MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 22/11/2023

SATURDAY - 2ND DECEMBER, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE MESSIAH IS HERE - I Perceive Series 001

John 4:25-26, KJV

"The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he."

If you follow the line of interaction between Jesus and this woman of Samaria, you'll see that the conversation encompasses water, the living water, the rightful place of worship etc. Until Jesus told her she has had five husbands before, she seems not to esteem Jesus at all. At that point however, she says, "sir, I perceive you're a prophet". This supernatural gift of Word of Knowledge helped Jesus penetrate this woman here and have her good attention. However, the consequent subject that leads to her being apprehended for God has to do with the rightful place of worship - in a physical place or in the spirit. It is this that was being debated. Jesus had said.

John 4:21-24, KJV

"21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."

To this, the woman responds by postponing her clarity and salvation to the future saying, "when the Messiah comes, He'll tell us all things".

John 4:25, KJV

"The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things."

Why would she say that? Because she didn't believe wholly in the person of Jesus. She has not yet seen Jesus as somebody to receive unquestionably from. So, when Jesus told her it was not the matter of worshipping the Father in Jerusalem or at a mountain nearby her, she responds to having the final say come from the Messiah - who they are all expecting. 

You see, they were expecting the Messiah but these people were so dense that when the Messiah came, they didn't even know. Imagine a whole nation - group of people on tip toes for He who prophecies had predicted yet missed him at His very appearance. Their problem is still our problem. Why they missed Him is still why we're missing those God could use for us. That woman still didn't believe totally in Jesus though He told her her past life of sin and marital instability. She only accorded a little respect of being a prophet to Jesus but she never accepted Him as the Messiah - unto whom all obedience must be given. That's because she basically doesn't know it's the Messiah speaking to her as a matter of finality. What was she looking at? Appearance! The Messiah would look messianic. This man is too simple. He alone talking to me. No train of people to show His greatness. Nothing in the physical as she could have thought gave Jesus away. The only thing that began to do so was His exercise of the gift of word of knowledge by which she perceives that Jesus is a prophet. 

Today, God is dealing with those of you with hearts and eyes for the future to come yet without knowing the times you've entered into is your expected future. In 2019, I was at Ilisan Remo, Ogun State for a Christian program. Pastor Chingtok Ishaku (a minstrel-preacher) was to come to minister from the North. However, before his arrival at all and without ever having listened to him once until I contacted him that evening when the conference opened, I began to speak to the brethren with which I went to this conference as I was impressed. I was heavily impressed and I knew to what intent that day. Some of the brethren who I pastor and who were also my colleague workers at the work place just did not give ears to me though they were hearing (because they were seated near me). It shows in their attitude I was not the one they were expecting that day. However, the surprise came later. At the arrival of the guest minister, he began his teaching which had no topic. To the shock of all the brethren who had heard me spoke in the evening, the exact things I had said to them from the Bible were the exact things this man of God began to say. It was totally the same. It was as if the man of God had heard me in the evening and was then quoting me. Just as he spoke that day, some of my brethren seated in front of me looked back and gave me, "thumb up". I immediately praised the Lord!

That day, I learnt two lessons - that you could be a prophetic vessel without knowing. Two, that minds of people are difficult to change when their expectation is set. However, God can change it. I knew all of them felt a great awe for God later. Some might have felt bad shoving me away or showing the attitude of, "Bro. Sola, let us alone".

What am I saying? This woman was expecting the Messiah yet the Messiah came, spoke with her and yet she wouldn't see or believe Jesus as the Messiah because she was expecting someone (in the name and manifestation of the Messiah who's already in front of her in flesh and blood). People miss God's plan because when He comes, their sight is elsewhere. No sensitivity, no humility of heart. In pride, they keep looking into the future for what is happening in the present already to still come around to them. If not that Jesus told this woman that, "I am the Messiah who speaks to you", she wouldn't have investigated it let alone eventually believe in it as others from the city would also prove it so. 

Listen to me brethren, blessing passes before you daily but you must be full of perception to grab it. Or else, it'll flow passed you and go its own way like a flowing water. I pray for you that you'll have eyes and heart for all future expectations but which are happening now. May you open to He you should open to. May you not search for one Messiah, guru, salvation again when it is Jesus who saves. May you be sufficed and esteem Jesus as He only who saves. May nothing take you away to seek for another "way, truth and life". If you do, you'll find none. If you find any in any religion, they'll be false gods and practices. That's because Jesus Himself makes it clear that He's the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). It means, there's no other Messiah. There's no name man is given to be saved except His name (Matt.1:21, Phil.2:9-11). Let your search of a Messiah be sufficed today. Welcome Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

PRAYER: Lord, let me perceive Your angel, ministers and any with messianic duties to me in their real light. My long expectation shall not elude me at arrival.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 9:1-11:1; 1 John 2:18-3:6; Psalm 121:1-8; Proverbs 28:27-28

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 01/11/2023

 FRIDAY - 1ST DECEMBER, 2023

Happy New Month!

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

AND THOU SHALL DELIVER THE CUP INTO HIS HAND LIKE THE FORMER

Genesis 40:13, KJV

"Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler."

Say, "God, reinstate me. From every departed position or perfect status, recover and restore me. Let this month be my month of reinstatement."

I picked that in the spirit. That should be our prayer so that we might attain perfect perfection wherever we have defected even before the year ends. The baker and the butler offend their lord, Pharaoh and he puts them in jail. Each has his dream according to its interpretation. The butler sees a ripe grape on three branches and sees himself pressing it into Pharaoh's cup and putting it in his hands. In interpreting it, Joseph says, "within three days, he shall be restored and shall put Pharaoh's cup in his hands like before". 

This is reinstatement. He was almost gone. His fate could have been that of the baker but he was recovered and brought back to serve like before. The most touching piece in that verse is, "and thou shall restore Pharaoh's cup into his hands after the former manner when thou wast his butler".

May this be your portion and testimony. Whereever you've been taken away from what you used to resemble or what is your perfect design and status, may God take you back to the former. Today, what God is doing is a work of restoration so that you might be what you used to be. Oh, that's what's good. If you've fallen from favour, you'll miss that former favour and graciousness you were once availed. You'll regret having ever falling from grace because you'll miss the privileges of your former office, status or blessed life. It's even most painful when  someone has taken over your office. Irrespective of the case however, you can be reinstated to the former. You can be recovered. Naaman talks of being recovered. 

II Kings 5:11, KJV

"But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper."

You can be recovered. When Naaman was eventually recovered, he was taken back to the state he had departed from. His skin was restored unto him like that of a new born baby (II Kings 5:14). 

What you used to do, you'll do again. The cup the butler used to put in Pharaoh's hands, he once more puts into his hands. I cry over you, know restoration. Be reinstated. Be taken back. Have the testimony of before. Praise God like before. Produce sap like before. Be assured like before. Experience His presence like before. Know joy like before and let everything that once flowed for you flow again. So shall it be. 

PRAYER: Lord, let me be reinstated to do and be what I used to be before. Thank you Lord. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 8:1-27; 1 John 2:1-17; Psalm 120:1-7; Proverbs 28:25-26

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 29/11/2023

WEDNESDAY - 29TH NOVEMBER, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM - Our Travelogue & Travails Series 005

Acts 28:4, KJV

"And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live."

If humanity exists without any justice system, the hearts of many would be set to do evil. It is also the same when the law refuses to execute justice at a go. 

Ecclesiastes 8:11, KJV

"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

Having a justice system encourages being good over being a criminal and a violator of community laws. It's clear that the islanders of Melita have a justice system and believes in justice. Their deduction might be wrong on why a viper fastens itself to Paul's hand, however, it is clearly portrayed that justice is a world wide phenomenon whether with the barbarians or the civilized. 

They inferred that for a venomous snake to have fastened itself to Paul's hand, it is because Paul was a criminal who though has escaped the sea, justice isn't allowing to go scot free. They've indicated that a criminal ought to be punished. According to cosmos and God's laws, offenders ought to pay. A murderer is someone who has taken the life of another [intentional as it might interest us to hear here]. If Paul were one - having a record of such recent case which has not been pardoned, then he ought get punished according to God's justice system. God is the One who puts order in place and for order to be, there must be a system of rules and regulations that will keep the body of people under or reward the obedients. He calls order out of disorder at the beginning (Gen.1:1-3). A revelation that God is interested in order and not disorderliness. He asked Cain why he was not his brother's keeper and also punishes him accordingly for Abel's murder (Gen 4:9-13). Another revelation that God takes interest in how we treat our neighbors. It can't interest you to do evil while believing in escape without retribution. The law is the one who maintains recourse between you and your brother and it should be on nobody's side. Wherever the law hesitates however, God's or cosmos' justice system shall take effect. You can't bribe that.

The sanctity of the human life says no one should take it unnecessarily. For this reason, God seeks to protect lives - same is what any law of the land does. So, when the barbarous people inferred that Paul should pay for what he has done, their minds have gone nowhere but the universe's justice system and I'll say until a society is governed by an impartial justice system, justice can't reign. Justice should be able to catch up with anyone irrespective of status or background. If you do it, you should pay for it. However, many justice systems are corrupt and justice is all overlooked or bought over. 

God is addressing the issue of justice this morning. He has put nobody else in charge but what we call government today. 

Romans 13:1, KJV

"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

It should be our prayer that the government established on behalf of God to bear rule in every nation shall discharge holily and not judge after the sight of their eyes but rather in judgement and God's fear.

Isaiah 11:3, KJV

"And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears."

PRAYER: God of all flesh, teach the nations Your heart. Let Your sense of justice be known rightly by all. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 5:1-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 28:19-20

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 28/11/2023

TUESDAY - 28TH NOVEMBER, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

ALWAYS RECOVERING - Our Travelogue & Travails Series 004

Acts 28:6, KJV

"Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god."

May you always recover. Comebacks will be your testimony. That place says, "however, they looked when he should have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god". 

This will be your perpetual testimony. You will always recover to make comebacks. What does the Bible say about the righteous falling and coming back? "For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again" (Proverbs 24:16, KJV). I pray for you today that salvation will be near your house. Comebacks in your to and fro and in any trouble you might enter into. 

What you must know is that as long as we live on earth, we can't but enter into troubles. We don't have to be the cause as you'll testify but life can't but happen. However, if you'll survive and continue to live on, what you must always have is recovery, a comeback or what the Bible succinctly calls salvation. 

Psalms 91:16, KJV

"With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."

If you're denied God's salvation when you're in trouble, you'll sink, get choked and might pass out. It is salvation that draws you out of the miry clay or many waters, setting your feet on solid ground. If not, the quick sand had swallowed you up. That's why the Bible guarantees long life for anyone who keeps getting saved from his troubles. That'll always be consequential. It says, "with long life will I satisfy you and show you my salvation". Long life doesn't become an experience except salvation - saving from trouble is first of all activated. The man of God, Sunday Adelaja, the pastor of the largest church in Europe said he was called and labelled a lot of things when he began ministry and God began to move things for him. He said he was likened to North Korea dictator's leader and that many national and international newspapers spread rumours about him as being a cult leader who hypnotizes people. Moreso, being a Nigerian born leader, they called him a drug lord. He even confesses CIA monitored him for three years to discover nothing. It was when all was revealed that he knew. He said in that audio message of his I listened to that he dreaded what next would be published about him each day. His members had cried for him testifying about his integrity. He also had locked himself up to pray 10-15 hours once a week asking God for all the help He could muster for him. At the end, the victory came and he was recognized as a godly influencer and a rare African who's a gift to Europe and all the world. 

You see, that was salvation that worked for him. If not, he could have died - ceased because of the many cases filed against him. He could have been falsely sentenced! Imagine a minister appearing in court like money appears in your hands. You yourself would have thought there was an iota of truth in the accusation levied against him. You'd say, is he the only minister in town and why are they coming after him only? But God preserved him by granting him salvation from all his troubles. This leads to the long life and the present life he's still enjoying. I even watched a video where he testified of how he escaped from Ukraine when the war began as he was a major target. He left with nothing. Scarcely could they pick toothbrushes. But look, God granted him salvation and he yet live. Thank God for his salvation and recovery from all our present troubles.

Paul got bitten by a snake and he could have died from it. However, recovery answered. As a matter of fact, those who knew the process of things and how long it takes for the poison to choke waits for him to yield up the ghost. But when they looked that he should have swollen or fallen down dead, yet nothing happens, they had to change their minds. Look, I proclaim recovery over you, your health, family, finances, business. I'm picking there's someone whose child is sickly unto death there. I proclaim recovery. Let God's salvation draw him or her out of the many waters of sickness. Salvation! Salvation! Salvation!

The king Darius rushed to the lion's den where Daniel has been sealed to die. He cried, "Daniel, the servant of the living God. Has your God whom you serve continually being able to save you or not?" Daniel replied, "O king, recovery has answered! Salvation has worked for me!" Look at how he puts it to the king. 

Daniel 6:21-22, KJV

"21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.  6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt."

Did you see that? Yesterday, I was ruminating on the expression, "where there's no doctor". I know there's a book like that. Then, the Holy Spirit said to me, "where there's no doctor, you can pray!" Therefore, where the charmer can't charm today, God is ready to help. Over all situations that are dilapidated and are already collapsing, I declare, begin to experience recovery. Recover! Know God's salvation and amend from that corrupted state to the perfect model. Everything, anything that has being spoilt, plundered, dispersed is being gathered back now. Paul recovered, Daniel was recovered, Adelaja was recovered, you're recovering also. I heard something now. "Recovery from every wound, especially wound of the head". Anyone wounded on the head, be healed. Let your leadership power be restored. Salvation is walking and surging your highways now. Amendment is being done. Yes, amendment. All our missionaries are saved. What they'll experience at every juncture is God's salvation!  

PRAYER: Father, I enjoy recovery, salvation and amendment. I see the end of all arguments and I last. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 5:1-31; 2 Peter 2:1-22; Psalm 119:113-128; Proverbs 28:19-20

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 27/11/2023

MONDAY - 27TH NOVEMBER, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

NOT ACCORDING TO THEIR THOUGHTS - Our Travelogue & Travails Series 003

Acts 28:5-6, KJV

"5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god".

There's a way everybody has walked. Forces and ancestral spirits might seek to mandate you to follow that same path. Once it's the way or path that leads to death and reduction of humanity in life, you should refuse going such way. Yes, firm in your faith and warfare. 

A viper fastens itself to Paul's hand. Seeing this, the islander of Melita labelled Paul a criminal who though had escaped the sea, justice is still not letting go. With the viper having bitten him, they expected he'll foam or suddenly fall down and yield up the ghost. However, this never happened even after Paul had shook the beast into the fire. The Bible records that the natives even waited a great while to watch their expectation come to pass over Paul. Their waiting a great while became caused by two things. One, snake's venom in any human being takes some time to react and prove effective. It needs to get into the blood stream and circulate, choking life. While a viper is one of the deadliest snakes there be, yet the process is still the same. Two, they had waited a great while because it took longer for the poison to prove effective on Paul. They were wondering why it had taken so long and had proved abortive. So, after waiting, they waited again because Paul seems to be defying the situation and the normal processes of things. 

For the islanders to have waited a great while or awhile for the poison to work in Paul, it means they are as well familiar with the process and could therefore time or predict the poison's effectiveness. If there was a wristwatch in their days, one could have looked at it and said, "in fifteen minutes time". That's why they waited and then waited a great while to reascertain the effectiveness of the poison. That's why they set a certain time range for Paul to manifest the poison's effect. 

"Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god".

Mark the expression, "they looked when he should have swollen..." It means they were timing Paul to begin to manifest, scream, dance around and fight for his life. However, they never saw it. 

What the Lord is putting in my mouth to say is this. Defy situations! Don't go the ways of others. The islanders have learnt by experience how long it'll take for that venom to work. It's what they've seen people died of. Paul wouldn't be the first victim. It was therefore from such experience they predicted Paul's fate and timed him to manifest like the so many they had seen. However, Paul didn't go the way of their thoughts. He walked a new path entirely. The path Paul walked was so novel in their eyes that they said Paul was a god. 

Here comes the testimony God wants you to live up to. If ancestral early death or whatsoever has been getting people in your lineage, you should be the first man to defy that process. If onlookers and those who know the history of your family line predict that it'll soon be unto you as it had been unto others, you can surely shake it off, defy the situation and live on without harm or any loss. They'll look at when you should have swollen or fallen down dead suddenly but it'll never come. You'll still be here and that'll be because the redemptive blood cries and silences every other voices calling for your blood. New story could begin to be written from you. The Bible records that when they awaited the poison to take effect on Paul and it didn't, they changed their minds and concludes Paul was a god. God can use you to change the minds and notions of people. God wants to set you forth as such testimony. If you'll take the provision of Christ, stay under His shadow and live to invoke the abilities of His redemption, you can break what has been breaking men and women where you are that you know. It may be that no one has spent a full term in an office you're vying for. Probably, something has always been kicking them out or off. But you can go to spend two and change the narratives. 

It's therefore my prayer as it's God's that you'll see another day, go another mile, celebrate another birthday and defy all limitations and break processes that have been known to be sure. You're the one chosen to become a god to that situation like Moses is a god to Pharaoh. You have power over it and I could hear the Word of Jesus saying, "and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

PRAYER: Nothing shall by any means hurt me. I escape. I triumph. I am the new man on the new ground. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 4:1-37; 2 Peter 1:1-21; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 28:17-18

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - 26/11/2023

SUNDAY - 26TH NOVEMBER, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

BE WEANED OF YOUR MYTHS - Our Travelogue & Travails Series 002

Acts 28:4, KJV

"And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live".

We began by looking at the word "barbarous" and using some of its meanings to make definitions for our teaching. While we've been able to establish the Islanders of Melita as not being barbarous but kind men, yet there's another side that proves them so. This is what God wants us to be weaned of so that we might take a change from glory to glory until we eventually have His semblance. God will keep adjusting us in the mirror of His word until we take full dressing and are aligned to the properness of His mind. Irrespective of your growth or maturity in Christ, there'll still be weight or fat for you to shed off. If you'll follow Christ on, you must see with Him whenever He points them to you. 

The Islanders of Melita sure have their beliefs, culture and even myth. They don't stop inferring that's how something is because of something that they'd observed or thought to be. As the stick pretending to be snake fastened itself to Paul's hand, they theorize immediately from the multitude of their belief system that it is because Paul was a murderer. Though he has escaped the sea yet justice seems to still be seeking him out for vengeance. This is a myth and none of us would have believed it as myth until it was proven otherwise and the natives exposed as men of mere guesses who don't seek to find out real causes of things. If Paul had really swollen up and died from that viper's bite, the natives would have said, "they said so". However, things didn't go the way of their guess or belief at all. Without Paul being privy to what they had said of him. He shook the beast off into the fire. Even after that, they still awaited the poison to circulate, take effect on him that justice might be satisfied over Paul. They awaited his swelling up. However, it never came. They just didn't see such day. They were baffled.

Acts 28:5-6, KJV

"5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god".

You see, they were all proven wrong. Their myth was exposed. This is what makes any still barbarous. If you do not find the truth before you establish the fact, you're barbarous. It doesn't matter what city you live in, what city life you enjoy or what calibre of people flock around you. The moment you reduce yourself to wishful and easy thinking of causes of events without the due diligence of seeking out, laying bare, questioning, observing, interviewing, gathering witnesses' reports and even experimenting, you're no other but a barbarian. It might not show that fast but you'll soon be exposed to have been wrong all the while. The natives of Melita could have gotten away with their thesis. Those who heard what they said who also believe in God's justice system might as well believe justice was trying to get Paul considering the fact that he was even a prisoner. "Who knows if he is a murderer", they might have accented? However, they were all proven wrong. After they had waited long enough to prove the certainty of their guess and seeing nothing happen to Paul, the Bible records that, "they gave up and assumed Paul is a god."

Acts 28:6, KJV

"Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god".

Look at how quick they changed their minds again. That tells you their first thesis was not a grounded one. If it was, they wouldn't immediately agree they were wrong. They'll rather investigate why their findings didn't work. When you're given to suggesting and casting answers on life which have not been tested or proven, when you're suddenly proven wrong or when your principle refuses to work, you'll agree immediately at being wrong. I mean you'll easily be reproached and boxed to a side by a thesis that seems raving and acclaiming in the meanwhile and that'll be because you never gathered the assurance that stems from having done one's own due diligence. However, we ought to be noble men who won't just give in to compromise when defied and that'll be because we have a certain measure of confidence in our original findings having found it out indeed. 

Imagine this, "after they had looked a great while and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and say he was a god". On that wise, they were correct. Paul was a god in the human flesh. He has the divine blood running through him. He enjoys divine healing and protection. Having being bitten by that viper that fastens itself to his hand yet didn't swell up or fall down suddenly (as the natives have learnt and affirmed it should be to any who gets bitten by such snake) proves Paul indeed to be of a supernatural stock. Meanwhile, their calling Paul a god is not that they understood what made him a god. They didn't investigate that.  However, they felt he had supernatural powers. If not, he should have suffered the fate of the rest they had known. They only used the broader term, "a god" to excuse themselves from investigation and proper query again that could have given them much answers than they had applied and forced on Paul (though correct). Today, God is calling us all to become diligent investigators in our fields who do his due diligence and follow a process of testing to arrive at his answers. You may not follow a scientific method but give due diligence before you publish your results. If you're proven wrong, you might be forced to change your position and relinquish your claim. Anyway, you should be humble to do that and accept the defeat of having not given scholarship and diligence in research and fact finding. Those are the truly barbarous men!

PRAYER: Lord, give me the patience, diligence of an enquirer. Secret things belong to You but that which is revealed belong to us and our children forever. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Daniel 2:24-3:30; 1 Peter 4:7-5:14; Psalm 119:81-96; Proverbs 28:15-16

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE 25/11/2023

SATURDAY - 25TH NOVEMBER, 2023

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO

THEY CALLED THEM BARBAROUS PEOPLE - Our Travelogue & Travails Series 001

Acts 28:1-2, KJV

"1And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold".

The word "barbarous" has many meanings and we shall begin to teach and consider some truths right from some of these. 

Our evangelism and making of disciples never end. God is the One who locates us in the next field to till. He sees right and so allocates us rightly. How Paul got to the Island of Melita was something not planned by him. It's something more of God's providence than man's foreknowledge. Though God had told him, "they'll be cast on a certain island" after escaping the sea and its turbulence, yet Paul and others wouldn't have wanted to be shipwrecked or be diverted from their course (Acts 27:23-26). Paul couldn't have imagined what he met there. As a matter of fact, what he saw there far outweighs the imagination of any missionary if he were called to testify. 

They didn't know what Island they were cast until they had arrived ashore. In that angel's revelation to Paul, the name of the Island was not given. The Island is obviously a cut off from the thorough touch of civilization for we read that the people are barbarous - uncivilized and uncultured. If they are uncivilized, there's a manner they might have been expected to behave. They might have been expected to be unfriendly, violent and rude. However, these islanders and natives proved to be otherwise. For we read that as soon as they were cast on the Island, they made fire for them, took them in so that the escapees could have shelter from the present rain and the consequence of cold. 

It's God who justifies us even when men wrongly thinks of us. It's not your business to seek to speak for yourself. That may even be lack of humility at times. However, He that sees it all can as well win all and sooner or later, men's opinion of you would be different. We should be free from, "what do they think or are saying about me?" It's a bad snare that'll make you obedient to men instead of God. You'll be engulfed turning men pleasers. 

The Bible reports them to be "barbarous" or "barbarians". They are not different from the Piraha people in the Amazon world of Brazil that Evangelist and Missionary Linguist, Daniel Everette once went to convert. The Piraha people are mostly untouched. Though, there had been a delegate of missionaries to them - to live with them, learn their language and translate the Bible into their language so that when preached to, they might be converted, yet all failed until Daniel Everette was sent. He became the first to break the code and understand the Piraha language. Though he failed to have them converted but his contact of the Piraha people is no different from Paul's contact of the people of Melita. The two natives could be both described as "uncivilized". They are cut off from the often touch of the general world. They rather live by their own beliefs, cultures and myths - untainted by the world around them. 

You know the Melita people are lost in their own beliefs and myths considering what they thought Paul must have done wrong for vengeance of death to still have sought him despite having escaped the sea (Acts 28:4-6). This is nothing but a myth. They expected him to swell up from the viper's bite and give up the ghost. However, that never happened. Like I afore said, don't speak for yourself. Let God speak for you. His sole voice will drown a thousand voices with preconceptions or wrong notions of you. Your defence can't do much. It'll only raise more arguments and doubts. I know a God who clears men and makes him welcomed in people's mind. 

Today, the barbarous are no longer uncivilized. It is the civilized that have become barbarous. We should be weary of calling ourselves Christians without Christ like characters or fruits to establish same (Gal.5:22-23). That makes us barbarians! Also, how often do we think the rough would be the unrefined? Only to discover that he is a gold wrapped in rag and a gift to humanity. This is who the Islanders of Melita are. Contrary to the opinion of men about them [considering they were cut off from the regular touch of men], they were called, "barbarous". However, they proved not to be one. Their act of kindness proved everybody who had called them barbarous or might have expected them to act uncivilized wrong. Let us all fight with acts and not with mere speech. One echoes louder and wins without arguments. The Bible has spoken conclusively on this when it says we should be doers [instead of mere hearers] - James 1:22. How often do you do the Word of God so that men may see your good work, be converted and give glory to your Father who's in heaven. 

This is Day 1 of this series. You're welcome to the Island of Melita where they said the barbarous people live. We have found the barbarous to be friendly anyway. This is our experience so far in our journey and encounter with men as we preach Christ. God always surprises and surpasses our imagination as what we thought difficult and hard are cracked and opened nuts at our arrival. Today, I pray for you, you'll meet it differently. Trusting God for all missionaries at distant, isolated and forsaken lands, God will shut the mouths of lions for you. The barbarous will become friendly with you and they shall give ears to the gospel. 

PRAYER: Father, let us meet it differently. Let the unfriendly become our friends. We have a better testimony. Your gospel is preached and men are discipled. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Jeremiah 2:31-4:18, Colossians 1:1-17, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 24:21-22

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