it voices by posting mines, comical skits etc that generalizes what poverty, hardship, evil and difficulty would do to the nation especially when the skit is saying things like, “we’ll eat corn tired, drink gari tired or trek tired”. Do you know you’re under the umbrella of those utterances because the utterance is saying, "we". Unfortunately, I see people re-echo such by saying, "if all things cost, gari has not now or we'll anyway soak gari". You see, you can say enough of that until you're taken seriously. You'll attract and vibrate to yourself frequency that'll tune and lock that greatest verbalized priority of your heart that has been escaping (though ignorantly and foolishly) out of your mouth in and to yourself. Your response to such posts may be of laughter but the domineering spirit of the time i.e poverty, lack, suffering, pain, accident etc which you're incessantly calling, rejoicing and hanging with would have immediately signed an accord and agreement with you. Look, it would come to peep at you one day. You'd be surprised. The bad news is that at its arrival, people are slow of heart to observe it has come and has gone to work in their affairs. That once happened to Jesus' disciples.

You can reinstate something long enough until it takes flesh and comes to dwell with you.

Jesus’ disciples were on their way and while they journeyed and their discussion lasted, they talked about Jesus and all events that pointed to Him. It wasn’t long before the fellow they were missing, longing for, feeling after and are concerned for comes to join them. He just came like that to dwell with them bodily. They even walked the distance and talked together. 

Luke 24:13-16, KJV

"13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him".

You see, they've spoken enough words into the atmosphere (going into the spirit) that assures God that these ones would like to have that Jesus! And here they have Him unmasked! You see, your spirit, soul and body could be homesick for something until it's replicated. The Psalmist asks this.

Psalms 84:1-3, KJV

"1How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God".

From that reading, you know the singular pursuit of that man. You know what he's dying to see, meet, have occurred or realized. And mind you, it's everything in him, all his energy that he channels towards realizing it. Nothing was spared. It is such man that would see God. As at the time of crying, his longing has not been met. So, he's still brooding, vibrating and incubating on seeing it rested. The Bible says, "and the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat" (Genesis  8:4, KJV). While the swallows have found rest, yet not this man. So, he continues his spirit travels. 

You see, though the understanding of the disciples was holden from sensing Him yet they successfully called and attracted Him to themselves. Look at me, by consistent confession and prayer with a burning heart set aflame in asking for that thing and seeking to have it, you can have all things. All your things exists in the faith realm but you can possess them when you're ready. They can be spell-bound to gravitate towards you. 

What you’re calling, you’ll have. Just this afternoon, I was relating something about my mother to my family (my sibling who stays with me also knows). Mama just knows things. Once my elder sister (married) was pregnant and without any hint, it just occurred to Mama to ask her, “hope you’re not pregnant.” One time, something was missing somewhere because it was stolen. Though Mama was not there, when she came meeting the scenario, she told the searchers, “it is XYZ” and afterwards, the fellow owe up. Many instances like that. Just many. So, I summarily told them that’s the manifestation of the gift of revelation - word of knowledge. It means she’s a prophetic vessel or could be used mightily there. God really has special interest and need for her. I once told her that. 

As I went further in that discussion, believe what happened. The anointing just came on me. It was an anointing of insight, understanding, worship, revelation and even prophecy. I suddenly had a motivation to move in the area I was speaking about. Light came and it was a moment of comprehension for me. Things just flooded me that instance. 

Beware of what you’re inviting. Your speech is a call that lays claim and drags things to visibility. Beware of unprofitable demands! You can call it into being. Beware of what you’re thinking or else you would burn things down. Then, beware of what you take into prayer, I assure you, you’ll see them. Please, be sure before you pray against anything, especially persons!

What you’re incessantly talking about would reveal your quest, longing, passion, burning or unconscious/unintentional desire for that thing. 

Beware so you don’t burn a whole building. As I’m seeing into the spirit, you’re a weapon - like a made ready loaded gun. You’re already cocked. What you await is the order to shoot and hunt. Your arrows are sharp and your bullets too effective to miss. Your tongue may be little but it boasts of great things. What it has ability to born and deliver are too mighty to be believed. It is a fire - a world of iniquity.

James 3:6, KJV

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell".

It can set on fire the entire course of nature. So, beware of these ideas, thoughts, words you're cultivating, fellowshipping with or deploying. They're tangibilities that are waiting to blow! It'll be better not to incessantly mention, call, fellowship and habitually play around what you don't want to see (by speaking on, of, about, towards, around) them. Please, don't arouse spirits (Holy or unholy) when you're not ready for their offsprings. It is not only emotion or love that must not be awoken when it's time has not. 

If you do, carrying and wearing your thoughts like burning desires (that must happen tomorrow) on the canvas of your heart, they'll like a mighty rushing wind come to be with you. You'll simply draw and have successfully hit a frequency where the calls you've been making would be eventually picked. Beware! The signal you're sending is being received. Enough of it would descend the God Head and all others as you'll instruct. Beware of ceaseless firing that are not intended. Eeee, God is warning you, "you'll raze something down!"

Olusola ADEJUMO,

M'Wings. 

Morning Wings Ministry Nigeria.

+234 81 3704 6812

morningwingministry@gmail.com

9:19pm - 11:20pm

13/08/2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 14/08/2023

MONDAY- 14TH AUGUST, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

RESOLUTION LIKE THE HILLS

READ Gen.14:1-24

Genesis 14:22-24, KJV

"22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich; 24 Save only that...

The hills (also known as mount) are known for one thing - they can't be shifted (removed or relocated). The Bible says, "they that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever". (Psalms 125:1, KJV). "Abides for ever" means stabilized and stayed in one place. What an assurance of immovability! Today's devotional title says, "resolution like the hills". Yes, like the hills that cannot be removed. It means, "taking a stand and then standing indeed". It means agreeing with one self on what to do and then doing same. Until you do same, you'll be deemed to have not effected your stand". Look, promises can be made but lost!

In today's reading, Abraham goes in the rescue of Lot, his nephew. He not only recovers Lot but all that the raided party had taken away from Sodom. At his conquest and return, the King of Sodom in anxiety snapped at Abraham, signalling what he would prefer of the spoil - the humans. Abraham however displays a kind of contentment and aloofness from same thing that he exercises much energy and covetousness after that he must have been silenced, rebuked and cautioned inwardly. This is what attitude Christians should cultivate. God should be able to use you to puncture lust of the flesh, of the eyes and pride of life in people. By our lives, they should be judged and brought to repentance even if they don't tell us. I know that the King of Sodom must have been seriously shocked at how Abraham had promised not to take anything apart from what his confederates have eaten and which should rightly belong to them. Another moral that we must owe no man anything! Don't crucify any man to your sacrifice and personal chastisement unless they're born by the same revelation and so come into agreement.

However, our flashlight should be on Abraham and how he bound himself with an oath on taking nothing extra. You see, those who take such precaution before hand shall be saved from the hour of temptation because they'll have successfully gated against it by their having already taken a stand. 

Abraham swore with the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth and all that's in them. It becomes difficult or impossible for him breaking his commitment. When he takes that oath (signified by a lift of hand), he decides and comes to a resolution on what he'll do and not do (no matter how tempted he might be). And indeed, Abraham could have been tempted but he resolutely affirm to this king that he had lifted his hand (in an oath) to the God that cannot be disappointed or violated that he'll neither take the least of the booty except what by properness should be given as payment and wages to his confederates. What a resolution! He said it and he fulfilled it. This is a resolution like the hills - that cannot be shifted, removed or relocated!

Brethren, God is calling you to hold unto that which is good and jettison that which is evil. You need to be resolute on that if you won't be moved or removed. Many a people are those who have secretly affirm that they'll save, give up a habit or cultivate another. At day's end when they're confronted with the practicality of that subject, off they went. They were knocked down and shadow boxed by what they'd promised themselves in  front of [heaven's cloud of witnesses] that they'll do. But we have a man in Abraham to learn from. A man who was not swayed, swept or suddenly discouraged from following through. Brethren, learn following through! When you agree with yourself to do something, heaven is your witness though no man be there. You have their backing and God's grace is your sufficient aid. Don't disappoint because heaven won't let go if you'll hold on still. You too, you can lift your hand today and say, "I shall not back down until I see God's will fulfilled in me and through me. His righteousness and knowledge must fill everywhere like the water covers the sea". Since He Himself has no pleasure in violators of vow [either the one made to Him or before Him], this assures us that He'll give His own commitment to fulfill your undertaking [Eccl.5:4-5). Did He not say, "I'm with you till the end of the world (Matt. 28:20)?" Look, you can go about His assignment and believe indeed that nothing shall by any means hurt you. 

PRAYER: Lord, You're the same yesterday, today and forever. I believe in Your unchanging/immovable nature. Impact me with such strength. I shall not move or be removed. I shall say it and I shall do it.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Nehemiah 5:14-7:73a; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Psalm 33:1-11; Proverbs 21:8-10

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Click TRANSLATE on the blog & read in your own language. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ http://morningwingsministry.blogspot.com

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

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Click TRANSLATE on the blog & read in your own language. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ http://morningwingsministry.blogspot.com

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 12/08/2023

SATURDAY- 12TH AUGUST, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

YOU WILL CALL HIS NAME JOHN

Luke 1:13, KJV

"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John".

So far, we have looked at naming after experience (s) or even expectation (s). We still want to push this untitled series further. 

The angel that met Zacharias told him, he shall name the son that'll be born to him, John. This is a revelation to him. Receiving by revelation is possible and it could be either ways. Either you pray to God for it or God voluntarily for a reason of His own gives you such disclosure.

The name John is a strange name. You may not know it is strange until you read witnesses from those who called it so. 

Luke 1:59-61, KJV

"59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John. 61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name".

Do you know what is fighting a lot of people? It is not the multitude of people contesting what God has told them but the fact that they themselves can't take a stand. Many people have feet but they can't still stand let alone take a stand. They are too feeble and are easily persuaded out of God's will. If need be, let me warn you that if you're easily persuaded out of God's will and you aren't bold and strong will on what the Holy Spirit has told you to do, you'll grieve Him many times and be at loggerheads with God. 

The name John is a revelatory communicated name to Zacharias, the father of John. Thank God he carried his wife along on what the baby would be named. On his naming ceremony, the just born baby is named Zacharias after his father. To the masses of relatives and crowd there, nothing is wrong in that. It is a good thing for a child to bear even his father's name in our dispensation. The many "juniors" you'd find comes as a derivation from the name of their father. For instance, you know we have Martin Luther King (the father) and then we have Martin Luther King (Junior). That idea still runs today. They'd almost named the new born baby Zacharias when the mother protested that he shall be named John. When she said that, everybody becomes sorely surprised at the strangeness of her utterance because no one in their family cycle, household or let's say lineage bears that name. 

Let me quickly tell you that you can name your child after your own desires. Some in the process of wanting to carve such uniqueness for their children have gone into the Greek or Hellenist and the Roman Cultures to name after gods and exotic beings. They want to appear impressing, civil and special. You'd better be careful to seek the will of God and let it be done. Or else, you'd called somebody a name that'll grieve and frustrate them in the spirit so much more that it'll be evidenced they're being frustrated and gagged on earth and in their day to day living. 

Parents must learn to stay with the will of God like Elizabeth protested and demanded that the baby be named John. We know that the name is strange but that's what God said he should be called. We should not be afraid of doing contrary to age long traditions or dispensational practices when it's the Lord calling for their being set aside. When do we become shivering kittens that are controlled by the spirit of the age instead of the Spirit of truth? I don't care whether it is strange to do or not, if I know it's the Lord and I can prove that, I'd take the step. Elisabeth could have been sidelined and the boy eventually named after his father but for the timely confirmation from his father. Seeing that it is not the authoring of Elizabeth alone that the baby be named such unfamiliar name, they all succumb to the will of the parents. The boy became known as John and so the will of God is effected over him. 

This drama reveals the contest against God's will and it has just told me one thing. Every God's will, thought and breathing shall be contested and fought against. The devil will hide his thoughts in fighting them under expressions like, "none of your kindred bear this name". What he's seeking to do is to have you embarassed and portrayed as a breaker of age long tradition (an unruly and disobedient fellow). Once he can make you afraid of being a first timer on such divine ground God is solely calling you to, you'll be finished. So, learn not to be afraid. Learn to be called to do the unpopular and if it be God, you shall prove Him so in years to come. We all know how great and greatly to be praised John became in the will of God. He was a very critical messenger. Except he appears, Jesus couldn't have appeared. He was meant to identify Jesus through his baptism (John 1:33) and even to give Jesus' ministry the needed public approval it needs to be floated (John 1:29-38). But according to God's revealed will, he shall be called John and not Zacharias. Many a children bearing Zacharias after their parents, grandparents and many noble people who God didn't ordain that they'll wear the hides or skin of those men. By wearing their hides or skins, they have now become encroachers into the destinies and lives of others. They are nothing but Jacobs trying to appear as an Esau when God has not called them one (Gen.27:15-16). They're trapped in the lives others have lived and in the assignments others have executed. They're in the world trying to find their feet. They are consequently lost from the onset trying to wear the shoes of another and walk in his steps. They have failed to be adjured to see that God is calling them to take a new land and go on a new path. They are seeking to discover themselves and shake off the garment they've been worn and the lies with which they've been clothed. They become mimicks and in turn mockeries. As God has supremely seen, He rather wants to carve a new path for them. You can allow God, contest Him or distort His plan. You will choose! However, may God's angel meet such and ask them what name they bear in the light of renaming and recalibrating them. May they not go, labour and tarry under the hides and skin of another or a wrong name forever when they're destined for more. 

PRAYER: Lord, give me a new name. I put off every wrong names, hides and skin that have been worn me. I look as you designed and function so.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Nehemiah 1:1-3:14; 1 Corinthians 7:1-24; Psalm 31:19-24; Proverbs 21:4

Powered by Morning Wings Ministries. Click TRANSLATE on the blog & read in your own language. Enquire or counsel through +234 80 77 63 85 50 or +234 8137 04 68 12 II morningwingministry@gmail.com & Blog @ http://morningwingsministry.blogspot.com