MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 21/04/2024

SUNDAY - 21ST APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL  - Olusola ADEJUMO

BEWARE OF DISTRACTION AND THE TEMPTATION WITH ALL THESE THINGS - The Essence & Value Of Life Series 005

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."

Satan thinks someway. He believes every man has his price and he could be bought. If not, Satan wouldn't have told Jesus to bow down to him in exchange for, "all these things." He speaks assuredly when he says, "and all these things will I give you if you'll fall down and worship me." He's no longer different from a man who forces his will on a lady by making it a matter of conditional compulsion to her. "See, if you give me sex, (then he flashes some cash before her), I'll give you this money." That's seeking to take advantage of another's need and that's what the devil does to Jesus. Watch him. He comes around at the moment of your need, looseness and desperation. 

Ahead of time in the course of this series, we saw the appearance of the phrase, "all these things" in Matthew 6:33. The Bible says, "but seek you first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." Why does "all these things" keep appearing? Does it mean "all these things" is very important as well with its own usefulness that should be understood? Obviously yes! "All these things" includes riches, fame, power and everything possible that an average human being takes thought for. We care for food, raiment and even shelter. All the cheating, killing, embezzlement and injustice are to possess or manage all those three basic needs. Those three basic needs are therefore all part of "all these things." We want to be famous, being the rave of town, the one talked about in the media and yet the gossip of all people. That's also part of "all these things." "All these things" is very wide in its sense. When the tempter came to Jesus during this third temptation, he gave all diligence to show Jesus the kingdoms of the world and its glory thereof. If you say there's nothing in this world, you're probably joking. Many things, many good things, many jolly and beautiful things are in this world. The Bible says, "and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof...(Genesis 3:6, KJV). That's Eve falling for "all these things" but before she did, she saw that "all these things" was pleasant to the eyes. It brought to her a kind of mouth and mind watery pleasure merely gazing at it. You just want to crave after it and have it. So, "all these things" could be attractive and are. Only that a Christian should esteem them all as vanity through discipline, self control and the keeping of one's eyes on the prize or God's promises. 

I John 2:16 - 17, KJV

"16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

Delightful things which ranges from technology and invention, food, wine, sex etc form part of "all these things" too. The devil ensured he flashed all these before Jesus if these could get Him. He ensured he displayed the best of the best. He must have displayed the oil fields of the Arabs and the gold mine of Africa to Jesus. He wanted Him to covet them and fall for them. As such, he showed Him all in its details and rare description but with one demand, "if you'll fall down and worship me."

Why is the devil seeking worship like the kings of the world would lord it over others? He wants to substitute God. The devil from the onset has been seeking to act as a substitute to God. Wherever you see a false religion, idol worshipping etc, that is the devil at work receiving the worship of men meant for God. He keeps establishing himself as a counterfeit way or solution provider. So, he seeks having all that accrued to him. So far so good, the devil has been able to convert a lot of people to bowing down to him in worship and constant and counter service to God. 

Ensure you do not pursue after all these things to the loss of your soul. It is still, "what shall a man profit if he gains the whole world and loses his soul" (Matt. 16:26). 

Many people there be who are promised the rewards of riches, fame and power if they'll join a cult and serve the devil. They therefore forfeit their souls and freedom for, "all these things." If all these things of the world aren't pleasurable to the senses with promises of some satisfaction, they shouldn't have compromised. Neither should Eve have fallen also. God who created us didn't mean we wouldn't need "all these things". He only meant we shouldn't serve it, worry or become greedy after it (Matt.6:25-33). Rather, all these things were meant to serve and follow us after we might have given our lives to the pursuit of purpose and the essence of life first of all. The order is, "but seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things (that the world is dying for) will be added unto you." You'll naturally attract it if you live to fulfill your passion, obsession, calling and purpose first of all. Mind that tail end expression, "all these things will BE ADDED UNTO YOU." You're almost not working for it! It will come or follow as a consequence of a purposeful living in pattern with God's kingdom and the spread of His righteousness where He has placed you to rule, dominate and cultivate. 

So, never believe that God doesn't have plans for you to prosper. That'll contradict III John 2. He does as He who created, "all these things." He only wants us to be properly prospered by them. He wants us know their uses and not esteem them above Him or our personal calling that could bring about their attraction as a reward. If we get this, we'll see that God's thought towards us is of good and not of evil still. Know this and know peace. 

PRAYER: Lord, I am weaned from the vain, greedy and hurtful pursuit of "all these things." I pursue my purpose and the essence of my living which is able to deliver to me, "all these things."

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 21:1-22:20, Luke 20:1-26, Psalm 89:1-13, Proverbs 13:15-16

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 20/04/2024

SATURDAY - 20TH APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

THE CHURCH AND THE ESSENCE OF LIFE - The Essence & Value Of Life Series 004

Read Judges 15:4-7

Judges 15:4, KJV 

"And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails."

The church has a responsibility - to be the pillar and ground of the truth (I Tim. 3:15).  The church is meant to be school. If people don't know the truth but ever made it to the church or contact a Christian, they ought know the truth and be freed by having learnt how life should be lived. Ask yourself, "how should life be lived? On what should life be spent?" Then, pursue same once you find answers. However, when the purpose of a thing is not known, it is often abused or misused as over time proven by individuals. The church could become a warehouse if we don't take heed. In many places, that's what the church is. It's like a mortuary bearing and housing many dead people who come to church for other reasons. The church has stopped spreading the kingdom and His righteousness actively and that's because the members are not taught how to do so wherever they go. Nowadays, we have come to comfort and we are consoled. We are grateful our world is civilized with modern gadgets. We thought that's the progress. That's not the kind of progress God is looking for solely (though we should be comfortable). As far as God is concerned, envy, jealousy, bitterness, strife, murder, selfishness etc still pervade the world. Even if we're boasting of modernity, yet these ancient spirits are still following, ruling and breathing through men. As such, we can't come to perpetual tranquility in our world. 

In today's reading, Samson in his revenge cycle against the Philistines acquire foxes in a good number, tied them together in pairs, lit and fasten a torch to each pair and releases them into the farms of the Philistines. How he did it, I don't know but the principle and process could be duplicated by the church and responsible individuals. The church is meant to learn from Samson. We are not to trap people in our pews and never release them to have impacts in their world or fulfill the intents in the heart of God for each of them. We don't manifest in church; we manifest without. It's because this has not been well taught that's making every church goer and member seek crazily how to become a pastor. Everybody is now rushing and grappling for the mic which is unavailable and scanty when there are many mountains to conquer outside there in Sports, Arts/Entertainment, Education, Business, Politics etc. But everyone want to mount the podium because the pastor has become their only star and hero. Aspiration has therefore died in them. Yet, some of these people could become inventors, scientists, mighty business tycoons and great sportsmen if they'll be told that the earnest expectation of the creature waits for their manifestation where God has ordained it (which will be mostly not inside the church). Whosoever you become that's not influencing your world or giving you a platform to doing so should be reconsidered. Imagine a Christian becoming a model or Miss World and she were asked to talk. She could use that opportunity to spread the kingdom values and beliefs without needing to quote even one Bible verse. All she needs is to invade and infiltrate them with the gospel without their knowing what they are hearing or believing. She could address the people there that she's still a virgin, not addicted to drugs, obedient to parents, hardworking and virtuous. The youths will likely believe in such a national or international figure than wanting to believe someone who's saying it who has no work to back it up or whom they don't see as heroic enough to convince them. 

People are meant to be trained on and about their callings in church but released to have impact on their world in that area. Pastors should stop housing people in churches for long hours that doesn't add necessarily to the fulfilment of people's destinies and spread of the kingdom. Just like the foxes bring untold destruction to the farms they contacted, so should a Christian have effect and impact in his or her world so much more that people would ask like the Philistines did, "who did this?" But since our impact is not being felt, nobody ever asks who did this? Everything just remain normal and so no persecution follows us for having lived the kingdom and God's righteousness. Many Christians are not taking heed any longer to how they live and that's because that consciousness on seeking the kingdom isn't in them. Christians could be one of the careless people living in the modern secular world. They're easily convinced to become a free thinker and spare anyone to act according to his choices without affirming what their revelation of life should be as revealed by the author of life in the Bible. If all that ministers care for is to have such huge members that they could milk or fleece and not such that they'll coach on what is the essence and value of life, then the church is a failure. Often time, you'll see many churches slide into the pursuit of "all these things" that should have been added to them if they sought God's kingdom and His righteousness. So, no advancement of the kingdom in the work places. No advancement of God's righteousness - values, beliefs, practices and lifestyle. This way, our world remains unchanged and unimpacted. However, we should come off it. Our foxes should be well trained by our ministers and told their purposes of release to the outside world. We are meant to become the conscience of the world and the light by which they live. We are meant to become the standard by which they judge themselves even in the absence of their knowledge of the Bible. Your going to church is for such equipping. It is not to keep you in church and only make you attend church services and contribute to the church's statistics and offering bag. No! There's a cause for your being caught and subsequently sent to go into all the world! It's to carry the torch (God's kingdom and righteousness) with you. To go into your world and destroy the works of the devil. You're that ambassador of Christ. 

PRAYER: Lord, help me to be an effective Christian and ambassador. Prominence: national and international influences are mine and I shall have this platform for you.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 19:1-20:9, Luke 19:28-48, Psalm 88:1-18, Proverbs 13:12-14

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 19/04/2024

FRIDAY - 19TH APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

FOR AFTER ALL THESE THINGS DO THE GENTILES SEEK - The Essence & Value Of Life Series 003

Matthew 6:31, KJV 

"31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."

While what we shall eat, what we shall drink and wherewithal we shall be clothed creates anxiety and greediness in the nations of the world, God is saying we should be known for a different life and pursuit. 

A Gentile is any person or nation of people that's not a Jew. We know that in Christ, there's no longer Jew or Gentile (when we are born again) - I Cor. 12:13. Such traditional wall has been collapsed, never to be rebuilt any longer. However, Jesus says, "for after these ephemerals do the Gentiles pursue after." The Gentiles here at the time of utterance obviously refer to non - Jews. However, it does well to refer to unbelievers and its world who don't have this light and truth to walk therein. Jesus says, "they can't but worry and exercise utmost pursuit and priority only for riches and what will sustain their bodies." They have erroneously believed that life in itself is all about what they could gain from it. This is why many evils are ranging in our world. You can't convince a fellow not to defraud for gain's sake if he is driven after "all these things." "All these things" dictate what the philosophy of people are based on in the work place. It is very easy to identify a man solely working for money or gains. Compromising won't be a taboo to him and he won't mind as long as it promises a reward. As such, God is calling us away from the sole and towering pursuit of "all these things" to the singular pursuit of purpose that could give "all these things." We know that pursuing purpose doesn't mean you wouldn't eat, drink, clothe yourself or own properties . However, that ain't what you're crazy about. It only means you have your priority reordered. You know that your life as a gift from God was not given you solely to come here to eat, drink, dine and while away time. You sure know that you have an essence and tangibility that towers above taking being with anything and everything that life could avail you in its riches and goods. Ask inventors who became real time billionaire and they'd told you that it was purpose and fulfilment of their calling which they sensed and pursued that launched them into fame and success by bringing to the world the discoveries and inventions in their hearts; and not gain that started or formed the basis of their enterprises. They rather wanted to meet needs. So, they went to work. At the end, the money they couldn't finish spending pours in.

Jesus not only teaches us what to do but exemplifies it Himself. During His temptation, the tempter had told him to turn a stone to bread. Jesus' reply is, "man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matt.4:4). That tells you what His priority is. It tells you Jesus cherishes the higher life and principles wherever He finds it. Jesus esteems daily instructions proceeding from revelation or the mouth of God than being caught up in debased, erratic living that doesn't give glory to God (at that time). He is not a For Food Only (F.F.O) person. His life transcends meat into the substantial that's tied to the kingdom and the living out of it. 

God is asking you, "are you pursuing after "these things" as a Christian like the Gentiles are doing or you've been cured to see the need to give your life to a higher cause and purpose - God's Kingdom and His righteousness." Prioritizing God's kingdom and His righteousness over "all these things" doesn't mean becoming a pastor if you aren't called to be one. You don't need to become a minister of God before you seek God's kingdom and His righteousness. Don't be confused. You even don't need to be a worker in church! Yet, you can spread God's values without (outside the church). And as a matter of fact, we're called to spread it without. Those who are cured don't need a doctor. Isn't it? If you have discovered your calling or the purpose to live for, exhibiting daily the life and values of Christ to impact people would be living for the King and His Kingdom. That's when you'll be deemed to be seeking after God's righteousness. He is not seeking after God's righteousness neither is he spreading it a policeman who takes bribe, a teacher who indulges student in cheating and a business man who dupes others for gain. That is not living for the kingdom. That is not spreading God's righteousness. That is living for other things, for self, egocentrism and putting of oneself forward always - thinking "what can I gain from here?" Nobody thinks that way who fulfills his calling. What is right in that? All those will be wrong values. As we know, even our laws are against the exercise of those all. It means we know what is right even if we are not upholding it as stated in our law or constitution. When you seek God's kingdom and His righteousness, you prioritize living for God and living out His values of kindness, fairness, mercy, equity, honesty etc wherever you find yourself. You let the character of life rule you and rule your world. This way, you'll spread the knowledge of God's Kingdom and His righteousness even amidst the heathen. It is not God's will to take you out of the secular world where you live or work. It's rather His will to make you an instrument of change there. As you do this, you'll obviously become a city set on a hill that can't be hidden. Through you, men shall come to the knowledge of Christ and salvation by your modeling of how life should be lived, what it should be lived to possess or lived to spread. I pray for you, you will understand. 

PRAYER: Lord, I will understand. I make the kingdom and its lifestyle my life. May I live above the Gentile's revelation of life.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 16:1-18:28, Luke 19:1-27, Psalm 87:1-7, Proverbs 13:11

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 18/04/2024

THURSDAY - 18TH APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

AND LIFE BEGINS BY THE BREATH! - The Essence & Value Of Life Series 002

Genesis 2:7, KJV

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

Yesterday, I made a point on what life's greatest opportunity was. Obviously, it is being alive. It is when one is alive that any other opportunity could be availed one. At death, one is shut from all opportunities. If one will ever be qualified again for any, he or she will require a resurrection back to life. And as we know, that is an exception. The dead (in the state of still being dead) don't marry or pursue any ambition except he yet lives again (and becomes a living soul)

Today, I want to talk about the breath of life that causes life to begin. But for the breath, there'd be no life and no human would have been able to lift a hand or blink a eye. We have a strong testimony of Adam being lifeless at creation. When he was formed, he had the body but Adam had no life in it. Body of mud!The body could therefore do nothing because it had not been awoken to live and exercise the potentials or characteristics of any living thing. After forming Adam from the mud, God consequently breathed into him. What was released into him is what the Bible calls, "the breath of life." This breath of life is wind that runs through Adam and as a supernatural ingredient of God, it makes impact that soon reflect upon contact. It could have gone into the brain of Adam to wake him up to reality and existence but irrespective of where it went, even if it had to circulate the whole body before revival of the body lying down helpless was functional, one thing is sure, Adam lived and became a living soul at that instance . What a joy that God's handiwork eventually turns out the way He had wanted. 

Mark the phrase, "living soul." A living soul is someone with life in him as such could take life or being. Until he became a living soul, he was helpless. He couldn't rise, talk, stand or walk. So, what would be the intent for which God gave Adam His precious gift - the breath. It is to live and take being on earth. However, we ought qualify it that the breath in our nostrils or the spirit in us which makes us fully functional as humans is the most important ingredient that makes us who we are. That is life's greatest opportunity or asset to us. That is what the evil one wants to cut short so that you'll not be able to fulfill your purpose in the time you have to live. Life given you is therefore an opportunity to live and exercise towards destiny or why God had created you. We sure know that being a living thing, you can't but eat, drink and take pleasure in life. However, you weren't created to indulge or live in this as your sole purpose. They were only meant to be your survival and coping tools on daily basis as you go about the fulfilment of your purpose. Food is only meant to strengthen your frame for what you should be living for and so should other things fulfill their temporal needs in your life. Car, house, money should only aid your destiny fulfilment. They are only your tools not purpose itself. Imagine if God never breathed into Adam. What would he have been? Just a piece of art or body lying down on the floor with back to the ground. He would have no right, no will and no being to take. He would be useless and could a useless person exercise himself towards any purpose? If you ever moulded a thing with clay, you'll observe it could resemble your intent i.e a bird. However, it will lack one ability and that's to fly. That's the ability Adam receives when breath came into him. He could therefore exercise himself towards any work or activity in his daily living. If he were not a living soul, do you think he would serve the purpose of naming the animals or tilling the ground. God wouldn't have given him that. The dead don't understand instructions you know. A dead man can't interact and interface with the earth and his world in such a manner. So, God gave life so that man may use life to carry out a part of His own business in the sovereign will that He had afore known. The Bible says, "according to the purpose of God who works all things after the counsel of His will" (Eph. 1:11). Your creation is not to make you a non-entity on the earth but rather it's a demand for you to add your reason for existence into the human world. God has a plan and an intent to fulfill. He beats everything and aligns all things after that overall purpose. The breath of life is your opportunity to do so - to make life count. 

Like the church was never functional, alive or empowered to go about ministering until the rushing mighty wind of the Holy Spirit descended on them in Acts 2, a human without the life would feel that helpless. You might need to visit the mortuary to see the truth in that. They call such body without life corpses. They are as good as useless. However, if in the process of refrigerating or burying them, one of those bodies should sneeze or cough, immediately it'll be separated from the corpses. That's because life has returned into one and according to the formula we have at hand from God to work with, "the living should not be found amidst the dead" (Lk.24:5). He must sure be separated. So, if there's anything to thank God for, it is life. Life here is that you still have the breath or spirit that causes you to go here and there and do this and that. Once it snaps, one becomes incapable no matter how willing he might have been to live. So, what makes this body of ours very essential is the fuel, the invisible ingredient called, "breath of life" that runs it. If not, we are earth, mere dust. We know the fate that awaits us - to go back to dust. As such, let's hurry to make impact with this one in a lifetime opportunity called life or breath of life that God has given us. Talking of David in Acts 13:36, the Bible says, "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption."

All of us have our batches like products turned out from factories. The batch a father came with isn't the batch his son came with. By the time one generation goes, you'd see another generation come. However, before you do, may you have the testimony of having served God's will or pleasure or purpose in your own set, time, batch or generation. After that, may you be regarded to have slept also - for only the dead in Christ do sleep or fall asleep. Those are the dead who have the hope of resurrecting at the hearing of the trump of God. May you be counted worthy. So, before you'll know rottenness, decay, decomposition or corruption like David's body experienced, what will you use your life to do that'll be indelible after you? As you go to work today, ask yourself if you're living for the King and His kingdom (Matt.6:33). Query yourself, if you're seeking after His righteousness or values, to spread it and make your world better by it where you're placed. If God's kingdom and His righteousness hasn't become your crescendo or meat where you are as to thirst after it to do, forget it, you'll live carelessly, waste influence, opportunity and even the breath in you. As far as God is concerned, where you work may be your own garden which God has given you to till especially if it comes by your discovery that you're where God would have you be. Will you till it in your time?

PRAYER: Lord, help me not to waste life. Open my understanding to my fulfilment of purpose. May the kingdom and His righteousness be my meat and satisfaction to discharge and live out.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 11:1-12:24, Luke 17:11-37, Psalm 84:1-12, Proverbs 13:5-6

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 18/04/2024

WEDNESDAY - 17TH APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - Olusola ADEJUMO

LIFE'S GREATEST OPPORTUNITY - The Essence & Value Of Life Series 001

Genesis 2:7, KJV

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

What is life's greatest opportunity? Do you have any idea what that is? Pause, take a time to give an answer. 

Is it being rich, white, gainfully employed, married, healthy or being availed the greatest national citizenship on earth? Is it even being abroad? Obviously, all these don't measure up to what life's greatest opportunity is. Then, what is it or what could it be? 

You see, life's greatest opportunity is life itself. It is that you have life and you can live and so express yourself as a living soul. I don't care what you have lost or missed, if you still have life, all could still be recovered. If you go bankrupt, divorce (though God hates it), loses all your children (like Job in the Bible), get jailed with all hope of recovery lost etc, you sure could recover from all these if you still have life. Anything can happen to beat your imagination you know. Miracles happen but to the living. However, no one has the hope of recovery if he's dead. Only the living has the hope of recovery. That's why life's greatest opportunity is life. The Bible acknowledges that when it says in Job 14:7 - 9 that, "7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.  8 Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; 9 Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant."

Did you read that? The root of a tree still being in the ground suggests its still being alive - still breathing and taking life from mother earth. Even if it loses all its branches (including its fruits), it sure still has an opportunity of sprouting back and that'll be because it has not been uprooted and denied life itself. As such, at the slightest opportunity of sprouting or springing back which comes at the availability of water, it shall sprout up again. That's why that place says, "at the scent of water, that left stump shall sprout back again." Metaphorically, that's a human it's talking about. The old stump in the ground is you and I who might come to the point of extinction yet continues to exist after losing all. God is saying irrespective of what has scarred, scratched, or screeched us, we can get healed from it all as long as the breath of life is still in us to live. Opportunities are never denied the living that still lives. Only the dead is that gate shut at. 

No dead has a second chance. Only the living does. Life is therefore the greatest opportunity. It's when you have life you could say you want to go to school, build a mansion, get married or father a child. It is life that you have or the breath of life in you that avails you all those. Without life, you'd be powerless to do any running around. Your fate would have been sealed for recovery. However, thank God who has breathed into our nostrils the breath of life and had made us all living souls that we may be able to live, take being and act out His pleasure on the earth. As such, life itself becomes the greatest asset of any man or woman. The office he's occupying isn't his greatest asset (even if he's the president); his race isn't and his status is not at all. What avails him all these things (that men are dying and thronging for) is what is important and that is LIFE itself. The dead can't contest for an election. That's why contesting politicians and rivals in general are quick in killing one another. They'll call it the game to play. They do so because they themselves don't know the value and essence of the human life but feel threatened by someone still living. If the sacredness and importance of the human life should hit them, they'd known that as the greatest asset in the world, nobody ought tamper with it but rather protect it. Life is what any human being should fear to lose in life without hope of its security (a topic for another day). If you see a nation that doesn't legislate laws to protect the lives of her citizens, that country is poor and irresponsible. I don't care what laws are legislated to protect: lands, houses, businesses, people's liberty, personal happiness, choice etc but if there's no strong law protecting the human life and presenting it clearly as astoundingly invaluable, you'd seen all kind of barbaric acts done at the human life. Those people had lived being the basest of humans. Life is the greatest opportunity. God has given you life to become what you're pursuing now or whatsoever you want to become. Without life, you couldn't be thinking in that direction your mind has been going let alone get it executed. What an importance life carries. It's the greatest human asset - not riches please. 

I therefore pray for you that while you're alive, you'll understand this and lend your life only to what it could really compensate for - purpose. Nothing else could compensate for life or the breath of life in you except you discover your God given purpose or calling and live that solely. That's why Jesus says, "is life not more than meat (food) and the body more than raiment (clothing) or the ephemerals (which many are longing and thronging for in our world) - Matthew 6:25. Life is beyond what to eat, where to sleep or what to wear. After these the Gentiles and the unpurposeful rush but let the order be changed for you. Pursue purpose!

PRAYER: Thanks for enlightening me on life's greatest opportunity. May I live life to the fullest by fulfilling purpose.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 11:1-12:24, Luke 17:11-37, Psalm 84:1-12, Proverbs 13:5-6

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 14/04/2024

SUNDAY - 14TH APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL  - Olusola ADEJUMO

THOSE WHO ARE GROUNDED AND ARE NOW IN THE FISH'S BELLY - Loosed For Purpose Series 008

Jonah 2:1-2, KJV

"1 Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, 2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice."

The will of God is one of the greatest forces on earth. The will of God can carry you (when you're in obedience) or crush you (when you're in rebellion to it). It will carry you when you discover what God wants you to do and you make yourself available for that. You'll discover a power at work unimaginably helping you and giving you great success. I don't care how many men stand up against you; they'll all be fated to fall for your sake. That's because God will arise to fight anyone who fights His will which you're obeying.  

However, if you're running a race contrary to God's will, that violated will or purpose of God can put you in a dead end or endanger you. That's why Jonah had to be swallowed up. Instead of him being a hind let loose - a commissioned and backed up servant of the Lord on a smooth journey to fulfilling God's assignment, he was brought to a halt and grounded. His being swallowed and held by the fish was to lead to a remedial act that we eventually saw. Jonah could have gone all the way to preach in Nineveh and never be held three days and three nights in the belly of the fish. However, when you're obstinate - seeking to perpetuate your will and run your own errand, you should expect to meet God in front. As such, he who ought to live loosed may be bound and held down: like Jonah was in the belly of the fish. 

Years ago, 2016 or early 2017 it should be God's people. I met the founder of Evangel Publishing Firm, Nigeria. I was a Corp Member serving my fatherland in far away Katsina State but I had learnt the trade of selling books of all sorts from an Igbo man I acquainted  myself with in Katsina camp who sells books to corp  members. As such, he took me to Kaduna to learn how purchases are done. When I was launching out myself and I had to go; the man met me himself and expounded to me the vision of the institution telling me how it all began. He had told me he had refused God's persistent call to start a publishing and book firm that'll promote the gospel in core North because he saw no reason for that. More so, his food/provision business was doing well. He was transporting provision i.e gari etc from the East to the North to trade. He didn't hearken to God until God broke down that other business - putting the plough on his neck. Despite many persecutions and threats, he's standing for the Lord in a harsh territory by making materials available for the gospel now. However, he didn't start too well with God. God had to first hold him down. God had to first arrest him. So, on occasions, there are those that ought to be loosed to fulfill destiny that'll first of all be grounded before being loosed and that's because they're sold to their own will. 

If you're proving unbendable, it is love you have received from God if He insists on you by seeking to persuade you out of your choice by giving you signs that'll convince you out of same. As such, we recognize there are those who ought to be loosed like the hind so they can deliver what they have brought to the earth as their own value who may not be progressing because they aren't cooperating with God and aligning with what He really has for them. Example is Brother Preacher Jonah of today. He was in the fish's belly three days and nights for disobedience. Until he repented, he was not set loosed or vomited to run and pursue the errand afore committed into his hands. Don't be suddenly tied or held down because of disobedience that's in your life that could disqualify you. Tomorrow, I shall show you someone who's loosed towards fulfilling purpose but whose disobedience and an unsettled act in his life was almost binding and holding down also. Be obedient and you shall know smooth journey. 

PRAYER: Father, help me to surrender my will to your will. I shall not be grounded or swallowed up and brought to a halt instead of being on the loose for Jesus.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 5:1-7:15, Luke 15:1-32, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 13:1

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MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL - 13/04/2024

SATURDAY - 13TH APRIL, 2024

MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL  - Olusola ADEJUMO

THEY HAVE GONE TO DOTHAN - Loosed For Purpose Series 007

Genesis 37:15, 17, KJV

"15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? 17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan."

You will be saved from wandering about and wasting useful time that should count for you. A hand will point to where destiny will happen for you. God is interested in saving your youth. As such, He'll put materials, persons, institutions and even information where you utmostly need them in order to direct you after your objective in this life while saving your time. 

Jacob sends Joseph on the errand of checking on his brethren and bringing back report to him. Joseph would have wasted much time wandering here and there looking for them if not for the timely appearance of a stranger on the scene who asked him what he was looking for and gave him answer on where they had gone. In his word, he says, " they have departed hence, for I heard them say, let us go to Dothan..." Yet, Joseph keeps merrygorounding around in Sheckem. 

Joseph has an address at hand. It is for Sheckem but relocation and change of a sort had happened without his knowledge. Yet, he needs to connect with his pursuit - his brothers. How will this be possible if not for the sight and voice that appears to interrogate him on what he looks for and to deliver same solution to him?

The date, encounter and meet you're planning for will happen in Dothan. It has been shifted and rescheduled there yet God is still committed to taking you there. At every critical juncture, you'll always encounter those who'll serve as signpost to directing you for safe arrival to your destination. In tracing the biography of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God through a biographical movie of his that I had watched; it was told how as a young chap he departed in search of his parents in the farm. Yet, he didn't know where specifically. He could have sincerely gotten lost in the jungle. By divine providence however, a strange dog guided him to where they were. The parents themselves were afraid and also shocked receiving this august visitor who they couldn't trace how he made such a journey to the farm he had never been before. However, he tells his story and his parents see a divine hand supervising the events around his life. Even when they requested to see the strange dog, it was nowhere to be found anymore. To an extent, his parents believed that was not an accidental save but something supernatural helping him out and guiding him on his journey. 

The same happened to Joseph here. Don't forget that his time nears when he must be sent ahead of his brothers into Egypt. His ride in the Ishmeelites who'll take him there awaits him. He must not miss them. So, God moves his father to send him on that errand like Jesse was moved to commission and deploy David to the battle field (as we saw yesterday). The answer like David rightly gave was, "is there not a cause?" There's a reason for such deployment. The journey of Joseph to Egypt might not have been possible if he never made it to Dothan but supernaturally to me, God set a landmark signpost to redirect him non stop to Dothan where he'll be thrown in a well and then sold off - that the dreams of destiny he had had might come to pass one day. 

Your ride is here and if it is, nothing shall stop you from taking it. God will put provision and guided hands on your path to guide you on. Until you get to where you'll board the next transport, you'll keep meeting, hearing and seeing a presence saying, "they have gone to Dothan, for I heard them say so." You won't be stranded in Sheckem. What you're looking for is rightly what you'll see. If it is still in your front, God will sponsor you on until you make arrival and meet with destiny. Your years, life and time shall be saved. God will put for you in different places those who'll hasten your steps to destiny. You won't spend your days on a job and in an institution where destiny won't happen for you when there's Dothan in front of you. Providence will make men appear for you that weren't there before. They'll be so well sited that it's when you need help they'll pop up. They'll look like they've been programmed, planned and planted to emerge from the belly of the morning or day to help you that rightly. This timely provision includes angels who will make debut appearances for you when you need a straightaway help to find the way and connect with your goal. Did you not read, "on their hands they'll bear you up lest you dash your foot on a stone" (Psalm 91:12). You'll be saved from fallen down; you'll be saved from all embarrassments. It might have been planned to happen but you'll always witness a great save for your destiny fulfilment purpose. Your time is in God's hands and it shall not be wasted. 

PRAYER. I shall be sponsored on and on by the invisible hand of God until I arrive at destination. I shall go on every journey and become everything in God's mind.

BIBLE IN A YEAR: Joshua 5:1-7:15, Luke 15:1-32, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 13:1

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